The Book of Ruth is not typically considered a prophetic book or a Christmas story. I think its both. The book is tucked away between the book of Judges and 1 Samuel, bridging the two time periods. The book has four short chapters and if you take about 30 minutes to read through it – maybe you would see the Christmas connection.

Historical Background

I’ll start with a little important historical background…

The historical accounts in the Old Testament (Tanakh) are full of the interplay between the nation of Israel, surrounding pagan nations, evil entities that manifest as the false gods of these nations, and the God of Israel working through all things to accomplish His purposes.

The Book of Ruth is a little different than the Book of Judges which precedes it, and 1 Samuel which follows it. Judges is big picture history after arrival of the Hebrew people into the promised land. 1 Samuel begins the big picture history of Israel under the reign of the kings. The Book of Ruth is a transition between the two cultural periods. It’s the story of three people living in the time of the Judges of Israel, a period of about 350 years after the time after Joshua’s death.

Joshua was a leader that remained faithful to God. He held Israel together. But as soon as he died, Israel almost immediately turns their back on the Lord and begins to mingle with the surrounding pagan nations and start following their false gods, the Baal’s (a title that roughly means “lord”, a term given to many spiritual entities that existed in the land and were worshiped by the surrounding nations). These “gods” are in fact, real spiritual entities.

What happens to a nation that turns its back on God? It is predictable, just as God Himself warns all of the nations – the warnings still apply. Anyway, as a result of turning to other gods, the Hebrew people are soon back into bondage and servitude. They eventually cry out to the God of Israel who then sends the first judge to deliver them. This cycle of idolatry-servitude-repentance-deliverance happens over and over again – 7 cycles in the Book of the Judges alone.

The history of Israel up to this point provides important context to understand the Book of Ruth because in the middle of the struggles with idolatry all around them, there is this small, backwater farming town called Bethlehem in Judea where the people seem faithful to the Holy One of Israel. Maybe now you see the Christmas connection – but there is more! Scholars don’t know exactly when this story occurs; some speculate that perhaps during the time of Gideon. But we do know the people of Bethlehem, at least what we can tell from the Book of Ruth, seemed committed to the Lord. They followed His ways and did not seemed engaged in idolatry at this point.

The Spiritual Background

Something to keep in mind for the study of this book and in your own life: even when evil spiritual entities work against the redemptive purpose of God, He has his own plan, often working behind enemy lines and below the radar, using normal, seemingly insignificant people, often in very difficult circumstances – people like Ruth and Naomi and Boaz. People like you and me. People who remain faithful to the Lord no matter what.

The spiritual forces of darkness are always doing their best to lead God’s people astray. Their plan is to disrupt and destroy the redemptive purposes of God: false gods, supernatural powers of darkness, deception, mandates, lockdowns, bondage, oppression. Satan really hates people…all of us. Why? Because we are all created in the image and likeness of the living God. We are uniquely created to bear His image and to live and worship Him in a glorious reality that is coming.

The spiritual forces that oppose God were always active throughout the history of Israel, indeed throughout the history of all mankind, even to this very day. And how much more intense is the demonically energized deception today as time grows short in the current age.

With the idolatry of Israel, it would seem the dark forces were successfully undercutting God’s plan. The Baal’s are in charge, everything is under control. So much for God’s plan. Not bad huh? Everything on-track to defeat God’s purposes by turning the people to worship them instead. Clearly the God of Israel is losing…right? Who would ever have thought something would happen in Bethlehem – something so powerful that it would change things forever. These evil spiritual entities could likely care less about Bethlehem. These are poor, insignificant farmers in the middle of a famine. They are weak, struggling to stay alive. How could they possibly be a threat to evil plans of dark forces?

Lets see what happened in this small insignificant town. A town referred to by the prophet Micah as “ignoble to be among the clans of Judah”. Three people in salvation history surviving during hard times by relying on each other and their faithfulness to God. Integrity, faith, commitment, love, loyalty – demonstrated by a simple people in Bethlehem, Judah.

Naomi’s Life in Moab

As I said, there was a famine in Judah. Famine is not explicitly indicated in the Book of Judges although when Israel was unfaithful, their enemies would leave them with nothing. It was a time of hardship where people struggled to find food. A Hebrew man named Elimelech took his family to Moab – perhaps he was thinking there was food there. He had a wife, Naomi, and two sons. But Elimelech dies soon after reaching Moab, leaving Naomi with her two sons. Her sons soon took Moabite women as their wives. Now this was typically how problems for Israel began – Hebrews would marry pagan wives who followed other gods. They soon would turn from the Lord and start following these false gods as well. But this story is different – it kind of turns that model on its head. Probably because of Naomi.

