A Study on Ruth (Part 4)

The final part of this series!

Last year, I decided to study the book of Ruth. I'd been having a hard time getting into the Word and I knew that there were hidden truths in Ruth that I had yet to discover. It was my first independent, personal, and in-depth study on a book in the Bible and it was a very special time. In fact, I can't help but wish I could go back, just to experience it for the first time all over again!

What I share here are my personal notes. I'm not an authority on the book and I'm sure there are more profound commentaries available. (I read this one as I was doing my own study, which gave me clarity on a few verses that I was having trouble with; this is another one which I'm reading now.) But if it can aid anyone, even one person, then here goes.

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A Study On Ruth (Part 4)

Ruth 4:1-2

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.

And he took ten men of the elders of the city, and said, Sit ye down here. And they sat down.

I see Jesus here in these verses. Our Lord, reckoning on our behalf. Attending to our redemption. How often the world fails in keeping its word to us. And here is Boaz, a representative of our Savior, keeping his word to Ruth and settling the matter of her salvation in such a timely way...

Like I mentioned in part 3, it is very likely that the "nearer kinsman" represents the Law in this book. So says this commentary, and I happen to agree. The commentary also goes on to say that it could be that these ten elders represent the ten commandments. Interesting, huh?

Ruth 4:3-4

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:
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.

There is none to redeem it beside thee.

When it comes to the matter of our purchasing - of the price being paid for the debt of our sin - there is none that can help us save the Lord. We are entirely at His mercy. Here we see there is another - a nearer kinsman - who ought to be able to do the job. And at first, he seems willing enough. So the Law seems, upon first inspection, to be able to do for us a work of redemption. Ultimately, it cannot.

A personal reflection: It seems to me in verse 3-5 that Boaz's approach to this other kinsman was almost strategic. Almost as if to dissuade or discourage him from redeeming Ruth. As if he really wanted to himself. Which got me thinking - Jesus wanted to redeem us for Himself. He knew there was a price to pay but He did it. Unflinchingly. Boaz wanted Ruth as Jesus wanted us. He negotiated on our behalf. He did it openly, without shame - He called for witnesses for He wants His ownership to be unmistakable. Boaz wanted all to know to whom Ruth belonged - and Jesus wants all to know to whom we belong. Amen ♥

Ruth 4:5-6

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.
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.

And so it comes out of the kinsman's mouth: I cannot redeem it.

Again, the law cannot redeem us! It doesn’t save us from the penalty of sin or from the power of sin. Good works alone can't do it. There's only one who can save Ruth, and that's Boaz. And so is there only only One who can save us and that is Jesus. 

Ruth 4:7-10

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.
Therefore the kinsman said unto Boaz, Buy it for thee. So he drew off his shoe.
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.
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.

The contract is drawn up. The law says: "Buy it for thee." The keyword here is buy. There is a price to pay for our redemption. Boaz (Jesus) pays in full and makes Ruth his own. He takes her, as Jesus takes us, to be his bride.

Ruth 4:11-13

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:
And let thy house be like the house of Pharez, whom Tamar bare unto Judah, of the seed which the Lord shall give thee of this young woman.
So Boaz took Ruth, and she was his wife: and when he went in unto her, the Lord gave her conception, and she bare a son.

Verse 11 gives me the impression that Ruth may have been barren indeed when she was married to Mahlon, for after marrying Boaz, the Lord "gave her conception" and she had a baby boy. Here we see the fruitfulness of her marriage and how she was blessed!

So are we blessed and made fruitful in our union with Christ. We were strangers - empty, sinful, broken, barren, in need of redemption with no one to save us. And then Christ came. He is our Husband, our Redeemer and kinsman. And we are blessed when we are found in Him!

Ruth 4:14-17

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.
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.
And Naomi took the child, and laid it in her bosom, and became nurse unto it.
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.

And now we see how Naomi, once bitter and backslidden, is blessed and restored. She becomes the grandmother of Ruth and Boaz's son, Obed. And Obed, as we know from the following verses, will one day be the father of a man named Jesse, who will have eight sons... the youngest of which will be a boy named David, who will become the King of Israel.

It is no coincidence that out of this line comes the Great King Himself, Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior.

