Bible Women: Ruth - Part 1

Ruth - Part 1

In our study of Naomi, we learned that when the Lord brought a famine to the land of Bethlehem-Judah, Naomi went with her husband Elimelech, when he chose to leave his home there  and to travel to the country of Moab,  rather than to stay and trust the Lord to provide for his family.  Elimelech went to "sojourn" which is a temporary journey.  He did not know that he would not return to Bethlehem-Judah. Proverbs 3:5-6 "trust in the Lord with all thine heart, and lean not on thine own understanding, in all thy ways acknowledge him and he shall direct thy paths." Moab was a  pagan land with pagan gods, and that fact alone should have kept Elimelech in his own land, with his own people, trusting the Lord to provide for them.

But, "we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose". (Romans 8:28) and as the story of Ruth progresses we will see how the Lord used this famine to bring a Gentile woman into the line of the Lord Jesus Christ.

V2 says that when they came to the country of Moab they "continued" there, now more than a "sojourn".  After a time Elimelech died, and Naomi was left with her two sons Mahlon and Chileon.  Instead of returning to Bethelem-Judah, they made their own decision to stay in Moab and Mahlon and Chilion married wives of the women of Moab, one named Orpah, the other named Ruth.  Ruth means "beauty". V4 "and they dwelled there about ten years."  then Mahlon and Chileon also died.  The timing of their deaths is an example of God's perfect timing, for it is now that Naomi heard that "the LORD has visited his people in giving them bread." (Ruth 1:6)  We can see from this that Naomi recognizes that it is the LORD who has ended the famine.



And so V7 Naomi "went forth out of the place where she was, and her two daughters-in-law with her;" but then she told  them to  (V8) "return each to her mother's house" and then prayed "the LORD deal kindly with you, as ye have dealt with the dead, and with me." Clearly both Orpah and Ruth have been faithful wives and faithful daughters-in-law, and Naomi desires that they should stay in the land of their birth, rather than return with her to a strange land where they know no one but her.   But Orpah and Ruth continue to weep, and then Orpah kisses Naomi and returns to her people, and to her gods. We never hear word of her again.   But Ruth "cleaves" to Naomi, just as Mary Magdelene clung to the Lord Jesus at his resurrection.. and  much as Elisha  would not leave Elijah (2 Kings 2:2). Ruth makes the most beautiful plea:  "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: the LORD do so to me, and more also, if aught but death part thee and me." (Ruth 1:16-17)   So it seems that although Elimelech and his family left Bethlehem-Judah, they still must have worshipped the LORD of Israel,  and both Orpah and Ruth would have learned about Him from their husbands and from Naomi.  Ruth desires to leave her homeland, and to go to a place where she knows no one but Naomi, and to worship the one true God.  Notice  her confession is "thy God shall be MY God"  her confession of faith in the LORD as her God.  More, she will not leave Naomi until  parted by death.  This is true commitment.

Convinced of Ruth's faithfulness and desire to go to Bethlehem-Judah, the two of them set off.   It would have been a difficult and possibly dangerous journey for two women alone, but with the Lord's sovereign protection upon them, they arrive back in Bethlehem-Judah.  We don't know the exact length of time Naomi has been away because are not told how long they were in Moab before Elimelech died..  but the people must have been very surprised to see Naomi return without her family, and with a stranger. 

The bible tells us that V22 "Naomi returned, and Ruth the Moabitess, her daugher-in-law, with her, which returned out of the country of Moab." The people of Bethlehem-Judah learn that Ruth is a faithful woman, and  that she is a Gentile.  But they also know that Ruth has made the life changing choice to leave her own country to stay with her mother-in-law.  She has arrived with a good reputation, "A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches, and loving favour rather than silver and gold.  The rich and poor meet together: the LORD is the maker of them all."  (Proverbs 22:1-2) And the timing of their arrival was the barley harvest.  Another example of God's perfect timing to accomplish His will as we will see.

