This holiday season, gather around the fireplace and listen to the ancient Christmas story of two real women named Ruth and Naomi. You’ll be challenged and encouraged to spot God’s sovereign activity behind the tragedy, romance, and warmth of the book of Ruth.
Grant Roth
Day 1
Scripture: Ruth 1:1-7
Don’t miss the very first few words of the book of Ruth. They seem minor and unimportant, but they are the frame in which the author spends the next 4 chapters painting a beautiful picture of God’s sovereignty and kindness. The events of this book and Ruth’s story take place in the days when the judges ruled. The “judges” are the individuals God used to bring order and stability to the Israelite people before kings were established in the land. If you read the book of Judges, you’re consistently confronted with the cyclical sinfulness and corruption of God’s people. The book of Ruth begins by informing us that this beautiful story of hope and God’s sovereignty takes place against the backdrop of chaos and corruption. It’s a reminder to us that even when the world seems to be falling apart, God is still weaving things together for the good of his people.
That’s true on a large scale for God’s people as a whole, but as we spend some time in the story of Ruth and Naomi, we see it’s true for each of us individually as well. God is weaving together something good amid the suffering, loss, and uncertainty that these two women are experiencing. He’s doing the same for us right now.
Reflection Prompt:
- Where in your life are you currently experiencing suffering, loss, or uncertainty?
- On a scale from 1-10, how hopeful and joyful do you feel as you approach Christmas this season? (10 being completely full of hope and joy)
Day 2
Scripture: Ruth 1:8-18
One could argue that the book of Ruth is more about Naomi than it is about Ruth. It would be somewhat in line with our modern stereotypes for a mother-in-law to make everything all about herself, but that’s not what Naomi is doing. She is a suffering, yet selfless woman who wants what’s best for Ruth, her daughter-in-law. She insists that Ruth move on with her own life. But Ruth resists Naomi’s plea and commits to stay by her side. Ruth is one of the most powerful examples of loyalty in all of scripture. God demonstrates his kindness to Naomi through Ruth’s loyalty, which begins a narrative arc toward redemption and blessing in Naomi’s story. Sometimes, we experience God’s kindness and goodness most powerfully through the people He’s placed in our lives.
During this Christmas season, you may be surrounded by people who have impacted you both positively and negatively throughout your life. Pay attention to your interactions with those people over the coming days and weeks. Do you notice God reminding you of any aspect of His character through those people? Perhaps, it’s the wisdom of your mother, the encouragement of a friend, or the generosity of a co-worker. God often uses the people He’s placed around us to channel His divine resources into our lives.
Reflection Prompt
- Who in your life has God used to remind you of His kindness and goodness? Consider sending a text or a note to let them know how God has used them in your life.
Day 3
Scripture: Ruth 1:19-22
In today’s passage, the author gives us a raw look at Naomi’s grief and her response to suffering. Naomi attributes the profound loss she has experienced to God. It’s a very real, human response to suffering and loss. If we believe that God is “sovereign”, or in complete control, but we are enduring intense suffering, it’s very easy to assume that He is causing our pain or discomfort. Sometimes, God does cause suffering to lead us to repentance (Ex. relational conflict and drama because we’ve chosen to gossip or harbor resentment), but often, suffering is simply a result of the broken world we live in. God allows that suffering, but as we’ll see throughout the rest of this book, He always plans to redeem it. The presence of suffering does not always indicate the absence of God. On the contrary, suffering nearly always indicates God is moving in some way. He’s moving a sinful person toward repentance or, more often, a sad story toward redemption.
Reflection Prompt:
- How does suffering typically impact your view of God or the way you relate to Him?
Day 4
Scripture: Ruth 2:1-12
As the story progresses in our passage today, we get to watch a meet-cute moment that feels like it’s from a Hallmark movie. Ruth, the single woman from out of town, who doesn’t know if she’ll ever find love or stability again, finds her way onto the property of a kind man named Boaz. If it were really a Hallmark movie, Boaz would probably own a Christmas ornament store and be the parental guardian for his orphaned, 7-year-old niece. But Boaz shows a surprising amount of kindness to Ruth, which seems fitting because of the surprising amount of loyalty and kindness that Ruth showed to Naomi in the first chapter.
