History – Ruth
March 7, 2009
3 Comments
Today we are studying a new book – Ruth.
Bible Passage: Ruth
Of names and meanings
The book of Ruth tells us of the story of a few people. In the order of appearance, we have:
Elimelech – “my God is King”
Naomi – “my delight/pleasant” (later, Mara – “bitter”
Mahlon – “sick”
Chilion – “weakening/sickly”
Orpah – “gazelle, derived from ‘nape/back of neck’ “
Ruth – “friend”
Boaz – “fleetness/lively/he comes in strength”
Ruth is a short story that is inserted in the Bible, coming just after the depressing book of Judges. As it turns out, the children of Israel are still living in times of distress and famine. Elimelech choosing to uproot his family to go elsewhere for better hopes. Never did he expect that he and his 2 sons would die in that foreign land, leaving behind his wife and 2 daughters-in-law. The narrative of Ruth is straightforwardly one of redemption and is a shadow of the larger theme of Christ’s salvation for all mankind.
However, I think a slightly different approach to the familiar story may leave us some room for further consideration.
For many of us, there is a type of fascination with names. Whether we admit it or not, it is certain that at some point in our lives, the question of “What does my name mean?” would have occurred to us. At other times, we probably would have wondered what the names of others mean. This is especially so for those of us with Chinese names. When we read the biblical stories, at times, it serves us well to know what the names of the characters mean.
As shown above, the characters have their own names with meanings that reflect the state that they were in. Closing up on the person of Ruth, we can really see how she was a “friend” in every sense of the word.
To Naomi, she declared that her God will be her God (Ruth 1:16) and even says that she will die where she dies (Ruth 1:17). To that extent, I think this is loyalty that goes beyond all bounds! Wow.
To Boaz, she was a dutiful, virtuous woman. Her good character made her his wife eventually, and she presumably was a faithful ‘friend’ and partner to her husband. Eventually they became the ancestors of king David, and even Jesus Himself!
Given the context of the story of Ruth, it would actually be difficult to be someone loyal and much less, to be a friend to others. But Ruth, a gentile, made good on that aspect, leaving much for us to consider and learn from her ways. As we ponder on the story of Ruth, perhaps it’s a good chance for us to consider if we have ever been someone like her, willing to go the furthest extent, to be a “friend” to those around us, and even more so, to be counted as a friend of God.
The next time we think about names and their meanings, let’s take a while to think of that in context of Christ’s redemption for us. Could we then without any hesitation, fill in the card below with the words “a friend of God”?
Hello My Name Is...
Ruth followed Naomi back to Juda bec she was seeking refuge from the God whom Naomi worshipped, “And your God, my God”
Boaz confirmed so in 2:13,” The Lord repay your work, and a full reward be given to you by the LORD God of Israel, under whose wings you have come for refuge.”
Seek first the kingdom of God and His rigtheousness, and all these things shall be added to you (Matt6:32)
The bible recorded important points in simple way. Ruth2:23 recored that until the end of barley harvest and wheat harvest, Ruth dwelt with her mother-in-law. Why is this point important enough to warrant it being recorded in the bible?
The answer is revealed in Boaz’s statement:For you have shown more kindness at the end than at the beginning, in that you have not go after young men, either poor or rich.”(3:10) Ruth was truly a virtuous woman.
i m not a woman’s right advocate but i can’t help to notice that there were several women who did “righteously” through history and eventually to the birth of Jesus:
…Perze whom Tamar bore to Judah (which Judah acknowledged, “she has been more rigtheous than I.”(Gen38:26))…Salmon begot Boaz by Rahab (who hid the 2 spies) Boaz begot Obed by Ruth….Mary (a virgin) gave birth to Jesus.
Lastly in Matt1:3-6, Tamar was not called the wife of Er or Onan, Rahab was not called a harlot, Ruth was not called the wife of Chilion, but Bathsheba, not named, instead was called her who had been the wife of Uriah.
mmmmm, how come there is so much gibberish before the actual blog text came out? any way to remove those?
Done!