Ruth 2:10-13

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10 So she fell on her face, bowed down 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?” 11 And Boaz answered and said to her, “It has been fully reported to me, all that you have done for your mother-in-law since the death of your husband, and how you have left your father and your mother and the land of your birth, and have come to a people whom you did not know before. 12 The Lord repay your work, and a full reward be given you by the Lord God of Israel, under whose wings you have come for refuge.” 13 Then she said, “Let me find favor in your sight, my lord; for you have comforted me, and have spoken kindly to your maidservant, though I am not like one of your maidservants.” ~ Ruth 2:10-13

Today, we return to our study of Ruth 2 where the events of Ruth's life have led her to a field owned by a very wealthy man named Boaz. With the backdrop of the times of the Judges as the historical setting, this true story is key in the coming of the Messiah. This true story is yet again another reminder of the goodness and kindness of God. We must never permit the bad news of the sinfulness of man to rob us of the good news of the grace of God.

I find it most instructive when I read of  Ruth's background as a Moabite. In fact, in chapter two we read at least 20 times that Ruth was a Moabite, a people hated by the Jews. These were folks who were thought of by the Jews as godless and dangerous. And yet here’s this woman, this Moabite who loved the Lord. In fact, her heart for the Lord allowed God to guide her to the one man in Bethlehem whom she needed to meet the most; a man who himself loved the Lord. We love the Lord because He first loved us.

In v.10 of today's passage we read, "So she fell on her face, bowed down 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?'"

Ruth was stunned by the kindness of Boaz. In response, she fell down before him, asking him why he was showing her so much favor. Ruth’s response was typical of ancient Near Eastern expressions of gratitude and humility. Being overwhelmed by Boaz' generosity, Ruth fell on her face, embracing the posture of one who stood before a king. Then she asked, "Why have I found favor in your eyes, that you should take notice of me, since I am a foreigner?" 

This is what the grace of God as seen in the cross of the Lord Jesus has done to the believer who understands the depths to which He went to redeem us. Like Ruth who was defined by God's mercy and grace, knowing that we do not deserve His acceptance, we bow in humble adoration before His kindness and goodness. 

In Romans 12, the Apostle reminds us of the mercy of God that rescued us from eternal damnation. When we catch a view of God’s mercy, we will, out of gratitude, offer our lives to God as living sacrifices. Like Ruth, when we are harnessed by God's mercy, we can't help but to be changed people. This is significant due to the fact that Ruth's mother-in-law, Naomi, was so bitter toward the Lord. Ruth was a remarkable person because even though the most important person to her at that time was not walking with the Lord, she was being defined by Him. This is the nature of God's mercy and grace. Coextensive with God’s mercy is His grace. Just as God has always dealt mercifully toward people, He has also always provided grace which has granted us the spiritual awakening that results in a personal relationship with Him. 

In v.11-12 of today's passage we read, "11 And Boaz answered and said to her, 'It has been fully reported to me, all that you have done for your mother-in-law since the death of your husband, and how you have left your father and your mother and the land of your birth, and have come to a people whom you did not know before. 12 The Lord repay your work, and a full reward be given you by the Lord God of Israel, under whose wings you have come for refuge.'"

In response to the humility of Ruth, Boaz revealed that he knew the story of how Ruth honored her mother-in-law. In fact, Boaz revealed he was fully aware of the entirety of Ruth’s story. In his response to Ruth, Boaz did not focus on her status as a foreigner, but rather on her acts of kindness toward a bitter mother-in-law.

The book of Ruth is replete with interesting word choices that continually drive home the book’s intended message. This passage is no different as the Hebrew word for "wings" delivers  the image of a bird tenderly protecting its young. Like a defenseless bird, Ruth sits securely under Yahweh’s mighty wings. All of her life, God in His sovereignty, watched over Ruth, something Boaz clearly recognized. And, since he was a man after God's heart, Boaz treated Ruth accordingly.

In v.13 of today's passage we read, "Then she said, 'Let me find favor in your sight, my lord; for you have comforted me, and have spoken kindly to your maidservant, though I am not like one of your maidservants.'"

Ruth responds to the words of Boaz with another display of surprise at the mercy and grace being bestowed upon her by Boaz. Ruth showed respect to Boaz by addressing him as "my lord." Here, Ruth was not pleading with Boaz to continue to be kind to her; she was grateful that he had been kind to her in the first place. She said these words because the kindness of Boaz had looked out for her in specific ways. The word translated "comforted" is a Hebrew word that literally means "to breathe deeply" highlighting Ruth's condition before such an important man in Bethlehem. By using this word, Ruth revealed that any tension she might have had before disappeared because of Boaz' kindness. The literal translation of the word "kindly" is "heart." Ruth literally said to Boaz, "You have spoken directly to my heart." 

Then, Ruth responded by the using the word "maidservant," noting her recognition that Boaz was not like most in Bethlehem at that time. Here, Ruth revealed that Boaz had no concern for any racial or societal status when it came to Ruth. In the mind of Ruth, she was not worthy of such recognition and compassion, yet Boaz was such to her. Sinclair Ferguson once said, "We are not able to detect with perfect clarity the hand of God in the circumstances of our lives….But when we find his autograph in the narratives of biblical history, we begin to recognize the same or similar patterns and principles emerging in our own lives too."

Once again, we are directed to the only one who can satisfy our souls. Boaz pictures the Lord Jesus who knew all that we were even before we had begun to turn to Him for salvation. Boaz and Ruth were both like God because they had both experienced first hand His kindness and goodness. This is what prepared them for this moment. Such is the nature of the culture of God in the soul of a believer. We love others because God loved us first.

