A Covenant to Marry

August 18, 2019 Background Scripture: Ruth 1:6 – 18; 3; 4; Matthew 19:1 – 12 Lesson Passage: Ruth 3:1 – 6, 8 – 12, 16 – 18 Today’s lesson finds Naomi and Ruth safely in the land of Judah after the famine had passed. In the Law, God had given instructions for His people to provide for the poor among them by allowing them to glean in the grain fields. The few scattered stalks of grain remaining after the reapers were finished were considered God’s provision for the poor. Naomi and Ruth were in Judah, but because they were both widows, they were now counted among the poor. Ruth, true to her commitment to Naomi, had joined the gleaners to gather enough grain for Naomi and her to survive on. It was while Ruth was gleaning in the grain field that the providential hand of God began to move on behalf of Ruth and Naomi. (It seems to never fail that when we set our hearts to do right, and earnestly work at it, God steps in and does for us what we could never do for ourselves.) Although Ruth was not aware of it, God had directed Ruth to the field of a near-relative of Naomi. While Ruth was in the field gleaning, God had caused Ruth to catch the eye of Naomi’s near-relative. God is an incredible match maker. The near-relative’s name was Boaz. Boaz inquired of his servants concerning Ruth’s identity. He learned that she was the daughter-in-law of his relative, Naomi. Boaz spoke to Ruth and advised her to stay in his field and glean with the other women who were there. Ruth humbled herself and bowed before Boaz. She asked him why she was receiving this favor. Boaz informed her that her reputation had preceded her. The story of Ruth’s covenant with Naomi and all that she had done to assist Naomi had become known in the land of Judah. Boaz told Ruth that the favor she was receiving through him was the God of Israel’s way of repaying her for her unselfish devotion to Naomi. Naomi was one of God’s children by divine covenant. Ruth’s unselfish devotion and commitment to a child of God had come full circle and she was now reaping unexpected blessings for it. After learning of the encounter, Naomi shifted into “mother mode” and started instructing Ruth according to the custom of the Jews on how to win the heart of Boaz. God set the stage and now Naomi was quickly taking over as production manager of the drama that was about to unfold on that stage. Ruth followed the instructions of Naomi and she won the heart of Boaz—just as Naomi told her it would happen. Boaz complimented Ruth for her virtuous character and made a commitment to seek to have her as his wife. What a miraculous transition. Ruth went from being an impoverished gleaner in a field to being the wife of the field’s owner. Boaz succeeded in marrying Ruth and they became the great-grandparents of King David. King David is a progenitor of Jesus of Nazareth, who is the son of God. God selected some individuals with amazing traits to be in the family tree of His only begotten son. God ordered the steps of faithful people and, in this situation, it led to a covenant to marry. Robert C. Hudson July 20, 2019