Is there anything that stirs our hearts like a good love story? The books and movies I remember best are the ones that revolve around a love story. I’d venture to say there is no great story unless there is a love story within it. Perhaps that’s because the story of our lives is a love story, and the story of God’s plan is the greatest love story imaginable.
I believe the outline of God’s love story is preserved in His holy days. Three seasons of the year, the Israelites were commanded to “appear before the Lord your God at the place He will choose.” These times were The Feast of Unleavened Bread (which began with Passover), the Feast of Weeks (Pentecost) and the Feast of Tabernacles. This past Sunday, May 31st, was the day of Pentecost (Pentecost literally means “count fifty.” The day after the Sabbath immediately following the Passover, a single sheaf of the firstfruits of the harvest was brought to the priest. The priest waved the sheaf before the Lord, to be accepted on behalf of the people…an obvious type of Christ being accepted on our behalf as the first of the firstfruits. Seven weeks were counted from the wave sheaf offering to arrive at the feast of Pentecost 50 days later…hence, it is also called the “feast of weeks.”) There is a wonderful love story associated with this holy day.
The book of Ruth is one of the Megilloth (festival scrolls, read on annual holy days). It is read in Jewish synagogues on Pentecost (referred to as Shavout). The events recorded in the book occurred between Passover and Pentecost in the late spring, between the early and late spring harvest. The timing of the book is fascinating. It occurred during the time of the judges, a time when “every man did what was right in his own eyes,” and the result was chaos, violence, disobedience and idolatry (Judges 21:25). So it becomes a story of God’s grace during a dark time in Israel’s history.
As the story unfolds, we learn that, because of famine, Naomi, her husband and two sons move to Moab and her sons marry there. Shortly thereafter, her husband and both sons die, and Naomi decides to return to Bethlehem (1:1-7). Naomi implores her Moabite daughters-in-law, Orpah and Ruth, to stay in Moab. Orpah agrees, but Ruth adamantly refuses. Her words to Naomi have been used countless times in weddings as a beautiful depiction of steadfast love, “Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God. Where you die I will die, and there I will be buried. May the Lord deal with me, be it ever so severely, if anything but death separates you and me.” (1:16-17). I find it a little amusing that, although this is quoted in weddings, it actually depicts the love of a daughter- in- law for her mother- in- law! I have a mother in law I love dearly (Audrey, I hope you are reading this!), but I am often told this is not the norm for our day and age….I doubt it was then either! But her devotion to her mother-in-law led to an unexpected romance, a radical change of circumstance, a prophecy of future redemption, and to Ruth, herself, becoming a part of the lineage of Christ!
Ruth returned to Bethlehem with Naomi and participated in the first-fruit harvest, mainly in the fields of Boaz, who was a relative of Naomi’s dead husband. Boaz noticed Ruth and learned about her faithfulness to her mother in law. He was impressed. “May the Lord repay you for what you have done…may you be richly rewarded by the Lord…” (2:12). He protected her, allowing her to glean and gather sheaves left behind by the harvesters. Days later, when the barley and wheat harvests were finished, Ruth went to the threshing floor where Boaz was winnowing barley. When he had fallen asleep, she laid down at his feet. I love the account the scripture relates…”in the middle of the night something startled the man, and he turned and discovered a woman lying at his feet” (3:8). I forgot to mention that Ruth had washed and perfumed herself…and I would love to have some of that fragrance! Boaz’ response to her, after being startled in the middle of the night, was “ The Lord bless you, my daughter…this kindness is greater than that which you showed earlier…” Faithful to the custom of the “kinsman redeemer” (Deut. 25:5), Boaz made sure that the one relative with prior claim to Ruth renounced his claim, and then he made Ruth his wife. Truly a match “made in heaven,” their descendants include King David and Jesus Christ, Himself!
How appropriate that this book would be read on Pentecost. Ruth left everything of her own world, even her religion, to follow Naomi. Though a Gentile, she married an Israelite, embraced a new faith, and became included in the lineage of Christ. God shows us that Gentiles can become spiritual Israelites and take part in the marriage of Christ to His “firstfruits” (the Church). Boaz’ love for Ruth is a type of Christ’s love for the church, and prophetic of the redemptive work of our Saviour/Redeemer. He is the “Husbandman” who provides for and protects his bride. Boaz protected and provided for Ruth, even when she was unaware (2:15-16). Ruth “prepared herself” and laid at Boaz’ feet. The church is making herself ready to become the bride of Christ. Boaz redeemed Ruth, who had nothing and was powerless to change her circumstances. In this book, God reveals His heart. “When you reap the harvest of your land, do not reap to the very edges of your field or gather the gleanings of your harvest. Leave them for the poor and the alien. I am the Lord your God” (Lev. 23:9,22). So Israel was commanded to care for the poor and the alien. Without this law, there would be no book of Ruth. God’s provision was not solely for Israel. His intent was to use Israel to bless others. Pentecost, in the New Testament, ushered in the church age, and now His church has the responsibility to express His heart in caring for others. He invites any who are willing to glean in His fields, to become a part of His early harvest, and to discover their Kinsman Redeemer. And the love story continues….