Ruth - Writing the Scriptures

Today brings about the beginning of the end to my study of the book of Ruth. I cannot tell you how much I have enjoyed the time I have spent looking more closely at this story. So much more has come alive to me and I have gathered many truths upon which I'm sure I will hold closely for quite some time.

I am going to end my study time by trying a suggestion that was made in the book I followed throughout my study. I followed the study book for Ruth in the "Coffee Cup Bible Studies". These are written by Sandra Glahn. She suggests at the end of the study that we try something that was part of her classwork while in college. That was to write out the book of Ruth in longhand. I think that I should be able to write out eighty-five verses (she also did this with the full thirty-nine chapters in the book of Deuteronomy... so surely I can handle eighty-five verses!). As I write, I'm going to follow her suggestion as I go:

"As you write, chew on the storyteller's words. Notice the sovereign hand of God at work. Think about what a high premium the Lord places on caring for the needy. Marvel, as you write out the genealogy, how God weaves a story through human lives. Don't rush to complete the assignment. Take your time and notice details. Ask questions."

I'll let you know how it goes. I'm really interested in seeing what the Lord shows me as I take the time to write and meditate on the words of the book of Ruth.

In the meantime, I'm also beginning to look at the next book I'll be studying... the book of Colossians. I'm going to use the study guide from the "Coffee Cup Bible Study" series for this one, too. These books are easy to read and follow, provide some great background information as well as, practical examples to bring home the message.

This study will be a big change of pace from the book of Ruth, but I know will be just as rewarding as I learn and grow thru the time spent in study. I'm anxious to start... I've always loved Paul's letters. I hope you'll join me as I begin posting on Colossians in the next week or two!

Seeking God In the Hard Times

"I left here full, but the Lord has caused me to return empty-handed. Why do you call me 'Naomi', seeing that the Lord has opposed me, and the Sovereign One has caused me to suffer?" Ruth 1:21


I have always been cautious about voicing my complaints to God in prayer. When I don't like how things are going and I may be questioning His direction, I'm cautious there, too.

As I read thru this scripture passage and then the accompanying text in my study guide on Ruth, though, I began to re-think this position. It began as I read this statement shared from a book entitled Shattered Dreams which was written by Dr. Larry Crabb:

"Why was Naomi able to see God's hand when He began to move in her life? Many people can't. Why can she? I think it was because she entered her heart so deeply, feeling all its pain, that she eventually stumbled into the core of her heart, where she wanted God. People who find some way to deaden their pain never discover their desire for God in all its fullness... If we deny how badly we hurt, we remain unaware of our desire for God and aware only of lesser desires."

Could it be that when we don't pray to God about our questions and our hurt, that we deny those questions and hurt just a bit? After all, if we have a relationship with God but aren't talking to Him about what we REALLY feel, aren't we acting as if they don't exist? If we are putting God first in our lives, we should be turning it all over to Him... as we would our best friend. And, if we can tell our best friend, shouldn't we also be able to tell God?

But, if we're mad at God, do the same rules apply? So many times in our earthly relationships we don't tell our friends or family when we are mad at them. Is that really the right thing to do, though? If your spouse was angry with you would you want he/she to come to you or would you want them to complain to their friends? While it could be a difficult conversation, I know I would most definitely want my husband to come to me.

I think it's the same with God. He wants us to come to Him when we are angry with Him... not to complain to everyone EXCEPT Him. Whether we tell Him we are mad at him or not, HE KNOWS. He already knows our heart, our feelings, so why not just get it out there in the open and let Him help us deal with those feelings of anger, those questions, those doubts?

Why not talk about it with God and then let him wrap his arms around us and hold us and love us?

Can God Use our Sin for Good?

As I have read and studied the book of Ruth over the last few months I have been amazed at all God has shown me. Much of it I have already shared with you, but there is still more that I have not yet shared. I'm going to take the next few Mondays to share a bit more of what God has shown me as I've spent time in this great story in the Bible.


"All the people who were at the gate and the elders replied, "We are witnesses. May the Lord make the woman who is entering your home like Rachel and Leah, both of whom built up the house of Israel! May you prosper in Ephrathah and become famous in Bethlehem. May your family become like the family of Perez -- whom Tamar bore to Judah -- through the descendants the Lord gives you by this young woman." Ruth 4:11


Rachel and Leah were sisters who both married their cousin Jacob. As we look at their story, we see a rivalry between these two that went on for a number of years. Jacob had always planned to only marry Rachel, but was tricked at the time of the wedding by their father and actually married Leah instead. Their father then promised to allow Jacob to also marry Rachel which then led to both sisters being married to the same man (I'm definitely sharing the short version here -- the fully story can be found in the book of Genesis beginning around chapter 29).

Leah knew that Rachel was the sister that Jacob really loved. But, while Rachel struggled with infertility, Leah bore many children. With these two issues in front of them always, they were constantly competing for Jacob's attentions. Rachel feared her inability to conceive would cause Jacob to turn away from her and Leah feared Jacob would turn from her since it was Rachel that he truly loved. Rachel came up with a plot for her to give her maid to Jacob as his third wife to obtain more children of her own. Leah thought if she continued to give children to Jacob that would secure her of Jacob's attentions. So, when Leah could no more have children, she gave her maid to Jacob as his fourth wife to bear additional children. The total of all these children was thirteen - one daughter and twelve sons.

Tamar is also mentioned in the scripture above. Her story can be found in Genesis 38. Tamar was married to Er, the eldest son of Judah. God killed Er because he was wicked leaving Tamar widowed. As was the custom at the time, Judah asked his other son Onan to sleep with Tamar to provide a child that would be the offspring of Er. Onan found a way around this which led to his killing, as well. What we see happening later in the story after Judah's wife died is Judah looking for a prostitute and being presented with one that he later learned was Tamar. He then later learned that their one time together had impregnated Tamar with his children, twin sons that were born several months later.

In both of these stories we see pain and deception, greed and hatred. Yet, God used them in great ways in fulfilling his ultimate plan. One of Rachel's sons was Joseph who was sold into slavery by his older brothers, a story that shows us how even though we may have incredibly difficult times in our lives, God still leads us to great things. The sons of Rachel, Leah, and their maids went on to be the leaders of the twelve tribes of Israel. Tamar bore a son that was in the lineage of Jesus.

And, as we see in these scriptures in Ruth, none of these women are remembered for their wrongdoings. Rachel and Leah were remembered for being the founding mothers of a great nation. Tamar for being the mother of Perez, the twin son that was in the lineage of King David and Jesus.

God takes our weaknesses and our misguided efforts and turns them to good. He takes them and uses them to fulfill His purposes. While it doesn't make our actions "OK", it does say so much about the mighty God we serve! None of us are perfect and we all have fallen short, but what a mighty witness we can be if we turn those shortcomings over to God and allow Him to work in and thru them!

As I think and pray on all of this I am left wondering what wrongs I have done that I can give to God to use for good? How can I take something that is definitely a shortcoming on my part, learn from it, and then help others struggling with the exact same thing?

Lord, please show me your ways. Show me where I have failed You and where I can use that failure to be a light in the world for You." Amen.

