RUTH: GODLY COURTSHIP IN AN UNGODLY ERA

II. Making Commitments To Godly Relationships

(Ruth 1:6-22; 2:1-12)

I. Introduction

A. We live in the latter days of Church History as seen in the exponential growth of sin in society. Thus, the concern can arise as to how to obtain godly marital partners for godly believers in our current era.

B. The events in the book of Ruth occurred in the apostate era of the Judges (Ruth 1:1), so we study this book for insight on godly courtship in our era, noting in this lesson a need to make commitments to godly relationships.

II. Making Commitments To Godly Relationships, Ruth 1:6-22; 2:1-12.

A. When Boaz and Ruth first met, he treated her with such great kindness that she fell on her face to the ground before him, asking Boaz why he had shown her such kindness since she was just a foreigner, Ruth 2:8-10.

B. Boaz replied that Ruth’s sterling reputation had preceded her: Ruth’s devotion to her mother-in-law Naomi since the death of Ruth’s husband, Ruth’s leaving her native land and family to adopt Israel as her land and Israel’s God as her God, had all greatly, positively impressed Boaz, Ruth 2:11-12.

C. We thus view the events that led to the commitments Ruth made to godly relationships that so impressed Boaz for insight on making commitments to godly relationships that positively affect Biblical courting, Ruth 1:6-22:

1. After the death of her husband Elimelech and her two sons, Naomi and her widowed daughters-in-law began to travel toward Israel because Naomi had heard that God was giving Israel bread again, Ruth 1:6-7.

2. As they began their journey, Naomi urged her two daughters-in-law to return to their mothers’ homes, wishing that the Lord might deal with them kindly as they had dealt with her sons and herself, Ruth 1:8-9a.

3. Naomi then kissed her daughters-in-law goodbye, and all three widows wept over the sorrow of their parting and of the grief they each still suffered over the loss of their respective husbands, Ruth 1:9b.

4. Both Ruth and Orpah initially refused to leave Naomi, but she insisted that their going with her to Israel would not provide as great an opportunity for them to remarry as if they stayed in Moab, Ruth 1:10-14a.

5. Orpah kissed Naomi goodbye, but Ruth clung to her, refusing to return to Moab, so Naomi again urged Ruth to return to Moab with Orpah, to go back to her own people and to her Moabite god, Ruth 1:14b-15.

6. However, Ruth made a statement that is “perhaps the most beautiful in all literature, well deserving the place it receives in many Christian wedding ceremonies” (Ibid., ftn. to Ruth 1:16-17). Ruth said that she would go where Naomi went and stay where Naomi stayed, that Naomi’s people would be her people, that Naomi’s God would be her God, that where Naomi died, she would die, and there she would be buried, Ruth 1:16-17a. Ruth took an oath in God’s name, revealing her faith in the Lord, and she vowed that nothing but death would separate her from Naomi, Ruth 1:17b. Ruth undoubtedly had been attracted to Naomi’s worldview and righteous God over her own country’s paganism to make such a commitment.

7. Realizing that Ruth would not leave her, Naomi ceased speaking, and they went to Bethlehem, v. 18-19.

8. At Bethlehem, Ruth sought to support herself and her aged mother-in-law’s livelihoods by asking Naomi for her permission to glean for grain in the barley harvest that was then occurring in the month of May, and Naomi gave her permission, Ruth 2:2 (Ibid., ftn. to Ruth 2:2; Zon. Pict. Ency. Bible, v. One, p. 76).

9. When Ruth went out to glean, since she had made a commitment to the Lord, God providentially led her to Boaz’s field where she obtained permission from Boaz’s harvesters to glean there, Ruth 2:3, 6-7a.

10. Ruth then worked hard at gleaning, stopping only for a short time to rest in the field shelter, Ruth 2:7b.

11. When the owner Boaz arrived and saw her for the first time, he asked his foreman who she was, and the foreman reported that she was Ruth the Moabitess who had returned from Moab with Naomi, and that she had worked hard in the field, taking only a short time to rest in the field shelter! (Ruth 2:4-7 NIV)

12. Boaz realized that God had providentially led Ruth to glean in his field since she was now a believer in Israel’s God, and that her hard work at gleaning showed her deep commitment to Naomi’s welfare. Thus, he told Ruth that God under Whose protective wings she had come to trust would reward her, Ruth 2:12.

Lesson: Before meeting Boaz, Ruth made commitments to trust in Naomi’s God, to stay with Naomi and Naomi’s people over her own people, family and Moabite god, and to support these commitments with action in being led of God to Boaz’s field to work hard at gleaning for herself and Naomi. These commitments greatly impressed Boaz.

Application: Before meeting the spouse of God’s choice for us, we must make a deep commitment to the Lord and to people who need our help, showing it by our actions, what God can use to impress the spouse He has for us.