ruth

RUTH ~ A WOMAN OF INTEGRITY

John Reed[1] writes that the story of Ruth “gleams like a beautiful pearl against a jet black background.”

We meet Ruth during one of the most unsettled periods of Israel’s history. It was the time when the Judges ruled. (Ruth 1). After Joshua had died and his generation had passed on, “another generation grew up who knew neither the Lord nor what he had done for Israel.” (Judges 2:6-10). Except for a few like Gideon (Judges 6-8), it was a time when “everyone did as he saw fit.” (Judges 17:6). There was no king in Israel. Law and order had broken down everywhere. The nation was reeling under successive waves of corruption and civil strife. Ruth’s integrity stood out clearly against this dark background.

The life of Ruth also shone brightly in the country of her birth. Ruth was not an Israelite. She lived in the country of Moab on the other side of the Dead Sea. She was a Moabite. The Moabites were an idolatrous people. All kinds of evil practices spoiled their lives. (Numbers 25:1, Hosea 9:10). Moab, the founder of the nation, was born of the incestuous relationship initiated by Lot’s oldest daughter with her father. (Genesis 19:30-38).

Ruth however, emerges from the story as a person of integrity, both among her people and later among her adopted people, the people of Israel. In the first part of her story we read of ...

Ruth’s change of direction in life began in her home country Moab with the arrival of a family from across the River Jordan. They were people of a different culture. They came from Bethlehem in Judah. Elimelech and Naomi, and their two sons Mahlon and Kilion were Jewish people. They had left Judah because of a famine raging across their country. Ruth was drawn to this family. Like Job before them, they had kept their faith in the face of much hardship.

Ruth married one of Naomi’s sons. Her friend Orpah married his brother. But after just a few years both of their husbands died. Naomi’s husband Elimelech had died soon after their arrival in Moab and now her sons had died. As a widow and without close family in a foreign culture she lacked the support network of her culture that she now needed. It is not surprising therefore that she decided to return to her own country. And especially “when she heard in Moab that the Lord had come to the aid of his people by providing food for them.” (Ruth 1:6). Ruth and Orpah started out with her as she began the journey back to her country. But it was not long before Ruth made ...

Naomi most likely travelled north across the plains rather than south around the Dead Sea. Travelling south she would have had to negotiate the deep gorge of the River Zered which divided the Moabites from the Edomites. She would have been on the road known as early as the 23rd Century BC as the King’s Highway. She would have been planning to wade across the River Jordan. It would not then have been in flood as it had been at the time the people of Israel crossed under the leadership of Joshua. (Joshua 3:15).

A short distance along the road Naomi began to feel anxious about the future of her two daughters in law. In particular she was concerned about their prospects for marrying again. And so she told them that they should not go any further with her but return to their people. Their first decision was to continue to travel with her. But Naomi tested their resolve by giving them the opportunity to turn back. Orpah then changed her mind and returned to her people. Ruth on the other hand decided to stay with Naomi. Orpah chose to return to the known while Ruth chose to go on into the unknown. It was to be a life changing decision for Ruth. It was a decision which would include a switch in allegiance from the god of her people to Naomi’s God.

“Look,” said Naomi, “your sister in law is going back to her people and her gods. Go back with her.”

But Ruth replied, “Don’t urge me to leave you or turn back from you. Where you will go and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God.” (Ruth 1:16).

Ruth’s sister in law’s decision not to go on would have been based on her fear that the further she went from Moab the further she would be from the protection of her god. Like her people, she believed that her gods were active only in their local area. It was not a good decision that Orpah made because many evil practices were associated with these local gods. Worship of the Moabite peoples’ god Chemosh for example, involved wild celebrations and human sacrifices. (Numbers 21:29, 1 Kings 11:7-8, 2 Kings 3:26-27, 23:13, Jeremiah 48:46).

Ruth’s decision on the other hand indicated that she was transferring her confidence to the God of Israel. What a wonderful change of direction in life it would mean for her. In deciding to continue her journey with Naomi, Ruth was committing herself to the care of Naomi’s God. His is the care of a shepherd for his sheep, of parents for their child, a mother hen for her chick. (Psalm 23, Isaiah 49:15, Psalm 36:7).

After a walk of possibly ten to twelve days over a distance of at least 100 kilometres, Naomi and Ruth arrived in Bethlehem. Unknown to either woman at that time, Ruth was destined to become the great grandmother of King David and the second Gentile woman in the line of descent leading directly to Jesus. (Matthew 1:5).

In Bethlehem Naomi’s relatives would have given them accommodation in one of their homes. Ruth would not have found it difficult to find ways of helping her new family as it was the time for harvesting the barley crop. It was as she helped in the barley fields that Ruth experienced ...

