The Blessing of Ruth

I have been teaching Ruth, and, in my studies, I learned to appreciate the book in a new way.  We all know the love story between Ruth and Boaz, how he became her redeemer and how this points to the final Redeemer, that is, the Lord, Jesus.  But, if that is all we learn, we have missed so much.

The account is filled with intrigue and suspense, even cliff hangers.  We are left with wondering, What's going to happen next?  Where is God?  What now? Won't He do anything?  The account is filled with 'coincidence'--it just so happens that there was a famine in Israel; it just so happens that Elimelech moves his family to Moab (really??); it just so happens that his sons marry Moabite women; it just so happens there are no children; it just so happens they both die...and so it goes. But, God, who remains silent, is not silent at all.  He is providentially orchestrating everything for their good and His purposes.  We miss the nuances because we have become so familiar with the story.  Read it again, even better, listen to it aloud and you will likely hear things you have missed.

The book of Ruth is an account of  hope being brought to those in despair.  It takes place during the times of the Judges, a dark time in Israel's history, replete with sin.  Naomi lost everything and she was in despair, believing that God's hand was turned against her.  But, it is also about 'Hesed', a Hebrew word which has no direct English translation.  Hesed is love, compassion, mercy, kindness and goodness in action.  It is going the extra mile for another.  It is helping another when they are weak.  Throughout the story, the giver and receiver of Hesed changes as each of the characters show Hesed to each other at different times.  God made us for relationship, and the account of Ruth  is a glorious example of what this should look like--how we are to live with one another by helping, providing and caring.  And, we need to be willing to receive those things from others.  Imagine how the church would be if each of us lived out Hesed!

Naomi, who lost everything, was greatly blessed by the Hesed of both Ruth and Boaz.  When they marry and have a son, it is with joy that the townspeople proclaim that Naomi has a son--the one who was empty is now filled.  If that were the end of the story, it would be enough, but there's more.  The account ends with a genealogy--this child would be the grandfather of David, the great king of Israel.  And, as we know, David was the ancestor of the King of the Universe, the Lord, Jesus Christ.  The one who was in despair became the means of blessings to Israel and ultimately, the whole world.  Such is the goodness and kindness of God!