Anyway, the Moabite, pagan women were named Ruth and Orpah. They lived there in Moab for 10 years but then Naomi’s two sons, the husbands of Ruth and Orpah, died. We are not told what happened to them. But now Naomi had lost her husband and her two sons. Orpah and Ruth lost their husbands. This was a big deal for Naomi in her Hebrew culture because the lineage of her husband was cut off – the sons that would carry his name and inherit his property were now dead before they had any sons of their own. But in her grief, in her sense of finality in the loss of her family – the sense of being cut off from any future, she has no idea what has been set into motion by the hand of the Lord.

Isn’t it like that sometimes in a walk of faith? Hardship, grief, loss – its like God is against us. Lord, why did I lose my son or my daughter? I have no future, I’m on the street and I don’t even have any food. I haven’t seen my family for 10 years. I have prayed about all of these things! Why didn’t you intervene? Aren’t you all powerful? You could have stopped all this. Haven’t I been faithful? Where are you?

Naomi lost her husband and her boys. She was hungry and in her mind had no future. There is nothing left for Naomi in Moab except her two daughters-in-law. She really has no way to survive unless she would perhaps marry a local. But she is beyond child bearing years so who would want her? She believes the hand of God is against her. But despite all that had happened, she remains faithful to the Lord. Naomi is like Job – their entire lives came crashing down around them. They don’t understand why because their conscience is clear – they remain faithful to the Lord. In the loss of his family, health, and fortune, Job’s wife advised him to turn against God. How did Job respond:

Shall we indeed accept good from God and not accept adversity?

Job 2:10

Naomi’s situation and response are similar. With no future, she turns to the practical demands of survival and decides to head home to Judah because she heard that the Lord had provided food. So she says her goodbyes to her daughters-in-law – and she blesses them. Look at these incredibly gracious words:

And Naomi said to her two daughters-in-law, “Go, return each of you to her mother’s house. May the LORD deal kindly with you as you have dealt with the dead and with me. May the LORD grant that you may find rest, each in the house of her husband.”

Ruth 1:8-9

You know, some people turn their backs on God so easily – one little misstep by the Almighty (in our assessment of his performance in our lives), and its over! Big names in Christian culture feel its necessary to publicly renounce their faith for all to see on social media. Why would they want to drag other people down with them? We all have influence on others for good or evil. Are we unable to see beyond our circumstances? Do we really think that God will abandon us if we remain faithful? Maybe in our minds or the minds of unbelievers, Naomi had every “right” to turn her back on the Lord. Maybe she should have just publicly rejected her faith on Facebook. Let’s see what happened:

Despite all that has happened, in the darkness of the circumstances and the silence of God, she is…blessing people? Yes. She remains incredibly faithful, gracious and kind. That’s one of the take-aways from this story. It doesn’t matter what the situation is, Naomi is always blessing people around her. She remains loyal to the Lord. Loyalty is never really recognized as such until it withstands the test of adversity. Its easy to say “I’m loyal to God” when we are comfortable and well fed, at the top of our game!

But its not so easy to remain loyal when all of that is removed – particularly when we know God has the power to keep us from any adversity. What if we wake up one day and find ourselves with nothing? Fame gone, money gone, maybe everything we have ripped away by some calamity. That’s what happened to Naomi, Ruth, Orpah. What is our response? Some would say: “Who is the Lord? He did not keep me from this hardship.”

Ruth’s Promise to Naomi

So, on with the story. Both daughters-in-law want to return to Judah with Naomi – they are all in grief at their mutual loss and it must have driven them to be very close. They had each other but Naomi tells them to remain in Moab and find new husbands while they are still young. So Orpah returns to her people (and to the gods of her people) but the bible says Ruth clung to Naomi. Ruth chose her Mother-in-law over her own people and traditions and she insists on returning with her to a land, a people, and a God she did not know. Here is what Ruth says

“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.”

