Your God Will Be Mine
The book of Ruth is one of the shortest in the Bible but it is certainly one of the most beautiful. If you have never read this book I would urge you to do so. It only takes about 15-20 minutes and I feel sure that you will not be disappointed
It is found between the books of Judges and Samuel. These other books are filled with accounts of war, bloodshed and cruelty. But in contrast, the book of Ruth, is filled with a story of peace and love. So we thank God that in the blackest of times we find something of beauty and loveliness. In this book, not one wicked, cruel person makes an appearance. Here we see a beautiful example of the Providence of God in response to ones sincere faith.
Ruth 1:1 – 5. Approximately 3000 years ago there lived in Bethlehem, where Christ was to be born, a man by the name of Elimelech, his wife Naomi and their two sons Mahlon and Kilion. We read that there was famine in the land. The rain had failed to fall and the sheep were dying on the bare hillsides.
This famine must have been severe because Elimelech, the husband and father, decided to move the Moab, to the east of Jordan, 120 miles away. For us today that doesn't sound very far but if you had to travel on foot or on the back of a donkey, it would be a different story. Verse 1 implies they did not plan to stay long. Perhaps Naomi's heart was not in the project from the beginning but she followed her husband. But their move seemed to be doomed to disappointment and life in Moab became even harder than it had been in Bethlehem.
First of all Elimelech, Naomi's husband, died and she was left with two sons. They both married girls from the land of Moab – Orpah and Ruth. Then 10 years later the two sons died, leaving Naomi alone with her two daughters in law. So here we have the story of three widows. Two young women with their mother-in-law who is also a widow. In the ancient world, one of the worst predicaments to face, would be to be left a widow. There were no widows allowances and they were often ignored and as a result became poverty-stricken. Older widows were more vulnerable, whereas a younger one might remarry.
Chap 1: 6,7. We often find in life that sorrow as well as joy will turn the heart homeward to the scenes of yesterday. Naomi heard that the famine had ended in Israel and so she decided to return to Bethlehem. At first both of her daughters in law wanted to go with her. But when they came to the river Jordan, the dividing line between the two countries, Naomi in a beautiful unselfish way, reminded her daughters-in-law how life could be hard for them in a strange land. They would be considered foreigners and therefore it would be very difficult for them to find husbands.
Vs 14– 18 After hearing all of this, Oprah kissed her mother-in-law goodbye but Ruth would not leave her. She answered Naomi with these immortal words, among the most beautiful words in the Bible and in fact it all literature. “Don't urge me to leave you or to turn back from you. Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God. Where you die I will die, and there I will be buried. May the Lord deal with me, be it ever so severely, if anything but death separates you and me”( Ruth 1:16, 17).
This is the origin of the familiar affirmation in the marriage ceremony – “till death do us part.” This is in contrast to many commitments being made today.
In fact, according to the latest census figures, there has been a tremendous increase in divorce, common-law marriages, single-parent families and even same-sex marriages. Should this be a cause for concern? Yes, because the family is the basic unit of society. A community, a country is only as strong as the homes that make it up. History teaches us that no civilized nation has ever survived the disintegration of its home and family life.
So Ruth turned her back forever on the people and the hills of Moab and chose the companionship of a poor, much older widow, in a land of strangers. Why did Ruth do this? What motive prompted such a decision. Love, loyalty, faithfulness? Or even deeper? Note verse 16 this could refer to her conversion –“ your God will be my God.” Probably through Naomi's instruction, Ruth had been taught about the one true God, maker of heaven and earth. All other gods are idols, the work of man's hand. God accepts all who worship him in spirit and in truth, regardless of race, sex or nationality.
Does God play favourites? The Jews are often referred to as God's chosen people. But certainly, they are not the only people God loves. God chose the Jews to be the people through whom the rest of the world would come to know him. Jesus was born into the Jewish race and through him the entire world can come to know God ( Acts 10:34 – 36).
The book of Ruth is a perfect example of God's impartiality. God's grace and his gift of eternal life is open to everyone. Although Ruth belonged to a race often despised by Israel, yet she was blessed because of her faith in God and her faithfulness to Naomi. She became the great grandmother of King David and a direct ancestor of Jesus. This reminds us that no one should ever feel disqualified to serve God because of race, color, sex or national background. God can use all of us to build his kingdom.
God will work through anyone who has an open mind and heart to His will. Down through the years God always has a faithful remnant. People who are true to him no matter what! One reason why I decided to preach on this book is because it is a source of encouragement. It reminds us that God is still on the throne and he is still at work in our world today. And God wants to use you and I to bless others and to build his kingdom here on earth
So Naomi and Ruth return to Bethlehem with sad memories. Naomi remembers the day when she, her husband and two sons left for Moab with high hopes for the future. And now she is returning empty, a widow, almost destitute. In verse 20 she wanted change her name to express the bitterness and pain she felt. “Call me Mara, meaning bitter, for the Lord Almighty has dealt very bitterly with me.” It was very common in those days to believe that when people faced hardships and troubles it was because of some previous sin or even God's judgment.