Ruth 2:5-9

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5 Then Boaz said to his servant who was in charge of the reapers, “Whose young woman is this?” 6 So the servant who was in charge of the reapers answered and said, “It is the young Moabite woman who came back with Naomi from the country of Moab. 7 And she said, ‘Please let me glean and gather after the reapers among the sheaves.’ So she came and has continued from morning until now, though she rested a little in the house.” 8 Then Boaz said to Ruth, “You will listen, my daughter, will you not? Do not go to glean in another field, nor go from here, but stay close by my young women. 9 Let your eyes be on the field which they reap, and go after them. Have I not commanded the young men not to touch you? And when you are thirsty, go to the vessels and drink from what the young men have drawn.” ~ Ruth 2:5-9

Today, we return to one of the greatest love stories of all time, the story of Ruth and Boaz. In our last study we saw the introduction of Boaz into this narrative. In order to know another's relationship with God, we need to find out how far God has saturated into the details of his everyday life. Evidently Boaz was such a God-saturated man that his farming business and his relationship with his employees was quite totally saturated with God. When Boaz arrived at his field, he greeted his workers with the type of kindness that only comes from God. 

In v.5-6 of today's passage we read, "5 Then Boaz said to his servant who was in charge of the reapers, “Whose young woman is this?” 6 So the servant who was in charge of the reapers answered and said, “It is the young Moabite woman who came back with Naomi from the country of Moab."

This is the first verse in the book of Ruth that includes both Boaz and Ruth together. Earlier Boaz was described as a man of great wealth in all ways, not just materially. Boaz was a man of many possessions, but he lacked a wife. Once this man who seemingly had all he needed saw Ruth, he was attracted to her. This merely underscores that it is not wrong to be attracted to someone who perhaps could be your spouse one day. But, we must be careful to not let looks be the number one thing that influences our attraction to that person. We must be wise to recognize the character of that person because the way we attract someone will be the way that we keep them after the wedding bells have rung. In addition, just watch how a young man treats his mother or a young lady treats her father; that also will give indication of the character within or its lack.

I find it most instructive that God kept Boaz single for quite a while before he married. God did it for a purpose because He had a plan for Boaz that involved waiting for Ruth. The providence of God is clearly seen by the fact that He is involved in every detail of our lives, even those times we would rather not have in our lives. If I had entered Columbia Bible College the year I graduated from High School, I would have never met my wife. However, I entered college in the Fall of 1983 and my wife came in the Fall of 1985. Had I entered college in 1981 when I graduated from High School, I would have graduated in the Spring of 1985. And, my wife entered CBC in the Fall of 1985. The God of the Bible is most sovereign and we can trust in His divine care. Clinging to Him and His word is the key to discovering His great will for our lives.

In v.7 of today's passage we read, "And she said, 'Please let me glean and gather after the reapers among the sheaves.' So she came and has continued from morning until now, though she rested a little in the house."

Gleaning was one way that God made provisions for the poor in Old Testament days. It proves, yet again, His heart for those who are needy and weak. According to Leviticus 23, God  instructed those who own fields with crops to leave some of the  wheat in the stalk when they harvested their crops. Of course, God made this provision so that the fatherless, the widow, the poor of the land, the stranger in the land could come in and pick of the parts that were intentionally left. 

Ruth began her request with the word "please" and then she performed the work of a servant all day long. The character she displayed was far reaching, and yet, she had grown up in Moab where the ways of the Lord were not espoused. It is quite obvious that she had a fairly solid walk with the Lord because she displayed many qualities that are of God's culture. This highlights the utter importance of our walk with the Lord. As the great hymn states, "When we walk with the Lord in the light of His word what a glory He sheds upon our way."

In v.8-9 of today's passage we read, "8 Then Boaz said to Ruth, 'You will listen, my daughter, will you not? Do not go to glean in another field, nor go from here, but stay close by my young women. 9 Let your eyes be on the field which they reap, and go after them. Have I not commanded the young men not to touch you? And when you are thirsty, go to the vessels and drink from what the young men have drawn.'"  

In this passage is the first recorded words of Boaz to Ruth. These words were a common expression of a father to his daughter. With these words, Boaz not only allowed Ruth to glean of his harvest, he granted her the status of a reaper which was what his employees were there in his field to do. Rather than merely getting the leftovers, she got to partake of the actual harvest. And then, when it was time for a break, Boaz told Ruth to stay and enjoy the water the young men brought up from the well.

The word Boaz used here translated "stay close" is the same word which was used when Ruth clung to her mother-in-law, refusing to allow her to return to Israel alone. It is also the same word used in Genesis 2:24 where we read, "a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and they shall become one flesh." Boaz asked Ruth to not depart from the binding of the sheaves that were cut by the reapers. This was probably a way of ensuring that she would begin to make friends with the others as they worked together. He was communicating with her that she was welcomed there and was not a nuisance.

The Bible starts and ends with a marriage and the heart of its revelation is the uniting of God and man. All of this is to say that Boaz is a type of the Lord Jesus Christ and Ruth is a picture of the believer in Christ. Boaz was from Bethlehem as was the Lord Jesus born there. Boaz was graciously compassionate toward Noami, as was the Lord Jesus when He died for us while we were yet His enemies. Boaz told Ruth to abide in his field and the Lord Jesus tells us to abide in His love. Boaz generously provided for Ruth as does the Lord generously provides for the believer. Boaz invited Ruth to drink when she was thirsty. Similarly, the Lord Jesus invites us to come to Him when we are thirsty.  

