Ruth
Choices we make in life
Ruth was not from the children of Israel but from one of the heathen nations, the Moabites. God had commanded His people to have nothing to do with this nation because of their sinfulness (Deut. 7:3, 23:3). Ruth grew up in Moab and she knew nothing about living for God, instead she …
Sacrifice is Necessary
Boaz went to the city gate and sat down to wait for his relative (v. 1). In those days, the gate was a meeting place and a place to do legal business. Naomi’s land had to be redeemed by some legal representative of the family. The nearest relation always got first choice. At first the man was eager …
Ruth’s Commitment to Naomi
Naomi told Ruth, “Orpah has gone back to her people and her gods, and you should go back with her†(v. 15). Ruth answers her by begging her not to make her go back and said she wanted to go where Naomi goes and to stay where Naomi stays (v. 16). She made it evident that this …
Ruth meets Boaz
Boaz is described as a kinsman of Elimelech’s (Naomi’s husband who died) al¬though the exact relationship is not told. Ruth and Naomi were very poor and so it was fortunate that they arrived at their new home in the beginning of harvest. There were not many ways of earning a living open …
Boaz marries Ruth
The shoe symbolized motion and wandering. To make a sale legal in those days, one person would take off a sandal and give it to the other (v.7). So after the man had agreed to let Boaz buy the property, he took off one of his sandals and handed it to Boaz (v. 8). The shoe a …
Ruth’s Redemption Assured
We don’t know a lot about the customs of the arrangements for marriage during this period. We do know that Ruth’s way of offering herself in marriage to Boaz followed the coaching of her mother-in-law (v. 1). Naomi explained to Ruth what she must do to show Boaz that she was …