A Biblical Love Story

Ruth 1-4

"Entreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee; for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God.  Where thou diest, will I die, and there will I be buried; the Lord do so to me, and more also, if ought but death part thee and me."  Ruth 1:16-17 (King James Version)

The story of Ruth is a boy meets girl love story, a romance.  If a man were watching a movie of the life of Ruth, he would call it a chick flick.

This story took place during the time of the Judges.  Those were dark days filled with chaos, immorality, and depravity in society.  Charles Swindoll wrote,  "Ruth is like a bright, beautiful emerald placed on the black velvet of the times in which she lived."  We are encouraged by Ruth to remember that there are people who choose to walk with God in every generation, regardless of the prevailing culture.

The story opens with a famine in Bethlehem.  A Jew in Bethlehem named Elimelek moved with his wife Naomi and two sons, Mahlon and Kiliion, to Moab, a pagan land of idol worshipers and former enemies of the Israelites.  Ironically, Elimelek took his family to Moab to escape the famine and save their lives, but he and his two sons died in Moab.

After several years Naomi heard that the famine was over in Bethlehem, and she decided to return to her homeland.  Her sons had married Moabite women, and they set out to go to Bethlehem with Naomi.  Naomi must have been a wonderful mother-in-law to have inspired such love and loyalty in her daughters-in-law.

Naomi insisted that the girls go back to their own families, and Orpah turned back, but Ruth was determined to go to Bethlehem with Naomi.  They arrived at the beginning of the barley harvest, and Ruth went out into one of the fields to glean, to pick up fallen bits of grain that were left for the poor.  The field belonged to a man named Boaz, and when he came to check the field Ruth caught his eye.  He already knew her reputation and admired her because of it.  He treated her with kindness and generosity.

At the end of the harvest season Ruth let Boaz know that she was interested in him according to the custom of the day.  Boaz was pleased and began at once to make arrangements to marry Ruth.  After they wed, God sent them a son whom they named Obed.  He became the father of Jesse and the grandfather of David, King of Israel.  What a happy ending!

Maybe you wish you had a romantic story like Ruth's in your life.  If you are a Christian, you do.  The book of Ruth is a picture of the love story between the church, which includes all Christians and is represented by Ruth, and Christ, Who is represented by Boaz.  If we put our hand of faith into God's hand of grace, God will make us the very bride of Christ Himself!

Thank You, Father, for Your love for us and Your wonderful plans for our future.  Amen.