Old Testament - Ruth - June 6, 2022

 6/6/2022 – Ruth 

This book tells of a family who either lived during the time of the judges, or possibly after David’s or Solomon’s time. But whenever it was written it is a story of conversion, courage, determination, loyalty, and faithfulness as we read of the compassion and loved shared between Naomi and her daughter-in-law, Ruth. It is a wonderful story of family relationships.

Naomi and her family had moved from Bethlehem-Judiah to Moab, where her husband dies, and her sons marry Moabite women. About 10 years after that her sons die. Naomi decides to move back to Bethlehem where she has extended family. She was accompanied by her two daughters-in-law. Naomi knew she would probably have hard living conditions when she got to Bethlehem.  With love, she stopped, telling her two daughters-in-law to each return to their mothers’ houses where their chances for a better life would be much higher. Orpah chose to go back, but Ruth chose to go with Naomi. Ruth goes to Bethlehem as a foreigner, and childless widow. All of these things leave her with no source of support, and thus in complete poverty. 

But then we come to the verses that are famous. Ruth stops Naomi from trying to get Ruth to go back to her father’s home where she would be welcomed and taken care of, and says: “…Intreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee: for whither thou goest, I will go, and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God. Where thou diest, will I die, and there will I be buried….” (v’s 16-17) Ruth was a Moab, who had learned of Heavenly Father from her husband and his family. She was firm in her new faith, and she didn’t falter in her love and care for her mother-in-law.

Naomi had certainly gone through devastating times, losing her husband and both of her sons. When she enters Bethlehem and the people recognize her as Naomi, she corrects them and tells them “Call me not Naomi (which means pleasant), call me Mara (which means bitter and sad). I went out full, and the Lord hath brought me home again empty…the Lord hath testified against me, and the Almighty hath afflicted me.” (v’s 20-21)

The last verse of this chapter tells us that they had arrived in Bethlehem “in the beginning of barley harvest. “ 

We are not spending a lot of time in Ruth, but I do love this story. Ruth works to support Naomi and herself by gleaning in the fields of Boaz, who is the nearest kin to Naomi. Boaz tells his workers to leave more area for Ruth to glean. Naomi sees this as a sign that Boaz is generous, and possibly drawn to Ruth, and she tells Ruth to lay at the feet of Boaz—which means she is asking him to take the responsibility of caring for her. Boaz answers her by taking responsibility of both Ruth and Naomi. Boaz later marries Ruth and they have a son. All are well situated now. 

And this all came from love shown through Ruth’s actions. She had learned the Lord’s ways. She kept His commandments. She undertook the task of helping her mother-in-law with tender love and work. And all involved felt the blessings that come to each one of them.

Once again, this wonderful outcome came from conversion, courage, determination, loyalty, faithfulness, compassion, and loved shared. That is always the best path to take, especially when we include the Lord in our decisions and our efforts.