The book of Ruth is a story of how a woman became a bride. The book provides inspirational instruction about the steps leading to our ultimate destiny… to be the Bride of Christ at His return.

The opening scenes of the book take place in Moab. Elimelech, a man of Bethlehem, and his wife Naomi, have gone to live in Moab to escape a famine in Judah. In Moab Elimelech’s two sons married native Moabite women.

Elimelech dies, and in quick succession his 2 sons also die before any children are born. The 3 women [Naomi, Ruth, and Orpah are now widows. Naomi hears the drought has ended in Israel and plans to go back home. Naomi encourages the young women to stay in Moab. Orpah kisses her mother goodbye, but Ruth insists on remaining with Naomi.

They arrive in Bethlehem poor and destitute. So, Ruth goes out to glean in the field.

She ends up gleaning in the fields owned by Boaz. He notices her… offers her protection and encouragement while she continues to work in his fields.

Naomi, probably noticing that Boaz was showing Ruth favor advises Ruth to indicate her desire to marry Boaz. However, according to Levitical law, another kinsman has prior claim which Boaz must first address. Boaz redeems Ruth from this other kinsman and marries her.

The book closes with Naomi, who had earlier lamented her loss and barrenness, rejoicing in her children through Boaz and Ruth.

Ruth 1:22; Ruth 2:23 the main events of the book take place during the spring harvest in Israel.

Note: Israel’s Spring Harvest lasted 7 weeks. The cutting of the wave sheaf on the day after the Sabbath [last Sunday March 31st] signaled the beginning of the barley harvest. The 1st harvest of barley was followed by the 2nd harvest which was wheat (which ripened later). These 7 weeks of harvest end with Pentecost.

Who’s Who? In the Analogy

Ruth = the one redeemed  to become a bride  Ruth is you

Boaz = the redeemer  Who takes a bride  Boaz is Jesus Christ

The main themes of the book are redemption, marriage, and harvest. The time setting of the book is the 7 week period between the Feast of Unleavened Bread and the Feast of Weeks… or Pentecost. Therefore its reasonable to assume the instruction and symbolism of this book are appropriate for a day like today.

What can we learn?

Ruth’s Total Commitment

Ruth 1:15-18 Orpah returns to the idolatry of Moab, whereas Ruth wants to remain connected to the God of Israel… through her connection to Naomi.

In these memorable words Ruth pledges her willingness to abandon everything: her homeland, her people, her religion… her whole identity… to follow Naomi.

Colossians 3:5-11 This is total renunciation of self… the total commitment to a new identity. Isn’t this exactly what our baptism signifies? Isn’t this the solemn pledge we made… to become a new creation in Christ.

Our commitment must be as thorough as Ruth’s. We must attach our self to the Israel of God and not let go.

Ruth Was A Gleaner

When she agreed to return with Naomi to Israel Ruth was agreeing to help support an aging woman. Ruth was young and strong so she went to work in the fields gathering up the grain that the harvesters had dropped or left behind so she and Naomi could eke out an existence. It would have been exhausting, hot, and humbling work.

Biblical law established this practice as a way even the most down and out people in Israel could earn a living. Leviticus 23:22 [Lev. 19:9-10, Deut. 24:19-21]. Principle: help the poor to help themselves.

Ruth 2:2-3 Ruth’s labor as a gleaner was in the fields of Boaz… the man who would later become her husband. Here is another interesting symbol through which we can gain insight.

What does a gleaner do? A gleaner does not sow the seed, they don’t water it or nurture the crop as it grows. The farmer [husbandman] who owns the field sows and nurtures. The gleaner is, by definition one who Is allowed to share in… and benefit from the difficult, complex, enterprising work of another.

God’s purpose is to bring in a harvest. He owns the field, He provides the seed, and He sustains all things. Its God’s plan… and its God’s power that sees it through [His holy Spirit].

God gives you and me the opportunity to work in His field… to bring in His harvest. We are part of what is being harvested, and we are actively involved in the harvest of others.

Like we see in the biblical principle of gleaning: He does not simply fill up a bushel basket and hand it to us. He expects us to be active. Following the lead of His spirit: putting out sin, actively pursuing the mind of Christ. Obedient, self controlled, virtuous, wise & fair in judgment, joyful, seeking peace and reconciliation, patient, kind, good, faithful… filled with knowledge of the truth and doing out part in sharing it with others.

Being a gleaner requires effort. But our opportunity to participate, and our profit (godly character) are due to God who owns and operates the field.

Boaz Provided For Ruth

A gleaner’s work wasn’t easy or pleasant. Ruth would be exposed to ridicule and possible physical abuse at the hands of the harvesters, and her long hours of work might have been rewarded with only a little bit of grain.

Ruth 2:8-9 Boaz took notice of Ruth and provided protection for her. Once again we see that Ruth had to do her part: stay in my field, stick with the young women of my household, stay away from the men.

