This morning in our ladies’ Bible study, we were discussing the Book of Ruth. While we were talking about the love story of Ruth and Boaz, it struck me that one of our daughters is married to a man whose parents are a modern-day Boaz and Ruth. Let me tell you their love story.

Our son-in-law’s mother was married at 18 years old to an abusive alcoholic husband with whom she had four children. Finally, the drunken physical abuse became life-threatening, and she took her four children and fled to another city where she took refuge in a battered women’s shelter. While there, she started attending a nearby church where she found refuge for her soul, too. She finally had the freedom to learn and grow in her faith in Jesus.

A man older than herself at the church noticed a young woman in a hard situation, and he had compassion for her and her children- he wanted to help. He respected and valued what he saw in the woman. He saw her faith in God and prayed for her.  He noticed she was humble, hard-working, and persevering.  She saw a godly man deeply committed to Jesus. She observed his good-hearted treatment of others. Over several years, she saw a kind and generous man, a man who respected her and wanted to provide for her and her children. She began to trust this compassionate man who genuinely wanted to help her.  Over a period of four years, she saw his character and faith. And he saw her character and faith. Both valued what they saw, so it really isn’t surprising that both were willing to commit to the other.

In the end, they married. He cherished her, gave her a safe home, provided well for her, and gave her plucky, hard-working nature free rein to invest and build wealth. And for her children, he provided not just sustenance, but structure, a good example, and unselfish love for each of them, giving them a chance to rise above their poverty and loss. (Our daughter’s husband credits his good step-dad for his successes.)  She gave him a son, her devotion, and now, many happy years later, her selfless help in his old age.

Now here is the Biblical love story:  Ruth was a young widow, strike one.  Ruth was a foreigner from an enemy country, strike two.  Ruth was a new convert from a grossly pagan culture, strike three. She was destitute and had an older mother-in-law to support.  But she had a strong faith in God.  She was plucky, hard-working, and determined.  And she was motivated by love for her hungry mother-in-law.  So it was that she decided to take advantage of the Torah law that the poor and the foreigner were allowed to glean in the harvest fields in order to secure food for themselves.  In God’s providence, she ‘happened’ to go to the field of kind Boaz.

 So Boaz said to Ruth, “My daughter, listen to me. Don’t go and glean in another field and don’t go away from here. Stay here with the women who work for me.  Watch the field where the men are harvesting, and follow along after the women. I have told the men not to lay a hand on you. And whenever you are thirsty, go and get a drink from the water jars . . .”

“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.”

At mealtime Boaz said to her, “Come over here. Have some bread …” When she sat down with the harvesters, he offered her some roasted grain. She ate all she wanted and had some left over.  As she got up to glean, Boaz gave orders to his men, “Let her gather among the sheaves and don’t reprimand her. Even pull out some stalks for her from the bundles and leave them for her to pick up, and don’t rebuke her.” Ruth 2:8-12, 14-16

She respected and valued what she saw in Boaz. She saw a godly man; a kind and generous man, a man who respected her, was providing for her and her mother-in-law, was protecting her, a compassionate man who genuinely wanted to help her. She observed his good-hearted treatment of his employees- not leaving all the management to a supervisor, but taking a personal interest in his workers, even eating with them during rest time. It was his food they all ate, in a shelter he provided.

Boaz respected and valued what he saw in the woman.  Boaz noticed a young woman in a hard situation, and he had compassion for her- he wanted to help. He saw her faith in God and prayed for her. He noted that she was innocently surprised when he took notice of her among all his workers. And she humbly thanked him when he gave her special favors because she was trying to support her widowed mother-in-law. He was pleased that she greatly appreciated his considerate concern for her and Naomi, but she didn’t take advantage of his kindness. She was grateful for his favor, but she didn’t presume on it. He noticed that she worked hard every day picking up the grain left behind by the reapers and bundlers. It was hot, back-breaking work which she probably wasn’t used to. Yet she persevered through two harvest seasons.

During this period, Ruth saw the character and faith of Boaz. And Boaz saw the character and faith of Ruth. Both valued what they saw, so it really isn’t surprising that both were willing to commit to the other.  After their marriage, Boaz cherished her, gave her a safe home, and provided well for her. He gave her a chance to rise above poverty and loss.  She gave him her devotion, a son, and her hard-working, plucky nature.

There is one more Boaz and Ruth story.  I know someone else who noticed all of us in a hard situation, and he had compassion for us- he wanted to help. He saw our faith in God and prayed for us.  He rescued us and showed generosity, kindness, and love. His name is Jesus. He saw all of us who couldn’t measure up to God’s standard in the Law. So, like Boaz, he paid for us. He cherishes us, gives us a safe, soul home, and provides for us each day.  He gives us a chance to rise above our spiritual poverty.  We give him our devotion and work hard for his kingdom.