Love One for the Other
"Intreat me not to leave thee; or to return from
following after thee. Whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest,
I will lodge: thy people will be my people; thy God my God. Where thou diest,
will I die, and there will I be buried: the Lord do so to me, and more also,
if ought but death part thee and me." (Ruth 1: 16 & 17 KJV)
In the Book of Ruth, we see Naomi, who had lost her husband and her two
sons, leaving her with two daughters-in-law. She did not want to keep her
two daughters-in-law from having a life of their own. She wanted to release
them from any obligation to stay with her and take care of her in her waning
years. This may or may not be typical of mothers-in-law in general. Speaking
for myself I do not want to be a burden to our children in my declining
years. On the other hand how many young women these days would want to be
saddled with a mother, much less a mother-in-law, after their husbands (her
mother-in-law’s sons) had passed away? This is a credit to Ruth, a Godly
young woman who loved her mother-in-law and wanted to take care of her. This
is teaching us to love one another; to be kind to others; to treat those who
are less fortunate as we would want to be treated. Ruth was so unselfish she
literally left her home and parents to be with Naomi. Ruth is a good example
for young women.
Boaz is a picture or type of Christ. He is Ruth’s Kinsman Redeemer. In this
case, her closest kinsman chose not to redeem Ruth, or claim her as his
wife, unless it involved more of an advantage for him; he was more
interested in her property if she had any. Therefore Boaz took it upon
himself to be her Kinsman Redeemer; to show Ruth what to do; to guide her
Then he married her and our Lord Jesus is in the genealogical line or a
descendant of Ruth and Boaz.
In the same way, Jesus is our Kinsman Redeemer. He is our Brother and our
Savior; our Redeemer; He gave His life that we might have Life Eternal; but
only if we accept Him as our Savior, and Lord of our life; ye must be born
again, that’s what He told Nicodemus, a Pharisee; when he asked “How can a
man be born again? Can he enter the second time into his mother’s womb and
be born?
Jesus said “Unless a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot see
the Kingdom of God.” John 3:5 KJV
Prayer:
Father help us to be like Ruth, selfless and kind; wanting to take care of
her mother-in-law, Naomi; seeing the need of the older woman, being a widow
also, she wanted to be near her and take care of her in her later years.
Help us to be good examples to the younger women.
Nell Berry