Satisfied In The Book Of Ruth
According to a biblical dictionary, the definition of Ruth is “satisfied”. This perfectly fits with who Ruth is, as her main goal was to satisfies those around her and in return she found herself to be satisfied. The book of Ruth teaches reader of selfless love and commitment. In Ruth 1:14-18, Ruth makes it clear that she will forever be bound to Naomi although they are not related by blood. She shows her acceptance in the misfortunes she has suffered but chooses to make the best out of that situation. We must remain fully committed and faithful to the people God has blessed us with. They are in our lives for a reason and for a lifetime. Ruth shows a type of love for another woman in a way not discussed throughout the bible, she shows that
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not all love is romantic but that does not make it any less important. Because of her altruistic compassion, God provide Ruth with rewards that allowed her to make a life for her and her mother-in-law.
14 At this they wept aloud again.
Then Orpah kissed her mother-in-law goodbye, but Ruth clung to her.
15 “Look,” said Naomi, “your sister-in-law is going back to her people and her gods. Go back with her.”
16 But Ruth replied, “Don’t urge me to leave you or to turn back from you. Where you go, I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God.17 Where you die I will die, and there I will be buried. May the Lord deal with me, be it ever so severely, if even death separates you and me.” 18 When Naomi realized that Ruth was determined to go with her, she stopped urging her.
The book of Ruth was written for the Israelites and was set in this time of religious and moral corruption, nationwide dispute, and overseas oppression, (Coogan). This book teaches that regardless of our struggles in life, we must live according to the principles of God. By doing so, those who love and act with genuine kindness will be rewarded and blessed. Although the author is unknown, Jewish belief points to Samuel. “The language of the book of Ruth supports a Second Temple period dating: its words and expressions, and their spelling, attest to a substantial Aramaic influence,” (Coogan). However, there is a contrasting view which deems that the book was written during the monarchy period, due to its great interest in Kind David’s …show more content…
ancestry. The message from the book of Ruth is especially shown in Ruth 1:14-18, where Ruth sacrifices what could have been a new beginning for her to stay with Naomi in her time of hardships. Ruth, although not related by blood, deems Naomi as lifelong family and continues her life with Naomi. “The stance of Ruth is clear and unambiguous: kindness and loyalty, are more important than ethnicity,” (Coogan). Due to the issues the Israelites were facing at the time the book of Ruth was written, this story encouraged the Israelites to all look at difficult times in a new light and to stay faithful to God and his desires.
Ruth 1:14-18 is in the Book of Ruth. The Book of Ruth is one of the shortest books in the bible and is in the writings of the Hebrew Bible or in the Christian canon. In the Christian canon, Ruth is places between Judges 1 and Samuel because of the time frame where the story took place. But in the Hebrew Bible is not, because it does not belong to the Deuteronomist History.
The Passage Ruth 1:14-18, is in the beginning of the book and introduces readers to the new life Ruth is about to undertake. The whole book is separated into four different acts, with two or three scenes each. As the Book of Ruth, specifically Ruth 1:14-18, discusses friendship and loyalty to one’s family, there are several verses within the bible that also relate to this message. On example is John 15:12-15 which states, “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you. No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you,” (Coogan). In this passage, Jesus calls “his people”, his friends. Jesus is showing his loyalty and commitment to his people, just as Ruth had shown to Naomi. Another interesting connection with Ruth is her genealogy with Jesus. This is discussed in the first chapter of Matthew; although a gentile, Ruth marries Boaz for him to provide for Naomi and herself in their old age. They had a son named Obed, who ended up being the grandfather to King David and therefore in the ancestry of Jesus Christ, (Weinfield). Ruth is looked at as being an idyllic-romantic character. This book had no villains and that lack of conflicts reflects on the relationship with God, which is described as congruous, (Coogan). Another play on this harmonic aspect is the roe of the Pentateuchal law, as Ruth goes above and beyond to fulfill her duties with Naomi, she is rewarded equally to her willingness and effort to care for her new family. The structure of this book is quite proportioned. For example, “chapter 1 opens with the genealogy of Elimelech, an unknown Ephrathite; chapter 4 ends with the genealogy from Perez to David. Chapter one opens with an allusion on the period of Judges; chapter 4 ends with an allusion of the monarchic period- David,” (Coogan). This kind of parallel is also seen between chapters 2 and 3. Chapter 2 describes one day on Boaz’s field, while chapter 3 describes one night. There is no other biblical book that portrays the relationship among two women is such a positive way. Due to this book is written in such a fond manner of this relationship, some believe the author of the book is in fact a woman. Not only does Ruth completely give herself to her mother-in-law, Naomi, once her husband dies but her forwardness towards Boaz and the relationship she wanted with him was exceptionally different from how any other woman was portrayed in the bible, (Smith). Ruth married Mahlon after the death of his father, Elimelch. before they were even able to have children, Mahlon died, leaving Ruth childless. Mahlon died alongside his brother Chilion. This left Naomi the wife of Elimelch, a widow with no living children of her own. Ruth also mourning the loss of Mahlon took in Naomi, leaving her own her own home and embarking in an unknown future with her new family. Ruth in many ways saved Naomi, from being alone but so from an unknown future. She made sure that she could help provide a life from Naomi and was in no way regretful for this decision. According to biblical dictionary, “Bible Study Tools”, Ruth married Boaz by the “Levirate law” which is when the brother of a deceased man is obliged to marry his brother’s widow. This allowed for the unknown future of Ruth and Naomi to become a stable one. Naomi was also able to see her last son married and could receive a grandchild because of Ruth’s dedication. Although discussed throughout this paper, the main plot of Ruth’s story is her undying and gallant devotion toward Naomi.
