Ruth - Friendship, Love, and Virtue

[SilverFox7]

A close colleague and friend of mine died a few weeks ago, and I will be giving a eulogy at her funeral on Tuesday. In addition to being a great literary scholar, poet, and writing stories for children, Ruth was also a devout Jew, and her funeral will be held at a Jewish synagogue. This will be the first time I attend a service at a synagogue, and I am honored that her family asked me to speak at her memorial.

Names are meaningful in our Hebrew and Christian traditions. Ruth is translated as “compassionate friend”, and my name, David, is translated as “beloved.” Although I’ve known Ruth and served with her on an academic board for 20 years, I never made the connection between our two names from a historical and spiritual perspective. Ruth was the great grandmother of King David.

The book of Ruth is a short story that is smashed in between the historical books of Joshua and Judges on one end and Samuel through Kings on the other in Christian Bibles. Why? The first verse of the book of Ruth provides the answer:

Ruth 1:1

New King James Version

1 Now it came to pass, in the days when the judges [a]ruled, that there was a famine in the land. And a certain man of Bethlehem, Judah, went to [b]dwell in the country of Moab, he and his wife and his two sons.

The book of Ruth is set in the time of the judges a few generations before the beginning of the monarchy. It gives us a glimpse into the type of life the Israelites lived in that era and brings us into the family dynamics. How interesting that this family was from Bethlehem, the birthplace of both David and Jesus, descendants of Ruth.

After re-reading Ruth this week, the main theme that stood out to me is love. Ruth is a love story plain and simple. It is also a story that magnifies virtue as we see in this scene of Ruth interacting with her future husband, Boaz:

Ruth 3:9-11
New King James Version

9 And he [Boaz] said, “Who are you?”

So she answered, “I am Ruth, your maidservant. Take[a] your maidservant under your wing, for you are a [b]close relative.”

10 Then he said, “Blessed are you of the Lord, my daughter! For you have shown more kindness at the end than at the beginning, in that you did not go after young men, whether poor or rich. 11 And now, my daughter, do not fear. I will do for you all that you request, for all the people of my town know that you are a virtuous woman.

My friend, Ruth, was a virtuous woman as well. Although the grave separates us in some ways, her love and her legacy will live within me and all of us as our beloved.

 

[2ndTimeIsTheCharm]

That was a lovely eulogy for your friend and wonderful about how both of your names relate!

 

[homwardbound]

A close colleague and friend of mine died a few weeks ago, and I will be giving a eulogy at her funeral on Tuesday. In addition to being a great literary scholar, poet, and writing stories for children, Ruth was also a devout Jew, and her funeral will be held at a Jewish synagogue. This will be the first time I attend a service at a synagogue, and I am honored that her family asked me to speak at her memorial.

Names are meaningful in our Hebrew and Christian traditions. Ruth is translated as “compassionate friend”, and my name, David, is translated as “beloved.” Although I’ve known Ruth and served with her on an academic board for 20 years, I never made the connection between our two names from a historical and spiritual perspective. Ruth was the great grandmother of King David.

The book of Ruth is a short story that is smashed in between the historical books of Joshua and Judges on one end and Samuel through Kings on the other in Christian Bibles. Why? The first verse of the book of Ruth provides the answer:

Ruth 1:1

New King James Version

1 Now it came to pass, in the days when the judges [a]ruled, that there was a famine in the land. And a certain man of Bethlehem, Judah, went to [b]dwell in the country of Moab, he and his wife and his two sons.

The book of Ruth is set in the time of the judges a few generations before the beginning of the monarchy. It gives us a glimpse into the type of life the Israelites lived in that era and brings us into the family dynamics. How interesting that this family was from Bethlehem, the birthplace of both David and Jesus, descendants of Ruth.

After re-reading Ruth this week, the main theme that stood out to me is love. Ruth is a love story plain and simple. It is also a story that magnifies virtue as we see in this scene of Ruth interacting with her future husband, Boaz:

Ruth 3:9-11
New King James Version

9 And he [Boaz] said, “Who are you?”

So she answered, “I am Ruth, your maidservant. Take[a] your maidservant under your wing, for you are a [b]close relative.”

10 Then he said, “Blessed are you of the Lord, my daughter! For you have shown more kindness at the end than at the beginning, in that you did not go after young men, whether poor or rich. 11 And now, my daughter, do not fear. I will do for you all that you request, for all the people of my town know that you are a virtuous woman.

