(99) April 9: Ruth 1-4 & Luke
11:29-54
Ask God to open your mind, heart
and will to understand, delight in and obey what you read.
To discover:
As you read note how the story of Ruth shows God working
good during the time of the judges.
To ponder:
This is a love story, and more. It
takes place during the time of the judges (1v1). Whereas Elimelech’s family
should have trusted God to provide in the land he gave, during a famine they go
to Moab – the place Israel previously fell into sexual immorality and idolatry
with Moabite women (Num 25). There Elimelech dies, and his two sons marry…Moabite
women! After considering the concern at the end of judges for Israelites to
marry only Israelites, this is serious. Husbands and fathers are to lead their
families away from sin and temptation, not into it.
However,
as so often, God is at work even in Elimelech’s compromise. His sons die and
his wife Naomi chooses to return to Bethlehem because the “Lord has come to the
aid of his people” in providing food. Yet rather than abandon her, the two Moabitesses
show God-like kindness (1v8) to their dead husbands, father-in-law and Naomi,
by staying with her. Naomi seeks to persuade them not to because she will not
bear more sons for them to marry (Deut 25v5), leaving them without protection
or provision. So Orpah returns home. However, at the very time Israel
were fighting amongst themselves and turning from God to idols, Ruth “clings”
to Naomi, and turns from idols to God (1v14-17). So often the most unlikely
convert shames the most established “Christians” with their commitment and uprightness.
Loving-kindness
is the dominant theme. God’s kind providence is seen in the description of Ruth
“finding” herself gleaning (Lev 19v9) in a righteous relative’s field, at “just”
the time he arrives and so sees her. This is divine match-making. Boaz, the
relative, then displays God-like kindness in protecting and providing for Ruth because
of her faithfulness to Naomi, praying that God, in whom she has sought
“refuge,” would “repay” and “reward” her. Naomi marvels at God’s own kindness
in how he is doing just this through Boaz’s kindness. Yet she is still prepared
to engage her own match-making skills, encouraging Ruth to effectively propose
(3v2-11). And Ruth does, because this would also mean Naomi is cared for.
The law that
prohibits the marriage stems from Leviticus 25v25 and is intended to keep
Elimilech’s property within his family (4v10). Through poverty Noami is having
to sell his land, which means her nearest relative should buy (redeem) it.
However, it seems he should also marry Ruth to ensure Elimilech’s line continues
(an extension of Deut 25v5). He rejects this, perhaps because it may result in
a son causing the rest of his property to transfer to Elimilech’s name (4v6).
So, to the joy of the reader, Boaz and Ruth are free to marry.
If
any are tempted to doubt God’s character after the book of Judges, the book of
Ruth sets them straight. There is encouragement for those who like Naomi feel
the LORD has made their life “bitter” and “empty” (1v20-21), that he may yet
grant them profound blessing, and certainly does in Christ. There is much also
to inspire men and women to act uprightly regarding God’s will, and display his
loving-kindness to one-another and to the needy. There is a reminder too, that
even the most despised are welcome amongst God’s people if they make the LORD
their God. However the biggest lesson, is that in the worst of times God is
still working out his purposes. Responding to the marriage, the elders pray the
couple may have a family like the patriarchs (4v11-12). And so they do. Ruth’s
son becomes the grandfather of King David, and so these events are revealed to
be critical in God’s plan to send his Son (Matt 1v5). We may despair at the
state of our culture and church, but even in the worst of times God is at work,
through everyday godly individuals, building his kingdom in readiness for
Christ’s return.
Praying it home:
Praise God for his loving-kindness
expressed in the details of your life and especially in having sent his Son.
Pray that you would display his kindness to others, and be used by him in
furthering his great purposes.
Thinking further:
To read the NIV Study Bible
introduction to Ruth, click
here.
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