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Reflections

And that wraps up my study on the book of Ruth! I enjoyed doing this study so much and I hope that if anyone stumbles across this blog that it will bless them, too. My notes were far from profound, but it was the truth God chose to reveal to me, personally, and that blessed me so much.

From this book I learned so much about my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. I learned that He restores. He redeems, He sanctifies, comforts, nourishes, protects, blesses, provides, satisfies, commands, is kind, pours out grace, is my rest, is mighty, powerful, a Gentleman, and the lover of my soul. I saw these things as I never had before, and I pray that if you, dear reader, choose to study this book called Ruth, that you see these lovely truths about Him as well.

God bless you!

A Study on Ruth (Part 3)

Last year, I decided to study the book of Ruth. I'd been having a hard time getting into the Word and I knew that there were hidden truths in Ruth that I had yet to discover. It was my first independent, personal, and in-depth study on a book in the Bible and it was a very special time. In fact, I can't help but wish I could go back, just to experience it for the first time all over again!

What I share here are my personal notes. I'm not an authority on the book and I'm sure there are more profound commentaries available. (I read this one as I was doing my own study, which gave me clarity on a few verses that I was having trouble with; this is another one which I'm reading now.) But if it can aid anyone, even one person, then here goes.

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A Study On Ruth (Part 3)

 Ruth 3:1-4

Then Naomi her mother in law said unto her, My daughter, shall I not seek rest for thee, that it may be well with thee?

The Hebrew word for rest in verse 1 is manowach (pronounced maw-no'-akh). It means quiet, i.e. (concretely) a settled spot, or (figuratively) a home: (place of) rest.

What comes to mind when you read that? I thought of Hebrews 4, about the rest spoken of therein and how Christ is our rest. He is my "manowach," my quiet place, my home, my place of rest; He is what settles me. He is to be sought after. And it is well with me, with my soul, when I am found in Him.

Ruth 3:2-4

And now is not Boaz of our kindred, with whose maidens thou wast? Behold, he winnoweth barley to night in the threshingfloor.
Wash thyself therefore, and anoint thee, and put thy raiment upon thee, and get thee down to the floor: but make not thyself known unto the man, until he shall have done eating and drinking.
And it shall be, when he lieth down, that thou shalt mark the place where he shall lie, and thou shalt go in, and uncover his feet, and lay thee down; and he will tell thee what thou shalt do.

According to my research, the threshing floor was where the wheat was separated from the chaff. Jesus uses the parable of the "field" to describe the world in Matthew 13. We, the beloved, are the wheat; the unbelievers are the chaff.

In Matt. 3:12, John the Baptist prophesies about Jesus and how He will "purge" His floor. That's what the threshing floor is about. The separation from the world, the "purging" of our consciences.
There is MUCH significance to the instructions that Naomi gave Ruth:

• Wash Yourself

This has to do with purification, with being washed from our sins. (See Titus 3:5; John 13:5-10)

• Anointing

Purification, sanctification. The unction of the Holy Spirit which is given to us.

• Raiment

This is about character. About righteousness (see Zedekiah 3).

"Behold, I have caused thine iniquity to pass from thee, and I will clothe thee with change of raiment." (Zed. 3:4)

From these three elements, we see more and more of what this book is really all about. We see redemption, we see adoption, we see transformation, we see purification, we see righteousness... I don't feel qualified at all to be offering my dim views of these profound scriptures but I would encourage you, reader, to dig into these verses yourself and let the Holy Spirit reveal the hidden truths that are found therein.

"...and lay thee down, and he shall tell thee what to do."

Ruth was given specific instructions. She was being asked to trust, to put everything on the line. To lay herself down and wait on the word of this man. It's such an example of humility, of obedience, of trust and faith, especially when we read her response:

Ruth 3:5-6

And she said unto her, All that thou sayest unto me I will do.
And she went down unto the floor, and did according to all that her mother in law bade her.

"All that thou sayest unto me, I will do."

All.

Not some. Not a little bit. All.

And she does.

She goes "down" to the threshing floor. I read recently that the threshing floor is always "down." Down in humility, down on our knees before the only Man who can truly redeem us from our debt.

Ruth submits. She obeys. She humbles herself. She goes forward in faith, obeying down to the letter all that she's been told to do. It strikes me that she didn't offer her own opinion on how she should behave. She didn't question Naomi's method. I find myself guilty of doing this. I offer my own perspective on how things should happen; I offer a partial, or reluctant, obedience. Not Ruth.

