Ruth 1:2 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.
Scofield says that this happened in the first half of Judges. There is a high concentration of stories regarding Judah and Benjamin me thinks. You never here of Issachar or Zebulan or Asher. What happened to those?
Ruth 1:4 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.
It’s funny how this is said without rebuke, especially because we know of the great story that follows and how honorable the women were. We don’t want to say anything ill of it all. But it was wrong. This was forbidden of God. But you see it over and over.
Ruth 1:5 And Mahlon and Chilion died also both of them; and the woman was left of her two sons and her husband.
Odd that both brother died within 10 years of marriage at about the same time. But you wonder. It is appointed unto man once to die. And that Jesus was brought through this lineage was no coincidence.
Ruth 1:7 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.
Isn’t it odd how we always go back. I heard somewhere that a grand majority of people will die within 30 minutes of where they were born.
Why was everyone dying? Her husband too. Maybe there was war. Maybe they were of the 40,000 that died against Benjamin. Or they were Benjamites. Or Judites? Jews? Maybe they died against the children of Israel in Judges 19-21
Ruth 1:12 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;
So much back then was based on child-bearing. Saved through child-bearing?
Just destitution without children. Why do we have children?
Ruth 1:16-17 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.
Such devotion. This is how we should be devoted to the Lord.
Ruth is such a wonderful refreshing story in the midst of the book of Judges. So much wickedness going on in that book, and then you read Ruth an oasis of love and devotion. Just beautiful.
Ruth 1:20 And she said unto them, Call me not Naomi, call me Mara: for the Almighty hath dealt very bitterly with me.
Reference to Moses and the COI in the wilderness at Marah or Meribah.
Ruth 2:4 And, behold, Boaz came from Bethlehem, and said unto the reapers, The LORD be with you. And they answered him, The LORD bless thee.
AND BEHOLD BOAZ CAME. Behold the day that our redeemer came into our life. Behold the day that the lover of my soul appeared. This is just good stuff.
Even his workers bless him. Usually they curse their employer as he passes by, Instead, “The LORD bless thee.” But look at Boaz! “The LORD be with you.” When has your boss ever told you that in the morning. Or when have you told those under you that? We could at least pray that. Good stuff.
Ruth 2:9 Let thine eyes be on the field that they do reap, and go thou after them: have I not charged the young men that they shall not touch thee? and when thou art athirst, go unto the vessels, and drink of that which the young men have drawn.
Talk about finding grace. Boaz was full of grace.
Ruth 2:11 And Boaz answered and said unto her, It hath fully been shewed me, all that thou hast done unto thy mother in law since the death of thine husband: and how thou hast left thy father and thy mother, and the land of thy nativity, and art come unto a people which thou knewest not heretofore.
All this is what moved Boaz. Reminds of when Jesus said that he hadn’t found such faith in Israel. God is looking for this. This is what moves God. This is not about good works. It’s about a good heart. Good ground.
Ruth 2:12 The LORD recompense thy work, and a full reward be given thee of the LORD God of Israel, under whose wings thou art come to trust.
O how we’ve come to trust in him. Everybody through their own course, yet everybody under the wings.
Ruth 2:16 And let fall also some of the handfuls of purpose for her, and leave them, that she may glean them, and rebuke her not.
Some people say handfuls on purpose. But that’s not what it says. Of course it’s on purpose. But what are handfuls of purpose?
Ruth 2:19 And her mother in law said unto her, Where hast thou gleaned to day? and where wroughtest thou? blessed be he that did take knowledge of thee. And she shewed her mother in law with whom she had wrought, and said, The man’s name with whom I wrought to day is Boaz.
I can see the bug-eyed Naomi, excited and happy, “Where has thou gleaned to day?” Not that anybody is trying to show off, but do others say this of us? Do others see us and think us blessed that God has taken knowledge of us.
Ruth 3:10 And he said, Blessed be thou of the LORD, my daughter: for thou hast shewed more kindness in the latter end than at the beginning, inasmuch as thou followedst not young men, whether poor or rich.
I thought Mary was the blessed of the Lord. Yeah, young men should not be followed. They know nothing. I can attest to that I was once a young man.
Ruth 3:12 And now it is true that I am thy near kinsman: howbeit there is a kinsman nearer than I.
The question of the ages. Who was this kinsman that was nearer? It’s just so odd.
Ruth 4:1 Then went Boaz up to the gate, and sat him down there: and, behold, the kinsman of whom Boaz spake came by; unto whom he said, Ho, such a one! turn aside, sit down here. And he turned aside, and sat down.
His name was Suchawun.
Ruth 4:4 And I thought to advertise thee, saying, Buy it before the inhabitants, and before the elders of my people. If thou wilt redeem it, redeem it: but if thou wilt not redeem it, then tell me, that I may know: for there is none to redeem it beside thee; and I am after thee. And he said, I will redeem it.
Ruth 4:6 And the kinsman said, I cannot redeem it for myself, lest I mar mine own inheritance: redeem thou my right to thyself; for I cannot redeem it.
I will redeem it. I cannot redeem it. When Boaz talked land, he was willing to buy it, but when he mentioned Ruth, the Moabitess, in verse five, suddenly he could not buy it. Lest I mar mine own inheritance was the excuse he gave. This beyond my understanding.
So I checked the commentaries. It seems to be the consensus that the anonymous kinsmen was afraid of the prospects of more children from Ruth and the fact that they’d be Mahlon’s heirs and not his. Sounds good, but I did find one that agreed with what I personally thought: That her Moabite ancestry was the problem. Like I said earlier, that was wrong. In fact, the commentary went on to say, which I thought was clever: Their sudden deaths had something to do with their disobedience to God. (Which I did indicate earlier was odd)
So why is it okay for Boaz and why is Boaz this great guy? Well, he’s now bound by the law to redeem the kinswoman. Interesting.
Ruth 4:7 Now this was the manner in former time in Israel concerning redeeming and concerning changing, for to confirm all things; a man plucked off his shoe, and gave it to his neighbour: and this was a testimony in Israel.
Ha ha… I see chonklas flying!