Waverly Church of Christ

Introduction:
The story of Ruth is a beautiful story of how friendship can help us through difficult times in our lives. The book of Ruth tells us that God is always working out His plan through people who believe, love, and obey Him.

The story of Ruth unfolded “in the days when the judges governed [and] there was a famine in the land” of Judah (Ruth 1:1).

Elimelech took his wife Naomi and their two sons Mahlon (מַחְלוֹן Machlôwn, makh-
lone´ 1 ) and Chilion (כִּלְיוֹן Kilyôwn, kil-yone´ 2 ) from their home at Bethlehem in
Judah and went to Moab (1:1).

After some time in Moab, Elimelech died.

Then the two sons married Moabite women.

About ten years later Mahlon and Chilion both died, leaving Ruth and Oprah as
widows, and Naomi childless.

Ruth was grieving the loss of her husband, Mahlon (Ruth 4:10).

Oprah was grieving the loss of her husband, Chilion.

Naomi was grieving the loss of her husband, Elimelech, and her two sons.

At this difficult time, these three women had the friendship of one another.

Naomi decided to return to Bethlehem because word reached Moab “that the LORD had visited His people in giving them food” (1:6).

a. Every time God visited His people it was the beginning of something wonderful.

b. See for example Genesis 21:1 (where Sarah was visited before Isaac was born),
50:24-25 (in which Joseph assured his brothers that God would visit them and
bring them into the land which He promised…Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob”);
Exodus 4:31 (when the L ORD visited Moses and Aaron giving them a message
and power to perform signs which caused the people to believe they would be
delivered from Egypt); 1 Samuel 2:21 (where the L ORD visited Hannah so that
she had three sons and two daughters); Jeremiah 29:10 (tells of the L ORD ’s
visiting His people before the exiles were brought back).

c. God had visited His people in Judah, which should grab our attention as
something wonderful is about to happen.


Naomi said to her to two daughters-in- law, “Go, return each of you to her mother’s
house. May the LORD deal kindly with you as you have with the dead and with me. May the L ORD grant that you may find rest, each in the house of her husband” (vv. 8- 9). [“Deal kindly” is a difficult word to translate, thus it is translated in a number of
ways in its many occurrences. It expresses a desire on Naomi’s part for Ruth and
Orpah to experience from God mercy, loving-kindness, grace, faithfulness, and
unfailing love.]

Naomi kissed the two women and they cried.

“They said to her, ‘No, but we will surely return with you to your people’” (v. 10).

Naomi pleaded with Ruth and Orpah to return to their families instead (read vv. 11-
13).

Both women had to choose between better and best (v. 14).

a. Orpah chose to return to her mother’s house. This was the most reasonable of
the two options.

b. Ruth, however, chose to go with Naomi to Bethlehem in Judah.

c. The word “clung”, Ruth 1:14, is the same Hebrew word as in Genesis 2:24.
Michael Whitworth noted, “Regardless of the circumstances, the cost, or the
need, [Ruth] would stay by Naomi’s side for better or worse.” 3

d. Ruth was choosing to be with Naomi no matter what (v. 16).

e. Listen to the other things Ruth also chose (v. 16d-17a).

f. Ruth chose Naomi’s people (the Israelites) over her own people (the Moabites),
Naomi’s God (the One True God) over many false gods of the Moabites, and
death followed by burial with Naomi—showing her faithfulness would go
beyond life.

Ruth made a vow placing herself under the wrath of God if she did not keep her
promise to Naomi (end of v. 17).

More than ten years had passed since Naomi left Bethlehem, but remarkably, when
she returned the women of Bethlehem recognized her (v. 19).
a. More than ten years of aging.
b. More than ten years without a husband.
c. The loss of not just one, but two sons.
d. The separation from a friend, Orpah.
e. A journey from Moab to Judah.
f. The mental distress of her future, the future of Orpah and Ruth, furthermore the
heart’s desire to return home piled on.
g. Many other things could have taken their toll on Naomi’s physique, yet she was
recognized by the woman of Bethlehem.

Listen to Naomi describe her time in Moab, “Do not call me Naomi; call me Mara, for the Almighty has dealt very bitterly with me. I went out full, but the L ORD has brought me back empty. Why do you call me Naomi, since the L ORD has witnessed against me and the Almighty has afflicted me” (vv. 20-21)?
a. Naomi felt that God was against her.
b. Years of frustration and pain find their vent in Naomi’s words expressing deep
bitterness.
c. Four accusations are given against God.
i. First, the Almighty (a title for God) made her life extremely bitter.
ii. Second, Yahweh (the name of God) brought her home empty, when she
went out full.
iii. Third, Yahweh (the name of God) had testified against her, calling her
to account and declaring her guilty.
iv. Fourth, the Almighty (a title for God) had afflicted her with
calamity/disaster.

Verse 22 is a note that informs us that Naomi’s return, accompanied by Ruth, took
place “at the beginning of the barley harvest.”

We should glean from Ruth’s friendship with Naomi that “when we are able to share
our “famines” with those we love, the pain is easier to bear.” 4

Although Naomi did not recognize it, the blessings began with a friend who grieved
with her, continued with a statement of friendship, and would develop into a full-
blown harvest of blessings.

Difficult times made it appear that “Naomi’s life was a desolate famine of
disappointment, but God was about to bring a rich harvest of blessings.”

Another blessing God was providentially providing was an acquaintance—a relative
of Elimelech, by the name of Boaz.
a. Boaz was a wealthy and well-respected person.
b. He was generous and wise.
c. He was also obedient to God leaving some harvest, in accordance with the Law
(Leviticus 19:9-10; Deuteronomy 24:19-22), for the poor of their community
to glean food for themselves.