She is a true story of how good deeds and commitment bring rewards. She did not take Naomi in for a reward but because she loved her, without worrying about how it would affect her life; because of that in return God granted her with that sense of stability. Ruth has nothing to gain by going to Bethlehem with Naomi but still goes with her. Although Naomi’s outlook on women is defined by their fertility or lack thereof, Ruth redefines that stereotype by giving herself options. She does not wait for her looks to attract another man and instead goes off on her own journey,
(Savran). Ruth shows herself through this book and how strong women can truly be. She does not wait around to rely on the help of a man but takes in someone whom she loves and starts a new life with her. As things unfold along the way she understands that God is truly there for her and had loved her all along. She redefines the idea of family and has a heart with no boundaries, just like God, himself. “Ruth deliberately breaks the firmly established order, according to which a woman is a dependent being. Ruth chooses a way that allows her, independently and subordinate to none, to help free another human being from her deep distress,” (Westermann, 302). She helped this women in distress, looking for nothing in return, and with God’s help she could prosper. Ruth is a story of friendship but can also be looked at with a racial standpoint. Ruth was a minority, a non-Jew and a foreigner, but she still shines and finds a way to do her own good. She is remembered for her heart and her deeds not because she was a Moabite. With racism, still being an issue today, this story can be looked upon as a reminder not to judge someone based on their lineage but on the type of person they are. Ruth was able to change a grieving woman’s life and her family history had no part in that. By doing this, she also proved that God’s love had no boundaries. Ruth may have been a Moabite but God did not discriminate her. Ruth also broke boundaries with the stereotypes of females. Still today women are seen as less than men, with set ideals of what they do in a relationship and with their life. Ruth went against all odds to make a life for herself and Naomi, she did not wait around for a man, instead finding Boaz herself. She is an example of women being strong and independent. She is an inspiration to breaking the glass ceiling, especially because there are not many books in the bible written about women; Ruth shows women they can be just as strong even when grieving with the unimaginable. Ruth is an inspiration to so many diverse groups without even attempting, she does what she knows in her heart is right, which is something everyone in the past, today, and in the future, should strive to do.
not all love is romantic but that does not make it any less important. Because of her altruistic compassion, God provide Ruth with rewards that allowed her to make a life for her and her mother-in-law.
14 At this they wept aloud again.
Then Orpah kissed her mother-in-law goodbye, but Ruth clung to her.
15 “Look,” said Naomi, “your sister-in-law is going back to her people and her gods. Go back with her.”
16 But Ruth replied, “Don’t urge me to leave you or to turn back from you. Where you go, I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God.17 Where you die I will die, and there I will be buried. May the Lord deal with me, be it ever so severely, if even death separates you and me.” 18 When Naomi realized that Ruth was determined to go with her, she stopped urging her.
The book of Ruth was written for the Israelites and was set in this time of religious and moral corruption, nationwide dispute, and overseas oppression, (Coogan). This book teaches that regardless of our struggles in life, we must live according to the principles of God. By doing so, those who love and act with genuine kindness will be rewarded and blessed. Although the author is unknown, Jewish belief points to Samuel. “The language of the book of Ruth supports a Second Temple period dating: its words and expressions, and their spelling, attest to a substantial Aramaic influence,” (Coogan). However, there is a contrasting view which deems that the book was written during the monarchy period, due to its great interest in Kind David’s …show more content…
ancestry. The message from the book of Ruth is especially shown in Ruth 1:14-18, where Ruth sacrifices what could have been a new beginning for her to stay with Naomi in her time of hardships. Ruth, although not related by blood, deems Naomi as lifelong family and continues her life with Naomi. “The stance of Ruth is clear and unambiguous: kindness and loyalty, are more important than ethnicity,” (Coogan). Due to the issues the Israelites were facing at the time the book of Ruth was written, this story encouraged the Israelites to all look at difficult times in a new light and to stay faithful to God and his desires.
Ruth 1:14-18 is in the Book of Ruth. The Book of Ruth is one of the shortest books in the bible and is in the writings of the Hebrew Bible or in the Christian canon. In the Christian canon, Ruth is places between Judges 1 and Samuel because of the time frame where the story took place. But in the Hebrew Bible is not, because it does not belong to the Deuteronomist History.
