Ruth and Boaz, Walter Crane, 1863

Ruth and Boaz by Simeon Solomon, 1862

How You Are Matters (Ruth 4:13-17)

Grace changes history.

The Meeting of Ruth and Boaz by Marc Chagall, 1960 So Boaz took Ruth home as his wife. The Lord blessed her, and she became pregnant and had a son. The women said to Naomi, “Praise the Lord! He has given you a grandson today to take care of you. May the boy become famous in Israel! Your daughter-in-law loves you and has done more for you than seven sons. And now she has given you a grandson, who…

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OBSESSED lately with the story of Ruth and Boaz and Boaz going to sit in the city gates to discuss Ruth with the guardian-redeemer and bringing along ten elders knowing exactly how to go about the business, and something something a Proverbs 31 woman's work is praised at the city gates, her husband is respected at them and he takes his seat among the elders

like. i have no other thoughts but it's stuck in there.

Little Is Much When God Is In It

1 The Lord said to Samuel, “How long will you grieve over Saul, since I have rejected him from being king over Israel? Fill your horn with oil, and go. I will send you to Jesse the Bethlehemite, for I have provided for myself a king among his sons.” 2 And Samuel said, “How can I go? If Saul hears it, he will kill me.” And the Lord said, “Take a heifer with you and say, ‘I have come to sacrifice…

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HARVESTERS RESTING (Ruth and Boaz), 1850 by JEAN-FRANÇOIS MILLET

Dirty and exhausted, harvesters and their tools are strewn around them as they rest before piles of golden grain. To the left of the group, a man introduces a woman.

Originally, MILLET'S inspiration for the piece came from the Bible's story of the Widow, RUTH, who encounters the landowner, BOAZ, a family friend and the man who would later become her husband, while out working in the fields. At his 1853 Salon, MILLET displayed the piece under the title "HARVESTERS RESTING."

The focus on the harvesters, and the grain piles behind them, allows for BOAZ and RUTH to be seen as secondary figures to the focal point. What we’ve seen here is not a romantic Old Testament narrative of faith connecting two people, but rather a modern group of hot, dusty field laborers resting after a day of work.

RUTH'S face is downcast shyly, and BOAZ, acting as intermediary, visually joining her figure with the group field workers. Thus, MILLET brings into focus the common laborer's centrality in history and scripture.

Ruth and Boaz: Bible Stories of Redemption and Resilience

Introduction: Lot and Boaz In the ancient land of Canaan, two men, Ruth and Boaz, led vastly different lives. Their stories were destined to intertwine in unexpected ways, a testament to the mysterious workings of fate. Ruth, a nephew of the righteous man Abraham, lived in the thriving city of Sodom, known for its opulence and wickedness. His choice to dwell among its sinful inhabitants was a…

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Coming to Take Refuge

1 And Naomi had a kinsman of her husband's, a mighty man of wealth, of the family of Elimelech; and his name was Boaz. 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. 3 And she went, and came, and gleaned in the field after the reapers: and her hap was to light on a part of the field belonging to Boaz, who was of the kindred of Elimelech. 4 And, behold, Boaz came from Bethlehem, and said to the reapers, The LORD be with you. And they answered him, The LORD bless you. 5 Then said Boaz to his servant that was set over the reapers, Whose damsel is this? 6 And the servant that was set over the reapers answered and said, It is the Moabitish damsel that came back with Naomi out of the country of Moab: 7 And she said, I pray you, let me glean and gather after the reapers among the sheaves: so she came, and has continued even from the morning until now, that she tarried a little in the house.

8 Then said Boaz to Ruth, Hear you not, my daughter? Go not to glean in another field, neither go from hence, but abide here fast by my maidens: 9 Let your eyes be on the field that they do reap, and go you after them: have I not charged the young men that they shall not touch you? and when you are thirsty, go to the vessels, and drink of that which the young men have drawn. 10 Then she fell on her face, and bowed herself to the ground, and said to him, Why have I found grace in your eyes, that you should take knowledge of me, seeing I am a stranger? 11 And Boaz answered and said to her, It has fully been showed me, all that you have done to your mother in law since the death of your husband: and how you have left your father and your mother, and the land of your nativity, and are come to a people which you knew not heretofore. 12 The LORD recompense your work, and a full reward be given you of the LORD God of Israel, under whose wings you are come to trust. 13 Then she said, Let me find favor in your sight, my lord; for that you have comforted me, and for that you have spoken friendly to your handmaid, though I be not like to one of your handmaidens. — Ruth 2:1-13 | American King James Version (KJVUS) The American King James Version is Produced by Stone Engelbrite. It is a simple word for modern word update from the King James English. Cross References: Genesis 33:15; Leviticus 19:9-10; Leviticus 23:22; Ruth 1:2; Ruth 1:16; Ruth 2:14; Ruth 4:15; 1 Samuel 1:18; 1 Samuel 25:23; Matthew 23:37; Luke 1:28; 2 Thessalonians 3:16

The worst part of using pintrest to look at pictures of floral arrangements and old painting sof king Arthur is that sometimes. Sometimes. It decides to reccomend me posts of "dark masculine names" that have options as "Lazarus" and "Boaz" listed next to fucking "Claymore," "Lament," and fucking "Omen"

I don't even begin to understand why those would be remotely related.

Ruth

Obedience Helps Obedience

When godly leaders are the first in obedience—no matter how difficult it may seem in the moment—they make it possible for others to obey God themselves. 

Listen to the podcast of this post by clicking on the player below, and you can also subscribe on Apple, Spotify, or Audible.  https://craigtowens.files.wordpress.com/2023/12/obedience-helps-obedience.mp3 The book of Judges in the Bible records a dark time in Israel’s history. There is a phrase that is repeated multiple times in that book, “In those days Israel had no king; everyone did as they…

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I know the Christian consensus is that Rahab married Salmah/Śalmōn (and is the mother of Boaz, etc), but I confess I also very much like the rabbinical/midrash attestation that she married Joshua and had all those prophet descendants.

Julius Schnorr von Carolsfeld (Saxon, 1794–1872) Ruth in Boaz's Field, 1828

While in Judah, God orchestrated a wondrous plan for a man named Boaz to take Ruth as his wife, give her a child, and provide for her and Naomi. What’s remarkable about this plan was that Boaz was suited as a “kinsman-redeemer” to take her as his wife.  According to God’s word, it just so happened that Boaz was a relative to Ruth’s husband who had passed away; so, he was fitted to marry her and continue his lineage. Therefore, even in the midst of Ruth and Naomi’s poor suffering, God still had a plan to take care of them.

Ruth in Boaz's Field (1828) - Julius Schnorr von Carolsfeld