The book of Ruth is one of the most amazing in the bible on account of the models and types found in its 86 verses. The surface narrative of the Book of Ruth is a literary masterpiece, it is the perfect ‘rags to riches’ story. But concealed within the text we have:
‒The entire gospel from Genesis to Revelation
‒The history and future of the Nation of Israel
‒The account of the Kinsman Redeemer who is willing to forfeit his own standing to claim a gentile bride
‒The jubilee principle, where that which was lost is found, where the land is returned to its rightful owner
‒The reason for Bethlehem’s significance
‒The practical demonstration of Romans 8:28
Chapter 3
In chapter 3 we see Naomi genuinely concerned about Ruth’s future happiness so poses the question ‘My dear Ruth, have you thought of getting remarried and settling down?’
It is interesting that we find Naomi use the expression ‘seek rest’ as an idiom for marriage. Throughout scripture the idea of rest is prophetically linked to the marriage of the Bride and our Heavenly Groom. The ultimate rest will be found in Him, when we are joined to Him and free from the toil and trials of this world. The Hebrew word for rest is ‘manowach’ (maw-no’-akh); which literally means ‘quiet’, i.e. (concretely) a settled spot, or (figuratively) a home. This is how a marriage should be, a place of loving fulfilment and peace. As Matthew Henry comments: “A married state is, or should be, a state of rest to young people. Wandering affections are then fixed, and the heart must be at rest.”
Sadly, we are bombarded with the world’s view of marriage as a place of strife and turmoil, where dreams go to die and to endure is the best we can hope for.
Love is hard to conceal and it may well have been that Naomi had already noticed a spark between Ruth and Boaz, after all, it would seem they had spent a couple of months daily in each other’s company by this point in time. Ruth however, being a foreigner, would no doubt have felt it not her place to initiate anything with her wealthy relative.
Signifcantly, we finally see Ruth and Boaz together at the end of the harvest! What a picture of Christ and the church, who will be finally united once the time of eartholy harvest is over and His ‘wheat’ has been safely gathered into His barn (see John 14:2-3 & 1 Thes 4:16-17).
There are many lessons to glean from this chapter! May you be blessed and encouraged as you study God’s Word.
