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Ruth - Reading
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Overview of Ruth within God's Great Story:
One of the story lines of the Bible is the story of how God wants his people to live; the account of how Ruth and Boaz acted contributes to that story line. Further, the very title that the text ascribes to Boaz—the Hebrew word goel, meaning “kinsman-redeemer”—signals that Boaz embodies qualities that belong preeminently to the ultimate kinsman-redeemer, Jesus Christ. Finally, the brief genealogy at the end of the book of Ruth identifies the book as a chapter in messianic history by tracing part of the lineage from which Jesus was born, with the grandson of Ruth and Boaz—David—as an early member of the line.
Characters/Location:
Moab: from father. The region outside of Israel, located south of the Arnon River and east of the Dead Sea.
Orpah (not to be confused with Oprah): hind. The wife of Kilion, son of Naomi and Elimelech. When her husband died she returned to her country, Moab.
Naomi: pleasant. The mother-in-law of Ruth, the Moabitess. Also called Mara (Ruth 1:20).
Ruth: friendship. The woman of Moab who left her country and returned to Bethlehem with her mother-in-law Naomi. She was the great-grandmother of King David and is named in the genealogy of Christ (Mt. 1:5).
Bethlehem: house of bread. A town in Judah located about six miles southwest of Jerusalem. The birthplace of King David and later of Christ.
Boaz: in him is strength. The relative who cared for Ruth and married her. The great-grandfather of King David.
Atmosphere: "days when the judges ruled." This period of spiritual, social, and political unrest (Judg. 2:6–3:6; 21:25b) engendered the desire for a king (Judg. 21:25) who could give rest (like that finally achieved by David; Ruth 4:17, 22; 2 Sam. 7:11; 1 Kings 5:4). A famine was sometimes a divine scourge (Deut. 11:14; 32:24; cf. Lev. 26:3–4), but it could also advance God’s purposes, as it did for the sons of Israel in Joseph’s time (Gen. 42:5; 45:5–8; Ps. 105:16–17, 23). ESVSB
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1-5 - God commanded His people not to marry amongst foreigners who will worship other gods. Even though Moabite's aren't mentioned specifically, I don't think they are really caring/listening at this point in the story. By the end of verse 5 there are 3 people left, all widows now (Naomi, Orpah, and Ruth)
9 - Interesting Thought - Naomi blesses the girls by saying "May God grant you rest" in marriage. I believe she is dead on here, and that God desires our marriages to be places of Shalom.
10-13 - Naomi has no sons to offer the girls to take as husbands. Having a husband was of absolute necessity back then, so this was obviously a bigger deal than we realize. She pleads with Ruth and Orpah to stay in Moab to take a husband. Naomi will return back to Israel. She believes that God's hand was against her for leaving...It seems like she is returning in repentance.
15-18 - Ruth did not follow the God of Israel up until now. This is her proclamation of not only following Naomi, but of her faith and allegiance to God...even if there is a punishment of sorts. A Ruth conversion moment I dare say.
Do you realize that the proclamation that Ruth gives to Naomi is almost identical to our proclamation upon salvation? Strange, huh?
20-21 - Naomi correctly recognized that God did not necessarily bring only good situations into one’s life but that He, at times, brought difficulties (cp. Jb 1:21; 2:10). Elsewhere in Scripture such difficulties are understood to be for the purpose of testing or discipline (e.g., Pr 3:11–12; Heb 12:7–11), but Naomi has not attained that insight at this stage. ASB
However, Naomi did come back because it seemed like she knew that God wanted/desired that for her.
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1 - Boaz is believed to have been very wealthy.
2 - glean = In Leviticus 19:9-10 Israel is commanded to leave the corners of their fields unharvested for the poor and travelers. The word appears in this scene 12 times (2, 3, 7, 8, 15 [twice], 16, 17 [twice], 18, 19, 23).
4 - I thought I'd throw this out there: The workers, yes employees, bless their employer (Boaz). I'm assuming this was a pretty stand-up kind of guy. From His entrance we see some of that character.
