Ruth 1:3-4
[3] And Elimelech Naomi’s husband died; and she was left, and her two sons.
[4] And they took them wives of the women of Moab; the name of the one was Orpah, and the name of the other Ruth: and they dwelled there about ten years.
Ruth means “mercy”.
In chapter 1 we read about Naomi and her husband and two sons, who went to Moab where there sons were married at. Naomi’s husband dies, and her sons marry Orpah and Ruth. After the passing of the two sons, Naomi encouraged her daughters-in-law to stay behind, but Ruth stayed with her.
Ruth 1:9-15
[9] The LORD grant you that ye may find rest, each of you in the house of her husband. Then she kissed them; and they lifted up their voice, and wept.
[10] And they said unto her, Surely we will return with thee unto thy people.
[11] And Naomi said, Turn again, my daughters: why will ye go with me? are there yet any more sons in my womb, that they may be your husbands?
[12] Turn again, my daughters, go your way; for I am too old to have an husband. If I should say, I have hope, if I should have an husband also to night, and should also bear sons;
[13] Would ye tarry for them till they were grown? would ye stay for them from having husbands? nay, my daughters; for it grieveth me much for your sakes that the hand of the LORD is gone out against me.
[14] And they lifted up their voice, and wept again: and Orpah kissed her mother in law; but Ruth clave unto her.
[15] And she said, Behold, thy sister in law is gone back unto her people, and unto her gods: return thou after thy sister in law.
What a demonstrated act of kindness! When I see this love and longing to stay, it often makes me wonder if we could head off trouble more than we do by simply getting in there with our loved ones and doing all that we can in love. Sometimes we give up right when people are looking for us the most to do something. If we can learn to not always base our actions on the signs and actions of others, God will be with us when we follow His leadership!
Ruth 2:9-15
[9] Let thine eyes be on the field that they do reap, and go thou after them: have I not charged the young men that they shall not touch thee? and when thou art athirst, go unto the vessels, and drink of that which the young men have drawn.
[10] Then she fell on her face, and bowed herself to the ground, and said unto him, Why have I found grace in thine eyes, that thou shouldest take knowledge of me, seeing I am a stranger?
[11] And Boaz answered and said unto her, It hath fully been shewed me, all that thou hast done unto thy mother in law since the death of thine husband: and how thou hast left thy father and thy mother, and the land of thy nativity, and art come unto a people which thou knewest not heretofore.
[12] 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.
[13] Then she said, Let me find favour in thy sight, my lord; for that thou hast comforted me, and for that thou hast spoken friendly unto thine handmaid, though I be not like unto one of thine handmaidens.
[14] And Boaz said unto her, At mealtime come thou hither, and eat of the bread, and dip thy morsel in the vinegar. And she sat beside the reapers: and he reached her parched corn, and she did eat, and was sufficed, and left.
[15] And when she was risen up to glean, Boaz commanded his young men, saying, Let her glean even among the sheaves, and reproach her not:
When we read on in chapter 2, you begin to see the concern that Boaz has for Ruth. When you read on into this, you begin to see the question that Ruth asks “How could I find this grace before you?” More often than not I have asked even myself this question too. It should make us be so thankful for the grace and mercy that we walk in each day in the sight of God!
Ruth 3:2-5
[2] And now is not Boaz of our kindred, with whose maidens thou wast? Behold, he winnoweth barley to night in the threshingfloor.
[3] Wash thyself therefore, and anoint thee, and put thy raiment upon thee, and get thee down to the floor: but make not thyself known unto the man, until he shall have done eating and drinking.
[4] And it shall be, when he lieth down, that thou shalt mark the place where he shall lie, and thou shalt go in, and uncover his feet, and lay thee down; and he will tell thee what thou shalt do.
[5] And she said unto her, All that thou sayest unto me I will do.
In chapter 3 we read how Naomi encourages her to go to the threshing floor and hide until Boaz falls asleep. She wanted her to find an opportunity to be able to talk with Boaz.
Ruth 3:9-13
[9] 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.
[10] 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.
[11] 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.
[12] And now it is true that I am thy near kinsman: howbeit there is a kinsman nearer than I.
[13] Tarry this night, and it shall be in the morning, that if he will perform unto thee the part of a kinsman, well; let him do the kinsman’s part: but if he will not do the part of a kinsman to thee, then will I do the part of a kinsman to thee, as the LORD liveth: lie down until the morning.
Upon him waking up, she expresses her desire to be married according to the kinsman-redeemer. Boaz had to break it to her that there was someone else that had a claim before he, but not to fret that essentially “he would take care of it”.
Ruth 4:9-10
[9] 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.
[10] 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.
As we read on, we find that the other man renounces his claim at the gate, and Boaz pays the price for Ruth!
You can see through Boaz the redemption power of Jesus Christ, representing the full payment of salvation. Through Ruth not being able to do anything about her estate, it’s as much as where we are with our lives and sin, helpless!
1 Corinthians 6:20
[20] For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.
When we think about the redemption for our sins, the sacrifice that Jesus Christ made paid the price in full for each and every one of us!
Ruth 4:14-17
[14] 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.
[15] 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.
[16] And Naomi took the child, and laid it in her bosom, and became nurse unto it.
[17] 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.
They had a son, which was Obed, who was the father of Jesse, who was the father of David. Reading about this inspires me that when we do things for God that they all for a divine purpose. We simply have to learn to love and do what is right and follow the will of God for our success, even in a time when we are facing persecution! This all occurred during the time of the Judges, which was representative to disobedience, idolatry and violence.