TGP: A Glimpse of God's Love

The story of Ruth is like a breath of fresh air in the midst of the gloomy and turbulent times of the judges. The opening verse sets the stage: “In the days when the judges ruled…” We’ve seen in the Book of Judges the cycle of God’s people forgetting His goodness and mercy, turning away from Him, falling into miserable slavery as a consequence, and then being delivered by God’s appointed leaders. We could sum up the lesson we learn from the Judges cycle in one sentence: God is faithful even when we are not.

Ruth continues this theme of God’s faithfulness in dark times. Here we see a picture of God’s steadfast love and undeserved kindness to His people. In fact, love is a key theme of Ruth, and redemption is the heart of the story. (In Hebrew, the words for “redeem,” “redeemer,” and “redemption” occur over 20 times in the book!) In this story, God shows His faithfulness through His redemptive work, demonstrated here in the love between Ruth and Boaz.

What are some of the most powerful love stories you’ve read about in books or seen in movies?

What makes these stories resonate with people?

The story of Ruth contains a practice called the “family redeemer” or “kinsman redeemer.” It was a way of assuring a relative that in the case of a man’s death, his land would not remain permanently outside the family (). It was also a way of ensuring that a childless widow would be able to marry her husband’s brother in order to provide an heir and continue the family line (). Both aspects of being a “kinsman redeemer” show up in this story.

In the story of Ruth, we see a beautiful glimpse of God’s love in the midst of dark times. Through Ruth’s devotion to her mother-in-law, we see how God’s love is constant and unyielding. Through Boaz’s kindness to Ruth, we see how God’s love is welcoming. And through the marriage of Boaz, we see how God’s love is expressed in redeeming us and providing for our needs. As people who have been redeemed by Christ, we are called to demonstrate the same kind of unyielding, welcoming, and redeeming love to others.

Let’s look at and then we will skip down to verses 16-18...

“In the days when the judges ruled there was a famine in the land, and a man of Bethlehem in Judah went to sojourn in the country of Moab, he and his wife and his two sons. The name of the man was Elimelech and the name of his wife Naomi, and the names of his two sons were Mahlon and Chilion. They were Ephrathites from Bethlehem in Judah. They went into the country of Moab and remained there. But Elimelech, the husband of Naomi, died, and she was left with her two sons. These took Moabite wives; the name of the one was Orpah and the name of the other Ruth. They lived there about ten years, and both Mahlon and Chilion died, so that the woman was left without her two sons and her husband. 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. So she set out from the place where she was with her two daughters-in-law, and they went on the way to return to the land of Judah. But Naomi said to her two daughters-in-law, “Go, return each of you to her mother’s house. 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!” Then she kissed them, and they lifted up their voices and wept.” (, ESV)

The story of Ruth begins with great tragedy. There was a famine in the land, forcing Elimelech to take his family and leave the promised land in search for the means to survive. Later, Naomi lost her husband and both her sons, leaving her childless with two daughters-in-law. In those days, a childless widow was in a precarious situation, lacking long-term financial support. She would be utterly dependent on the community to help her, but unfortunately, she was in a foreign land. Naomi’s plight seemed hopeless. How would God rescue her from this misery?

Upon hearing that the famine in Judah was over because the Lord “had visited his people and given them food,” Naomi set out to return home. She urged her daughters-in-law, Ruth and Orpah, to turn away and stay in their land. Why? Because the custom in Israel was for a widow to marry her late husband’s brother and thus continue the family line (). Naomi had no more sons, and Ruth and Orpah’s prospects were dim, so Naomi urged the women to turn back.

Surprisingly, Ruth decided to stay. While Orpah took the advice of Naomi, Ruth showed incredible faithfulness, even to the detriment of her own future. In Ruth, we see a picture of steadfast, unyielding, and loyal love—no matter the consequences. Skip down to verses 16-18...

