The Book of Ruth
Commissioned for a women's retreat with 1st Evangelical Free Church, Moline, IL
You're like me
Reflections by the Artist on
You're Like Me
Ruth and Naomi
The book of Ruth in the Hebrew Bible is located right after Proverbs 31, the chapter celebrating the “Woman who fears the Lord.” In this way, Ruth seems to be shown as an example of such a woman. Proverbs 31 tells us
“She is more precious than jewels. The heart of her husband trusts in her, and he will have no lack of gain. She does him good, and not harm, all the days of her life. (Pro 31:10-12)”
“[she] provides food for her household (31:15)”
“she dresses herself with strength and makes her arms strong. (31:17)”
“She opens her mouth with wisdom, and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue. (31:26)”
Her husband blesses and praises her (31:28)
Naomi, Ruth’s mother-in-law, buried her husband and two sons. Her daughter-in-laws were barren throughout their 10 year long marriages. In their culture, Naomi is destitute, as a widow and as a woman with no family line. Naomi decides to return to Bethlehem and throw herself on the mercy and hesed [kindness] of Yahweh.
Ruth sees her mother-in-law’s helpless situation and steps into it. Ruth knows what she is getting into. Naomi tries to persuade her to take a more logical path; not wanting to pull Ruth into the bitterness her life has become. But Ruth sees the bitterness and resolves to do what she can to bring joy back to Naomi. They both knew that life would not be easy.
Ruth decides to become a young widowed foreigner in Bethlehem, she had seen Naomi live as a young widowed foreigner in Moab.
Surely, looking at Ruth, it was like looking in a mirror. Naomi saw herself. She saw the hardships that were coming, and she tried to turn her back; begged Ruth to go home to her parent’s house. Begged Ruth to let others care for her, help her, provide for her. Instead Ruth takes on the responsibility not only for her own helpless plight but also for the helpless plight of her mother-in-law.
Ruth knows that in returning to Bethlehem, Naomi is returning to Yahweh. She is putting her fate into His hands. In going with Naomi, Ruth is choosing to put herself into God’s hands also. God is faithful. God sees the weak. He hears those who call to Him.
Later in the story Boaz blesses Ruth saying, “The LORD repay you for what you have done, and a full reward be given you by the LORD, the God of Israel, under whose wings you have come to take refuge! (Ruth 2:12)”
Ruth and Naomi come empty into Bethlehem. They have no husbands, no children, no provisions. Naomi, whose name meant “joy” had no joy left. They come to Bethlehem, and Yahweh fills them. He gives them each other, he provides work for Ruth, food for the women, a husband, a home, a child, and a lineage of kings. “The meek shall obtain fresh joy in the LORD, and the poor among mankind shall exult in the Holy One of Israel. (Is 29:19)”
Though Ruth did not make a “smart” choice or a logical decision in going with Naomi, she made a wise choice. “Charm is deceitful and beauty is fleeting, but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised. (Proverbs 31:30)”
S. Jewell S. McGhee October 5, 2012
You're Like Me
Ruth and Naomi
The book of Ruth in the Hebrew Bible is located right after Proverbs 31, the chapter celebrating the “Woman who fears the Lord.” In this way, Ruth seems to be shown as an example of such a woman. Proverbs 31 tells us
“She is more precious than jewels. The heart of her husband trusts in her, and he will have no lack of gain. She does him good, and not harm, all the days of her life. (Pro 31:10-12)”
“[she] provides food for her household (31:15)”
“she dresses herself with strength and makes her arms strong. (31:17)”
“She opens her mouth with wisdom, and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue. (31:26)”
Her husband blesses and praises her (31:28)
Naomi, Ruth’s mother-in-law, buried her husband and two sons. Her daughter-in-laws were barren throughout their 10 year long marriages. In their culture, Naomi is destitute, as a widow and as a woman with no family line. Naomi decides to return to Bethlehem and throw herself on the mercy and hesed [kindness] of Yahweh.
Ruth sees her mother-in-law’s helpless situation and steps into it. Ruth knows what she is getting into. Naomi tries to persuade her to take a more logical path; not wanting to pull Ruth into the bitterness her life has become. But Ruth sees the bitterness and resolves to do what she can to bring joy back to Naomi. They both knew that life would not be easy.
Ruth decides to become a young widowed foreigner in Bethlehem, she had seen Naomi live as a young widowed foreigner in Moab.
Surely, looking at Ruth, it was like looking in a mirror. Naomi saw herself. She saw the hardships that were coming, and she tried to turn her back; begged Ruth to go home to her parent’s house. Begged Ruth to let others care for her, help her, provide for her. Instead Ruth takes on the responsibility not only for her own helpless plight but also for the helpless plight of her mother-in-law.
Ruth knows that in returning to Bethlehem, Naomi is returning to Yahweh. She is putting her fate into His hands. In going with Naomi, Ruth is choosing to put herself into God’s hands also. God is faithful. God sees the weak. He hears those who call to Him.
