Ruth and Boaz: The Wedding

I love weddings. I love the candlelit churches with flowers hanging from pews, the people that come to wish the bride and groom the best,and  a blushing bride with her eyes fixed on her beaming soon-to-be husband. From the ceremony to the reception, I love a wedding (hey, I'm a girl, I think I'm programed to enjoy a wedding!). Love and romance are beautiful things but these sights and 'feelings' don't last forever. As you read Ruth 4, you might think that there isn't an ounce of romance in their love story, but a relationship founded upon the principles theirs had will be one that will last.
If you are new to my blog, I've written a few posts about relationships and if you would like to read them go to 'lables' and click on relationships.
We see that Ruth and Boaz's relationship:
Put God First 
In the first part of the chapter we see that even though Boaz loves Ruth, he still obeys the law by seeking out the closer relative, and conducting the transaction just as the law commanded (Ruth 4:1-9, Lev. 25:29). Sometimes putting God first isn't easy, but when you start your relationship that way it makes it so  much sweeter. (I write more about this in: http://ayouthpastorswife.blogspot.com/2013/02/jesus-comes-first.html)

Stayed Pure
In chapter 3 we see that even though Ruth had made herself beautiful and lay in the same room as Boaz, they both remained pure and resisted temptation. Because Boaz was putting God and His law first, Boaz waited and made his marriage a public affair (Ruth 4:10-12). If you don't remain pure in your relationship, this can lead to regrets and heartache, which may not come until after the 'lovey dovey' stage is over.

Were Unselfish
Technically, Ruth's first son would have been claimed for her deceased husband, not Boaz (Ruth 4:10). Boaz could have refused to redeem the land, because it entailed having a child that wasn't able to be claimed as his, also he could have refused because Ruth was a foreigner, but he didn't. When we put our spouse, and others ahead of ourselves, we can have a relationship that acts out 1 Corinthians 13. 

Being blissfully in love is a wonderful thing, but a relationship built on a biblical foundation is absolutely beautiful. It will give you a relationship that will last!

Ruth 3: Virtuous Character

I am now back to my Ruth series, and just one more post should finish it up. Ruth 3 has always intrigued me, because Naomi's advice to Ruth seems so strange and bazaar to my 21st century brain. Why would Naomi tell Ruth to go to a man's dwelling and have her propose to him! Wow! Crazy stuff right? But through this chapter we can see 3 types of virtuous character that we all need to have, no matter in what time period we live.

1. Naomi's Selflessness

Naomi really appeared grouchy in chapter one, and who could blame her, right? Well, her wallowing in self pity had caused her to let one of her daughters-in-law go back to a pagan country and to pagan gods. By chapter 3 we see Naomi tell Ruth 'My daughter, should I not seek rest for you, that it may be well with you?' Basically she's telling Ruth that she wants to find a more permanent home (marriage) for her so that she wouldn't have to scavenge for food or rely on other people's generosity. What Naomi suggested isn't so bazaar as it might sound once you read Deuteronomy 25:5-10, although it still sounds pretty strange to me, and I am sure to Ruth as well, who wasn't originally from Isreal. This brings me to my next virtuous character:

2. Ruth's Courage

Instead of going 'What?' (Imagine this in a minion voice) Ruth says 'All that you say I will do.' That is a pretty courageous thing for her to do! It was something that was lawful, and it was advice given to her by someone she respected, but it still must have been a nerve racking thing to do. When there is something I know that is good to do, or I know is the will of God for me to do, do I do it? Or do I give a million reasons why I shouldn't, or can't because it's something that will make me feel uncomfortable? Joshua 1:7 says to 'be strong and courageous' to do the things God commands. 

3. Boaz's Honorableness 

Boaz sounds pretty excited about Ruth's request, when he could have groaned about her lack of money and family background (her being a foreigner). He is honest with her when he tells her that there is another kinsmen redeemer, but gives her a promise and a gift to go home with. In all this we see how Boaz's conduct is honorable and selfless. He could have easily taken advantage of her, or have shooed her away in disgust but he did neither. 


How we act in awkward, or bad situations shows how real Christ is in us. As it says in Matthew 5:16 'In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.'

For I know the plans...

Last week in Ruth, the first part of chapter 2 we saw how Ruth responded in the situation she was in. This week, we will see how God blessed her because of the way she responded.We left her in a situation of destitution, and loneliness, that she responded to with humility, diligence, and trust. When we get into situations that seem dark and uncertain, we can always remember Jeremiah 29:11:

"For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope"

 If you can, look up Ruth 2:5-23. You will see that God provided for her through a man named Boaz, who, because of her reputation (her willingness to help her mother-in-law, and her diligence to work in the fields), took care of her, provided for her food and safety. I do want you to see that Ruth still had to work for her food, but God provided more than the normal foreigners portion, and safety from anyone harming or bothering her.
Are you in a situation that seems dark, and that there is no way out? Struggling to make ends meet? Here are some verses that I hope help you during this time.

Philippians 4:19 And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.