The point of all of this is that the Lord Jesus Christ is the centerpiece of the entire Bible. He is pictured or prophesied about in each of the 66 books of the Bible, from Genesis to Revelation. He is also seen through types in the lives of different characters in the Bible. Just after His resurrection, the Lord Jesus appeared to two of His disciples on the road to Emmaus, and began to explain to them—from Moses and all the prophets, how every story in the Old Testament had been about Him. This is why He said of Himself, "I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me."

Ruth 2:1-4

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1 There was a relative of Naomi’s husband, a man of great wealth, of the family of Elimelech. His name was Boaz. 2 So Ruth the Moabitess said to Naomi, “Please let me go to the field, and glean heads of grain after him in whose sight I may find favor.” And she said to her, “Go, my daughter.” 3 Then she left, 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 family of Elimelech. 4 Now behold, Boaz came from Bethlehem, and said to the reapers, “The Lord be with you! And they answered him, “The Lord bless you!” ~ Ruth 2:1-4

Today, we return to our study of the book of Ruth where in our last study Naomi and Ruth had returned to Bethlehem the home town of Naomi. And, you will remember that when they arrived, it was the time of the barley harvest. When we have walked with the Lord long enough, we begin to recognize His faithfulness more and more. I have also noticed that often God holds off the arrival of His faithfulness in our lives so that the circumstances make it clear that it is He who was providing for our needs. This is the case here in Ruth 2.

In v.1-2 of today's passage we read, "There was a relative of Naomi’s husband, a man of great wealth, of the family of Elimelech. His name was Boaz. 2 So Ruth the Moabitess said to Naomi, 'Please let me go to the field, and glean heads of grain after him in whose sight I may find favor.' And she said to her, 'Go, my daughter.'"

In Ruth 1 there was a famine in the land that drove this family to Moab. In Ruth 2 there was a family member who owned grain fields that were accessible to Ruth and Naomi. One of the provisions of the Old Testament law was that, during the harvest, poor people could glean. What that really meant was they could go behind the harvesters and pick up what the harvesters dropped or what the harvest didn’t cut. What fell off the wagon, they could pick up. And Ruth agreed to go gleaning in the field. Our transition into the second chapter of Ruth provides for us an example of how God uses all things together for the good of the believer in Him. 

Humility positioned Ruth to be willing to go to Boaz' field to glean the grain. Ruth had lost her husband and her father-in-law. She also made the long arduous journey to Bethlehem from Moab. She was in a very foreign place. And she was untainted by it all. Due to her faith in the God of the Bible, she was not beaten down by the harsh circumstances of her life. She had every reason to be bitter, but she was not. 

Self-sacrifice born from a humble heart is explicitly linked to following God. The Lord Jesus in Matthew 16:24-25 said, "If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake will find it." If we are desirous of finding our best life by follow the Lord, we must leave the "self-life" at the door. It is the self that inhibits the growth of humility in our souls.

Naomi offered Ruth a chance to have a life. Ruth’s husband, Naomi’s son, had died and left her childless. In that society, Ruth would be pretty much bottom of the food chain. Without a husband, there wasn’t much she could do to fend for herself. The best option to fix her own position would be to marry someone else. However, Ruth chooses to remain with Naomi and go to Naomi’s homeland. Ruth was a Moabite, and Naomi is an Israelite, so by going to Israel, Ruth further steps away from any life of ease.

In v.3-4 of today's passage we read, "3 Then she left, 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 family of Elimelech. 4 Now behold, Boaz came from Bethlehem, and said to the reapers, 'The Lord be with you!' And they answered him, 'The Lord bless you!'"

This is where Boaz enters the narrative and doubting Naomi will see the grace of God like she has never seen it. It is obvious from his greeting to his workers that Boaz was God-hearted and he was generous. This, I am sure, encouraged the faith of Ruth. Here, we see a course of seemingly normal events. A girl gleaning on the edges of a field. A man coming from the city to check on his work. A harvest in full force. It’s in everyday life that God does most of His work. It was true for Naomi and Ruth, and it’s true for you and me. God is always doing 10,000 things in our lives and we might see only a few. We might feel His absence, but He is ever-present. It is often His apparent absence in our lives that His presence is pronounced. We might wonder if He cares, but He is always at work in our lives to bring about good even out of the bad. 

Naomi, on the other hand, held on to her bitterness that she had misplaced upon God. Her circumstances shouted to her that God was not aware and that He did not care about her. But there were whispers of grace rumbling in the background of her story. Naomi allowed herself to be consumed by her poor theology, and as a result, she had lost her ability to see the heart of God. 

Following God is not always like walking a straight line upward and forward. Sometimes our circumstances push us way down low. But the low place is where we find our Him. He was born in a manger. He had no place to lay His head. He died condemned on a cross alone. But He is called the King of Glory. In God’s economy, the low place is the high place. The story of Ruth reaffirms that truth. It makes sense. Jesus came from this lowly woman—this poor outsider is the ancestral mother of the King.

In v.3 we read the words, "she happened to come." The Hebrew literally reads, "her chance chanced." She "chanced upon chance" to the field that this godly man named Boaz owned. What a coincidence! Here is a widowed foreigner who just so happens to come to the part of this big field owned by someone who understood the heart of God and His word. He knew that God’s law allowed for poor people and foreigners to glean from the fields by restricting landowners from scraping out every possible grain. The edges were to be left for the hungry according to Leviticus 19:9-10 which reads, "When you reap the harvest of your land, do not reap to the very edges of your field or gather the gleanings of your harvest. Do not go over your vineyard a second time or pick up the grapes that have fallen. Leave them for the poor and the alien. I am the Lord your God." 

