Have you read the Book of Ruth lately? It is such a refreshing story.
Naomi goes to Moab with her husband, Elimelech and their two sons. Things did not go well with them; Elimelech died and both sons married ladies from Moab. Then Naomi decides, after learning that God had provided food for her homeland, and her two sons had died, that she was going back home to the land of Judah. One of her son’s wives, RUTH, said she was going to accompany her while the other daughter-in-law, at Ruth’s urging, returned to Moab.
Many have been the bride who selected the words of Ruth to Naomi at their marriage. “Do not urge me to leave you or turn back from following you; for where you go, I will go, and where you lodge, I will lodge. Your people shall be my people and your God, my God. Where you die, I will die, and there I will be buried. Thus may the Lord do to me, and worse, if anything but death parts you and me.”
May I step aside for a moment and allow Ruth’s words to penetrate our minds and hearts? First, she had left Moab. Second, she leaves her god for Ruth’s God. Third, she committed herself alone to Naomi; death alone would part them.
Next, verse 18 says: “that she was determined to go with her, she said no more to her.” Some things should be said each to the other and then SILENCE. Be sure to read the entire story.
I refer to the beautiful efforts made on behalf of Naomi as she dutifully sought to provide food in a legitimate manner in the fields of Boaz. He, though older, was still a man with “good vision”. He made a “proposal” in the fashion of that day and shortly they married.
One can only imagine the comments from his men as the met at the gate of the city. Like I said, everything was done in accordance with the customs of the hour. Ruth becomes his wife, and the old-codger and his young wife are blessed with a child who is named Obed. “To Salmon was born Boaz, and to Boaz, Obed, and to Obed was born Jesse, and to Jesse, David. (Ruth 4:21-22)
I must inject: Obed means “worshipper”. David means “beloved”.
Lest I forget the end of the story, let us look to Ruth 4:13 and following: “So Boaz took Ruth, and she became his wife, and he went in to her. And the Lord enabled her to conceive, and she gave birth to a son. Then the women said to Naomi, ‘Blessed is the Lord who has not left you without a redeemer today, and may his name become famous in Israel. May he also be to you a restorer of life and a sustainer of your old age; for your daughter-in-law, who loves you and is better to you then seven sons, has given birth to Him.’ Then Naomi took the child and laid him in her lap, and became his nurse.”
What a story! Hopefully you are aware that Obed was in the genealogy of CHRIST!
-Ted
ETCetera 