But Boaz was willing to follow the proper civil procedures to have Ruth. Ruth was a model of responsible living in an irresponsible age. Then she had to do the work to make it into barley flour. (6-7) Ruth lays down at Boaz's feet. But, according to the practices of the time, Boaz was free to take another wife, especially since he was a kinsman. Here are seven lessons to learn from Ruth. Like Ruth, we also need to work to be women and men of integrity. Since Boaz was the great-grandfather of David (4:21), the book recounts events that Things will go faster and will be much better. Her best days were ahead. Its crushing to lose a spouse. 3: Ruth appeals to Boaz to be the kinsman-redeemer. Men and Women should respect each other equally. God doesnt not discriminate and wants His people to have the same viewpoints and understanding. What you are looking for is consistency. Ruth Chapter 4: Fruits of Freedom. Naomi, later on, lost her husband and she was left with her two sons. Look out for a man who is willing to wait for you without pressure. It was an enemy nation, and Israelites tended to look down on the Moabites. Well, there is a lot to be said about her. These blessings point out how God works in the . There is no bitterness or hostility that shadows over their relationship. It might mean he was old enough to be her father. Serving God Requires Faith. Even though Naomi knew that a new marriage for Ruth would change their relationship, she still played an important part in arranging the marriage of Boaz and Ruth. It was a sacrifice for Ruth to refuse to return to her family. Boaz is a type of Christ, meaning, he had many characteristics of Christ and foreshadowed what Jesus was going to do for humanity. At the beginning of the Book of Ruth, we meet Ruth, who is a Moabitess. Everyone can find something relatable in Ruths love story. Looking at the bigger picture of the Book of Ruth its evident now to see how the famine, Naomis relocation to Moab, the return to Bethlehem, Boazs blood line, and several other events had a hand in the overall plan for Ruths life. We know that the other kinsman did not want to marry Ruth because he didnt want to divide his inheritance even further among his existing children. Ruths story is ordinary. I will not talk much about Naomi here as I have dedicated an entire post to her. She stepped out and took advantage of what was available to her. Elimelech was trying to escape hard times by leaving Bethlehem to a pagan country. They see you when youre good and when youre bad. Since Boaz was the great-grandfather of David (4:21), the book recounts events that On the day that Ruth decided to go gleaning, on that very day, Boaz chose to visit his field. Throughout the Bible, we see previews of Christ. But God had him turn up on the perfect day so he could meet Ruth. But even when her sister-in-law chose to go back, Ruth made a different decision. And when you think of how friendship was all Ruth and Naomi had during a time of serious grief and . The biblical story of Ruth and Boaz is all of that and more. The Book of Ruth, the second of the Tanakh's five scrolls to be read on Shavu'ot, turns on at least one of these mandated forms of charity. 6 Naomi was a pious and charitable woman "whose ways were nice and pleasant." 7 Ruth considered her a spiritual guide whose advice . Its evident that Naomi understands that God wants her to continue her relationship with Ruth and she expresses these feelings with thanks and recognition. He didnt judge her past and didnt penalize her instead he embraced her past by also providing for Naomi. However, Naomi stayed committed to her daughter-in-law and wanted her to follow the God of Israel. Boaz saw the beauty in love and accepted Ruth for who she was. Through Naomi and Ruths mother and daughter-in-law relationship, were able to see the heavenly presence that takes place because of love. God bless you. He made kind gestures to reveal his heart to her and left it there. Every week you will receive a devotional and a free printable PDF that will help you dive deeper into our Ruth Bible Study. When you least expect it God provides His children with the things they need in life. Remember to thank and recognize your partner each day. We dont know what happened to Orpah but we know how God showed up for Ruth. As we see in Ruth 1:16, Ruth chose that she will serve the God of Naomi even to the point of death as she had fully resolved and purposed in her heart. Boaz was always ensuring Ruth had food. Everyone lives their lives the way it best suits them therefore, others shouldnt judge love. Ruth lived out her name for sure. Instead, Boaz brought relief to her life. It tells of a relationship between two women-Naomi, the senior of the two, and her daughter-in-law Ruth. Ruth is an interesting Biblical story because it contains no miracles or