WOMEN OF CHRISTMAS - RUTH - NAOMI'S ARMS EMPTY NO MORE

RUTH 4:13-22 AND MATTHEW 1:5

NAOMI’S ARMS EMPTY NO MORE

Ruth 4:13 So Boaz took Ruth, and she was his wife: and when he went in unto her, the Lord gave her conception, and she bare a son.

It sounds like as soon as the marriage was consummated, they conceived by the grace and power of God. God blessed them not only with each other but with a son.

Psalm 127:3 (NASB) Behold, children are a gift of the Lord, The fruit of the womb is a reward.

Ruth 4:14 And the women said unto Naomi, Blessed be the Lord, which hath not left thee this day without a kinsman, that his name may be famous in Israel.

The son born to Ruth and Boaz would now serve as Naomi’s kinsman. Since he was seen as Mahlon’s son rather than Boaz’s, he would be Naomi’s grandson and would care for her in her golden years.  

Ruth 4:15 And he shall be unto thee a restorer of thy life, and a nourisher of thine old age: for thy daughter in law, which loveth thee, which is better to thee than seven sons, hath born him.

There is nothing like the birth of your first grandchild to rejuvenate you (even though you may say it makes you feel old). Holding that precious baby revitalizes a grandparent. Naomi had declared herself to be empty, but now her arms were filled with life and love. It could be said of Ruth “Many daughters have done nobly, But you excel them all,” just as the woman in Proverbs 31:29.

John MacArthur Study Bible:

4:15 better…than seven sons. Seven represented the number of perfection and thus 7 sons would make the complete family (cf. 1 Sam. 2:5). However, Ruth exceeded this standard all by herself.

Ruth 4:16 And Naomi took the child, and laid it in her bosom, and became nurse unto it.

Naomi was like but even closer than a nanny. She would help to raise the baby as if he were her own son. Ruth loved Naomi and was glad to fill her arms again. She would have been happy to see the relationship blossom between the baby and his grandmother.

Ruth 4:17 And the women her neighbours gave it 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.

This is the only time recorded in the Old Testament that someone was named by a person not in the family. Obed means “servant.” He is counted as being the son of Naomi because he would restore the line of her husband Elimelech by being the child of her son Mahlon. From Obed came the kingly line of David and ultimately, the Messiah.

Ruth 4:18 Now these are the generations of Pharez: Pharez begat Hezron, 19 And Hezron begat Ram, and Ram begat Amminadab, 20 And Amminadab begat Nahshon, and Nahshon begat Salmon, 21 And Salmon begat Boaz, and Boaz begat Obed,

22 And Obed begat Jesse, and Jesse begat David.

Here we see how the tribe of Judah through his son Perez are the ancestors of David and eventually the Lion of the tribe of Judah, Jesus. Therefore, Ruth the Moabitess is included in Matthew’s genealogy of Jesus Christ.

Matthew 1:5-6  (KJV) And Salmon begat Boaz of Rahab; and Boaz begat Obed of Ruth; and Obed begat Jesse;  6 And Jesse begat David the king; and David the king begat Solomon of her that had been the wife of Urias

We will stop here for now because “her that had been the wife of Urias” is Bathsheba, our next Woman of Christmas!

Ponder this: So far in this study of the “Women of Christmas” we have studied Eve who was deceived, Sarah who laughed, Tamar who pretended prostitution, Rahab who was a harlot, and Ruth who came from the wrong side of the camel path, Moab. If you think you are so bad God could never save you or even if He did, He could never use you for His glory, THINK AGAIN. God’s grace and power can extend even to you when you put your trust in Jesus and surrender your will to His.