God's Plan is Bigger - Ruth 4:13-22

So Boaz married Ruth and had sexual relations with her. The Lord enabled her to conceive and she gave birth to a son. The village women said to Naomi, "May the Lord be praised because he has not left you without a guardian today! May he become famous in Israel! He will encourage you and provide for you when you are old, for your daughter-in-law, who loves you, has given him birth. She is better to you than seven sons!" Naomi took the child and placed him on her lap; she became his caregiver. The neighbor women named him, saying, "A son has been born to Naomi." They named him Obed. Now he became the father of Jesse - David's father! These are the descendants of Perez: Perez was the father of Hezron, Hezron was the father of Ram, Ram was the father of Amminadab, Amminadab was the father of Nachshon, Nachshon was the father of Salmah, Salmon was the father of Boaz, Boaz was the father of Obed, Obed was the father of Jesse, and Jesse was the father of David. Ruth 4:13-22


Can you think of a better ending to this beautiful story of Ruth and Naomi? As I read this I think of nothing but praises to God. Is this not the perfect example of God taking care of us thru trials and tribulations? Does it not show us that while we may hurt and find life difficult that He is still with us all the while painting a much bigger picture than what we may realize at the time?

First, let's look specifically to Naomi and the part she has in this story. When we begin reading the book of Ruth, Naomi has just lost her husband and both of her sons. She is living in a city that is not home and the only family close are her two daughters-in-law, Ruth and Orpah. When Naomi and Ruth move back to Bethlehem she asks her family and friends to call her 'Mara'. Mara means bitter. Naomi felt bitter after what she had recently experienced.

Now, let's jump ahead to the end of the book of Ruth. Naomi has been given a grandson to carry on the family name. She is his caregiver and she feels blessed. Her life has come full circle from pain and sorrow found in grief to the joy and wonder of new life. The Lord has taken her grief and replaced it with joy.

Let's now take a step back to look at the how God took their grief and made it into a great and marvelous plan that affected more than just Ruth and Naomi. Both Ruth and Naomi experienced pain found in grieving the loss of a loved one. They both lived among people they didn't know for a time and had to find a way to support themselves without their husbands. Life was difficult for awhile. I'm sure they wondered many times what God's plan was for them and why He allowed their husbands to die. But, if they hadn't experienced the loss of their husbands would they have returned to Bethlehem? Would Ruth have met Boaz? Would Ruth and Boaz have a son named Obed? A son that would father Jesse, the father of King David?

Neither Ruth nor Naomi lived to know David or know of his reign as King of Israel, but can you imagine how they would've felt if they knew where their story led? I am just in complete amazement when I look at how all of this story came together over years and years. It gives me a great assurance that, while I may have some incredibly difficult times in my life, God's plan is bigger and deeper and wider than my pain and that there is a purpose and a reason to it all.

Oh, how I thank God today for this assurance that He gives to us. An assurance that He is always there working out "the big picture" and taking both the good and the bad and working them for His good and perfect plan.

Integrity and Taking Risks - Ruth 4:1-12

Now Boaz went up to the village gate and sat there. Then along came the guardian whom Boaz had mentioned to Ruth! Boaz said, "Come here and sit down, 'John Doe'!" So he came and sat down. Boaz chose ten of the village leaders and said, "Sit down here!" So they sat down. Then Boaz said to the guardian, "Naomi, who has returned from the region of Moab, is selling the portion of land that belongs to our relative Elimelech. So I am legally informing you: Acquire it before those sitting here and before the leaders of my people! If you want to exercise your right to redeem it, then do so. But if not, then tell me so I will know. For you possess the first option to redeem it; I am next in line after you." He replied, "I will redeem it." Then Boaz said, "When you acquire the field from Naomi, you must also acquire Ruth the Moabite, the wife of our deceased relative, in order to preserve his family name by raising up a descendant who will inherit his property." The guardian said, "Then I am unable to redeem it, for I would ruin my own inheritance in that case. You may exercise my redemption option, for I am unable to redeem it." (Now this used to be the customary way to finalize a transaction involving redemption in Isarel: A man would remove his sandal and give it to the other party. This was a legally binding act in Israel.) So the guardian said to Boaz, "You may acquire it," and he removed his sandal. Then Boaz said to the leaders and all the people, "You are witnesses today that I have acquired from Naomi all that belonged to Elimelech, Kilion, and Mahlon. I have also acquired Ruth the Moabite, the wife of Mahlon, as my wife to raise up a descendant who will inherit his property so the name of the deceased might not disappear from among his relatives and from his village. You are witnesses today." All the people who were at the gate and the elders replied, "We are witnesses. May the Lord make the woman who is entering your home like Rachel and Leah, both of whom build up the house of Israel! May you prosper in Ephrathah and become famous in Bethlehem. May your family become like the family of Perez -- whom Tamar bore to Judah -- through the descendants the Lord gives you by this young woman." Ruth 4:1-12


Last week we left Ruth wondering what was going to happen. She had, for all practical purposes, stepped out on a limb and proposed to Boaz. She had taken a leap of faith because of her love for Naomi and her faith in God. However, what we find happens is that Boaz says that, while he is willing, he must first go to a man that is a closer relative than he... a man that has first rights to marry Ruth. A man that Ruth has never even met.

I think this is where we really see what a Godly man that Boaz is in ALL his dealings. We have already seen how he has cared for Ruth and Naomi as Ruth has worked in his fields. But, here we see it for not just Ruth and Naomi but also in how he is with other people.

We do, first, see how kind he is to Ruth as she has made this proposal. He shares his willingness to accept her proposal. But, he shows great integrity and kindness towards others in that he also says that first he must go to this other man, this person that is a closer family member than himself. And, because he knows that Ruth is waiting he moves quickly. He knew that Ruth and Naomi would be anxious so he did not keep them waiting any longer than necessary. As soon as morning came he started out to make the necessary contact with this other man.

Since there were no computers or courthouses during this time, many transactions were done in the presence of witnesses. Because of the number of people that would always be there, the city gates were where many business type transactions took place. The elders of the city would gather at the gates to conduct business. So, this is where Boaz went. At that city gates he could discuss with this family member and have present all the city elders as witnesses.

Here is where we see how kind Boaz is in his dealings with others. He is respectful of this man's position in the family and respectful of his "rights" that come with being in this position. He approaches the man kindly and offers him the "rights" to the land and to marrying Ruth. He willingly will accept whatever the outcome. I wonder if Boaz was a bit nervous at this point as to how this would play out? Do you think maybe he was worried that this man would want to marry Ruth? The Bible doesn't tell us any of this, but I can't help but wonder how Boaz felt at this point.

Another point that struck me as I read thru this passage was the risk that Boaz was willing to take.. actually some might view it as two risks. One, he was willing to risk losing the right to marry Ruth by going to the closer relative. He knew there was a chance that this relative might want to marry Ruth. And, two, some might feel that being willing to marry Ruth in the first place was a risk. He really didn't know her well, she was from a foriegn country and until recently had worshipped a foreign idol.

This also brings me to look at the relative that Boaz approached and look at what he wasn't willing to risk. If he married Ruth he stated that he would lose his own inheritance. But, as we look forward in scriptures, we find out what lay ahead for Ruth. She fell into the direct lineage of David and of Jesus. Look what this man gave up when he decided to take the "safe" option and not risk his own inheritance!

In closing, I'd like to share some of the questions I have asked myself as I have studied these passages....

* When I know someone is relying on me and awaiting an answer, do I move quickly?

* Do I keep my promises as Boaz kept his promises to Ruth and Naomi that he would do the honorable thing?

* Am I willing to take risks for God?

* Am I willing to risk only the "small things" or am I willing to risk it all for God and His calling on my life?