Ruth 1:16-17

Ruth insists so Naomi says no more. Whatever happens, they will face it together. Its interesting that Ruth invokes the name of the God of Israel without fully knowing who He is. But she must have known something of the Lord through Naomi’s faith. You never know how much other people around you pick up on your faith. What do they see? A life of purity and faithfulness even in the midst of hardship? Or unfaithfulness and rejection of God when things in life go south? I think the answer for Ruth is clear. She knew something of the Lord through Naomi. How powerful it must have been to Ruth to see the response of faith in the caldron of adversity. No family, no food, no future, but still faithful to God. “I don’t know who your God is, but if that is your faith in this dark situation, I sure am gonna find out. Tell me more.” People are watching you.

Ruth not only commits her life to Naomi but to Naomi’s people and the Lord. God can absolutely work with that. And so He did in the life of this Moabite woman – a Gentile, a pagan. But I think Naomi’s relationship and her faith was the key. The darkness of famine and loss, not knowing what was to become of her and yet still showing a loyalty to the Lord and a love for Ruth.

So the plan is to return to Judah – perhaps Naomi could reconnect with kin and at least be cared for and fed. That’s her hope. Its been a long time since Naomi has been to Bethlehem but she is out of options. How will she be received? Will anyone remember her?

Ruth leaves behind her own kin and her country to follow Naomi – a promise to remain with her until death, even with a very uncertain future. The distance between Moab and Bethlehem is about 50 miles of steep, rugged terrain. One old woman, one young woman, perhaps provisioned by Ruth’s family or maybe by Orpah, making a difficult, dangerous journey. Loyalty, love, courage, commitment in the face of suffering and uncertainty. And yet, they do not realize the enormous plans God is working through them. His protection is over them on the journey.

Back in Bethlehem

They arrive in Bethlehem and some of the people recognize Naomi. But Naomi tells them:

She said to them, “Do not call me Naomi; call me Mara, for the Almighty has dealt very bitterly with me. I went out full, but the LORD has brought me back empty. Why do you call me Naomi, since the LORD has witnessed against me and the Almighty has afflicted me?

Ruth 1:20-21

So Mara…I mean Naomi…is only partially right. She is empty and afflicted – but the Lord is not dealing bitterly with her. She only thinks so. Sometimes out of our ignorance of God’s purpose in our life, we think He is against us. Naomi really has no clue what is going on here. We often don’t either. But what is faith except to trust God in those moments. I think she was doing her best and she hung on to her loyalty to God even in the humanity and brokenness of her response. He was shaping her through adversity and is about to use her in an incredible way. She may be empty, but that is only because she is about to be filled to overflowing with God’s purpose and with joy. Crushed? Feeling abandoned? Dismayed? Weeping may stay for the night, but rejoicing comes in the morning (Psalm 30). That will soon happen in Naomi’s life.

Arriving from Moab with a Moabite woman in her company must have been interesting for the people of Bethlehem. Moab was a gentile nation and some interactions with pagans were forbidden in order to protect the culture and the biblical requirements given by God to Israel. And yet here is this Moabite woman that came home with Naomi.

They happened to be in the middle of the barley harvest as I am sure Naomi was aware. They needed food. There was a way ordained by God to take care of the “needy and the stranger” – to ensure they were fed (Lev 19:9-10). The requirement was to leave the edges of the fields unharvested. The needy could then take what they needed without cost. Its logical to assume, even though the bible does not say it, that Naomi tells Ruth of the custom of gleaning. Ruth heads out to the fields to glean and ends up in the field of Boaz, who happens to be a rich man, kin of her deceased husband and also kin of Naomi’s deceased husband.

Boaz and Ruth

Boaz takes notice of Ruth but initially doesn’t know who she is, although he has heard about her – Bethlehem is a small community. His employees tell him this is Ruth the Moabite woman who came back with Naomi. Boaz, of course knows Naomi – she is family. Ruth is finished gleaning for the day and is hanging out in the house – apparently waiting to meet Boaz?

Boaz has been informed of Ruth’s relationship to Naomi, and Naomi is the widow of his kin Elimelech – he hasn’t seen her for at least 12 years. Under Mosaic law, the family of Naomi’s husband has a responsibility to her. There was custom under the law that required the brother of a deceased husband without children to marry the widow so that the lineage of the husband would not be terminated. There was a lot tied to this custom including inheritance rights. The situation here is more complicated since Naomi is apparently no longer able to conceive. More on that (which is really the culmination of the story).

Anyway, Boaz shows abundant kindness to Ruth because of her dedication to Naomi, but he has also learned of her conversion. Here is what Boaz says to her:

May the LORD reward your work, and your wages be full from the LORD, the God of Israel, under whose wings you have come to seek refuge.”

