Becoming a Worthy Woman
Ruth 3:11
Rev. Brian Bill
May 11-12, 2024
Beth and I returned on Tuesday after doing some intensive grandparenting with some of our grandsons while their parents were out of the country. We were also able to spend time with one of our granddaughter for a few days. We’re tired but had a delightful time. On this Mother’s Day weekend, I have a new appreciation for how hard moms and grandmoms work!
Our first activity was a Nerf Battle with the boys. Here’s a picture of the young warriors preparing to ambush us. We’re so humbled to watch all four of our daughters and their husbands raising young warriors for Christ.
Because I have been preaching sermons for three decades, I struggled with how to approach Mother’s Day and Father’s Day in a fresh way this year. As I prayed about what to preach on, surprisingly, the Lord took me to the Book of Ruth.
In 3:11 we see Ruth designated as a “worthy woman.” The word “worthy” for a woman means, “excellent, praiseworthy, and virtuous.” This same word is used in Proverbs 31:10 (which I’ve preached on in the past) to introduce us to the worthy woman who fears the Lord: “An excellent wife who can find? She is far more precious than jewels.”
In Ruth 2:1, Boaz is referred to as “a worthy man.” When used to describe a man, this word means, “a mighty warrior, a noble man of character and integrity.” So, here’s a question. What kind of man was Boaz before he got married? He was Ruth-less!
The Book of Ruth was often read out loud during the feast of Pentecost, which was a celebration of first fruits. We’re seeing a lot of spiritual fruit these days at Edgewood. Wasn’t youth weekend fantastic? I loved the music, and the blessings parents gave to their graduating seniors. Pastor Chris preached with passion and compassion. And two weeks ago, Pastor Ed preached a very compelling message on the judgment seat of Christ. Very well done, guys.
Several weeks ago, Beth and I attended Secret Church hosted by Mainspring and our Student Ministry, which was a six-hour teaching time from the Book of Ruth. We only stayed a couple hours but learned a lot. As a way to help familiarize us with this brief book, I’ve asked our Youth Assistant Micah Kongkousonh to share a summary. Micah is also a student at Moody Bible Institute, working on his Bachelor of Arts in Biblical Studies. To find the Book of Ruth, it’s located right after Joshua and Judges in our English Bibles. I encourage you to read it for yourself this week because we’ll come back to this moving narrative on Father’s Day weekend.
The book of Ruth is one of the great love stories of all time. It is a romantic drama of a destitute young Moabite widow who marries a wealthy and compassionate Israelite named Boaz. The story of Ruth takes place during the days of Judges and emphasizes redemption. Ruth’s role in the history of the Old Testament is the great grandmother of King David which makes Ruth a ray of light and hope for Israel's future. As a Gentile who marries a Hebrew from Bethlehem, she pictures the love of God for both Hebrews and Gentiles. God’s promise to Abraham that He would bless all nations begins to come to fruition through Boaz and Ruth and will eventually result in the birth of our savior, Jesus!
As the curtain rises on the drama, the first chapter begins with Ruth and her mother-in-law, Naomi, in Moab during a famine that killed Naomi’s husband and two sons, widowing the two women. Moab had a notorious background as a known oppressor of Israel with the marriage of Naomi's sons to Moabite women being a blatant covenant rejection. A Jewish reader would have been shocked to read of a family’s decision to abandon their God-given inheritance to a Gentile nation.
However, against this negative backdrop and Naomi’s loss, the story inserts a note of optimism and hope through Ruth’s choice to reject her land and gods and embrace Naomi and her belief. Ruth’s willingness to break with her own pagan background in order to embrace the people of Israel and their God is highlighted because it explains God’s willingness both to use and to reward her. The first chapter closes with Ruth and Naomi returning to Bethlehem with a desperate need for a relative to take on their debt and produce an heir as a family redeemer since Naomi had no family heir and was destitute.
