As we come to the conclusion of Ruth, it is an excellent time to look back and remind ourselves what we learned in the first 3 chapters.
In chapter 1,
1) relief from the famine in Bethlehem – which was motivation for Naomi to return home.
2) Naomi’s attitude was all doom & gloom – she had reason for such an attitude – she had lost a husband and both sons.
3) However, we as readers saw a glimmer of hope – through the loyalty of Ruth – both her loyalty to her mother-in-law & to the God of Israel.
Chapter 2
1) See Ruth’s continued loyalty & initiative
2) Are introduced to the upstanding Boaz.
3) In this chapter we also saw more of God’s providential care of Naomi & Ruth – we notice the language of ch. 2: “As it turned out…” (Ruth ended up gleaning in Boaz’s field; and also “just then ….” Boaz arrived in the field Ruth was working in.
4) God’s hesed (loving kindness) is expressed through the hesed of Boaz.
5) At the end of Ruth’s first day of gleaning in Boaz’s field – the story takes a dramatic turn – as we heard Naomi’s blessing of Boaz and her suggestion of the possibility of his serving as the two widow’s kinsman-redeemer.
Then in chapter 3, the story really got moving.
1) Naomi took the lead, suggested a plan that could provide a husband for Ruth & security for both of them. (Her plan may seem strange to us – but was evidently consistent with the customs of the time.)
2) Ruth followed Naomi’s instructions and we understand that her actions served as an invitation for Boaz to become their kinsman-redeemer & possibly to take Ruth as his wife.
3:9 “spread the corner of your garment over me, since you are a kinsman redeemer"
Some have suggested this request indicated that her period of mourning was ended & she was requesting that Boaz take her under the wings of his protection
The original Hebrew is similar in 2:12 & 3:9 In ch. 2 Boaz refers to Ruth’s choice of “coming under the wings of God for refuge.” In 3:9 the original is translated as corner – as in the corner of the garment.
3) We get the impression that Boaz was totally in agreement with the request – (3:10-13)
However, Boaz had something else to do first. The author described Boaz as a “man of standing” in ch. 2 – his behavior so far has demonstrated that. And we saw even greater evidence in chapter 4.
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Now that we looked back, it is time to look forward. We may have come to the book thinking it was mostly a love story between Ruth & Boaz - & it is, but not a romance-novel-type love story. One commentator says, “It is the story of God’s love for Israel & it finds expression in the lives of Ruth & Boaz.”
ASSIGNMENT:
Take time to reflect on what you have learned from the stories of Naomi and Ruth, and consider what could encourage you to remain faithful in God's "larger story".
For Personal Reflection
Please spend time in I Thess. 5:16-24. I encourage you to explore that passage and discover the message it might hold for you, personally. This has become (for me) an ongoing challenge … and an incredible blessing at the same time.
