SCRIPTURE: Ruth 2:1-23
OBSERVATION:
This passage mentions finding favour three times (2:2,10,13), and in the context of God’s story that is important since grace and favour are parallel terms, undeserved kindness.
Ruth also expresses the wonder of grace in that she – a foreign woman – is treated so well. Unfortunately the men of Israel were as sinful as men of all ages, and vulnerable females young and old often faced cruelty and abuse.
A kinsman-redeemer was a close relative who was responsible to help widows and their families. The OT law (Deuteronomy 25:5-10) required that they marry their relatives’ widow and provide for her care, including proving an heir for their relative. Land was tied to the family name, so an heir was essential.
APPLICATION:
We live in the favour (grace) of God, so we can see the positive moments of life as signs of God’s favour at work. Life is often filled with horrible moments (ask Ruth) but we also have God-moments, signs of His grace and favour at work.
God has always been concerned for the weak, the lost, the ‘outsiders’. He did not choose Israel (or the church) to exclude others but to bless the nations (Genesis 12:2-3). Yet how often we become exclusive and cruel and represent the cruelty of the world instead of the compassion of Christ.
Jesus is my kinsman-redeemer, my close relative (becoming like me) to provide for me. Though we may cringe at the idea of the OT law re. marrying our widowed in-laws, the law is an anticipation of what God does for us in Jesus, our Redeemer!
PRAYER:
Lord, thank You for the many signs of Your favour in my life. Help me not to be exclusive with Your love, but to share Your favour with everyone, especially the weak, the needy, ‘outsiders’. Amen.
It is interesting how Ruth is received as a stranger in the land. We are shown mutual lovee and kindness. These characteristics were also evident among the workers and their master, for they blessed one another. This reminds me of the words, but in humility consider the other better than ourselves. How would I receive the stranger, what opinion would I have of him/her who joins the ranks from the outside? I need the kindness of Jesus Christ in me.
Naomi saw what Ruth had gleaned after the day’s work. The Lord dealt bountifully with them. They decided to stay there and not look elsewhere for their satisfaction. I too need to see at the end of each day how I have lived for the Lord. What ‘good’ have I done? How were my acts of service? I am a worker in His kingdom and I do not want to be found in any other. Lord, may I daily take my refuge beneath Your wings, for Your wind is the power for my daily flight.
O Master,
grant that I may not so much seek
to be consoled as to console;
to be understood, as to understand;
to be loved, as to love;
for it is in giving that we receive,
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned,
and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.