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"Mother of Royalty" by John M. Nielson
Ruth 4:5 Then Bo‘az said, “The same day you buy the field from Na‘omi, you must also buy Rut the woman from Mo’av, the wife of the deceased [son], in order to raise up in the name of the deceased an heir for his property.” 6 The redeemer said, “Then I can’t redeem it for myself, because I might put my own inheritance at risk. You, take my right of redemption on yourself; because I can’t redeem it.”
7 In the past, this is what was done in Isra’el to validate all transactions involving redemption and exchange: a man took off his shoe and gave it to the other party; this was the form of attestation in Isra’el. 8 So the redeemer said to Bo‘az, “Buy it for yourself,” and took off his shoe. 9 Bo‘az addressed the leaders and all the people: “You are witnesses today that I am purchasing from Na‘omi all that belonged to Elimelekh and all that belonged to Kilyon and Machlon. 10 Also I am acquiring as my wife Rut the woman from Mo’av, the wife of Machlon, in order to raise up in the name of the deceased an heir for his property; so that the name of the deceased will not be cut off from his kinsmen and from the gate of his place. You are witnesses today.” 11 All the people at the gate and the leaders said, “We are witnesses. May Adonai make the woman who has come into your house like Rachel and like Le’ah, who between them built up the house of Isra’el. Do worthy deeds in Efrat; become renowned in Beit-Lechem. 12 May your house, because of the seed Adonai will give you from this young woman, become like the house of Peretz, whom Tamar bore to Y’hudah.”
13 So Bo‘az took Rut, and she became his wife. He had sexual relations with her, Adonai enabled her to conceive, and she gave birth to a son. 14 Then the women said to Na‘omi, “Blessed be Adonai, who today has provided you a redeemer! May his name be renowned in Isra’el. 15 May he restore your life and provide for your old age; for your daughter-in-law, who loves you and is better to you than seven sons, has given birth to him.” 16 Na‘omi took the child, laid it on her breast and became its nurse. 17 The women who were her neighbors gave it a name; they said, “A son has been born to Na‘omi,” and called it ‘Oved. He was the father of Yishai the father of David.
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Ruth is another Gentile woman highlighted in the lineage of Jesus in Matthew 1. She is an ancestor of King David and his royal line. She is a model of faithful love. After losing her husband and sons, Ruth’s mother-in-law, Naomi, decided to return to her hometown of Bethlehem. Naomi encouraged her daughters-in-law to remain in their homeland with their own families, but Ruth refused. She pledged her loyalty to Naomi and to Naomi’s God in a beautiful expression of love that still inspires after 3,000 years (see Ruth 1:16-17[Ruth 1:16 But Rut said,
“Don’t press me to leave you
and stop 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.
17 Where you die, I will die;
and there I will be buried.
May Adonai bring terrible curses on me,
and worse ones as well,
if anything but death
separates you and me.”]).
These women lived in a time and culture where sons were more valued than daughters. Yet, Ruth’s care for her mother-in-law was so deep that the women of Bethlehem declared Ruth to be “better than seven sons” (Ruth 4:15), an outstanding tribute!
In our day the values of love, obedience, respect, loyalty, service, and commitment that were embodied in Ruth are needed more than ever–in both women and men. She is an example to us all. Lord, may we cultivate in ourselves all the characteristics that we admire in her.
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Hymn for Today: "Like as a Mother Comforteth" by William M. Runyan
1. Like as a mother comforteth
O words of gentle worth!
So will I comfort you, declares
The Lord of all the earth.
2. He bends in faithful watchfulness;
He slumbers not nor sleeps;
Above His trusting child the Lord
A constant vigil keeps.
3. He patient is, as mothers are
Who love their children well;
Our faults and failings He forgives;
His mercies—who can tell!
4. Like as a mother, grant, O God,
This likeness e’er may be
A holy symbol to declare
The love that dwells in Thee.
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Thought of the Day: Psalm 136:26 Give thanks to the God of heaven,
for his grace continues forever.
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Please Pray: That young people in Cuba will be called into Christian ministry.
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for his grace continues forever.
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Please Pray: That young people in Cuba will be called into Christian ministry.
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