Ruth 3:7-13

And when Boaz had eaten and drunk, and his heart was merry, he went to lie down at the end of the heap of corn: and she came softly, and uncovered his feet, and laid her down.
And it came to pass at midnight, that the man was afraid, and turned himself: and, behold, a woman lay at his feet.
And he said, Who art thou? And she answered, I am Ruth thine handmaid: spread therefore thy skirt over thine handmaid; for thou art a near kinsman.
 And he said, Blessed be thou of the Lord, my daughter: for thou hast shewed more kindness in the latter end than at the beginning, inasmuch as thou followedst not young men, whether poor or rich.
And now, my daughter, fear not; I will do to thee all that thou requirest: for all the city of my people doth know that thou art a virtuous woman.
And now it is true that I am thy near kinsman: howbeit there is a kinsman nearer than I.
Tarry this night, and it shall be in the morning, that if he will perform unto thee the part of a kinsman, well; let him do the kinsman's part: but if he will not do the part of a kinsman to thee, then will I do the part of a kinsman to thee, as the Lord liveth: lie down until the morning.

Boaz sees Ruth's humility in this display. She finds favor with him. He is pleased by her. He blesses her. She didn't go after the younger men - worldly pleasures, that which satisfies the eyes, the lusts of the flesh. She sought him out. She humbled herself to him, and this pleases, touches, gratifies him. Her virtuous behavior he acknowledges. He calls her his "daughter", one whom he will now care for.

In verse 9, when Boaz asks, "Who are you?" Ruth responds: "I am Ruth thine handmaid: spread therefore thy skirt over thine handmaid; for thou art a near kinsman."

She gives herself to him in this moment. She is saying, "I am yours. You are a redeemer - redeem me! Spread thy skirt over me - protect me, take me as your own; spread your wings over me. I offer myself to you."

Her words are so stunningly beautiful! What more - his response!

He tells her not to be afraid and that he will do for her all that she requires. He's going to take care of the matter of her redemption - he will do it the very next morning! He puts her needs first before all. He does not say, "I'll do the best I can." He doesn't say, "I'll try and see what I can do." He says, "I WILL do all that needs to be done for you." No if, and, or but. No hesitation, no reluctance. Just "I will" and it's to be done. He takes the matter of Ruth's redemption as a chief concern in his heart.

And the question of the nearer kinsman? This baffled me at first. I think there are probably many interpretations of what he represents, but I read in one commentary that this nearer kinsman could very well have represented the Law - an explanation that rings true in my heart. More on him later!

Ruth 3:14-18

And she lay at his feet until the morning: and she rose up before one could know another. And he said, Let it not be known that a woman came into the floor.
Also he said, Bring the vail that thou hast upon thee, and hold it. And when she held it, he measured six measures of barley, and laid it on her: and she went into the city.
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.
And she said, These six measures of barley gave he me; for he said to me, Go not empty unto thy mother in law.
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.

I wonder what it was like that night for Ruth... to be at the feet of this man, totally at his mercy. I wonder, did she sleep at all? Did she worry, thinking about this nearer kinsman? Perhaps she already had feelings for Boaz. She'd worked for him an entire harvest season. To wonder and not know... perhaps that's why Boaz said twice, "lie down until morning." He'd already given her all she needed in order to be at peace in her heart through the night. He told her not to fear, that he would see to the matter of the nearer kinsman the very next day, and that if this other man refused to do his part, "as the Lord liveth," he would do it.

"Just rest," he was telling her. "I will see to everything; your fate is in my hands, and I will do right by you."

And so she does. She lays in this place of humility and submission as he instructed her to, trusting that he will protect her (she was the only woman there and she was surrounded by men) and she trusts him implicitly.

When she goes home, she tells all to Naomi. And Naomi says, "Sit still, my daughter." It sounds quite similar to the well-known scripture, "be still." So much in that word - "still." Ruth had to be still, knowing her fate rested in Boaz's hands and having to trust him with it. Naomi assures her that "the man will not rest until he has finished the thing this day."

And there is that word - finished! "It is finished," Jesus said, hanging on the cross. Amen! Do you not see how these pieces fit together in such a divine fashion as an illustration of our Redeemer who shouldered the matter of our redemption and did not neglect to perform it? And when He had done His awesome and majestic work He declared, "It is finished!" And so it is, always!

