History of Ruth

    This whole history is a chain of providential events. It is delightful, it is instructive to trace the connection of the links. One of the ancestors of the Messiah is to come out of Moab; and by the process related in the book of Ruth, the thing is effected. The redemption of the inheritance is typical, and in Providence it happened that, by this redemption, Ruth must be adopted into Israel, and become the wife of Boaz. The Gentiles are here shown to be fellow-heirs with the children of Abraham. "Then said Boaz, What day thou buyest the field of the hand of Naomi, thou must buy it also of Kuth the Moabitess, the wife of the dead, to raise up the name of the dead upon his inheritance."—Ruth iv. 5.

    To bring this Gentile wife to Boaz, and place her among the ancestors of Christ, a famine sent Elimelech and his family to the land of Moab,—his son was married to a Moabitess,—this son dies,— Naomi, Elimelech's sister, returns to her country, —a most extraordinary attachment incites Ruth to follow her, and a chain of providential events makes her the wife of one of the ancestors of Jesus.

    Ruth finds favour with Boaz. He is a near kinsman; but not the nearest kinsman. Another has the previous right of redemption. Why does he not redeem? He is willing to redeem. Why then does he not redeem? Providence so ordered it. He was not able to redeem without marring his own inheritance; and this his caution did not dispose him to risk. The right, then, is given over to Boaz. But why was Boaz able to redeem? Why was he willing to redeem? Why was he so long an unmarried man? Why was he disposed to marry this poor stranger? All things work together to fulfil the purposes of the Most High.