prophecies. Boaz was one such person but there was another who came before Boaz. One of the major lessons we can deduce from the book of Ruth and Ruth's story is that choosing to serve God requires faith and determination even in uncertain times. There are many things married and single people can learn about in the Book of Ruth. And Boaz did not delay in calling a meeting to secure his rights to marry her. The Hebrew word Boaz used to describe Ruth means some one of moral strength, sound integrity and courage. God had every intention of Ruth being part of the story for the lineage of Jesus. I imagine that they must have prayed for Gods favor. Naomi and her daughter-in-law Ruth decided to move back to Bethlehem in Judah because they were heartbroken and lost. The love of a man and the love of a woman should always be considered as an equally powerful element. Both of these women showed faith and clung to the belief that better days were ahead. Related: How to Choose Faith . We cannot say for sure how old either of them were but there was a notable age difference. Once they realize that their significant other doesnt have bad intentions when they make mistakes, theyll discover that their relationship will truly prosper. Doing the right thing isnt always easy. Books to Keep You Company When Youre Walking Through Suffering, When All You Want for Christmas is a Baby, When Everything in the World Seems Wrong, Its Worth Keeping House, why God never calls us from something without calling us to something, When Christmas Leaves You Feeling Lost and Disappointed. Thank you xo much, may God bless you, Scripture taken from New King James Version. Anissa McClain November 1, 2014 English 280 Penny Riggs The Case of Winnie Ruth Judd Winnie Ruth Judd was born in 1905 and raised in Darlington, Indiana, by her parents Reverend and Mrs. McKinnell. Were there negative characteristics of Ruth in the Bible? 5) God has a Redeemer in place who can rescue us from the devastation of our own sin. Later tragically, Naomis husband and two sons died. Elimelech died, leaving Naomi with her two sons. One of the most important Naomi and Ruth relationship principles is to trust God. The Book of Ruth provides many relationship lessons that perpetuate the meaning of true love. God be thanked for your love to me. Love was different for all of the women involved Ruth, Orpah and Naomi. Later we see him ensuring that they have food to eat during their lunch break and he sits and eats with then. Ruth the Moabite is loyal to Yahweh and Naomi. She wasnt expecting this level of kindness and she that as a stranger this was very much out of the ordinary. Each person within the relationship must understand that everyone has imperfections and its imperative that they come to terms with this reality. The story of Naomi and Ruth are woven together closely that their stories are nearly inseparable. The book of Ruth begins by looking at the life of Naomi. But there is a lesson in the book of Ruth. Here we glean 13 moral lessons from Ruth's story. Copyright by Michael Bradley and Chris Bradley, When People Let You Down: Dealing with Disappointment. Id say yes but they were definitely not in her control. Naomi loved Ruth, but she was willing to let her go back to her family. They see you when youre good and when youre bad. Build Your Life On A Strong Foundation. Ruth was a Moabite, a nation of pagans and idol worshippers. Application: God had a wonderful plan for Ruth. He and his wife Naomi, along with their two sons Mahlon and Chilion, left for Moab. Monday, September 30, 2019. When you least expect it God provides His children with the things they need in life. Dear Lord,
Naomi even extends thanks and recognition to Ruth for providing her with a beautiful blessing. We all must understand the importance of being thankful and recognizing others that make a difference within our life especially within our relationships. Moral Lesson 1: The Value Of Making Wise Choices. Even though we are basically desolate because of our sinful actions, we will all be forgiven and have the opportunity to make our lives better. The love of a man and the love of a woman should always be considered as an equally powerful element. Just look at all the immigration issues globally. The reality that Ruth experiences is relatable to couples in love today. But we all know that reality is the furthest thing from a fairytale. Everyone makes mistakes and no one should judge the other for their past actions as a man or woman. Open your Safari menu and tap "Add to Home Screen". Ruth 1:3: "Now Elimelek, Naomi's husband, died, and she was left with her two sons. Naomi, Ruth, and Orpah are all widows. But he didnt do that. She doesnt come from a famous family. Ruths story is one that exemplifies the reality that so many of us are thrown at every day death, love, heartache, falling into love