Lord’s Day, Vol. 12 No. 21
Opening the Book of Ruth
The book of Ruth is the only other book in the Bible named after a woman. The other woman was Esther who lived in the time of Israel’s Babylonian captivity. The book of Ruth in contrast was set in the time of the Judges of Israel, a time of spiritual declension in Israel lasting about 350 years. The year was about 1200 B.C.
The Book of Ruth is a heartwarming story of an ordinary, despised, gentile lady by the name of Ruth who turned from idols to serve the living God at a time when Israel turned from God to idols.
In a time when Israel did that which was right in their own eyes – a time of spiritual declension, we see the kindling of a flame of faith and hope in the life of one who came under the wings of God. We see a contrast of spiritual light amid spiritual darkness, devotion amid disloyalty, love amid lust, peace amid war, hardship and poverty, and faithfulness amid faithlessness.
Ruth came to know the living and true God through her marriage to Mahlon, the son of the Jewish family of Elimelech and Naomi who came to settle in Moab due to a famine.
She did not look back from the day God opened her spiritual eyes. She abided under the protective care of Israel’s God who abundantly rewarded her faithfulness through many difficult trials. This book provided the historical link between the time of the judges and Israel’s monarchy. Ruth was a Moabitess. Moab was located near the eastern portion of the Dead Sea, a nation that came out of the incestuous relationship between Lot and his eldest daughter. The Moabites were Israel’s perennial enemy.
And yet, through this Moabitess will become the progenitor of Israel’s kingly line that would finally bring forth Israel’s Messiah. We see Ruth featured in Matthew 1:5-6, 14.
Matthew 1:5-6 And Salmon begat Booz of Rachab; and Booz begat Obed of Ruth; and Obed begat Jesse; 6 And Jesse begat David the king; and David the king begat Solomon of her that had been the wife of Urias;…17 So all the generations from Abraham to David are fourteen generations; and from David until the carrying away into Babylon are fourteen generations; and from the carrying away into Babylon unto Christ are fourteen generations.
God does not judge us by our skin colour, race, or family background but by our faith in Him. He can use anyone for His own glory who would love Him and serve Him. This was the commendation given to Ruth in Ruth 2:11-12.
Ruth 2:11 And Boaz answered and said unto her, It hath fully been shewed me, all that thou hast done unto thy mother in law since the death of thine husband: and how thou hast left thy father and thy mother, and the land of thy nativity, and art come unto a people which thou knewest not heretofore. 12 The LORD recompense thy work, and a full reward be given thee of the LORD God of Israel, under whose wings thou art come to trust.
We learn of the providence of God caring and watching over her. Ruth, by faith, walk with God, who rewarded her faith. We see in her tenderness, love and sacrifice, blessed Christian virtues against the backdrop of lawlessness and violence that characterized the time of the Judges (Ruth 1:1).
Amidst national turning away from the faith in the nation of Israel, we see an individual’s turning to the faith giving us a testimony of how God graciously preserves a godly remnant.
The story begins with the migration of a family of 4, husband and wife, and their two sons from their homeland in Bethlehem-judah to the country of Moab because of a famine. Below is a map showing the movement of this family. Bethlehem is located in the tribe of Judah. Bethlehem means “house of bread” – in land given to the tribe of Judah. It is to be later called the city of David and the birthplace of Jesus, located 8 km south of Jerusalem.
The head of that family was Elimelech whose name means “My God is King” leading his family away from the land of God’s promise, what an irony! Ephrathites from Ephrata or Ephrathah meaning “fruitful”, named after Ephrath, the wife of Caleb (1 Chronicles 2:19).
When the famine struck, he saw how his resources began to deplete and seeing the lush watered land of Moab beyond the Dead Sea, he decided to uproot and resettle in Moab, Israel’s arch enemy, a most idolatrous people!
Who are the Moabites? They came from the incestuous relationship of Lot and his daughter (Gen. 19:30-38) who resisted Israel’s passage through their territory from Egypt to Canaan (Num. 22-24) by sending their women to seduce the Israelites (Num. 25:1-9) to sin against God. God had instructed Israel in His Word to be separated from this idolatrous people.
And Israel had been troubled by Eglon the king of Moab (Judges 3:15-30) oppressing them for 18 years. God sent Ehud to accomplish the mission of ending the oppression when Eglon.
