5 Remarkable Things About Ruth, Ancestor of King David

King David was the ruler of Israel between approximately 1010 to 970 B.C.E. He was a skilled warrior, musician, and the writer of a large portion of the Psalms in the Bible. He was beloved by God. He was a direct descendant of Abraham the patriarch; and Jesus Christ was born through David’s lineage. The story and account of David’s life and exploits is recorded in the Bible in Samuel, Kings, and Chronicles.

Generations before David was born there lived a woman in Moab called Ruth. The Bible calls her Ruth the Moabitess. The book of the Bible (in the old testament) called Ruth is an account of her story. You may read it, it is an easy and compelling read which will bless and inspire you.

Here are five remarkable things about Ruth:

1. Ruth Chose The Living God.

In Ruth 1 verse 16 we see Ruth talking to her mother-in-law who is an Israelite and who worships the Living God:

But Ruth replied, “Don’t urge me to leave you or to turn back from you. Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God. (New International Version)

She purposely chose the Living God, the only True God. Even today, everyone has been given a choice to choose who to serve and some choose to serve God and some choose idols. A scripture comes to mind:

And if it seems evil to you to serve the Lord, choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” – Joshua 24:15 (New King James Version).

Who have you chosen to serve? Jesus is waiting, ready to come into your life as your Lord and Saviour if you invite Him in. Here is what He said in Revelation 3 verse 20:

Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me. (New King James Version)

To invite Jesus to come into your life to be the Lord and Saviour of your life, you need to believe in your heart and confess with your mouth. You can do that by praying the Salvation Prayer

2. Ruth Was Hardworking and Resourceful.

Naomi and Ruth left Moab for Bethlehem, Judah and when they arrived, she chose to get a job that would provide for them. The Bible records in Ruth 2 verses 1 – 3:

There was a relative of Naomi’s husband, a man of great wealth, of the family of Elimelech. His name was Boaz. 2 So Ruth the Moabitess said to Naomi, “Please let me go to the field, and glean heads of grain after him in whose sight I may find favor.”

And she said to her, “Go, my daughter.”

3 Then she left, and went and gleaned in the field after the reapers. And she happened to come to the part of the field belonging to Boaz, who was of the family of Elimelech. (New King James Version)

She decided to go out to work in the fields in order to bring back grain. She was hardworking and resourceful. The workers reported in Ruth 2 verses 6 – 7:

So the servant who was in charge of the reapers answered and said, “It is the young Moabite woman who came back with Naomi from the country of Moab. 7 And she said, ‘Please let me glean and gather after the reapers among the sheaves.’ So she came and has continued from morning until now, though she rested a little in the house.” (New King James Version)

Even today, some people chose to idle about, rely on handouts, and shirk responsibilities. Thank God for Ruth, she saw the situation she was in and decided to get to work in the fields. People have talents, skills, abilities, and opportunities. It is important that people use their abilities and skills to do something productive.

If you are a child of God, He is committed to bless the work of your hands. See the scripture in Deuteronomy 28 verse 12:

The Lord will open to you His good treasure, the heavens, to give the rain to your land in its season, and to bless all the work of your hand. You shall lend to many nations, but you shall not borrow. (New King James Version)

Ruth worked in the fields throughout the harvest season (Ruth 2:22 – 23). It therefore not surprising that Ruth encountered her miracle in the place of her labour/service. Often you will have an encounter with destiny when you decide to labour; in the work of God, in your work, a business you decide to start and run, or when you decide to labour spiritually in prayer and fasting, and studying the Word of God, and in service to God.

3. Ruth Was Kind and Giving.

The Bible records in Ruth 1 verse 8:

And Naomi said to her two daughters-in-law, “Go, return each to her mother’s house. The Lord deal kindly with you, as you have dealt with the dead and with me. (New King James Version)

The above verse indicates that Ruth was kind to her late husband and Naomi. This verse could also suggest that Ruth showed kindness to her late father-in-law.

On her first day of work in the fields, after she had lunch, she took some of the lunch home for her mother-in-law (Ruth 2:17 - 18). That is kindness!

4. Ruth Was Obedient and Followed Instructions.

When Ruth’s mother-in-law told her to work only in the field belonging to Boaz, she obeyed (Ruth 2:22 -23).

When Naomi told Ruth to go to the threshing floor where Boaz was winnowing barley (Ruth 3:1-18), she obeyed and followed the instructions of Naomi. The Bible records in Ruth 3 verses 5 – 6:

5 And she said to her, “All that you say to me I will do.”

6 So she went down to the threshing floor and did according to all that her mother-in-law instructed her. (New King James Version).

We do not only need to obey God and His Word, we also benefit from obeying the Godly instructions of authority figures in our lives. There is power in obedience. Ruth had an encounter with destiny that changed her life when she obeyed the instructions of Naomi.

READ The Power of Obeying God’s Instructions

5. Ruth Was Loyal.

From the account in the book of Ruth, we see that she was an all-round loyal person. She cared for Naomi and stuck by her. Even when Ruth married Boaz whom the Bible calls a “man of great wealth”, she did not abandon Naomi. As a matter of fact, when Ruth conceived and had a baby, Naomi was still a part of their family and took care of the new baby (Ruth 4:13 – 16).

Ruth was such a blessing to Naomi, that the women of Bethlehem said to Naomi after Ruth had a baby (Ruth 4 verses 14 – 15):

Then the women said to Naomi, “Blessed be the Lord, who has not left you this day without a close relative; and may his name be famous in Israel! 15 And may he be to you a restorer of life and a nourisher of your old age; for your daughter-in-law, who loves you, who is better to you than seven sons, has borne him. (New King James Version)

There is so much to unpack from the book of Ruth. It is amazing that she made conscious decisions which gave her an encounter with the Most High God, who made her to become a direct ancestor of King David.

Then Naomi took the child and laid him on her bosom, and became a nurse to him. 17 Also the neighbor women gave him 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. – Ruth 4:16 – 17 (New King James Version).

Prayer Points

1. O Lord, I surrender my ways to you. Please order my steps and help me to always please you in what I do.

2. O Lord, bless me and give me an encounter with you that will transform my life.

3. O Lord, give me the grace to take responsibility and be hardworking and resourceful. Please bless the work of my hands.

About the Author

Edikan Uko is an entrepreneur, and management consultant focusing on strategic management and innovation. She is a media owner and publisher. She is an alumna of University of Strathclyde Business School.

She is also a Bible teacher, speaker, founder of Arise Global Intercessors, and editor of LoveFaithandMiracles.com

Twitter: @IAmEdikanUko

Email: edikan@lovefaithandmiracles