Ruth, the Warrior
“And now, daughter, have no fear. I will do in your behalf whatever you ask, for all the elders of the town know what a fine woman you are.” Ruth 3:11 JPS
Fine woman – Why don’t we put this in its proper perspective? It might change how we feel about Ruth and Boaz. The Hebrew is ‘eshet hayil. The same words are found in Proverbs 31:10. This is not simply a “fine woman.” This is a woman of valor, a warrior for God! Few women are given such a compliment, but when they are, we need to pay very close attention. Ruth is not just a good catch. She is a living representation of all that it means to be a righteous Gentile. She is to be honored.
Interestingly, the masculine equivalent of this phrase also appears in the story of Ruth. Boaz is described as the ‘ish hayil. Eskenazi notes that “Boaz’s language thus casts Ruth’s worthiness as comparable to his own.”[1] We need to reflect on this observation for a moment.
First, if the ‘eshet hayil and the ish hayil are of compatible worthiness, then there are grounds for asserting that the status of men and women described by these terms is not different. There is no male superiority here. Yes, men and women may play different roles on different occasions, but their essential worth in the community and before God is not subject to some pre-ordained order. This helps us see why the description of the woman of valor in Proverbs 31 is so critical to our understanding of the biblical view of women. It also helps us see why the typical translation as “virtuous woman” or “excellent wife” is totally inadequate and misleading. As I have written before, this is warrior poetry, not Pollyanna prose.
Secondly, we must notice that Boaz provides an assessment of the elders, the ruling body of men. These men recognize Ruth’s actions as warrior actions, suitable as imitations of the character of the one true God. If Boaz is a man of honor, upright and noble (read “observant”) then the designation of Ruth as equivalent must be understood as an endorsement of the same attributes. How do the men of the city know this? There is only one possible answer: by the way she behaves! Her faith shows itself to be worthy of acclaim. This has nothing to do with her declaration to Naomi. This is about the way she lives. The leaders of the community acknowledge her righteousness as equivalent with theirs because they see it! She is a Moabite, a Gentile, and yet, she is an ‘eshet hayil.
The story of Ruth contains plenty of scandalous innuendo. But this verse redeems. She is praised in the gates, a woman of Proverbs 31. Perhaps we need to revise our thinking about at least two things: what it means to be a woman of God and what warrior behavior looks like.
Topical Index: warrior, ‘eshet hayil, righteous Gentile, woman, Ruth 3:11
Oh! What a foretaste of glory divine!
The future Bride of the LORD Jesus (who is the) Christ, our heavenly Boaz, our near Kinsman-Redeemer, our go-el is us. We (those are called by His Name) are Ruth. Honestly. And we have been given an invitation to attend a wedding celebration,- the marriage supper of the Lamb. (I seriously doubt there will be paper plates and plasticware.)
And we (all) gain far more “in Christ,” (in the second Adam) than we ever lost “in Adam #1.” In Adam #1 paradise was lost. “in Christ”- paradise redeemed and restored. In Adam #1- relationship ruined, for sin separates. “Death” is the ultimate separation. Death divides between the (well..) living and the dead. In Adam #2- death has been defeated. According to God’s own words: ~ “O DEATH, WHERE IS YOUR VICTORY? O DEATH, WHERE IS YOUR STING?” (1 Corinthians 15.55)
What else may we glean from the happy story of this virtuous woman, -a crown to her husband? She who once gleaned the corners of the fields is now married in blood covenant union to the ONE who owns the fields! “My Husband is the Owner!” lol! (talk about a gender-bender!)
Now look what we’ve done! We have gone from seeing Christ as our elder Brother and incarnated Father to seeing Him as our Husband, – the Owner of the Fields in which we once labored for our daily bread! Is God our Provider? our blessed Redeemer? our near-kinsman Redeemer? What price did Near Kinsman-Redeemer, our Go-el, pay to redeem His Ruth?
This history of the redemption of Ruth is so rich! The Providence of God unfolds in all of its glory- it is truly a “rags to riches” story- a love story and?? and they all lived? -(happily ever after!..)
