Life Lessons from the Book of RUTH

Ruth 4:13

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.

Remember, Ruth had been married before, but had no children. Her ability to conceive and bear a child now was a miraculous work of God.

Ruth 4:14-15

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

Then the women of the town said to Naomi, “Praise the Lord, who has now provided a redeemer for your family! May this child be famous in Israel. May he restore your youth and care for you in your old age. For he is the son of your daughter-in-law who loves you and has been better to you than seven sons!” NLT

The women recognized God’s hand in the birth and gave Him praise for it.

The “kinsman: spoken of in verse 14 is Obed, Naomi’s grandson (as “him” in verse 18 indicates).

“Better to thee than seven sons” – this was the ultimate compliment in that culture. To have seven sons was, in their minds, to have a complete and perfect family. Ruth, in her love and devotion, was better than that! What a testimony!

If Ruth represents the Gentile Church, perhaps Naomi, in some ways, may represent Israel. Is not the true Church a greater and truer blessing to Israel than a multitude of unsaved Jews? Is not the true Church to be a restorer of life to Israel through the preaching of the Gospel? Will not the true Church be a nourisher of Israel in the end time?

Perhaps the picture goes deeper, and Obed, as an ancestor of Christ, may be another picture of Christ in His role as kinsman, restorer, and nourisher of Israel in the end time.

Isn’t it amazing how the fabric of God’s redemptive work through Christ is woven all through the scriptures (see Luke 24:25-27, 44-47)?

Ruth 4:16

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

There is a sense of adoption here. The child was still Ruth’s, but he became a replacement for the husband and sons Naomi had lost through death. What a happy “grandmother!” Naomi, who was emptied and had become “Mara” (“bitter”) had now become full and was “Naomi” (“pleasant”) again.

Ruth 4:17

And the women her neighbors 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. KJV

Naomi took the baby and cuddled him to her breast. And she cared for him as if he were her own. ¹⁷ The neighbor women said, “Now at last Naomi has a son again!” And they named him Obed. He became the father of Jesse and the grandfather of David. 4:16-17 NLT

Obed means “serving.” Naomi was neither the natural mother nor grandmother, but she was a legal mother under the laws and customs of that day.

Look at the joy and happiness that came to Naomi, Ruth and Boaz, because, by faith, they chose to serve God and to do and say and be what was right, even though at the time they made those choices, the future looked dark and impossible.

1. Naomi faced sorrow, loneliness, poverty, hunger – yet she returned to her homeland.
2. Ruth faced sorrow, loneliness, widowhood, poverty, hunger, a despised and hated position as an alien in an enemy country. She had no husband. No family. And no hope of having one.
3. Boaz was kind to Ruth with no expectation of any reward or any response from her. After she asked him, he expected that his cousin might want her.

Dear God, You are truly the God who gives beauty for ashes, a joyous blessing instead of mourning, festive praise instead of despair (Isaiah 61:3). How amazing You are, God! May I learn to cling to You even in the hard times, and wait for Your full purposes to be fulfilled. Amen.