Ruth’s devotion to Naomi and her decision to forsake Moab for the people of Israel and their God allowed God to use Ruth strategically to further His covenant purposes. The second chapter records Ruth’s sovereign meeting with her future husband and family redeemer, Boaz. Ruth’s commitment to Naomi is seen in her desire to work in a field for her mother-in-law. Ruth ‘happened to come upon a portion of land belonging to Boaz,’ but nothing happens on a whim with our Lord! Boaz was a relative of Naomi's late- husband and upon learning Ruth’s identity as the Moabite who clung to Naomi, Boaz did everything in his power to assist her. He instructed Ruth to remain on his property during the harvest and granted her special privileges.
In protecting and providing for Ruth, Boaz already sensed his responsibility to his relative, Naomi. When Ruth returned and told Naomi of what had happened, Naomi recognized Boaz as their redeemer and told her to continue working there for the rest of the season.
Naomi knew she was too poor to buy back her property and too old to have children to continue her family's name, so Boaz as the family redeemer could remedy these two situations by marrying Ruth. Naomi thought of a plan for Ruth to propose marriage. This plan involved Ruth sleeping at Boaz’s feet and uncovering them, which symbolized Ruth's interest in marriage. Ruth’s willingness to execute this plan further verified her devotion to Naomi, and upon doing this, Ruth’s spirituality is recognized by Boaz’s comments of Ruth’s virtue and character.
Ruth’s decision to embrace the people of Israel and their God shows not just the short-term plans of God in bringing fullness to Naomi’s life, but also the long-term purpose of completing the Davidic and messianic lineage. Boaz expressed his joy at Ruth’s request and signified his intent by giving grain to Ruth to take back to her mother-in-law.
Yet there was a closer relative who had the claim as Naomi's family redeemer and Boaz would need to request taking the role. Upon returning to Naomi, she counseled Ruth to have patience as she waited to see if Boaz would act as her family redeemer. Ending the chapter, the older and wiser Naomi assured Ruth that Boaz would not rest unless he resolves this that very day.
The final chapter begins with Boaz inviting the closer family redeemer and elders to sit with him to sort this business out, and when the relative recognized that his role would not only include buying back Naomi’s property but the responsibility of marrying Naomi’s foreign daughter-in-law, he declined out of fear of losing his family inheritance. This decision would free Boaz to become Ruth’s husband at last. This marriage reversed the emptiness that Ruth had experienced with the death of her husband, and the Lord would give them a child named Obed who would be the grandfather of King David.
Naomi was given the fulfilling position of acting as the child's nurse and through him, the lineage was prolonged. Since God used Ruth to replace Naomi’s bitterness and emptiness with fullness, Naomi’s neighbors proclaimed that Ruth was worth more to Naomi than seven sons and they praised the Lord for all that He had done!
Naomi’s Journey
Here’s our main idea: A worthy woman is a worshipping woman.
Before we get to Ruth’s redemption, let’s ponder the journey her mother-in-law Naomi took. After experiencing a famine, Naomi’s husband Elimelech moved his family to Moab, located on the eastern side of the Dead Sea. The Moabites did not have a good reputation because they were the offspring of the incestuous relationship between Lot and one of his daughters.
In Numbers 25, we read how the Moabites led Israel into sexual immorality and pagan worship. Deuteronomy 23:3-4 lays out some pretty strong words: “No Ammonite or Moabite may enter the assembly of the LORD. Even to the tenth generation...” Evidently, Elimelech was fleeing the judgment of God on Israel and was doubly disobedient by living among the Moabites. Interestingly, some commentators suggest Ruth was a member of the 11th generation so she would not have been cursed.
This temporary refuge ended up becoming their permanent residence. As we’ve said before, “Sin will take you farther than you want to go, keep you longer than you want to stay, and cost you more than you want to pay.” Elimelech is an example of the spiritual climate of the day as summarized in Judges 21:25: “In those days, there was no king in Israel. Everyone did what was right in his own eyes.” BTW, our Sunday morning Men’s Group is studying the Book of Judges at 9:00 am.
As we consider Naomi’s situation, we’ll be encouraged to see how God is present in our problems.
1. Broken. Shortly after they arrived in Moab, Naomi’s husband died and in 1:5, we read: “and both Mahlon and Chilion died, so that the woman was left without her two sons and her husband.” As a widow with no sons to care for her, she felt alone and abandoned. Some of you can relate because you feel burdened or even broken today.