God has shown His kindness to Naomi through the loyalty of Ruth, and now God is showing his kindness and care to Ruth through the kindness and generosity of Boaz. Boaz just seems like a good guy, but it’s clear, when we look at this story as a whole, that God is providing for Naomi and Ruth by placing the right people in their lives at the right times.
Notice the way Boaz blesses Ruth in verse 12, saying, “May you be richly rewarded by the Lord, the God of Israel, under whose wings you have come to take refuge.” Naomi and Ruth are beginning to experience the blessing and provision of God through Boaz. They are in a position to receive that sort of blessing because they “have come to take refuge” in God. There’s no safer place to be than under God’s care.
Reflection Prompt:
- Memorize Psalm 23:1- “The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing.” Repeat that verse to yourself throughout the day and reflect on it.
Day 5
Scripture: Ruth 2:13-23
At this point in the Hallmark movie, we’d be watching a short montage of Boaz and Ruth going on silly, romantic, little excursions. You can imagine the scene unfolding here in scripture: Ruth returns to her mother-in-law with her arms full of grain she had gleaned from Boaz’ fields.
Startled by the impressive amount of grain Ruth gathered, Naomi asks, “Where in the world did you get all that?”
Ruth responds nonchalantly, “Oh, I just met some guy named Boaz. He let me collect from his fields.”
“Just some guy ? Oh, sweetie… Boaz is not just some guy. He’s the best bachelor in all of Bethlehem, baby! He’s our kinsmen redeemer!”
A kinsmen (or guardian) redeemer was a safeguard established by God in the Old Testament law. It was a law that ensured that the Israelite people would be provided for by their relatives if they found themselves in poverty. Ruth and Naomi, two widows in an ancient culture where men were the primary financial providers, were certainly impoverished. And it just so happens that Ruth stumbles into the field and the favor of the very person who was meant to take care of her and Naomi. You can call it a coincidence. But again, if we believe that God is sovereign, we have to at least admit that God is intentionally allowing this coincidence, if not orchestrating from start to finish. This story gives us little glimpses of God’s complete control over all situations in our lives and the way he weaves every moment together in a meaningful way.
Reflection Prompt:
- How have you seen the sovereignty, or complete control, of God at work in your life? What situations from the past do you now see purpose or meaning in that you didn’t previously?
Day 6
Scripture: Ruth 3:1-18
I know what you’re thinking: The author of this book should’ve given us a PG-13 warning at the beginning of this chapter! Ruth is going to Boaz’ bed and “uncover his feet and lie down”? There had better be a black square covering his feet, censoring that kind of adult material. Sheesh.
This chapter alludes to a few cultural customs that are fairly foreign to us. We’ve already talked about the concept of a kinsmen redeemer, a relative with the responsibility of helping a person in their time of need. In uncovering Boaz’ feet, Ruth is officially requesting that Boaz step into his role as the family’s kinsmen redeemer. In this instance, it would also include Boaz taking Ruth as his wife and continuing to care for her.
The Lord was clearly in the business of redeeming his people. He intentionally planned for vulnerable people who found themselves in trouble to be provided for and protected through the Old Testament Law. But he has also done the same thing for all His people on a grander scale in Jesus. As human beings who live in a broken world tainted by sin, we are all vulnerable and in dire spiritual need of redemption. Thankfully, God is still in the business of redeeming his people. He’s been weaving together a story of redemption that started before the beginning of time, it reached its peak with the cross and the empty tomb, and we’re waiting for the conclusion where He will tie up all the loose ends and right all the wrongs. He has created a way for us to be redeemed from our sin and spiritual poverty. We are provided for and protected through our Redeemer, Jesus.
Reflection Prompt:
- What is the primary emotion you experience when you ponder the fact that God has made redemption and freedom from spiritual poverty possible through Jesus? (Awe, Numbness, Confusion, Gratitude, etc.) Why do you think that is?