Waiting - Ruth 3:12-18

Now, yes, it is true that I am a guardian, but there is another guardian who is a closer relative than I am. Remain here tonight. Then in the morning, if he agrees to marry you, fine, let him do so. But if he does not want to do so, I promise, as surely as the Lord lives, to marry you. Sleep here until morniing." So she slept beside him until morning. She woke up while it was still dark. Boaz thought, "No one must know that a woman visited the threshing floor." Then he said, "Hold out the shawl you are wearing and grip it tightly." As she held it tightly, he measured out about sixty pounds of barley into the shawl and put it on her shoulders. Then he went into town, and she returned to her mother-in-law. When Ruth returned to her mother-in-law, Naomi asked, "How did things turn out for you, my daughter?" Ruth told her about all the man had done for her. She said, "He gave me these sixgty pounds of barley, for he said to me, 'Do not go to your mother-in-law empty-handed." Then Naomi said, "Stay put, my daughter, until you know how the matter turns out. For the man will not rest until he has taken care of the matter today." Ruth 3:12-18


Several years ago I was at a point where I knew God was leading me volunteer for something new in our church. However, for quite some time, I didn't know what it was. I could feel God working in me and providing me with a willing heart, but I just couldn't figure out where He wanted me to be.

After several months of seeking, I received a letter in the mail one day from the Children's Sunday School Director at our church. The letter had actually gone out to many people in our church, but as I began to read I felt like it had been mailed only to me. Our children's Sunday School department was in dire need of Sunday School teachers. I had, actually, known for awhile that they were in need of teachers, but did not know how strong the need really was and had never even considered teaching. That is, until the moment I read that letter. It as like God was speaking the words of that letter directly to me.

The following day I called Chris, our wonderful Children's Sunday School director. She was not in her office at the church that day. At the time I thought nothing of it as I knew she was not there but a couple of days during the week and just figured I had called on one of the days she was not there. I left a message on her voicemail assuming I would hear back from her soon.

However, after about a week and a half I had heard nothing. At first I thought this was rather odd as I knew Chris to be the type of person that would always follow up on phone messages. Especially when there was such a need for teachers. Then, I began to worry that maybe I had heard God wrong. Maybe teaching wasn't where He wanted me. Maybe I had mis-heard. Maybe I still had no idea of the direction in which God was leading. Then, Satan really began to cause me to doubt by placing thoughts in my head such as, "Maybe Chris doesn't want you to be a teacher. Maybe she doesn't think you are good enough."

While the situations are completely different, I would imagine that Ruth felt a bit like I did when Boaz told her that there was someone else that was a closer relative. Someone else to be asked to marry Ruth. Can you even imagine? Ruth took a big step to go to Boaz and ask him to marry her. I would guess she felt like she was WAY out of her comfort zone. But, because of her faith and because of her love for Noami, she steps out and goes to Boaz.

Then, once she does so, she finds out that while Boaz is willing they must first check with someone else. They need to ask another relative if he would be willing to marry her. Someone she doesn't know. Someone she has never met. And, she must wait for the answer. She must sleep thru the night and then go back home to Naomi the next day and just wait.

Do you think that maybe Ruth questioned whether she had heard God correctly? Maybe Boaz wasn't the one as she and Naomi had thought? Would God really have her marry someone she did not know? Would God really direct her to Boaz only to then lead her to someone completely different? Maybe Boaz didn't want to marry her and was trying to get "off the hook"?

When Ruth goes back to Naomi and shares the story with her, Noami tells her to "stay put". She probably didn't say these words meaning, "Don't leave the house" or "Don't do anything". Her meaning was probably more along the lines of "Don't waver", "Trust God", "Remain steady until God shows the answer".

That is where I struggle so much. As I shared above, I let the doubts and the insecurities set in and take control over my thoughts. But, when I calm down and "stay put" it always works out. In the particular story I began sharing above, that is exactly how it played out. On the way to church almost 2 weeks later, I was sharing with my husband some of my feelings. He strongly encouraged me to just check with Chris that morning. And, why I didn't think of that before is beyond me. I certainly could have picked up the phone anytime during those two weeks and checked with her. And, I saw her every Sunday morning as she was always out and about in the hallways of the children's Sunday School classrooms. I always passed her and talked as we were dropping our children off each week.

So, on that morning when I saw her I just asked if she had gotten the message I had left for her several weeks before. She said she had not. And, then when I explained why I had called she expressed such excitement. (Yea... I really need to quit allowing Satan to work with my insecurities!)

I have now been teaching in a children's Sunday School class for almost two years and absolutely love it. Each child is so very special and I have the opportunity to assist in laying down their foundation in the Lord. And, best of all? I have absolutely no doubts that this is where the Lord wanted me all along!

As we later discovered, Chris' office phone had been working poorly for quite some time and sometime prior to me leaving that message had stopped notifying her when she had a message. Something so simple as a malfunctioning phone led me down the road of doubt and insecurity. God's power and love is so strong, but I almost let that bad phone keep me from doing what I knew was God's will for my life.

I am learning (slowly, but I am learning) that when I am patient and wait for God that He always shows up. He and I don't always work on the same time schedule and I must always remember and commit to working within His timeframe and not mine. Will you join me in praying for God to help us always wait and always trust Him?

Ruth 3:1-11

At that time, Naomi, her mother-in-law, said to her, "My daughter, I must find a home for you so you will be secure. Now Boaz, with whose female servants you worked, is our close relative. Look, tonight he is winnowing barley at the threshing floor. So bathe yourself, rub on some perfumed oil, and get dressed up. Then go down to the threshing floor. But don't let the man know you're there until he finishes his meal. When he gets ready to go to sleep, take careful notice of the place where he lies down. Then go, uncover his legs, and lie down beside him. He will tell you what you should do." Ruth replied to Naomi, "I will do everything you have told me to do." So she went down to the threshing floor and did everything her mother-in-law had instructed her to do. When Boaz had finished his meal and was feeling satisfied, he lay down to sleep at the far end of the grain heap. Then Ruth crept up quietly, uncovered his legs, and lay down beside him. In the middle of the night he was startled and turned over. Now he saw a woman lying beside him! He said, "Who are you?" She replied, "I am Ruth, your servant. Marry your servant, for you are a guardian of the family interests." He said, "May you be rewarded by the Lord, my dear! This act of devotion is greater than what you did before. For you have not sought to marry one of the young men, whether rich or poor. Now, my dear, don't worry! I intend to do for you everything you propose, for everyone in the village knows that you are a worthy woman. Ruth 3:1-11


During this time in the Bible, it was part of the culture that each family had a goel. I know, I know... what does that mean? The word literally translates as "guardian" or "close relative". This guardian was responsible for family property, but also a bit more than just property. He was also responsible to care for the widow of his deceased relative.

In the story of Ruth, Boaz is the goel for Ruth and Naomi. He is the closest living male relative to Elimilech, Naomi's deceased husband. Therefore, as Ruth tells him in Ruth 3:9, "You are the guardian of the family interests."

We quickly find that Boaz takes his position in the family seriously. He quickly responds that he will do everything that Ruth has requested. He also quickly shows himself as the kind and godly man that he is when he recognizes what it took for Ruth to come to him. In verse 10, Boaz tells her, ;">"May you be rewarded by the Lord, my dear! This act of devotion is great than what you did before. For you have not sought to marry one of the young men, whether rich or poor." Boaz recognizes that she is acting more out of care and respect for Naomi than for her own needs. He also expresses to her once again that she is "a worthy woman".

