Ruth is the middle name of my wife Carrie, given in honor of her grandmother Ruth Giboney, a godly woman who was short in stature but mighty in influence. Ruth raised eight kids and left a wonderful legacy of faithful service to others that reaches now to the fourth generation. A grand total of twenty granddaughters, great-granddaughters, or great-great-granddaughters bear her name, a tribute to a life well lived.
In Scripture, there is a worthy woman named Ruth as well. According to Ruth 4:18-20, she was the great-grandmother of King David; she is also remembered in the New Testament as an ancestor of the Lord Jesus (Matthew 1:5). Her story, which takes place sometime during the lawless days of the judges before Israel had kings, is a well-told narrative which artfully conveys several important messages.
The first has to do with unexpected devotion. Ruth shows a God-like loyalty when she commits to return to Judah with her mother-in-law Naomi, even after her husband has died and even though there is nothing for her in this foreign land. Ruth’s famous words (1:16-17), backed up by her resolute actions, exemplify what it means to live for the sake of others. Her kindness to Naomi, far above the call of conventional duty, is an exemplar of unselfish devotion.
God’s care and concern for all nations is a second message which is subtly but eloquently presented in Ruth. Ruth is a foreigner, a native of Moab, not one of God’s covenant people Israel. Yet Boaz, Naomi’s relative, shows Ruth great kindness and respect. In a day and age when widows were terribly vulnerable to exploitation and abuse, Boaz’ behavior is telling. More significant still is the fact Ruth went on to become the great-grandmother of Israel’s favorite and most memorable king. In God’s economy, national boundaries and ethnic distinctions are not nearly so important as we humans sometimes make them.
Third, the story of Ruth is about God’s hidden providence. The narrative certainly begins darkly, with Naomi losing her husband and both her sons. When Naomi, whose name means “pleasant,” returns to Bethlehem, she tells the women to call her Mara, “bitter.” Naomi observes that God’s hand is against her and that the Almighty One has dealt bitterly with her. Yet as the story unfolds, the observant will notice that Naomi is not abandoned or left destitute. God’s gracious care for her is expressed through several key characters in the story.
During the next three weeks, we will explore together Ruth’s ancient yet timeless story in our Sunday morning preaching. I invite you to read and reread Ruth, allowing yourself to be surprised, encouraged, and challenged by the powerful messages of this brief yet important Biblical story.
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