A Study on Ruth (Part 2)

Last year, I decided to study the book of Ruth. I'd been having a hard time getting into the Word and I knew that there were hidden truths in Ruth that I had yet to discover. It was my first independent, personal, and in-depth study on a book in the Bible and it was a very special time. In fact, I can't help but wish I could go back, just to experience it for the first time all over again!

What I share here are my personal notes. I'm not an authority on the book and I'm sure there are more profound commentaries available. (I read this one as I was doing my own study, which gave me clarity on a few verses that I was having trouble with; this is another one which I'm reading now.) But if it can aid anyone, even one person, then here goes.

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A Study on Ruth (Part II)

Ruth 2:1-2

And Naomi had a kinsman of her husband's, a mighty man of wealth, of the family of Elimelech; and his name was Boaz.

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.

Doesn't that first verse just give you a little shiver? And his name was Boaz. 

He was a relative of Naomi's husband. A kinsman. And he was "a mighty man of wealth." The Bible, as I have learned, does not use the word mighty lightly. This was a man of exceeding wealth and power. And he was a kinsman to Naomi - a relative, yes, but a redeemer. I am sure there are many profound definitions to this word but all I know is this: to redeem means to set free or to vindicate. A redeemer is one who delivers or rescues.

And Boaz's name? It means By Strength. 

We are introduced to him just as Ruth makes the momentous declaration: "Let me go to the field and glean... after him in whose sight I shall find grace."

These words really stood out to me. Ruth sought grace - someone who would be merciful to her and her plight. Somebody who would be gracious and kind. This is a clue.

Knowing from the previous verse that Boaz is a wealthy man of might and power, the eventual redeemer, I see a picture of Christ unfolding. Christ the Redeemer in whose eyes we find grace and favor. The choice of words is not coincidental.

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.

I find it so amazing that she just happened to find herself in the part of the field belonging to Boaz. It makes me think of Proverbs 16:9, "A man's heart deviseth his way: but the LORD directeth his steps." This was no coincidence! God literally ordered Ruth's steps that she might find herself in this man's field - this man who would literally change the course of her life and through their union, the lives of millions to come!

If I ever doubt that God might forget me or forget to "order the steps" that might lead me into my future, let me remember this verse and the teaching it provides. I might not be able to flip ahead to the latter chapters of my story and see the incredible way that God chooses to map out my life, but I can trust that He is mapping it out in this very moment, in this tiny capsule of time in which I draw breath.

Ruth 2:4-7

And, behold, Boaz came from Bethlehem, and said unto the reapers, The Lord be with you. And they answered him, The Lord bless thee.
Then said Boaz unto his servant that was set over the reapers, Whose damsel is this?
And the servant that was set over the reapers answered and said, It is the Moabitish damsel that came back with Naomi out of the country of Moab:
And she said, I pray you, let me glean and gather after the reapers among the sheaves: so she came, and hath continued even from the morning until now, that she tarried a little in the house.

When I first did this study, I remember how it struck me, the way Boaz greeted his reapers. This man was a gentleman. He was not your average foreman or overseer. He was a man of faith, as the substance of his greeting clearly implies, and he was a gracious man in the sense that he greeted his laborers with such evident respect and civility. They respond in kind, leading me to believe that they must have greatly respected this foreman of theirs.

Boaz immediately notices Ruth. I wonder what made her stand out. Was it her appearance? Did she look different than the other Israelite women? Was it her garb, the way she dressed? Was she simply a new face in a crowd of the familiar? Perhaps it was all this and more... perhaps it was the Lord, pulling his eyes to look at this one woman, working amongst so many others, as he stood surveying his fields.

The reapers explain her origins. It is suggested in the later verses that they may have said more than what is written here. They tell him that she is a Moabitess. He is also told of her hard work and willingness.

Ruth 2:8-9

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:
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.

I wonder if this conversation began here or if more was shared between them. Boaz tells Ruth - "Stay here. Don't go gather in other fields. Stay - or abide - here with my maidens." Not only does he give her equal standing with the other Israelite girls (remember she was both a stranger and a foreigner) but he gives her his protection. He charges the young men not to touch her and makes provision for her needs.