The word used for "worthy" in this scripture is hayil. This is the same word from which comes the words "excellent" and "noble". This is also the word used in Proverbs 31. It is used in these contexts to describe a woman of great prowess, bravery, strength, might, or valor in battle. Wow! Ruth is truly a godly woman, don't you think?

Something else of interest here is that this is the same word used to describe Boas in Ruth 2:1. There we read "Boaz was a wealthy, prominent man from the clan of Elimelech". The word prominent here also comes from the word hayil.

Regardless of how kind a man Boaz was, can you imagine stepping out and making such a proposal to a man that is so many years older and probably not your "first choice" for a husband? What devotion Ruth shows to Naomi (once again). She once again shows that it is not her own interests she seeks. She is so deveoted to Naomi that she seeks out a man that is much older so that she can marry and provide Naomi with a grandson to carry out the family name.

Isn't there so much we can learn as we continue to see again and again the devotion of Ruth to Naomi? As our culture is so different than it was during the lives of Ruth and Naomi, I feel safe saying that God would not expect us to marry a man we did not love in order to show devotion. However, I do think he expects us to show such devotion to our loved ones.... just in different ways.

Is it always easy to do so? NO! Many times it can very quickly pull us outside of our comfort zones. It takes up time where we may wish we were doing something else. What a witness we can be to others, though, if we are willing to show such love and devotion!

Dear Lord, I pray today that as Ruth was so devoted to Naomi, that I would show such devotion to my loved ones. I pray, Lord, that I would be willing to step out and give of my time and my talents to care for them and to show them of the love I have for each one of them. I pray that when I am not comfortable or when I am selfish in the giving of my time that you would turn my heart and my mind in the direction you would have them to go and that you would give me a willing heart. Amen.

Praising God and Working Hard - Ruth 2:18-23

She carried it back to town, and her mother-in-law saw how much grain she had gathered. Then Ruth gave her the roasted grain she had saved from mealtime. Her mother-in-law asked her, "Where did you gather grain today? Where did you work? May the one who took notice of you be rewarded!" So Ruth told her mother-in-law with whom she had worked. She said, "The name of the man with whom I worked today is Boaz." Naomi said to he daughter-in-law, "May he be rewarded by the Lord because he has shown loyalty to the living on behalf of the dead!" Then Naomi said to her, "This man is a close relative of ours; he is our guardian." Ruth the Moabite replied, "He even told me, 'You may go along beside my servants until they have finished gathering all my harvest!'" Naomi then said to her daughter-in-law Ruth, "It is good, my daughter, that you should go out to work with his female servants. That way you will not be harmed, which could happen in another field." So Ruth worked beside Boaz's female servants, gathering grain until the end of the barley harvest as well as the wheat harvest. After that she stayed home with her mother-in-law. Ruth 2:18-23



As we look at this passage of scripture from the book of Ruth, we see two important actions that go along with serving the Lord.

First, we see how Naomi is praising God for his gifts given to them thru the man Boaz. It is in his fields that Ruth has been working. Boaz has been so kind to Ruth and offered so much more than he does others that have come to gather the leftover grain in his fields. He has treated Ruth as he would one of his own workers. In the last verse of the passage we looked at last week, she went home with thirty pounds of barley. And, as we'll see in later verses, she comes home another day with twice that amount. The Lord has worked thru Boaz to provide for Ruth and Naomi. They both recognize the goodness of God and are singing His praises.

If we look back to earlier scriptures in this story we find Naomi feeling alone and bitter. But, look to these verses and we see how Naomi is beginning to see God's plan for her unfold. She is able to recognize that, although she has been dealt a tough blow in life, that God is forever faithful. While she has known all along that God does have a plan and would provide her needs, she is now able to begin seeing the plan unfold. What a difference it makes for her and how great it is to praise the Lord for His provisions!

The second point we see is that Ruth is a hard worker. Yes, the Lord is providing, and yes, Ruth and Naomi are deserving of all the kindnesses bestowed on them. But, Ruth isn't just sitting around and letting someone hand it over to her with no work done on her part. I see this as an incredibly important aspect of this story.

God does promise to meet our needs. He promises to always be with us and love us and protect us. However, he also gave us the ability to work, the ability to be responsible, the ability to sweat a little. When we pray to God for whatever it is we might need, I really don't think He expects us to just sit around and wait for it to be dropped in our laps. He expects us to get out and work for it, too.

For example, what if I am in need of a job? Should I just pray and pray and then sit on my sofa in front of the television set and wait for the phone to ring? NO! I must get out and do my part, too. I need to work and search the want ads, go to job interviews, mail resumes, etc. God gave us abilities and talents for many purposes and one of them is to care for ourselves and our families. Yes, He will lead us to the right job, but we've got to work WITH God.

My prayer this week is that I would never fail to praise the Lord for the provisions He gives to me and my family and friends. I pray I would always recognize it all as coming from Him and not because of anything that I did or think that I deserve. I pray that as I seek His direction and His provisions for my family that I would never fail to get out and do my part, as well. That I would take the abilities that He has given me to provide and care as He directs.

I pray that I would remember Ruth and, as God provided, she worked and she listened and she praised.

Loving Amidst Differences - Ruth 2:14-17

Later during the mealtime Boaz said to her, "Come here and have some food! Dip your bread in the vinegar!" So she sat down beside the harvesters. Then he handed her some roasted grain. She ate until she was full and saved the rest. When she got up to gather grain, Boaz told his male servants, "Let her gather grain even among the bundles! Don't chase her off! Make sure you pull out her ears of grain for her and drop them so she can gather them up. Don't tell her not to!" So she gathered grain in the field until evening. When she threshed what she had gathered, it came to about thirty pounds of barley! Ruth 2:14-17


Have you ever felt like you didn't belong? Maybe felt like you were different than everyone else? Or, to flip the coin, have you ever met someone that was a little different from you.. maybe they were from a foreign country and new to your city, maybe they wore different styles of clothing or didn't talk in the same manner as you and your friends?

Whatever the difference might be, should it matter? Should we treat them differently? How would you want to be treated if you were the one different than everyone else?

This really is where Ruth is in the story at this time. She is widowed, she is living alone with her mother-in-law, she is living in a foreign land and is perceived as the "foreigner". In this time in history, the Moabites were stigmatized. She is poor, she must work in the fields to provide food for herself and Naomi. She grew up worshipping the idol god Chemosh instead of the one true Lord (though by now she has turned to the Lord). What a list of differences! My goodness, can you even begin to imagine how she felt? Wouldn't you imagine she felt rather like the "odd man out"?

Yet, even with all those differences, Boaz continues to offer kindnesses to Ruth. So much more than she could ever imagine. Ruth probably didn't know what to expect from these people in Bethlehem... people she had never met and were foreigners to her just as she was to them. From the way the scripture reads, though, I can't imagine that she ever thought she would receive the kind treatment offered her by Boaz.

Let's take a minute and go thru all that has been offered her by Boaz up to this point:

* Boaz tells Ruth to stay and work exclusively in his fields

* He then tells her to go alongside his female harvesters

* When Ruth is thirsty, she is to drink from the jars of water drawn by the servants

* In Ruth's own words Boaz has "reassured and encouraged" her

* Boaz offers Ruth food from his own table

* Boaz tells his male workers not to chase her off and to drop the ears of grain where Ruth can easily gather them for her own bag


Regardless of how "different" Ruth may have been perceived in Bethlehem, that didn't matter to Boaz. Her knew her to be a kind, loving and faithful woman. That was where he put his focus. Just as he should. In God's eyes it doesn't matter where we are from, what we look like, how we talk, what we wear, etc. It's what is in our hearts and in our minds that is important.

