Ruth

-Pastor Philip Joseph

Today, my heart is for character study from the Bible. If you look at the Old Testament and the New, there are many persons from whom we can learn and draw closer to God. And today I have chosen a very simple lady from the Bible.

Why simple? Because the book of Ruth is wedged between Judges and I Samuel; Judges-a book of great men and women who judged Israel, and 1 Samuel which describes the start of Kings like Saul and then David. And apart from the book of Ruth, you hardly find mention of Ruth in other books of the Bible, except in the genealogy of Jesus Christ in the gospel according to Matthew, where it is written: …Boaz the father of Obed, whose mother was Ruth … (Matt. 1:5)

The book of Ruth has only 4 chapters. But let us look at 5 things that Ruth did, that not only blessed her life but also made her a blessing for generations to come.

 

1. Make Correct Choices

Ruth 1:16

But Ruth replied, “Don’t urge me to leave you or to turn back from you. Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God.” (NIV)

Here is Ruth-a young widow, a Moabite, and obviously very poor, making a choice that was going to change her life and destiny. Remember, she had left her father and mother to cling on to Naomi-her mother-in-law, and was willing to embrace a new people, leaving her own nation and people. But the life defining choice is, to me, her choice of embracing the God of Israel. She declares, “Your God will be my God”.

Remember, Joshua declared a similar statement while bring the children of Israel into the promised land, only to find them disillusioned about life and possessions. Joshua declares, “…choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.” (Josh. 24:15). It is written about this Joshua that he followed the LORD wholeheartedly (Num. 32: 12).

For me, as a believer, I want to follow the Lord fully, wholeheartedly. Not sitting in the fence and waiting endlessly.

2. Take Concrete Steps

As Ruth made her right choices, some radical changes took place in her life. Some in the world would call it a fluke, or a stroke of luck-but for believers, as you all know, there is no such thing as luck. It is called God’s favour!

It says in Ruth 2:3 – So she went out, entered a field and began to glean behind harvesters. As it turned out, she was working in a field belonging to Boaz…

Prov. 20:24 confirms that a man’s step is ordained by the Lord. Psalm 37: 23, 24 says: The Lord makes firm the steps of the one who delights in him; though he may stumble, he will not fall, for the LORD upholds him with his hand.

What a wonderful God we serve! We can fully trust God for every circumstance we may face in our own life. I am sure none of us have a situation as bad as Ruth’s. But it God who ordains our steps, day after day, week after week, month after month and year after year. It may seem like routine for many of us. But beyond the unseen, we can know of his Hand that had held us from falling, His hand in making a way of escape for us, his hand in providing the right things at the right time… whatever you have in your life at present is because of a faithful and promise-keeping God.

3.  Come to God, Our Refuge

When Ruth acknowledged God as her refuge, everyone around could see her virtuousness and faith. Boaz had this to say of Ruth, in Ruth 2:12.

May the LORD repay you for what you have done. May you be richly rewarded by the LORD, the God of Israel, under whose wings you have come to take refuge.

One of the most memorised of Psalms is Psalm 91, full of promises and with one condition-come under His wings, acknowledge Him. Psalm 91: 2, 4 says,

I will say of the LORD, “He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.”

He will cover you with his feathers, and under His wings you will find refuge; His faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.

And the Psalm ends with God proclaiming “Because he loves me,” says the LORD, “I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges My name. (v14).

Psalm 46: 1,2 says: God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea…

We can constantly be led to pray that prayer of David, saying, Search me O God, and know my heart today. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting. Acknowledge Him and come under His everlasting wings.

4. Court God’s will

Ruth, being a foreigner, was unaware of the customs and practices in Israel. But she was willing to learn and live according to all that Naomi began to teach. She pursued the path of peace with courage, speaking to Boaz about marriage. Imagine a young foreign widow, coming and seeking the cover of her near relative Boaz. But she knew she was already under the cover of God’s hand, and so Ruth took steps of boldness as instructed by her mother-in-law, and she found the answer in Ruth 3:10 when Boaz replied:

“The LORD bless you, my daughter,” he replied. “This kindness is greater than that which you showed earlier: You have not run after the younger men, whether rich or poor.”

It is God’s will for your marriage, beloved brothers and sisters. And I know of people seeking God’s will in marriage, but along with that, take instructions from your dear ones and pursue the path of peace. It is not God’s will for you to be endlessly waiting at the same place … seeking, seeking and not acting accordingly. Romans 12:2 says, that you have to prove what the will of the Lord is, by doing.

Some in their youth also have this attitude of seeking their own will in marriage, to the point that they reject every other path shown. Seek the Lord, get counsel from the elders, and submit your will to God saying, “Not my will, but Yours be done.” (Luke 22:42)

5. Find God’s Blessings

Ruth 4:13 (NIV)

So Boaz took Ruth and she became his wife. When he made love to her, the LORD enabled her to conceive, and she gave birth to a son.

The Lord enabled her to conceive! Earlier, she had no children. But now, God’s blessing hand was upon her and she became a joyful mother. Her barrenness was taken away in the most wonderful way. Psalm 113:9 says,

He settles the childless woman in her home as a happy mother of children. Praise the LORD.

The end of the book is that Ruth became so well loved, with neighbours pouring in to name her child, and she had great possessions too and was richly blessed. Imagine Ruth the Moabite, became Ruth the great-grandmother to the great king David and found herself in the everlasting genealogy of our LORD Jesus. What blessedness!

So, here we are. The crux of the matter is to come under God’s wings-under His authority to obey Him in all matters. Deut. 28:2 says,

All these blessings will come on you and {accompany | overtake} you if you obey the LORD you God:

Be blessed in Jesus. Amen.