Ruth 1:1-22
We will see that the book of Ruth is a beautiful picture of Jesus and the church, but it begins with heartache. First the famine in Israel which led Elimelech and his family to the country of Moab. While they were there, Elimelech died, along with his two sons, Mahlon and Chilion.
After ten years in Moab, the widow Naomi decides to return to Israel and she encourages her daughter’s in law to remain in Moab and get married. What follows next is truly touching. One daughter-in-law Orpah resists a a bit, but gives in, kisses Naomi and decides to stay in Moab. But her other daughter-in-law, Ruth, cannot be swayed, she clings to Naomi and resolves to stay with her, willing to stay single (if necessary), in order to serve her mother in law. I wonder if it’s because Ruth had become a believer in the LORD? We read those beautiful words of commitment:
Ruth 1:16–17 (NKJV) “But Ruth said: ‘Entreat me not to leave you, or to turn back from following after you; for wherever you go, I will go; and wherever you lodge, I will lodge; your people shall be my people, and your God, my God. 17 Where you die, I will die, and there will I be buried. The LORD do so to me, and more also, if anything but death parts you and me.'”
Beautiful words of love and commitment – words that my wife and I exchanged as wedding vows.
We are about to see the way God honors the integrity of this amazing young woman named Ruth, how God is in all the details of our lives, able to transform tragedies into victories.
Naomi doesn’t see it yet, she’s a bitter woman at this stage of her life, but eventually even she will see the wonder in God’s wonderful plan.
Ruth 2:1-4:22
The LORD Himself – personally, and the laws He had mandated – officially, would be used to take care of Ruth and Naomi.
One of the laws provided for the poor with dignity. Ruth would take advantage of it and enter the fields, day by day, to glean after the reapers; she was willing to work and gather up the leftovers in order to have sufficient food for herself and Naomi.
Leviticus 19:10 (NKJV) “And you shall not glean your vineyard, nor shall you gather every grape of your vineyard; you shall leave them for the poor and the stranger: I am the LORD your God.”
Another law that would be a factor was the law of the Kinsman Redeemer. Got Questions explains, “The kinsman-redeemer is a male relative who, according to various laws of the Pentateuch, had the privilege or responsibility to act on behalf of a relative who was in trouble, danger, or need. The Hebrew term (goel) for kinsman-redeemer designates one who delivers or rescues (Genesis 48:16; Exodus 6:6) or redeems property or a person (Leviticus 27:9–25, 25:47–55). The kinsman who redeems or vindicates a relative is illustrated most clearly in the book of Ruth, where the kinsman-redeemer is Boaz.” (click here for the full article)
We see in the end, how Boaz was willing to redeem the land, and with that land, the virtuous woman Ruth. It didn’t matter that she was Moabite, he was a noble and obedient man who saw the genuine beauty of Ruth.
Another law was that of levirate marriage. This law was God’s way of providing for widows and carrying on the family name on behalf of the deceased. If a man died and had no children then his brother, or closest kinsman was obligated to marry the widow in order to produce offspring, who would one day take care of (honor) the parent.
Deuteronomy 25:5–6 (NKJV) “If brothers dwell together, and one of them dies and has no son, the widow of the dead man shall not be married to a stranger outside the family; her husband’s brother shall go in to her, take her as his wife, and perform the duty of a husband’s brother to her. 6 And it shall be that the firstborn son which she bears will succeed to the name of his dead brother, that his name may not be blotted out of Israel.”
It’s fascinating to see the civil laws of the Lord aptly applied, and the way they wisely took care of the community of people with dignity. It’s also beautiful to see the way Boaz and Ruth are a picture of Jesus (our Kinsman Redeemer) and the church – what a beautiful love story!
Ruth was a believer, a hard worker, and a virtuous woman; it was evident to everyone.
Ruth 2:12 (NKJV) “The LORD repay your work, and a full reward be given you by the LORD God of Israel, under whose wings you have come for refuge.”
Ruth 3:11 (NKJV) “And now, my daughter, do not fear. I will do for you all that you request, for all the people of my town know that you are a virtuous woman.”
The prayer of the women of the town for Naomi, and her grandson, include an amazing commendation of her daughter in law – Ruth:
Ruth 4:15 (NKJV) “And may he be to you a restorer of life and a nourisher of your old age; for your daughter-in-law, who loves you, who is better to you than seven sons, has borne him.”
The LORD used Ruth to rekindle Naomi’s faith in God (Ruth 2:20) as Naomi caught the vision, and saw the hope in seeking security for her “daughter” – that it might be well with her.
What grace, that God would make Ruth (a Moabite) a part of the lineage of King David and eventually King Jesus, the Savior of the World (Ruth 4:17).
There’s much to glean from the book of Ruth, one of only two books in the Bible named after a woman (along with Esther).