A famine as in every life test is an opportunity where we can learn to trust God. But Elimelech sought his way rather than calling on God for mercy and repenting of the sins that plagued the nation during the dark days of the judges – a time when men did what was right in their own eyes. There was a spiritual blindness that plagued Israel.
Together with his wife Naomi (pleasant) and two sons, Mahlon (sick) and Chilion (pining – speaks of frailty, mortality; coming to an end) planned this temporary stay that ended up with a 10-year stay.
There the two sons married Moabite wives. Orpah means “stubborn”. She turned her neck on her mother-in-law and Ruth which means “friendship, refreshment”. They have forgotten God’s instruction of separation (Deut. 7:2-4). It was a bad family decision we see an exchange of one famine for three funerals.
Job 9:4 He is wise in heart, and mighty in strength: who hath hardened himself against him, and hath prospered?
Ruth has experienced grief when her husband died. Her mother-in-law decided to return to their homeland in Israel. Her mother-in-law Naomi advised her to forsake her faith and go back to her gods as her sister-in-law Orpah did. She did not. The Bible says she, herself, was “steadfast minded” (Ruth1:18) to follow her God. This phrase means “to be strong and courageous, a boldness, to show courage to prove herself strong”. She was strong trusting the faithfulness of her God. She did not look at the outward circumstances to make her decision but she chose to cling to her God whatever the price. This means that she will have to uproot herself from her homeland. She will become a stranger in a foreign land. She chose to live by faith.
Ruth lived in a time when faith was waning and wanting amongst God’s people. We see this shining light out of the darkness that God will raise in a seemingly unknown corner to beam forth hope. The return to Israel was not so much a spiritual awakening in Naomi but one of expediency because there was bread in Israel. Whereas for Ruth it was a decision for her faith in Israel’s God!
With God is blessing and sweetness and not brokenness and bitterness. As the psalmist testified in Psalm 63:7 Because thou hast been my help, therefore in the shadow of thy wings will I rejoice. Naomi’s homecoming after 10 years of wandering away from home backsliding in wasted, regrettable years gathering “wood, hay and stubble” (1 Cor. 3:12) is taking a new turn and we help her to take stock and count her blessings. God will do the work of renewing the right spirit in the returning prodigal’s heart. Back in the centre of God’s will, she is going to experience God’s blessing anew. Meanwhile, God will have to work in her heart by His greater grace to renew the right spirit, binding the brokenness and healing the bitterness.
Bible Knowledge Commentary observes well: “Return” is a keyword in Ruth. Hebrew forms of this word are used several times in this first chapter. Here is an apt illustration of repentance. Naomi reversed the direction she and her husband had taken. She turned away from Moab and the errors of the past. She turned her back on the tragic graves of her loved ones and headed back to Judah, her homeland.”
To where was Naomi returning or turning back to? It was to Israel, to her God and her people. This was the beginning of salvation. Just like the prodigal son who came to himself (Luke 15:17-24). A turning away (Ruth 1:1-5) and turning back (Ruth 1:6, 18) describes the journey of backsliding and back to faith again in God. Hallelujah!
The way home from Moab to Judah was a 120 km journey that would take up to 10 days on foot going downhill about 4500 ft to the Jordan Valley and 3750 feet of ascending through the hills of Judea to arrive in Bethlehem. A journey fraught with danger for two women to travel unprotected in the volatile time of the Judges. The two widows would probably make a last visit to the graveside of their beloved departed husbands before departure. A long journey and we can imagine the toll of the journey and their weary state when they arrive in Bethlehem.
Our text tells us that “all the city was moved about them” (Ruth 1:19), and paints a vivid portrait of the scene of a city in commotion, the people were stirred to see the sorry state of Naomi. It was probably a great contrast to the stately Naomi whom they knew 10 years ago when she and her family left home. There was surprise and bewilderment at the state of what they saw. It prompted them to ask, “Is this Naomi?” Her name means “sweetness or pleasant”. They could hardly recognize her by her appearance.
Matthew Henry observed well, “It appears that she had formerly lived respectably, else there would not have been so much notice taken of her. If those that have been in a high and prosperous condition break, or fall into poverty or disgrace, their fall is the more remarkable…Those with whom she had formerly been intimate were surprised to see her in this condition; she was so much broken and altered with her afflictions that they could scarcely believe their own eyes, nor think that this was the same person whom they had formerly seen, so fresh, and fair, and gay: Is this Naomi?”
