The Book of Ruth

Most Biblical experts believe the events in the book of Ruth to have occurred sometime around Judges chapter 3. It is unknown who may have been a judge at that time, but we know based on Ruth 1:1, the book was during the time of the Judges.

Ruth 1:1 NASB95

Now it came about in the days when the judges governed, that there was a famine in the land. And a certain man of Bethlehem in Judah went to sojourn in the land of Moab with his wife and his two sons.

The Moabites and Ammonites came into existence from the incestuous relationship between Lot and his daughters.

Genesis 19:37–38 “The firstborn bore a son, and called his name Moab; he is the father of the Moabites to this day. As for the younger, she also bore a son, and called his name Ben-ammi; he is the father of the sons of Ammon to this day.”

God at times used Moab to Judge Israel when they sinned against Him.

Judges 3:12–14 “Now the sons of Israel again did evil in the sight of the Lord. So the Lord strengthened Eglon the king of Moab against Israel, because they had done evil in the sight of the Lord. And he gathered to himself the sons of Ammon and Amalek; and he went and defeated Israel, and they possessed the city of the palm trees. The sons of Israel served Eglon the king of Moab eighteen years.”

Balaam attempted to curse Israel by order of Balak, the king of Moab Num. 21:21-35; 22:1-24:25

David entrusted his parents to the king of Moab while he dealt with Saul. 1 Kings 11:1, 7, 33.

There are many other references about Moab throughout the OT.

Cultural and Law Relevance

Ruth is allowed to gather in an Israelite’s field during the grain harvest, a right reserved for the poor and the foreigner—of which Ruth is both Lev. 19:9-10; 23:22; Deut. 24:17-22.

Leviticus 19:9–10 NASB95

‘Now when you reap the harvest of your land, you shall not reap to the very corners of your field, nor shall you gather the gleanings of your harvest. ‘Nor shall you glean your vineyard, nor shall you gather the fallen fruit of your vineyard; you shall leave them for the needy and for the stranger. I am the Lord your God.

Kinsman Redeemer - Naomi knew laws and obligations of the Kinsman Redeemer Lev. 25:25

Leviticus 25:25 NASB95

‘If a fellow countryman of yours becomes so poor he has to sell part of his property, then his nearest kinsman is to come and buy back what his relative has sold.

Levirate Law - Boaz although not a brother to Ruth’s deceased husband fulfilled the Levirate law. Deut. 25:5-6

Deuteronomy 25:5–6 NASB95

“When brothers live together and one of them dies and has no son, the wife of the deceased shall not be married outside the family to a strange man. Her husband’s brother shall go in to her and take her to himself as wife and perform the duty of a husband’s brother to her. “It shall be that the firstborn whom she bears shall assume the name of his dead brother, so that his name will not be blotted out from Israel.

Ruth the Moabitess

We see the phrase “Ruth was a Moabitess”, referenced 5 times in the book of Ruth.

Ruth 1:22, 2:2, 2:21, 4:5, 4:10

Ruth 1:22 NASB95

So Naomi returned, and with her Ruth the Moabitess, her daughter-in-law, who returned from the land of Moab. And they came to Bethlehem at the beginning of barley harvest.

The Story of Ruth in a Nutshell

Elimelech, Naomi, and their two sons leave for Moab during a time of famine

After a time Elimelech dies

Naomi’s two sons Mahlon and Chilon marry two Moabite women, Ruth and Orpah.

Ten years later both Mahlon and Chilon die leaving Naomi without a husband or sons and Ruth and Orpah widows.

Naomi and her tow daughter-in-laws head back to Bethlehem… she tells them to go back to their people and their gods… Orpah returns, but Ruth stays with Naomi and is committed to Naomi.

They arrive in Bethlehem at the start of harvest time and Naomi goes to work in the fields to provide for the two of them.

She ends up in the field of Boaz who happens to be a near relative of Elimelech, Naomi’s deceased husband.

Boaz protects Ruth, for the sake of Naomi and for the fact Ruth had been taking such great care of Naomi.

After the harvest and all the grain is collected, Naomi tell Ruth to go to Boaz and uncover his feet.

Boaz understands what she is up to and agrees to buy back Elimelech’s land and to marry Ruth as long as another person who is a closer relative does not want too.

Boaz marries Ruth and they have Obed the grandfather of King David.

A Woman of Excellence

The Title of the Message is “A Woman of Excellence”

Ruth 3:11 (NASB95)

“Now, my daughter, do not fear. I will do for you whatever you ask, for all my people in the city know that you are a woman of excellence.

What was it about Ruth that she would earn such a wonderful title?

Ruth was born into a people who worshiped false gods.

She was widowed

She was left by her sister-in-law.

I would like to suggest four things that set Ruth apart.

Despite Ruth’s upbringing and the background of her people, she chose to follow God. Ruth 1:16

Ruth 1:16 (NASB95)

But Ruth said, “Do not urge me to leave you or turn back 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.

Ruth 2:12 (NASB95)

“May the Lord reward your work, and your wages be full from the Lord, the God of Israel, under whose wings you have come to seek refuge.”

It is this decision that is threaded throughout the book and life of Ruth.

