hotcoffee
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Ruth 4:13 So Boaz took Ruth and she became his wife. When he made love to her, the Lord enabled her to conceive, and she gave birth to a son. 14 The women said to Naomi: “Praise be to the Lord, who this day has not left you without a guardian-redeemer. May he become famous throughout Israel! 15 He will renew your life and sustain you in your old age. For your daughter-in-law, who loves you and who is better to you than seven sons, has given him birth.”
16 Then Naomi took the child in her arms and cared for him. 17 The women living there said, “Naomi has a son!” And they named him Obed. He was the father of Jesse, the father of David.
18 This, then, is the family line of Perez: Perez was the father of Hezron, 19 Hezron the father of Ram, Ram the father of Amminadab, 20 Amminadab the father of Nahshon, Nahshon the father of Salmon,[d] 21 Salmon the father of Boaz, Boaz the father of Obed, 22 Obed the father of Jesse, and Jesse the father of David.
16 Then Naomi took the child in her arms and cared for him. 17 The women living there said, “Naomi has a son!” And they named him Obed. He was the father of Jesse, the father of David.
18 This, then, is the family line of Perez: Perez was the father of Hezron, 19 Hezron the father of Ram, Ram the father of Amminadab, 20 Amminadab the father of Nahshon, Nahshon the father of Salmon,[d] 21 Salmon the father of Boaz, Boaz the father of Obed, 22 Obed the father of Jesse, and Jesse the father of David.
d. Ruth 4:20 A few Hebrew manuscripts, some Septuagint manuscripts and Vulgate (see also verse 21 and Septuagint of 1 Chron. 2:11); most Hebrew manuscripts Salma
A better understanding of my daughter-in-law was the original reason for my going to the Book of Ruth next. But I learned something completely different and I'm so happy with this study combined with another thread that is currently going on as I write this.
When this little Book began, Naomi was a Jewish woman with a husband and two sons. She dutifully followed her husband, taking her two sons to Moab, a land where people did not worship her God. Her sons married two Moabite women, Orpah and Ruth. She lost her husband and both of her sons. She was left with two daughters-in law and no grandchildren. According to Jewish tradition, Naomi's possessions would be sold to the nearest male relative. That male relative is called the "Redeemer Guardian" or "Kinsman Guardian". She would have moved to the household of the nearest relative of her husband. In the Book of Ruth, that guardian was so insignificant that his name isn't even mentioned.
One of the commentaries says "God's hand is all over history". One of Naomi's daughters-in-law, Ruth, left her Moabite life and family behind. Look at Ruth 1:16-18.
Ruth 1:16 But Ruth replied, “Don’t urge me to leave you or to turn back from you. Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God. 17 Where you die I will die, and there I will be buried. May the Lord deal with me, be it ever so severely, if even death separates you and me.” 18 When Naomi realized that Ruth was determined to go with her, she stopped urging her.
Ruth went with Naomi to Bethlehem. There God went to work with His plan. She went into the fields to work for food, it was no accident that the field she gleaned was the field owned by Boaz. Boaz fell in love with Ruth and redeemed the land of Naomi's husband and sons. He married Ruth and they had a son, Obed. Naomi had a new family to care for.
If Naomi hadn't decided to return to Bethlehem, Ruth wouldn't have met Boaz, and the story wouldn't be the same. But God is in control.
I encourage you to read the commentary that I am linking to here. It's easy to understand and it will help you understand just how important Ruth and Naomi were. Two women who needed a Redeemer....
As for my daughter-in-law.... well my story hasn't ended yet and I'm in prayer. God is in control and it will work out.