Ruth 2:14-17 Boaz fed her… but she still had to go to work. Boaz instructed His reapers to deliberately drop grain in her path so she would be encouraged and successful in her efforts.

Verse 19-23 Naomi could see that Ruth had collected a lot of grain for a gleaner, so she asked “where did you glean”. This is when Naomi finds out it is Boaz [a relative, probably a cousin of some sort]. She starts connecting the dots… that He is actively helping out because they are both widows.

The work and effort of obeying pursuing righteousness can wear us down. We might get discouraged, frustrated in our efforts, not seeing enough results for all the hard work… we want to see more spiritual growth, we want to be free of all doubts, we want to released from the constant pulls of the flesh that cause us to slip backwards.

Galatians 6:9 the scripture tells us to not give up and remind ourselves of the end purpose for our work.

Back to our story… Boaz didn’t just hand her extra grain. He arranged for it to be dropped on the ground and she had to pick it up. It took a lot of small little stalks of barley or wheat to add up to a bushel of grain. Ruth had to keep her head down and stick to her work to see the blessings.

You may wish for God to help you in a dramatic way… and He might... but don’t let that keep you from paying attention to the many little ways you are helped, guided, and protected.

Just as Ruth was under the constant protection and loving eye of Boaz, you are safe in the keeping of your heavenly Father, and His Son, Jesus Christ.

Isaiah 41:10 God is ready to strengthen you in your weakness

Isaiah 43:1-3 God is with you in all your troubles

Hebrews 12:1-2

Ruth Boldly Sought To Marry Boaz

Acting on Naomi’s counsel, Ruth boldly expressed her desire to marry Boaz. It was an audacious move. Boaz was a wealthy, respected landowner… and she was a penniless gleaner in his fields, an unclean foreigner, from the idolatrous nation of Moab. Ruth 2:10-13

Yet Boaz readily took Ruth as his wife. He saw a hardworking girl, faithful and loyal to Naomi, eager to attach herself to Israel, and the God of Israel… and he loved her.

Sometimes the Church of God takes heat… because we take literally the goal of spiritual birth into the actual God family… to participate in the oneness of God. But it’s the true promise and we hold on to it firmly.

Boaz loved Ruth while she was still a gleaner in his fields. That love encouraged her to seek a more permanent relationship with him.

Jesus Christ has demonstrated His love for you even though you are not on His level. That love should encourage you to seek a more permanent relationship with Him.

The Scriptures reveal that the Church is the future bride of Christ at His coming

The marriage of God’s Son and the Church will be a marriage between beings that are on the same plane [Just as a man or woman does not marry a cow…]

1 John 3:1-2; Philippians 3:20-21

Boaz Redeemed Ruth

Although Boaz loved Ruth and she loved him, Boaz was not free to take her as his wife until he redeemed her from a prior claim.

Ruth 2:20b by biblical law the redeemer [ogle] had the right to buy back family land sold during times of hardship. He could also pay the redemption price for family members sold into slavery or bond service. If he were single or widowed he could revive the family lineage when someone died without producing an heir [he would marry the widow and father children who would inherit the property of the one who had died [Deuteronomy 25:5-10]. Levirate marriage has to be understood in context of inheritance laws in Israel.

Boaz would become Ruth’s goel redeemer. He would redeem her from poverty, and widowhood. He had shown her great favor… but Ruth had to declare herself willing to marry him. Ruth 3:7-13

Note: scripture makes no mention of Boaz ever having been married. And he is presented as if there was some reason why he would not seem desirable for marriage. He seems pleased that Ruth would consider marriage.

Christ acts as your kinsman redeemer; He becomes our human brother, buys us back from our bondage to evil, redeems our life from death and returns to us the hope of our eternal inheritance which we lost because of our sin.

Isaiah 53:2-3 speaking here Jesus… we do not love him because he is beautiful or majestic… we love him because He first loved us… because He is good… and because He is able to redeem us.

Romans 5:8-10 That redemption began with Christ’s death on Passover.

Ephesians 5:25-27 The preparation of the Bride [spotless and pure] has been pictured by the Feast of Unleavened Bread

Now enter the 7 week countdown to Pentecost. A time of harvesting barley and wheat.

The barley is harvested first: that is Christ [the wave sheaf] who is already resurrected

Now the wheat is being harvested: that is all those who are sealed with the Holy Spirit. An amazing event we will celebrate at the Feast of Pentecost.

The actual resurrection of those in the second part of harvest does not come until the return of Christ which is the Feast of Trumpets. Hebrews 11:39-40 that way we are all together.

Revelation 19:6-9

Who is Naomi?

Naomi… she represents the role of the Church.

• It was through Naomi that Ruth was brought in contact with the true God.
• It was through Naomi that Ruth attached herself to the Israel of God.
• It was through Naomi that Ruth was encouraged to seek marriage to Boaz

This is part of the great work of the Church of God. 2 Corinthians 11:2… Preparing the Bride