Ruth 2

Ruth walks in talk.  Of course she also loves in action.  

To shoulder up the family, she shares her plan to Naomi and she lets go her own dignity.

 One day Ruth, the Moabite foreigner, said to Naomi, “I’m going to work; I’m going out to glean among the sheaves, following after some harvester who will treat me kindly.” Naomi said, “Go ahead, dear daughter.” (Ruth 2:2 MSG)

Naomi affirms Ruth with kind words. They are frank to each other. 

Ruth starts working out as a gleaner. Unknowingly, but with God's guidance and protection, she works in Boaz's farm. Boaz is in fact a relative of deceased Elimelech.  The latter spares extra care for Ruth because of her faith and love toward her mother-in-law. 

Then Boaz spoke to Ruth: “Listen, my daughter. From now on don’t go to any other field to glean—stay right here in this one. And stay close to my young women. Watch where they are harvesting and follow them. And don’t worry about a thing; I’ve given orders to my servants not to harass you. When you get thirsty, feel free to go and drink from the water buckets that the servants have filled.” (Ruth 2:8, 9 MSG)

Ruth also cherishes a thankful heart all the time.  

She dropped to her knees, then bowed her face to the ground. “How does this happen that you should pick me out and treat me so kindly— me, a foreigner?” (Ruth 2:10 MSG)

She said, “Oh sir, such grace, such kindness—I don’t deserve it. You’ve touched my heart, treated me like one of your own. And I don’t even belong here!” (Ruth 2: 13 MSG)

These kind and sincere words build relationship.  And get herself tuned into a strength resilient to adversity and a positive mindset.

She gives what she has collected during the day to Naomi and even the leftover of her lunch.  

Ruth gleaned in the field until evening. When she threshed out what she had gathered, she ended up with nearly a full sack of barley! She gathered up her gleanings, went back to town, and showed her mother-in-law the results of her day’s work; she also gave her the leftovers from her lunch. (Ruth 2:17, 18 MSG)

Throughout the conversation between Ruth and Naomi; and Boaz and Ruth, God is always regarded as the connector.  

Naomi asked her, “So where did you glean today? Whose field? God bless whoever it was who took such good care of you!” Ruth told her mother-in-law, “The man with whom I worked today? His name is Boaz.” Naomi said to her daughter-in-law, “Why, God bless that man! God hasn’t quite walked out on us after all! He still loves us, in bad times as well as good!” Naomi went on, “That man, Ruth, is one of our circle of covenant redeemers, a close relative of ours!” (Ruth 2:19, 20 MSG)

Ruth 1

Look at this family tree! 

A couple migrated from Bethlehem with their boys to Moab for economic reasons. Yes they did start new life in a new territory full of hope.  

But Elimelech died and Naomi was left widowed.  She struggled with her two sons Mahlon and Kilion. In interim, they married Moabite wives; the name of the elder son's was Orpah, the second Ruth. Yes they still lived in Moan for ten years. They should have lived happily ever after.  But these two brothers suddenly died -- rendering all 3 women as widows...Widowed women were cursed in those days! Wow, Naomi was void of a husband or any one of her young men. Just as what's on her mind later spoken to her folk in Bethlehem, “Don’t call me Naomi; call me Bitter. The Strong One has dealt me a bitter blow. I left here full of life, and God has brought me back with nothing but the clothes on my back. Why would you call me Naomi? God certainly doesn’t. The Strong One ruined me.” (Ruth 1:6-9, 16, 17, 20, 21 MSG)  I believe that she thought the same as early as that moment.

Elimelech died and Naomi was left, she and her two sons. The sons took Moabite wives; the name of the first was Orpah, the second Ruth. They lived there in Moab for the next ten years. But then the two brothers, Mahlon and Kilion, died. Now the woman was left without either her young men or her husband. (Ruth 1:3-5 MSG)

Naomi was cursed???

No husband! No sons to support.  Naturally she should become victimized or controlling to regain her security.  She had to shoulder up the house. How to feed three women was her new headache. She thought of God...

One day she got herself together, she and her two daughters-in-law, to leave the country of Moab and set out for home; she had heard that God had been pleased to visit his people and give them food. And so she started out from the place she had been living, she and her two daughters-in-law with her, on the road back to the land of Judah. (Ruth 1:6, 7 MSG)

On her way to Bethlehem, she asked her two daughters to leave her and return to their own homes and may get married again. Give them a chance to live a better life.  She is merciful to them and gives them the best to free them not to retain them for her own sake.

After a short while on the road, Naomi told her two daughters-in-law, “Go back. Go home and live with your mothers. And may God treat you as graciously as you treated your deceased husbands and me. May God give each of you a new home and a new husband!” She kissed them and they cried openly.  (Ruth 1:9 MSG)

Oprah left with tearful eyes but Ruth insisted on keeping Naomi company wherever she went for the rest of her life.  

But Ruth said, “Don’t force me to leave you; don’t make me go home. Where you go, I go; and where you live, I’ll live. Your people are my people, your God is my god; where you die, I’ll die, and that’s where I’ll be buried, so help me God —not even death itself is going to come between us!” (Ruth 1:6-9, 16, 17 MSG)

They loved each other and opened their hearts to each other.  It is not easy but empowering every one of them.

忽發奇想：我想起元朝關漢卿的戲曲—竇娥怨，同樣是一對死了丈夫的婆媳。媳婦對婆婆的忠心不二，寧願含冤枉死也要保䕶婆婆，結果枉死刑場，也釀成六月飛霜的寃案。

中西有何分別？

有神冇神又有何不同呢？

1st dyad ~ Naomi and Ruth

my first pair I think will inspire me.

Entangled by harsh situation, even the strong woman like Naomi will withdraw n hold back. She hopes and told her daughters in law to go back to their maiden
home to remarry someone else n start over a new life.

Reading Ruth 1...

Matthew 11

Matthew 11:28-30 MSG

“Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.”

This empowers me for He told me He will keep me company and I will learn to live freely and lightly.

I will try to learn from the biblical dyad.
Which pair goes first?

my Holy spirit will go with couples from bible

Blessings

As a disciple for more than a decade, I am always looking for ways to advance spiritually.

Inspired by the holy spirit, my heart goes for a word a month.
In Jan, joy;
In Feb, love;
In Mar, promise
In Apr, God's word
In May, God with me
In Jun, togetherness

In Jul, discipline
In Aug, freedom/ health
In Sep, fruit
In Oct, friends
In Nov, beauty
In Dec, family