“But Ruth said, “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.” And when Naomi saw that she was determined to go with her, she said no more.” (, ESV)

This is what true commitment and faithfulness looks like. Naomi had just painted a dark future for Ruth, but Ruth took Naomi by the hand and walked with her into the darkness. Ruth was walking away from her own family and country. She had no reason to believe that she would ever see her own loved ones again. She set aside her rights and stood by Naomi’s side.

When have you witnessed or experienced this kind of steadfast and loyal love in the midst of pain and tragedy?

What does it take to become the kind of person who can show such unyielding love?

Ruth was going to an unknown land with new customs, new people, and a new language. Her actions resembled those of Abraham, who obeyed God’s command to go to a land that God promised to show him. He left, not knowing where he was going, and he lived in the land of promise as a foreigner fully trusting God ().

Ruth was committed to Naomi even beyond Naomi’s life. She promised, “Where you die I will die, and there will I be buried” (). In other words, Ruth was promising that after Naomi died, she would not return to her homeland. Again, we see in Ruth a picture of faith.

Ruth was committed to Naomi’s God. In verse 16, Ruth declared that “Your people shall be my people, and your God my God.” It is likely that Ruth had already become a follower of the God of Israel. Her husband probably told her of the Lord. But this declaration is striking because it comes right after Naomi had claimed God’s hand had afflicted her. Despite the fact that Naomi’s experience with God had led to “bitterness,” Ruth pledged her undying loyalty to this God!

This is the character of a godly woman who doesn’t settle for the comforts of this world. She rested in the unyielding and unfailing love of God for her, and so she demonstrated the same kind of unyielding love for others.

Knowing that we are eternally secure in the love of Christ is the basis for intimacy with God. When we know that He will never leave us, we are free to come to Him openly with our sins, struggles, and fears, knowing that He understands and cares and will never abandon us.

As the second chapter of the Book of Ruth opens, we begin to see how God is going to redeem and rescue Naomi and Ruth. God had already shown signs of His love for Naomi. He had lifted the famine in Judah and opened a way for Naomi to return home. He had given her Ruth to be with her and to care for her. Now, in , we see that God has been preserving a kinsman to Naomi’s husband, Elimelech, to carry on his family’s line...

“Now Naomi had a relative of her husband’s, a worthy man of the clan of Elimelech, whose name was Boaz. 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.” And she said to her, “Go, my daughter.” So she set out and went and gleaned in the field after the reapers, and she happened to come to the part of the field belonging to Boaz, who was of the clan of Elimelech.” (, ESV)

Boaz was a prominent man of noble character, a man of God.He greets his workers with the phrase, “The Lord be with you.” Here was a man who saw God as part of his business life, not just his weekly worship. In Ruth, we see a woman who took the initiative to care for her mother-in-law, Naomi. She went into the fields and was willing to take on the humble task of gathering grain behind the harvesters.

In verse 3, the paths of Boaz and Ruth cross, as Ruth “happened to come to the part of the field belonging to Boaz.” This “happened” was more than just a coincidence. God was directing their steps in His providence to redeem His people: “The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps” (). God was in control. Let’s read about the conversation between Boaz and Ruth in verses 8-12...

“Then Boaz said to Ruth, “Now, listen, my daughter, do not go to glean in another field or leave this one, but keep close to my young women. Let your eyes be on the field that they are reaping, and go after them. Have I not charged the young men not to touch you? And when you are thirsty, go to the vessels and drink what the young men have drawn.” Then she fell on her face, bowing to the ground, and said to him, “Why have I found favor in your eyes, that you should take notice of me, since I am a foreigner?” 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. The Lord repay you for what you have done, and a full reward be given you by the Lord, the God of Israel, under whose wings you have come to take refuge!”” (, ESV)

When Boaz learned about Ruth gleaning in his fields, he addressed her and showed her unusual kindness. First, he provided food for Ruth. He told her to stay and glean in his fields. Ruth was a foreigner and Boaz had the right to kick her out, but instead, he allowed her to reap all she desired. Second, he provided protection for Ruth. He had ordered the men not to touch her. Ruth was safe and secure under his protection. Third, he provided for her thirst. She had all the access she needed to the water.