Let us for a moment think of the meaning of this and how it relates to Christ:

He is mighty, powerful, and wealthy. He is the Redeemer. Our provider and protector. He gathers us, the "strangers," into His sheepfold and lavishes us with His kindness. We find grace in His eyes, though we have done nothing to merit it. Boaz is a representation of Christ. And Ruth is the church - the Bride.

The book of Ruth is heralded as a supreme romantic story... that's because it is. It's a picture of the romance between our Lord Jesus Christ and us, His Bride, the church.

Ruth 2:10-12

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?
And Boaz answered and said unto her, 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.

When I was doing this study, I finished up my private prayer journal and started a new one. These were the exact words I wrote on the first page:

I'm in the second chapter of my Ruth Bible study and I am suddenly seeing the whole book - and Jesus - in a new light. Boaz is a picture of Jesus, the mighty, powerful, rich Redeemer, the Gentleman that greets His servants with a blessing, who singles out the stranger to inquire after them - and then knowing their past and where they came from, adopts them into the sheepfold, lavishing them with His protection and provision. I have never seen it so clearly nor have had a more clear depiction of this strong, mighty, gracious Lord of mine... 

Ruth falls on her face and bows herself to Boaz, saying, "Why have I found grace in thine eyes, that thou shouldest take knowledge of me, seeing I am a stranger?"

There is no response but Ruth's response when we realize that we, strangers, "Gentiles," are looked upon and taken knowledge of by a King, the King, with unmerited grace in His eyes. Her response is one of deep humility, deep gratitude and brokenness. You can see her heart in this, crying, oh Lord, what have I done to receive this favor?

And Boaz answers by saying that it has been fully showed to him, all that Ruth has done - her heart, so to speak. How she left everything behind for the sake of love of her mother-in-law, how she left her people and her land, and how she's come unto a place that she never knew before. He blesses her for it and he prays that the Lord would reward her.

This reminds me of how the Lord called the disciples to leave everything behind in order to follow Him. When the rich man asked, "What must I do to be saved?" Jesus answered, "Go and sell everything you have and follow Me."

Ruth did leave everything behind in order to follow Naomi. She left her home, her family, her native land and her people. She did it for the sake of love, of loyalty. And, naturally, this is what Boaz calls attention to. He recognizes that such actions demonstrate Ruth's trust in the Lord. This was how she was able to leave it all - because she trusted in Him.

Ruth 2:13-14

Then she said, Let me find favour in thy sight, my lord; for that thou hast comforted me, and for that thou hast spoken friendly unto thine handmaid, though I be not like unto one of thine handmaidens.
And Boaz said unto her, At mealtime come thou hither, and eat of the bread, and dip thy morsel in the vinegar. And she sat beside the reapers: and he reached her parched corn, and she did eat, and was sufficed, and left.

Her heart is, how can I please you? For you have shown kindness to me and it has comforted me - it's won me over. 

He invites her to come and eat with him - at his table, so to speak. The verse goes on to say that she sat with the reapers and was obviously in close vicinity to Boaz for he "reached" her parched corn (passed it to her). He literally fed her until she was satisfied. Her needs were met; she was full. It's a beautiful picture of what happens when we eat at the table of the Lord and feast upon His Word. We are made satisfied in Him.

Ruth 2:15-18

And when she was risen up to glean, Boaz commanded his young men, saying, Let her glean even among the sheaves, and reproach her not:
And let fall also some of the handfuls of purpose for her, and leave them, that she may glean them, and rebuke her not.
So she gleaned in the field until even, and beat out that she had gleaned: and it was about an ephah of barley.
And she took it up, and went into the city: and her mother in law saw what she had gleaned: and she brought forth, and gave to her that she had reserved after she was sufficed.

Ruth "rises up" to glean, to do to her work, her labor of love, and Boaz again commands his men concerning their behavior towards her - not to reproach her, and also to let some handfuls fall on purpose for her.

The Lord makes provision for us when we go out to do our "labor of love." He uses others to bless us by His command and all the while He protects us. Let me always remember this when I go about my tasks, that the Lord will make provision for me in my work and He will protect me in all that I do.

