The Book of Ruth recounts the devotion of Ruth, a Moabite widow, to Naomi, her widowed Israelite mother-in-law. The relationship of two widows does not seem especially important to the fate of the world, but the story highlights how committed relationships can change the world.
Ruth stays with Naomi after her husband dies. Ruth travels with her mother-in-law from Moab to Bethlehem after Naomi decides to return home to Israel. Naomi encouraged Ruth to return to her own mother, but she replied, “Don’t ask me to leave you! Let me go with you. Wherever you go, I will go; wherever you live, I will live. Your people will be my people, and your God will be my God. Wherever you die, I will die, and that is where I will be buried. May the Lord’s worst punishment come upon me if I let anything but death separate me from you!” (1:16-17).
The book does not explain why Ruth is so committed to Naomi. We don’t know if Naomi was especially kind to Ruth. We don’t know if Ruth’s own family was abusive. We don’t know if God revealed himself to Ruth in a special way. All we know is that Ruth devoted herself to Naomi and that the fortunes of her life changed in Bethlehem.
In Bethlehem, Naomi’s relative Boaz protects and feeds Ruth and ultimately marries her. The book reveals what attracted Boaz to Ruth when he says at their first meeting, “I have heard about everything that you have done for your mother-in-law since your husband died. I know how you left your father and mother and your own country and how you came to live among a people you had never known before. May the LORD reward you for what you have done. May you have a full reward from the LORD God of Israel, to whom you have come for protection!” (2:11-12).
Ruth’s commitment to Naomi inspired Boaz to commit himself to Ruth in marriage. They had a son they named Obed. “Obed became the father of Jesse, who was the father of David” (4:17). The very David from whose lineage Jesus was born (Matthew 1:1-17).
The power of Ruth’s commitment to Naomi changed the world in which they lived. Ruth’s commitment was the foundation of the family life of Naomi, Ruth, and Boaz in Bethlehem. And, ultimately, the king of kings was born from the lineage of Ruth and Boaz.
Being committed to my family seems dull most days, but that is only because I cannot see the world-changing potential of my commitment. It often takes years for the fruit of commitment to blossom, but the story of Ruth is an important reminder that the power of a committed relationship can change the world.
Ted Lynam talked about Ruth as an example of “the power of a committed relationship” in our Disciple IV Bible study group at Alpharetta Presbyterian Church and helped me realize the Book of Ruth is in the Bible to inspire us to be committed in our relationships. Thanks Ted.
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