To begin the story of Ruth, we must realize three things: metaphysically, women represent the inner, intuition, love, spiritually-based consciousness; peace, being. Men represent the outer, intellect based consciousness, doing, action, and this is not about male and female, but the masculine and feminine aspects of consciousness. God, the Father, is masculine, and the Holy Spirit, God as Mother, is feminine.

There are only two books named for women in the bible: the Books Ruth and Esther. The author is not known, but the Talmud – the book of Jewish law – credits Samuel as the author, but most scholars do not agree: Samuel died before David became king and the author of Ruth was aware of the linage of David. The evidence points to a woman as the author:

– The story is told from the viewpoint of a woman, and Ruth and Naomi are quoted several times.

– Naomi and Ruth’s determination and strength are central, which would not have been a popular view in the male-dominated patriarchal view of the time.

All of this is important metaphysically: Ruth is one of only two books written about the inner, intuitive feminine consciousness and how it interacts with the masculine consciousness. It was probably written by a woman, and so has a feminine point of view.

At the end of the period when judges ruled, about 1256 BC, there was a famine. A man name Elimelech, his wife Naomi and two sons, Mahlon and Chilion  moved to the country of Moab. Both of the sons took foreign wives from Moab, Orpah and Ruth. After they had been there about 10 years, both sons died, so the three women were left alone. Then, because they were alone and the was the famine, they returned to Judah.

Ruth 1:8-17

8 And Naomi said to her two daughters-in-law, "Go, return each to her mother's house. The Lord deal kindly with you, as you have dealt with the dead and with me.  9 The Lord grant that you may find rest, each in the house of her husband." Then she kissed them, and they lifted up their voices and wept.  10 And they said to her, "Surely we will return with you to your people."  11 But Naomi said, "Turn back, my daughters; why will you go with me? Are there still sons in my womb, that they may be your husbands?  12 Turn back, my daughters, go--for I am too old to have a husband. If I should say I have hope, if I should have a husband tonight and should also bear sons,  13 would you wait for them till they were grown? Would you restrain yourselves from having husbands? No, my daughters; for it grieves me very much for your sakes that the hand of the Lord has gone out against me!"  14 Then they lifted up their voices and wept again; and Orpah kissed her mother-in-law, but Ruth clung to her.  15 And she said, "Look, your sister-in-law has gone back to her people and to her gods; return after your sister-in-law."  16 But Ruth said: "Entreat me not to leave you, Or to turn back from following after you; For wherever you go, I will go; And wherever you lodge, I will lodge; Your people shall be my people, And your God, my God. 17 Where you die, I will die, And there will I be buried. The Lord do so to me, and more also, If anything but death parts you and me."

This is a story of true love, unconditional love. There was no romance involved, no family ties. Ruth loved Naomi only because she had love in her to give. She was faith and love in action. So Naomi and Ruth went to a wealthy relative of Naomi’s husband named Boaz. She asks Naomi permission to work at harvesting the fields in order to contribute, and hoping to find a husband. The field she chooses turns out to be that of Boaz. When Boaz sees her, he goes to speak with her.

Ruth 2:5-13 5 Then Boaz said to his servant who was in charge of the reapers, "Whose young woman is this?"  6 So the servant who was in charge of the reapers answered and said, "It is the young Moabite woman who came back with Naomi from the country of Moab.  7 And she said, 'Please let me glean and gather after the reapers among the sheaves.' So she came and has continued from morning until now, though she rested a little in the house."  8 Then Boaz said to Ruth, "You will listen, my daughter, will you not? Do not go to glean in another field, nor go from here, but stay close by my young women.  9 Let your eyes be on the field which they reap, and go after them. Have I not commanded the young men not to touch you? And when you are thirsty, go to the vessels and drink from what the young men have drawn."  10 So she fell on her face, bowed down to the ground, and said to him, "Why have I found favor in your eyes, that you should take notice of me, since I am a foreigner?"  11 And Boaz answered and said to her, "It has been fully reported to me, all that you have done for 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 birth, and have come to a people whom you did not know before.  12 The Lord repay your work, and a full reward be given you by the Lord God of Israel, under whose wings you have come for refuge."  13 Then she said, "Let me find favor in your sight, my lord; for you have comforted me, and have spoken kindly to your maidservant, though I am not like one of your maidservants."

