Ruth, the Commitment of Love

 

Now this was the custom in former times in Israel concerning redeeming and exchanging: to confirm a transaction, the one drew off his sandal and gave it to the other, and this was the manner of attesting in Israel. So when the redeemer said to Boaz, “Buy it for yourself,” he drew off his sandal. Then Boaz said to the elders and all the people, “You are witnesses this day that I have bought from the hand of Naomi all that belonged to Elimelech and all that belonged to Chilion and to Mahlon. Also Ruth the Moabite, the widow of Mahlon, I have bought to be my wife, to perpetuate the name of the dead in his inheritance, that the name of the dead may not be cut off from among his brothers and from the gate of his native place. You are witnesses this day.” Then all the people who were at the gate and the elders said, “We are witnesses. May the LORD make the woman, who is coming into your house, like Rachel and Leah, who together built up the house of Israel. May you act worthily in Ephrathah and be renowned in Bethlehem, 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 by this young woman.” (Ruth 4:7-12 ESV).

 

The story of Ruth is one of the Bible’s great love stories. It overflows with kindness and compassion. It also highlights how God’s people experience his sovereignty and tender mercy as he works through the lives of his people. As Ruth had shown kindness to Naomi her mother-in-law, (cf. Ruth 1:16-17), so Boaz, a close relative of Naomi, showed kindness to Ruth. Boaz’s kindness is not only personal but also flows from the kindness of God as he acts to provide Ruth and Naomi a home because they are his relatives (cf. Ruth 2:20). Boaz acts as the kinsman-redeemer for Ruth and Naomi, and the people of Bethlehem bless Boaz by saying, “May you be famous in Bethlehem.”

 

We might never have given Bethlehem a second thought if not for the fact that Ruth and Boaz, with their son Obed, became ancestors of David there (cf. Matthew 1:5). And, of course many years later, Jesus, a descendant of David, was also born in Bethlehem.

 

Jesus saves us from our sin through his birth as the Son of God and through his death on the cross. Why? Love. In fact, it’s the greatest love story ever! “God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16).