10 - Ruth knows that Boaz has NO reason to be talking or communicating with her. She is a foreigner, she has worshiped other gods at one time, she probably looks ragged from working day after day, etc.
Thought - I can't help but think that the way Boaz approached Ruth is how we, as Christians, need to approach those with past hurts and pains. There are still scars that against, and we must come in a spirit of love, handling everything with compassion and encouragement/blessing.
14 - "She did eat, and was satisfied." "Your head shall be satisfied with the precious truth which Christ reveals; your heart shall be content with Jesus, as the altogether lovely object of affection; your hope shall be satisfied, for whom have you in heaven but Christ? Your desire shall be satiated, for what can even the hunger of your desire wish for more than ‘to know Christ, and to be found in him.’ You shall find Jesus fill your conscience, till it is at perfect peace; he shall fill your judgment, till you know the certainty of his teachings; he shall fill your memory with recollections of what he did, and fill your imagination with the prospects of what he is yet to do. You shall be ‘satisfied." - Charles Spurgeon -
20-23 - Naomi and Ruth start their plot of love :)
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1-13 - It is not clear whether Naomi was following a marriage custom of her time when she told Ruth to lie down secretly at Boaz’s feet in the middle of the night. She does, however, appear to be applying a variation of the law by which a surviving brother was to marry his deceased brother’s wife who had no children, in order to beget a son to continue his deceased brother’s family’s line (Dt 25:5–10). Naomi’s tactics were morally questionable, since the term “his feet” could have been understood as a euphemism for Boaz’s private parts (cp. 1 Sm 24:3, where the Hb is lit. “cover his feet”; also Is 6:2). Despite the risky situation, Ruth and Boaz acted in an upright manner. ASB
Ruth stayed the night, because to send her out at that time would have been a sentence for evil upon her.
2 - The threshing floor is an elevated open space where the kernels of grain were separated from the chaff (winnowed). Winnowing was done in the evening when strong breezes would carry the chaff away. -JSB
Where else do we hear about "threshing floors?" = Staff Blog Article
11 - I would say that love plan worked!
12-13 - ESVSB Thoughts on the "redeemer" issue - The order of these relations is: brother, uncle, cousin, or close clan relative (Lev. 25:48–49; Num. 27:11; see Introduction: Key Themes, “Redemption”). The use of this term (Hb. ga}al) for “kinsman-redeemer” is separate from the way the same word is used for the Lord “redeeming” Israel (e.g., Ex. 6:6; 15:13; cf. NT usage of “redemption”). Boaz may only claim his right of redemption if the other redeemer is not willing (cf. Deut. 25:7–8). as the LORD lives.
18 - Ruth would be married, but would it be to Boaz, or to the nearer potential"redeemer?" The plot thickens...
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1-6 - At first glance this potential "reedemer" accepts the responsibilities. However, Boaz knows there must be alternative motives in mind for this guy. Naomi was not the only one that he would have to take, but Ruth as well. The man would have to take a young woman as his wife, raise children, etc. Having more children would "ruin" his inheritance to his other children.
7-8 - "The Sandal Exchange" = How can we re-institute this? I want to hand Larry a sandal each time we make an agreement/exchange.
9-16 - Restoration takes place in the lives of Ruth and Naomi.
Thought - Throughout the entire book of Ruth we see that Boaz is a beautiful picture of Jesus Christ. The redemption for us found in Jesus Christ is much like the "redemption" found by Ruth in Boaz. We are his bride, he pursues us, he loves us, he understands our old nature, and he welcomes us to live with Him in a better place (glory).
"For your Maker is your husband,
the Lord of hosts is his name;
and the Holy One of Israel is your Redeemer,
the God of the whole earth he is called.
For the Lord has called you
like a wife deserted and grieved in spirit,
like a wife of youth when she is cast off,
says your God.
For a brief moment I deserted you,
but with great compassion I will gather you.
In overflowing anger for a moment
I hid my face from you,
but with everlasting love I will have compassion on you,
says the Lord, your Redeemer."
Isaiah 54:5-8
Want more on the book of "Ruth" - Desiring God - John Piper Ruth Series
