Humble Beginnings

Humble beginnings.  The Book of Ruth begins with tragedy and despair, and ends with joy and victory. Elimelech and Naomi leave the town of Jerusalem with their two sons because there is a famine in the land.  Their two sons were Mahlon and Chilion, which means “sickly” and “weak”, respectively.  They stay in the land of Moab for ten years, and during that time Elimelech and the two sons die.  All that is Naomi and her two daughters-in-law, Orpah and Ruth (Ruth 1:4-5).  Naomi returns to Jerusalem with one of her daughters-in-law, Ruth, but Naomi refers to herself as Mara, because she had left full, but returned empty (v.20-21).  There was food again in Jerusalem, but remember there had been a famine, which is why Elimelech and Naomi had left initially.  During those times, it was very difficult for women to make it financially.  Since all of the men in their lives had died, Ruth goes to glean in the fields to try and get enough food for herself and her mother-in-law, Naomi.  Ruth finds favor with one of Naomi’s next of kin, Boaz.  Boaz, beings a kinsman redeemer, ends up marrying Ruth.  They have a child whose name is Obed, who is the father of Jesse, who is the father of David, who would later become king (Ruth 4:17).  Obed simply means “servant”.  By the end of the book, I just began thinking about King David’s heritage.  I wondered if David knew his grandparents.  I am sure the account of all that took place was shared with David.  I wonder if it was this humble beginning that made David a prime candidate for king.  See Psalm 78:70—72.