But the dark cloud of affliction had a silver lining. Naomi did not return empty. With her was Ruth, who turned out to be a wonderful blessing. And as the story proceeds Naomi's faith is strengthened and restored. But, first of all she is having a pity- party, feeling sorry for herself. Is there anything really wrong about self-pity? I must confess that it was while I was feeling sorry for myself that I said or did some very foolish things. Self-pity sounds so innocent but can do great harm because it opens the door to all kinds of temptations such as resentment, bitterness, unforgiveness, envy and pride.
Even though life was hard, especially from an economic point of view, God had not forsaken Naomi. Even then He was behind the scenes working all things together for her good. In the midst of her self-pity she seemed to lose sight of the tremendous resource she had in Ruth. If Ruth had not come back with her things would've been much worse. And so in our lives, no matter how bad things seem to be, there is always something to be thankful for.
People did not travel much in those days so when Naomi returned to Bethlehem, 5 miles south of Jerusalem, we read that the whole town turned out to welcome her v.19. They remembered her as the young and beautiful wife of Elimelech, but now they see only the marks of sorrow and advancing years.
Verse 22 tells us that it was harvest time in Bethlehem when they returned. Is there anything significant about that news? It showed that there would be an abundance of bread and God was already making it possible for them to have their daily needs met. Ruth and Naomi were in a very difficult situation. There were no welfare payments in those days and they had no man to work for them in the fields. Ruth realized the need and asked Naomi's permission to go into the fields and glean after the reapers.
The Old Testament tells us about the law of the harvest which said that the poor and needy could glean after the reapers? Deuteronomy 24:19- 22. To glean meant to pick up the bits of grain that had been left behind. Also they were to leave the corners of the field for the poor people and the fruit trees were not to be picked a second time.
Ruth 2: 1-3. I wonder if Ruth realized, on that morning she went to glean, that this day would mark a turning point in her life. She did not know where to go. No doubt her environment seemed strange. I'm sure she prayed to God asking that she might find favour in the eyes of some kind hearted landlord. Her prayer was answered. She came to the field of Boaz who was a wealthy farmer, a bachelor and a blood relative of Emilelech, her departed father-in-law.
Chapter 2:4-12 Note the way Boaz greeted his workers, the way he spoke to them shows the happy relationship that existed between them. Surely, he was a man of God. He said, “the Lord be with you” and they answered,”the Lord bless you.” As I said, Boaz was a bachelor and not very young. But he did not fail to notice the presence of this fair young lady. And with admiring eyes he watched Ruth glean after the reapers. When he learned who she was he told her not to glean elsewhere but only in his field where she would receive every consideration. In response Ruth expressed joyful surprise.
Boaz told her that he had heard of her kindness to her mother-in-law. Her participation in the meal was also evidence of a special place she occupied in the growing love and respect of Boaz. He treated her as a lady of honor. Then in beautiful language he added these words, “may you be richly rewarded by the Lord, the God of Israel, under whose wings you have come to take refuge.” Later when Ruth told Naomi about all that happened that day, her reaction was very favorable. She said,”blessed be the Lord, who has not held back his kindness to the living and to the dead.”
This striking description of the kindness of Boaz, who raised Ruth from humiliation, to be the recipient of generous gifts, is a figure of the grace of God in Christ who loves us as unworthy sinners, lifting us out of the depths of sin and shame and enriching our lives with spiritual and temporal blessings.
So after that, every day Ruth went cleaning in the fields of Boaz, and he really went out of his way to make things easy for her. He even instructed his men to drop some additional handfuls of grain for her. Every day when Boaz saw Ruth his heart warmed toward her. Poor old Boaz, he was falling in love and he scarcely knew what was taking place. We are told that love is like the measles, the older you are the harder it hits.
Of course Naomi was pleased with the way things were working out, at heart she was somewhat of a matchmaker. We're told that it takes to to have a marriage - a single girl and an anxious mother. Meanwhile, Ruth went on gleaning until the end of the barley and wheat harvest, which lasted from April until June.
Finally, as the harvest season was drawing to a close, the wise Naomi, seeing that Boaz was growing very fond of Ruth and Ruth herself was not unwilling, she made the suggestion that Ruth go to Boaz and ask him to marry her. In some respects, even today we might be almost shocked at this suggestion. But first of all we must understand the background against which it was given. To the Hebrew people, the family was the basic unit of society and the perpetuation of the family name was considered extremely important. To the Hebrews, for the family name to come to an end would be a great tragedy.
In fact there's a old poem that is still quoted by the Jewish people today: “Marry a woman who will give you, children who will out- live you; after you are gone, your memory will live on.”