My prayer today is that I would always remember the love and kindness given to Ruth by Boaz. That this part of the story would serve as a reminder to me of how to treat those I encounter that the world would perceive as "different". I pray that I wouldn't fall to the worldly actions of treating them as if they were different. -- that I would never look upon them negatively or treat them differently just because they do not have the same background. I want to see thru all the external and love them for what is in their hearts and minds just as Boaz did for Ruth.

Showing Kindness - Ruth 2:8-13

So Boaz said to Ruth, "Listen carefully, my dear! Do not leave to gather grain in another field. You need not go beyond the limits of this field. You may go along beside my female workers. Take note of the field where the men are harvesting and follow behind with the female workers. I will tell the men to leave you alone. When you are thirsty, you may go to the water jars and drink some of the water the servants draw." Ruth knelt before him with her forehead to the ground and said to him, "Why are you so kind and so attentive to me, even though I am a foreigner?" Boaz replied to her, "I have been given a full report of all that you have done for your mother-in-law following the death of your husband -- how you left your father and your mother, as well as your homeland, and came to live among people you did not know previously. May the Lord reward your efforts! May your acts of kindness be repaid fully by the Lord God of Israel, from whom you have sought protection!" She said, "You really are being kind to me, sir, for you have reassured and encouraged me, your servant, even though I am not one of your servants!" Ruth 2:8-13

This passage of scripture we read today from Ruth is such a wonderful example of someone showing true and sincere kindness. Kindness that goes so far above what would ever be expected. Kindness that is given from someone that truly loves God.

As we read in the previous verses of this 2nd chapter of Ruth, it was expected that persons in Ruth's position be allowed to gather grain in the fields. It was expected that they be allowed to follow behind the workers and gather what was left behind. However, Boaz goes on to take it one step further. He tells Ruth that she may gather alongside the other female workers. When she is thirsty she is to drink from the water jars that are drawn by the servants. He treats as if she was one of the harvesters instead of a young girl that is poor and very much in need of food. In addition, she is a foreigner. The Moabites were considered second-class citizens in Bethlehem.

Can you imagine Ruth's surprise to hear these words from Boaz? I'm guessing she was a bit stunned by his kindness. She even asks, "Why are you so attentive to me, even though I am a foreigner?"

Boaz tells her he is being so kind because he knows all that she has done. He knows that Ruth gave up her family, her homeland, and is living among people she doesn't know all so that she can be with Naomi; to love her and to care for her. To be Naomi's family now that her husband and her children have died.

I'm struck by how Ruth doesn't seem to think of what she has done for Noami as being that "above and beyond" type of kindness. But, yet, she has given up so much in order to care for Naomi. And, Boaz, being the kind and godly man that he is completely recognizes the love shown by Ruth for what it is. He is completely acknowledging this by showing her kindness and sharing with her his faith that the Lord is with her, protecting her and loving her.

So many things jump off the page at me as I read this passage....

~ What an example of God's love that Ruth shows in all she has done for Naomi

~ In turn, what kindness Boaz shows towards Ruth because of what she has done for Naomi

~ The faith in God they both show -- and considering Ruth has just recently begun following God (remember, the Moabites served their own god, Chemosh), this really jumps out at me. I was raised in church and accepted Christ as a child, but I STILL have days when I struggle with trusting God to take care of it all. Look at how Ruth has turned to God for protection. As Boaz stated, ".... the Lord God of Israel, from whom you have sought protection!"

~ Ruth has left all her family to be with Naomi. For some reason, I never really thought of this aspect previously. What a sacrifice Ruth has made! In this day, there was no jumping on a plane or driving in her car to see her family. By moving so far away, it is entirely possible that she will never see her parents or siblings again.

Dear Lord, I thank you so for the story of Ruth. I thank you for the sweet and loyal heart of Ruth and how it shows us the meaning of true and godly kindness. I thank you, too, for Boaz and his part in this story. Through him we learn how important it is to offer kindness to those that have less than we do. He shows us how to recognize Your love and direction in the lives of others and how to encourage them as they walk with You. I pray, dear Lord, that you would show me how to have a heart full of love and kindness for others. That I would recognize more clearly those that are in need and that I would see what I could do to assist them. And, that I would not only see, but that I would act on what I see and offer kindness. I thank you, Lord, for your Word and all it has to offer us if only we will seek. In Christ's name, Amen.

Ruth 2:1-7 - A Continuation - Helping the Poor

"Now Naomi had a relative on her husband's side of the family named Boaz. He was a wealthy, prominent man from the clan of Elimelech. One day Ruth the Moabite said to Naomi, "Let me go to the fields so I can gather grain behind whoever permits me to do so." Naomi replied, "You may go, my daughter." So Ruth went and gathered grain in the fields behind the harvesters. Now she just happened to end up in the portion of the field belonging to Boaz, who was from the clan of Elimelech. Now at that very moment, Boaz arrived from Bethlehem and greeted the harvesters, "May the Lord be with you!" They replied, "May the Lord bless you!" Boaz asked his servant in charge of the harvesters, "To whom does this young woman belong?" The servant in charge of the harvesters replied, "She's the young Moabite woman who came back with Naomi from the region of Moab. She asked, "May I follow the harvesters and gather grain among the bundles?" Since she arrived she has been working hard from this morning until now - except for sitting in the resting hut a short time." Ruth 2:1-7


As I studied these scriptures I discovered some other insights that I just had to share with you before we moved along any further.

Do you notice how in verse 7 the servant tells Boaz that Ruth asked, "May I follow the harvesters and gather grain among the bundles?" Any other time I have read this in the past I thought absolutely nothing of it other than it was the "right" thing to do before she just walked out in this man's field and starting gathering up his grain.

However, a look back at Jewish law tells us that Boaz was required to allow Ruth to gather grain in his fields. In Leviticus 19:9-10 we find these words....

"When you gather in the harvest of your land, you must not completely harvest the corner of your field, and you must not gather up the gleanings of your harvest. You must not pick your vineyard bare, and you must not gather up the fallen grapes of your vineyard. You must leave them for the poor and the foreigner. I am the Lord your God."

Then, just a few chapters later we find these words in Leviticus 23:22....

"When you gather in the harvest of your land, you must not completely harvest the corner of your field, and you must not gather up the gleanings of your harvest. You must leave them for the poor and the foreigner. I am the Lord your God. "

With the law presented in these scriptures, the disadvantaged (widows, orphans, poor) were allowed to gather grain from the unharvested parts of the field. They could also go back over areas that had already been harvested and pick up grain that had been missed or had fallen (this was called gleaning).

Since it was mentioned twice in the course of just several chapters, I would say that God took caring for the disadvantaged seriously. Not only was it mentioned twice in Leviticus, but I also found one reference that stated caring for the poor is mentioned 136 times in the Bible. I'd say God places a high priority on this, wouldn't you?

In closing I want to share several of the questions I've been asking myself over the last couple of days as I've been looking at this scripture.....

~ Do I share with the disadvantaged as God would have me to?

~ Do I share appropriately of my time?

~ Do I share appropriately of my money?

~ If not, what steps would God have me take to change and place a higher priority on this in my life and the life of my family?

