Ruth 1-4

I love the story of Ruth. It is a love story replete with a knight in shining armor who rescues the princess.

Did you notice the date of the book in Ruth 1:1? "In the days when the judges ruled . . . ."

Ruth 1:6 "When Naomi heard in Moab . . . ." I have to wonder how Naomi heard. Was there a daily newspaper from across the Dead Sea? How often did the caravans travel from Bethlehem to Moab?

Ruth 1:16 But Ruth replied, "Don't urge me to leave you or to turn back from you. Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God. 17 Where you die I will die, and there I will be buried. May the LORD deal with me, be it ever so severely, if anything but death separates you and me." These verses are used often at weddings. Did you know that it was Ruth who said them to her mother-in-law? I think all of us should aspire to show love and kindness and loyalty to our moms-in-law as Ruth did. My mom-in-law makes this an easy thing to do, but I'm not as kind and thoughtful as Ruth was. I think her story inspires me to try a lot harder.

Ruth 1:20 "Don't call me Naomi, [b] " she told them. "Call me Mara, [c] because the Almighty [d] has made my life very bitter. 21 I went away full, but the LORD has brought me back empty. Why call me Naomi? The LORD has afflicted [e] me; the Almighty has brought misfortune upon me." Naomi had a very difficult time understanding why God would put her in such a predicament. Can anyone relate? Naomi was suffering consequences of her husband's decision to take their family far from the Promised Land. Seemingly, Naomi had no control over the circumstances she found herself in. In the midst of her sorrow, it was impossible for Naomi to foresee the blessings God would bring through her Moabite daughter-in-law. Was it God's will for Naomi's husband to die? I don't know. Was it God's will for Naomi's sons to marry foreign wives and then die as young men? I have no idea. Was God able to turn disappointments into something wonderful, and was God's plan for His chosen people fulfilled? Absolutely.

In Ruth 2:5 Boaz asks, "Whose young woman is that?" Then in verse 11, Boaz says, "I've been told all about what you have done." This makes me giggle! Boaz was curious enough to check Ruth out! Okay, take time to remember how you went about finding out the scoop on your true love. Makes me blush. ;-)

Ruth 2:12 "May the LORD repay you for what you have done. May you be richly rewarded by the LORD, the God of Israel, under whose wings you have come to take refuge." Ruth 3:11 "And now, my daughter, don't be afraid. I will do for you all you ask. All my fellow townsmen know that you are a woman of noble character." Ruth's reputation was getting all over town, and it was good news! Are people talking about what I do for others? Is it good news? Am I known around town as a woman of noble character? I most definitely hope so. While we are not called to be in a popularity contest, we are called to bring glory and good repute to the Name of Christ. Am I doing all within my power to make that happen?

We read the law about kinsman-redeemers in Leviticus 25. Since Naomi's husband and sons were no longer living, her closest of kin had to buy her land so that it could stay in the family. I like what she says about Boaz in Ruth 3:15, "For the man will not rest until the matter is settled today." He was a man of action. I like that! I laughed at the way Boaz talked his relative out of purchasing the land too. In 4:1, Boaz calls the man "my friend." Then in verse 5, Boaz convinces the guy that he doesn't want to marry the dead man's widow, implying that he would be marrying an old woman, Naomi. After he gets the man to swear that he doesn't want the land before several witnesses, then Boaz declares his intentions to marry Ruth. Tricky guy!

The elders and witnesses become prophets when they wish Boaz fame in 4:11. Their blessing in Ruth 4:12 is very fitting. "Through the offspring the LORD gives you by this young woman, may your family be like that of Perez, whom Tamar bore to Judah." Tamar and Ruth are both mentioned in the genealogy of Jesus in Matthew 1. Rahab and Bathsheba are the only other women mentioned there. Rahab was Boaz's mom. Boaz married Ruth. Their great-grandson David married Bathsheba. These women were grafted into the family line of the Messiah. God's chosen people expands to include all people who choose to follow God. Hallelujah!

I certainly hope you enjoyed Ruth's story. Come with me now to the book of 1 Samuel 7-10 and 12, where we read of Israel's request for a king.