Bible in a Year March 22 - RUTH

 

March 22- Ruth

The story of Ruth and Boaz gives us a rare glimpse into the everyday life of the Israelites during a time of peace. Redemption is the key concept of the book and also reflects Naomi’s transition from despair to happiness through the actions of her daughter-in-law and kinsman redeemer.

The key verse, and most famous verse, is 1:16, “But Ruth replied, “Don’t urge me to leave you or to turn back from you.  Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God.”

This book is rather unusual because it is primarily dialogue – 59 of the 84 verses are conversational.

This story is probably very familiar to you – I hope to share somethings that maybe you haven’t thought about before.

The book of Ruth begins with a famine, which may have been God’s punishment for Israel’s disobedience. The fact that Elimelech and his family went to Moab was interesting since that was an area that was seen with disgust by the Israelites. In addition to the history of not letting the Israelites pass through the country, they were active worshippers of Chemosh. Marrying Moab women was not forbidden, but it was definitely seen as unwise to marry a foreign wife. Jewish tradition says the death of Elimilech and his sons was God’s punishment for leaving Bethlehem.

I wonder what Ruth’s family life had been like before she married Mahlon. Widows in Moab were treated about the same as Jewish widows – they were pretty destitute unless taken in by their parents or in-laws. She obviously preferred to leave everything she knew to stay with Naomi. Was Naomi such a wonderful woman, or was the situation dire for Ruth if she stayed? Did Naomi initially see Ruth, a foreigner, as a bit of a burden? She would not only be destitute like Naomi, but she would be a target for prejudice in Bethlehem.

In addition, Ruth was apparently barren (or would have been considered so).The Bible never her a barren woman, like it does others, but for whatever reason she was unable to have children with her husband, Mahlon. Instead of finding another husband, she turns her devotion to her mother-in-law and sets out to ensure the two of them have enough food to eat. We see no evidence in her actions to change her situation – she seems satisfied with her widowhood. Her dedication to Naomi more than to herself resulted in one of the happiest endings in the Bible.

The book of Ruth is still read today during the Jewish festival of Shavout (celebrated in late May), which recognizes the giving of the Torah at Mount Sinai. The story is seen as a symbol of the relationship between God and Israel and the importance of remaining faithful to one’s community and religious beliefs. And Christians see the story as a foreshadowing of Christ’s love and redemption.

TOMORROW’S TEXT: 1 Samuel 1-3