Ruth 2:1-7

"Now Naomi had a relative on her husband's side of the family named Boaz. He was a wealthy, prominent man from the clan of Elimelech. One day Ruth the Moabite said to Naomi, "Let me go to the fields so I can gather grain behind whoever permits me to do so." Naomi replied, "You may go, my daughter." So Ruth went and gathered grain in the fields behind the harvesters. Now she just happened to end up in the portion of the field belonging to Boaz, who was from the clan of Elimelech. Now at that very moment, Boaz arrived from Bethlehem and greeted the harvesters, "May the Lord be with you!" They replied, "May the Lord bless you!" Boaz asked his servant in charge of the harvesters, "To whom does this young woman belong?" The servant in charge of the harvesters replied, "She's the young Moabite woman who came back with Naomi from the region of Moab. She asked, "May I follow the harvesters and gather grain among the bundles?" Since she arrived she has been working hard from this morning until now - except for sitting in the resting hut a short time." Ruth 2:1-7


As we jump back into the study of Ruth and start Chapter 2 we meet Boaz. As it turns out, Boaz is a relative of Naomi's late husband. On this day, Boaz has returned from Bethlehem (his fields were outside the city gates). As he walks thru his fields and greets the harvesters, he notices Ruth. He immediately asks who she is... his exact words being "To whom does she belong?" (Remember in last week's post we looked at the custom in those times of a woman "belonging" to either her father or her husband? Yep.. that applies here. Boaz wasn't being demeaning to Ruth at all. For this time period, it was perfectly natural to ask the question in this manner. )

One thing about Boaz that struck me almost immediately was this.... he must of been a kind and Godly man. Look at how he greeted his workers as he walked thru the fields.... "May the Lord be with you!" and "May the Lord bless you!" were the words he said to them all (wouldn't it be great to be greeted in such a manner in our workplaces today?). Also, I read his words of inquiry about Ruth as concern for the young woman working in the fields alone.

Do you, like me, find it interesting that Ruth just happened to wind up gathering grain in the field of Boaz? And, how about the fact that Boaz just happened to walk thru the fields while Ruth was there gathering grain?

If you have read the book of Ruth, you know where this is leading. Even here, in the beginning of the story, we can see God's hand leading Ruth and Naomi. All along (even in the heartache and grief they both have suffered) God had a plan, a very special plan, for each of these women.

What a beautiful story we have right here for us to remember whenever we just don't understand why we are experiencing the difficulties or burdens in our lives. We can be assured that God's hand is always there.... regardless of what is going on in our lives. He is there walking beside us, always loving, and always guiding as long as we are willing to follow.

How exciting it will be to read more of the story of Ruth and Naomi and how it begins to include Boaz in the scriptures ahead. I love to look back and see how God worked to lead me or my family to the point we are currently. And, though I already know the outcome of Ruth and Noami's story, I'm looking forward to paying closer attention to the paths God leads them down in the verses ahead.

Ruth - A Review and Some Background Info

Due to my break over the holidays, there have been several weeks since I lasted posted from the book of Ruth. I thought it might be good to do a very brief review before jumping right back into the scripture.

In the last post on Ruth we completed the first chapter in the book. This took us up to the point where Ruth and Naomi had arrived in Bethlehem. They had been greeted excitedly by many townspeople that had missed Naomi since she had left with her family about 10 years prior. Noami shared with them the loss of her husband, her sons, and introduced them to Ruth. Naomi also expressed her distress and grief due to these losses. She told them how she felt God had "opposed" her or "testified against" her.

This brings us to chapter 2. Before we dig into the first few verses of this chapter (which we'll do in the next post), I think it might be helpful to take a brief look at the culture of the time. Before I even started posting on Ruth a couple of months ago, I did write a post about the culture. However, these are some items that I don't believe were included in that post and that will be particularly insightful as we begin chapter 2.

~ If a woman was single she belonged to her father. If she was married she belonged to her husband. While we find the word "belonged" to be a negative in our culture today, this is what they believed at that time. A little further look into this, though, does show some wisdom. Most unmarried females were fourteen or younger, so we can obviously see the need for supervision at such a young age. Women at that time were also much more vulnerable to rape and assault than we are today as they did not have doors that locked and jails to house criminals.

~ Commerce revolved around agriculture.

~ There was no organized welfare system.

~ Men and women were segregated in their work.

~ Harvesting was a big job! The grain was harvested, then bundled into sheaves, and gathered into barns. Then there was threshing (done by beating with sticks or laying them out on floors for the livestock to tromp) followed by the winnowing (separating the grain from the lighter parts).

My next post on Ruth will be from Ruth 2:1-7. We'll begin to see how God was way ahead of Ruth and Naomi and how obvious it was that He was guiding them and directing their path from the very beginning. There are also some great insights to God's plan that we all care for those that are less fortunate than ourselves.

Can't wait to meet you back here next Monday for more from the book of Ruth!

Ruth 1:20-22

But she replied to them, "Don't call me 'Naomi'! Call me 'Mara' because the Sovereign One has treated me very harshly. I left here full, but the Lord has caused me to return empty-handed. Why do you call me 'Naomi', seeing that the Lord has opposed me, and the Sovereign One has caused me to suffer?" So Naomi returned, accompanied by her Moabite daughter-in-law Ruth, who came back with her from the region of Moab. (Now they arrived in Bethlehem at the beginning of the barley harvest.) Ruth 1:20-22


Ruth and Naomi have traveled to Bethlehem. It has been approximately 10 years since Naomi left Bethlehem with her husband and sons. I imagine the people of Bethlehem were all very excited to see Naomi after all this time. However, in her grief Noami seems to bring down the excitement somewhat in telling them to not call her Naomi, but to address her as Mara.

The name Naomi means pleasant. The name Mara means bitter. I can almost hear the pain in her voice as she speaks these words. I am sure she feels anything but pleasant at this time and simply feels the name Mara to be more descriptive of her present state of mind.

As she continues speaking she tells the townspeople that she has been treated harshly by God. She doesn't seem to be saying that she is holding a grudge against God, but is stating that she feels God has been harsh with her. I found it interesting to learn that here Naomi speaks of God as 'The Sovereign One' or as 'El Shaddai'. El Shaddai is the God who can both bless and judge. So, while Naomi felt that God had been harsh, she also recognized him as a God of many blessings.

Another quote I read as I studied this passage was "I don't like it; I certainly don't understand it, but I trust Him". This seems to fit how Naomi very well could have been feeling at the time she returned to Bethlehem. She certainly didn't like that her husband and her sons had died, I can't imagine that she would understand why God would allow it to happen, but she was continuing to trust God.

This whole topic seems to be one that so many, including myself, struggle with regularly. If God loves us, if God wants what is best for us, how can He allow such tragic losses in our lives. We all know that God has the power to heal from any affliction or change the course of events in a day, but He doesn't. Instead, He allows these losses to occur. It's a bit hard to wrap our heads around, isn't it?

I know I certainly don't have all the answers, but I certainly agree with Naomi on this one. Regardless of how we feel about what has happened, we must continue to recognize God as 'The Sovereign One' and we must continue to trust in Him.