Now in Hebrew (y’all) names have meaning. Follow every detail in this story for this story is your story and my story. What future did Ruth have without Boaz? Or Naomi? – Was Boaz a “game-changer” for this Moabite? Ruth, the redeemed one, was neither Jew nor Gentile- a half-breed, yet Boaz saw her, respected her, and loved her. And isn’t our Redeemer a “fiercely tender, compassionate Warrior?” Fiercely protective of His Bride- “us.”
Oh yes..- there is “more”- always more.. Ruth didn’t come up on the short end in this story.. for ~The end of a matter is better than its beginning.. ~ (Ecclesiastes 7.8)
The “rest” of the story? – lol! The best is yet to be.. but it is on it’s way!
~ so that in the coming ages He might show the immeasurable riches of His grace/hesed in His (loving)-kindness toward us (who are in blood-covenant union with/in) the Messiah, Christ Jesus ~
http://www.hebrew4christians.com/Holidays/Spring_Holidays/Shavuot/Ruth/ruth.html
Just celebrated Yom Teruah (day of sjofars) at sunset right here. Shanah tovah (happy new year) to all of you!
B.t.w. This is also the day that some year will be the day of the corronation of Messiah!
All hail the power of Jesus’ Name! -Let angels prostrate fall;
Bring forth the royal diadem, and crown Him LORD of all.
Bring forth the royal diadem, and crown Him LORD of all.
Let highborn seraphs tune the lyre, and as they tune it, fall
Before His face Who tunes their choir, and crown Him LORD of all.
Before His face Who tunes their choir, and crown Him LORD of all.
Crown Him, ye morning stars of light, who fixed this floating ball;
Now hail the strength of Israel’s might, and crown Him LORD of all.
Now hail the strength of Israel’s might, and crown Him LORD of all.
Crown Him, ye martyrs of your God, who from His altar call;
Extol the Stem of Jesse’s Rod, and crown Him LORD of all.
Extol the Stem of Jesse’s Rod, and crown Him LORD of all.
Ye seed of Israel’s chosen race, ye ransomed from the fall,
Hail Him Who saves you by His grace, and crown Him LORD of all.
Hail Him Who saves you by His grace, and crown Him LORD of all.
Hail Him, ye heirs of David’s line, whom David LORD did call,
The God incarnate, Man divine, and crown Him LORD of all,
The God incarnate, Man-Divine, and crown Him LORD of all.
Sinners, whose love can ne’er forget the wormwood and the gall,
Go spread your trophies at His feet, and crown Him LORD of all.
Go spread your trophies at His feet, and crown Him LORD of all.
Let every tribe and every tongue before Him prostrate fall
And shout in universal song the crowned LORD of all.
And shout in universal song the crowned LORD of all.
(Edward Perronet 1779)
O that, with yonder sacred throng, we at His feet may fall,
Join in the everlasting song, and crown Him LORD of all,
Join in the everlasting song, and crown Him LORD of all!
[John Rippon, 1787]
Don’t know who wrote it or when, but this poem is about being “graced out”!
Since it doesn’t rhyme in English, I imagine it is translated.
There was included a note that said “The Main Actor in the story of Ruth is God!” Amen
Ruth the Spiritual Warrior
Without a shoulder to bear,
Without a hand to help,
She’d left her homeland,
Marched in the Plan of God.
Your family is dead;
Pick up and move out!
You’re a soldier now,
Spiritual Warrior of God.
Advance to Bethlehem!
Advance to the field!
Become a gleaner of straw!
Forget your dead husband;
Forget how he died.
Keep your head up.
Don’t show your pain.
March, warrior of God!
Forget the grueling shame.
March; you’re a soldier now.
Reject the hill with the crows;
Take the field with the doves.
Never mind the pain.
Sidestep the red shirt
Go for the white one
Stand your ground!
I’ll protect you.
See the FLOT line.
Wait for the artillery
Before moving again.
Reaching for the next straw,
Sweat dripping from her
Dirty, sweaty brow
With the gnawing hunger,
She looked up in the heat
And met a lone kind voice,
The only one she’d heard,
From a man towering above.
He was smiling at her.
She looked up with tears
In her eyes from the surprise
And said, “Thank you, sir.”
Then lost it and bowed
To grace and to God
Who loved her and brought
Her to this man – Boaz!