Around four months ago when I began my transition from Nashville back to Manila, Pastor Bruce Fidler shared with me how he thought of the book of Ruth while praying for me. I've read that book several times since then, but more so in the last few days. Here are some of my lessons from the book, after having read it, studied it, and to a certain extent, seen it in my own life:
Responsibility
Naomi seemed like a victim of her situation because she lost her husband and sons, but she seemingly forgot that she and her family had chosen to leave the Promised Land because of a famine ten years ago. She seemingly forgot that they had disobeyed God. When you sin, choose to turn back to God. Sometimes we hide behind the idea that we are victims, but taking responsibility and walking in faith is always better.
Ruth, on the other hand, was a hard worker and very responsible. She did not choose to be a widow either, but she did choose to stay with her mother-in-law, to go out in the field and work. Even the people who worked for Boaz knew how hard she worked. I don't know how long the barley and wheat harvests take, but everyday during harvest, Ruth kept working faithfully. In the end, Naomi's friends said Ruth was the equivalent of seven sons to Naomi! Boaz was also responsible and he took action. He knew his people and he had noble character. That's why Ruth is remembered, not Orpah; Boaz, not the first kinsman-redeemer.
Providence
Though things turned from bad to worse before they got better, the Lord's hand was upon everything that happened. I love how Ruth 2:3 (NIV) says: "As it turned out, she found herself working in a field belonging to Boaz . . ." The HCSB version says: "She happened to be in the portion of land belonging to Boaz . . ." This seems totally random, but it was actually providential. As it turned out, God brought her to where she was really supposed to be. As it turned out, God used Ruth, a Moabite, to become the great-grandmother of King David. As it turned out, Ruth is mentioned in Christ's genealogy, one of only five women in Matthew 1:1-16.
Blessings & Relationships
The book of Ruth is full of blessings. Amidst the famine, deaths, and hopelessness, Naomi blessed Ruth and Orpah. Boaz blessed his workers, Boaz blessed Ruth, Naomi blessed Boaz, and the elders blessed Boaz and his family. This is one of the things I love about Jewish culture, and how God taught His people to bless those around them. I hope I do this more often!
"Chesed" is a new Hebrew word I've learnt from my HCSB Study Bible. It's used several times in the book, but each time it's used, when it's translated in the English language, different words are used to describe it--lovingkindness, faithful love, blessing, and kindness. The Study Bible says "chesed" is "a covenantal term that combines love and faithfulness, mercy and grace--all the positive aspects of committed relationship." As I've meditated on this, I've seen you can pray it over your relationships, asking God to bring everything good for the people you love, and to bless your relationships. What a great word to pray and bless people with!
Redemption
Boaz was actually the answer to his own prayer for Ruth, when he said: "May the Lord reward you for what you have done, and may you receive a full reward from the Lord God of Israel, under whose wings you have come for refuge" (Ruth 2:13, HCSB). Even though she was a foreigner, her kinsman-redeemer protected and provided for her. Christ is our ultimate Kinsman-Redeemer, and He has delivered us from sin, protects us, and provides for us.
I am amazed at how the book of Ruth simply tells a story, and it's so easy to miss God's hand in it, every step of the way. And when you're still on the journey, you may not completely understand why you lost what you loved, why you need to leave Moab, why you have to glean in the fields, or why you have to go to threshing floor (which is the part in the story I still don't understand), but in the end, you will see that God will use all of that to bless the generations that will come after you and to bring about His divine and eternal purpose in your life.
Responsibility
Naomi seemed like a victim of her situation because she lost her husband and sons, but she seemingly forgot that she and her family had chosen to leave the Promised Land because of a famine ten years ago. She seemingly forgot that they had disobeyed God. When you sin, choose to turn back to God. Sometimes we hide behind the idea that we are victims, but taking responsibility and walking in faith is always better.
Ruth, on the other hand, was a hard worker and very responsible. She did not choose to be a widow either, but she did choose to stay with her mother-in-law, to go out in the field and work. Even the people who worked for Boaz knew how hard she worked. I don't know how long the barley and wheat harvests take, but everyday during harvest, Ruth kept working faithfully. In the end, Naomi's friends said Ruth was the equivalent of seven sons to Naomi! Boaz was also responsible and he took action. He knew his people and he had noble character. That's why Ruth is remembered, not Orpah; Boaz, not the first kinsman-redeemer.Providence
Though things turned from bad to worse before they got better, the Lord's hand was upon everything that happened. I love how Ruth 2:3 (NIV) says: "As it turned out, she found herself working in a field belonging to Boaz . . ." The HCSB version says: "She happened to be in the portion of land belonging to Boaz . . ." This seems totally random, but it was actually providential. As it turned out, God brought her to where she was really supposed to be. As it turned out, God used Ruth, a Moabite, to become the great-grandmother of King David. As it turned out, Ruth is mentioned in Christ's genealogy, one of only five women in Matthew 1:1-16.
Blessings & Relationships
The book of Ruth is full of blessings. Amidst the famine, deaths, and hopelessness, Naomi blessed Ruth and Orpah. Boaz blessed his workers, Boaz blessed Ruth, Naomi blessed Boaz, and the elders blessed Boaz and his family. This is one of the things I love about Jewish culture, and how God taught His people to bless those around them. I hope I do this more often!
"Chesed" is a new Hebrew word I've learnt from my HCSB Study Bible. It's used several times in the book, but each time it's used, when it's translated in the English language, different words are used to describe it--lovingkindness, faithful love, blessing, and kindness. The Study Bible says "chesed" is "a covenantal term that combines love and faithfulness, mercy and grace--all the positive aspects of committed relationship." As I've meditated on this, I've seen you can pray it over your relationships, asking God to bring everything good for the people you love, and to bless your relationships. What a great word to pray and bless people with!
Redemption
Boaz was actually the answer to his own prayer for Ruth, when he said: "May the Lord reward you for what you have done, and may you receive a full reward from the Lord God of Israel, under whose wings you have come for refuge" (Ruth 2:13, HCSB). Even though she was a foreigner, her kinsman-redeemer protected and provided for her. Christ is our ultimate Kinsman-Redeemer, and He has delivered us from sin, protects us, and provides for us.
I am amazed at how the book of Ruth simply tells a story, and it's so easy to miss God's hand in it, every step of the way. And when you're still on the journey, you may not completely understand why you lost what you loved, why you need to leave Moab, why you have to glean in the fields, or why you have to go to threshing floor (which is the part in the story I still don't understand), but in the end, you will see that God will use all of that to bless the generations that will come after you and to bring about His divine and eternal purpose in your life.
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