Naomi had a family member named Boaz which means lovely, who was a near kinsman.  And because it is barley harvest, Ruth asks permission of Naomi to  "go to the field, and glean ears of corn after him in whose sight I shall find grace." (2:2) as it was the custom to let those less fortunate have that which was left in the field.  Ruth desires to gather the fragments left behind, and is trusting that as a Gentile in the land of the Jews, she will be treated kindly.  Grace means favor, good will, kindness.  But the ultimate grace is, of course, the free unmerited love and favor of God towards those who have done nothing to deserve it.

Now Boaz enters the story "And Naomi had a kinsman of her husband's, a mighty man of wealth, of the family of Elimelech; and his name was Boaz" (2:1) The fact that Boaz is a kinsman of her husband's will be important as the story unfolds.  Ruth said to Naomi "Let me now go to the field, and glean ears of corn after him in  whose sight I shall find grace.  And she (Naomi) said to her (Ruth) Go, my daughter." Ruth goes to a field "and her hap was to light on a part of the field belonging unto Boaz, who was of the kindred of Elimelech." (V3) "her hap", by the plan of the LORD God, the field Ruth goes to is the one owned by Boaz, the kinsman of Naomi's dead husband. The Lord is in control. The next verse starts with that mighty word "behold", which means that something awesome or wonderful is about to happen. "and behold, Boaz came from Bethlehem, and said to the reapers, The LORD be with you.  And they answered him, the LORD bless thee."(V4) He cares for his reapers and they care for him. Than Boaz notices someone new in his field,  "Then said Boaz unto his servant that was set over the rapers, whose damsel is this? and the servant that was set over the reapers answered and said, it is the Moabitish damsel that ame back with Naomi out of the country of Moab." (2:5-6).  A later verse will show that Boaz has heard about Ruth although from his words it is clear that he has never met her. Boaz learns that Ruth has asked permission of the reapers to be there, and that she has been there all day.  Boaz encourages Ruth to stay in his field, right by his lady reapers."my maidens" (V8) Then "let thine eyes be on the field that they do reap, and go thou after them: have I not charged the young men that they shall not touch thee? and when thou art athirst, go unto the vessels, and drink of that which the young men have drawn" (V9) Boaz is providing for Ruth as she stays in his field, the same way that the Lord Jesus provides for all our needs as we abide in Him.

With gratitude Ruth bows down and asks him "Why have I found grace in thine eyes....seeing I am a stranger?" (V10)  Boaz tells Ruth it is because he knows everything she has done for Naomi since the death of her (Ruth's) husband, and how she has left her home and her family, and has come to a land she knew nothing about, and more than that Boaz knows that Ruth has come to trust the God of Israel as her own God.  "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" (V12). 

Now Ruth speaks of Boaz as her comforter, "let me find favour in thy sight, my lord; for that thou hast comforted me, and for that thou has spoken friendly unto thine handmaid...." (V13)  We think of our blessed Comforter, the Holy Spirit. Boaz answered Ruth "at mealtime come thou hither, and eat of the bread, and dip thy morsel in the vinegar.  And she sat beside the reapers: and he reached her parched corn, and she did eat, and was sufficed, and left." 

Boaz tells his young men to let Ruth glean among the sheaves, not only that which is left on the ground..  And so Ruth gleans until she has gathered much barley, and, gathering it up, takes it to Naomi.  Ruth tells Naomi all that has transpired that day, and Naomi is very happy and gives praises to the Lord "Blessed be he of the LORD, who hath not left off his kindness to the living and to the dead." (V20) because Naomi knows that Boaz is near kinsman to her. Ruth tells Naomi "He said unto me also, thou shalt keep fast by my young men, until they have ended all my harvest."  (V21) So Ruth continued to glean at the field of Boaz until the end of the barley harvest and then of the wheat harvest.  She stayed close to Boaz' maidens,  and lived with Naomi, thus keeping her reputation good....and showing her desire to please both Naomi and Boaz.

Continued in Ruth Part 2

vcg/August 2015