RUTH, the Moabitess, is a Bible character, who stands before us as a pattern of filial faithfulness. The first commandment with promise (Eph. 6:22Honor thy father and mother; (which is the first commandment with promise;) (Ephesians 6:2)) had a bright fulfillment it her case; Naomi found in Ruth, her daughter-in-law, one who truly honored her, and it went well with Ruth for her mother-in-law’s sake. Ruth cast in her lot with Naomi; she would not be separated from her, come what might. In answer to Naomi’s generous appeal that she should return to Moab, to her own people, Ruth said, “Intreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee: for whither thou goest, I will go; and when 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 1:16,1716And 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: 17Where 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 1:16‑17).)
God blesses the child who honors his parents. Naomi’s heart was broken; and, in the time of sorrow, a child will be a parent’s sweetest sympathizer: certainly no more tender heart will be found for the widow than the widow’s child. As Naomi returned, after ten years’ absence, to Bethlehem, and the people saw her and Ruth, the mother and her daughter-in-law both widows, all the city was moved about them, and they said, “Is this Naomi?”
She had borne the title “Beautiful,” but that name no longer suited her. She said unto them, “Call me not Naomi, call me Mara: for the Almighty hath dealt very bitterly with me. I went out full, and the Lord hath brought me home again empty... So Naomi returned, and Ruth, the Moabitess, her daughter-in-law, with her... and they came to Bethlehem in the beginning of barley harvest.”
Yes, though they knew it not, it was the beginning of harvest. She returned home empty, but it was to be for her indeed a time of harvest. Ruth would have missed this had she failed in her devotion to Naomi. Love had joined her to her mother-in-law, and her sorrows and her poverty, but the Lord had provided for the faithful hearted Ruth an excellent reward. She had come to the land of Israel to trust Jehovah, which trust is never disappointed. “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.”
We see Ruth going forth to glean in the fields, hoping for favor, and, shortly after, we find her gleaning among the sheaves, handfuls let fall of purpose for her. This is God’s way for those who put their trust in Him.
As Ruth went forth to glean, “her hap was to light on a part of the field belonging unto Boaz, who was of the kindred of Elimelech,” Naomi’s husband. When we direct our steps according to God’s word, He, in His providence, makes us light on the best part of the field; and thus it was that Ruth received her favorable gleanings of the harvest, and, not only so, but in the end she became the wife of Boaz, and her name stands amongst those of the most honored women of the Bible.