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If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. 2 Corinthians 5:17 This is one of the hardest truths for us to grasp in all of the Bible. If the old has really gone, then why do we still face the same old temptations? Why do we still struggle with the same temperament? The Bible tells us that we are a new person, but we still live in the same flesh,...

The women of the neighbourhood 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 4:17 We have seen that the baby born in Bethlehem is described as a redeemer. Here we are told that they named him Obed, and Obed means servant. So the baby born in Bethlehem is a redeemer and a servant. And from him comes a future king:...

The righteous flourish like the palm tree… They are planted in the house of the LORD; they flourish in the courts of our God. They still bear fruit in old age. Psalm 42:12-14 Don’t miss the wise counsel that can be gleaned from the story of Naomi, Ruth, and Boaz.

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. Ruth 4:15 How will this child be a restorer of life and a nourisher of Naomi's old age? The redeemer brings love. “Your daughter-in-law who loves you, who is more to you than seven sons, has given birth to him” (4:15). The women...

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!” Ruth 4:14 There was a close relative who was not willing to redeem. He could have helped Naomi, but he didn’t. Maybe you have had something like this happen. Friends or family could have helped you, but they didn’t, and you were disappointed. Help doesn’t always...

May the LORD make the woman… like Rachel and Leah, who together built up the house of Israel. May you act worthily in Ephrathah... and may your house be like the house of Perez, whom Tamar bore to Judah, because of the offspring that the LORD will give you. Ruth 4:11-12 Ruth and Boaz are married in the presence of many witnesses, and what follows can be summed up in one word: blessing. The elders...

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you. 1 Peter 1:3-4 Why is this story in the Bible? It shines a light on our Lord Jesus Christ and especially on what it mea...

It is true that I am a redeemer. Yet there is a redeemer nearer than I... If he will redeem you, good; let him do it. But if he is not willing to redeem you, then, as the LORD lives, I will redeem you. Ruth 3:12-13 The job description for a redeemer would be: To bring hope by restoring an inheritance and raising a family. What qualifications would a redeemer need? Must be a family member. A redeem...

“Spread your wings over your servant, for you are a redeemer.” Ruth 3:9 Ruth asked Boaz to commit himself to her in marriage because he was a redeemer. Redeemer is the single most important word in this story, and it is one of the richest and most beautiful descriptions of our Lord Jesus Christ. What is a redeemer? God revealed His truth progressively over time and at this point, God’s people did...

May you be blessed by the LORD, my daughter. You have made this last kindness greater than the first in that you have not gone after young men, whether poor or rich. Ruth 3:10 Ruth’s initiative in coming to Boaz gives us a picture of how we should come to Jesus. Ruth took a risky initiative of faith. She went to Boaz and asked. And because she asked, she received. Faith seeks Jesus and is blessed....

“Now, my daughter, do not fear. I will do for you all that you ask.” Ruth 3:11 We saw earlier what we can learn from Naomi’s example of love. There is more for us to learn about love from the example of Boaz. Love waits. “She lay at his feet until the morning” (3:14). Boaz faced an extraordinary test of his character and integrity. If this were the movies, Ruth and Boaz would have become one that...

"She went down to the threshing floor and did just as her mother-in law had commanded her." Ruth 3:2, 3:7, 3:9, 2:12, 3:11 After the winnowing was done, one of the farm workers would spend the night on the threshing floor to guard the grain. Naomi knew that Boaz would be guarding the grain that night (3:2). And when Ruth went to the threshing floor, she found Boaz sleeping at the end of his heap o...

“Wash therefore and anoint yourself, and put on your cloak and go down to the threshing floor… When he lies down… go and uncover his feet and lie down, and he will tell you what to do.” Ruth 3:2-4 Ruth 3:2-4 Naomi tells her daughter-in-law to make herself as attractive as possible, to sneak up on a man in the middle of the night, and to lie down at his feet. It’s not surprising that Naomi has rece...