I think of the grief two mothers are going through this weekend as they lament the loss of the two young men who were murdered in Moline this past Sunday. On Thursday afternoon, I stopped by a makeshift memorial on the Avenue of Cities, right next to the Valvoline Instant Oil Change facility, to express my condolences to their families and friends.
The grief was raw as young people hugged, cried, and lamented together. I was able to have several conversations with various teenagers and young adults and passed along something I first heard Ray Pritchard say: “You have two choices. You can go through this with God and it will be hard, or you can go through this without Him and it will be horrible.”
This led to some deeper conversations and I was able to share how God used the drowning death of my friend Tim when I was 18 to get my attention and eventually bring me to faith in Him when I was 19.
I was asked to say a prayer for about six of them as they circled the memorial. One young man took a copy of Anchor for the Soul. I gave out a handful of business cards and told them I would be happy to talk with them or connect them with another pastor or counselor.
I was really moved by the words put on the marquee at the Valvoline facility: “WE ARE SORRY FOR YOUR LOSS.” I introduced myself to the manager named Maddie and thanked her for doing this. She was very compassionate and told me with tears in her eyes that one teenager actually slept on a pillow on the ground near the memorial Wednesday night. We should support businesses like this. Please pray for these families and friends so that many come to saving faith.
I imagine how Naomi’s grief must have gutted her, as both her husband and two sons were no longer with her.
2. Returned. At this point, 1:6 tells us Naomi decided to go back to Bethlehem: “Then she arose with her daughters-in-law to return from the country of Moab, for she had heard in the fields of Moab that the Lord had visited his people and given them food.” We see a form of the word “returned” used eleven times in chapter one. She left Bethlehem because of a food famine and returned with a famine in her soul. Friend, no matter how far away you may be from God, it’s time to return. The good news is you don’t have to make your way back through performance or by doing penance. Simply turn to Him in repentance and you will be back. As 1:7 says, it’s never too late: “So she set out from the place…” This journey of 50 miles would have taken at least a week.
3. Selfless. Knowing their future would be dismal if they stayed with her, Naomi urged Ruth and Orpah to go back to their mother in Moab. In 1:8-9, she blessed them with a benediction filled with a covenantal expression of love, faithfulness, grace, and mercy: “May the Lord deal kindly with you as you have dealt with the dead and with me. The Lord grant that you may find rest, each of you in the house of her husband.” I see so many moms and grandmoms at Edgewood who selflessly serve their families. Way to go!
4. Bitter. I appreciate how Pastor Chris urged us to be authentic even when we’re in agony last weekend. We see an example of this in 1:13 when Naomi declared, “…it is exceedingly bitter to me for your sake that the hand of the Lord has gone out against me.” When she arrived back in Bethlehem, she changed her name from Naomi, which means “pleasantness,” to Mara, which means “bitter.” She explained why in 1:20: “…for the Almighty has dealt very bitterly with me.” Do you have any bitterness taking up residence in your life today? It’s good to be honest about it.
5. Hopeful. While it’s OK to lament our losses and express our bitterness, it’s crucial that we hold on to the hope that only the Lord can give because He loves to bring better out of bitter. We see this in the last phrase of 1:22: “And they came to Bethlehem at the beginning of barley harvest.” In 2:20, after hearing how Boaz treated Ruth, Naomi’s hope returned: “And Naomi said to her daughter-in-law, ‘May he be blessed by the LORD, whose kindness has not forsaken the living or the dead!’ Naomi also said to her, ‘The man is a close relative of ours, one of our redeemers.’” Will you stay bitter or are you willing to hope again so you can get better?
6. Matchmaker. Naomi launched her matchmaking plan in 3:3-4 by telling her daughter-in-law to take a bath, put on Ruth Lauren perfume, wear her best clothes, and go down to the threshing floor. After Boaz had finished eating and went to sleep, she was told to uncover his smelly feet. In this ceremonial act, Ruth was asking Boaz to shelter her under his wings in order to redeem her. To pull a portion of a kinsman’s garment over her was the legal way of claiming protection and redemption. In short, she was making a marriage proposal to him!