Later in the story Boaz blesses Ruth saying, “The LORD repay you for what you have done, and a full reward be given you by the LORD, the God of Israel, under whose wings you have come to take refuge! (Ruth 2:12)”
Ruth and Naomi come empty into Bethlehem. They have no husbands, no children, no provisions. Naomi, whose name meant “joy” had no joy left. They come to Bethlehem, and Yahweh fills them. He gives them each other, he provides work for Ruth, food for the women, a husband, a home, a child, and a lineage of kings. “The meek shall obtain fresh joy in the LORD, and the poor among mankind shall exult in the Holy One of Israel. (Is 29:19)”
Though Ruth did not make a “smart” choice or a logical decision in going with Naomi, she made a wise choice. “Charm is deceitful and beauty is fleeting, but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised. (Proverbs 31:30)”
S. Jewell S. McGhee October 5, 2012
Spread Your Wings Over Me
Reflections by the artist on
Spread Your Wings Over Me
Famine is scary. Barrenness is soul sapping. We do not want to feel helpless, needy, or out of control. Elimelech, Naomi’s husband was faced with famine and fled. He found a logical solution, knowing it was outside of Yahweh’s plan, and acted, swiftly and decisively. Naomi and Ruth, faced with barrenness, took refuge in Yahweh, despite the fact that it was an illogical decision for Ruth. “therefore, behold, I will again do wonderful things with this people, with wonder upon wonder; and the wisdom of their wise men shall perish. (Isaiah 29:14)”
Ruth entrusted herself to the LORD’s care. The Law had made provisions for widows, orphans and foreigners to glean the edges and fallings behind the workers. Landowners were not to harvest their field with the most efficiency. They were to allow those who were needy to gather the excess and the edges, in order to provide for their needs.
Boaz was a man who was willing to be used by God; he was an instrument of the LORD’s generosity and hesed [kindness]. He allowed Ruth to gather with the needy, but he also gave her intentional and excessive generosity because of her hesed [kindness] to Naomi.
Boaz blessed Ruth asking that God spread his wings over her, like a mother bird protecting her young. Ruth asked Boaz on the threshing floor to spread his wings/garment over her, to be the answer to his own prayer for her by marrying her.
There is certainly sexual tension in this scandalous midnight meeting, but it only serves to highlight the honorable and moral character that has already been established in both Ruth (3:11) and Boaz (2:1).
It is so beautiful, the way that the LORD works. Boaz started by merely being an instrument of the LORD’s hesed [kindness], and it was through this that God showed hesed to Boaz. Ruth comes to Boaz, on the threshing floor, and asks that he marry her and provide for her and Naomi. Boaz says, “May you be blessed by the LORD, my daughter. You have made this last kindness [hesed] greater than the first in that you have not gone after young men, whether poor or rich. (Ruth 3:10)”
Hesed is a Hebrew word that does not have an English synonym. It is kindness given willingly to someone in a real and desperate need, in the context of a relationship, it is a long-term covenantal kindness. Hesed is an attribute of God that we are called to emulate.
God is a good, kind, caring life-giver. He is trust worthy and faithful. He can be trusted with all of our troubles, with life’s famines, barrenness, sorrows, and our daily tangible needs.
S. Jewell S.McGhee October 5, 2012
Spread Your Wings Over Me
Famine is scary. Barrenness is soul sapping. We do not want to feel helpless, needy, or out of control. Elimelech, Naomi’s husband was faced with famine and fled. He found a logical solution, knowing it was outside of Yahweh’s plan, and acted, swiftly and decisively. Naomi and Ruth, faced with barrenness, took refuge in Yahweh, despite the fact that it was an illogical decision for Ruth. “therefore, behold, I will again do wonderful things with this people, with wonder upon wonder; and the wisdom of their wise men shall perish. (Isaiah 29:14)”
Ruth entrusted herself to the LORD’s care. The Law had made provisions for widows, orphans and foreigners to glean the edges and fallings behind the workers. Landowners were not to harvest their field with the most efficiency. They were to allow those who were needy to gather the excess and the edges, in order to provide for their needs.
Boaz was a man who was willing to be used by God; he was an instrument of the LORD’s generosity and hesed [kindness]. He allowed Ruth to gather with the needy, but he also gave her intentional and excessive generosity because of her hesed [kindness] to Naomi.
Boaz blessed Ruth asking that God spread his wings over her, like a mother bird protecting her young. Ruth asked Boaz on the threshing floor to spread his wings/garment over her, to be the answer to his own prayer for her by marrying her.
There is certainly sexual tension in this scandalous midnight meeting, but it only serves to highlight the honorable and moral character that has already been established in both Ruth (3:11) and Boaz (2:1).
It is so beautiful, the way that the LORD works. Boaz started by merely being an instrument of the LORD’s hesed [kindness], and it was through this that God showed hesed to Boaz. Ruth comes to Boaz, on the threshing floor, and asks that he marry her and provide for her and Naomi. Boaz says, “May you be blessed by the LORD, my daughter. You have made this last kindness [hesed] greater than the first in that you have not gone after young men, whether poor or rich. (Ruth 3:10)”
Hesed is a Hebrew word that does not have an English synonym. It is kindness given willingly to someone in a real and desperate need, in the context of a relationship, it is a long-term covenantal kindness. Hesed is an attribute of God that we are called to emulate.
God is a good, kind, caring life-giver. He is trust worthy and faithful. He can be trusted with all of our troubles, with life’s famines, barrenness, sorrows, and our daily tangible needs.
S. Jewell S.McGhee October 5, 2012