RUTH

     Throughout human history the story of Ruth stands among the sweetest stories ever told. It is a love story of the highest caliber: not only in the lessons of love and devotion to GOD’S salvation, but of romance and family love.

     In the story of Ruth is seen the distinct honor of her being in the family lineage of the LORD Jesus Christ. Her husband, Boaz was the great grandfather of David, king of Israel. And Ruth, like Rahab in the days of Joshua and Jericho were of bloodlines outside the family of Abraham. But both became faithful to “the God of Abraham, of Isaac, and of Jacob,” and are in the family lineage of Jesus Christ (Matt.1:5). And with the virtuous character seen in their lives they were part of the righteous heritage that became inbred in the life of Jesus Christ.

     As you read her story a certain question begs an answer. Why did Ruth set her heart and determine to follow her mother-in-law to a land and people that were not her own? One thing is truly appreciated by those with discernment and a longing for life’s perfection: Once you’ve had a taste of the superior, to return to the inferior is unthinkable. The Bible teaches many stories on this topic.

     The story of Ruth begins with a famine in Israel that forced a certain family in Bethlehem, the man, Elimelech and his wife, Naomi, of the tribe of Judah to move to the neighboring country, Moab to find sustenance to live. While there the family’s two sons, Chilion and Mahlon married Moabite women. One of the two women was Ruth. When Ruth married Mahlon she was drawn into a religious value system that was very different than her native Moabite religion. The differences between the character of the gods and of the people were very apparent to Ruth. And when Naomi’s husband and her two sons died due to the hardships in the land of Moab Naomi's heart was crushed. But she soon learned that a plentiful harvest had returned to her native Bethlehem in Israel.

     At this time, Naomi bid her two daughters-in-law to remain among their people, that they not separate from their families and culture. And there was much weeping among them in this decision to separate from each other. But Ruth, having been drawn by the Spirit of the LORD, refused to separate from Naomi. Her words are as sweet as any found in the Sacred Scriptures: “And Ruth said, 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.” Ruth 1:16.

     Upon arriving in Bethlehem, Ruth went to Naomi’s brother in law, Boaz. Ruth followed the reapers of the field and gleaned the little that they left behind. For long hours she patiently gathered the corn for Naomi. Boaz, learning of her relation to Naomi and the plight they endured while in Moab took notice of her and spoke to her saying, “Go not to glean in another field, neither go from hence, but abide here fast by my maidens.” He then told her, “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.”

     Boaz took measures to make sure none of the men would neither seduce Ruth or reproach her. He even instructed the reapers to purposely leave extra ears of corn for Ruth and Naomi. Upon hearing this, Naomi knew that Boaz had a deep love for Ruth after witnessing for himself the sweetness of her character. And Naomi also knew of the Holy Spirit’s tug on his heart to raise up a family for his deceased brother, Elimelech. So she instructed Ruth to see where Boaz would sleep after the day’s harvest, and after he lay down, Ruth was to go and lay at his feet. “And she went down unto the floor, and did according to all that her mother in law bade her. And when Boaz had eaten and drunk, and his heart was merry, he went to lie down at the end of the heap of corn: and she came softly, and uncovered his feet, and laid her down. And it came to pass at midnight, that the man was afraid, and turned himself: and, behold, a woman lay at his feet. And he said, Who art thou? And she answered, I am Ruth thine handmaid: spread therefore thy skirt over thine handmaid; for thou art a near kinsman. And he said, Blessed be thou of the LORD, my daughter: for thou hast shewed more kindness in the latter end than at the beginning, inasmuch as thou followedst not young men, whether poor or rich. And now, my daughter, fear not; I will do to thee all that thou requirest: for all the city of my people doth know that thou art a virtuous woman.” Ruth 3:6-11.

     Boaz now determined to take Ruth to be his wife. But there was another sibling of Elimelech who was to be offered her hand along with acquiring the field of Naomi. When a married man died without having children the law of Moses instructed that a “near kinsman” would take the widow to wife and bear children by her, that the name of her deceased husband not be cut off from the Earth: that the dignity of his life be preserved. Boaz met the near kinsman and gathered the city elders to witness the offer and the requirement to carry on the name of Elimelech. When Boaz told him of the purchase of Naomi’s field, he agreed to take the field. “Then said Boaz, What day thou buyest the field of the hand of Naomi, thou must buy it also of Ruth the Moabitess, the wife of the dead, to raise up the name of the dead upon his inheritance. And the kinsman said, I cannot redeem it for myself, lest I mar mine own inheritance: redeem thou my right to thyself; for I cannot redeem it.” Ruth 4:5,6.

“And Boaz said unto the elders, and unto all the people, Ye are witnesses this day, that I have bought all that was Elimelech's, and all that was Chilion's and Mahlon's, of the hand of Naomi. Moreover Ruth the Moabitess, the wife of Mahlon, have I purchased to be my wife, to raise up the name of the dead upon his inheritance, that the name of the dead be not cut off from among his brethren, and from the gate of his place: ye are witnesses this day. And all the people that were in the gate, and the elders, said, We are witnesses. The LORD make the woman that is come into thine house like Rachel and like Leah, which two did build the house of Israel: and do thou worthily in Ephratah, and be famous in Bethlehem: And let thy house be like the house of Pharez, whom Tamar bare unto Judah, of the seed which the LORD shall give thee of this young woman. So Boaz took Ruth, and she was his wife: and when he went in unto her, the LORD gave her conception, and she bare a son. And the women said unto Naomi, Blessed be the LORD, which hath not left thee this day without a kinsman, that his name may be famous in Israel. And he shall be unto thee a restorer of thy life, and a nourisher of thine old age: for thy daughter in law, which loveth thee, which is better to thee than seven sons, hath born him. And Naomi took the child, and laid it in her bosom, and became nurse unto it. And the women her neighbours gave it a name, saying, There is a son born to Naomi; and they called his name Obed: he is the father of Jesse, the father of David. Vss.9-17.