Ruth Day 26: Ch 4:13-17

13: So Boaz took Ruth, and she became his wife. And he went in to her, and the Lord gave her conception, and she bore a son.

They are married!! And as I mentioned last chapter, the Bible tells us when intimacy happens. This time it did. We are also reminded that the Lord gave her conception. We might also note that it was the Lord who kept her from conceiving in her previous marriage for His better purpose.

14: Then the women said to Naomi, “Blessed be the Lord, who has not left you this day without a redeemer, and may his name be renowned in Israel!”

When Naomi thought all was lost and changed her name to Mara, God was working and never left her. We are reminded of that in this verse.

15: “He shall be to you a restorer of life and a nourisher of your old age, for your daughter-in-law who loves you, who is more to you than seven sons, has given birth to him.”

It is interesting to note that this child is not related to Naomi by blood (or at least not closely related.) Boaz is a relative of Naomi’s husband, Elimelech, not Naomi herself. That doesn’t matter to Naomi or the townspeople because this child is seen as an heir for Naomi. Ruth is also praised as being better than seven sons. This is a great praise because sons are seen as better than daughters only because they are the ones who take care of the parents in their old age. Seven is often called the number of completion and is a common number throughout Scripture. Ruth is better than seven sons.

16: Then Naomi took the child and laid him on her lap and became his nurse.

Naomi cared for the child.

17: And the women of the neighborhood gave him a name, saying, “A son has been born to Naomi.” They named him Obed. He was the father of Jesse, the father of David.

Although Ruth gave birth to Obed, he is attributed as a son to Naomi. We are also told in this verse that he is the grandfather of king David. The name Obed means “serving.”

We learn in these verses that Ruth was better to Naomi than seven sons and that she bore a son. Naomi was greatly blessed. Something she never would have guessed, especially at the end of chapter one. We all will go through challenges. We are not guaranteed freedom from struggle, but we are guaranteed One who will be with us through those struggles. Even when we don’t see God, He is with us!

Ruth Day Four: 1:10-14

Verse Ten: “And they said to her, “No, we will return with you to your people.”’

They are willing to go with Naomi to a foreign land.

Verse Eleven: “But Naomi said, “Turn back, my daughters, why will you go with me? Have I yet sons in my womb that they may become your husbands?”

It was a tradition in Israel from the widow to marry her deceased husband’s brother if they had not children. That child would be considered the child of the deceased husband and therefore carry on his family line.

Verses Twelve – Thirteen: “Turn back, my daughters; go your way, for I am too old to have a husband. If I should say I have hope, even if I should have a husband this night and should bear sons, would you therefore wait till they were grown? Would you therefore refrain from marrying? No, my daughters, for it is exceedingly bitter to me for your sake that the hand of the Lord has gone out against me.”’

Naomi once again references the tradition and points to the fact that they would have to wait until the children were old enough to marry which would be at least sixteen years, probably longer. (I have to admit that I do not know what the marrying age for males was during this time.) Also, Naomi still sees all of these events as God turning against her. Her situation has some resemblance to that of Job. Naomi seems to be looking out for their wellbeing.

Verse Fourteen: “Then they lifted up their voices and wept again. And Orpah kissed her mother-in-law, but Ruth clung to her.”

Orpah decides to heed her mother-in-law’s advice whereas Ruth has decided to stay by her side. We’ll read about Ruth’s response tomorrow.

These verses are still in the midst of the trial and Naomi is providing the best advice that she can think of. God, however, has a plan and this pain will turn into joy. When He seems distant or to be working against us, He is actually right beside us. He is growing us and teaching us and preparing us for His great plan.

Ruth Day 3: 1:6-9

Verse Six: “ Then she arose with her daughters-in-law to return from the country of Moab, for she had heard in the fields of Moab that the Lord had visited His people and given them food.”

The reason that Naomi and her family had left Bethlehem in the first place was because of the famine. After ten years, Naomi learns that God has provided food.

Verse Seven: “So she set out from the place where she was with her two daughters-in-law, and they went on the way to return to the land of Judah.”

This verse reiterates the previous verse and points to the location of her return. Verse one mentioned how they were from Bethlehem in Judah. Naomi is returning home to her people and seems to be bringing her daughters-in-law with her.

Verses Eight-Nine: “But Naomi said to her two daughters-in-law, “Go, return each of you to her mother’s house. May the Lord deal kindly with you, as you have dealt with the dead and with me. The Lord grant you may find rest, each of you in the house of her husband!” Then she kissed them, and they lifted up their voices and wept.”

Naomi seems to realize that it is better for her daughters-in-law to return to their families. From the context, they are young enough to remarry and go on with their lives in the land of Moab. They need not remain widows. In that way, they would be taken care of into their old age.

They care for each other, as Naomi tries to persuade them to remain for their benefit and the young women weep at her suggestion. Naomi also mentions how they have been kind to her.

We see that God has removed the famine from the land of Judah at that particular time just as He had allowed it to come at a previous time. His plan, as will be seen as we read through more of the book, brings a Gentile woman, not originally part of the Israelite people, into the genealogy of Jesus. By doing this, God also shows His plan for all people to be saved. Jesus didn’t come just to save the Israelites, but to save all peoples who repent and believe.

Ruth

So I’ve decided to be a stereotypical woman and study the book of Ruth. Over this next week I will read the book and figure out how I’d like to divide it up. I encourage you to read through the book as well. If you have any questions regarding the book of Ruth, let me know!

Here are some basic facts about Ruth:

She is an ancestor of King David and therefore an ancestor of Jesus
She is one of two women with books in the Bible named after them (the other is Esther)
She was from Moab

We’ll learn more about her through this study and we’ll also discover more about God and His salvation plan.