A Chapter out of God's Love Story

Ruth 1:1-18;

1 Now it came to pass in the days when the judges ruled, that there was a famine in the land. And a certain man of Bethlehemjudah went to sojourn in the country of Moab, he, and his wife, and his two sons.

 

2 And the name of the man was Elimelech, and the name of his wife Naomi, and the name of his two sons Mahlon and Chilion, Ephrathites of Bethlehemjudah. And they came into the country of Moab, and continued there

3 And Elimelech Naomi's husband died; and she was left, and her two sons.

 

4 And they took them wives of the women of Moab; the name of the one was Orpah, and the name of the other Ruth: and they dwelled there about ten years.

 

5 And Mahlon and Chilion died also both of them; and the woman was left of her two sons and her husband.

 

6 ¶ Then she arose with her daughters in law, that she might return from the country of Moab: for she had heard in the country of Moab how that the LORD had visited his people in giving them bread.

 

7 Wherefore she went forth out of the place where she was, and her two daughters in law with her; and they went on the way to return unto the land of Judah.

 

8 And Naomi said unto her two daughters in law, Go, return each to her mother's house: the LORD deal kindly with you, as ye have dealt with the dead, and with me.

9 The LORD grant you that ye may find rest, each of you in the house of her husband. Then she kissed them; and they lifted up their voice, and wept.

 

10 And they said unto her, Surely we will return with thee unto thy people.

 

11 And Naomi said, Turn again, my daughters: why will ye go with me? are there yet any more sons in my womb, that they may be your husbands?

 

12 Turn again, my daughters, go your way; for I am too old to have an husband. If I should say, I have hope, if I should have an husband also to night, and should also bear sons;

 
13 Would ye tarry for them till they were grown? would ye stay for them from having husbands? nay, my daughters; for it grieveth me much for your sakes that the hand of the LORD is gone out against me.

14 And they lifted up their voice, and wept again: and Orpah kissed her mother in law; but Ruth clave unto her.

 

15 And she said, Behold, thy sister in law is gone back unto her people, and unto her gods: return thou after thy sister in law.

 

16 And Ruth said, 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:

 
17 Where thou diest, will I die, and there will I be buried: the LORD do so to me, and more also, if ought but death part thee and me.

 

18 When she saw that she was stedfastly minded to go with her, then she left speaking unto her.

Ruth 4: 13-17

13 So Boaz took Ruth, and she was his wife: and when he went in unto her, the LORD gave her conception, and she bare a son.

 

14 And the women said unto Naomi, Blessed be the LORD, which hath not left thee this day without a kinsman, that his name may be famous in Israel.

15 And he shall be unto thee a restorer of thy life, and a nourisher of thine old age: for thy daughter in law, which loveth thee, which is better to thee than seven sons, hath born him

 

16 And Naomi took the child, and laid it in her bosom, and became nurse unto it.

 

17 And the women her neighbours gave it a name, saying, There is a son born to Naomi; and they called his name Obed: he is the father of Jesse, the father of David.

The  book of Ruth in the Bible is a beautiful love story, steeped in Jewish law and tradition. It is thought by some to be one of the best short stories of all time. That is saying a lot.

When Benjamin Franklin was the ambassador to France, he occasionally attended the Infidels Club--a group that spent most of its time searching for and reading literature masterpieces. On one occasion Franklin read the book of Ruth to the club but changed the names in it so it would not be recognized as a book of the Bible. When he finished, the listeners were unanimous in their praise. They said it was one of the most beautiful short stories that they had ever heard, and demanded that he tell them where he had run across such a remarkable work of art. He loved telling them that it came from the Bible!  (source unknown)

However if you read it and that is all you see you have completely missed its reason for being included in Scripture. The Old Testament is a collection of 39 books that are Christocentric. That means that all things in the Old Testament are centered around Christ. It is easy to see in the story the symbolism of the kinsman redeemer (referring to Christ as our redeemer.) But over and above that is the story of Ruth is a picture of God's love for mankind. 1 John 4:8 says...God is love. John 3:16 says For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. This story is important because if you noticed in the text the part of Chapter 4 that Ruth is the Great Grandmother of King David. She had a part in the giving of  Christ to man. See it is a part of God's love story.

We often get wrapped up in the micro and forget there is a macro. Everything God does is a part of His demonstration of His love to us. Sometimes we don't see it because it is part of the big picture. You're heard the saying "can't see the forest for the trees?" That us. And God doesn't always reveal the big plan to us. Did Ruth know she was in the lineage of the Messiah? Not likely.

When she was going through the toughest of times she no doubt wondered if there was purpose to it all. She didn't have it easy. She was born a peasant no doubt (upper class would never have married foreign immigrants.) Widowed (in that culture that was even worse than in our society.) Left her homeland (Deut. 23:3) Gleaning wheat fields, which she did, is humbling and not easy labor. She had it tough. Did she see God's hand it it all. I doubt it. Do we? Not always or maybe not even usually. Yet it was all a part of God's love story.

Was it coincidence:

• that Israel was going through a famine?
• that Ambelich went to Moab out of obvious disobedience and distruct in God's ability to provide?
• that Boaz ended up marrying Ruth?

NO!

This story is a chapter out of God's love story for His creation. His love story to you. His love story to me.

Romans 5:5-8

5 And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.


6 ¶ For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.
7 For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die.

8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

Romans 8:38,39

38 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,


39 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

You are a part of God's love story. He sent His Son to die for you. What is your response to that love? Ruth married Boaz. God is looking for a relationship with you.