Study along with us in the third article by guest author Jesse Flowers on “Godly Women of the Bible.”

Nestled within the pages of the Old Testament is a short book that contains both a powerful and inspiring love story. Ruth is unique in that it is only one of two books in the Bible named after a woman. The story takes place “in the days when the judges ruled” (1:1). In a time of political, moral, and religious turmoil, how spiritually refreshing and rejuvenating to read these four chapters.

The story begins with a family from Bethlehem (Elimelech, Naomi, and their two sons) moving to Moab because of the hardships of a recent famine in their native land. Sadly the hardships only continue with the loss of Naomi’s husband. Meanwhile, the two sons married Moabite women (Orpah and Ruth), but tragically and unexpectedly they too die. Ten years have now passed, and Naomi learns the situation has greatly improved back home. The three widows begin to travel back together to Judah, but Naomi insists that her daughters-in-law return to their mother’s house. Eventually Orpah reluctantly agrees to do so; however, Ruth is resolute in remaining and returning with her mother-in-law (1:1-14).

So what are the qualities and attributes that make Ruth a godly woman of the Bible?

1. She was loyal. This quality of Ruth probably stands out to me more than any other. Her loyalty to her mother-in-law Naomi was true, steadfast and unwavering. Although this loyalty of hers is plain to see in all four chapters of the book, nowhere is it more deeply and intensely expressed than in Ruth 1:16-17. But Ruth said: “Entreat me not to leave you, or to turn back from following after you; for wherever you go, I will go; and wherever you lodge, I will lodge; your people shall be my people, and your God, my God. Where you die, I will die, and there will I be buried. The LORD do so to me, and more also, if anything but death parts you and me.” This is the kind of loyalty and love we ought to have for our marriage and family (Matt. 19:4-6; Eph. 5:22-6:4). This is the kind of loyalty and love we ought to demonstrate towards God (Matt. 22:37).

2. She was sacrificial. Consider everything that Ruth was willing to give up. She gave up her family, her country, her religion, and everything she was familiar with in order to remain with Naomi (1:16-17). What an incredible level of commitment and sacrifice she possessed! And yet this is the same degree of commitment that Christ demands of us His disciples (Luke 14:25-33). We too must be willing to sacrifice family, self, and life for Him. We must be willing to “forsake all” to follow Him (v. 33). We are to present our bodies as a “living sacrifice” to God, which by the way, is our reasonable service unto Him (Rom. 12:1).

3. She was a diligent worker. Ruth wasted no time once she and Naomi arrived back in Bethlehem. It was the time of the barley harvest (1:22), so she immediately went out to work in the fields in order to provide for Naomi and herself (2:2-3, 7, 17-18). Thus she did, day in and day out, “until the end of barley harvest and wheat harvest” (2:23). She didn’t have the attitude of “woe is me.” She didn’t go around looking for a handout. Rather, she labored with her hands what is good to meet the necessities of life (Eph. 4:28). Ruth’s character and work ethic reminds me of Paul’s words, “nor did we eat anyone’s bread free of charge, but worked with labor and toil night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you” (2 Thess. 3:8). May we also be diligent workers in providing for our own households (1 Tim. 5:8), as well as in the kingdom (Heb. 6:10-12).

4. She had a good reputation. Scratch that. Ruth had a great reputation! And that’s especially saying something when you consider that she was a foreigner from the enemy nation of Moab (2:10). Boaz said: “It has been fully reported to me, all that you have done for your mother-in-law since the death of your husband, and how you have left your father and your mother and the land of your birth, and have come to a people whom you did not know before” (2:11). All the people in town knew that Ruth was “a virtuous woman” (3:11). And the women spoke to Naomi saying: “for your daughter-in-law, who loves you, who is better to you than seven sons…” (4:15). It’s extremely important that God’s people possess a good reputation. “A good name is to be chosen rather than great riches” (Prov. 22:1; cf. Acts 6:3; 10:22). All Christians ought to “have a good testimony among those who are outside” (1 Tim. 3:7; cf. Col. 4:5). And if we possess the kind of godly characteristics that Ruth did, we too will have a good reputation in the eyes of others.

5. She sought for herself a godly man. Boaz, of course, was also a very key character in this story. It was in his field that Ruth labored. He was a man of God (2:4) that greatly admired the kind of woman that Ruth was (2:11; 3:10-11). He was insistent to watch over her welfare and was generous in providing extra food for Ruth and Naomi (2:8-9, 14-16; 3:17). Ruth came to him late one night expressing her desire for Boaz to “Take your maidservant under your wing, for you are a close relative” (3:9). He was more than happy to take her as his wife as long as a closer relative did not “perform the duty” (3:10-13). When the closer relative lost interest after learning Ruth was a Moabite woman, she and Boaz became husband and wife (4:1-13). Aside from the decision to obey the gospel, there is no greater decision than the man or woman we decide to marry. Like Ruth and Boaz, let us seek out a godly spouse, as well as guiding our children to those of such character (3:1-6).

In conclusion, consider the amazing family tree of Ruth. She was the great-grandmother of David (4:17-122), and ultimately she is mentioned by name in the genealogy of Jesus Christ (Matt. 1:5). “Ruth looks forward to salvation in Christ, which would not be limited to one nation, as it relates God’s care for a Gentile convert from Moab and her inclusion in the unfolding of God’s plan of redemption…” (Overview of the Bible, Part 1, David Dann, p. 54). Ruth is one of the most impressive, godly women in all the pages of Scripture!

Ruth
by Jennie Lind Flowers

I don’t believe I ever saw
More love for one’s mother-in-law,
Than Ruth the Moabitess did show,
When with Naomi she determined to go.
Leaving her family and gods behind,
A new life in Bethlehem she’d find.
In the fields she gleaned barley and wheat
To provide food for Naomi to eat.

The rich owner of the field could see
A virtuous young lady she proved to be.
“God bless you, and repay you,” he said;
And soon thereafter, the two were wed.
At that time, Ruth could not see
In the lineage of Christ, someday she’d be;
All because of her sincere love
For Naomi and the true God above.

 

Jesse Flowers has been preaching for the church of Christ at Pruett and Lobit Street in Baytown, Texas for the past 7 1/2 years. He is married to his beautiful wife, April (Melton), and they have four sweet children, Jesse, Josiah, Anna and Clara. If interested, you can read more of his articles or listen to his sermons at www.biblework.com.