BETTER THAN SEVEN SONS

BETTER THAN SEVEN SONS. Ruth 4:15. “And he shall be unto thee a restorer of thy life, and a nourisher of thine old age: for thy daughter in law, which loveth thee, which is better to thee than seven sons, hath borne him.” There were claims to be settled and a protocol to follow before the entire matter could be resolved. In a structured society, there are laws to obey, judges to hear cases, witnesses to provide testimony, and impartial decisions. The land was going to be exchanged, and money needed to be paid for justice to be served. A redemption price had to be paid for a full inheritance to be transferred from one person to another.

Two witnesses are involved when legal decisions are made to prevent future disputes. There were also two relatives who had responsibilities to fulfill before the blessing could be given. Land could be purchased by one person, but there were two women to care for. One was connected to the land, and the other was her deceased son’s wife. One needed care in her old age, and the other needed a life.

Something had to be done to preserve honor personally and ensure justice legally. To claim the land or wife, the redeemer had to be the same individual, the kinsman-redeemer. Ruth became Boaz's wife, redeemed and loved. Ruth, the faithful and devoted daughter-in-law, proved her honor both privately and publicly. She was greatly blessed when she became a mother because Christ descended from her line. God knew what was best; her kinsman-redeemer’s choice changed history. A great blessing has come to me through the decision of the kinsman-redeemer long ago.

I may not realize the importance of one event, but a choice I make can have far-reaching effects beyond my expectations. I understand what needs to be done. Only God truly knows the results I cannot see in advance. May I always be ready to respond to the Lord and never hesitate to act on what I learn from His Word. May God always find me prepared and willing to obey His will, and may I have a heart open to divine infilling.

There are many ways to teach biblical truths from the book of Ruth because the entire book illustrates how God deals with us in grace during times of departure and failure. From Elimelech and his family's migration to Moab, we learn that what we might see as an advantage can actually be a serious mistake when we abandon the provisions God has given us during unfaithful times.

We also learn that there is a way back to God when someone is willing to repent and return to Him. That person will receive mercy, and the peace they once had can be restored. For those who want God's will to be done in their lives and sincerely seek it, peace can be found in close fellowship with the Lord. That peace remains and is secure when we walk with our Lord and His people in the light of His word.

We also learn lessons about the actions we take in life. There are high costs to pay for being in the wrong place and with the wrong people. We may not notice it at first, but soon the actions and attitudes of those who chase after worldly pleasures or heed the siren call of materialism become evident in their lives. Even our own hearts can become grieved to the point where we surrender to what we inwardly know is not God's will.

Returning to what we have left behind is very difficult. The pride within each of us must be humbled. Criticism from those we have associated with hurts us because we have learned to care for people who do not share our knowledge or have experienced the joy of fellowship with God to the same extent we once did. When we finally find ourselves back where we used to be, among people who knew us and remember our previous fellowship, it becomes very hard to rebuild a credible reputation. But through a consciousness of God, His Word, and prayer, if we persevere, we can again "restore the years which the locusts have eaten."

We will also see that God's people, for the most part, are very forgiving and eager to rebuild meaningful fellowship with those who are once again experiencing God's guidance through the hardships of restoration. Some will go out of their way to include and accept someone who shows a sincere desire for God and is committed to His word. That kind of return is typical of those who forgive "even as Christ forgave us." The result of such a step is a blessing from God to us and a blessing from God to others through us.

A character study of Ruth guides us through nearly every aspect of a believer's life, from the initial act of faith to the final blessing given to others. When our faith prompts us to ask for God's mercy, and He, by His grace, leads us back to the path and place He has chosen, we will find His people there, showing a godly and supportive interest. God's power will strengthen us to follow His plans with a self-will that is unrestrained yet submitted to His will, and the future ahead will be greater than we could have imagined. In Bethlehem, even the poor were fed.

There was no evil speaking in the field of Boaz, but rather an appreciation by all levels of society for each other and their work. Wise counsel could be shared, care provided, comfort offered, and fair compensation given for the efforts of labor. When spiritual activity occurs, unity and purity naturally follow. The book of Ruth provides wise advice to individuals, families, and gatherings of God's people. The Spirit of God's illustrations can be easily applied to the issues we face in all these areas of life.

Whoever the Holy Spirit used to write this book must have been impressed by the fact that David was an important person, since he wrote the genealogy and ended with David. David was either the king or had been the king. Our lesson from this is that we may never understand the reasons for unexplainable events in our lives, but it is enough to know that God knows and everything is under His control. The text contains no commands from God or statements from the Lord to the main characters. Instead, it clearly shows that these people were individuals of faith who lived humble, faithful lives. The sovereign God uses them to accomplish His purpose of bringing salvation through our Redeemer.

Summary Ruth, redeemed and loved, became Boaz’s wife. She kept her honor privately and publicly. God knows what is best and how to bless us while fulfilling His sovereign will. We may not see the importance of an event in our lives, but when we put them together, we can trace God’s guidance and know Him better. The book of Ruth takes us through almost all aspects of life, beginning with fear, then faith, testimony, commitment, integrity, responsibility, generosity, purity, dignity, patience, persistence, and many other moral qualities. It ends with peace and a blessed prospect.