There’s a reason the Bible gives so much focus and honor to the character of Ruth. She is the great grandmother of King David, which means she is essentially a mother to all of Israel’s kings. Her story is a story of honor for the woman in that wonderful role. And not only Ruth, but Naomi was likewise honored; notice how highly the story esteems her for being such a good mom to both Ruth and Ruth’s infant son Obed! To be a mother is to be held in high regard by biblical standards. To everyone that God has blessed with the title “Mother,” happy Mothers’ Day.
That’s only one of the great things that God teaches us through the beautifully multi-faceted book of Ruth. We also see a tale of God’s kindness and care for the lowly. Ruth enters the story as lowly as you can get; she was orphaned, widowed, and a sojourner from one of Israel’s least favorite neighbors, Moab. She was left with no reason for society to value her. Yet Boaz showed her kindness and care anyway. In fact, Boaz showed his awareness of God’s will, because God had instructed Israel in the Law to care for the orphans, widows, and sojourners. God has always desired to be a refuge of safety and redemption for the lowliest of people.
By the end of the book, Ruth is redeemed. Boaz marries her and she bears a son, and that dejected, hopeless woman ends up forever honored with a lasting legacy in her descendants. God’s kindness is on full display here. This little book, wedged between dramatic histories of wars and corruptions and God’s wrath and power, reminds us that his kindness is still one of the most important ways he relates to us. The world is never too big, nor anyone else too important, for God to care particularly about you. As Isaiah 49:15 points out, the love that God has for even the lowliest of his children is like the love of a compassionate mother for her child. Thank the Lord for compassionate motherly love!