This was not coincidence. This was the sovereignty of God. And, when Ruth decided that God would define her life, she was positioned to be blessed like this. The greatest part of this story is that Ruth and Naomi were being given by God a story with Him that they could tell their children and grandchildren for years to come. So, the next time you are faced with an impossible situation, look to God and trust Him. Ask Him to work in your situation. You will be amazed at what He will do. Only those who look to Him see His handiwork in their lives, especially in the impossible situations that only He can remedy.

Ruth 1:19-22

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19 Now the two of them went until they came to Bethlehem. And it happened, when they had come to Bethlehem, that all the city was excited because of them; and the women said, “Is this Naomi?” 20 But she said to them, “Do not call me Naomi; call me Mara, for the Almighty has dealt very bitterly with me. 21 I went out full, and the Lord has brought me home again empty. Why do you call me Naomi, since the Lord has testified against me, and the Almighty has afflicted me?” 22 So Naomi returned, and Ruth the Moabitess her daughter-in-law with her, who returned from the country of Moab. Now they came to Bethlehem at the beginning of barley harvest. ~ Ruth 1:19-22

Today, we return to our study of the book of Ruth which is a story for people who get to that place in life where we wonder where God is when our world fall apart. This little four chaptered book is for those who wonder where God is when one tragedy after another meanders into our lives. It's a story for people who wonder whether a life of integrity in tough times is worth it. And it's a story for people who can't imagine that anything great could ever come out of our broken lives.

In v.19 of today's passage we read, "Now the two of them went until they came to Bethlehem. And it happened, when they had come to Bethlehem, that all the city was excited because of them; and the women said, 'Is this Naomi?'"

The journey from Moab to Bethlehem for Naomi and Ruth was about 50 miles in distance. It was not an easy trip in a land which is hilly, rocky, and very hot. Their trip included crossing over the Arnon river and the Jordan river. Naomi and Ruth had to carry whatever they owned including the water they needed to drink while on their journey. This was not an easy trip. In fact, with carrying their things, stopping for rest and sleep and the like, it probably took them a minimum of two days. 

Upon their arrival to Bethlehem, all the city was excited. The women of the town were astonished at the person they once knew. More than 10 years had passed when Naomi had left with her husband and sons for Moab. Then she was a much younger woman. Now, she returned looking older, more worn down from the sadness and the years that had passed. The second law of thermodynamics had taken its toll on Noami both physically and spiritually.

In v.20-21 of today's passage we read, "20 But she said to them, 'Do not call me Naomi; call me Mara, for the Almighty has dealt very bitterly with me. 21 I went out full, and the Lord has brought me home again empty. Why do you call me Naomi, since the Lord has testified against me, and the Almighty has afflicted me?'"

Here, we get a glimpse of Naomi's inner state when she told the women of Bethlehem not to call her Naomi which means "pleasant." When God defined Naomi, she was pleasant and beautiful and sweet. This is why we must be ardent in seeking the Lord on a daily basis through our study of the Scriptures and prayer. His definition of our lives is the best and yields the best results. Of course, we must be careful that these two spiritual practices are not just boxes we check off on our to do list for the day. Those who read the Bible and pray as a religious exercise miss the point. Those who see the Bible as a pane of glass that enables us to see God more clearly understand what our relationship with God is all about. It's about knowing Him and making Him known.

The late Mike Yaconelli said it well when he wrote, "Spirituality is not a formula; it is not a test. It is a relationship. Spirituality is not about competency; it is about intimacy. Spirituality is not about perfection; it is about connection. The way of the spiritual life begins where we are now in the mess of our lives."

In hearing her given name repeated time and again as she encountered the people of Bethlehem, Naomi could only think that it was no longer appropriate. In her mind, the covenant God of Israel, was distant from her and she felt the pain of it each time her name was repeated. And so, she thought a change to reflect her sad condition was needed. Interestingly, the name she chose is not the normal Hebrew form of the word. It is lacking the letter "h" at the end of the name which is the same letter that was added to Abraham and Sarah’s names as a sign of God's covenant grace. It was as if she were an outsider to the Lord and His covenant provision, wallowing alone in her bitterness.

Being defined by God shows up in our lives by how we respond to Him and how we choose to live our lives. When we choose to believe that He is gracious and we can not out-sin His grace, it is then that we are being defined by Him. We must be very careful to not even depend upon one ounce of our good behavior to define us because when we do that, we will become very discouraged and jaded. But, Naomi was not in the moment being defined by God and she became bitter.

Naomi requested that her old girlfriends reference her as "bitter" for she was quite defined by her bitterness. Four times in context did Naomi refer to God. She was bitter at God because she thought He was bitter toward her. I find it interesting that when pain comes into our lives, we blame no one but God. We do this because we know that God is the only one who could have prevented our pain. Ever notice no one curses any of the names of the gods of Hinduism or any other religion when life goes south on them? 

While attributing her affliction to the Lord, Naomi implied that God was evil or wicked. This is what sin does to us; it distorts our understanding of God. It leads us to conclude that He is the opposite of what He really is. Instead of ascribing the evils that come our way to God, it is right that we humble ourselves and choose to trust Him with the outcomes of the trouble in our lives. In the midst of our afflictions, it is most important how we choose to respond. Above all, we are to never ascribe evil to the Lord. It is we humans who chose the path we are on and it is the Lord God who sent His Son to correct it.

Naomi failed to see that the kindness of the Lord was just around the corner. Thinking she was the object of God’s wrath, she misinterpreted the sad and troublesome hardships she had faced. What seemed at the time to be harsh and cruel was in due time to be replaced with joy and comfort. But even more, the troubles she faced had served a larger purpose as her life has been used to show the greater, and often unseen, hand of God as He unfolds history in a way which displays His sovereignty and His kind heart toward mankind. 

