I've been taking classes online through Leavell College (NOBTS) and this semester since I'm homeschooling I'm just taking one. It's still going to be a challenge- I have a 12-15 page paper to write, and I'll be studying Ruth and Esther in depth, keeping a very very detailed notebook through this semester!
Tonight, I started working on my notebook, and one assignment is to read the book of Ruth in five different translations. I gathered up as many Bibles as I could find in our house, and so far I've read it in the Holman Christian Standard, the English Standard Version, and the New King James... The NIV and NASB are looking at me, wondering when it's their turn.
Interestingly, after I took my base notes from the first translation I read, I noticed other details, asked new questions and gained new perspective with each different reading. I've read the book of Ruth countless times before- we named our second child after this Ruth, so I'm pretty familiar with the story and have always loved it! But tonight as I've been studying, I noticed something new- a comparison that can be drawn from Abraham to Ruth.
Like Abraham, Ruth left everything she knew, loved and trusted to walk a new path into a foreign (to her) land and lifestyle. Is this possibly why Boaz took such notice of her, and found her to be a virtuous woman? Surely her hard work in the field and her devotion to Naomi were factors, but Ruth has proved herself to be adventurous and trusting of Naomi's God. Ruth set out on a journey, following Naomi, just as Abraham set out on a journey following the Lord.
Additionally, Ruth was married to Mahlon for ten years while Elimelech, Naomi and their sons lived in Moab. For ten years, neither Ruth nor Orpah had a child- and Naomi and Elimelech were not blessed with a grandchild. While it isn't mentioned in the story, surely they wondered why, and surely this was a factor in Naomi's despair. She lost her husband, both of her sons, and had no grandchildren. Ruth's barren womb is reminiscent of Abraham and Sarah's lack of children. In Ruth 4, the Lord grants her conception after she and Boaz are married, and she has a son- Obed. Similarly, while Abraham and Sarah went years without having a child, when the Lord intervenes, they are blessed with Isaac.
Mandi Mapes wrote four songs about the four chapters of Ruth. "So Long, Familiar" (chapter one) expresses Naomi's grief over the loss of her husband, sons and future in such an eye-opening, sorrowful way, that I bawled my eyes out the first time I heard it. "Under the Wings of God" (chapter two) describes Ruth's feelings as she starts her new life in Bethlehem. Boaz speaks a blessing over her- that she will find her refuge under the wings of God. Ruth remembers these words, and speaks them back to him later in chapter 3- asking Boaz to cover her, to marry her. "I Already Know" (chapter three) comes from God's perspective. It's as if God is singing over Ruth, promising that He's already planned this whole thing out- He knows who is going to save her and that the whole thing will glorify Him, ultimately. Ruth will be redeemed, and not only will she and Naomi be covered by His garments, but through the marriage of Ruth and Boaz (her kinsman redeemer) redemption will be provided for anyone who will put their trust in Jesus! Their son Obed will father Jesse, who will father David, and generations later, right there in Bethlehem on a starry night- our Savior, Jesus, will be born! Finally "Story of Love" is a sweet song (chapter four) of Ruth's reflection on her life. She's thankful to God for Boaz, and for how her story "unfolded." The lyrics "just like the sun, lights up the moon, this love is a reflection of more than just me and you, and our lives were less than ordinary, while I couldn't see past tomorrow, God was making history" remind us that the story of Boaz and Ruth is definitely more than just a sweet Old Testament love story. Ruth certainly represents us, in our pitiful state of need, and Boaz- the kinsman redeemer- represents our sweet Redeemer!
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