These two biblical books, Ruth and Jonah, have much in common though their stories are quite different.  Ruth is set in the context of the
Deuteronomic history that extends from Deuteronomy through II Kings.  Jonah is among the minor prophets. In the Jewish ordering of the books of the canon, Ruth is not found in the Deuteronomic history, but among the Writings.  The Hebrew canon of books is divided into three parts: the Law, the Prophets, and the Writings.  It has been placed in the Deuteronomic history; because, the story occurs during the time of the Judges, a Deuteronomic book.

Ruth, a Moabite, was the wife of a Hebrew who belonged to a family from Israel.  Naomi, her mother-in-law, was bereft of her husband and her two sons, one of whom was married to Ruth.  Naomi decided to return to Israel from Moab.  She instructed her two daughters-in-law to remain with their people in Moab; but, Ruth insisted on going with Naomi to her home.

Ruth spoke words that go to the heart, “Do not urge me to leave you or to return from following you.  For where you go I will go, and where you lodge I will lodge.  Your people will be my people, and your God my God. Where you die I will die, and there will I be buried. May the Lord do so to me and more also if anything but death parts me from you.”  (Ruth 1: 16-18 ESV)

The two women returned to Naomi’s home in Bethlehem.  Naomi had there a relative, named Boaz.  Ruth asked Naomi if she could glean in the harvested field.  In Jewish law, people were allowed to glean after a crop was harvested.  It was a provision for the poor and the sojourner. (Leviticus 19: 9)   Boaz told her to follow his young women, and not go elsewhere to glean.  Ruth bowed to the ground and then reminded Boaz that she was a foreigner.  Boaz responded that Ruth had shown kindness to Naomi and then said, “The Lord repay you for what you have done, and a full reward be given you by the Lord, the God of Israel, under whose wings you have come to take refuge.” (Ruth 2: 12 ESV)  Boaz gave her food to eat and water to drink.  Boaz let her take from the sheaves to glean. He was a redeemer, that is, he rescued family who were in financial distress and forced to sell their land.  Naomi was one of those people.  Boaz became the redeemer; for, the one who was closest to Naomi in the family would not redeem the field.  Boaz redeemed Ruth and married her to perpetuate the house of Mahlon, her first husband.  This sort of thing was a tradition in Israel.  Ruth bore a son to Boaz whose name was Obed who was the father of Jesse whose son was David.

The Moabite, Ruth, was an ancestor of King David of Israel.  It is clear that the writer of the story was asserting that even Gentiles may become part of Israel, the chosen of God to be a light to the nations.

Jonah, the prophet, was instructed by the Lord to preach to the people of Nineveh, a city filled with wickedness.  He refused to do it and fled by ship to Tarshish.  On the way, a great storm, sent by God, harried the ship.  The sailors discovered that Jonah was responsible so they hurled him into the sea where a great fish swallowed him.  The sea then calmed down.

Jonah prays a Psalm for deliverance.  He feels the waters come over him.  God delivers him from the deep.   The great fish spits him out on shore.  Jonah then went to the city to announce coming doom to the people of Nineveh, where even the king repented.  The people covered themselves with sackcloth and ashes, signs of repentance.  When God saw the people repent, he relented from destroying the city.  Jonah confesses that God is gracious and merciful; but, the prophet is angry.

God made a plant to grow over the head of Jonah to save him from discomfort as he waited for the destruction of Nineveh. The Lord points out to Jonah that he was angry about the plant, but did not pity the people of Nineveh.  The city was saved from destruction.

The common theme of the two stories has to do with the Gentiles. Ruth, a Gentile,  becomes an ancestor of David. In Jonah, the Gentiles are seen as part of God’s plan to redeem not only Jews but also Gentiles.

Paul says in Romans, “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.” (Romans 1: 16 ESV)  In Acts Peter says, “Truly I understand that God shows no partiality, but in every nation anyone who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him.” (Acts 10: 35 ESV)

 

In our witness we are to understand that the gospel is for everyone.  No one is excluded; thus, we have a responsibility to get the message out without partiality.

 

Michael G. Tavella

November 25, 2024

Isaac Watts, Hymnwriter