by John O’Malley
“And now, my daughter, fear not; I will do to thee all that thou requirest: for all the city of my people doth know that thou art a virtuous woman” (Ruth 3:11).
Ruth could not have imagined a more comforting response than what she received. Had Boaz stopped with just his commitment to be all that she needed, it was more than enough. Yet Boaz’s commitment came with a compliment that certainly warmed Ruth’s heart in a way she may not have known or could have dreamt. Boaz said, “For all the city of my people doth know that thou art a virtuous woman.” Boaz’s words from the threshing floor could not have honored Ruth’s heart any more.
“Virtuous”—the very word he chose indicated he saw beyond the threshing floor and all the way back to the dusty border between Moab and Israel. That day, when she made her choice to fulfill her deceased husband’s role of caring for his mother, she also determined to follow the God of Israel. Her words to Naomi would not remain on the desert sand but would make a journey to both the heart of God and of Boaz.
Boaz’s words made it clear: her virtue was apparent to the townspeople of Bethlehem-judah. They watched as Ruth cared for Naomi. Her concern for Naomi was on display from the moment of her arrival, and the people in town saw the virtue in this girl from Moab. The country of her birth would have normally made the townspeople discount instantly any virtue in a Moabite. Moabites were descended from one of the incestuous sons of Lot and were enemies to the people of God, yet Ruth’s virtuous manners overcame the social boundaries. Her confession of faith on Moab’s border enabled the people to see that, though Moabite by birth, she was Israelite by faith.
Boaz’s sense of Ruth’s virtues came from her conduct in his harvest fields. Ruth’s steadfastness to work in Boaz’s fields revealed her worth to him. She did not try to go to other fields. Nor did she just try to get by for herself; she sought provision for Naomi. She did not stay for one harvesting; she stayed for the harvest of barley and wheat.
Now, with Ruth’s journey of hope to the threshing floor tonight and her request and plea for a goel, Boaz sensed the virtues of her compassion and character. Only one word could describe the life of Ruth: “virtuous.”
Reader, you have before you today a very simple illustration of the value of virtue—that special quality of doing what is right and avoiding the wrong. Do all the people of your community know you are a virtuous person? When our Eternal Boaz makes the assessment of your life, will you be valued as virtuous? Peter’s epistle instructs the believer to add to his faith virtue (II Peter 1:5). Have you made the addition of virtue that Ruth did after her profession of faith?