RUTH 2 - PICTURES OF THE REDEEMER’S LOVE
Ruth 2
The account of Ruth is about so much more than just what happened to Ruth & her family. It also contains some beautiful and prophetic pictures of what has happened to us as Christians, and Chapter 2 is full of such illustrations. These illustrations also bring to mind so many other verses of Scripture that explain the theology of salvation to us. In Ruth and Naomi, we see ourselves, and in Boaz we have a picture of the overwhelming love of God. The living and active nature of God’s Word is on brilliant display in this Chapter.
We see in v. 2 that Ruth has faith that she will find favor with Boaz, & that he will let her glean from his field. He not only lets her do that, but goes on to provide her with a meal as well. As Eph. 3:20 says, and as all who have walked with God for any period of time should know, God is able to do exceedingly abundantly beyond all that we would ask or think. We see Ruth’s humility in v. 10 as she bows before Boaz, and says “Why have I found favor in your eyes, that you should take notice of me, since I am a foreigner.” This is reminiscent of Ps. 8:4 where David says “what is man that you are mindful of him.” Just as Ruth was humbled that Boaz would take notice of her, we should all be humbled that God has anything to do with us, let alone saves us. In v. 13, Ruth acknowledges the Godly character of Boaz, in that he granted favor to her, comforted her, & was kind to her, even though she was not one of His servants.
In like manner, Rom. 5:8 tells us that God shows His love to us in that even while we were yet sinners, He sent Jesus to die for our sins.
Naomi declares in v. 20 that Boaz is a close relative of Ruth and her, and also that he is their redeemer. Although Jesus is God, He also took the title of Son of Man, and referred to His Disciples as His brothers, and as His brothers, we are also children of God. Just as there was nothing that Ruth, who was a Moabite, could do to make herself an Israelite, there is nothing that we who are sinners can do to make ourselves a child of God. No amount of love, service, devotion, or obedience on our part can turn us into a child of God. Rather, it is something that God, in His love, has done to us.
In fact, Eph. 1:5 says that He has adopted us, and Eph. 1:7 says that He has redeemed us. Titus 3:4-5 explains that it was not our good works that saved us, but rather the goodness & mercy of God in Christ.
In v. 20, Naomi also recognized the kindness of Boaz, in that he had not forsaken them. It was this kindness that attracted both her and Ruth to Boaz. Eph. 2:7 says that God, in Christ, has shown His kindness to us, and Rom. 2:4 says that it is His kindness that leads us to the repentance that is necessary to be in a living relationship with Him.
Ruth and Naomi came into the land of Israel with nothing. They had no land, no means of support, and no husbands. What they found there was grace through the hand of Boaz – grace to welcome them, grace to recognize them, grace to provide for them, and grace to redeem them and make them part of the people of Israel.
We all come to God the same way – lost in our sin, empty handed, and with nothing worthy as sinners that we can offer Him. Yet, He welcomes us, seeks after us, provides for us, redeems us, and makes us part of His family.
Ruth also declared in v. 20 that God does not forsake the living or the dead. Because we are in Christ, that is also true of us. Our lives are not pointless, and death is not final for us. Jesus said in Matt. 28:20 that He would never leave us, and Heb. 13:5 assures us that He will never leave us or forsake us. Beyond that, Rom. 8:39 declares that nothing can separate us from the love of God that ours in Christ Jesus our Lord.