40 Weeks of your Life: Ruth
05-25-2006
by Vicky Beeching

If you were thumbing through the pages of your Bible, you could be forgiven for missing the book of Ruth! At only four chapters in length, it is hidden between the long books of Judges and Samuel. In fact, as I'm opening my Bible right now, it's taking me a few tries to locate the gem called "Ruth" within the dense surroundings of the first half of the Old Testament!

Everyone loves a good story, and Ruth is certainly that. Marriage, death, journeys, betrayal and love that conquers all … There is much drama. I'm surprised it hasn't been the storyline of a Hollywood movie!

Some key themes jumps out and speak to me. The first is the concept of "redemption". Boaz is described here as Ruth's "kinsman redeemer". It doesn't make much sense in today's culture, but if we step into their shoes it becomes clearer. Israelites needed children to continue the lineage of their name and the inheritance of their land. Losing your land, or the continuance of your name, were the worst possible tragedies for an Israelite.

To prevent them happening, a widow was to marry her 'kinsman redeemer' - a close relative who would have children with her to continue the name and lineage of the deceased husband. It preserved the honour of the dead, and it enabled the widow to be provided for and cherished.

Boaz, in marrying Ruth, continues the lineage of her deceased husband, and provides her with a loving home. This is a picture for us of Christ stepping is as our 'kinsman redeemer'. He came to us when we were alone and surrounded by death and hopelessness. He married us, taking us as the 'bride of Christ' and brought us into His love and life, giving us an inheritance of life and love, and promising to love and care for us forever. He also became our 'kinsman' by stepping down from heaven's glory, and taking on human flesh. He became like us; "kin", so that he could redeem us to Himself forever. So every time our hearts are moved and touched by Boaz's kindness, integrity and mercy in the story, we can remember that Jesus has done this for each of us. How amazing!

The other theme I love in Ruth is the Hebrew word "chesed". It appears in the story many times, beginning with 1:8 where Naomi asks the Lord to show "kindness" (chesed) to her daughters, as they have shown "kindness" to her.

Chesed is translated as "loving kindness" and has strong overtones of loyalty and commitment. Ruth models this kindness, loyalty, commitment and friendship. When Orpah turns her back on Naomi, Ruth remains loyal. In 1:16 she utters these beautiful words "Where you go, I will go. Where you stay I will stay. Your people shall be my people and your God shall be my God. Where you die, I shall die and be buried with you".

This is an inspiring and challenging model of what it means to love someone and to stand by them in loyalty. It inspires me to want to be a better friend; to walk with friends through their good and painful seasons and be trustworthy and compassionate.

At the end of the book we see what a difference Ruth's friendship made to Naomi's broken heart. Ruth provided Naomi with a grandchild, who was to her old and weary heart "a restorer of life and a nourisher of (her) old age" (4:15). Naomi found joy as Ruth stood by her and helped her walk into a brighter season of restoration and joy.

The other amazing thought I want to leave you with is that Ruth's son "Obed" became the father of a man named "Jesse" who had a son named "David". David, the King of Israel, the Psalmist and the man who's genealogy eventually stretched all the way down to Jesus Himself! How amazing that Ruth - widowed and alone in a strange land, choosing to be a faithful friend and believe in God's restoration, became a key person within the family line of JESUS! I'm sure she had NO idea about what lay ahead in God's plans for her life and her children's children. We can trust that God is working powerfully in our lives and situations, and that more is being accomplished for His glory that we can possibly imagine!