and even compassion for others that share love. It really is that simple! Naomi organized a plan to let Boaz know that Ruth is open for marriage. He didnt judge her past and didnt penalize her instead he embraced her past by also providing for Naomi. Here are three lessons from the Book of Ruth for all believers: 1. Your email address will not be published. There are two texts in the book of Ruth which speak to the relationship of conjugal love to divine love. Having this information made all the difference in the world. Ruth was a Moabite woman and was considered to be a foreigner in Judah, which was a huge deal in their culture at that time. Learn how your comment data is processed. Ruth 1-4 | Lessons 1-12: Getting to Know God Through Old Testament Stories and Genealogies. Its heart-wrenching to lose a child. She wasnt hired but he invited her to partake of those provisions. If there was ever a Hallmark-worthy story in the Bible, this is it. She was a convert to Judaism and she knew very little about Jewish rules. Book of Ruth, Old Testament book belonging to the third section of the biblical canon, known as the Ketuvim, or Writings.
Because thieves were commonly known to break in and steal grain, Boaz slept at the threshing floor to protect his property and his produce. She pictured responsible living - 1:9-10, 14. She was allowed to take from the gathered ones also. Ruth's courage in the face of adversity will inspire you to trust God with your future. The time of year is early spring, "the beginning of the barley harvest " (Ruth 1:22 ). At the very beginning of the book of Ruth, shes living in Moab, her home nation. Blessing. When Boaz showed up, Ruth was having a pretty rough season in her life. In the Book of Ruth, Orpah and Ruth chose different paths because that was best for them. It is like the looking-glass which my lady holds up to her face, that she may see if there be any spot on it. The Book of Ruth provides us with a great story about love. The same things that turn on a worldly man are the same things which will excite your man of God. At the beginning of the story, we meet Elimelech, the husband of Naomi. Sometimes it seems like I take my worries everywhere except to you. As you read through the book of Ruth, you wont find any places where Gods voice thunders down to her as you might in other Bible stories. He found who she was in the present to be what he was looking for. So well only look at a few. And through humility and dependence, Ruth begins to grow in grace. We dont usually share our unedited feelings and thoughts about God with friends or family members. Loss Is Hard. He says The Lord be with you. The good thing is that Boaz wasnt concerned about Ruths past. The Book of Ruth provides us with a great story about love. With love does come heartache this can is seen through break-ups, divorce, or even death. The entire Bible is about how God orchestrated history in an effort to save us. There are only two books of the Bible named after women: Esther and Ruth. She was letting him know she was ready for the next stage. They choose to stay together and forge a union. Just because one couple doesnt live like another doesnt mean that theyre any less or more in love than another couple. Be wary of men who are uncomfortable with your relationship being public knowledge. This was to appeal to Boazs nature. Copyright Feel The Words 2023. More often than not, youll find that love mirrors our reality in many cases within biblical stories. Boaz didnt seem to have this concern. Ruth was the great-grandmother of King David and the daughter-in-law of Naomi. Lesson #1 - There is Hope Even in the Most Devastating Times of Our Life. Bible Study: Book of Ruth Chapter 4. Both Ruth and Naomi, her mother-in-law, have returned to Israel from Moab widowed and forlorn. The opportunity was there for her to glean. Be Blessed. People can be great pretenders. She did not know her rights as a young widow in the Jewish community. After they had lived there about . When Boaz commented on Ruths character, he did so based on more than just his observation of her. So he put plans in place to ensure no harm would come to her. Boaz was considerably older than Ruth. Orpah decided to stay but Ruth decided to go with Naomi and start over in a new place. The characteristics of Ruth in the Bible makes for an exciting study! Ruth 3:10. Sometimes were afraid that sharing our questions and doubts and disappointments will turn other people away from God, when actually, sharing about our relationship with God openly can bring more intimacy to our relationships and help draw other people to their own faith. He called her virtuous. Ruth's decision to stay with Naomi and serve the true living God she served through . Now the way was clear for him to marry Ruth. They were living in Moab when both of their husbands died. Naomi