Matthew 6:26
Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? 

Proverbs 3:5-6
Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding.
In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.

My prayer is that you will put your life and situation in God's hands, for he will take care and provide for you better than you ever dreamed. 

How do you respond?

Note: Before you get started reading this post, it would be great if you can read over Ruth 2, the first half (http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ruth+2&version=ESV found here). Last week, we looked at how Ruth committed herself to God, and Naomi, and now in Chapter 2 we are seeing how she responds to her situation and how God provides for her because of that commitment.

Last Wednesday in youth, the invitational song was a prayer of commitment saying 'I'll follow you into the world', and I thought about how that so many times I have been scared of committing to God, because I have been nervous about where in the 'world' He may need me to follow him to. You see, when we commit to Christ, He may put us in situations that we may not like. Take Ruth, because of her commitment, she was now in a foreign land, a widow trying to scrape a living for both her and her mother-in-law, and had no prospects of marriage. And yet we see that Ruth responded to this situation with:

Humility (Ruth 2:2)

Ruth asks Naomi if she can go to other people's field and reap the orphan's and foreigner's portion( Deut. 24:19-22). Even though the Israelites were commanded to do so, she states that she will check beforehand to make sure it's okay with them. This shows how humble Ruth is to accept what is the 'poor people's' portion of the harvest.
We also see that Ruth responded with:

Trust

Ruth trusted God to provide for her. This is something we can all relate to, since there comes a time when we have to rely on God to take care of our needs, whether physical or spiritual. God saw Ruth through, and he will see you through as well. Sometimes I see a situation and think there is no way out, or no way I can make it through, but God always provides, and I can trust that he will take care of me(Jeremiah 29:11) .

Diligence(Ruth 2:7)

Ruth didn't mope or complain, but went about her mission with all her strength. How would the story of Ruth worked out differently, if she had been lazy or moped? Once God has put you in a situation to do something he has called you to do, how do you work at it? Do you  complain or do it halfheartedly?

Because of how Ruth responded to her situation in the first half of Ruth 2, we see how God provided for her in the second half. If we respond to bad, or unpleasant situation (really any situation!) then God has a chance to use us, and show us how he can provide.

Committing to trust God

I have been struggling with what to write about this week (as stated before, if you ever have a topic you would like me to talk on, please comment. I would love to at least try to tackle it), and I have looked at several topics, verses and chapters, but nothing gave me peace about writing it. Recently in our Bible study at night we went through the book of Ruth, one of my favorites since it's a book about a women! The more I've thought about doing a series on it, the better I feel, so I'm going to try to do a chapter by chapter study of it.

So, go grab your Bible, or quickly look it up on your phone, and turn to Ruth Chapter 1, and look at the first 18 verses. Although heavily quoted verses 15-18 are the main ones I want to look at today.

¹⁵ And she said, “See, your sister-in-law has gone back to her people and to her gods; return after your sister-in-law.” ¹⁶ But Ruth said, “Do not urge me to leave you or to return from following you. For where you go I will go, and where you lodge I will lodge. Your people shall be my people, and your God my God. ¹⁷ Where you die I will die, and there will I be buried. May the Lord do so to me and more also if anything but death parts me from you.” ¹⁸ And when Naomi saw that she was determined to go with her, she said no more.

There are two things I want us to look at:

Naomi's lack of trust in God

Yes, you saw right. From these verses I think we can see Naomi's lack of trust as she has seen her husband, then two sons die, and now a separation from a place she's lived in for many years to a place that although her home, probably won't be easy for her since she is a widow.  She believed God was against her (Ruth 1:13) and felt it was better that her daughters-in-law to go back to their parents and back to false gods than to go with her and trust God with their futures.
Have things happened to you that you think God doesn't care about you any more? Have you prayed and prayed to God and it seems like He hasn't answered?
Psalm 9:10 And those who know your name put their trust in you, for you, O Lord, have not forsaken those who seek you. 
Sometimes things happen to us that seem like God has turned against us, but the facts are that if we put our trust in the Lord, He will not forsake us. Naomi's family had a history of not trusting to begin with, by moving out of their home country and into a foreign land, but if she had trusted in the Lord to see her through I think we would have seen a much less bitter Naomi! Even though she has a lack of trust, God still provides for her, by sending Ruth with her.

Ruth's commitment

Ruth must have seen a difference between her family and Naomi's family for her to decide to put her trust in the Creator God. Even though Naomi didn't trust her future to God, Ruth did. She made a commitment to stay with Naomi her entire life, even though that meant leaving home, being a foreigner and having to scrape by for a living. She made a vow, a promise to stay with Naomi forever, and, she made true that vow! I see such commitment and trust in Ruth! When we make vows and promises, are we as serious as Ruth to keep them? How about the vow to our marriage? How about the promises we make to others? Most especially, how about our commitment to Christ? Are we willing to be so committed to Christ that we take up our cross daily (submit and die to our selfish desires) to follow him?

Will we be a Ruth or a Naomi? Will you trust God with your future?