In v.22 of today's passage we read, "So Naomi returned, and Ruth the Moabitess her daughter-in-law with her, who returned from the country of Moab. Now they came to Bethlehem at the beginning of barley harvest."

The reaping of the  barley historically took place during the month of Abib which happened at the time of our March/April. It commences during the Feast of Unleavend Bread when the first-fruits of the harvest are cut and presented to the Lord, a picture of the resurrection of Jesus Christ. It was at that same time of year when the Lord Jesus was crucified and then rose from the dead. 

The first obvious indication of God's blessing here was the barley harvest. Even though, at that time, barley was the least expensive of the grains, when we can see the sovereign hand in the least of these, we will better see His hand in the greatest of these. It is obvious that one of the main lessons here is discovered when we conclude that God is good even in the lean moments of life. Of course, once we get to that spot we will find it much easier to conclude He is good in the times of plenty.

Ruth 1:15-18

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15 And she said, "Look, your sister-in-law has gone back to her people and to her gods; return after your sister-in-law." 16 But Ruth said: "Entreat me not to leave you, or to turn back from following after you;  For wherever you go, I will go; And wherever you lodge, I will lodge; Your people shall be my people, And your God, my God. 17 Where you die, I will die, And there will I be buried. The Lord do so to me, and more also, If anything but death parts you and me." 18 When she saw that she was determined to go with her, she stopped speaking to her. ~ Ruth 1:15-18

Today, we return to the Old Testament book of Ruth where we are beginning to see the unfolding of a love story between a man and a woman. This love story is a human metaphor for the story of redemption initiated by the God of the Bible through His Son's death on the cross. But, the purpose of this book of Ruth is to provide a demonstration of how a foreigner became the great-grandmother of Israel’s most famous king. King David had a godless Moabite on a branch of his family tree. How could a foreigner, an idol worshiper, become this famous king’s ancestor? This book seeks to answer that question. 

In v.15-17 of today's passage we read, "15 And she said, 'Look, your sister-in-law has gone back to her people and to her gods; return after your sister-in-law.' 16 But Ruth said: 'Entreat me not to leave you, or to turn back from following after you;  For wherever you go, I will go; And wherever you lodge, I will lodge; Your people shall be my people, And your God, my God. 17 Where you die, I will die, And there will I be buried. The Lord do so to me, and more also, If anything but death parts you and me.'"

Quite a number of years ago now, an author by the name of Robert Frost, penned a poem entitled, “The Road Not Taken.” It’s a poem that tells the story of a man, who, upon walking through the woods, comes to a fork in the road. It is a place of decision; a place of no return, a choice must be made for he cannot journey down both paths. Whichever road he chooses will lead him to new pathways, and new choices, and he will never stand again where he stands this day. Life is like that, isn’t it? So often we come to a fork in the road, a place where we must choose one path over another, knowing full well that whatever choices we make, will have repercussions, good or bad, or some of both, that spill over into the rest of our lives. 

At a certain point in Frost's poem the man begins his journey down the road that fewer feet had traveled. And he sums up his decision with these words in the concluding verses of the poem, saying: “I shall be telling this with a sigh somewhere ages and ages hence: Two roads diverged in a wood, and I took the one less travelled, and that has made all the difference.” 

These words apply to this daughter-in-law committing herself to her mother-in-law. In New Testament terms, this is Ruth’s conversion. She not only committed herself to Naomi but also to Naomi’s God. Her commitment was personal, voluntary, and complete. After saying these words, she could never go back to Moab. Ruth made a commitment to Naomi because she had entered into a personal relationship with the God of the Bible. 

I found it most difficult to pull myself away from sin in order to enter into a personal relationship with God way back in October of 1981. The death of my dad aided my decision. You see, it wasn't until I began to think of what is really important in this life that I was poised to make my decision to follow the Lord. By the way, no amount of good behavior on my behalf made me right with the Lord; that is why the Lord Jesus died on the cross. I knew that if I didn't make a clean break from the lifestyle I had garnered apart from God, I would be frustrated in my attempt to know God for myself, and that is what was made clear to me that life is really about knowing our Creator for ourselves and finding ways to make Him known to those who are trapped in a life apart from knowing God.

In Deuteronomy 23 God said, "No Ammonite or Moabite shall enter the assembly of the Lord. None of their descendants, even to the tenth generation, shall ever enter the assembly of the Lord." This curse was that none of the Moabites would ever be allowed to come inside the covenant through the tenth generation from when the curse was issued. Interestingly enough, scholars have calculated that Ruth was a member of the eleventh generation. But, the Moabite people had been, by God, shut out from redemption because of their sin.

In Isaiah 56:6-7 which was written much later than Deuteronomy 23, we read, "6 Also the sons of the foreigner who join themselves to the Lord, to serve Him, and to love the name of the Lord, to be His servants, everyone who keeps from defiling the Sabbath, and holds fast My covenant 7 Even them I will bring to My holy mountain, and make them joyful in My house of prayer. Their burnt offerings and their sacrifices will be accepted on My altar; for My house shall be called a house of prayer for all nations."

The curse was only in place until the foreigner and the cursed person turned to God in faith. When Ruth said, "Entreat me not to leave you, or to turn back from following after you;  For wherever you go, I will go; And wherever you lodge, I will lodge; Your people shall be my people, And your God, my God," she revealed that she had entered into a personal relationship with the God of Naomi, the God of the Bible. The fascinating part of this story is that Ruth was an eleventh generation Moabite. Oh, the sovereignty of our God. He knows all from the beginning to the end and we can thoroughly trust Him with our lives and the lives of those whom we love.

In v.18 of today's passage we read, "When she saw that she was determined to go with her, she stopped speaking to her."

