Naomi & Ruth: A Portrait of Discipleship in the Old Covenant
It's no secret that the Bible points to Jesus on every page. But that doesn't stop me from being amazed at how detailed God is in presenting the truth of salvation, even in hidden ways!
The story of Ruth and Naomi has been a favorite of mine for many years; after all, who doesn't love a story that includes rags to riches, suffering to glory, and a beautiful, romantic ending?
Recently, though, the Lord invited me to reread the book of Ruth through the eyes of Naomi, her mother-in-law and spiritual mentor. Ruth's passionate clinging to Naomi in chapter one leads us to believe she is "all in" with God, having decided to follow not only her widowed mother-in-law, but also the God of Israel.
My husband and I used some of Ruth's words in our wedding music: "Where you go, I will go, and where you lodge I will lodge. Your people shall be my people, and your God my God. Where you die I will die, and there I will be buried. May the Lord do so to me and more also if anything but death parts me from you." (Ruth 1:16-17, ESV)
Ruth has already experienced three significant personal losses: the deaths of her husband, her brother-in-law, and her father-in-law. Despite this, she echoes the words of a true overcomer: she is willing to lay her life down for the God she believes in. (See Revelation 12:11.) Clearly, she sees something in Naomi's faith that intrigues her more than it did her sister-in-law. Ruth has the faith to be saved.
The story of Ruth and Naomi has been a favorite of mine for many years; after all, who doesn't love a story that includes rags to riches, suffering to glory, and a beautiful, romantic ending?
Recently, though, the Lord invited me to reread the book of Ruth through the eyes of Naomi, her mother-in-law and spiritual mentor. Ruth's passionate clinging to Naomi in chapter one leads us to believe she is "all in" with God, having decided to follow not only her widowed mother-in-law, but also the God of Israel.
My husband and I used some of Ruth's words in our wedding music: "Where you go, I will go, and where you lodge I will lodge. Your people shall be my people, and your God my God. Where you die I will die, and there I will be buried. May the Lord do so to me and more also if anything but death parts me from you." (Ruth 1:16-17, ESV)
Ruth has already experienced three significant personal losses: the deaths of her husband, her brother-in-law, and her father-in-law. Despite this, she echoes the words of a true overcomer: she is willing to lay her life down for the God she believes in. (See Revelation 12:11.) Clearly, she sees something in Naomi's faith that intrigues her more than it did her sister-in-law. Ruth has the faith to be saved.
When we are introduced to Boaz, the kinsman-redeemer and Christ-figure in this story, we are told that, like Christ, he is a "worthy" man. (Ruth 2:1) His actions toward Ruth are generous and kind. Both Naomi and Ruth praise his lovingkindness (Ruth 2:13).
Ironically, later Boaz will praise Ruth for the same two qualities, calling her both worthy and kind (3:10-11)! It looks like a match made in heaven, pointing to the New Testament believer's call to reflect the image of Christ (Romans 8:29; 1 Cor. 15:49, Col. 3:10).
Yet the bitter, widowed Naomi should not be overlooked. She also reveals aspects of Christ and spiritual formation that surprise me. In fact, from the time she "arises" from her own despair to return to Israel in chapter 1--a clear picture of repentance—she demonstrates the qualities of a good spiritual mentor or discipler.
She gives her two bereaved daughters-in-law the choice of whether to follow her back to Israel and God or not. She does not prohibit Ruth from following, but does counsel her to count the cost. Naomi could produce no future husbands for these girls; she had nothing to offer physically or financially!
When Ruth clings and follows, Naomi brings her into the fellowship of [Jewish] believers and helps her locate both her purpose and nourishment—a picture of connection to the Body of Christ and the bread of life that sustains, even in famine.