Ruth 2:19-20

And her mother in law said unto her, Where hast thou gleaned to day? and where wroughtest thou? blessed be he that did take knowledge of thee. And she shewed her mother in law with whom she had wrought, and said, The man's name with whom I wrought to day is Boaz.
And Naomi said unto her daughter in law, Blessed be he of the Lord, who hath not left off his kindness to the living and to the dead. And Naomi said unto her, The man is near of kin unto us, one of our next kinsmen.

I remember getting the impression from verse 18 that Ruth brought to Naomi what she had reserved from Boaz's table. As in, she ate until she was satisfied and then she went away with more to spare, which she then brought home to her mother-in-law. And isn't this what happens when we sit and feast with our Lord?

After we have our fill at the table of the Lord, we are then able to bring His bread to others so that they might taste and eat of it, too.

"Blessed is he of the Lord," Naomi proclaims, "who hath not left off his kindness to the living and the dead."

The Lord in His great kindness did take knowledge of both the living and the dead when He made provision for our salvation. In the same token, Boaz's kindness saved Ruth and Naomi.

Ruth 2:21-23

And Ruth the Moabitess said, He said unto me also, Thou shalt keep fast by my young men, until they have ended all my harvest.
And Naomi said unto Ruth her daughter in law, It is good, my daughter, that thou go out with his maidens, that they meet thee not in any other field.
So she kept fast by the maidens of Boaz to glean unto the end of barley harvest and of wheat harvest; and dwelt with her mother in law.

Ruth the Moabitess. Here we have a timely and poignant reminder of who Ruth is and where she came out of (a heathen nation entrenched in sinfulness). So are we to never forget from whence we came and out of what we have been saved.

Ruth tells Naomi that Boaz told her to remain, or "keep fast," by his young men until the end of the harvest. Boaz called them "my men" and "my harvest." They are his men to command and they are doing his work for the purpose of bringing in his harvest. The same could be said for Christ. We are to glean in His fields until the work is complete and the harvest is taken in.

Naomi confirms this by encouraging Ruth to obey Boaz's instruction: to remain with his maidens, that no one might see her working in another field. I think that one possible meaning to this is that the world should know in Whose field you belong. Go where God sends you and remain there. It should be clear to all Whose you are and Whom you serve.

So Ruth "keeps fast" and does as Boaz instructed her unto the end of the barley and wheat harvest.

A Study on Ruth (Part 1)

Since I was a little girl, the Book of Ruth held special meaning to me. I'd been named after Ruth, and whenever I flipped to that part of my Bible, I lingered over the title page, reveling in the girlish notion that I was named after the woman who got her very own book in the Bible and who had one of the greatest romantic stories therein. I used to read the story to myself, never really understanding the picture of grace that it contains, much less the picture of Christ that it gives.

Last year, I decided to study the book of Ruth. I'd been having a hard time getting into the Word and I knew that there were hidden truths in Ruth that I had yet to discover. It was my first independent, personal, and in-depth study on a book in the Bible and it was a very special time. In fact, I can't help but wish I could go back, just to experience it for the first time all over again!

I once read a paragraph from a commentary on Ruth which, for a long time, gave me a kind of skewed perspective of it. The commentary said that Ruth was just a nice romance story, with no great meaning or purpose. This couldn't be farther from the truth!

What I share here are my personal notes. I'm not an authority on the book and I'm sure there are more profound commentaries available. (I read this one as I was doing my own study, which gave me clarity on a few verses that I was having trouble with; this is another one which I'm reading now.) But if it can aid anyone, even one person, then here goes:

• A Study on Ruth (Part 1)

A note on this study:
I covered the first chapter of Ruth over the course of several days, so feel free to break down this post however you want. This will be a four-part series with each post covering one chapter of Ruth. 

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A Study on Ruth

A few notes that my Bible (which is an Open Bible, KJV) offers:

• Ruth took place in the days when the judges ruled
• Talmudic tradition says it was written by Samuel (the Prophet)
• The time of Ruth was a time of warfare, moral decay, violence, etc.

Ruth 1:1-2

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.
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.

Famine in the land of Israel - why should there have been a famine in the land of God's people? This seems to me like there may have been a spiritual famine going on, resulting in an actual famine - perhaps this was a physical manifestation of what was happening spiritually.
Elimelech (meaning: God is King) takes his wife and two sons and goes to sojourn (sojourn: to stay somewhere temporarily) in the land of Moab.