My daughter, should I not seek rest for you, that it may be well with you? Ruth 3:1 Naomi was an older woman. Ruth had made an extraordinary commitment to care for her, but what would happen when Naomi was gone? Naomi gives us a marvellous example of love. Love appreciates what others have done and seeks to do good for them. “Should I not seek rest for you that it may be well with you?” (3:1). The...

My God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:19 The story of Ruth is a marvellous story of hope. If you are feeling hopeless today, what should you do? Do what you can. Ruth took responsibility, and she used the strength God had given her. She also took the initiative to go out into the field and work hard. In addition, Ruth cultivated good...

When [Ruth] rose to glean, Boaz instructed his young men, saying, “Let her glean even among the sheaves, and do not reproach her. And also pull out some from the bundles for her and leave it for her to glean, and do not rebuke her.” Ruth 2:15-16 Ruth had been following the reapers and picking up the scraps. But after the meal, the reapers started dropping entire stalks on the ground—pre-cut stalks...

At mealtime Boaz said to her, “Come here and eat some bread and dip your morsel in the wine.” So she sat beside the reapers, and he passed to her roasted grain. And she ate until she was satisfied, and she had some left over. Ruth 2:14 The whole Bible is one story that consistently points to our Lord Jesus Christ, and Boaz points us very clearly to Jesus. Naomi describes him as “one of our redeeme...

The LORD repay you for what you have done, and a full reward be given you by the LORD, the God of Israel, under whose wings you have come to take refuge! Ruth 2:12 Boaz had heard about Ruth’s loving commitment to her mother-in-law. He is deeply impressed, and he wants her kindness to be rewarded. Boaz extends himself in showing kindness to Ruth, and his prayer is that God will do the same. God oft...

She… went and gleaned in the field after the reapers, and she happened to come to the part of the field belonging to Boaz, who was of the clan of Elimelech. Ruth 2:3 It seems that this all happened by chance. Ruth did not know the field belonged to an eligible member of her husband’s family. But we do! Boaz is a marvellous example of a good employer. He takes an active interest in his employees. A...

Now Naomi had a relative of her husband’s, a worthy man of the clan of Elimelech, whose name was Boaz. Ruth 2:1 Now we are introduced to the third main character in the story. The fact that Boaz belonged to Naomi’s family is mentioned twice (2:1, 3). We are being let in on a secret: There is another relative. He is “a worthy man” of good character and great wealth, older than Ruth, but single. It...

I will walk among you and will be your God, and you shall be my people. I am the LORD your God. Leviticus 26:12-13 Here are two more principles for growing in faith in the midst of sorrow. Remember that the LORD has made a covenant with you. “LORD” in four capital letters is the name used in relation to the covenant God made with His people. The LORD said, “I… will be your God, and you shall be my...

The Almighty has dealt very bitterly with me… The Almighty has brought calamity upon me… Ruth 1:20-21 How are we to overcome the waves of sorrow, the distortions of grief, and the bitterness that lurks at sorrow’s door? A beautiful strategy unfolds in Naomi’s example. Here is the first of three principles for growing in faith in times of loss: affirm that God is sovereign. Naomi speaks about God i...

“Do not call me Naomi; call me Mara, for the Almighty has dealt very bitterly with me. I went away full, and the LORD has brought me back empty.” Ruth 1:20-21 Here are two more truths we learn from how Naomi navigates her grief. Grief distorts. “I went away full, and the LORD has brought me back empty” (1:21). When Naomi left Bethlehem, she had a husband and two sons. None of them are with her now...

The two of them went on until they came to Bethlehem. And when they came to Bethlehem, the whole town was stirred because of them. And the women said, “Is this Naomi?” Ruth 1:19 Ten years had passed since Naomi left Bethlehem. Three bereavements had taken their toll and when she arrived home with Ruth, her friends barely recognised her. The first thing they would say would be, “How’s Elimelech?” “...

Ruth said… “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 Ruth makes a marvellous commitment to Naomi, and we see three marks of this loving commitment in her words. Love commits to God....