7. Patient. Even though she did some serious matchmaking, Naomi trusted in the sovereignty of God. In 3:14, she encouraged Ruth to be patient: “Wait, my daughter, until you learn how the matter turns out, for the man will not rest but will settle the matter today.” Are you waiting on God to do something for you? Don’t lose heart. Trust His sovereignty.
8. Renewed. According to 4:15, Naomi was told the baby “shall be to you a restorer of life and a nourisher of your old age…” Amazingly, Granny Naomi was given the privilege of becoming the boy’s caretaker. 4:17 says Obed became like a son to her: “A son has been born to Naomi.” Many grandparents today are standing in the gap with grandchildren who have become like their own children. Way to go!
A worthy woman is a worshipping woman.
Ruth’s Journey
Now let’s consider how God worked His way and His will in Ruth’s redemption narrative. Let’s glean some truths (see what I did there?).
1. Devoted. The first thing we see about Ruth, which really explains everything about her, is her devotion to Naomi and to Naomi’s God. After Orpah went on to do a TV talk show and develop her own network (oh, sorry, that’s Oprah), 1:14 tells us “Ruth clung to her.” In Hebrew, this is the strongest word for a covenant commitment and is used of cleaving to, or being glued to, one’s spouse in Genesis 2:24: “Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.”
Ruth made a verbal vow in 1:16-17: “Do not urge me to leave you or to return from following you. For where you go I will go, and where you lodge I will lodge. Your people shall be my people, and your God my God. Where you die I will die, and there will I be buried. May the LORD do so to me and more also if anything but death parts me from you.”
In short, Ruth was committed to her new family and to her new faith. Instead of going back to her own people, she aligned herself with God’s people. Instead of worshipping multiple gods, she committed herself to the one true God. She personalized her faith by saying, “my God” and used God’s personal and covenant-keeping name, Yahweh. She did not make a half-hearted commitment, but committed herself until death, even invoking God’s judgment if she were to turn her back on God.
Whether you’re a mom or not, the depth of your devotion to God will determine your ultimate identity and eternal impact. Have you personally put your full faith in Jesus Christ? I think of the line from the hymn, Rock of Ages, which reads: “Nothing in my hand I bring, simply to the cross I cling.” If you haven’t done so yet, it’s time to leave your old life, deny yourself, take up your cross, and cling to Christ.
2. Resourceful. Ruth didn’t sit around with an entitled mindset, but rather took the initiative to provide for her and Naomi in 2:2: “And Ruth the Moabite said to Naomi, ‘Let me go to the field and glean among the ears of grain after him in whose sight I shall find favor.’” Ruth had no doubt studied Leviticus 19:9-10: “When you reap the harvest of your land, you shall not reap your field right up to its edge, neither shall you gather the gleanings after your harvest. And you shall not strip your vineyard bare, neither shall you gather the fallen grapes of your vineyard. You shall leave them for the poor and for the sojourner: I am the LORD your God.” Are you engaged or disengaged from the task God has called you to accomplish?
3. Selfless. Like so many women at Edgewood, Ruth was a selfless servant as we see in 3:9: “I am Ruth, your servant.” She consistently put the needs of Naomi before her own. This was evident to Boaz when he said these words in 2:11: “But Boaz answered her, ‘All that you have done for your mother-in-law since the death of your husband has been fully told to me, and how you left your father and mother and your native land and came to a people that you did not know before.’”
After being served lunch by Boaz, 2:18 tells us Ruth came home with a doggie bag for Naomi: “She also brought out and gave her what food she had left over after being satisfied.” On every occasion, Ruth put others first. Moms, even though your children are probably not thanking you every day, God applauds your selfless serving.
4. Diligent. In 2:7, the servant of Boaz said this about Ruth: “…she has continued from early morning until now, except for a short rest.” 2:17 says: “So she gleaned in the field until evening. Then she beat out what she had gleaned, and it was about an ephah of barley. And she took it up and went into the city…” She worked from dawn to dusk and then she ground out what she had gleaned, leaving her with an ephah, which was about 30 pounds. Then she carried this back to Naomi. In 3:16, Boaz measured out six measures of barley, or 60 pounds, which she also hauled back home.