Moab was a pagan city. The Moabites worshiped false gods. Why would Elimelech, an Israelite man, take his family to live there? Did the Lord send him there? Or was this an unwillingness to endure chastening - thereby causing this man to go running to a place that could offer him comfort and reprieve from the trials?

Moab, according to the commentary I read, serves as a picture of the world. Elimelech wanted to provide for his family but his decision to sojourn in this worldly, sinful place is unjustifiable - if the Lord didn't send him there, that is. Our sojourning into the realm of sin and rebellion, even if temporary in our eyes, will always have consequences.

Ruth 1:3-5

And Elimelech Naomi's husband died; and she was left, and her two sons.
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.
And Mahlon and Chilion died also both of them; and the woman was left of her two sons and her husband.

Moab, according to Genesis 19:37, was the tribe birthed out of the incestuous relations between Lot and one of his daughters. After Elimelech's death, his sons - Mahlon (meaning "sick") and Chilion ("pining") - take Moabite women as their wives. Wives of the world - wives out of this cursed lineage. God has always been clear throughout history that His children are not to marry "outside the camp." It seems that Mahlon and Chilion disobeyed this mandate. Perhaps their disobedience resulted in their early demises.

Ruth 1:6-7

Then she arose with her daughters in law, that she might return from the country of Moab: for she had heard in the country of Moab how that the Lord had visited his people in giving them bread.
Wherefore she went forth out of the place where she was, and her two daughters in law with her; and they went on the way to return unto the land of Judah.

Naomi arose after hearing in Moab that the Lord had visited his people and provided them food. The Israelites, it seems, endured their affliction and were blessed for it. Naomi, a backslidden woman abiding in a worldly place, hears of their prosperity and decides to return. I see a picture of the prodigal son in Naomi - she goes to partake of the comforts the world and it leaves her broken and grief-stricken. She considers, as the prodigal son did, that her current circumstances are of want and loneliness. Why should she suffer further? She will return to the land of her fathers and there at least she will be provided for.

Her daughters in law seem willing enough at first. Ruth (meaning "friendship," amongst other things) is the widow of Mahlon and Orphah ("stubbornness") is Chilion's widow. The two go with Naomi with no cited reluctance.

Further notes -

• the goodness of the Lord is spoken about in all nations, even the sinful ones such as Moab.
• "wherefore she went out of the place where she was" - a strange land, a place of grief, a place of forsaking... out of these places God draws us.

Ruth 1:8-9

And Naomi said unto her two daughters in law, Go, return each to her mother's house: the Lord deal kindly with you, as ye have dealt with the dead, and with me.
The Lord grant you that ye may find rest, each of you in the house of her husband. Then she kissed them; and they lifted up their voice, and wept.

It occurred to me that both Orpah and Ruth lived ten years in the home of Naomi and her sons - this means they were married into an Israelite household and were probably expected to serve in a manner that complied with the Israelite customs and behaviors. No doubt they heard much about the God of the Israelites and His laws and ordinances. The Bible doesn't say if they forsook their own gods or if Mahlon and Chilion allowed them to do as they pleased in this area, but of interesting note is the fact that neither marriage brought forth fruit: they were married ten years and yet neither couple had children.

Whatever the case, there was clearly some affection shared between the three women, as they all wept when Naomi spoke these words.

Ruth 1:10-14

And they said unto her, Surely we will return with thee unto thy people.
And Naomi said, Turn again, my daughters: why will ye go with me? are there yet any more sons in my womb, that they may be your husbands?
Turn again, my daughters, go your way; for I am too old to have an husband. If I should say, I have hope, if I should have an husband also to night, and should also bear sons;
Would ye tarry for them till they were grown? would ye stay for them from having husbands? nay, my daughters; for it grieveth me much for your sakes that the hand of the Lord is gone out against me.
And they lifted up their voice, and wept again: and Orpah kissed her mother in law; but Ruth clave unto her.

Here it is revealed that Naomi believes the hand of the Lord has gone out against her. She is being drawn out of the world and yet, a part of her is still bitter against Him for the losses she has incurred therein. She urges the girls to remain in the land of their people and to find new husbands. Orpah, at first, joins in Ruth's declaration that they will stay with her and return to the land of her people. But as Naomi speaks further, Orpah is swayed - for Naomi has nothing more to offer her. This displays a kind of covetousness  in Orpah. It reveals the shallowness of her devotion to Naomi. Naomi has nothing to offer her therefore she will remain in the world where she is comfortable, where she can go on serving her own gods her own way. This is not true devotion. 