While Ruth was working in the fields Boaz noticed her. He was a wealthy and influential landowner and a member of her father in law’s clan. Ruth also noticed him. Her heart must have beat a little faster as he initiated their first conversation. She responded coyly, “Why have I found such favour in your eyes that you notice me, a foreigner?” (v. 10). Boaz’ reply (v. 11), indicated that he already knew a lot about Ruth. He did not fall in love with his eyes closed.

Ruth quickly sensed that grace was an important feature of the new love entering her life. Twice in the conversation she acknowledged the favour being showed to her by Boaz (vv. 10,13). Boaz showed grace toward Ruth in several ways. His love was being offered to a person of another culture. From a person of high status to one of lowly position. Boaz also showed grace toward her in the attitude he took to her working in the field.

Ruth’s work was that of gleaning. Gleaning was the process of picking up what the harvesters left behind, particularly in the corners of the field. (Leviticus 19:9-10, 23:22). Some generous landowners instructed their workers to leave large amounts behind for the poor and aliens to gather. Gleaning was normally only permitted after the harvesters had finished and moved on to another field. Boaz acted graciously toward Ruth when he allowed her to follow on behind the other workers while they were harvesting. Boaz noticed the way Ruth responded to the grace shown to her. She was an industrious worker, gleaning about one Ephah (about 15 kgs.) each day. This would be enough to provide food for the family for many days. Boaz also invited Ruth to share in the meals he provided for his workers during the day.

In any culture, courtship and marriage which is wrapped in the grace of God is wonderfully enriched. Grace is the glue which holds it together. Paul writes of “God our Father who loved us and by his grace gave us eternal encouragement and good hope.” (2 Thessalonians 2:16). Peter writes of husband and wife “as being heirs together of the grace of life.” (1 Peter 3:7).

It was not by accident that Ruth found herself working on the property of Boaz. The Lord had led her to that place. At this time of her life she had the assurance that she was exactly where she was meant to be. John Reed[2] writes “It is clear that Ruth was not in the field of Boaz by mere chance. She ... was guided by grace into the place God provided.” As the courtship continued we notice that ...

In Jewish society, the mother (in this case Ruth’s mother in law) is concerned that the family find a suitable husband for her daughter. She has a lot of say in the decision. It was at Naomi’s suggestion therefore that Ruth stayed the night with Boaz. The marriage was not then consummated. The actions of Ruth during the night were a proposal to Boaz that he make arrangements for their wedding. She was indicating her willingness to become his bride.

Boaz and Ruth acted with integrity. John Reed[3] notes that “The uncovering of the feet was a ceremonial act that was completely proper.” As Boaz responded to Ruth’s initiative, he acknowledged her purity when he said, “All my fellow townsmen know that you are a woman of noble character.” (v. 11). In the morning Boaz gave Ruth a gift of about 27 Kgs of grain to carry home on her head for Naomi. Before the courtship could go any further however ...

Jewish culture required that if a woman’s husband died, then her husband’s brother was expected to marry her and take on the responsibility for her well being. (Deuteronomy 25:5-10). As part of this arrangement the brother also purchased the land belonging to his dead brother.

The problem for Boaz was that although he was from the same family line as Ruth’s deceased husband, he was not the closest to him. Following the cultural procedures laid down for just this kind of situation, Boaz called the nearest relative to a conference with the village elders. At this meeting the kinsman declined the opportunity to purchase his brother’s property and marry Ruth. This cleared the way for Boaz to redeem the situation for himself.

Boaz responded quickly to the relative’s invitation to “buy it yourself.” (v. 8). Boaz followed the ways of the culture for legalising the transaction. He paid the required amount for the redemption of the property and called on the village elders to witness “the passing of the sandal.” (v. 7). He then sealed the matter with the formal announcement, “Today you are witnesses that I have bought from Naomi all the property of Elimelech, Kilion, and Mahlon. I have also acquired Ruth the Moabitess, Mahlon’s widow, as my wife, in order to maintain the name of the dead with his property so that his name will not disappear from among his family or from the town records. Today you are witnesses!” (vv. 9-10).

A PICTURE OF THE CHURCH

Just as Ruth worked at harvesting grain in the fields of ripened barley, so the Church of every generation is called to work in the world’s people harvest fields. Matthew writes, “When he saw the crowds of people he had compassion on them because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, ‘The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.’” (Matthew 9:36-38).

Just as Boaz redeemed Ruth in order for her to become his bride, so too has Christ redeemed us. (1 Peter 1:18, 1 Corinthians 1:30, Ephesians 1:7, Colossians 1:14, Hebrews 9:12). And just as Ruth became the bride of Boaz because of her redemption, so is the Church pictured in the Scriptures as being the bride of Christ. (Isaiah 61:10, 62:5, Matthew 25:1-13, Ephesians 5:25-32, Revelation 19:6-10, 21:1-2,9).

[1] Reed, John. RUTH - The Bible Knowledge Commentary O.T. Canada: Scripture Press. 1989. p. 415.
[2] ibid: p. 422.
[3] ibid: p. 425.