Rooted In Love

[Walter and Deborah]

Saturday 9-3-22 7th. Day Of The Weekly Cycle, Elul 6 5782 75th. Summer Day

Rooted in Love

Read: Ruth 2:5–13 | Bible in a Year: Psalms 140–142; 1 Corinthians 14:1–20
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You left your father and mother and your homeland and came to live with a people you did not know before. Ruth 2:11


I arrived at the cancer care center, where I’d be serving as my mom’s live-in caregiver, feeling alone and afraid. I’d left my family and support system more than 750 miles behind me. But before I could even touch my luggage, Frank, a man with a huge grin, offered to help. By the time we reached the sixth floor, I’d made plans to meet his wife, Lori, who cared for him during his treatments. The couple soon became like family as we leaned on God and each other. We laughed, vented, cried, and prayed together. Though we all felt displaced, our connection to God and each other kept us rooted in love as we supported one another.

When Ruth committed to caring for her mother-in-law, Naomi, she left the security of familiarity behind. Ruth “entered a field and began to glean behind the harvesters” (Ruth 2:3). The overseer told the landowner, Boaz, that Ruth “came into the field” and “remained” working “except for a short rest in the shelter” (v. 7). Ruth found a safe place with people willing to care for her as she cared for Naomi (vv. 8–9). And God provided for Ruth and Naomi though Boaz’s generosity (vv. 14–16).

Life’s circumstances can provide roads to unexpected places far beyond our comfort zones. As we remain connected to God and each other, He’ll keep us rooted in love as we support one another.

How has God comforted you when you felt alone? How has He used other people to support you through a community rooted in His love?

Loving Father, thank You for promising to be with me and for providing all I need.

For further study, read What Is Real Love?

INSIGHT
The book of Ruth is set during the period of the judges (Ruth 1:1). But rather than a dark story of sin and judgment, we read an uplifting account of loving loyalty. While the books of Judges and Ruth are different in many ways, they share one similarity. Just as the book of Judges leads us to think about the kingship, so does Ruth—in this case King David specifically. As we read this account today, we understand that kingship in general and King David in particular would eventually take us to Jesus, David’s greater son (see Luke 20:41–44).

Adapted from Understanding the Bible: The History Books.

By Xochit Dixon |September 3rd, 2022

Love For Others Ruth Two:5-13

5 Then said Boaz unto 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 hath continued even from the morning until now, that she tarried a little in the house.

8 Then said Boaz unto Ruth, Hearest thou not, my daughter? Go not to glean in another field, neither go from hence, but abide here fast by my maidens:

9 Let thine eyes be on the field that they do reap, and go thou after them: have I not charged the young men that they shall not touch thee? and when thou art athirst, go unto 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 unto him, Why have I found grace in thine eyes, that thou shouldest take knowledge of me, seeing I am a stranger?

11 And Boaz answered and said unto her, It hath fully been shewed me, all that thou hast done unto thy mother in law since the death of thine husband: and how thou hast left thy father and thy mother, and the land of thy nativity, and art come unto a people which thou knewest not heretofore.

12 The Lord recompense thy work, and a full reward be given thee of the Lord God of Israel, under whose wings thou art come to trust.

13 Then she said, Let me find favour in thy sight, my lord; for that thou hast comforted me, and for that thou hast spoken friendly unto thine handmaid, though I be not like unto one of thine handmaidens.

Love, Walter and Debbie

Edited September 3, 2022 by Walter and Deborah
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