God seeks out Ruth for she is one of His own. He provides for her who is poor, a woman, a widow, and a foreigner – in other words defenseless and weak in a hostile world. He calls her and brings her into community and a family, none other than the royal family line of David. This is our God who cares righteously for the weak and the poor to the point of exercising judgment on the oppressor.

Why is there a book in the Bible dedicated to Ruth’s story? Ruth’s most important significance is that she is not an Israelite. Yet, it is implicit throughout the narrative that she is being honored and Boaz declares more than once that she is “worthy.” Her honored stature points to the heart of God who at this point in history is looking ahead to the gathering of His people from many nations. The new Jerusalem is described as a beautiful bride which must mean that God’s love for us is passionate. And if we meditated on this and God’s own expressions of zeal and fervor for Zion (His dwelling place with his people) and ultimately, if we look to the life of Christ who though God became man and stripped himself of all glory and submitted to suffering and death, the truth would be electrifying. Only a love that is passionate and consuming, therefore personal and intimate, would compel the God of all creation and enthroned in splendor and majesty to do what is shocking.