Through The Bible
8 Ruth
March 19 - Ruth 1 - 2
Life Lesson... We can see God's providence in the book of Ruth, especially in Ruth 2:3, "And she went, and came, and gleaned in the field after the reapers: and her hap was to light on a part of the field belonging unto Boaz, who was of the kindred of Elimelech." We can also see God's providence in our lives, "And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose." (Romans 8:28)
Taking place sometime during the bleak book of Judges, we have the little encouraging book of Ruth. I use a King James Scofield Study Bible and the descriptions above each chapter give a little outline. Chapter 1 is titled, "Ruth Deciding", Chapter 2, "Ruth Serving", Chapter 3, "Ruth Resting", and Chapter 4 is titled, "Ruth Rewarded." This could be a picture of our own Christian lives. We decide to trust Jesus for salvation. We follow Him in service as long as we are able. We may grow older and have a time of resting until He calls us home to heaven where we will receive our rewards. Let's begin with Chapter 1.
"1 Now it came to pass in the days when the judges ruled, that there was a famine in the land. And a certain man of Bethlehemjudah went to sojourn in the country of Moab, he, and his wife, and his two sons.
2 And the name of the man was Elimelech, and the name of his wife Naomi, and the name of his two sons Mahlon and Chilion, Ephrathites of Bethlehemjudah. And they came into the country of Moab, and continued there.
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.
5 And Mahlon and Chilion died also both of them; and the woman was left of her two sons and her husband." (Ruth 1:1-5)
"Bethlehemjudah" means "House of Bread and Praise" but there was a famine in the land and they traveled to Moab. In Psalms 60:8 and also 108:9, the Bible says, "Moab is my washpot;..." Naomi heard that the Lord had visited her people in giving them bread and she decided to go back home. She started on her journey and Orpah and Ruth started to go with her. She blessed them and kissed them and they wept and told her that they would go with her. Naomi told them that she didn't have any more sons, to go back home and find husbands.
"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.
16 And Ruth said, Intreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee: for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God:
17 Where thou diest, will I die, and there will I be buried: the LORD do so to me, and more also, if ought but death part thee and me." (1:14-17)
When they came into the city everyone asked, "Is this Naomi?" "And she said unto them, Call me not Naomi, call me Mara: for the Almighty hath dealt very bitterly with me. I went out full, and the LORD hath brought me home again empty: why then call ye me Naomi, seeing the LORD hath testified against me, and the Almighty hath afflicted me?" (1:20-21) In Chapter 2 we see a word that we don't use today, but I like this little word, "hap". I am thankful that all of my "haps" are in God's hands.
"1 And Naomi had a kinsman of her husband's, a mighty man of wealth, of the family of Elimelech; and his name was Boaz.
2 And Ruth the Moabitess said unto Naomi, Let me now go to the field, and glean ears of corn after him in whose sight I shall find grace. And she said unto her, Go, my daughter.
3 And she went, and came, and gleaned in the field after the reapers: and her hap was to light on a part of the field belonging unto Boaz, who was of the kindred of Elimelech.
4 And, behold, Boaz came from Bethlehem, and said unto the reapers, The LORD be with you. And they answered him, The LORD bless thee." (2:1-4)
Boaz noticed Ruth and the reapers told him how she had been good to Naomi and how she had worked hard gleaning in the field.
"8 Then said Boaz unto Ruth, Hearest thou not, my daughter? Go not to glean in another field, neither go from hence, but abide here fast by my maidens:
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?" (8-10)
As you read the next verses, I want to pause here and praise my Lord for His goodness. I was a stranger and He came to me. He protects me and He gives me water from the well (vs. 9). He rewards me and took me under His wings (vs. 12). He comforts me and speaks friendly to me (vs. 13). He feeds me (vs. 14). He provides and lets "handfuls of purpose" fall for me! (vs. 16) God gives us purpose for our lives. He sends me to work in His fields. "Say not ye, There are yet four months, and then cometh harvest? behold, I say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest." (John 4:35)
March 20 - Ruth 3 - 4
Life Lesson… Sometimes things happen in our lives that make us want to say like Naomi, "I went out full, and the LORD hath brought me home again empty…" God has a plan and a purpose for our lives and when we yield our will, into His will, we can see His blessing, even through our storms. Naomi will see God’s blessing unfold in such a wonderful way in our devotions today.
In Chapter 3 Naomi seeks rest for Ruth and tells her that Boaz is a near kinsman and she can rightfully have a child with him. She tells Ruth to wash up and anoint herself and dress nice and go meet him where he was with the harvest. Boaz told her that he was a near kinsman, but there was one before him. He asked her to wait and he sent her home early the next morning with a vail filled with barley.
"16 And when she came to her mother in law, she said, Who art thou, my daughter? And she told her all that the man had done to her.
17 And she said, These six measures of barley gave he me; for he said to me, Go not empty unto thy mother in law.
18 Then said she, Sit still, my daughter, until thou know how the matter will fall: for the man will not be in rest, until he have finished the thing this day." (Ruth 3:16-18)
I remember that J. Vernon McGee once said that Naomi knew who Ruth was, but she was asking, "Are you Mrs. Boaz?" Chapter 4 gives us the joyful ending to this little book that took place in somewhat darkened times.
"1 Then went Boaz up to the gate, and sat him down there: and, behold, the kinsman of whom Boaz spake came by; unto whom he said, Ho, such a one! turn aside, sit down here. And he turned aside, and sat down.
2 And he took ten men of the elders of the city, and said, Sit ye down here. And they sat down.
3 And he said unto the kinsman, Naomi, that is come again out of the country of Moab, selleth a parcel of land, which was our brother Elimelech's:
4 And I thought to advertise thee, saying, Buy it before the inhabitants, and before the elders of my people. If thou wilt redeem it, redeem it: but if thou wilt not redeem it, then tell me, that I may know: for there is none to redeem it beside thee; and I am after thee. And he said, I will redeem it.
5 Then said Boaz, What day thou buyest the field of the hand of Naomi, thou must buy it also of Ruth the Moabitess, the wife of the dead, to raise up the name of the dead upon his inheritance.
6 And the kinsman said, I cannot redeem it for myself, lest I mar mine own inheritance: redeem thou my right to thyself; for I cannot redeem it.
7 Now this was the manner in former time in Israel concerning redeeming and concerning changing, for to confirm all things; a man plucked off his shoe, and gave it to his neighbour: and this was a testimony in Israel.
8 Therefore the kinsman said unto Boaz, Buy it for thee. So he drew off his shoe.
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.
11 And all the people that were in the gate, and the elders, said, We are witnesses. The LORD make the woman that is come into thine house like Rachel and like Leah, which two did build the house of Israel: and do thou worthily in Ephratah, and be famous in Bethlehem:" (4:1-11)
So Boaz took Ruth to be his wife and they had a son and they did become famous in Bethlehem. They named their son Obed, and he was the father of Jesse, and the grandfather of David.
"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.
18 Now these are the generations of Pharez: Pharez begat Hezron,
19 And Hezron begat Ram, and Ram begat Amminadab,
20 And Amminadab begat Nahshon, and Nahshon begat Salmon,
21 And Salmon begat Boaz, and Boaz begat Obed,
22 And Obed begat Jesse, and Jesse begat David." (4:14-22)
