Ruth
“Blessed be thou of
the Lord.” ~Ruth 3:10
“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.” ~Ruth 1:16
Even though I knew
bits and pieces of Ruth’s story, it wasn’t until this past year or so that I
truly came to learn of her, and love
her.
Facts we know about Ruth:
First: She was a Moabite who married
one of the sons of Naomi and Elimelech, an older Israelite couple who moved
their family to Moab because of a famine in their own country.
Second: Within ten years, Elimelech,
as well as both of Naomi’s sons, Mahlon (Ruth’s Husband,) and Chilion (Orpah’s
husband,) were dead.
Third: When Naomi decided to return to
Bethlehem, Ruth vowed to go with her.
Fourth: To feed herself and Naomi, Ruth
gleaned the barley fields of Naomi’s kinsman, Boaz.
Fifth: Ruth’s kindness won her the
heart of righteous Boaz, he married her and raised up seed in her deceased
husband’s name according to Levirate law–to help preserve the family name (a
redeemer.) And through Ruth came King David, through whose lineage came Jesus
Christ, our Savior and Redeemer.
Ruth is the perfect example of the power of faith,
hope, trust, and devotion. Because of her love for her mother-in-law, Naomi,
and trust in a God that was once foreign to her, she was infinitely blessed
beyond all possible measure through God’s mercy and grace. The meaning of the
name Ruth is friend/companion, which is a perfectly fitting description of this
righteous, godly woman.
It is obvious that Ruth had a great deal of respect
for Naomi, as well as a deep love, as evidenced by Ruth heeding Naomi’s counsel
that she go to the threshing floor where Boaz slept, uncover his feet, and then
lay down. (Ruth 3:4) It was a righteous petition for his care, and just as righteously,
Boaz blessed her for it because he knew she was a virtuous woman. (Ruth 3:9)
Ruth’s action was one that many of today’s worldly
women have been taught to frown upon, because it displays dependence upon a
man. The world teaches that men are not needed, and that a woman’s strength is
in her independence, that she can handle anything on her own; she can replace a
man in the workplace, and if she wants children, she does not need a husband to
have them–in fact, she can have them and be both mother and father to them.
Sadly, many of today’s worldly women would consider Ruth’s act of righteous
petition a weakness.
This thinking could not be more wrong. If anything,
Ruth’s act demonstrated a humility beyond words. Hers was a heart full of faith
in God, obedience to Him, and boundless compassion and concern for the welfare
of her mother-in-law, as well as a strong discernment that spoke to her spirit
of Boaz’s goodness and holiness.
To possess a heart like Ruth’s would truly give others
around the bearer a glimpse into the heart of Christ. Therefore, it is fitting
that it is through her lineage that the Savior came.
There is so much more to Ruth’s story, and so much
more that we can learn from it. The thoughts I have shared are only a glimpse
of her life. I’ll leave it to you, the reader, to read the Book of Ruth that
you might savor in full, a life that was truly blessed by the Most-High.
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