The Example of Ruth

A story of Ruth has a many-fold purpose. It brings to light a great link in the lineage which descends to Jesus Christ ; it emphatically portrays the over-ruling of God in the affairs of certain people. it reveals many enlightening details of the traditions and social decorum of the day and affords vivid glimpses into the prevailing applications of the Mosaic Law during Ruth’s time. These interesting phases of ‘Ruth’ are all sample subjects for individual study but we wish here to glean a further contribution from these four brief chapters — a study of the lovely character of Ruth.

The Bible abounds in lessons applicable to every day life, and the lessons of Ruth provide some wonderful examples. Let us consider the word ‘example’. A good example of righteous behaviour can equal the most eloquent exhortation. What made Ruth, a Moabitess idol worshipper, so intent and determined to serve the God of Israel ? The answer lies in the steadfastness of Naomi who through years of sorrow and disappointment retained an unfeigned love and faith in Jehovah.

“Turn again, my daughters : why will ye go with me ?” Naomi faced the return to Israel without husband or sons alone and aged, yet with complete regard for others and absolute unselfishness she bade her daughters-in-law return to their own land and avoid the hard journey back to Bethlehem. But her faithfulness and high character had made its impression on Ruth, “Intreat me not to leave 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 . . . “. What beautiful words ! The constancy of Naomi through the years of exile in a heathen land was now being repaid.

Was Ruth’s decision easy? Is it a light thing to leave home, par­ents, and religion for a different environment and an adopted faith ? We may answer by comparing the problem with a similar one today. Such occurrences happen frequently within the household when a brother or sister attempts to bring in one of another belief. The decision is indeed difficult and often involves family animosity and permanent schisms. For guidance let us turn to the example of Ruth -­the case is very fitting because like us she became an adopted Jew.

“He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me : and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.”

Ruth’s faith was strong, decisive, and unwavering. Both Ruth and Naomi returned empty to Bethlehem: Ruth without family or country and Naomi bereft of loved ones and faced with the possible loss of her inheritance through Elimelech, her deceased husband. In addition, they were faced with poverty and the immediate need for food and shelter for their sustenance. “Is this Naomi ?” cried the Bethlehem­ites upon seeing Naomi after ten year’s absence. The toll of her sufferings in Moab apparently had taken visible effect upon her until she was barely recognizable by her own countrymen. Indeed, women of less substance might well have thrown up their hands in desperation and turned from the Lord in abject disappointment for their continual burdensome trials. But there was no self pity here, no regret, no murmuring, no desire by Ruth to return to an easier life in Moab. She had adopted Zion’s God and her love was toward His people and by this conviction she fully trusted in God’s help. In this Ruth displayed confidence — a confidence which is necessary and in which we can inalienably trust if we display a similar faith.

“Let me now go to the field, and glean ears of corn after him in whose sight I shall find grace.” Being a woman of faith, Ruth did not expect failure. She hatched no clever plan to secure food in their urgent need, but with submissiveness and humility she fell in line with the Mosaic provision for the poor and strangers in the land and followed the reapers in the fields gleaning what little was left on the ground. We must remember that during this time Ruth could have had much better. In Israel as a stranger she must stoop to gather the remnants from the prosperous reapers but in Moab she would have been a daughter and not be subject to the limitations of a foreigner.

Evidently these material considerations of pride and position meant little to Ruth who, through her desire for righteousness, was shaping an illustrious niche in a royal lineage in which she would emerge great-grandmother of David and direct ancestor of Jesus Christ. Had Ruth been written by an uninspired recorder undoubtedly a position of such honor would have been given a natural Jewess but instead a Gentile is grafted into the house of Israel by adoption. What a lovely foreshadowing of the multiplicity of peoples who will compose the body of believers and share in the glories soon to be given Israel. Peter reveals to us the extended hand of God to all who display the qualities the Deity loves to behold, “Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons : But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him.”

Soon Ruth attracted the attention of Boaz. She was asked to glean only in his fields and was given consideration and shown every courtesy by the young men who worked for Boaz. Why was Boaz so kind ? Probably because he recognised in Ruth one of the most admirable characteristics a young woman can exhibit ; care and love for a widowed mother and in this case a widowed mother-in-law. “It hath fully been shewed me, all that thou hast done unto thy mother-in-law since the death of thine husband; and how thou hast left thy father and thy mother, and the land of thy nativity, and art come unto a people which thou knewest not heretofore. The Lord recompense thy work, and a full reward be given thee of the Lord God of Israel under whose wings thou art come to trust.” Ruth was rewarded for her devotion to Naomi. Boaz ordered his men to permit Ruth to glean among the gathered grain and also to leave extra handfuls for her.

Let us consider some of the implications of this lesson to our own lives. We can safely suggest that Ruth was not entirely unaware of the possibilities of marrying again and even that such a marriage could lighten her responsibility of supporting herself and Naomi. Not that a woman of Ruth’s stature would neglect her duty, but certainly anyone would welcome the opportunity of some help.

Boaz had many young men working in his fields, many of whom were without doubt quite desirable and wealthy besides. Ruth could easily have rushed into marriage and alleviated her obligations considerably. However right the marriage would appear it would be hasty and primarily for the relief of the prevailing trying conditions.

Ruth was not impetuous. She did not try to solve all her problems single handedly. She realised that God would direct her footsteps ; she had only to move her feet. A similar solution applies to the young people in the Truth who contemplate marriage. They should consider the serious step prayerfully. Will the union be pleasing in the Lord’s sight ? Will it be one in which they can devote their entire living to the service of the Lord ? There is often the urge to rush headlong against all odds into a hasty marriage, one in which we might barely fulfill our obligations as brethren of Christ. Let us wait upon the Lord’s will always and permit Him to direct our steps. Married or unmarried, our goal is salvation, not the gratification of mere temporal desires.

In analyzing the story of Ruth and Boaz we again perceive the devotion and submissiveness of Ruth. It was Naomi’s wish to reinstate the inheritance of her husband Elimelech which required that Ruth have an heir to the property. Naomi chose Boaz to redeem the land for them as he was a near kin to her husband. She devised a plan to enlighten Boaz to his right of redeeming the land of her husband and gave instructions to Ruth what she should do. At night when Boaz had finished winnowing his grain and laid down to rest on his threshing floor, Ruth was to go in and lie at his feet. Here the critics are quick to raise the cry of impropriety, but very much in vain ! “Who art thou ?” cries Boaz. “I am Ruth thine handmaid : spread therefore thy skirt over thine handmaid ; for thou art a near kinsman.”

Thus Boaz is informed of his right to redeem the land. Furthermore, Boaz remarks, “I will do to thee all that thou requires : for all the city of my people doth know that thou art a virtuous woman.” Ruth readily followed the directives of Naomi who was older and wiser. She did not hesitate, question, or rebel. How much wiser we often would be to seek the help and counsel of our brethren when perplexing problems arise to trouble us.

From what is revealed of Ruth’s character we discover a willingness to wholly and meekly submit to the vicissitudes meted out by God, with unwavering faith and unquestioning trust. As we know, her staunch faith was not unrewarded. Said Jesus, “As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten :  . . . To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne.”