It reminds me of the song "Blessed Be Your Name" written by Matt Redman. Here are some of the lyrics:

Blessed Be Your Name
In the land that is plentiful
Where Your streams of abundance flow
Blessed be Your name

Blessed Be Your name
When I'm found in the desert place
Though I walk through the wilderness
Blessed Be Your name

Every blessing You pour out
I'll turn back to praise
When the darkness closes in, Lord
Still I will say

Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your name
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your glorious name

You give and take away
You give and take away
My heart will choose to say
Lord, blessed be Your name

While we will never know this side of heaven why certain things are allowed to happen, we can be assured that God never leaves us and he never forsakes us. And, I think that is probably exactly where our focus needs to be. Not on the why, but on the assurances He gives us. Besides, I strongly suspect that by the time we do meet God face to face in heaven that the "whys" won't be quite so important any longer.

Ruth 1:14-19

"Again they wept loudly. Then Orpah kissed her mother-in-law goodbye, but Ruth clung tightly to her. So Naomi said, "Look, your sister-in-law is returning to her people and to her god. Follow your sister-in-law back home!" But Ruth replied, "Stop urging me to abandon you! For wherever you go, I will go. Wherever you live, I will live. Your people will become my people, and your God will become my God. Wherever you di, I will die -- and there I will be buried. May the Lord punish me severly if I do not keep my promise! Only death will be able to separate me from you!" When Naomi realized that Ruth was determined to go with her, she stopped trying to dissuade her. So the two of them journeyed together until they arrived in Bethlehem." Ruth 1:14-19

This has got to be one of my favorite passages of scriptures. The words of Ruth to Naomi are so beautiful and really speak of the love and devotion she had for Naomi.

First, though, I want to look at Orpah for a moment. I really think that Orpah gets a bad rap. We tend to think that Orpah didn't do what she should have for Naomi or we just don't think much about Orpah at all. In reality, though, Orpah did what was expected of her. She stayed with Naomi after all their husbands died. She was willing to stay with Naomi and to move to Bethlehem with her.

I think probably what happens is that we try to compare Orpah to Ruth and that just isn't fair to Orpah. Ruth went above and beyond her obligation to Naomi and you just can't use that as fair comparison for Orpah. Orpah fulfilled her obligations to Naomi and we should recognize and admire her for that.

The other part of this story that really strikes me is the way in which Ruth comes to know the Lord. Naomi's family is probably the first family Ruth has ever been around that worshipped God. The country Ruth is from only worshipped idols -- the main one being Chemosh.

However, in this passage of scripture Ruth tells Naomi that she is giving up her gods for Naomi's God.. the one true God. What has Noami or her family done to bring Ruth to the point where she is willing to give up everything she has ever known to turn to God? My guess? They showed Ruth their love for the Lord and they loved her with the same kind of love. They welcomed Ruth and Orpah into their family. Ruth watched as they relied on God for their every need and she saw how Naomi attributed God to the improving circumstances in Bethlehem that leads her to decide to move back to Bethlehem.

What a testimony Ruth has to share! In the process of helping Noami and showing compassion towards her situation, Ruth decides to turn to Naomi's God and accept Him as the one true God. Here again, one of the amazing ways in which God works in our lives.

For me, this passage leaves me with two thoughts. The first, that I should always be aware of my actions and how I treat others. You just never know how you may be ministering (or not ministering) by your very actions. And, two, I pray I would always be willing to speak and really mean the same words that Ruth spoke to Naomi --"Wherever you go, I will go. Wherever you live, I will live. Your people will become my people, and your God will become my God."

God Will Make a Way

Are you as amazed as I am at the way God works? Do you enjoy just sitting back sometimes and watching how God works? The way He blesses our lives, they way He touches people in special and life-changing situations, or the way He takes difficult and painful times and turns them into something beautiful?

As I have been studying the book of Ruth, I have found recordings of how God took some very painful and difficult pieces of Bethlehem history and redeemed it all in a most beautiful and life-changing manner.

Look at this....

~ Bethlehem is originally called Ephrath (Genesis 35:16) which mean "house of bread".

~ It was then also referred to as Beth-lehem Ephratah (Micah 5:2) and Beth-lehem-judah (1 Samuel 17:12). It was later referred to as "the city of David" (Luke 2:4).

~ The first major event recorded in Bethlehem is the burial of Rachel after she died while giving birth to Benjamin (Genesis 48:7)

~ We next hear of Bethlehem in a particularly ugly gang rape at the end of the book of Judges.

~ Following that a man named Elimilech leaves Bethlehem because of famine.


See the history here in Bethlehem of sadness, loss and sin? Now, follow this....


~ A childless girl from Moab goes to Bethlehem, along with her mother-in-law, in search of physical and spiritual sustenance. This girl is Ruth.

~ Ruth is the great-grandmother of David.

~ David becomes Israel's king and their family lineage flows straight down to the birth, in Bethlehem, of Jesus.

Regardless of our circumstances we can always be assured that "God will make a way when there seems to be no way". Oh, what promise we have in the Lord!

Ruth 1:7-13

"Now as she and her two daughters-in-law began to leave the place where she had been living to return to the land of Judah, Naomi said to her two daughters-in-law, "Listen to me! Each of you should return to your mother's home! May the Lord show you the same kind of devotion that you have shown to your deceased husbands and to me! May the Lord enable each of you to find security in the home of a new husband!" Then she kissed them goodbye and they wept loudly. But they said to her, "No! We will return with you to your people." But Naomi replied, "Go back home, my daughters! There is no reason for you to return to Judah with me! I am no longer capable of giving birth to sons who might become your husband! Go back home, my daughters! For I am too old to get married again. Even if I thought that there was hope that I could get married tonight and conceive sons, surely you would not want to wait until they were old enough to marry! Surely you would not remain unmarried all that time! No, my daughters, you must not return with me. For my intense suffering is too much for you to bear. For the Lord is afflicting me!" Ruth 1:7-13

I read this passage and my hearts breaks for Naomi. You can hear her grief and her feelings of helplessness in her words.

According to the levirate law of the times a childless widow is impregnated by the brother of the husband that died. Both of Naomi's sons have died leaving widows and neither have children. She has no more sons. I can just sense her frustrations brought on by the situation as she tells them that even if she could get married again and have a son that Ruth and Orpah couldn't wait around for them to grow up!

Ruth and Orpah have offered to return to Judah with Naomi. But, from where she sits at the moment this just doesn't make sense either. She feels broken and has nothing to offer either woman. Why would they want to live with and take care of an old, grieving woman?

However, even as she discourages them both from staying with her, she sees their devotion to her and wishes the same for them in their own lives.

In Hebrew, the word for "devotion" is hesed (pronounced with a hard "h" and rhymes with the two-syllable form of "blessed"). This word seems to be the one chosen over all others to describe what God is like - "full of loyal, committed, merciful, enduring, faithful, covenant-keeping love". In Exodus 34:6, God used this word to describe himself.

"Then the Lord passed by in front of him and proclaimed, "The Lord, the Lord God, compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in lovingkindness and truth;"


We also see this type of devotion as a theme that runs throughout the book of Ruth.

"Naomi said to her two daughters-in-law, 'Listen to me! Each of you should return to your mother's home! May the Lord show you the same kin of devotion that you have shown to your deceased husbands and to me!'"

"Naomi said to her daughter-in-law, 'May [Boaz] be rewarded by the Lord because he has shown loyalty to the living on behalf of the dead!' Then Naomi said to her, 'This man is a close relative of ours; he is our guardian.'"

"[Boaz] said to [Ruth], 'May you be rewarded by the Lord, my dear! This act of devotion is greater than what you did before. For you have not sought mto marry one of the young men, whether rich or poor.'"