Ruth reveals a woman who was loyal and extremely industrious, working hard to gather grain as she looked for food and for favor. Her job was menial and maybe even degrading but she was diligent. 2:23 tells us she gleaned “until the end of the barley and wheat harvests.” A slacker she was not. She lived out Proverbs 13:4: “The soul of the sluggard craves and gets nothing, while the soul of the diligent is richly supplied.”
Speaking of diligent workers, I’m surrounded by hard working servants every day. While Pastor Dan is still on medical leave and we’re actively seeking an administrative pastor and children’s director, each staff member continues to go over and above their own ministry roles while shouldering additional responsibilities. All this while our attendance has increased to around 1,000 people each weekend, which has created some parking challenges during the 9:00 am service. Actually, if you’re able to attend on Saturday night or at 10:45, this would free up some more spaces.
God has been bringing lots of new people and we’re thrilled that around 15 people have already signed up to be baptized next weekend. In addition, over the last two weekends, 8 babies have been dedicated. Our work team completed their tasks at Camp Forest Springs last weekend, our students are getting ready for their mission trip to Belize, CEF Backyard Clubs will begin in June, a team will be going to Timber Bay to do concrete work, another team is preparing to serve in Mexico, and many of our young adults are continuing their digital fast. Let’s keep praying for revival from Psalm 85:6: “Will you not revive us again, that your people may rejoice in you?”
5. Humble. According to 2:10, Ruth was extremely humble: “Then she fell on her face, bowing to the ground…” In 2:13 she called herself a servant: “I have found favor in your eyes, my lord, for you have comforted me and spoken kindly to your servant, though I am not one of your servants.” C.S. Lewis said it like this: “Humility is not thinking less of yourself, it’s thinking of yourself less.”
6. Obedient. Ruth lived out her resolve to go where Naomi told her to go as we see in 3:5: “And she replied, ‘All that you say I will do.” She didn’t talk back or argue but simply did what she was told (which would be a wonderful gift to any mom). Because Ruth was submissive to Naomi and to God, she obeyed and followed the plan down to the finest detail. We see here an example of the younger learning from the older as we’re urged to do in Titus 2:3-4. This is the essence of our intergenerational intentional discipleship ministry.
A worthy woman is a worshipping woman.
Action Steps
Let’s consider some ways we can put all this into practice.
1. Surrender to God’s Sovereignty. One of the overriding themes of the Book of Ruth is the providential sovereignty of God. He is seen everywhere, weaving His purposes through problems, events, and circumstances. Through the unexpected widowhood of both Naomi and Ruth, they end up in the Promised Land (Wisconsin) because they heard the famine was over. Naomi taught Ruth about the things of God and Ruth made a life-changing commitment. The book begins with three funerals and ends with a wedding and a baby.
Ruth didn’t even know Boaz existed in chapter 1. Then, in 2:3, we read she just “happened” to find herself in a field that belonged to Boaz, the most eligible bachelor in Bethlehem! God orchestrated the events in order to accomplish His purposes. God’s invisible hand steered her to that particular field on that particular day at that exact time.
Do you realize right now He’s working everything together for your good and His ultimate glory? No matter how dark the days may seem, God protects His people and always accomplishes His purpose. Moms, your ordinary obedience today is preparing future generations to follow Jesus. Have you surrendered yourself to His sovereignty? Do you trust His purposes for your life, even when the days are long, and things look bleak?
2. Return to the Lord today. Elimelech intended to be gone for a little while but ended up staying a long while in a faraway place. The word “remained” in 1:2 means, “to become.” He not only went into Moab, but Moab also got into him! Friends, a drifting heart can lead to disobedient days, which can turn to weeks, to months, to years, to a decade. We allow a little sin in and a little slackness and all of sudden we find ourselves in a foreign land. This shows how deceptive and devastating sin is.
If you’re a believer and you’ve been drifting or you’ve moved to Moab in your mind, it’s time to turn from bitterness to blessedness. Admit your hunger and find what you’re looking for in Jesus, who is the Bread of Life, born in Bethlehem, the house of Bread. In 1:6, we read how Naomi arose “to return.” In verse 7, she actually did it: “So she set out from the place where she was…” Will you do the same right now?
