Topical Bible: The Poor: Ruth

◄ The Poor: Ruth ►

Jump to: Torrey's • Library • Subtopics • Terms

Topical Encyclopedia

Introduction

Ruth, a Moabite woman, is a significant figure in the Bible, particularly in the context of poverty and divine providence. Her account is primarily found in the Book of Ruth, which is a narrative of loyalty, faith, and God's provision for the poor and marginalized. Ruth's life exemplifies the virtues of humility, diligence, and faithfulness, and her account is a testament to God's care for the poor and His ability to use them for His purposes.

Background

Ruth was a Moabite, a member of a people often at odds with Israel. She became the daughter-in-law of Naomi, an Israelite woman who had moved to Moab with her husband and two sons due to a famine in Bethlehem. After the deaths of her husband and sons, Naomi decided to return to Bethlehem, urging her daughters-in-law to remain in Moab. However, Ruth's famous declaration of loyalty to Naomi is recorded in Ruth 1:16-17 : "Do not urge me to leave you or to turn from following you. For wherever you go, I will go, and wherever you stay, I will stay. Your people will be my people, and your God will be my God. Where you die, I will die, and there I will be buried. May the LORD punish me, and ever so severely, if anything but death separates you and me."

Ruth's Poverty and Diligence

Upon returning to Bethlehem, Ruth and Naomi faced dire poverty. As widows, they had no male protector or provider, which placed them among the most vulnerable in society. Ruth's response to their situation was one of initiative and hard work. She went to glean in the fields, a provision in the Mosaic Law that allowed the poor to gather leftover grain during the harvest (Leviticus 19:9-10, Deuteronomy 24:19). Ruth's diligence is noted in Ruth 2:2-3 : "And Ruth the Moabitess said to Naomi, 'Please let me go into the fields and glean heads of grain after someone in whose sight I may find favor.' 'Go ahead, my daughter,' Naomi replied. So Ruth departed and went out into the field and gleaned after the harvesters."

Divine Providence and Redemption

Ruth's gleaning led her to the field of Boaz, a relative of Naomi's late husband. Boaz, a man of standing and integrity, noticed Ruth's hard work and kindness to Naomi. He extended protection and generosity to her, ensuring she had ample provision. Boaz's actions reflect the biblical principle of caring for the poor and the foreigner, as seen in Ruth 2:8-9 : "Then Boaz said to Ruth, 'Listen, my daughter. Do not go and glean in another field, and do not go away from here. Stay here with my servant girls. Let your eyes be on the field they are harvesting, and follow along after these girls. I have ordered the young men not to touch you. And when you are thirsty, go and drink from the jars the young men have filled.'"

Ruth's account culminates in her marriage to Boaz, which not only redeems her and Naomi from poverty but also places Ruth in the lineage of King David and ultimately Jesus Christ. This union is a profound example of God's redemptive plan, using a poor, foreign woman to fulfill His purposes.

Legacy

Ruth's life is a powerful narrative of faith, loyalty, and divine provision. Her account highlights God's compassion for the poor and His ability to work through those whom society may overlook. Ruth's inclusion in the genealogy of Jesus (Matthew 1:5) underscores the value and dignity God places on all individuals, regardless of their social or economic status. Her account continues to inspire believers to trust in God's provision and to show kindness and generosity to those in need.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

Ruth 2:2
And Ruth the Moabitess said to Naomi, Let me now go to the field, and glean ears of corn after him in whose sight I shall find grace. And she said to her, Go, my daughter.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

A Full Reward.
... And poor Ruth, too though not a reaper"only a gleaner"is made most welcome, and
encouraged to remain in the fields of Boaz until all the reaping is done. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/taylor/a ribband of blue/a full reward.htm

Boaz and Ruth.
... The poor were allowed at harvest time to follow the reapers; gleaning or gathering
up the stray ears of corn. One day, Ruth obtained permission from her mother ...
/.../anonymous/mother stories from the old testament/boaz and ruth.htm

The Story of Ruth, the Gleaner
... the stalks, but to leave some for the poor people, who followed after the reapers
with their sickles, and gathered what was left. When Naomi and Ruth came to ...
/.../marshall/the wonder book of bible stories/the story of ruth the.htm

Ruth.
... had a field of barley where the reapers were at work, and Ruth asked Naomi if she
should not go and glean after the reapers, to get grain, for they were poor. ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/lathbury/childs story of the bible/chapter xvi ruth.htm

Ruth the Gleaner.
... Ruth wore the dress of the village girls, of deep green and bright red, with a ... fields
of golden grain; for it was the rich harvest time, and she was very poor. ...
/.../anonymous/children of the old testament/ruth the gleaner.htm

Ruth, the Gleaner
... Ruth, looking out over the fields where already the barley was being cut, made up
her mind to go and work there. The poor were always allowed to follow the ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/steedman/the babe in the bulrushes/ruth the gleaner.htm

The Devotion of Ruth
... He said, "Who are you?" She answered, "I am Ruth your servant; spread therefore
your ... than at first, for you have not followed young men, whether poor or rich. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/sherman/the childrens bible/the devotion of ruth.htm

A Gentle Heroine, a Gentile Convert
... chose the joyless lot of the widowed companion of a widow aged and poor, in a ... numbers
its virgin martyrs by the score, than this sweet figure of Ruth, as the ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture f/a gentle heroine a gentile.htm

Our God of the Impossible
... Then the Lord used me to lead the poor crushed and broken soul back to himself. ... Word
had come that our two children, Ruth and Wallace, must leave by the Monday ...
/.../goforth/how i know god answers prayer/viii our god of the.htm

Death to Self is the Way Out into a Life of Sacrifice.
... crown of glory, before which the brightness of former days grows poor and cold ... of
seed is linked with sacrifice, as with Abraham and Rebekah and Ruth; those who ...
//christianbookshelf.org/trotter/parables of the cross/death to self is the.htm