Part Two
Faith, Love, Virtuous, Selfless and Willingness to Obey.
As we continue to look at the Book of Ruth, we are going to see actions that only come forth when love for God is deep within our heart. Please pray before continuing the study, asking for the Holy Spirits guidance in Jesus Holy Name. Also, please look up and read all the verses in this study, for they are the strength of the study of God’s Word. In this study we will be looking at the examples of love, virtuousness, selflessness and been willing to obey. We will see that Ruth and Naomi had these gifts in their character, in loving fear of the LORD. Although this is regarding the character of Naomi and Ruth, all mankind can learn from these examples by praying and asking God to fill our hearts with the fruit of His Spirit in the name of Christ Jesus, that we too will hold the character of the Godhead Bodily. Jonathan and David, with God in their heart, were selfless, having a love for each other that surpasses understanding for many. They also had a willingness to obey, and their characters contained virtuous behaviour. Virtue is not only required of females but is required of all mankind. Please note and read the following verses, Philippians 4:8; 2 Peter 1:3-7.
Ruth loved Naomi so much she could not bear to be apart from her. So much so, that, when Naomi tries to send her and Orpah away, to go back to their own family; Ruth made a vow to Naomi that she would not depart from her. She sealed her vow with the highest seal, calling to God to deal with her if she should break her vow. (Paraphrased). Naomi must have shown great love for God and for her Daughters-in-law to receive such love in return. Note Proverbs 8:17; John 14:23; Romans 12:10; 13:10; 1 John 4:16-21; 5:1-3; compare Luke 6:27-36.
Ruth said to Naomi, “Entreat 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: 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 1:16-18.
To choose to leave your family forever, takes trust, love, and a willingness to obey a calling above oneself. We see this of Rebekah, the wife of Isaac, in Genesis 24. We see this also in the time of war for those that choose or are called to service. Yet the greatest of these acts was of Jesus Christ who gave up not only life with His Family in heaven where He had eternity, for this sinful World, He also gave His life for ours, He took upon Himself our punishment for sin. As we read the scriptures, we learn that it first prophesied of the coming Son of God, then of the fulfillment. Jesus gave more than any human could give; He paid the ramson to save humanity. Yet we must choose to follow Him, follow Him on the path to eternal life. Note Matthew 16:24; John 10; 12:26.
We see this great love in Naomi also. In Ruth 3:1, Naomi said unto Ruth, “… My daughter, shall I not seek rest for thee, that it may be well with thee?” Naomi, even though for a short time she may find herself living alone before she dies, desires the care for Ruth’s future above her own needs. Naomi is of age that she herself could not go out and glean the fields with Ruth. Also note Ruth 4:15. With the amazing event that Ruth ends up in the field of their next kindred, Note Ruth 2:20, Naomi makes the most of this opportunity for the long-term care of Ruth.
Boaz is not only Naomi’s and Ruth’s near kinsman, but he is also a wealthy man. Ruth went out to glean at the beginning of barley harvest, and she gleaned in His field to the end of the barley harvest and continued till the end of the wheat harvest. Note Ruth 1:22; 2:23. His field, land, was of large quantity.
Naomi knew that it was the duty of a next kindred to perform the duty of a husband to a widow with no children, to keep the name of the dead in Israel. Read Deuteronomy 25:5-6. Naomi set a plan for Ruth to follow. Please read Ruth Chapter 3, for all the instructions Naomi gives to Ruth.
Ruth faithfully said to Naomi, “All that thou sayest unto me I will do.” Ruth 3:5. Ruth’s love and trust in her mother-in-law was so strong that she fully agrees to everything she request of her. As you would have read, Boaz also agrees with the plan and in the process of time Ruth becomes the wife of Boaz, and she bares a son.
The love Ruth had for Naomi was so strong that when her child is born, she lovingly gives her child to Naomi and said unto Naomi, “… Blessed be the LORD, which hath not left thee this day without a kinsman, that his name may be famous in Israel. And he shall be unto thee a restorer of thy life, and a nourisher of thine old age: for thy daughter in law, which loveth thee, which is better to thee than seven sons, hath borne him. Ruth 4:14-15.
In the faith, of the gift of the child, Naomi takes “the child and laid it in her bosom, and became nurse unto it.” Verse 16.
Ruth was very much a virtuous woman. Please note verse 11 of chapter 3 in the book of Ruth. Proverbs 31:10-31, teaches us what a virtuous woman is like. While we may not be able to do everything that Proverbs 31:10-31, has spoken about, one thing is very sure, a woman that feareth the LORD, she shall be praised. A God-fearing woman will have virtue. The same is also for men, for all mankind.
Many daughters have done virtuously, but thou excellest them all. Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the LORD, she shall be praised. Give her of the fruit of her hands; and let her own works praise her in the gates. Proverbs 31:29-31. This is what happened to Ruth, note verse 11 of Ruth chapter 3; Note 4:11 as well.
The scriptures say,
… The LORD our God is one LORD: And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might. And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart: And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up. Deuteronomy 6:4-7.
Know therefore that the LORD thy God, he is God, the faithful God, which keepeth covenant and mercy with them that love him and keep his commandments to a thousand generations; Deuteronomy 7:9.
“ … what doth the LORD thy God require of thee, but to fear the LORD thy God, to walk in all his ways, and to love him, and to serve the LORD thy God with all thy heart and with all thy soul, To keep the commandments of the LORD, and his statutes,…” Deuteronomy 10:12-13. Therefore thou shalt love the LORD thy God, and keep his charge, and his statutes, and his judgments, and his commandments, alway. Deuteronomy 11:1.
And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment. And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these. Mark 12:30-31.
O that there were such an heart in them, that they would fear me, and keep all my commandments always, that it might be well with them, and with their children for ever! Deuteronomy 5:29.
Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently: Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever. 1 Peter 1:22-23.
Open The Light Studies 