is the one who sets the tone for her relationship with daughter-in-law Ruth. We often feel like we need to keep our questions and thoughts about God to ourselves within a relationship. However, if we look forward and allow our compassion for one another fuel our outlook then we will see how love can flourish. What makes the story particularly interesting is that Ruth is . . He made a decision that God didnt approve. Just ensure that like Ruth, you are showing up in faith and doing your work with excellence. It was their faith that was at the center of their relationship and intimate communication. Their . I went out full, and the Lord hath brought me home again empty. (Ruth 1:20,21a KJV). There will be days where you completely mess things up and there will be other days when you succeed in every aspect. Granted, she needed some help from Naomi to see it but Ruth eventually gave Boaz permission to claim her as his wife. Although she was married before, Naomi seemed not to realize that Boaz had taken to her. Life changing conversations should probably happen when both parties are fully present and engaged. 6: God redeems us from our hopeless situation The story of Boaz and Ruth has a lot of symbolism for us to take note of. Hebrews 11:1 reminds us that Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. And looking at the book of Ruth, we can see that even when we cant see beyond our pain to his plan, we can have hope that our story isnt over better days are coming. Lets face it, no one is perfect! Ruth's and Naomi's journey from heartbreak to hope offers an Old Testament glimpse into God's redemptive power as He transforms a bitter widow and a former idolater into a family legacy . Soon, Naomi becomes aware that Boaz has a thing for Ruth. Join me on this journey as we study the depth of . Now that we have dealt with what it means to wait for your Boaz, there are some other relationship nuggets buried in the story. Even though we are basically desolate because of our sinful actions, we will all be forgiven and have the opportunity to make our lives better. So the Book of Ruth would roughly equate to the Book of Friendship in Hebrew. By Boaz, the man who could and would make her life a whole lot better. And guess what, Ruth was consistent. You will be surprised at how much growth will take place in your life and how much less the struggle to your next level will be. Ignorance isnt always bliss. And yet the life of a foreign widow who has nothing becomes so important that its included in the Bible and her name recognized in the lineage of Jesus. Ruths story is one that exemplifies the reality that so many of us are thrown at every day death, love, heartache, falling into love and even compassion for others that share love. Life is hard but when youre when youre outside of Gods will, its hard with a difference. The past is the past. The second blessing mentions Tamar, who in Genesis 38, like Ruth, bore a child after . Naomi was open with Ruth about the joy, the fear, the pain, and the anguish that came with her faith in God. So, Ruth and Naomi both return to Bethlehem. Ruth and Naomi were in a desperate situation. As Naomi pointed out, Ruth was free to leave her mother-in-law after the death of her husband. One day you will find your true love and all of the obstacles that you had to overcome will provide you with the strength for that love to withstand the test of time. And yet, his fingerprints are all over the events of Ruth. Owning a field was not easy then. A secret relationship is a red flag. Nothing is going in her favor, but shes brave, and her faith never wavers. !!!! For Ruth and Naomi, they needed sovereignty and in essence a fresh start. There are really so many lessons we could draw from this epic true love story. Introduction. Elimelech had intended to go back home. This means she was ready to be taken as his wife and to enter into a relationship of mutual submission and trust. Subscribe today to receive our free Bible Study printables sent to your inbox. Boaz took interest in her and increased his kindness. When were in a relationship, its relatively easy to subconsciously take advantage of your partner because they are with you each day. Free Online Four-Week Book of Ruth Bible Study PDF: Our latest study will take you through the Book of Ruth. This in-depth Bible Study will take you verse-by-verse and chapter-by-chapter through the book of Ruth. God orchestrated the events of both their lives to make finding love again possible for Ruth. They will not be disgraced in hard times; even in famine they will have more than enough. Scripture does not comment on Ruths beauty. The word root for the name "Ruth"in Hebrew, "Rooth"means "friendship" or "friend.". Boaz did this without any apparent expectation of getting anything from Ruth. 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