Spiritual Meanings of the Book of Ruth
Inquisitive minds seek the spiritual meanings of the book of Ruth. Its brief message only fills a few pages in your Bible yet it has a powerful message.
This redemptive story involves love, loyalty, and faithfulness. If you aren’t careful, you may skim over important parts God uses as personal messages to His followers. Read your preferred version of the book of Ruth here to shed light on those truths.
Book of Ruth Summary
In a Gentile region known as Moab (formed from the union between Lot and his oldest daughter), Naomi and her daughter-in-law Ruth press on in hard times. Naomi had endured famine, seen her sons take foreign wives, and suffered unbearable grief due to her husband’s and both sons’ deaths.
In the time period, the story was written roughly between 1011 and 931 B.C. Without husbands, these two women would likely falter and die.
Noting her dire circumstances, Naomi the matriarch of the family decides to return to Bethlehem, her homeland. To her amazement (at least I think so), Ruth pledges her loyalty not only to Naomi but to Israel’s God. In time, Boaz honors Naomi by marrying Ruth because he is a rightful kinsman redeemer of Ruth’s deceased husband.
Initially, life’s circumstances seemed stacked up against these two women. They probably wondered where God was as they suffered hardships. Regardless of how they felt, God orchestrates a life-changing event for them both. Ruth becomes the great-grandmother of King David and Naomi receives care and support as she ages. These ordinary people lived extraordinary lives.
There are key themes in the book of Ruth, Christians should explore.
Spiritual Meanings of the Book of Ruth
God adopts you as His
Naomi’s sons married non-Jewish Moabite women which was strictly forbidden by God (see Deuteronomy 7). Naomi surmised the reason for her suffering was due to bad choices. Her husband, an Ephrathite, leaves Judah to live in Moab. While there, he dies first followed by her two sons.
After suffering these tragedies, Naomi admits her resentment when she asks people in Bethlehem to call her Mara (bitterness). In her opinion, Naomi left Judah with everything and came back with nothing. But, is that so?
Doesn’t one of her daughters-in-law commit her life to Naomi’s welfare and her God? It’s also not a coincidence that Naomi and Ruth arrive in Bethlehem at harvest time.
You might wonder why Boaz, a Jewish man marries a Moabite woman. He knows God adopted Ruth into His family. She leaves her people and false gods in favor of the one true God. The curse lifts because she devotes her life to the God of Israel. She commits to marrying a kinsman redeemer because she sees herself as a Jewish woman. Isaiah 56:6-7 – And foreigners who bind themselves to the Lord to minister to him, to love the name of the Lord, and to be his servants, all who keep the Sabbath without desecrating it and who hold fast to my covenant— these I will bring to my holy mountain and give them joy in my house of prayer.
Spiritual Meanings of the Book of Ruth
God breaks through the darkness
Working in the background, God keeps Boaz from marrying until the right time. Ruth doesn’t just stumble into the right field. And, God extends mercy to Naomi because she accepted her husband’s decision to depart from Bethlehem to live among foreigners.
Boaz is a wealthy and godly man exemplified by having numerous servants and his behavior toward others. Scripture indicates He was “a man of prominence and means.” And, he notices Ruth and starts to ask probing questions about her! Word spread quickly about her kindness to Naomi.
Plus, it’s obvious she’s willing to work for food and doesn’t mind gleaning all day. She’s content with gathering leftovers. Boaz who is already a smart businessman notices Ruth’s positive qualities. Not to mention, she must have been beautiful because he commanded his young men to not touch her.
However, Ruth is shocked that Boaz would notice her.
Ruth 2:10
At this, she bowed down with her face to the ground. She asked him, “Why have I found such favor in your eyes that you notice me—a foreigner?”
Here’s how Boaz answers.
Ruth 2:11-12
Boaz replied, “I’ve been told all about what you have done for your mother-in-law since the death of your husband—how you left your father and mother and your homeland and came to live with a people you did not know before. May the Lord repay you for what you have done. May you be richly rewarded by the Lord, the God of Israel, under whose wings you have come to take refuge.”
Don’t you love the interchange? Ruth is totally humble as shown by her posture. Boaz acknowledges that God has interceded in her life as a provider and protector because Ruth claimed God as hers.
Spiritual Meanings of the Book of Ruth
God is your hope
Naomi saw a flicker of light when Ruth comes home and relays the day’s events. Namely, she had gleaned for Boaz, a man related to Naomi. After Naomi exclaims, “The Lord bless him!” she said to her daughter-in-law. “He has not stopped showing his kindness to the living and the dead.” Naomi formulates a plan and instructs Ruth on what to do next.
Ruth must make her wishes known to Boaz which she does. With his permission, she lays at his feet until morning to symbolize her commitment to him. The next day, Boaz hightails it to a kinsmen redeemer, a closer relative than him to Naomi. He gathers 10 elder men as witnesses and asks the other kinsmen redeemer if he wants to buy Naomi’s land. He says no.
Boaz buys the land and marries Ruth. What once seemed like dark clouds to Naomi turn into rays of sunshine. Dreams of hope return to Naomi and Ruth because they see God’s plans for them turn into reality.
Don’t you love it when God does that? He seems silent so you don’t think He hears your cries. All the while, He works behind the scenes. In the meantime, it’s tempting to circumvent Him to avoid the dark fog of the unknown.
Spiritual Lessons from the Book of Ruth
In this brief book of Ruth Bible study, you’re reminded to have hope in God alone to turn difficulties around when you encounter setbacks. The book helps you make sense of adversity and find relief. The cast of characters in the book of Ruth were grounded in righteousness. If any of them entertained fleshly desires, all would be lost.
Most of us want to make a beeline toward what we want without weighing the costs. Boaz and Ruth could have tumbled in the hay under the stars rather than wait.
But they didn’t.
Boaz went through the proper channels to rightly secure Naomi’s land and take Ruth as his lawful wife. They honored God by staying committed to His integrity and righteousness.
What began as a loss at the beginning of the book of Ruth ends as a gain. Naomi’s friends cheer her on through the good times. When Ruth has the baby, they credit Naomi by saying, “A son has been born to Naomi!” Everyone rejoices with her that while she once felt death now she can feel life and joy.
Likewise, Ruth is one of the women in Jesus’ genealogy recorded in Matthew. Through Ruth comes the world’s redeemer, Jesus Christ.
Doesn’t every Christian want to move from heartache to happiness? Along the way, you want God to help you move past stumbling blocks so you can accomplish extraordinary things for Him. To do so, you must see Him as your only, confident hope.