At stark contrast is Ruth's response. She clave, or clung, to Naomi. Nothing Naomi could say would sway her: she held fast. 

Looked up other examples of the word "cleave" in my Bible's concordance; these were the Scriptures cited:

• Joshua 23:8 - "But cleave unto the Lord your God, as ye have done unto this day."

(It's amazing because the previous verse, vs. 7, almost perfectly illustrates what Ruth is doing: in cleaving to Naomi, she is not returning or remaining in the wicked land of Moab, neither is she "mentioning" their gods, neither is she serving them or bowing herself to them.)

• Acts 11:23 - Here, Barnabas is exhorting the believers in Antioch to "with purpose of heart, cleave unto the Lord." 
• Romans 12:9 - "...cleave to that which is good."
• Genesis 2:24 and Matthew 19:5 - "Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh."

So, in the contexts in which this word is used, we are shown pictures of what it means to cleave and what we are to cleave to -

1. Cleave to the Lord
2. Cleave to that which is good
3. (For a man) Cleave to your wife (and vice versa, obviously)

Ruth, in cleaving to Naomi, was essentially (and effectively) cleaving to the Lord, to the goodness she must have seen evident in Naomi's life, and (little did she know) to the future marriage that God had in store for her in the likes of Boaz.

Ruth 1:15-18

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.
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:
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.
When she saw that she was stedfastly minded to go with her, then she left speaking unto her.

Naomi entreats her one last time: look at your sister in law. Consider the weight of the decision you are making. Naomi knows it is a momentous one. Oh, but the beauty of Ruth's response!

She says, in essence: "Don't keep me from following you and don't ask me to leave you. For where you go I will go; where you stay, I will stay; your people will be my people and your God will be my God." 

This is a picture of the adoption spoken of in Romans. This is an example of what it means to cling to the Lord! You will follow Him no matter the cost; you will not be put off or deterred. Where He leads, you will follow. Where He stays you will stay. You will follow Him unto the death and even death will not part you!

It reminds me of Romans 8:38-39:

"For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord."

Ruth was steadfast in her devotion.

Steadfast -

• fixed in direction
• steadily directed
• firm in person, resolute, faith, attachment
• very devoted, loyal to a person, unchanging

Hebrew root meaning - 

• to be alert
• to be courageous
• strong
• establish, fortify, harden, increase, prevail, strengthen
• make strong

I want my heart to be steadfast like Ruth's!

Ruth 1:19-22

So they two went until they came to Bethlehem. And it came to pass, when they were come to Bethlehem, that all the city was moved about them, and they said, 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?
So Naomi returned, and Ruth the Moabitess, her daughter in law, with her, which returned out of the country of Moab: and they came to Bethlehem in the beginning of barley harvest.

Naomi's grief and bitterness is very evident in these verses. She has been drawn back to the land of her fathers and yet she has these things against the Lord which she is not willing to give up just yet. Her loss was great, it is true. She left Israel a wife and a mother. She came back a widow, and a childless one at that. But I don't think she fully realized the restoration that God was bringing about. She came out of the world but instead of praising the Lord for drawing her out, she is accusing Him of taking everything away from her.

We may know a few Naomis in our lives. We may even find traces of her within ourselves. Here, I am reminded of the Israelites when God brought them out of Egypt. Their praise was short-lived; they soon took to complaining and accusing God of everything that was taken away from them. Do we do this too? When God takes us out of the world, do we complain of the comforts that we've been deprived of, not recognizing the comfort of all comforts that the Lord wishes to give us?

I am convicted as I write this for I have been doing this very thing as of late. I have been magnifying my losses over the blessing of my salvation. The gift of my adoption has grown dim as I've fretted over the afflictions I've undergone. Lord, give me a heart like Ruth's - a heart that is steadfast in the face of loss, a heart that cleaves unto You even in the darkest pain.

Reflections

I want to cleave unto the Lord the way Ruth clave unto Noemi: immovably, steadfastly, lovingly, desperately, devotedly.

Verse to memorize:

"But cleave unto the Lord your God as ye have done unto this day."

Joshua 23:8