Naomi had nothing to offer to Ruth and neither of them knew what the future held for them. The road less travelled is like that, filled with the unknown, yet Ruth decided to follow Naomi just the same. And, when Naomi saw that Ruth the Moabite had more faith than Naomi the Jew, she stopped exploring her to return to Moab. How striking that this amazing commitment comes not from an insider but an outsider. I find the faith of Ruth to be incredible. Her commitment to Naomi goes beyond time and place and ethnic background. She who knew so little understands God’s heart more than Naomi who knew so much more. With Ruth's statement, she binds herself to Naomi forever, which was why Naomi was left completely speechless.

Ruth's decision was a complete break with her past. She left behind everything she has ever known, family, friends, familiarity, and she threw herself into the unknown. What an amazing picture of repentance and of faith! A picture of repentance, because it was a complete break from her life with self at the helm. A picture of faith, because Ruth was flinging herself into the arms of her Heavenly Father. Long before Ruth could through herself into the arms of her Kinsman Redeemer as we will see, she had to throw herself into the arms of her Savior.

Ruth 1:11-14

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11 But Naomi said, “Return, my daughters. Why should you go with me? Have I yet sons in my womb, that they may be your husbands? 12 Return, my daughters! Go, for I am too old to have a husband. If I said I have hope, if I should even have a husband tonight and also bear sons, 13 would you therefore wait until they were grown? Would you therefore refrain from marrying? No, my daughters; for it is harder for me than for you, for the hand of the Lord has gone forth against me.” 14 And they lifted up their voices and wept again; and Orpah kissed her mother-in-law, but Ruth clung to her. ~ Ruth 1:11-14

Today, we return to our study of the book of Ruth. One of the great themes of Ruth is that of redemption. I believe it was Augustine who once said, "The Old Testament is in the New Testament, explained, and, the New Testament is hinted at in the Old Testament. Throughout the Old Testament are shadows, and types, and prophecies. So, the New Testament is contained in the Old Testament." the Bible is all about the redemption of man by a loving God who laid down His life for His friends.

In v.11-13 of today's passage we read, "11 But Naomi said, 'Return, my daughters. Why should you go with me? Have I yet sons in my womb, that they may be your husbands? 12 Return, my daughters! Go, for I am too old to have a husband. If I said I have hope, if I should even have a husband tonight and also bear sons, 13 would you therefore wait until they were grown? Would you therefore refrain from marrying? No, my daughters; for it is harder for me than for you, for the hand of the Lord has gone forth against me.'"

As they started out along the road and got further from Moab, Orpah kept dragging behind. When Naomi saw that Orpah's heart was really not in the journey, she kissed both daughters-in-law and gave them permission to return to their homeland. With the multiple usage of the word "return" is an incredible contrast introduced. The contrast is simple and yet the results are eternally impactful. 

When Naomi started her journey back to Bethlehem, she was traveling from east to west, reversing the journey she and her husband had taken ten years earlier. In addition, Naomi was also turning her life around in a spiritual sense. After living in a pagan land for a decade, she now made the decision to return to her own people and to the God of the Bible. It’s a journey both literal and spiritual, in which a bruised believer makes the long journey home. 

I have discovered this is a daily reality in my life. The daily reality of returning to the Lord is a must for us all because this world quite easily desires to harden our hearts toward the Lord and His ways. Therefore, it is a good idea to make it our habit at the end of each day to do inventory of our hearts. Since we have been forgiven of all of our sin, we need not confess our sins each day to God for forgiveness. 

It is a great habit to confess our sins to God daily so that our hearts are not hardened toward Him. In Psalm 139, King David wrote, "Search me O God, and know my heart…see if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting." This explains God's description of sinful King David as a man after God's own heart. Confession to God is a must in order to have a heart for God.

When we get to the New Testament, we have the explanation of the Old Testament. When we read the New Testament, all that Old Testament stuff makes sense. The Lord Jesus is all throughout the Old Testament. He unlocks the key to so much of that which is in the Old Testament. And, He explains it all. I find Naomi's response at the end of v.13 rather interesting. She said, "...the hand of the Lord has gone forth against me." From her Old Testament vantage point, it takes sense that she thought the way she did. But, the Lord Jesus removed all of the enmity created by our sin. We should not look at it as "the hand of the Lord is against me." Knowing that our sin, past, present and future has been forgiven, we now look at the negatives in life differently. We now must look at it as opportunities for God to instill His culture into our souls.

I find it most instructive that the book of Ruth opens up with a choice-- actually, several choices-- one choice that leads to another choice that leads to another. And one thing all of us eventually come to grips with is how precious and how precarious our choices can be. One little dynamic, one little choice can be a hinge of so much. 

These two daughters-in-law had a choice here. And Naomi knew the prejudice of her people toward a cursed people like the Moabites. As afore mentioned, the Moabites were cursed because Moab was the result of incest. Naomi knew that if her daughters-in-law were to come with her back to Bethlehem, it was going to be very hard for them. This is why Naomi told the young ladies to go back to their homes in Moab. 

In v.14 of today's passage we read, "And they lifted up their voices and wept again; and Orpah kissed her mother-in-law, but Ruth clung to her."

Orpah gave Naomi, her mother-in-law, a goodbye kiss and she walked off the pages of history. She is never mentioned again in the Scriptures. But, "Ruth clung to Naomi." The word "clung" here is the same word used in Genesis 2:24 when speaking of the relationship between the man and his wife. It is also the same word used in Psalm 63 to describe the person who was absolutely determined to follow the Lord. The implication here is that Ruth wanted to follow the true and living God, the God of Naomi.  