To safeguard against a family name running out, the Bible tells us about the Hebrew custom called “the law of the kinsman redeemer”-that if a man died, leaving his wife without any children it was the duty of the nearest male relative to marry her. In this case Boaz was actually a close relative. V1-4; Lev. 25:25. And so in chapter 3:1- 9, Naomi devised a plan and we don't have time to go into all the details. But bear in mind that at this time in history it was very difficult for a woman to approach a man unless she was invited to do so.
So Naomi's directions to Ruth sound strange to us but they really involved no immodesty, it was the way of the East to communicate in terms of symbols. The threshing floor was an open space. The workers slept in their garments. It was in this way that Boaz was made to realize his obligation as a kinsman, to marry the widow of the deceased relative and continue his line.
To make a long story short, when Ruth expressed to Boaz that he should marry her because she was a close relative, his reaction was very favorable. Chapter 3:10,11. His heart leapt for joy, he probably thought that Ruth would be far more interested in men her own age, he never dreamed that she has set her affection upon him.
Now the way things turned out, Boaz was not the nearest relative living in Bethlehem. There was another man mentioned in 3:12,13.And here our beautiful love story takes on the air of mystery. This couple, so much in love, so well suited to each other. Will they have the opportunity to marry or will a third-party step in and take the place of husband.
In chapter 4:1-4 We see how Boaz went to the marketplace and next day, found the other man who as the nearest relative had the first choice to buy the land. At first he agreed to do so. v.4 “I will redeem it,” he said. But Boaz refused to give up. He pointed out that any person who bought the land had to marry Ruth, the widow of Mahlon, in order to restore the family name. The heart of Boaz almost skipped a beat as he waited for the answer.
But the man declined because he was already married and had a son. He did not want to complicate his inheritance. He wanted to avoid the possibility of having his inheritance divided between his son and any children that he and Ruth might have. v. 6 So the way was now clear for Boaz to complete the legal transaction before many witnesses. V7-10. The shoe symbolized the right of the owner to set forth upon the land. The land became his property and Ruth instead of Naomi became his wife, to perpetuate the name of her first husband Malon v.11,12
Some Bible students point out that this practice of kinsman redeemer was a type or symbol of our salvation through Christ, who gave himself in a special way to set free his bride, the church. Through Boaz, the Kinsman Redeemer, the name and inheritance of Elimelech and his generation were saved. So Christ saves the name of all belong to him and gives them an eternal inheritance.
So Ruth got her man, and few women of the Old Testament ever got a better one. Because Boaz was a man with a high sense of honor, a virtuous man, a godly man, a generous, kind man. Faint heart never won a fair husband. All is well that ends well. Probably Boaz the old bachelor would never have had the courage to seek the hand of Ruth.
In vv. 4:14-17 we see how God works in mysterious ways,His wonders to perform. Two hearts were made happy. A godly home was established, a child was born and a son was given. Before long Naomi became a proud grandmother and she felt 10 years younger. They called his name Obed. Obed was the father of Jesse, Jesse was the father of David, and through the line of David came Christ, the son of God, the Savior of the world. Conceived of the Holy Spirit born of the Virgin Mary, the incarnate Son of God.
This timeless story teaches us many lessons. It reminds us of the grace and Providence of God at work in our lives. Naomi saw the hand of God in her sorrow and adversity. Boaz recognize the hand of God in the good fortune to have Ruth for his wife. Ruth herself, put her trust under the wings of the God of Israel.
Let us turn again to v.2:3-Going back to that morning when Ruth went out to glean. It says, “ as it happened, or as it turned out,” the field which she entered belonged to Boaz. That I believe was a turning point in the whole story. If Ruth had gone to some other field, history would have been different. But I don't believe it just happened. In fact for Christians there is no such thing as chance or luck.
Ruth had placed her trust in God, her heart had been changed. She wanted to do the Lords will. The upward path from the plains of Moab to the hills of Bethlehem was a hard one but it was the path of commitment. And so I believe it was God who guided her footsteps that morning. God was with her each step of the way. He never forsakes his own.
Great events turn upon the hinges of little happening. Look back over your own experience and perhaps you too can see certain turning points in your life. I know I can, especially in the way I met the sweetheart who later became my wife. Perhaps, if you had gone East instead of West, had taken the morning train instead of the evening one. If you had gone around the opposite corner to meet someone different, your life would never have been the same. Oh the wonder of the Providence of God.
This story is also part of God's preparation for the birth of Christ, the promised Messiah. Just as Ruth was unaware of this larger purpose in her life, so we may not understand God's eternal purpose as we look back over the years. But we can say that, “In all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose” ( Romans 8:28).
Contrast Ruth 1:3- 5 with 4:13 – 17. This has been my experience and in many cases yours as well. So I remind you as I remind myself; let us rely on the faithfulness of God and trust his promises. Gods rewards will far outweigh any sacrifice that we may make.
“All the way my Savior leads me,what have I to ask beside?
Can I doubt his tender mercy, who through life has been my guide.
Heavenly peace, divinest comfort, here by faith in him to dwell.
For I know, what-ere befall me, Jesus do-eth all things well.”
Fanny J. Crosby
