Love in Intimacy

Rev. Joel St. Clair
Ruth 3:1-18

Ruth approaches Boaz during the middle of the night to ask him to fulfill his role as the kinsman-redeemer. Boaz responds with joy in her request, yet recognizes some complications in their current plan. God’s hand was at work to not only bring honor to Ruth as a worthy woman, but also restore Naomi’s misfortune.

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The book of Ruth recounts the story of a family who faces hardship and tragedy. Yet even when all hope seems lost, God is present. The beauty of the narrative of Ruth is that God’s love and care is on full display without any explicit miracle or voice of God. Instead, God displays his steadfast love (hesed) through his people. Even more, this narrative was a message of hope that God is not absent or sleeping — through Ruth, came David, whose lineage will stay on the throne forever.

As a church living in the 21st century, we can continue to extend God’s steadfast love to our community, that the world may tangibly experience the reality of God’s care for us that is ultimately found in his Son, Jesus Christ, the true King.