Ruth 3: Love and Respect

^{She said, "I am Ruth, your maiden; take me under your protecting wing.}

^...

He said, "God bless you...Everybody in town knows what a courageous woman you are— a real prize! ... As God lives, I'll do it. "

Ruth 3:9-13 (The Message)

Being a young, widowed woman in Old Testament times was a scary and dangerous thing. A woman had no way to support herself or protect herself without having a man in her life. In this chapter, Ruth's widowed mother-in-law encourages Ruth to go out and find a man suitable for marriage. Naomi is too old to get married, but Ruth is a beautiful and vibrant young woman. Naomi encourages Ruth to seek out Boaz for marriage.

There is a lot to be learned in the relationship dynamic of Ruth and Boaz. Ruth praises Boaz for being kind, generous, and protective. Boaz praises Ruth for being courageous, godly, and loving. With all of the push in these modern days towards gender equality, I think roles are being blurred that we are doing a great disservice to our relationships and marriages. Women need and want their men to be protectors. Men need and want their women to be godly and courageous... to do what's right.  

Ruth honoured Boaz and respected him by being humble and quietly lying at his feet and waiting for him to make the decision to marry her. Boaz was loving towards Ruth by protecting her and treating her kindly.

My husband and I are currently studying Dr. Emerson Eggerich's Love and Respect, so I have been reading the book of Ruth with Eggerich's ideas in mind. As I journey through the book of Ruth, I'm realizing just how important the love and respect model for relationships is. God designed men and women differently. Everyone knows this... and yet we still try to treat one another exactly the same. 

The story of Ruth and Boaz is a story of love, a story of respect, and a story of obedience. Keep this dynamic in mind as we continue to follow their story this week.