We’re taking just a few days to meditate on the uplifting story of Ruth through the lens of Naomi, Boaz, and, today, Ruth herself. Again, if you haven’t read the story recently, it’s worth the 10 minutes.

When we think of Ruth, the first thing that usually comes to mind is her declaration of loyalty, so powerful it used to be standard fare at wedding ceremonies:

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. 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.” (Ruth 1.16, 17, ESV)

But Ruth had qualities other than loyalty. What about her work ethic? Boaz’ servant’s report was simple:

She has continued from early morning until now, except for a short rest. (Ruth 2.7, ESV)

I wrote Thursday about Naomi coaching Ruth in chapter 3. What’s important here is that Ruth did what Naomi told her! No mean feat. Not everyone would do that. I was teaching an adult Sunday School class when a modern, American young woman was appalled that Ruth allowed herself to “be led around by a ring in her nose by her mother-in-law.” There’s a perspective! But Ruth was smart enough to know that Naomi’s plan was the only feasible way two widows could get on in that day – desirable by our standards or not! And she was submissive enough to follow that plan.

So what was the result of all these people working together? Naomi, Boaz, Ruth. Naomi the widow, Boaz, a wealthy but unmarried farmer, and Ruth, a widow and foreigner who was loyal, hard-working, and submissive.

So Boaz took Ruth, and she became his wife. And he went in to her, and the LORD gave her conception, and she bore a son. Then the women said to Naomi, “Blessed be the LORD, who has not left you this day without a redeemer, and may his name be renowned in Israel! He shall be to you a restorer of life and a nourisher of your old age, for your daughter-in-law who loves you, who is more to you than seven sons, has given birth to him.” Then Naomi took the child and laid him on her lap and became his nurse. And the women of the neighborhood gave him a name, saying, “A son has been born to Naomi.” They named him Obed. He was the father of Jesse, the father of David. (Ruth 4.13 – 17, ESV)

Boaz gets a wife and a son. Naomi gets a grandson. And Ruth? Ruth is one of five women Matthew names in the line of Jesus. Not bad for a gal from Moab!

…Boaz the father of Obed by Ruth, and Obed the father of Jesse, and Jesse the father of David the king… (Matthew 1.5, ESV)