Ruth 2:12

Isn’t that a beautiful way to describe a relationship with God. This same metaphor would become encoded in the Psalms of David years later. Psalm 91 is an example, which did not even exist at the time. Possibly a Hebrew idiom? But its a great picture of how we should view our relationship with God – assuming we, like Ruth, have given our allegiance to the Lord.

Clearly, the region of Bethlehem was loyal to the God of Israel. There is no indication of idolatry and the people were following the law as given by the Lord through Moses. Here is Ruth’s response to Boaz’s blessing:

Then she said, “I have found favor in your sight, my lord, for you have comforted me and indeed have spoken kindly to your maidservant, though I am not like one of your maidservants.”

Ruth 2:13

Boaz continues his kindness and generosity, inviting her to dine with himself and his household and letting her take what’s left of the meal. He also instructs his reapers to leave plenty for her to glean so she doesn’t have to go to other fields, where there may be a threat against her as a Moabite woman gleaning alone. He takes care of her, and through her, Naomi as well. Boaz surely knew that Naomi was old and unable to glean herself as was completely reliant on Ruth for her care. Ruth heads home with enough grain for both of them and continues the gleaning until the barley harvest is complete.

Ruth and Naomi have a conversation about how things went and when Ruth describes the kindness of Boaz, Naomi says:

“May he be blessed of the LORD who has not withdrawn his kindness to the living and to the dead.” Again Naomi said to her, “The man is our relative, he is one of our closest relatives.”

Ruth 2:20

Finally, Naomi sees a glimmer of God’s purpose towards her as a kindness worked through Boaz. But she refers to herself as “dead”. She cannot see God’s purpose – indeed, she will never comprehend the full weight of what is about to happen. God will use every action that Naomi, Ruth, and Boaz take from this point forward to lock in His purposes, not only for them, but for all of us.

Naomi’s Plan

Naomi is concerned for the Ruth, who is still young. She conceives a plan to secure a future for Ruth, requiring a bit of risk, but within the confines of the law. She instructs Ruth to bathe and anoint herself and dress in her best clothes. Then Ruth is instructed to go to where Boaz is at the threshing floor and there, she is to lay at his feet when he asleep. This is clearly designed to communicate that she is requesting redemption from Boaz and is within the boundaries of customs of the day.

Boaz wakes in the middle of the night and is surprised by Ruth. Its dark and he doesn’t know who this is at his feet. Ruth identifies herself and asks Boaz to cover her for he is a redeemer. This is a request under the law, for redemption. Redemption was a legal, social, cultural custom in the ancient world. Go to the link; its best to do your own research on the custom as its too involved to go into here – this post is already long enough.

Suffice to say here that the requirements and process for redemption were established in Mosaic Law, provided by the Lord to Moses. This action by Ruth and the short conversation she has with Boaz had to do with formally starting the process. For Ruth, it was simply a request to Boaz based on the relationship they had established – a desire to formalize the relationship – to become part of his family.

The Redemption

Ruth’s character now pays off. Boaz knows exactly what Ruth is requesting through an act of humility accomplished exactly in accordance with the law and as instructed by Naomi. Naomi was not asking Ruth to seduce Boaz – not understanding the custom of the time might lead us to that conclusion. But that is not what happened. Boaz explains that he is happy to redeem her (I think he is actually in love with her and has been since he met her), but that the right of redemption is not his unless the first right owned by a closer relative is relinquished – Boaz, though he desires Ruth, knows all must be done in accordance with the law. He shows integrity.

Concerned for their reputation, Ruth gets up early. Boaz sends her off with more grain, telling her to stand by, promising to get the matter of her redemption settled the same day. Ruth returns to Naomi who asks how things went. Ruth explained what happened, the plan was successful, but the final outcome is not yet determined due to the legal issue of right of redemption.

A lot is at stake here – not only is the welfare of Ruth and Naomi on-the-line, but property as well. Technically, the property belonged to Naomi who is offering it back to her husband’s family – but the redemption of Ruth is part of the deal. Boaz totally understands and is on-board but he must resolve the legal issue with the elders of the town.

Everybody is watching. How interesting this must have been to the town – everybody knows who Ruth is and have a favorable opinion of her because of two reasons: 1) she takes care of Naomi even though she has very little resource and 2) she is a convert to their faith. Ruth, although probably quite a beautiful young woman, has acted with kindness, humility, compassion. She works hard. She has respected the customs and traditions of the community and has won their favor. Character really does count for something.