Although Naomi came home so as not to die of hunger in a foreign land, nevertheless, God is not only going to bless her with physical renewal but also spiritual renewal.
When we return to God, our souls shall be satisfied as the psalmist testified in Psalm 63:5 My soul shall be satisfied as with marrow and fatness; and my mouth shall praise thee with joyful lips:
She asked that she be called Mara which means “bitterness”. Indeed, God by His grace is leading Naomi to be renewed. Observe the bitter spirit that gripped her.
Ruth 1:21 I went out full, and the LORD hath brought me home again empty: why then call ye me Naomi, seeing the LORD hath testified against me, and the Almighty hath afflicted me?
She blamed God for her affliction rather than reflecting upon her waywardness. She was broken but not repentant, unlike the prodigal son. But God is graciously helping her to come back. God is doing her good although she is still bitter in her spirit – Hebrews 12:15 Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled;
We are to be careful to not blame God when we are the ones who choose to depart from God’s blessed way and face His chastisement. God is working His marvellous plan amidst all to bring about His redemption plan for all mankind.
God is working out His redemption plan for all mankind quietly in the lives of two seemingly insignificant characters Naomi and Ruth when He brought them back to Israel by a famine in Moab. They have made the journey and they are now back home in the land of inheritance. We see the favour of God upon His children as they seek to walk with Him according to His will, albeit sometimes very imperfectly. God makes no mistake and we can be assured of His care for us when we commit our lives to Him. That vow of consecration Ruth made to follow Israel’s God by following her mother-in-law back to Israel was pleasing in God’s sight. We would see here in this chapter God’s faithfulness in guiding and caring for the two widows.
Widows are the most helpless people in ancient Israel. They are despised and often the victim of unfair treatment. They have no social status, no money, women don’t earn money, have no influence, no husbands to back or support them, most vulnerable and easily bullied. The most difficult is to be both a widow and childless, this is a double hardship. Such a woman has no husband to be a provider and protector and also has no son or even prospects for a son to carry on the family name and to support her in her old age.
Yet, we see Ruth’s confidence in Israel’s God moved her to take steps of faith as she trusted the Lord for His provision for her life. She had to care for not just herself but Naomi, her elderly mother-in-law. God was with them as they entrusted their lives to His care.
God would work out His grace through a man called Boaz to provide help to Ruth and Naomi (Ruth 2). This movement of God to bring Ruth and Boaz to meet has far-reaching effects fulfilling God’s plan to bring forth the Messiah, Jesus, in the fullness of time. We are introduced to Boaz, this man was a relative, a kinsman to the Elimelech family. He was a man with the means to help the widows. And God will mysteriously by His providential hand lead Ruth to work in Boaz’s field!
We see how Ruth “happened” to come to Boaz’s field and gleaned in the field that belonged to Boaz, the relative of the family. Her steps indeed were guided by God – “I being in the way, the Lord led me” (Gen. 24:27). Human responsibility is undergirded by God’s delightful, mysterious, guidance.
She left home that morning looking for someone who would show her grace. It means an unmerited favour. Favour is given to someone who does not deserve it. We serve a faithful God. Ruth would return home with food enough for herself and Naomi. Not only that but He is working out His greater Messianic purpose to those who would yield themselves to seek first the kingdom of God.
Life with God is a life of faith sustained by the grace of God undergirding us in every way. It’s a truly blessed life. Solomon said in Proverbs 3:5-7 “Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. 6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. 7 Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil.” Faith begets favour. As we place our trust in God, we endeavour to do His will according to His Word and thereby experience His blessings.
God working in unknown and unexplainable and unfathomable ways leads and directs us to do His will fulfilling His purpose for our lives. For Ruth, she will be the progenitor of the line of Messiah. She found that God can be trusted more than we can ever imagine. With God, there is no coincidence or accident but only His blessed providence for things in life do not simply happen but there is an Almighty orchestration behind the scenes. Everything that happens in our lives occurs for a purpose and God use it to mould us for His glory as we yield ourselves to Him.