In the end, there are only one of two directions we can go. One is toward the face of God which is seen in the Person of the Lord Jesus Christ, or we can turn back and go in the opposite direction. The first leads to eternal life, the latter leads to eternal separation. The choice belongs to each of us, and we must  choose wisely.

Ruth 1:6-10

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6 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 that the Lord had visited His people by giving them bread. 7 Therefore she went out from the place where she was, and her two daughters-in-law with her; and they went on the way to return to the land of Judah. 8 And Naomi said to her two daughters-in-law, “Go, return each to her mother’s house. The Lord deal kindly with you, as you have dealt with the dead and with me. 9 The Lord grant that you may find rest, each in the house of her husband. 10 And they said to her, “Surely we will return with you to your people.” ~ Ruth 1:6-10

Today, we return to our study of the Old Testament book of Ruth where we see the unfolding of a true story that points us ultimately, as all biblical books do, to the Lord Jesus Christ Himself. It is He that is the fulfillment of all of the Scriptures, as well as all of the longings of our hearts. And yet, as I am discovering, the Lord Jesus does not fulfill the longings of my heart in the ways that I expect. The freedom we need, He says, is not from that which we expect like those who treat us wrongly. No, the freedom we long for is to discover our identity in our personal relationship with Him. This is the theme of this book.

The restoration of God's practical holiness takes a long time for God to instill in the soul of the believer in Christ. As we learn to trust Him more and more this process takes place. And, the more we give our hearts to Him, we will learn of His heart for us. Of course, the positional holiness that we have in Christ has been fully applied to our account because Christ died once and all for the forgiveness of our sin. Our security and significance increases only out of a growing intimacy with our Maker. He is the One who inculcates His transcendent presence in our souls as we go belly up with Him. 

In v.6-7 of today's passage we read, "6 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 that the Lord had visited His people by giving them bread. 7 Therefore she went out from the place where she was, and her two daughters-in-law with her; and they went on the way to return to the land of Judah."

As the story of Ruth unfolds, we notice that Naomi, Ruth's mother-in-law has survived the passing of her husband and her two sons. And now, Naomi has received word that the famine has ended in her home town of Bethlehem and she has made preparations to return home. This is what we do when the ugliness of this life shatters our dreams and leaves us with a broken heart. Naomi's decision reveals that she knew that God knew what He was doing even when she did not. Naomi, like us, was not given an idea in advance of what would happen in her future. This is true for all of us. We all must take life as it comes to us, one day at a time, all the while trusting the Lord with the outcomes.

Naomi was a brokenhearted believer in the God of the Bible due to the deaths of her loved ones. Broken-heartedness was a must in the process of me coming to the Lord. I find that it is often necessary in my walk with the Lord. In fact, it is very often that my brokenheartedness is what leads me back to the Lord. Due to her broken heart, Naomi not only returned home, she also returned to the Lord. She experienced bitterness toward the Lord, as we will see, but at least she had not totally turned away from Him. If we callously think Naomi got what was coming to her, we would then reveal how little we understand of God’s heart. He is the God who is rich in grace, and his pockets are deep and full of mercy and grace.

This is when the heart of the story of Ruth really begins with three widows in the land of Moab. It is our pain that enables God the opportunity to seep into our lives through the cracks created by our pain. We read that Naomi decided to return to her home in Bethlehem in Judah, and, her two daughters-in-law were determined to accompany her back to her homeland. 

In v.8-10 of today's passage we read, "8 And Naomi said to her two daughters-in-law, “Go, return each to her mother’s house. The Lord deal kindly with you, as you have dealt with the dead and with me. 9 The Lord grant that you may find rest, each in the house of her husband. 10 And they said to her, 'Surely we will return with you to your people.'"

Both Orpah and Ruth intended to go to Bethlehem and start over in a new land with their mother-in-law. But Naomi warned them to think hard about what that would mean. When Naomi urged the two young ladies to go back home, she expressed a wish that the Lord might "deal kindly with them." The Hebrew word Naomi used for God's kindness is "chesed," which means "loyal covenant love." This is the Old Testament version of the grace of God. 

Undoubtedly, on the heels of losing her husband and two sons, Naomi had her struggles, but, we are not told of them. One thing is for sure that God had not given up on Naomi. When our pains make us retreat from God, He does not retreat from us. By nature, He is love and He is committed to all who trust in Him. God's promise that "I will never leave you nor forsake you" is found in multiple books of the Bible, in both the Old and New Testaments. With this promise, we can be assured that He is always with us because this promise has been procured by His Son's death on the cross.

Naomi was quite unaware that God had big plans for her life which were about to unfold. Little did she know that one day she would hold a baby in her lap who would be the grandfather of King David. Still less could she imagine that her daughter-in-law, Ruth, would end up in the line of the Messiah, the Lord Jesus Christ? The same is true for you and me; God has big plans for our lives and we can not know in advance what those plans are. In fact, those plans are only accessed as we trust Him, and through our trust, we choose to daily follow Him.

Ruth 1:1-5

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1 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 Bethlehem, Judah, went to dwell in the country of Moab, he and his wife and his two sons. 2 The name of the man was Elimelech, the name of his wife was Naomi, and the names of his two sons were Mahlon and Chilion—Ephrathites of Bethlehem, Judah. And they went to the country of Moab and remained there. 3 Then Elimelech, Naomi’s husband, died; and she was left, and her two sons. 4 Now they took wives of the women of Moab: the name of the one was Orpah, and the name of the other Ruth. And they dwelt there about ten years. 5 Then both Mahlon and Chilion also died; so the woman survived her two sons and her husband. ~ Ruth 1:1-5

Today, we begin a study of the book of Ruth which is a love story that starts with misery and ends with joy. This true story includes anxiety, fear, love, and commitment that inflames the imagination and soothes the soul. It begins with despair and ends with delight. This book of four chapters and only 85 verses covers a vast range of human emotions, starting with heartache, then moving to intrigue, then romance, then happiness. Along the way we discover "God behind the scenes," which means the real star of the book is the Lord Jesus who works in, through, and sometimes in spite of the decisions we make.

