Everyday Life in Israel

The Book of Ruth

GOLDEN TEXT: “Intreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee: for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God.”—Ruth 1:16

THE story of Ruth, revealing the manner in which she became one of the mothers in Israel in the honored genealogical line leading to Jesus, is one of the outstanding classics of all time. The Lord could have caused to be recorded the simple fact that Ruth, a Moabitish woman, became the wife of Boaz and the mother of Obed, who was the grandfather of David, and we would have had all the vital information necessary to fill this gap in, the genealogy of David. But instead he caused this information to be woven into a beautiful story furnishing object lessons of devotion and integrity which are truly refreshing in contrast to the usually selfish and irresponsible course of mankind in general.

Elimelech and his wife, Naomi, left the land of Judah during a time of famine, believing they could better themselves along material lines in the land of Moab. In Moab, their two sons married Moabitish women. These facts are recorded without comment as to the wisdom of the course taken, but after the death of Elimelech and his two sons, Naomi, the mother, confesses that the hand of the Lord had dealt harshly with her, as though she recognized that the family had made a move which was contrary to the divine will. And it did indicate a lack of faith in their God thus to forsake the land which he had given to them and to take up residence in a strange country. It was also contrary to the Law for the sons to marry heathen women. Possibly, however, Elimelech, as head of the family, was largely responsible for this wrong move, and for that reason the Lord overruled it for Naomi’s good in later life.

Her husband and two sons having died, Naomi’s thoughts naturally turned toward her own people in the land of Judah, and, hearing good reports therefrom, she decided to return. Knowing how out of place her daughters-in-law would be in Israel, especially in view of the fact that they did not worship and serve the true God, Naomi entreated them to remain in the land of Moab. One of them (Orpah) decided to do this, but Ruth did not. In our Golden Text we have her beautiful expression of loyalty to her mother-in-law, and what is of greater importance in the outworking of the divine plan, her declared intention to accept and serve Israel’s God. It was this decision that made of her an Israelite in God’s sight, and later an acceptable wife for Boaz. Had she not renounced allegiance to the Moabitish gods, and pledged her loyalty to the God of Israel, Boaz would have violated the Law in marrying her.

The custom of gleaning in the harvest fields was apparently a well established one in ancient Israel, the gleaners gathering and keeping for their own use, or to sell, whatever was left by the regular reapers, who were either the owners of the field or the hired help. The Law provided that the corners of the field should always be left for the gleaners. Boaz, in order to show special kindness to Ruth who went to glean in his field, instructed his reapers purposely to drop handfuls of grain for her benefit.

The custom of gleaning is sometimes referred to as illustrative of final phase of the harvest of God’s “wheat class” in this end of the age. The illustration may be appropriate in a limited way, although the gleaners in Israel worked virtually side by side with the reapers—they did not wait until the harvest was over before they started to glean, but began their work with the first day of harvest and continued each day until the harvest was over. In this sense the gleaners might well illustrate those who embrace faithfully the smaller opportunities in the harvest field.

Naomi’s suggestion to Ruth that she lay herself at the feet of Boaz may not have been in the best of taste. That Boaz should caution Ruth not to tell others about it would indicate that it was not altogether the conventional thing to do at the time. But the desired result was accomplished. Boaz had an opportunity brought to his attention—the opportunity of redeeming Ruth and Naomi’s field, and of marrying Ruth. This kept unbroken the genealogical line through which Christ was to be born.

It has been suggested that in this narrative Naomi might represent Eve, and Boaz, becoming her son-in-law, represent Christ, who, by associating himself with the human family, was able to redeem members thereof to be his bride, as represented by Ruth; and also to redeem the whole world, represented by the field. The illustration doesn’t fit in every particular, but the suggestion is food for thought. As we have seen, the important thing in the Book of Ruth is the fact that it supplies an important link in the lineage of David and of Christ.

QUESTIONS:

What is the main purpose served by the Book of Ruth?

Does the work of gleaning follow the harvest, or go hand in hand with it?

Is there any typical lesson that might be drawn from Boaz’s association with Naomi and Ruth?

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