In Christian circles, the book of Ruth is often cited to highlight the relationship between Ruth and Boaz. The story is meant to be an encouragement to singles who are seeking a partner. However, the central theme of the story is not a love story between two individuals, but rather God’s love and faithfulness towards his people. Through the story of Naomi, we learn how much God loves his people and how he provides for them. Through Ruth’s story, we see that God even welcomes foreigners (Ruth, the Moabite) and blesses them when they confess their faith in him (Ruth 1:16).
Therefore, the focus of this biblical book is not about finding a man or woman for life, but rather about God’s love and faithfulness towards his people. What we need is not a partner, but God. Because with God comes the potential for the human relationships we desire. GOD is the one who brings provision, purpose, relationships, and much more into our lives. He is the one who blesses us and opens doors.
In my last blog post, I described how God led Naomi, Ruth’s mother-in-law, out of emptiness, sorrow, and hopelessness into a life of abundance. In this article, I will focus on Ruth and specifically explain what she contributed to her life moving from darkness to light and being filled with blessings.
Interestingly, in the Hebrew Bible, the book of Ruth follows the book of Proverbs. However, our German Bibles follow the order of the Greek Old Testament (Septuagint). The book of Proverbs ends with the description of a wise woman. The woman portrayed there sums up the book of Proverbs by illustrating what wisdom looks like in practical application. The same Hebrew term חיל (khah’-yil), used by Boaz to describe Ruth in 3:11, is also used in Proverbs 31:10 to describe the character of this wise woman. (This observation is from the On Script Biblical World Podcast)
Ruth followed three specific steps that brought light into her darkness:
1. She testified to her faithfulness to God (Ruth 2:11) by going with Naomi to Bethlehem, to a land and people to which she did not belong.
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding. Proverbs 9:10
To fear God means to acknowledge Him as Lord in His sovereignty and holiness and to do His will. This is not driven by fear, but rather by the decision to believe in Him and show Him loyalty in love.
2. Her diligence set her apart (Ruth 2:17). Every day, Ruth gathered barley from early in the morning until late in the evening. She worked not only for herself but also provided for her mother-in-law Naomi.
Ruth did not feel helpless in her circumstances but acted actively and self-determined. She did not allow her situation to defeat her but instead went to work, which placed her in a position where God could bless her.
3. She was a woman of integrity all around (Ruth 3:11) and thus embodied the image of the wise woman in Proverbs 31:
A wife of noble character who can find? She is worth far more than rubies.
Her husband has full confidence in her and lacks nothing of value.
She brings him good, not harm, all the days of her life.
She selects wool and flax and works with eager hands.
She is like the merchant ships, bringing her food from afar.
She gets up while it is still night; she provides food for her family and portions for her female servants.
She considers a field and buys it; out of her earnings she plants a vineyard.
She sets about her work vigorously; her arms are strong for her tasks.
She sees that her trading is profitable, and her lamp does not go out at night.
In her hand she holds the distaff and grasps the spindle with her fingers.
She opens her arms to the poor and extends her hands to the needy.
When it snows, she has no fear for her household; for all of them are clothed in scarlet.
She makes coverings for her bed; she is clothed in fine linen and purple.
Her husband is respected at the city gate, where he takes his seat among the elders of the land.
She makes linen garments and sells them, and supplies the merchants with sashes.
She is clothed with strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days to come.
She speaks with wisdom, and faithful instruction is on her tongue.
She watches over the affairs of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness.
Her children arise and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her:
“Many women do noble things, but you surpass them all.”
Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.
Honor her for all that her hands have done, and let her works bring her praise at the city gate.
-Proverbs 31:10-31-
Of course, this list is the ideal of a wise person. One might wonder if this woman ever took a break!? She seems to have been constantly working!
In the text, it says that she feared God. That means she kept His commandments, including the Sabbath commandment. While she worked like crazy during the week, she rested on the Sabbath and celebrated on Jewish holidays.
Ruth also had a fear of God. Because she confessed to God and obeyed Him by living a wise life, He arranged the right encounters at the right time for her to experience blessing.
Sometimes, as Christians, we complicate the subject of „doing God’s will”. We wonder what exactly He wants from us here and now. But it’s pretty simple: love God, love people, and love yourself (Matthew 22:35-40). Loving God means obeying His commandments (1 John 5:3), of course, carried by His grace. Everything else God will set in motion to lead us from darkness into light. He wants us to experience joy and love.
If we follow God’s will, we step more and more out of the darkness in our hearts and into the light. By serving God in big and small ways, we recognize the specific part we can contribute to building God’s kingdom in our time and environment; to live out a calling.
Following God’s will does not mean that God will answer all our prayers and fulfill our desires in return. God cannot be manipulated, but out of His love, He intervenes in our lives and shows us His faithfulness, even when we are not always faithful to Him (2 Timothy 2:13). He brings light into our lives, but in His time and in His way.
God welcomes all who confess their faith in Him. In His great kindness, He accepted the foreigner Ruth into His people and gave her the honor of bringing into the world the grandfather of the great King David, and therefore an ancestor of Jesus.
The blessing that Ruth experienced not only served herself but also the great plan of God that would bring light to the whole world.
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