Intro to Ruth

"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.'" 
Ruth 1:16

If, while reading the book of Judges, you are overcome with pity and irritation by the Israelites, the book of Ruth is one that brings a glimmer of hope. It is a book written “during the time of the judges” that retells the account of Naomi and Ruth, the main character for whom the book is named after (Ruth 1:1). And this book brings joy to our hearts as we read it because we see that there does remain a remnant of people who are faithful to trust on the Lord while seeing God’s sovereignty on display and His promise being fulfilled, not forgotten.

You will recall that the book of judges mentions in several places how the people lived to fulfill their own lustful and sinful desires. Imagine the scene, a whole nation who have been giving themselves to rampant sin being delivered by God from their enemies, after they cry out to him, only to quickly turn back to their sins to repeat the same vicious cycle. The story of Ruth occurs within this setting and timeline and context. And before ending with hope and joy, it starts off with pain and sorrow. In verses 3-5 we zoom through 10 years and feel the pain of Ruth as she loses her husband and both of her sons. She had lost everything that was dear to her. She had lost her source of security and protection. She had lost her providers and her hope. Naomi is left with nothing and decides that it is best for her daughter-in-laws to return to their homes but one of the daughters remains, Ruth. And the rest of the story of Ruth is about their return back to Bethlehem and the work that God orchestrates on their behalf and for His glory.

Throughout this story, look to the devotion and virtuousness of Ruth who is very much an example of a Proverbs 31 woman who is devoted to her family, speaking words of wisdom and love, and one who depends wholly on God. Praise be to God for this example of a godly woman and praise God for all the mothers who reflect this same character in their families. And praise be to God who is sovereign over all and can turn tragedy into triumph. Throughout the book of Ruth, we see how God orchestrates His will in the life of Ruth, guiding her and fulfilling his plan of redemption. In a very near and personal way to Naomi and Ruth, Boaz is the kinsman redeemer who brings hope to them. And in a divine sense, we conclude Ruth by reading a very brief genealogy that ends with David. When in the times of the judges, everyone did what was right in their own eyes because there was no king, we see that there will be a king raised up. And even better than that we know that, from the seed of David, Jesus is born, the redeemer of all mankind.

The book of Ruth starts with sorrow and loss, but in it we see God working, never gone away, turning tragedy into triumph. We can trust in the Lord and we can rejoice in the Lord for He has redeemed us.

Grace and Peace,
Alexander Galvez

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