A Devotional Life

Ruth 3:1-18. NIV. We recall from chapter 1 that Naomi prayed that her bereaved daughters-in-law “will find rest in the home of another husband” in Moab (1:9). Still, Ruth followed Naomi to Bethlehem where she was favoured to glean from the field of a kind guardian-redeemer, Boaz (2:3). But there is another guardian-redeemer (3:12) who is closer to Ruth and Naomi’s family than Boaz. Imagine the sense of uncertainty! So, amid such uncertainty, how would Ruth be assured of finding that rest? And like Ruth, how are we assured of rest, whatever our life’s journey? In today’s passage, Ruth is assured by Naomi’s counsel and Boaz’s promise. Naomi counseled Ruth… Bethlehem is a tiny town where everyone knows everyone (1:19), so Naomi must have known the other guardian-redeemer, especially as he was the more closely related one (3:12). Let’s call him Bob. De...

Ruth 2:1-23. NIV. In Chapter 1, Ruth shows kindness to Naomi, demonstrating God’s love for her in her time of suffering. Chapter 2 shows how God used the kindness of a close relative, Boaz (v20), to reward and favour Ruth for her faith—“taking refuge in God.” Ruth took refuge in God… Earlier in Chapter 1, we saw that Ruth, a Moabite widow, insisted on returning to Bethlehem with her mother-in-law (1:4-5, 1:16-18, 1:22), although Moabites were enemies of Israel (Judges 3:12). So why this decision? Aside from her love for her mother-in-law, Chapter 2 shows that Ruth had “come to take refuge” in God (v12). She found faith in God and declared to Naomi, “…your God my God” (1:16). This declaration meant a different way of living, so rather than stay in Moab—where God is rejected, she returned with Naomi to live in Bethlehem—the house o...

Ruth 1:1-22 NIV. I hope you had an enjoyable Christmas break. Happy New Year! The Book of Ruth has been called the most beautiful short story ever written because of its simple narrative. A narrative that shows how God’s provision for our needs or challenges is often woven into the simple acts of human kindness. Chapter 1 shows the kindness of a daughter-in-law, Ruth, to her mother-in-law, Naomi (v8, 16, 22), and we’ll see God at work through that. But first, the passage sets the context by introducing us to Naomi’s loss… Naomi lost her family… When Naomi (which means pleasant) is first introduced, we are told of her loss. A woman in a foreign land who lost her family (v1-5). She feels bitter, empty and afflicted by the Lord (v21). Why so? …Because Naomi knows Israel’s God to be the Almighty—Sovereign. He can bring famine to a disobedient Israel (v1) a...