3. Receive the Redeemer. Just as Ruth was attracted to Naomi’s faith, and wanted it for herself, some of you are ready to receive the Redeemer into your life. Ruth and Orpah help us see the options. They both had the opportunity to turn their backs on what they were worshiping and follow the one true God. Orpah started out believing but then bailed. God doesn’t want a half-hearted commitment. He’s looking for people who will say like Ruth did, “Your God will be my God.” Are you ready to do that?
We all need a Redeemer. Boaz did all the work to make redemption happen while Ruth requested and received what had been accomplished on her behalf. The Bible says we need someone to rescue us from the slippery slope of sin. You might think you can’t possibly be forgiven for what you’ve done. That’s not true. God can forgive anyone. He forgave a Moabite and He can give you a fresh start as well. Just as Ruth needed to ask for redemption, so too, you need to ask Jesus to redeem you.
In the Old Testament, a redeemer had to be related by blood, he must be able to redeem, and he must be willing. Jesus took on flesh and blood so that He could relate to us. He is able to redeem because He has paid the price for our redemption, and He is more than willing. Are you willing to receive Him as your Redeemer right now?
The Book of Ruth ends in 4:21-22 with a genealogy: “Salmon fathered Boaz, Boaz fathered Obed, Obed fathered Jesse, and Jesse fathered David.” When we come to Matthew 1:2-16, we see the lineage of Boaz and Ruth from Bethlehem leads to David’s greater Son, born of a virgin in a stable in Bethlehem so you can be born again.
Notice in 4:11 that after Ruth is redeemed, she is no longer called “the Moabitess,” but is now referred to as “woman” and is compared to Leah and Rachel, who gave birth to the twelve sons of Jacob. Likewise, when we are saved, we are transformed from “slave and sinner” to “sanctified saint.”
4. Take the gospel to all nations. Ruth was part of the first fruits of a non-Jewish person coming to faith in the one true God. And because we want more fruit, we’ll be holding our monthly Unreached Prayer night on Monday from 7-8pm as we intercede for the country of China.
5. Keep training young disciples. There’s no doubt Naomi spent time teaching and training Ruth, which ultimately led her to commit herself fully to God. Moms and grandmoms, on this Mother’s Day weekend, recommit to the truth we learned last month: “The task of parenting is to train young disciples.”
I close by sharing a helpful resource I saw taped above the kitchen sink in one of our daughter’s homes. It’s called, “10 Opportunities to Talk to Your Child About God in Everyday Life” by Risen Motherhood.
• When they see something they love in nature.
God created everything. (Gen. 1:1; Neh. 9:6; John 1:1-3)
• When they get ready to eat a meal.
Give thanks to God for all He provides. (Ps. 136:25; Matt. 6:11)
• When they show off a skill, gift, or ability.
God gives us abilities to glorify and worship Him. (Ex. 31:1-11; Eccl. 9:10; Col. 3:23)
• When they get hurt or feel afraid.
God is always with us, He is our refuge and strength. (Ps. 34:4-7; Ps. 56:3-4; Phil. 4:6-7)
• When they disobey.
Sin severs our relationship with God, but He offers forgiveness in His son, Jesus. (Ps. 130:3-4; Eph. 2:8-9; 1 John 1:9)
• When they see you reading the Bible or praying.
God wants us to spend time talking to and listening to Him through His word. (Ps. 1:2; Ps. 119:15-17; 1 Thess. 5:16-18)
• When they hurt other children.
God created everyone in His image, and He loves that person. He wants us to be kind to them. (Gen. 1:26-27; Eph. 4:32; 1 Thess. 5:11)
• When they share or show generosity.
God loves a cheerful giver. (2 Cor. 9:6-7; Heb. 10:34)
• When they show self-control instead of selfishness.
God helped you do what is right and put others before yourself. Thank you, God! (1 Cor. 13:4-5; Gal. 5:22-23)
• When they are ready for bed.
God loves you. He is always ready to hear your prayers. (Ps. 4:8; James 5:13; 1 John 5:14-15)
A worthy woman is a worshipping woman.
Closing Prayer