Once Naomi sees that Boaz has taken an interest in the girl, she gives Ruth a 7-part strategy by which Ruth can enter into a covenant [marriage] relationship with her kinsman-redeemer. We find these 7 steps, which closely parallel the believer's discipleship path, in Ruth 3:1-4:
Then, Naomi, her mother-in-law, said to her, "My daughter, should I not seek rest for you, that it may be well with you? Is not Boaz our relative, with whose young women you were? See, he is winnowing barley tonight at the threshing floor. Wash therefore and anoint yourself, and put on your cloak and go down to the threshing floor, but do not make yourself known to the man until he has finished eating and drinking. But when he lies down, observe the place where he lies. Then go and uncover his feet and lie down, and he will tell you what to do." (Ruth 3:1-4, ESV)
In order, Ruth must:
1. WASH - a picture of cleansing oneself from sin
2. ANOINT HERSELF - the believer's responsibility to receive the Holy Spirit, entering the things of the Kingdom through worship, prayer, and surrender to the Spirit's ways
3. PUT ON HER CLOAK - a symbol of the blood covering of Christ, shielding and protecting the believer from harm
4. GO DOWN TO THE THRESHING FLOOR - most biblical threshing floors were on windy hills, not in valleys. But the Bible text speaks here of "going down" - a humbling of oneself to submit to the plans and purposes of Christ, even coming into the place of judgment (threshing is the process of separating the wheat from the chaff). Ruth had to be willing to lay it all down, allowing for scrutiny and examination by her future husband
5. LET BOAZ EAT AND DRINK before making herself and her requests known - a picture of Ecclesiastes 5 command to "Draw near to listen rather than to speak" and Jesus's reminder not to heap up empty words; God knows what we need before we ask Him (Ecclesiastes 5:1-2; Matthew 6:7-8)
6. WATCH TO SEE WHERE BOAZ RESTS - No better words could describe prayer and intercession! The watchful eyes of a servant look to see where the master's presence will rest, just as Israel followed and rested with the cloud and pillar of fire
7. GO, UNCOVER HIS FEET, & HE WILL TELL YOU WHAT TO DO - Uncovering the feet in ancient cultures was a marriage proposal; a request to enter into covenant with someone. Here, like the Shulamite in the Song of Solomon, Ruth was taught to take the initiative, pursue her lover, and listen for Boaz's instructions concerning their relationship, just as believers today must learn to listen for the Lord's voice and follow His Spirit's instructions.
When Ruth obeys, she not only enters into a disciple's "marriage covenant"- she also bears fruit, redeems her family's sufferings, restores hope to bitter Naomi, and receives a place of honor in Christ's legacy, becoming the grandmother of David. She reaps a great spiritual harvest!
This portrait of Naomi's and Ruth is so poignant today. Christ is our heavenly "Boaz," our Bridegroom-Redeemer who has better things in store for His family than famine and loss. Naomi, a mother in the faith, demonstrates wise discipleship. She sets forth a step-by-step process of spiritual formation for her young disciple, who then reaps the benefits of her salvation, obedience, and inheritance.
Oh - and did I mention that this love story has a happy ending? Naomi teaches us that our stories, too, can have happy endings when we follow God's ways and are willing to lay down our lives for Him.
PRAY WITH ME:
God, I thank you for revealing Your Son, Jesus Christ, on every page of Your precious Word! Jesus, I honor you as my heavenly Bridegroom and divine "Boaz," entrusting my life to You. Help me to follow, obey, and listen more than I speak. I believe You know what I need even before I ask You, and You will not rest until You have accomplished Your divine purposes for my life. I surrender to the will and ways of Your Holy Spirit and ask You to bring me into the fruitful covenant relationship You desire to have with me. I promise I will share what I know with others who are seeking You, too. Amen.
Ironically, later Boaz will praise Ruth for the same two qualities, calling her both worthy and kind (3:10-11)! It looks like a match made in heaven, pointing to the New Testament believer's call to reflect the image of Christ (Romans 8:29; 1 Cor. 15:49, Col. 3:10).
Yet the bitter, widowed Naomi should not be overlooked. She also reveals aspects of Christ and spiritual formation that surprise me. In fact, from the time she "arises" from her own despair to return to Israel in chapter 1--a clear picture of repentance—she demonstrates the qualities of a good spiritual mentor or discipler.
She gives her two bereaved daughters-in-law the choice of whether to follow her back to Israel and God or not. She does not prohibit Ruth from following, but does counsel her to count the cost. Naomi could produce no future husbands for these girls; she had nothing to offer physically or financially!