There are only two books of the Bible named for women, Ruth and Esther. Ruth is the only book in the Bible named after one of the Lord Jesus’ ancestors. Ruth is the only Old Testament book named after a gentile and Luke is its New Testament counterpart. Ruth was written during the time of King David’s reign in Israel, which would’ve been about 1,000 B.C. but it happened during the time of the Judges about a hundred years earlier.

In v.1 of today's passage we read, "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 Bethlehem, Judah, went to dwell in the country of Moab, he and his wife and his two sons."

The book of Ruth opens with a note that anchors this story to a particular time and place: "During the time of the judges, there was a famine in the land." This means the story took place after Joshua’s death and before Saul became king. It was a time when the people largely forgot the Lord and did what was right in their own eyes. The problem with this is our default mode is sin or that which is contrary to the definitions of God. 

When we read the book of Judges, we may be tempted to think it was a godless time, but that would not be entirely correct. We should think of it as a time when every man did what was right in his own eyes which is the final verse in the book of Judges. As long as the judges ruled, the people served the Lord. But when a judge died, the Jews returned to idolatry. It was a recurring cycle of obedience, disobedience, judgment, suffering, desperation, and returning to the Lord.

Elimelech and his wife and two sons lived in Bethlehem which means "House of bread." The land around Bethlehem was some of the most fertile ground in the Promised Land. In fact, it was often referred to as "the bread basket." So, when the famine hit that area, it was a particularly hard time on the people. As with all trials, God's design is to use the discomforting times to turn us back to Him. Elimelech made the decision to move his family to Moab because it was a land of good soil and adequate rainfall. 

In v.2 of today's passage we read, "The name of the man was Elimelech, the name of his wife was Naomi, and the names of his two sons were Mahlon and Chilion—Ephrathites of Bethlehem, Judah. And they went to the country of Moab and remained there. "

I find it instructive that Elimelech's name means "My God is King." The names of most of the characters in the book of Ruth have an important role to play in conveying the main message of the story. Probably the two most significant names in the book are the one that is mentioned first and the one that is mentioned last. The first name in the book is Elimelech and the last name is David and in the Hebrew text David is the final word. Both names convey the idea of Kingship. Elimelech’s name was very appropriate in the time of the Judges, it means "My God is King." This name is an indication of the faith that still burned in many Israelite hearts that in spite of the disastrous period of the Judges, God was still in charge and he was their King. However, the last name in the book, David, showed that God was raising up a leader for His people who would exercise leadership under God’s authority. God was providing a king who would honor him and lead the people to blessing.

Elimelech's family lived in the region of Ephrathah where the town of Bethlehem's located to this day. Bethlehem Ephrathah is the town that is recorded in Micah 5:2 would be the birthplace of the Messiah. Of course, in the gospels we learn that Mary and Joseph traveled to Bethlehem Ephrathah in order to pay their taxes that were ordered at the time. In traveling back to Bethlehem Ephrathah and giving birth to their firstborn child, they fulfilled the prophecy spoken by the prophet Micah hundreds of years before. 

Moab originated with Lot’s incestuous relationship with his daughter. Elimelech left the land of blessing to live among the pagans on the east side of the Dead Sea. He and his family would be exposed to the Moabite religion with its degrading idol worship and its gross sexual perversion. Elimelech understood the risk of living among the Moabites but considered this move a temporary move for the sake of his family.

In v.3 of today's passage we read, "Then Elimelech, Naomi’s husband, died; and she was left, and her two sons."

Elimelech lost his life while seeking a livelihood, and found a grave where he had sought a home. The death of her husband left Naomi with a longing in her heart. Sometimes God allows things to happen in our lives or causes them to happen in order to position us to the place of His blessing.

I remember the day God started moving my heart to attend Columbia Bible College in Columbia, South Carolina. I did not want to attend CBC because of those whom I had met who had gone there were quite different than I was at that time. Needless to say, I obeyed the Lord and enrolled. The first two years were quite difficult. Then, my junior year came around and two weeks into that most wonderful year the Lord introduced the girl who became my wife just two years later. I look back on that and I am reminded that it is best to obey the Lord even when we do not understand or desire to do what He wants.

In v.4-5 of today's passage we read, "4 Now they took wives of the women of Moab: the name of the one was Orpah, and the name of the other Ruth. And they dwelt there about ten years. 5 Then both Mahlon and Chilion also died; so the woman survived her two sons and her husband."

The famine in Bethlehem was now a distant memory. But soon after the family moved to Moab Elimelech died, leaving Naomi without a husband and the two sons without a father. We know tragedy as something that should have never happened. But, when we give God time and we trust Him, we will eventually see His genius even in the things that were most painful. For me the death of my mom when I was five years old and the death of my dad when I was seventeen years old positioned me to go from hopelessness to a personal relationship with my creator.

Well, as noted in v.5, eventually the two sons married Moabite women, one named Orpah and the other named Ruth. After ten years of marital bliss, the two sons died and were buried in Moab. Suddenly ten years had passed and the longing in the heart of Naomi to return home came knocking. The scriptures remind us to "Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart." This does not means that God will give us whatever we ask of Him. It does mean that when we give our heart to God He will give His to us, resulting in it being natural that we ask God for His will to be done in our lives.