The Passage Ruth 1:14-18, is in the beginning of the book and introduces readers to the new life Ruth is about to undertake. The whole book is separated into four different acts, with two or three scenes each. As the Book of Ruth, specifically Ruth 1:14-18, discusses friendship and loyalty to one’s family, there are several verses within the bible that also relate to this message. On example is John 15:12-15 which states, “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you. No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you,” (Coogan). In this passage, Jesus calls “his people”, his friends. Jesus is showing his loyalty and commitment to his people, just as Ruth had shown to Naomi. Another interesting connection with Ruth is her genealogy with Jesus. This is discussed in the first chapter of Matthew; although a gentile, Ruth marries Boaz for him to provide for Naomi and herself in their old age. They had a son named Obed, who ended up being the grandfather to King David and therefore in the ancestry of Jesus Christ, (Weinfield). Ruth is looked at as being an idyllic-romantic character. This book had no villains and that lack of conflicts reflects on the relationship with God, which is described as congruous, (Coogan). Another play on this harmonic aspect is the roe of the Pentateuchal law, as Ruth goes above and beyond to fulfill her duties with Naomi, she is rewarded equally to her willingness and effort to care for her new family. The structure of this book is quite proportioned. For example, “chapter 1 opens with the genealogy of Elimelech, an unknown Ephrathite; chapter 4 ends with the genealogy from Perez to David. Chapter one opens with an allusion on the period of Judges; chapter 4 ends with an allusion of the monarchic period- David,” (Coogan). This kind of parallel is also seen between chapters 2 and 3. Chapter 2 describes one day on Boaz’s field, while chapter 3 describes one night. There is no other biblical book that portrays the relationship among two women is such a positive way. Due to this book is written in such a fond manner of this relationship, some believe the author of the book is in fact a woman. Not only does Ruth completely give herself to her mother-in-law, Naomi, once her husband dies but her forwardness towards Boaz and the relationship she wanted with him was exceptionally different from how any other woman was portrayed in the bible, (Smith). Ruth married Mahlon after the death of his father, Elimelch. before they were even able to have children, Mahlon died, leaving Ruth childless. Mahlon died alongside his brother Chilion. This left Naomi the wife of Elimelch, a widow with no living children of her own. Ruth also mourning the loss of Mahlon took in Naomi, leaving her own her own home and embarking in an unknown future with her new family. Ruth in many ways saved Naomi, from being alone but so from an unknown future. She made sure that she could help provide a life from Naomi and was in no way regretful for this decision. According to biblical dictionary, “Bible Study Tools”, Ruth married Boaz by the “Levirate law” which is when the brother of a deceased man is obliged to marry his brother’s widow. This allowed for the unknown future of Ruth and Naomi to become a stable one. Naomi was also able to see her last son married and could receive a grandchild because of Ruth’s dedication. Although discussed throughout this paper, the main plot of Ruth’s story is her undying and gallant devotion toward Naomi.
She is a true story of how good deeds and commitment bring rewards. She did not take Naomi in for a reward but because she loved her, without worrying about how it would affect her life; because of that in return God granted her with that sense of stability. Ruth has nothing to gain by going to Bethlehem with Naomi but still goes with her. Although Naomi’s outlook on women is defined by their fertility or lack thereof, Ruth redefines that stereotype by giving herself options. She does not wait for her looks to attract another man and instead goes off on her own journey,
(Savran). Ruth shows herself through this book and how strong women can truly be. She does not wait around to rely on the help of a man but takes in someone whom she loves and starts a new life with her. As things unfold along the way she understands that God is truly there for her and had loved her all along. She redefines the idea of family and has a heart with no boundaries, just like God, himself. “Ruth deliberately breaks the firmly established order, according to which a woman is a dependent being. Ruth chooses a way that allows her, independently and subordinate to none, to help free another human being from her deep distress,” (Westermann, 302). She helped this women in distress, looking for nothing in return, and with God’s help she could prosper. Ruth is a story of friendship but can also be looked at with a racial standpoint. Ruth was a minority, a non-Jew and a foreigner, but she still shines and finds a way to do her own good. She is remembered for her heart and her deeds not because she was a Moabite. With racism, still being an issue today, this story can be looked upon as a reminder not to judge someone based on their lineage but on the type of person they are. Ruth was able to change a grieving woman’s life and her family history had no part in that. By doing this, she also proved that God’s love had no boundaries. Ruth may have been a Moabite but God did not discriminate her. Ruth also broke boundaries with the stereotypes of females. Still today women are seen as less than men, with set ideals of what they do in a relationship and with their life. Ruth went against all odds to make a life for herself and Naomi, she did not wait around for a man, instead finding Boaz herself. She is an example of women being strong and independent. She is an inspiration to breaking the glass ceiling, especially because there are not many books in the bible written about women; Ruth shows women they can be just as strong even when grieving with the unimaginable. Ruth is an inspiration to so many diverse groups without even attempting, she does what she knows in her heart is right, which is something everyone in the past, today, and in the future, should strive to do.