Day 7
Scripture: Ruth 4:1-15
In this concluding chapter of the book of Ruth, we see Naomi’s story come full circle. At the beginning of the book, she insists that others call her “Mara” because her life is so full of bitterness, and she’s convinced that God has brought pain and suffering upon her. But here, we see what God can do with our story when we just wait a little while as He works on our behalf. There is a stark contrast between the first and last chapter of this book. There is a tone of sadness and grief at the beginning of Naomi’s story but a tone of joy and hope at the end.
When Ruth gives birth to a baby boy, the women in the community begin celebrating for Naomi. They begin their words of celebration with the simple phrase “Praise be to the LORD”. This gives us, as the readers, a healthy model for responding to God’s provision and kindness. Naomi was in need, and through Ruth’s loyalty to her, and Boaz’ kindness to Ruth, God provided for Naomi’s needs. Praise is the proper response to God’s provision.
As we prepare to celebrate Christmas this year, we remember God’s provision for us. We needed a savior. We needed a redeemer. We needed hope. We needed a better king to lead us. We needed God to come to us. And that’s exactly what He did. Our needs are met in Jesus.
Reflection Prompt:
- Write down a few practical ways that God has provided for your needs and even blessed you beyond your essential needs. Then, write out a simple prayer praising God for his provision in your life. (If you don’t know how to start a prayer like that, maybe just try “Praise be to the LORD…”)
Day 8
Scripture: Ruth 4:16-22
Well, you’ve done it! Congrats. You’ve read the entire book of Ruth… Unless you skipped to this final devotional. There’s no shame in that, I just rescind my “congrats” to you.
It’s the end of the book of Ruth but it’s the beginning, or at least a continuation, of a much larger story. Verse 17 says, “they named him Obed. He was the father of Jesse, the father of David.” It’s a very quick, subtle line in the book of Ruth, but it connects Ruth with the rest of the Bible’s narrative. Up close, this book is about Naomi and Ruth, two women who are suffering, experiencing God’s provision and kindness. But something even more significant is taking place here. Ruth, a Gentile (Non-Jewish person) from Moab will become the great-grandmother of Israel’s most famous king: David. A woman who was not considered one of God’s “chosen people” is chosen by God to be the ancestor of one of the greatest figures in Jewish history. Along with her mother-in-law, Ruth is a grieving woman who can’t clearly see God’s purpose in her pain. But her great-grandson would be God’s chosen ruler over Israel, slaying giants with a slingshot, leading God’s people with boldness, and writing the most famous worship songs in history.
That’s where the book of Ruth ends. If that’s where Ruth and Naomi’s story ended too, it would be pretty powerful as it is. But as we look back on the book of Ruth, we have the benefit of seeing how it all connects to God’s grand story of redemption. Ruth’s grandson, David was not just chosen by God to be a good king that could sing some divine ditties. He was chosen by God to be the first king of a kingdom that would last forever. Many descendants of David would sit on the throne and rule over God’s people, but one descendant would sit on the throne and never be displaced. He would become king and reign forever, redeeming God’s people and restoring the world around them. His name would be Jesus. He wouldn’t be the sort of king most would expect. He wouldn’t be wealthy or refined. He wouldn’t be a fearsome military leader like his great-grandpa, David. Instead, he would be a little like his great-grandma, Ruth: no stranger to suffering and poverty and a perfect picture of loyalty. From his very birth, he would be humble and lowly. Again, not the type of king anyone would expect, but the type of person God always seems to use.
God worked through the suffering and sweet romance in Ruth’s life to do something far bigger than she could’ve imagined. He brought the Savior into the world. The story of Ruth and Naomi gives us a reason to hope that God is moving in our hardships. The story of Jesus gives us a reason to hope that one day we will live in right relationship with God and in a fully redeemed world.
Reflection Prompt:
- This Christmas, what aspect of a fully redeemed world ruled by Jesus are you looking forward to most? Ask God to fill you with hope in the redemption and restoration that Jesus will bring.