Ruth asked Naomi for permission to go glean in a field.

Naomi approved Ruth’s request and “She happened to come to the portion of the field belonging to Boaz” (2:3).

Boaz went out to his field and greeted the reapers, then he spoke with his “servant in charge of the reapers” asking, “Whose young woman is this” (v. 5)?

Boaz was told that she was “the young Moabite woman who returned with Naomi” (v. 6).

Then, Boaz gave Ruth special instructions (vv. 8-9).

When Ruth asked why such favor was being shown to her, Boaz explained (vv. 11-
12).

Boaz gave further instruction for Ruth to eat with the reapers.

Next, Boaz commanded his servants to let Ruth glean among the sheaves and purposely pull out some grain from the bundles for her to glean (vv. 14-15). This made Ruth’s work a lot easier.

At evening she had gleaned “about an ephah of barley” (v. 17).

When Ruth returned to her mother-in- law, she showed her what she had gleaned, and gave her what she had left from the lunch Boaz served her.

Naomi asked, “Where did you glean today and where did you work? May he who took notice of you be blessed” (v. 19).

Ruth told Naomi she had worked with Boaz, in his field.

Naomi sought blessings from God for Boaz because of his kindness, then she revealed to Ruth, “This man is our relative, he is one of our closest relatives” (v. 20).

Obeying instruction from Naomi, Ruth “stayed close by the maids of Boaz in order to glean until the end of the barley harvest and the wheat harvest. And she lived with her mother-in- law” (v. 23).

As time would have it, Naomi grew concerned for Ruth’s future without a husband, so she instructed Ruth to prepare herself to impress Boaz.

She was to wash, put on perfume with her best clothes, and go to meet him.

When Boaz laid down, Ruth was to uncover his feet and lie down waiting for him to
tell her what to do.

Ruth went “to the threshing floor and did according to all that her mother-in- law had
commanded her” (3:6).

During the night Boaz was startled and discovered the woman lying at his feet.

She requested that he spread his covering over her because he was a kinsman-
redeemer. (Ruth’s request was for Boaz to marry her, making a marriage proposal by covering her Deuteronomy 22:30; Ezekiel 16:8).

Boaz knew of a relative who was closer in relation that he was, a relative who had first rights/obligations as kinsman-redeemer.

Before Boaz could marry Ruth the other relative had to give up his right to
Elimelech’s estate.

Boaz agreed to redeem Ruth if the other kinsman did not, then he had Ruth lie down until morning.

In the morning, “before one could recognize another,” Boaz gave her six measures of barley before she went into the city.

When Ruth reported all that happened to Naomi, Naomi assured Ruth that Boaz would take care of the matter.

Boaz went to the city gate to meet with ten men of the elders of the city and the
kinsman-redeemer.

He told the man about Naomi’s need to sell some land which belonged to Elimelech
and that he needed to decide if he would redeem it for his own.

The man said, “I will redeem it” (4:4).

Then Boaz informed the relative that with the buying of the land he would also have to take Ruth’s hand in marriage (v. 5).

The closest relative chose to pass on this opportunity (v. 6).

The seventh verse of chapter 4 tells us why the other close relative took off his sandal and gave it to Boaz.

After Boaz received the sandal he spoke to the elders and all the people (vv. 9-10).

The response given by all the people who had gathered is given in verses 11-12.

Boaz took Ruth, who became his wife.

The LORD enabled her to have a baby, a son named Obed to be exact (vv. 14-16).


Notice the praise given to Ruth—“your daughter-in- law who loves you and is better to you than seven sons.”

These faithful friends set up a faithful family.

The seventh and tenth generations in genealogies are tremendously important.

In this family line, the seventh was Boaz and the tenth was David.

Through the lineage of Boaz and Ruth came the Savior of the world.

Conclusion:


We ought to be grateful for all Ruth did in helping Naomi.

We should also glean some valuable lessons for overcoming difficult times.

a. We need to grieve with the hurting.
i. Be a friend to cry with.
ii. Go through the grieving process with those who are hurting.
iii. Love a friend even when the friend does not see or recognize we are a
blessing to them.

b. We need to tell our friends how much we love and appreciate them.

c. We need to remember our connections.
i. Be willing to work and use our connections for others.
ii. Celebrate even the smallest of victories.
iii. Be the best friend one can be, but allow the family to be family.

d. We need to advise.
i. Point people in the right direction.
ii. Be concerned first and foremost for the well-being; spiritual and eternal, of the broken-hearted.

e. We need to be “a friend who sticks closer than a brother” (Proverbs 18:24).
i. Remain with the despairing by taking them, loving them, caring for them, providing for them, and protecting them.
ii. Ask of God blessings of honor, prosperity, and extended family for the
desolate.

f. We need to be a restorer and sustainer.
i. We are to give new hope for life, restoring the joy of living.
ii. We should try to comprehend the needs and desires of others, bear with them, maintain things which lack their attention, and support them.

For God to work out His plan for blessing lives through us, He requires faithfulness to His will and love for those around us.

Are you one who needs a friend like Ruth and Boaz were to Naomi?
a. God, who placed Ruth and Boaz in the life of Naomi, is willing to help you
overcome difficult times.
b. He will use His family to bless you, so He invites you to become a member of His family by hearing His story of love (Romans 10:17), believing He will
reward the diligent seeker (Hebrews 11:6), repenting of sins you have
committed (Acts 3:19), confessing Christ as the Son of God (Matthew 10:32),
and being baptized (Mark 16:16).

Difficult times are ahead; begin your path to a harvest of blessings as we sing.