Ruth!

We all know the story of Ruth, right?

After the death of her husband, she chose to stay with her widowed mother-in-law, Naomi, instead of returning home to her family in Moab. She gleaned the fields of Boaz, a kinsman of Naomi’s husband, at the time of grain harvest, in order to sustain them (the grain that fell as the reapers gathered was traditionally left on the ground for the poor to glean).

Because of her faithfulness and the quality of her character, she drew the attention of Boaz as she gleaned his fields. He instructed his servants to leave extra grain in the wake of their reaping, so that she could gather it.

According to the custom of Levirate marriage (levir being Latin for “husband’s brother”), the nearest kin of a dead man had an obligation to marry the widow, and raise an heir to his brother’s house. Boaz was a near kin to Naomi’s husband (and hence, her son’s, as well), and it would be his obligation to marry Ruth, to fulfill the law. 

Persuaded by Naomi, Ruth went to Boaz, as he slept on the threshing-floor, and lay at his feet while he slept. When he awoke to find her there, she revealed that he was a near kinsman, which was a marriage proposal of sorts. In a sweet revelation of his character, Boaz tells Ruth that he is impressed with her goodness, and that her virtue is well-known. He informs her that he is willing to do his duty, but that there is a nearer kinsman than he, and that this other gentleman has first dibs.

Long story longer, Ruth and Boaz marry and Ruth has a son named Obed. Obed is the father of Jesse, who is the father of David—from whose line Christ comes. 

So Ruth is blessed with a goodly husband, and also becomes the mother of a line of kings, most importantly, the King of Kings, the Savior.

The example of Ruth encourages us to be faithful, loyal, and virtuous in a world much like that which Ruth inhabited, where “every man did that which was right in his own eyes (Judges 17:6).”

If we can live lives fill with faith and integrity, those around us will notice. As Boaz said of Ruth, “all the city of my people doth know that thou art a virtuous woman (Ruth 3:11).” Her quiet example was a testament to others of her goodness.  We, like Ruth, can choose to have integrity in a world that mocks goodness, and loyalty in a world where an attitude of self-interest is expected--and even encouraged.