When Ruth clings and follows, Naomi brings her into the fellowship of [Jewish] believers and helps her locate both her purpose and nourishment—a picture of connection to the Body of Christ and the bread of life that sustains, even in famine.
Once Naomi sees that Boaz has taken an interest in the girl, she gives Ruth a 7-part strategy by which Ruth can enter into a covenant [marriage] relationship with her kinsman-redeemer. We find these 7 steps, which closely parallel the believer's discipleship path, in Ruth 3:1-4:
Then, Naomi, her mother-in-law, said to her, "My daughter, should I not seek rest for you, that it may be well with you? Is not Boaz our relative, with whose young women you were? See, he is winnowing barley tonight at the threshing floor. Wash therefore and anoint yourself, and put on your cloak and go down to the threshing floor, but do not make yourself known to the man until he has finished eating and drinking. But when he lies down, observe the place where he lies. Then go and uncover his feet and lie down, and he will tell you what to do." (Ruth 3:1-4, ESV)
In order, Ruth must:
1. WASH - a picture of cleansing oneself from sin
2. ANOINT HERSELF - the believer's responsibility to receive the Holy Spirit, entering the things of the Kingdom through worship, prayer, and surrender to the Spirit's ways
3. PUT ON HER CLOAK - a symbol of the blood covering of Christ, shielding and protecting the believer from harm
4. GO DOWN TO THE THRESHING FLOOR - most biblical threshing floors were on windy hills, not in valleys. But the Bible text speaks here of "going down" - a humbling of oneself to submit to the plans and purposes of Christ, even coming into the place of judgment (threshing is the process of separating the wheat from the chaff). Ruth had to be willing to lay it all down, allowing for scrutiny and examination by her future husband
5. LET BOAZ EAT AND DRINK before making herself and her requests known - a picture of Ecclesiastes 5 command to "Draw near to listen rather than to speak" and Jesus's reminder not to heap up empty words; God knows what we need before we ask Him (Ecclesiastes 5:1-2; Matthew 6:7-8)
6. WATCH TO SEE WHERE BOAZ RESTS - No better words could describe prayer and intercession! The watchful eyes of a servant look to see where the master's presence will rest, just as Israel followed and rested with the cloud and pillar of fire
7. GO, UNCOVER HIS FEET, & HE WILL TELL YOU WHAT TO DO - Uncovering the feet in ancient cultures was a marriage proposal; a request to enter into covenant with someone. Here, like the Shulamite in the Song of Solomon, Ruth was taught to take the initiative, pursue her lover, and listen for Boaz's instructions concerning their relationship, just as believers today must learn to listen for the Lord's voice and follow His Spirit's instructions.
When Ruth obeys, she not only enters into a disciple's "marriage covenant"- she also bears fruit, redeems her family's sufferings, restores hope to bitter Naomi, and receives a place of honor in Christ's legacy, becoming the grandmother of David. She reaps a great spiritual harvest!
This portrait of Naomi's and Ruth is so poignant today. Christ is our heavenly "Boaz," our Bridegroom-Redeemer who has better things in store for His family than famine and loss. Naomi, a mother in the faith, demonstrates wise discipleship. She sets forth a step-by-step process of spiritual formation for her young disciple, who then reaps the benefits of her salvation, obedience, and inheritance.
Oh - and did I mention that this love story has a happy ending? Naomi teaches us that our stories, too, can have happy endings when we follow God's ways and are willing to lay down our lives for Him.
PRAY WITH ME:
God, I thank you for revealing Your Son, Jesus Christ, on every page of Your precious Word! Jesus, I honor you as my heavenly Bridegroom and divine "Boaz," entrusting my life to You. Help me to follow, obey, and listen more than I speak. I believe You know what I need even before I ask You, and You will not rest until You have accomplished Your divine purposes for my life. I surrender to the will and ways of Your Holy Spirit and ask You to bring me into the fruitful covenant relationship You desire to have with me. I promise I will share what I know with others who are seeking You, too. Amen.
