Ruth

Ruth is an allegory

What is an allegory?

An allegory is a story where the characters are metaphors. They are full of nuance and meaning.

The most famous allegory: David and the prophet Nathan about a rich man who had many flocks and herds. The rich man takes a poor man’s lamb and feeds it to a traveler. David becomes furious and Nathan tells him, you are the rich man.

The difference between an allegory, parable, and metaphor. A parable is making a sing point. A metaphor is a single comparison.

Ruth is a story and the characters represent more than what they appear to be. I am going to present it as Nathan did to David. Read the entire story then tell who the characters are.

Read all of Ruth

Characters

Elimelek - husband

Naomi - wife

Mahlon - son

Kilion - son

Orpah - daughter-in-law

Ruth - daughter-in-law

Mara - Naomi - wife

Boaz - Naomi’s relative, her covenant redeemer

Obed - Ruth and Boaz’ son

Jesse - Obed’s son

David - the king of Israel

The characters

Elimelek - God is King, ironic

Naomi - pleasant, Israel

Mahlon - Sickness

Kilion - Failure/destruction

Orpah - turns away

Ruth - companion

Mara - Naomi - bitterness

Boaz - Strength, her covenant redeemer

Obed - Worship

Jesse - Obed’s son

David - the king of Israel

Story summary

Israel has no king, gives birth to sickness and destruction and leaves the promised land.

Everyone dies and the blessing is now bitterness.

A nobody chooses God, “Seeks shelter under his wings”, and sits at the feet of Israel’s guardian redeemer.

The obedient redeemer and the faithful companion are united and give birth to men who worship and the kingdom of God.

To Israel

There is still redemption in my covenant with you. You have given birth to sickness and disease but you will also give birth to My kingdom. Your story isn’t over.

We have the details

Mankind has no king. We give birth to sickness and destruction and trade the blessings of God for bitterness.

BUT

If anyone seeks shelter under His wings and sits at the feet of Jesus. Then they will be redeemed by His strength and obedience. They will become His faithful companion and through that union God will usher in His kingdom.

Outro

Ruth is about faith and obedience ushering in a kingdom that worships God, but it isn’t our faith and obedience. It’s our faith in Jesus’ obedience. We are not Boaz, we are not the covenant redeemer. Jesus is. We are Ruth.

We come from a foreign land. We don’t have anything to offer. We are nobody’s who say, You will be my God, I will seek refuge in You, and I will seek redemption in Your goodness. I will sit at your feet and ask for mercy.

God replies, “that’s exactly the thing I was looking for to usher in my kingdom.”