May 6: Ruth and Boaz - a true love story

Ruth 2:1-4:22

John 4:43-54

Psalm 105:16-36

Proverbs 14:26-27

The story of Ruth and Boaz is a love story - not so much in the modern sense, but in the truest sense.  Ruth is a widow; she does not appear to be a woman of means; we know not whether she was attractive.  By today's standards, there appears to be nothing to recommend her, other than her loyalty to one who has nothing to offer in return.  

Boaz hears of this loyalty; as she gathers the leavings of the laborers harvesting Boaz's field, he welcomes her, he offers her his protection and provision, and he even instructs the laborers to be less diligent in their efforts, in order to leave more for Ruth.  And while, according to God's custom, Boaz is not first in line to "redeem" Ruth - to take her into his home as his wife - he is undeterred; when the first in line to redeem Ruth proves unwilling to risk his own estate by marrying Ruth, Boaz accepts the risk and takes her in.   They are married, and they have a son, whom they call Obed, who becomes the father of Jesse, in turn the father of David.

I said earlier it was a love story in the truest sense.  What I meant by that was this: it wasn't just about Boaz and Ruth; it was about the two of them and God.  In all they did and in all their interaction, Ruth and Boaz obeyed the customs and norms the Lord had established for Israel.  Ruth was a foreigner, yet when Naomi instructed her in what to do, she neither challenged nor questioned; she obeyed.  And God blessed them.

The world teaches us something very different about relationships and love.  In so many ways, it tries to get us to believe it is all about us, about what we want; about gratification and indulgence.  The other only exists to provide that; and God?  Well He doesn't factor in at all.  Are divorce rates, the rates of single parenthood, and the consequences of all that any surprise then?

The truth is, marriage is difficult.  It is difficult because selflessness is at the very least difficult and, in fact, darn near impossible.  Impossible, that is, on our own strength.  Thankfully, we have Boaz's and Ruth's example - we can choose to live NOT according to our own fallible ways, doomed to failure, and instead live according to His commands, and enjoy His strength and support, and His blessing.