God truly works in the lives of His people who exercise faith, working out the normal events of life as we trust God to meet our needs we find Him faithful, trustworthy and reliable. Indeed, we can trust God and rejoice in His goodness. As the prophet Habakkuk testified:
Habakkuk 3:17-18 Although the fig tree shall not blossom, neither shall fruit be in the vines; the labour of the olive shall fail, and the fields shall yield no meat; the flock shall be cut off from the fold, and there shall be no herd in the stalls: 18 Yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will joy in the God of my salvation.
As she stepped out in faith that morning doing her duty to go to the field that her mother-in-law and herself can be sustained, she experienced God’s special favour leading and guiding her. I am sure she did utter a prayer to God asking for His leading and trusting God to lead and guide her.
She came to Boaz’s field. Ruth’s faith has been tested through many difficulties or tribulations – the journey back to Israel was faith at its best – willing to walk into the unknown with God. Now, God is slowly unfolding His will. When Job had to endure the trials of faith through great losses, he maintained his way before God. Ruth had her eyes focused upon her Lord and she could see with eyes of faith the hand of God’s favour upon her and she responded in thanksgiving. She had arrived at the place where God wanted her to be. She found the man God would use to bestow His blessings upon her.
We observe Ruth’s humble and grateful response to Boaz’s offer. She realizes and acknowledges her unworthiness and accepts his grace. Falling and bowing gives a clear indication of Ruth’s humility and respect for authority. She saw God’s hand on that day when Boaz promised to take care of her needs but allowed her to glean in his field. Indeed, she was a “stranger” in Israel, she was not a stranger in God’s sight.
Likewise, God’s grace came into our lives when we were introduced to Jesus Christ, the bestower of all blessings. By faith, when we receive Jesus into our lives, we become the children of God. What a great privilege. Ruth’s life was a testimony of obedience and submission to the will of God. As Solomon advised his son, so did Ruth (Prov. 3:1-4). She took good care of her mother-in-law. Though Naomi was often bitter and not easy to live with, Ruth loved her with genuine love and God blessed her. Boaz saw that her piety was genuine. She was a true convert and a lover of the Messiah God of Israel.
We observed a turnaround for Naomi, she was no longer depressed. She experienced God’s grace flowing into her life again as she got back into the centre of God’s will for her life. That is to be in Israel where she belonged (Ruth 3). She became a matchmaker and prepared Ruth to seek the love of her willing kinsman-redeemer, Boaz.
The turning point in the narrative is at hand. During the weeks of the barley and wheat harvests (Ruth 2:23), Naomi had time to put her plan together. When the time was right, she acted. Naomi was a persistent person (Ruth 1:8-15). She was now resolved to seek rest and security for her daughter-in-law through marriage. Ruth had given up the possibility of remarriage to care for the ageing Naomi, but now marriage suddenly again became a possibility. It was customary for Hebrew parents to arrange marriages for their children (Judges 14:1-10). To find a home is literally to “find rest” (Ruth 1:9), to be settled and secure in a home with a husband.
The custom ofLevirate marriage was that if an Israelite who had been married died without children, it was the duty of his brother to marry the widow, that is to say, his sister-in-law, that he might establish his brother’s name in Israel, by begetting a son through his sister-in-law, who should take the name of the deceased brother, that his name might not become extinct in Israel. This son was then the legal heir of the landed property of the deceased uncle (Deut. 25:5-10). Naomi knew that Boaz was threshing his grain on the day that she had chosen for her plan. She also knew that Boaz would be sleeping near his grain that night, to protect it. Ruth was to prepare herself to meet Boaz at the threshing floor. Naomi pointed out that since Boaz was a relative of theirs, he could be a kinsman-redeemer for Ruth. He had an open and willing heart. God sent Boaz to be a restorer and nourisher to Ruth which in turn is a blessing to Naomi.
The plan for Ruth’s marriage to Boaz was to restore the family heritage and posterity. Most of all, it fulfilled God’s plan to bring forth the Messiah to save both the Jews and Gentiles. The marriage plans that her mother-in-law proposed, receiving her concurrence, came to fruition when the near-kinsman to Boaz rejected the role. And it fell on Boaz, the next kinsman, who readily sought to redeem the land belonging to Elimelech and to give seed to the Mahlon family in his marriage with Ruth. Again, Ruth exercised faith in obedience to God’s instruction concerning the law of levirate marriage. Through this marriage came Obed, who is the father of Jesse, the father of David, the progenitor of Christ. Amen.
Yours lovingly,
Pastor Lek Aik Wee