Read : Ruth 1:16-17 But Ruth said, “Do not urge me to leave you or turn back from following you; for where you go, I will go, and where you lodge, I will lodge. Your people shall be my people, and your God, my God. Where you die, I will die, and there I will be buried. Thus may the Lord do to me, and worse, if anything but death parts you and me.”

Examine : A family went from Judah to Moab to escape famine. The man’s name was Elimelech; his wife’s name was Naomi; his sons were named Mahlon and Kilion. Elimelech died and Naomi was left, she and her two sons. The sons took Moabite wives; the name of the first was Orpah, the second Ruth. Later two brothers, Mahlon and Kilion, died. 

When Naomi hears Judah’s situation has changed, she decides to go back, but she tells her two daughters-in-law to go back. Go home and live with your mothers, when she saw them following her. But Ruth insisted and when Naomi saw that Ruth had her heart set on going with her, she gave in. And so the two of them traveled on together to Bethlehem. Later she comes to Bethlehem with Naomi gets married to Boaz and becomes the great-grandmother of David.

Application : In this small book of 4 chapters, we see Ruth speaking around 7 times during very critical situations.  When Naomi forces Ruth to go back, we see Ruth’s love, loyalty, and determination to stay with Naomi (Ruth 1:16,17). Later when they came to Judah we see Ruth requesting to go to work without any complaints (Run 2:2). When Ruth is in the field and she receives favor from Boaz the owner of the field, we see Ruth being grateful for every little thing and express the thankfulness (Ruth 2:10).

Boaz hearing this response shows more kindness by letting Ruth continue in the field, and Ruth replies that she does not deserve this kind of favor, it shows Ruth is so humble and content.  When she comes back and explains to Naomi, we see Ruth so transparent and remembers Boaz’s instruction to stay close to his servants (Ruth 2:21). As the story goes on Naomi asks difficult things of Ruth and we see her absolute obedience without asking Questions (Ruth 3:5). Response to Boaz in the field that she wanted to be under Boaz wings and asking Him to redeem her, shows her trust and truth. (Ruth 3:9) 

Decision[s] : Lord I want to be like Ruth in relation to Jesus. Committed to Jesus till my death, love with all my heart, and follow Jesus even if it costs my life. Also I learn from Ruth the lessons of hard work, gratefulness, no complaints, and absolute obedience.