The Book of Ruth contains not one, but three great love stories:
The central love story is one of romantic love which develops between a Jewish man, Boaz, and a gentile woman, the Moabite, Ruth.
The second love story is one of familial love which arises between Ruth and her mother-in-law, Naomi.
But a third and greater love story may also be implied: That of Christ's agape love and redemptive grace. The parallels are unmistakable: A Jew named Boaz, (the kinsman-redeemer), reflects Christ (the saving redeemer of all men), and the Gentile Ruth, (unable to save herself), reflects lost sinners of the world (unable to save themselves).
The story begins in Bethlehem in the days of the judges when famine was in that land. Because of this famine, a man named Elimelech sojourned with his wife Naomi, and their two sons, Mahlon and Chilion to the country of Moab where there was plenty. While living in Moab Elimelech died. The two sons married Moabite women; Chilion married Orpah and Mahlon married Ruth. Each of the sons died, without heirs, leaving Naomi with no husband or sons to support her and her two widowed daughters-in-law.
At this point Naomi decided to go back to Bethlehem because she had heard that "the LORD had visited His people in giving them bread." (Ruth 1:6) As she was returning, she advised Orpah and Ruth to each return to their mother's house. After some discussion on the matter, Orpah returned to her own people, but Ruth insisted on staying with Naomi.
As mentioned a the beginning of this article, this is not just a love story between the man Boaz and the woman Ruth. It is also the story of Naomi's love and faithfulness to Ruth and Ruth's Love and faithfulness To Naomi, as can better be seen through reading the actual scripture:
"And she [Naomi] said, Behold, thy sister in law is gone back unto her people, and unto her gods: return thou after thy sister in law. [16] And Ruth said, 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: [17] 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. [18] When she saw that she was steadfastly minded to go with her, then she left speaking unto her." (Ruth 1:15-18)
This is one of the greatest testaments of love in the Bible. Parts of it are well known in the world today and are often used in wedding vows.
Here we see that Ruth not only accepted Naomi's home and country as her own, but her God as well. As recorded in verse 17b above, Ruth bound herself to Naomi by a strong oath before God himself, thus was her spiritual salvation secured.
Because of their mutual love for each other, it was relatively easy for Ruth to make this momentous decision to go with Naomi. Momentous because, though it was God's will that she should go, if she had not, the rest of the Bible would be very different, to say the least.
Naomi and Ruth returned to Bethlehem at the beginning of barley harvest.
"And Naomi had a kinsman of her husband's, a mighty man of wealth, of the family of Elimelech; and his name was Boaz. [2] And Ruth the Moabitess said unto Naomi, Let me now go to the field, and glean ears of corn after him in whose sight I shall find grace. And she said unto her, Go, my daughter. [3] And she went, and came, and gleaned in the field after the reapers: and her hap was to light on a part of the field belonging unto Boaz, who was of the kindred of Elimelech." (Ruth 2:1-3)
In those days the law of Moses gave the poor the right to pick up (glean) any grain left by the reapers. Ruth just "happened" to wander into a field owned by Boaz.
Boaz arrived at his field that day, saw Ruth gleaning and asked about her. The foreman of the reapers told Boaz who Ruth was and said that she had asked to be allowed to glean and had been at it since morning.
Then Boaz told Ruth not to go to any other field to glean, but to stay and glean in his fields. He gave orders that she was not to be bothered and that she should stay with his maidens and drink of the water that the young men had drawn. She was to be treated very well.
"Then she fell on her face, and bowed herself to the ground, and said unto him, Why have I found grace in thine eyes, that thou shouldest take knowledge of me, seeing I am a stranger? [11] And Boaz answered and said unto her, It hath fully been shewed me, all that thou hast done unto thy mother in law since the death of thine husband: and how thou hast left thy father and thy mother, and the land of thy nativity, and art come unto a people which thou knewest not heretofore. [12] The Lord recompense thy work, and a full reward be given thee of the Lord God of Israel, under whose wings thou art come to trust." (Ruth 2:10-12)
Boaz recognized something exceptional in Ruth's loyalty and love for Naomi which would surely be rewarded by God. Perhaps Boaz was already, even at this point, romantically inclined toward Ruth. (Love at first sight?)
Ruth went home and showed Naomi what she had gleaned and told her that she had been in Boaz's field. Naomi told her that was a good thing and encouraged her to continue to glean there through the barley and wheat harvest.
Naomi wanted to help Ruth find greater security for herself and she knew that Boaz was to be winnowing barley that night at the threshing floor. She told Ruth to wash and perfume herself and put on her best clothes, then instructed her further on what she should do. Tonight she would sleep at Boaz's feet.
Ruth did as Naomi instructed: after Boaz had gone to sleep, she came in quietly, uncovered his feet and laid herself down.
At midnight Boaz was startled and awoke to Find Ruth at his feet;
"And he said, Who art thou? And she answered, I am Ruth thine handmaid: spread therefore thy skirt over thine handmaid; for thou art a near kinsman. [10] And he said, Blessed be thou of the Lord, my daughter: for thou hast shewed more kindness in the latter end than at the beginning, inasmuch as thou followedst not young men, whether poor or rich. [11] And now, my daughter, fear not; I will do to thee all that thou requirest: for all the city of my people doth know that thou art a virtuous woman. [12] And now it is true that I am thy near kinsman: howbeit there is a kinsman nearer than I." (Ruth 3:9-12)
"A kinsman nearer than I"? this would seem to put a damper on this romance, however, Boaz said to Ruth:
"Tarry this night, and it shall be in the morning, that if he will perform unto thee the part of a kinsman, well; let him do the kinsman's part: but if he will not do the part of a kinsman to thee, then will I do the part of a kinsman to thee, as the Lord liveth: lie down until the morning. [14] And she lay at his feet until the morning: and she rose up before one could know another. And he said, Let it not be known that a woman came into the floor. [15] Also he said, Bring the veil that thou hast upon thee, and hold it. And when she held it, he measured six measures of barley, and laid it on her: and she went into the city. (Ruth 3:13-15)
When the "nearer" kinsman was approached by Boaz on the matter, he gave up his rights to buy the land that Naomi was selling, because he found out that Ruth was part of the package. He said, in effect, thanks, but no thanks, because it might somehow mar his own inheritance.
"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. [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." (Ruth 4:9,10)
And so, Boaz married Ruth. From this union was born a son whom they named Obed. From Obed came Jesse, father of King David, from whose line came Jesus Christ. Thus, through the union of Jew and Gentile ultimately came the Savior of all of mankind. This is the greatest love story of all.
When Ruth left Moab her past was cursed, her present crushed, her future condemned, but in the end she received a family, she received a fortune, she received fame, and she received a future.
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NOTES:
As near kinsman to Elimelech, Boaz was qualified to serve as "go'el", giving him the right and responsibility to redeem family property that might be lost, as well as the obligation to marry the widow of a deceased near kinsman to raise up children to his name.
For Boaz to spread his skirt over Ruth is a symbolic pledge of marriage. It is not a sexual thing. This was a custom practiced in the Near East in those days.
All scripture taken from the KJV.