Women of the Bible // Ruth

Hey y’all!  I know I had mentioned back in this post about me potentially doing a blog study on women of the Bible, and many of you gave positive feedback on the idea.  I’ve been thinking about, studying, and planning to begin this series this spring, and today I’m officially kicking of this study!  I am hoping to post every-other-week, but Saturdays can either be very quiet or very busy, depending on the week, so it may not work.  We will have to see.  Anyway, let’s go ahead and jump in with our first study, discussing Ruth!

I don’t know about you, but Ruth has always been one of my favorite Bible characters.  Her story is a beautiful picture of beauty for ashes.  It’s also one of the sweetest love stories you will find.  Yet, Ruth’s story was far from romantic.  She experienced much heartache and knew what hard times were like.  Her daily life was of toil and pain, both physically and emotionally, as she worked hard each day to provide for her mother-in-law, Naomi, and herself while she battled the loss of her husband and everything she had ever known.

Although we don’t know everything there is to know about Ruth and her story, there is still a wealth of knowledge, wisdom, and insight we can gain by studying just these 4 chapters.  Here are three characteristics we see so clearly displayed in Ruth’s life.

Ruth was resolved.

When I think of a steady, grounded woman, I think of Ruth.  She was firm, determined, and dedicated.  We see that Orpah, Naomi’s other daughter-in-law, was not so firm.  After a little persuasion, she kissed Naomi good-bye and returned to her homeland (Ruth 1:10, 14-15).  When Naomi advised Ruth to do the same, Ruth essentially replied, “Don’t say that!” (Ruth 1:16-17.)  Verse 18 suggests that Naomi may have persisted further, but Ruth’s decision was clearly resolute.  This woman had made up her mind!

I smile a little when I think about how we, as women, so often have iron wills.  That can often work against us, but in this case it worked for Ruth.  You know, it’s kind of amusing when you think of how set women can get on things that mean so little, and then how deceived and influenced by subjects that mean so much.  It was not so with Ruth.  She had a good head on her shoulders.

I have a feeling that Ruth knew how to handle her emotions, despite the rollercoaster she must have experienced at this time in her life.  Maybe Ruth’s family life hadn’t been that good, so she was in no hurry to get back home.  I don’t know.  But I do know that she chose the difficult way.  When our emotions are running wild, we usually just pick the easiest option.  Our heart and body yearns for rest and normality.  But Ruth denied whatever emotional attachments she may have had to her homeland comfort, and chose to stay with her poor, widowed mother-in-law instead.

When Ruth made the decision to stay with Naomi and go back to Bethlehem, she was probably aware that fitting in wasn’t going to happen easily.  They hadn’t been there long before rumors started flying (Ruth 1:19).  Naomi wasn’t a complete stranger, and Ruth’s identity as a Moabite would not have been hidden long.  Naomi’s response was to change her name to Mara, which means “bitter.”  We don’t know what Ruth’s response to this was at first, but we do know that it didn’t keep her indoors.  She knew that provision for food would have to be made, so she got right out there to start gleaning.  This brings me to the second main characteristic we will consider about Ruth…

Ruth was hard-working.

It would have been far from easy for Ruth to go out into unknown fields and reap for hours on end (Ruth 2:2, 7).  Ruth was faithful to care for Naomi, and she worked hard (Ruth 2:11-12, 17).  And this is where Mr. Tall, Dark, and Handsome enters the scene.

OK, well, we don’t know if Boaz was tall, dark, and handsome or not, although we do know that he was wealthy (Ruth 2:1).  But that’s beside the point.  Point is, he was Ruth’s kinsman redeemer.  Her husband-to-be.  You know how the story goes. :)

Ruth was humble.

If you examine all of Ruth’s other noticeable characteristics, you will find one common thread: humility.  Ruth had to be humble when she chose to come with Naomi into a foreign land where she would potentially be unwelcome and have to work hard to live.  She was a widower.  Life was hard and circumstances were depressing.  Gleaning the fields after the servants was something the poor did (Leviticus 19:9-10, 23:22).  When Boaz showered Ruth with generosity, her response was to fall on her face before him (Ruth 2:10).

What I love about this story is how it takes a beautiful turn from a rough season of heartache to a new season filled with the outpouring of God’s grace and goodness.  The Lord didn’t leave Ruth in despair.  He sent her hope and blessings.  And you know what’s really cool?  Read this verse below, which was written hundreds of years after Ruth’s story took place.

“Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder.  Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble.”  - 1 Peter 5:5

Ruth was such a perfect picture of this verse!  She submitted herself to the elder (she followed and took care of Naomi) and was clothed with humility.  And then, she enjoyed the benefits of God’s promise: God… giveth grace to the humble. 

Ruth, a woman of humility, experienced so much of God’s grace.  Boaz made sure she had food (Ruth 2:14, 16), arranged matters with the nearest kinsman redeemer (Ruth 4:1-6), and took Ruth to be his wife (Ruth 4:10, 13).  God blessed the couple with a son, Obed, and we know that Jesus eventually came through this line.

Other characteristics we find in Ruth’s life?

- She had a reputation of virtue (Ruth 3:11)

- She did not go after other men (Ruth 3:10)

- She was obedient (Ruth 3:5)

- She trusted God (Ruth 2:12)

I could go on and on for hours about this incredible woman.  There is just so much beauty in the story of Ruth!  So much to glean from her.  So much to learn.  So much to ponder.  This is not my first time studying Ruth.  I get more and more out of it each time through.  Isn’t that how all of God’s Word is?!

I would encourage you to do your own study on Ruth.  Read through it, look up all the references in this post, study it with a friend, read a book on Ruth or another article like this one… there are so many ways and resources.  I will list a couple below.

- > Sermon: 7 Reasons to Say “I Do.”  For part one, click here.  For part two, click here.  Description: “Folded into the layers of romance between Ruth and Boaz is some extremely practical advice on why anyone should ever say yes to a wedding proposal. Stephen {Davies} explores seven qualities that should be on every single girl's and guy’s wish list. And for the married, these are seven qualities to never stop pursuing!”

(Note: marriage doesn’t have to be at the forefront of your mind in order for you to get something out of this.  My dad asked me to listen to this sermon several months ago.  So many great points.  I plan on listening to it again soon.  Also, it focuses more on the love story aspect in the book of Ruth, whereas I did not touch much on that in this post.)

- > Blog post: Becoming a Woman of Virtue: a Bible Study on Ruth.  (Rebekah gives many more resources for studying Ruth at the end of her post.)

I’d love to hear from you, below!

Are you excited about this study?  Comment with three hearts! 💙💙💙  (But don’t forget to share your thoughts in the comment, too ;)

Who is your favorite woman of the Bible?

Are there any specific Biblical women you’d like to me to highlight in a post?

P.S. -- have you gotten a chance yet to check out my newest YouTube video, When Morning Gilds the Skies?