Ruth 1 & 2

This winter I did a six week study on the book of Ruth…this short book is rich…and we only get two days to mull it over. I hope you enjoy it! It should be a peaceful change of pace after all the bloodshed in Joshua and Judges.

Background

The events of the book of Ruth take place during the days of the judges, which we just spent the last few weeks reading. This would be about one thousand years before the birth of Christ. Scholars debate when this book was written – some think Samuel was the author and others date it much later, during the monarchy period.

One of the neat things about this book for us who are reading the Bible from the beginning is all the references to things we’ve already read and studied. We have context for this book! Hopefully, the laws regarding redeeming, who the Moabites were and the period of the judges are familiar.

In chapter one, we are introduced to two characters; Naomi, an Israelite woman who went with her husband and two sons to Moab to find food during a famine at home in Bethlehem, and to Ruth, the Moabitess wife of one of her sons. (Remember who Moab was? He was the son of Lot and Lot’s oldest daughter. Later, his people would not allow Moses and the Israelites to pass through their land into Canaan and hired Balaam to curse Israel. That didn’t work, so they sent their women to seduce the Israelites. Obviously, not such a great history between the two people groups!) While in Moab, all the men die and Naomi is left “bereft” – and here is where the story of the book of Ruth really begins. Naomi decides to return to Bethlehem and releases her daughters in law of any attachment. They refuse, she insists and one returns home to Moab. However, Ruth refuses to leave her side and reluctantly Naomi allows her to accompany her. When Naomi is greeted by her friends in Bethlehem, she admonishes them not to call her Naomi (meaning pleasant, delightful) but instead Mara (meaning bitter, hard – remember the waters of Marah in Ex 15? You can bet that she is evoking this!) Also, in chapter one, Naomi references the custom of Levirate Marriage (described in Deuteronomy 25) – if a married man died without any children to carry on his name and inheritance, it was his unmarried brother’s responsibility to marry the widow so that “The first son she bears shall carry on the name of the dead brother so that his name will not be blotted out from Israel.” This will be significant later in the book. Also, the town of Bethlehem is significant as the hometown of King David and of course, the birthplace of Jesus the Christ.

Chapter Two begins with the introduction of the third major character in the book, Boaz! He is a wealthy landowner in Bethlehem and a relative of Naomi’s husband. Ruth “just happens” to glean in his field one day. (See Leviticus 19:9 for rules on gleaning.) Boaz has heard of how Ruth has devoted herself to Naomi and shows favor on her by allowing her to have his protection and to eat at his table. When Naomi hears of it, she is pleased.

Reflection

There are many themes revealed in the characters of the short book of Ruth.
On the one hand, we have Ruth, the Moabitess. She is a foreigner who naturally would have been despised but is given praise all over the book as a virtuous, kind, faithful and excellent woman. She is a young woman who was brave enough and had enough faith to put herself under Naomi, in spite of the fact that Naomi was a pretty bitter woman at the time. This is an example of Christian humility and love. She is also an example of the bride of Christ – in chapter three her preparation to be the bride of Boaz mirrors the church’s preparation – we wash in the Word (Eph 5:26), we are filled/anointed with the Spirit (Eph 5:18) and are to be clothed with righteousness acts (Rev 19:8). Her story also shows that God’s grace and mercy extend beyond Israel to include all peoples.

And then Naomi. Here is a woman that many of us can relate to because she is so honest. Her life has been hard and sad. She feels totally abandoned by God – in chapter one she declares that His hand had gone forth against her (13), He had dealt very bitterly with her (20), He had brought her back empty (21), He had witnessed against her (21) and He had afflicted her (21). I’d say that’s a pretty dark spot. As the book progresses, Naomi is brought to redemption, is reinstated and is full again. She regains hope. She is now Full vs Empty


Application

Who do you most identify with in these first two chapters? Have you ever gone through a time when you felt like Naomi? Have you been honest enough to admit any bitterness that you are harboring about that time? How should suffering affect a person’s attitude toward God?

Maybe you relate to Ruth or at least hope to be like her! She is such a beautiful woman of faith, humility and kindness to others. Maybe you know someone like Ruth – take time today to thank God for such a woman in your life – call her or send her a note telling her how much you appreciate her.

Whenever I read Ruth, I can’t but help think of the relationship between me and my own mother in law. Perhaps you’ve thought about that, too. Is there anything you need to do about that relationship – is there anything you need to do to improve it? are you able to say prayers of blessing for her? is she amazing – tell her! I have two sons myself and pray that someday I will be a delightful mother in law to their wives.


Prayer

Thank you for this sweet book of love, hope and redemption. I am reminded of how you use women of faith to reveal yourself. May we be people of faith who see you revealed in our lives.