We live in a world full of empty promises. Many times promises are made that are never kept. We seem to have forgotten what it means to show hesed to our neighbors. In this time I am so very thankful for the story of Ruth. She reminds us of how we should live... showing love and devotion to others. She reminds us of the great love and devotion God shows to each of us. Our God that will "never leave us or forsake us."

Ruth 1:1-6

"During the time of the judges there was a famine in the land of Judah. So a man from Bethlehem in Judah went to live as a resident foreigner in the region of Moab, along with his wife and two sons. (Now the man's name was Elimelech, his wife was Naomi, and his two sons were Mahlon and Kilion. They were of the clan of Ephrath from Bethlehem in Judah.) They entered the region of Moab and settled there. Sometime later Naomi's husband Elimelech died, so she and her two sons were left alone. So her sons married Moabite women. (One was named Orpah and the other Ruth.) And they continued to live there about ten years. Then Naomi's two sons, Mahlon and Kilion, also died. So the woman was left all alone - bereaved of her two children as well as her husband! So she decided to return home from the region of Moab, accompanied by her daughters-in-law, because while she was living in Moab she had heard that the Lord had shown concern for his people, reversing the famine by providing abundant crops." Ruth 1:1-6


As I read this short passage of scripture, I am amazed at the trials that both Naomi and Ruth faced.... and the story hasn't even really begun! Six short verses into the book of Ruth, Naomi has endured famine that led to her family moving to a foreign country, she has lost her husband and both her sons, Ruth has lost her husband and they are both looking at moving again... on foot and alone. Any one of these events alone would be difficult enough to endure.

Let's briefly look at each one of these events.

First, Naomi and her family endured a famine that forced them to move to a foreign country, Moab. Can you imagine there not being enough food? And, to make it worse, that there is so little that you must pick up your entire family and move to a foreign land?

In this particular case it was an even bigger event than one might imagine as their move involved relocating from Bethlehem to Moab. To understand this, we must share a brief history on Moab. At the time of the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah, Lot's surviving daughters were fearful they would never marry and have children. Because of this fear they got their father drunk and slept with him. They both conceived and each had a son... one named Moab and the other Ben-Ammi. These two sons became the patriarchs of the Moabites and the Ammonites, two nations that warred frequently with Israel. The Moabites worshipped Chemosh (a deity requiring child sacrifice) and fertility dieties, Baals and Ashtoreths.

Second, after living in Moab for a period of time Naomi's husband, Elimelech, dies. Her sons then marry Moabite women, Orpah and Ruth, which brings on another new challenge. Remember above the differences in beliefs between the Moabites and Naomi's family? Ten years after marrying both her sons then die. Naomi has now lost her husband and her two sons while at the same time Orpah and Ruth are now widows.

Third, as we reach the last verse of this passage, the women are looking to move away from Moab and to Bethlehem. Naomi has now heard the famine in Bethlehem is over and she wants to go home to her people. At this point, both Ruth and Orpah are planning to return to Bethlehem with her. This is a big deal as they would be leaving their homes and moving to a country where they know no one and where they worship very differently. Very similar to how it was for Naomi and her family when they originally moved to Moab.

In addition, this move would require these three women to travel alone for approximately 50 miles thru the mountains and the barren area of the Dead Sea. And, they would do it all on foot. Yes, you read that right... on foot. Can you even begin to imagine?

As I read thru these verses I am amazed at the ability of Noami to keep moving forward. I am amazed at her strength in even considering the journey back to Bethlehem. I am amazed at the willingness of Ruth and Orpah to travel away from their home and their family to journey to Bethlehem with Naomi.

I pray today that I would always be able to have the same strength.. the same trust in the Lord.. to enable me to be so strong and so willing to move forward in difficult circumstances. Some days I think my life is rough, but it is nothing compared to the journey Naomi encountered and walked in her life.

Ruth - A Little More Background Info

So, today I'm going to share some more background info and then next Monday I'll start sharing more from my study of this beautiful book of Ruth.

Do we know who wrote the book of Ruth?
It is not known for sure who wrote the book of Ruth. The Talmud suggests that Samuel wrote this book. Others believe that Nathan may have written Ruth during the time of King David's reign. Still others believe it to be written during the time when Israel was exiled.

During what time and in what setting was the book of Ruth written?
As Ruth's grandson is King David, we know that the story in the book of Ruth took place two generations prior to his birth.

As you can find by reading the book of Judges, the land was in a period of time where it is ruled by selected leaders that were called judges. These judges included Gideon, Deborah and Samson. These people were usually both judicial officials and military leaders. Two of these judges, Deborah and Samson, were also prophets. The timeframe of the rule of the judges was approximately 1220 BC to 1050 BC. During this time the land of Israel went thru many difficult and sinful times. At the same time, we see stories of truly memorable persons that stand out, as well. These include Ruth, Deborah and Hannah.

It is thought that the events recorded in the book of Ruth probably occurred around 1000 BC. As we see in Ruth 1:1, the story happened "when the judges judged". At its earliest it was completed around the time that David was anointed king and at its latest at the end of David's reign.

To get a true feel for the happenings of the time and the state of the country, read Judges 17-21. I found in reading this that I understood so much more of the challenges that faced persons living during this time and how the country was ruled.

Who are the main characters in the book of Ruth?
Elimelech - Naomi's husband. His name means "My God is King".
Mahlon and Kilion - Naomi's sons.

Naomi - her name means "pleasant". At a time after her husband and sons died she renamed herself Mara which means "bitter".
Orpah - her name means "deer" or "fawn". Ruth's sister, wife to Kilion, and daughter-in-law to Naomi.
Ruth - her name means "friend". Ruth was Mahlon's husband and daughter-in-law to Naomi. Also, great-grandmother to King David.
Boaz - relative of Naomi's deceased husband Elimelech, he later marries Ruth. They have a son Obed, who is the father to Jesse, King David's father.

Ruth - A Little Background

Before we get too deep into the story of Ruth, I thought I'd begin this week by sharing some background information. I always love it when I can find out a little more about the timeframe, the country, and/or the culture at the time when stories take place. Many times these are of significant relevance to the story and I also like how it gives a more personal look at the persons involved in the story, as well.

In first chapter of Ruth there are several insights into this beautiful story of Ruth and Naomi. Consider these.....

~ There was a famine in the land of Judah. Due to famine, Naomi and her husband Elimelech are forced to leave their home and go to another country to find food. Can you imagine going to the grocery store and finding it empty? And then learning that all the grocery stores were empty?

~ A man (Elimelech) from Bethlehem in Judah went to live as a resident foreigner. How desperate would we have to be to go to another country to find food?

~ Elimelech's two sons were Mahlon and Kilion. The name Mahlon means unhealthy and the name Kilion means puny or weakly.

~ Sometime later Naomi's husband Elimelech died.

~ Naomi's sons married Moabite women. Her sons married outside their faith.

~ They continued to live in Judah for about ten more years.

~ Nami's two sons, Mahlon and Kilion, also died. Can you even imagine losing your spouse and your children? And, then, being plunged into poverty?

At the time that the book of Ruth begins, Naomi's life is at a point of desperation. I would imagine Naomi felt as if her life had ended. She had no reason to believe there was so much good ahead for her. Or, that she had such a friend in her daughter-in-law, Ruth.

This is truly a story of hope. A story of friendship. A story showing that God NEVER abandons us. A story that shows how circumstances that appear to be the end of the story are really just the beginnings.