My friend, Ruth, was a virtuous woman as well. Although the grave separates us in some ways, her love and her legacy will live within me and all of us as our beloved.

I hit at first hit the wrong button and I removed that, putting in like
Brother, Amen to you, to know Ruth is safe and secure with Father and Son, In the same love as he did on that cross once for us all to love in the same love, and mercy for us all. By this forgiveness in love we can learn new in Daddy's Spirit an truth too. Which se helped you to see to and you did that for her too, Father thank you
There is a reunion for us all, thanks to God, giving us Son to love as well as he did for us all first, thank you

 

[4urenlightment]

A close colleague and friend of mine died a few weeks ago, and I will be giving a eulogy at her funeral on Tuesday. In addition to being a great literary scholar, poet, and writing stories for children, Ruth was also a devout Jew, and her funeral will be held at a Jewish synagogue. This will be the first time I attend a service at a synagogue, and I am honored that her family asked me to speak at her memorial.

Names are meaningful in our Hebrew and Christian traditions. Ruth is translated as “compassionate friend”, and my name, David, is translated as “beloved.” Although I’ve known Ruth and served with her on an academic board for 20 years, I never made the connection between our two names from a historical and spiritual perspective. Ruth was the great grandmother of King David.

The book of Ruth is a short story that is smashed in between the historical books of Joshua and Judges on one end and Samuel through Kings on the other in Christian Bibles. Why? The first verse of the book of Ruth provides the answer:

Ruth 1:1

New King James Version

1 Now it came to pass, in the days when the judges [a]ruled, that there was a famine in the land. And a certain man of Bethlehem, Judah, went to [b]dwell in the country of Moab, he and his wife and his two sons.

The book of Ruth is set in the time of the judges a few generations before the beginning of the monarchy. It gives us a glimpse into the type of life the Israelites lived in that era and brings us into the family dynamics. How interesting that this family was from Bethlehem, the birthplace of both David and Jesus, descendants of Ruth.

After re-reading Ruth this week, the main theme that stood out to me is love. Ruth is a love story plain and simple. It is also a story that magnifies virtue as we see in this scene of Ruth interacting with her future husband, Boaz:

Ruth 3:9-11
New King James Version

9 And he [Boaz] said, “Who are you?”

So she answered, “I am Ruth, your maidservant. Take[a] your maidservant under your wing, for you are a [b]close relative.”

10 Then he said, “Blessed are you of the Lord, my daughter! For you have shown more kindness at the end than at the beginning, in that you did not go after young men, whether poor or rich. 11 And now, my daughter, do not fear. I will do for you all that you request, for all the people of my town know that you are a virtuous woman.

My friend, Ruth, was a virtuous woman as well. Although the grave separates us in some ways, her love and her legacy will live within me and all of us as our beloved.

Ruth had the spirit of devotion in her. That she couldn't abandon nor forsake her new family even after her husband's death.

This is the best animated story of Ruth

 

[GWH]

A close colleague and friend of mine died a few weeks ago, and I will be giving a eulogy at her funeral on Tuesday. In addition to being a great literary scholar, poet, and writing stories for children, Ruth was also a devout Jew, and her funeral will be held at a Jewish synagogue. This will be the first time I attend a service at a synagogue, and I am honored that her family asked me to speak at her memorial.

Names are meaningful in our Hebrew and Christian traditions. Ruth is translated as “compassionate friend”, and my name, David, is translated as “beloved.” Although I’ve known Ruth and served with her on an academic board for 20 years, I never made the connection between our two names from a historical and spiritual perspective. Ruth was the great grandmother of King David.

The book of Ruth is a short story that is smashed in between the historical books of Joshua and Judges on one end and Samuel through Kings on the other in Christian Bibles. Why? The first verse of the book of Ruth provides the answer:

Ruth 1:1

New King James Version

1 Now it came to pass, in the days when the judges [a]ruled, that there was a famine in the land. And a certain man of Bethlehem, Judah, went to [b]dwell in the country of Moab, he and his wife and his two sons.

The book of Ruth is set in the time of the judges a few generations before the beginning of the monarchy. It gives us a glimpse into the type of life the Israelites lived in that era and brings us into the family dynamics. How interesting that this family was from Bethlehem, the birthplace of both David and Jesus, descendants of Ruth.

