Ruth: An Old Testament Love Story
OVERVIEW
Yesterday you read five of the darkest chapters in all of Scripture; today you’re reading four of the brightest. The remarkable thing to keep in mind is that the events described in both portions take place at approximately the same time. The book of Ruth is a bright story of love, devotion, and redemption set within the dark context of the judges’ era. It is the story of a Moabite woman who was willing to forsake her pagan heritage in order to cling to the people of Israel and the God of Israel. Because of her faithfulness in a time of national faithlessness, God rewards her by giving her a new husband (Boaz), a baby son (Obed), and a privileged position in the lineage of Christ (she is the great-grandmother of King David).
MY DAILY WALK
After reading Ruth’s four-chapter love story, turn to Hebrews 11:6. The words will have a familiar ring, but don’t slide over them casually. Then ask yourself this question: Do I truly believe that God rewards those who sincerely seek him?
Think back over the difficult decisions that confronted Ruth: whether to stay in her homeland of Moab, where she was known and loved, or move to Israel, where she was largely unknown and unloved; whether to start a new home of her own, or live with her bereaved mother-in-law; whether to worship the familiar gods of Moab, or the God of Israel. As she diligently sought to walk with God in the midst of a godless nation, Ruth learned firsthand that God rewards those who seek him.
Are you struggling with misfortune, bereavement, or strange new surroundings today? Take heart from Ruth’s example. Seek God with all your heart and find the reward of those who take refuge under his wings (2:12).
THE WORLD CROWNS SUCCESS, BUT GOD CROWNS FAITHFULNESS.
INSIGHT
Typecasting in the Book of Ruth | Ruth 2:1
Notice how the meanings of the characters’ names foreshadow what happens in the book of Ruth: Naomi, which means “pleasant”; Elimelech, “my God is King”; Mahlon, “sick” (the meaning is uncertain); Kilion, “pining” (the meaning is uncertain); Orpah, “stubbornness”; Ruth, “friendship”; Boaz, “in him is strength.”
Elimelech Moves His Family to Moab
1In the days when the judges ruled in Israel, a severe famine came upon the land. So a man from Bethlehem in Judah left his home and went to live in the country of Moab, taking his wife and two sons with him. 2The man’s name was Elimelech, and his wife was Naomi. Their two sons were Mahlon and Kilion. They were Ephrathites from Bethlehem in the land of Judah. And when they reached Moab, they settled there.
3Then Elimelech died, and Naomi was left with her two sons. 4The two sons married Moabite women. One married a woman named Orpah, and the other a woman named Ruth. But about ten years later, 5both Mahlon and Kilion died. This left Naomi alone, without her two sons or her husband.
Naomi and Ruth Return
6Then Naomi heard in Moab that the LORD had blessed his people in Judah by giving them good crops again. So Naomi and her daughters-in-law got ready to leave Moab to return to her homeland. 7With her two daughters-in-law she set out from the place where she had been living, and they took the road that would lead them back to Judah.
8But on the way, Naomi said to her two daughters-in-law, “Go back to your mothers’ homes. And may the LORD reward you for your kindness to your husbands and to me. 9May the LORD bless you with the security of another marriage.” Then she kissed them good-bye, and they all broke down and wept.
10“No,” they said. “We want to go with you to your people.”
11But Naomi replied, “Why should you go on with me? Can I still give birth to other sons who could grow up to be your husbands? 12No, my daughters, return to your parents’ homes, for I am too old to marry again. And even if it were possible, and I were to get married tonight and bear sons, then what? 13Would you wait for them to grow up and refuse to marry someone else? No, of course not, my daughters! Things are far more bitter for me than for you, because the LORD himself has raised his fist against me.”
14And again they wept together, and Orpah kissed her mother-in-law good-bye. But Ruth clung tightly to Naomi. 15“Look,” Naomi said to her, “your sister-in-law has gone back to her people and to her gods. You should do the same.”
16But Ruth replied, “Don’t ask me to leave you and turn back. Wherever you go, I will go; wherever you live, I will live. Your people will be my people, and your God will be my God. 17Wherever you die, I will die, and there I will be buried. May the LORD punish me severely if I allow anything but death to separate us!” 18When Naomi saw that Ruth was determined to go with her, she said nothing more.
19So the two of them continued on their journey. When they came to Bethlehem, the entire town was excited by their arrival. “Is it really Naomi?” the women asked.
20“Don’t call me Naomi,” she responded. “Instead, call me Mara,* for the Almighty has made life very bitter for me. 21I went away full, but the LORD has brought me home empty. Why call me Naomi when the LORD has caused me to suffer* and the Almighty has sent such tragedy upon me?”
22So Naomi returned from Moab, accompanied by her daughter-in-law Ruth, the young Moabite woman. They arrived in Bethlehem in late spring, at the beginning of the barley harvest.