Ruth 1-4 Duty, Love, Loyalty

March 26th, Ruth

       Ruth is like the human interest story at the end of the newscast. The feel good story of how things go when a caste of characters is doing things right. The struggle of Naomi is overwhelmed by the loyalty of a daughter-in-law and a kinsman redeemer who not only honors his obligations, but does so in a way that is witness to going above and beyond duty.
       Certainly the famous verse in all of this come from Ruth 1:16. After Naomi's husband and sons die, she is headed back to her home country and urges her daughter-in-laws to stay with their families and find another husband in their homeland. But Ruth's loyalties to her mother-in-law stand as a testimony to both Naomi and Ruth. Here is Ruth's response to Naomi asking here to stay in her homeland..."Do not urge me to leave you or return from following you. For where you go I will go, where you stay I will stay. Your people shall be my people, and your God will be my God.
       I imagine a widow who is unsure of her future, these are words of life. Commitment and loyalty are some of the greatest gifts we can share with one another.
       There is much more to the story, if I retell too much you might not read it and get the full blessing of it. I will tell you that part of God's plan in this day and age is for family to provide for one another when no social security plan is in place. Our families are supposed to provide for each other. It's a great idea for sustainable care!! Boaz is the kinsman-redeemer in this case. As I said before he is obviously a great man. A man who goes beyond simply the dutiful obligation of a family member. But also a man who exhibits, love, grace, mercy in a moment of profound need.
       If you need a great story this day to inspire you about people in the OT and what happens when God's people interact the way he desires, read this short 4 chapter book. When things go as God intends, it is a beautiful thing.