2. She put others before herself, specifically the needs of Naomi her mother-in-law

Ruth 2:11 (NASB95)

Boaz replied to her, “All that you have done for your mother-in-law after the death of your husband has been fully reported to me, and how you left your father and your mother and the land of your birth, and came to a people that you did not previously know.

Ruth 2:14, 18

Ruth 2:14 (NASB95)

At mealtime Boaz said to her, “Come here, that you may eat of the bread and dip your piece of bread in the vinegar.” So she sat beside the reapers; and he served her roasted grain, and she ate and was satisfied and had some left.

Ruth 2:18 (NASB95)

She took it up and went into the city, and her mother-in-law saw what she had gleaned. She also took it out and gave Naomi what she had left after she was satisfied.

3. She worked hard without seeking favor of others

Ruth 2:23 NASB95

So she stayed close by the maids of Boaz in order to glean until the end of the barley harvest and the wheat harvest. And she lived with her mother-in-law.

The barley and wheat harvest would have lasted about 2 months

4. She listened to sage advice from her mother-in-law Naomi

Ruth 3:1 NASB95

Then Naomi her mother-in-law said to her, “My daughter, shall I not seek security for you, that it may be well with you?

Ruth’s Response:

Ruth 3:5 NASB95

She said to her, “All that you say I will do.”

Think about our jokes about mother-in-laws, or TV shows. Ruth showed nothing but respect and honor toward Naomi.

Warren Wiersbe states:

Ruth neither looked back at her tragic past nor did she look at herself and consider her sorry plight.

bio.warrenwiersbe

The Results!

When we do things God’s way, there is always blessing.

Naomi is Blessed!

Contrast Naomi’s attitude in Ruth 1:20-21 with Ruth 4:14-15

Ruth 1:20–21 (NASB95)

She said to them, “Do not call me Naomi; call me Mara, for the Almighty has dealt very bitterly with me. “I went out full, but the Lord has brought me back empty. Why do you call me Naomi, since the Lord has witnessed against me and the Almighty has afflicted me?”

Naomi’s name in Hebrew meant “Pleasant”, but she wanted to be referred to as Mara which meant “bitter”

Ruth 4:14–15 (NASB95)

Then the women said to Naomi, “Blessed is the Lord who has not left you without a redeemer today, and may his name become famous in Israel. “May he also be to you a restorer of life and a sustainer of your old age; for your daughter-in-law, who loves you and is better to you than seven sons, has given birth to him.”

Naomi thought her life was washed up and finished. She believed the Lord had abandoned her, but Ruth who chose to do things God’s way restored joy to Naomi.

Ruth although a woman who had no intrinsic value in that time era and culture, was called better than seven sons!

Ruth is protected and provided for.

Ruth 2:8–9 (NASB95)

Then Boaz said to Ruth, “Listen carefully, my daughter. Do not go to glean in another field; furthermore, do not go on from this one, but stay here with my maids. “Let your eyes be on the field which they reap, and go after them. Indeed, I have commanded the servants not to touch you. When you are thirsty, go to the water jars and drink from what the servants draw.”

Ruth 2:15–16 (NASB95)

When she rose to glean, Boaz commanded his servants, saying, “Let her glean even among the sheaves, and do not insult her. “Also you shall purposely pull out for her some grain from the bundles and leave it that she may glean, and do not rebuke her.”

Ruth gains an inheritance, a husband, and becomes the great grandmother of King David.

Ruth 4:9–10 NASB95

Then Boaz said to the elders and all the people, “You are witnesses today that I have bought from the hand of Naomi all that belonged to Elimelech and all that belonged to Chilion and Mahlon. “Moreover, I have acquired Ruth the Moabitess, the widow of Mahlon, to be my wife in order to raise up the name of the deceased on his inheritance, so that the name of the deceased will not be cut off from his brothers or from the court of his birth place; you are witnesses today.”

Ruth 4:13 NASB95

So Boaz took Ruth, and she became his wife, and he went in to her. And the Lord enabled her to conceive, and she gave birth to a son.

Application

When I studied the life of Ruth there are a few things that jumped out to me and are very applicable to our lives today.

When we are planning our lives and our futures, are we trusting the Lord along the way?

Proverbs 3:5–6 (NASB95)

Trust in the Lord with all your heart And do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He will make your paths straight.

I am certain Ruth had all sorts of plans for herself before her husband died. Even coming back to Bethlehem with Naomi, she probably had dreams and aspirations of some sort, but she was willing do things God’s way and to trust Him with the outcome.

2. Are we willing to listen to the advice of others, but especially that of our parents?

Proverbs 12:15 (NASB95)

The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, But a wise man is he who listens to counsel.

Ephesians 6:1–3 (NASB95)

Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. Honor your father and mother (which is the first commandment with a promise), so that it may be well with you, and that you may live long on the earth.

Ruth had to trust Naomi and lean on her understanding of the laws and customs. She could have responded with well in my generation…, or in Moab…, but she didn’t she listened and heeded Naomi’s advice.

3. Do we believe, that if we trust God and follow His word, that He will provide for our needs?

Matthew 6:33 NASB95

“But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

The world is going to give us all sorts of advice, how to live, what to accept, how to talk, what to tolerate, etc… But Jesus said to seek Him. Are we willing to do things God’s way and trust Him with the results?

Key Point: When we do things God’s way, He is honored and often times we are blessed in return.