We Are All Ruth
On Sunday, I had the privilege of team teaching our adult Sunday School class with my oldest daughter. Both of us love to teach and I enjoy every opportunity I get to work with her. We taught about Ruth and Naomi. I studied this story. I read about this story. I prayed about this story. I learned a lot. But I still went into our lesson on Sunday feeling like I didn't really understand it. By the time class was over, though, I felt like I was beginning to understand it. I want to share my thoughts here.
Let's begin with a summary of Ruth's story.
Naomi and her husband and two sons lived in Bethlehem. Because of a famine, they left their home and moved to Moab. Naomi's sons married women from Moab, which meant that they were a different religion, among other things. After some time there, Naomi's husband died, as did both of her sons. She heard that the famine in Bethlehem had ended and decided to return home. She told her daughters in law to go back to their families. Both were distraught because they loved Naomi so much, but Orpah eventually obeyed. Ruth, on the other hand, would not go. We get one of the most beautiful scriptures from her:
So, Ruth returns to Bethlehem with Naomi. Although Naomi has land, she is not entitled to her inheritance as a woman. So, they lived as poor women. In Leviticus 23:22, we learn how the Lord wanted the people to provide for their poor:
When Ruth returned home, she told Naomi what had happened. Naomi realized that Boaz was a near relative. This was important in their culture because when a woman's husband died without having any heir, the nearest relative was supposed to marry her. Their first child would technically "belong" to the first husband and receive his inheritance. This was called levirate marriage. After a time of gleaning in his fields, Naomi told Ruth what she should do.
He said that he was not the nearest relative, but that he would see if the nearer relatives wanted to fulfill that responsibility and if they did not, he would happily fulfill her request. He told her that he was willing to because she had a reputation of being a virtuous woman. He quickly went and met with the closer kinsmen and found that they were willing to allow him to have her. He returned to her and married her, took care of her, and they had a child who became the grandfather of King David and ancestor of Jesus Christ.
This is a beautiful story of love, loyalty, virtue, and conversion. But, there's more.
In the LDS Old Testament Institute manual, the translation of the word kinsman is clarified:
Suddenly, this seems like less a story about a woman who was loyal to her mother in law (though this is beautifully true), and more a story about me. I, who once lived with my Father in Heaven, came to earth and, being imperfect, have lost my eternal inheritance. I, too, need a Redeemer. I can not redeem myself. But, Christ can. He said,
Let's begin with a summary of Ruth's story.
Naomi and her husband and two sons lived in Bethlehem. Because of a famine, they left their home and moved to Moab. Naomi's sons married women from Moab, which meant that they were a different religion, among other things. After some time there, Naomi's husband died, as did both of her sons. She heard that the famine in Bethlehem had ended and decided to return home. She told her daughters in law to go back to their families. Both were distraught because they loved Naomi so much, but Orpah eventually obeyed. Ruth, on the other hand, would not go. We get one of the most beautiful scriptures from her:
"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: 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." -Ruth 1:16-17Such beautiful devotion to her mother in law! But Ruth is also declaring her conversion. What kind of woman must Naomi have been to inspire such love and devotion and even conversion to the God of Israel? I grew to love and respect Naomi as I studied and pondered her.
So, Ruth returns to Bethlehem with Naomi. Although Naomi has land, she is not entitled to her inheritance as a woman. So, they lived as poor women. In Leviticus 23:22, we learn how the Lord wanted the people to provide for their poor:
"And when ye reap the harvest of your land, thou shalt not make clean riddance of the corners of thy field when thou reapest, neither shalt thou gather any gleaning of thy harvest: thou shalt leave them unto the apoor, and to the stranger: I am the Lord your God."Ruth's job was to glean in the fields. She picked up the grains that were dropped or were left in the corners of the fields. She found herself gleaning in the fields of a man named Boaz. He showed her kindness and told his servants to drop extra grain for her. When she asked him why he would be so kind to her when he didn't even know her, he said,
"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. 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."He was pretty impressed by her reputation as a devoted daughter in law and convert to the true faith.
When Ruth returned home, she told Naomi what had happened. Naomi realized that Boaz was a near relative. This was important in their culture because when a woman's husband died without having any heir, the nearest relative was supposed to marry her. Their first child would technically "belong" to the first husband and receive his inheritance. This was called levirate marriage. After a time of gleaning in his fields, Naomi told Ruth what she should do.
"Then Naomi her mother in law said unto her, My daughter, shall I not seek rest for thee, that it may be well with thee? And now is not Boaz of our kindred, with whose maidens thou wast? Behold, he winnoweth barley to night in the threshing floor. Wash thyself therefore, and anoint thee, and put thy raiment upon thee, and get thee down to the floor: but make not thyself known unto the man, until he shall have done eating and drinking. And it shall be, when he lieth down, that thou shalt mark the place where he shall lie, and thou shalt go in, and uncover his feet, and lay thee down; and he will tell thee what thou shalt do. And she said unto her, All that thou sayest unto me I will do." -Ruth 3:1-5And she did. She said to Boaz,
"I am Ruth thine handmaid: spread therefore thy skirt over thine handmaid; for thou art a near kinsman." -Ruth 3:9Skirt can also be translated as wing in this verse. She is asking him to take her under his wing, to be her protector. She is proposing marriage to him. This was, apparently, completely appropriate and acceptable in their culture.
He said that he was not the nearest relative, but that he would see if the nearer relatives wanted to fulfill that responsibility and if they did not, he would happily fulfill her request. He told her that he was willing to because she had a reputation of being a virtuous woman. He quickly went and met with the closer kinsmen and found that they were willing to allow him to have her. He returned to her and married her, took care of her, and they had a child who became the grandfather of King David and ancestor of Jesus Christ.
This is a beautiful story of love, loyalty, virtue, and conversion. But, there's more.
In the LDS Old Testament Institute manual, the translation of the word kinsman is clarified:
“The word here rendered ‘redeemer’ we translate literally from Hebrew go’el and this is its proper translation. It is rendered merely ‘kinsman’ in the King James English translation. The function of a go’el was to make it possible for a widow who had lost home and property to return to her former status and security and to have seed to perpetuate her family."So, let's retell the story. Ruth had lost her inheritance when her husband died. She needed a redeemer in order to return her to her former status and even elevate her to a higher status as one who has posterity. She went to the one who could redeem her and knelt at his feet and humbly asked him to take her under his wing. He gladly accepted and not only restored and redeemed her, but gave her more than she had ever imagined.
Suddenly, this seems like less a story about a woman who was loyal to her mother in law (though this is beautifully true), and more a story about me. I, who once lived with my Father in Heaven, came to earth and, being imperfect, have lost my eternal inheritance. I, too, need a Redeemer. I can not redeem myself. But, Christ can. He said,
"Yea, verily I say unto you, if ye will come unto me ye shall have eternal life." - 3 Nephi 9:14If I humbly come unto Him, He will accept my petition, just as Boaz accepted Ruth's. He will, in fact, take me under His wing. He has literally said he would:
"Listen to the voice of Jesus Christ, your Redeemer, the Great I Am, whose arm of mercy hath atoned for your sins; Who will gather his people even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, even as many as will hearken to my voice and humble themselves before me, and call upon me in mighty prayer." - D&C 29:1-2He, alone, can and will redeem me:
"Yea, remember that there is no other way nor means whereby man can be saved, only through the atoning blood of Jesus Christ, who shall come; yea, remember that he cometh to redeem the world." -Helaman 5:9As I come to Him and accept His redemption, my inheritance will be restored to me. I will become more than I ever imagined. And so will you. Just like Ruth.
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