After re-reading Ruth this week, the main theme that stood out to me is love. Ruth is a love story plain and simple. It is also a story that magnifies virtue as we see in this scene of Ruth interacting with her future husband, Boaz:

Ruth 3:9-11
New King James Version

9 And he [Boaz] said, “Who are you?”

So she answered, “I am Ruth, your maidservant. Take[a] your maidservant under your wing, for you are a [b]close relative.”

10 Then he said, “Blessed are you of the Lord, my daughter! For you have shown more kindness at the end than at the beginning, in that you did not go after young men, whether poor or rich. 11 And now, my daughter, do not fear. I will do for you all that you request, for all the people of my town know that you are a virtuous woman.

My friend, Ruth, was a virtuous woman as well. Although the grave separates us in some ways, her love and her legacy will live within me and all of us as our beloved.

Amen! That is why I named our daughter Ruth.

 

[tablet123]

 

[tablet123]

The Moabites refused the Israelites passage through their land during the Exodus and even hired the prophet Balaam to curse them.

During the period of the Judges, King Eglon of Moab oppressed Israel for 18 years until the judge Ehud delivered them. King Saul and King David later fought significant wars against them.

Many Israelite prophets, including Isaiah and Jeremiah, pronounced divine judgment against Moab for its pride and hostility.

Mat 26:28 For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.

Col 1:14 In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins.

Eph 2:13 But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.
Eph 2:14 For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us;
Eph 2:15 Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace;
Eph 2:16 And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby.

Rth 1:16 And Ruth said, Intreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee: for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God.

Rth 4:13 So Boaz took Ruth, and she was his wife: and when he went in unto her, the LORD gave her conception, and she bare a son.

Rth 4:17 And the women her neighbours gave it a name, saying, There is a son born to Naomi; and they called his name Obed: he is the father of Jesse, the father of David.

Mat 1:16 And Jacob begat Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom was born Jesus, who is called Christ.

Luk 3:23 And Jesus himself began to be about thirty years of age, being (as was supposed) the son of Joseph, which was the son of Heli.

Joseph was the son of Jacob but Luke says he was the son of Heli which must be Mary's father.

Which Heli traces back to David's son Nathan the bloodline.

And Joseph traces back to David's son Solomon the kingly role.

Why was there a Gentile woman of Moab a terrible people to Israel in the bloodline of Christ.

It could be there had to be Gentile blood in the bloodline of Christ for His blood to be able to take away the Gentile's sins.

 

[tablet123]

Of course they will add things not told in the Bible.

Rth 4:1 Then went Boaz up to the gate, and sat him down there: and, behold, the kinsman of whom Boaz spake came by; unto whom he said, Ho, such a one! turn aside, sit down here. And he turned aside, and sat down.

Rth 4:3 And he said unto the kinsman, Naomi, that is come again out of the country of Moab, selleth a parcel of land, which was our brother Elimelech's:

Rth 4:4 And I thought to advertise thee, saying, Buy it before the inhabitants, and before the elders of my people. If thou wilt redeem it, redeem it: but if thou wilt not redeem it, then tell me, that I may know: for there is none to redeem it beside thee; and I am after thee. And he said, I will redeem it.

Rth 4:5 Then said Boaz, What day thou buyest the field of the hand of Naomi, thou must buy it also of Ruth the Moabitess, the wife of the dead, to raise up the name of the dead upon his inheritance.

Rth 4:6 And the kinsman said, I cannot redeem it for myself, lest I mar mine own inheritance: redeem thou my right to thyself; for I cannot redeem it.

Rth 4:7 Now this was the manner in former time in Israel concerning redeeming and concerning changing, for to confirm all things; a man plucked off his shoe, and gave it to his neighbour: and this was a testimony in Israel.

Rth 4:8 Therefore the kinsman said unto Boaz, Buy it for thee. So he drew off his shoe.

Rth 4:9 And Boaz said unto the elders, and unto all the people, Ye are witnesses this day, that I have bought all that was Elimelech's, and all that was Chilion's and Mahlon's, of the hand of Naomi.

Rth 4:10 Moreover Ruth the Moabitess, the wife of Mahlon, have I purchased to be my wife, to raise up the name of the dead upon his inheritance, that the name of the dead be not cut off from among his brethren, and from the gate of his place: ye are witnesses this day.

The kinsman redeemer did not want Ruth to be his wife and gave her to Boaz to redeem.

But in the movie the kinsman wanted Ruth to be his wife until Ruth said she did not love him and sought out Boaz on the threshing floor.

But that is how it goes for we see all the debating and people believing something that the Bible clearly says different.