March 21, 2010
Background Scripture: Ruth 1:1-16
Devotional Reading: John 20:24-29
Whoever wrote the Book of Ruth was a person of great courage and creativity. The courage part was to dare to present to fellow Jews the horrific revelation that the great-grandmother of King David was not only a foreigner, a non-Jew, but an admirable native of one of Israel’s most despised neighbors: The kingdom of Moab.

Jews thought they had more than reason enough to despise the Moabites (see Genesis 19, Numbers 22 and 25, Judges 3). The restrictions against Moabites were more stringent than any of Israel’s neighbors. Moabites were not only barred from “the assembly of the Lord,” but the ban was extended to 10 generations of the offender (Deut., 23:3).

Just as Jonah despised Nineveh, so in Ruth’s time the Israelites were contemptuous of Moab. The Book of Ruth was probably not a bestseller in its own day.

The irony of Ruth

The writer of Ruth was also creative, using terms in various ways that are suggestive of irony. For example, Naomi means “my pleasantness,” and is ironic because throughout most of the story she is a most unhappy woman.

Her husband’s name, Elimelech, means “God is my King,” so is it coincidental that that the Book of Ruth immediately follows the Book of Judges, in which the last verse tells us: “In those days there was no king in Israel”? (Judges 21:25). The names of the sons of Elimelech and Naomi, Mahlon and Chilion, suggest respectively “sickness” and “wasting away,” referring possibly to their deaths which left Ruth and Orpah widows.

Ruth’s name is particularly appropriate, meaning “companion” or “friend.” Elimelech and Naomi are Jews living in Bethlehem and it is interesting to note that they leave Bethlehem, meaning “House of Bread,” because there is a famine in the land of Israel.

Another touch of this writer is the use of the Hebrew word shub, which can be translated as “turn,” “return,” “go back,” “turn back” and “brought back.” It occurs 15 times in Ruth and 12 in the first chapter. Shub may also refer to “apostasy,” turning away from God, and also “repentance,” turning to God.

The story of Ruth is one of the best-known in the Old Testament. Because of a famine in their native land, Elimelech and Naomi migrate to the despised land of Moab, where conditions are presumably better. Their two sons marry native Moabites, Ruth and Orpah.

In time Elimelech, Mahlon and Chilion die, leaving Naomi, Ruth and Orpah widows. In those days, being a widow was one of the worst states in which a woman might find herself. So, learning that things have improved back in Bethlehem, Naomi prepares to return.
Kindly, she encourages Ruth and Orpah to remain in Moab and find themselves Moabite husbands. Both daughters-in-law loyally protest that they will go with Naomi, but at last Orpah does leave. Ruth steadfastly refuses to leave Naomi.

Deal kindly
Ruth does not owe this devotion to Naomi. The family ties have been broken by the deaths of the three men and Naomi and Ruth are members of two nations that despise one another. Here the writer uses a Hebrew word, khesed, which is “to deal kindly,” a loving-kindness and loyalty that go far beyond what the law or custom requires.

This term is beautifully illustrated in Ruth, for that is how she relates to Naomi: going beyond that which is required. It is in that context that Ruth utters those famous words: “Do not press me to leave you or turn back from following you! Where you go, I will go; where you lodge, I will lodge; your people shall be my people, and your God my God” (1:16).

The concept of khesed is especially vital in family relationships. Whatever else married love may suggest, it should be founded on khesed. Husbands and wives need to go beyond what is required in their love. Parental love should also embody khesed.

Churches that incorporate khesed provide blessings for themselves and others. Actually, everything goes better with khesed!*
*(On March 21, I will celebrate my 80th birthday. God has blessed me with khesed.)

The views and opinions expressed in this column are those of the author and not necessarily those of Farm World. Readers with questions or comments for Rev. Althouse may write to him in care of this publication.