Boaz immediately takes the matter of redemption to the elders of the city and explains the situation (they were probably aware). Naomi has to sell the land, but Ruth is part of the deal. Whomever acquires the land also acquires Ruth. Boaz puts it before the elders and offers to be redeemer if the right is given up by the closest relative. He is unable to take on expense so gives up the redemption to Boaz. The deal is sealed with the whole town as witnesses, so everything is done in accordance with the legal requirements. Here is how Boaz puts it to the town:

Then Boaz said to the elders and all the people, “You are witnesses today that I have bought from the hand of Naomi all that belonged to Elimelech and all that belonged to Chilion and Mahlon. Moreover, I have acquired Ruth the Moabitess, the widow of Mahlon, to be my wife in order to raise up the name of the deceased on his inheritance, so that the name of the deceased will not be cut off from his brothers or from the court of his birth place; you are witnesses today.”

Ruth 4:9-10

The Conclusion

Now I have said that this book is prophetic. It is. Here is one of the prophecies given as a blessing from the elders of the town as Boaz takes possession of the property and Ruth as redeemer:

Moreover, may your house be like the house of Perez whom Tamar bore to Judah, through the offspring which the LORD will give you by this young woman.”

Ruth 4:12

Out of Perez came the royal lineage of David, King of Israel – these people had no idea. Now this is getting to the amazing completion of this chapter in the path of our redemption – our salvation so lets finish this amazing story.

It says that Boaz took Ruth as his wife and the Lord enabled her to conceive. The LORD enabled her to conceive. He was in this story all along – from the famine that drove Elimelech to Moab with his family, his death in Moab, the marriage of his sons to Ruth and Orpah, their subsequent death, the close relationship between Naomi and Ruth, the return to Bethlehem over 50 miles of rough terrain, gleaning for a living, the meeting of Boaz in the fileds, the kindness and compassion of Boaz, the character of Ruth, the faith of Naomi, the plan, the delight of Boaz who loved Ruth, his integrity before the elders of the town, the redemption, the wedding, and now, a child, conceived as enabled by the Lord whose plan it was all along.

Adversity, loss, grief, emptiness. But all of this darkness laced with grace and kindness, integrity, hard work, love, commitment, and faith. And what became of it? What did 13 years of hardship result in?

One more prophecy to deal with, and it comes from the women of the town at the birth of 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 than seven sons, has given birth to him.”

Ruth 4:14-15

These words were spoken, not to Ruth, but to Naomi. The son she would hold, born from Ruth but considered her own son. And here is the conclusion:

Then Naomi took the child and laid him in her lap, and became his nurse. The neighbor women gave him a name, saying, “A son has been born to Naomi!” So they named him Obed.

Ruth 4:16

Naomi considered herself dead with the loss of her husband and sons. About 14 years later would bring her to this moment with the prophetic words spoken over Naomi that this son would be to her a “restorer of life” words that would be true in Naomi’s life – remember, she considered herself dead. Once empty, now filled with the joy of the Lord.

And here is why I consider this story every Christmas: the restorer of life – these prophetic words would echo through time into the lineage that would lead from Ruth’s son to another who would be king of Israel. Because from Obed came Jesse and from Jesse would be born David who would be anointed King of Israel – a royal lineage and a throne that would not perish but would remain forever.

The words would extend another 1000 years through the history of Israel and come right back to this very same place – Bethlehem of Judea – in a manger where would be laid another King born in the fullness of time, who would be the “restorer of life” for us all who are dead in our sins. A savior who is Christ the Lord.

You see, Naomi and Ruth never knew what God was accomplishing in the midst of pain, loss, suffering, darkness, uncertainty. They never knew that through their integrity, kindness, compassion, and faith that God would change the course of human history.

For you and me, when we experience adversity and God is silent – keep a clear conscience. Don’t turn your back on God. Keep the faith, like Naomi. When God is silent its because he is very busy doing something BIG. We may never know what that is but then, neither did Ruth, Naomi or Boaz. Isn’t it interesting that the lineage of Jesus is through a Moabite woman – a gentile. I find that fascinating.

And that’s what happened in the lowly farming town of Bethlehem in Judea over 3000 years ago.

Jesus – the Restorer of Life.

Merry Christmas.