So Ruth became a favorite of the family, took meals with them, and lived with them as family. Then Naomi asked if she could look for a man to take care of her,  "My daughter, shall I not seek security for you, that it may be well with you?” (3:1) And she tells her to go to Boaz

Ruth 3:3-18

3 Therefore wash yourself and anoint yourself, put on your best garment and go down to the threshing floor; but do not make yourself known to the man until he has finished eating and drinking.

Spiritual wisdom: make yourself attractive and wait until the right time.

4 Then it shall be, when he lies down, that you shall notice the place where he lies; and you shall go in, uncover his feet, and lie down; and he will tell you what you should do."  5 And she said to her, "All that you say to me I will do."

Uncovering his feet will make uncomfortable and wake him. Spirit often has to uncover our feet and make us uncomfortable to get our attention. Ruth did this, and then,

Versus 7-11

And after Boaz had eaten and drunk, and his heart was cheerful, he went to lie down at the end of the heap of grain; and she came softly, uncovered his feet, and lay down.  8 Now it happened at midnight that the man was startled, and turned himself; and there, a woman was lying at his feet.  9 And he said, "Who are you?" So she answered, "I am Ruth, your maidservant. Take your maidservant under your wing, for you are a close relative."  10 Then he said, "Blessed are you of the Lord, my daughter! For you have shown more kindness at the end than at the beginning, in that you did not go after young men, whether poor or rich.  11 And now, my daughter, do not fear. I will do for you all that you request, for all the people of my town know that you are a virtuous woman.

However, Boaz tells her that there is a closer relative than him, and that he will talk to the man. But, the man declines, and so Boaz is left with the promise to take Ruth as his wife, and to redeem, or buy back her land she lost when her husband died.

Ruth 4:9  And Boaz said to the elders and all the people, "You are witnesses this day that I have bought all that was Elimelech's, and all that was Chilion's and Mahlon's, from the hand of Naomi. 10 Moreover, Ruth the Moabitess, the widow of Mahlon, I have acquired as my wife, to perpetuate the name of the dead through his inheritance, that the name of the dead may not be cut off from among his brethren and from his position at the gate. You are witnesses this day."  13 So Boaz took Ruth and she became his wife; and when he went in to her, the Lord gave her conception, and she bore a son.  14 Then the women said to Naomi, "Blessed be the Lord, who has not left you this day without a close relative; and may his name be famous in Israel!  15 And may he be to you a restorer of life and a nourisher of your old age; for your daughter-in-law, who loves you, who is better to you than seven sons, has borne him."  16 Then Naomi took the child and laid him on her bosom, and became a nurse to him.  17 Also the neighbor women gave him a name, saying, "There is a son born to Naomi." And they called his name Obed. He is the father of Jesse, the father of David.

There are several important observations to be made here: first of all, the feminine must make itself attractive to the masculine, the spiritual to the physical. Sitting in a cave contemplating your navel probably isn’t going to attract many followers. So we have many attractive ways to bring the intellect into a spiritual consciousness.

– We approach spiritual riches through worldly riches.

– We approach wisdom through knowledge.

– We approach peace through conflict and drama.

– We approach love through romance.

Another point is this: Ruth, our heroine, was not Jewish. She was a Moabite. And yet, through her kindness, faithfulness, sweetness, and love, she was accepted. And finally, she was the great, great grandmother of King David and therefore, a direct ancestor of Jesus Christ. Jesus was related to the Moabites, which is very important: Jesus Christ was the Christ for all people, anyone who chooses to follow his teachings. It also tells us that all people are holy, beloved children of the Lord, the Christ, the presence of God in everyone. Religion, race, politics, none of that matters. We are all worthy, and all loved, if we but extend unconditional love. When challenges come, and those things of the world that seem to support us die, if we just will, like Ruth, keep the faith and extend our love, Christ will bring us home to even greater treasures of the heart, mind and soul.

I stand firm in my faith;

I extend my love unconditionally.