Restored

Katy Emslie-Smith September 30, 2022 0 1

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Ruth 4: 13-22 (NRSVA)

13 So Boaz took Ruth and she became his wife. When they came together, the Lord made her conceive, and she bore a son. 14 Then the women said to Naomi, ‘Blessed be the Lord, who has not left you this day without next-of-kin; and may his name be renowned in Israel! 15 He shall be to you a restorer of life and a nourisher of your old age; for your daughter-in-law who loves you, who is more to you than seven sons, has borne him.’ 16 Then Naomi took the child and laid him in her bosom, and became his nurse. 17 The women of the neighbourhood gave him a name, saying, ‘A son has been born to Naomi.’ They named him Obed; he became the father of Jesse, the father of David.

18 Now these are the descendants of Perez: Perez became the father of Hezron, 19 Hezron of Ram, Ram of Amminadab, 20 Amminadab of Nahshon, Nahshon of Salmon, 21 Salmon of Boaz, Boaz of Obed, 22 Obed of Jesse, and Jesse of David.

We can imagine Naomi with a non-stop smile on her face. First a wedding, then a baby, a place in a family, the love of a daughter in law, a secure future, friends around her. She is no longer Mara, the bitter one, but Naomi, sweet, the one in whom God delights. She is restored.

She has been part of a love story. Dignified people have acted in the face of hardship and difficulty with honour, kindness, grace, compassion, wisdom and courage. Naomi, Ruth and Boaz have all shown actions of self sacrificial, risk-taking love, born out of loyalty and faithfulness. These virtues have cut through all the hurdles placed by tradition and prejudice in the way of two needy widows, displaced and without support. They have been restored to security, family, place and belonging.

This story inspires us to examine ourselves for these virtues. It asks — in our personal relationships and in our place in societal systems and structures — how might these virtues be grown to bring security, help, and belonging to those in our times who are displaced, insecure, hungry, lonely, homeless? For is it not through these kind of virtues that God, in human agency, acts to restore to abundant life those in need, for whom He has particular compassion? How might sacrificial, risk-taking love influence our response to climate change, our pursuit of climate justice for the most vulnerable in our world?

PRAYER:

Lord, shape us to be people worthy of acting in your name as we consider the great challenges of our age. Cultivate Christlike character in us, to view the world with compassion, to act always towards justice and fairness at every turn. Amen.