In Boaz’s expression of love through his compassion and welcoming spirit, we catch a glimpse of the love of God. Like Ruth, we too have been received into the open arms of God when we did nothing to deserve His kindness. Like Ruth, we were separated from God and His people—foreigners who don’t belong. And yet, God has shown grace to us through His loving kindness.

In what ways have you caught a glimpse of the loving welcome of God through His people?

How well do you think our church does at showing this kind of love toward others?

When Boaz asked the Lord to repay Ruth with “a full reward,” he was asking God to make restitution for her loss—her husband, father, mother, and country. A full reward was compensation commensurate with her loss. It would have been a request for her to have offspring. What’s amazing here is that Boaz will become the answer to his own prayers for Ruth!

This account reminds us of God’s welcoming love for those who put their trust in Him. Faith in God moves us from being foreigners to family! The same is true even now when we put our faith in Jesus Christ. Through faith we inherit God as Father and other Christians as siblings. God makes no distinctions of race or nationality—the family of God doesn’t recognize national borders. As followers of Christ, we who were once not part of the family of God now should reach out to extend the love of Christ to all nationalities, especially to people who do not yet know the love of Christ.

What does an unwelcoming posture toward others convey about our God and His salvation?

In the closing chapter of Ruth, we see Boaz meet with the man who is closest in kin to Naomi’s husband. The two of them discussed the need for Naomi’s property to be redeemed. They also discussed the need for Ruth to be cared for. Boaz spoke with the elders of the community and agreed to marry Ruth and thus carry on the family line. The book comes to an end this way:

“So Boaz took Ruth, and she became his wife. And he went in to her, and the Lord gave her conception, and she bore a son. Then the women said to Naomi, “Blessed be the Lord, who has not left you this day without a redeemer, and may his name be renowned in Israel! He shall be to you a restorer of life and a nourisher of your old age, for your daughter-in-law who loves you, who is more to you than seven sons, has given birth to him.” Then Naomi took the child and laid him on her lap and became his nurse. And the women of the neighborhood gave him a name, saying, “A son has been born to Naomi.” They named him Obed. He was the father of Jesse, the father of David.” (, ESV)

Boaz was under no obligation to redeem Ruth, and yet he chose to do so, no matter what it cost him personally. For thousands of years, Christians have seen in the integrity of Boaz a picture of Jesus and His love for us. He is our Redeemer, and He bought us with His blood.

The story of Ruth not only reminds us of the redemption we have in Christ but also how God redeems every part of our lives for His good purposes. In , we find a remarkable statement. The women give the son born to Boaz and Ruth a name, saying, “A son has been born to Naomi.” This is surprising because we would expect them to say a son has been born to Ruth or a son has been born to Boaz.

But this is the turning point of the book. God took all the miseries that Naomi experienced and He turned them around for good. This book began “in the days when the judges ruled”—a time without a king (see the last verse of Judges)—and Ruth ends with David—the greatest king in Israel’s history and the one through whom Jesus would come. How much does this show God’s faithfulness!

Ruth is a story of God’s redeeming love. He redeems all our pain, all our heartache, all our ups and downs for His purposes and our great joy. When you think God is furthest away from you, turned against you, or absent, the truth is He is laying the groundwork for something bigger than you could imagine.

But the blessing described in this book was not just for Naomi and Ruth. The last verse of Ruth has enormous implications for us today. The child given is Obed, who fathered Jesse, who fathered David! David’s descendant would be the Messiah—the Lord Jesus Himself.

In the story of Ruth and Boaz, we see a glimpse of God’s unyielding, welcoming, and redeeming love—the same kind of love we see in the life and ministry of Jesus. As Christ’s followers, we must choose not to live for our own purposes but to be ready to serve God and His calling. May God make us the kind of people who radiate the love of Jesus—unyielding, welcoming, and redeeming—as we seek to be faithful to His will.