A New Day
Ruth 4:13-17
Chapter 4, the fourth act of this story, opens at the city gate where official business is conducted, parties come to agreement, and papers are filed. Boaz is not the closest relative to Naomi. So to follow through on his promises to Ruth in chapter 3, he must converse with the other closest relative and offer him the chance to marry Ruth and receive the land of Naomi’s family. The unnamed relative is ready to receive the land but is not interested in marrying Ruth and so leaves that responsibility to Boaz, which Boaz gladly accepts in front of the witnesses - parties come to agreement and papers are filed. Such practices are foreign to us and we would reject such practices, but they are essential to the internal workings of the story and fit the context of the ancient world.
The Book of Ruth opens with famine and continues with the devastation of the death of Naomi’s husband and two sons, who were married to Orpah and Ruth. Naomi, which means pleasant, feels the challenge of these circumstances so extremely that she invites the women on her return to Bethlehem to call her Mara, or bitter. As the story continues to unfold, we see the transformation of Ruth and Naomi’s situation and we see Naomi’s transformation from bitter to pleasant.
The hesed, the loving kindness, of God embodied in Ruth and Boaz bring an abundant harvest, the blessings of sustaining relationships, and now a new life. The story doesn’t describe a transformation in Ruth or in Boaz. But the transformation is complete in Naomi. The future opens up for her as she takes that child in her arms and holds him. The women, to whom Naomi had renamed her self, now remind Naomi of the blessings that flow in her life.
This child, Obed, becomes the grandfather of David, Israel’s most beloved king, who is a reminder of God’s loving kindness to ancient Israel. That reminder continues to us through David to Jesus of Nazareth, our Savior. God’s loving kindness abides with us across time.
Reflection Questions:
When are the moments in your life when you felt like Naomi and wanted to change your name to fit how you were feeling?
Who are the people that helped you see the blessings and loving kindness of God despite everything else going on around you?
Who in your life could use some purposeful loving-kindness?
Who knows what that person, perhaps on the fringes of your social circles or family, could do for God’s Garden of Love, if you would but invite them in…