Love Is The Thing

Introduction

Everyone likes a happy ending, and this story has one. But before we come to it, there are a few loose ends to be tied off. The husband for Ruth has been settled, but there are a few more scenes to be played out before the story is concluded.

Boaz's Love

Having established his legal right to act as kinsman-redeemer, Boaz got right to the point. Our mounting suspense is finally released. The morning's events have been very taxing for Boaz. He has consistently done what is right, regardless of his personal preferences. Now in a carefully worded legal statement he outlines all that he proposes to do for Elimelech's widow and daughter-in-law. His emotion is evident in his words, yet he remains self-controlled, as he carefully outlines all that he is acquiring and clearly states his intention to take Ruth as his wife.

The elders and all the others present were witnesses to his redemption of all the property of Elimelech, that had passed to his two sons after his death. They could also attest that he had acquired Ruth the Moabitess as his wife, so that the name of Mahlon might be carried on and not disappear from the town records.

Boaz is seen here as a great and selfless man, a sharp contrast to his petty, self-seeking kinsman. In contrast to his kinsman who was afraid he would harm his interests if he bought the land, Boaz spoke as if he had just acquired considerable wealth. The field itself could not have meant much to a man like him, especially since it cost him some money up front. But in gaining Ruth as his wife he had received a great treasure. As Proverbs 31:10 reminds us, A wife of noble character who can find? She is worth far more than rubies.

These events well illustrate the fact that the heart of the law is the commandment to love; and this cannot be obeyed by someone who looks solely to his own material interests like the nearest kinsman redeemer, but only by a man like Boaz, inspired by love for God and his neighbour.

When Boaz finished, the entire assembly answered him. Everyone was happy about how the case had turned out, and there was obvious affection for Boaz and Ruth. The words we are witnesses completed and ratified the act of redemption. This was followed by a blessing in which they wished Boaz a large and famous family. And there is a reminder here that ultimately all blessing comes from God. Unless He intervened, this marriage would be as barren as Ruth's first one was – and with tragic results for Naomi.

Ruth's Love

So, at long last Ruth marries and gives birth to a son, but both she and Boaz are noticeably absent from the last scene. Instead, the focus is upon Naomi and the baby. That comes as no surprise, for, since the beginning, this book has been essentially Naomi's story. So, it is appropriate that at the end attention should return to her, in her radical change of circumstances.

The conclusion of the story is like the introduction. Both compress a lot into a short space. Both focus on Naomi; the introduction emphasising her emptiness and the conclusion displaying her fullness. So the significance of the baby’s birth is viewed from Naomi's perspective first. It was to her that the women of Bethlehem addressed their congratulations. They interpret the scene, for they alone speak directly. As they had once welcomed bitter, empty Naomi back to Bethlehem, so they welcome her new-born heir, acknowledging that God had given her the child. The women gave God total credit for everything that had happened. They praised the name of the Lord, because against all expectations, He had not left Naomi without a kinsman-redeemer.

It is quite surprising that the newly-born child is already called a redeemer. Boaz had, indeed, redeemed Elimelech's estate, but the child was the real kinsman-redeemer because, if Ruth had remained childless, the property would have reverted to the clan. Only through this child was the family name and property secure.

The women were confident that the birth of the grandson would mean a new lease of life for Naomi, because the son was born to Ruth, who loved Naomi and was dearer to her than seven sons. Ruth had been an extraordinary blessing to Naomi. Her costly commitment in chapter 1, her initiative at the harvest in chapter 2, her obedience at the threshing-floor in chapter 3 and her dedication to preserve Naomi's family. She had remained faithful to her mother-in-law and shown real love to her. And now, by giving birth to a son, she had turned Naomi's sorrow into joy, her darkness into light, and her old age into youth. Through Ruth, Naomi again had a future. Ruth's final act of loving-kindness has been to hand her son over to Naomi for adoption; it is her child. Ruth's unusual action was one last gift to Naomi - the gift of a son to care for her as her own - a son to replace the dead ones, a son who would later care for her, as she grew older. For, Naomi was to raise the child as if it were her own.

Verse 16 is a scene of love - simply the loving delight of a grandmother in her grandson. Naomi listened in silence to the words of the women of Bethlehem. Then, as the AV so beautifully puts it, Naomi took the child, and laid it in her bosom, and became nurse unto it.  Very often, as here, actions speak louder than words.

What a tender moment - the fragile baby snuggling peacefully at the grey-haired Naomi's bosom. Now the empty Naomi enjoys her final fullness. What a contrast with her earlier cry of emptiness!

To Naomi this child was special. She had expected a lonely old age when her husband and sons died. With none of those near to her left, her future had indeed looked bleak. But thanks to Ruth's devotion, everything was now different. She belonged to a family once more. She was loved and had a recognised place. The child symbolised all this. And it was ultimately all God’s doing.

God's Love

Throughout this book we have seen the consistent demonstration that God is over all as He works out His will. In both the Old Testament and the New God is seen dealing graciously with His people. The basis of God's relationships has always been His firm persistent steadfast love. And God's greatest act of loving-kindness was to give His Son for our salvation; He is our Saviour. As John 3:16 tells us: For 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.

That salvation is the supreme act of God’s love for us. He redeems us from our helpless, sinful state in which we are held captive, releases us and restores us to a right relationship with Himself. God does all this through the sacrificial death of Christ for us.

Our response to God's grace should be twofold. Firstly, we should respond to Him in loving obedience to His will and secondly, we should demonstrate the same kind of loving-kindness in our relationship with others.

Conclusion

Throughout this book Naomi, Ruth and Boaz have all had one thing in common - loving-kindness, which shows itself in their actions. The final scene brings the story to its happy conclusion. It is the counterbalance to chapter 1 - a bright colour print developed from its gloomy negative. In essence the scene is a birthday celebration, honouring the child just born to Boaz and Ruth.

They say that you get like the company you keep. If you keep company with Jesus, you become like Him. Inevitably people become like the thing or things they worship. This was true of people in Old Testament times, and it is true of us today. Human nature has not changed. The more we are taken up with God and His goodness, the more we take on His likeness. As Paul says in 2 Corinthians 3:18, And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord's glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit. One of the characteristics of such growth is graciousness. God is a God of grace. He delights in showing His loving-kindness to those who are the ready to receive His grace.

But so often we are not ready to receive it. What a difference there will be when we are. As Juan Carlos Ortiz says, "The day the community of Jesus knows what love is, God won't have any problem in pouring out His Spirit in power upon everybody." Then we will grow. And that is what the Christian life is all about. That is Paul's point in Galatians 5:6; The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love. Are you ready to receive God's grace?