In this world, there are people that will search for justice or try and change an unjust society into a just one. The problem is that they might not necessarily know that they are doing that. Sometimes a country is unjust, and it is the effort of a foreigner to make it just, and bring back the peace to the whole country or just one person that lives in that country. Ruth the Moabite was one of those people.
The Book of Ruth was set in the time of the Judges in Israel, and at that time all of the people and the society were unjust. There was no centralized figure or power to look up to. The people were worshiping idols, betraying each other, and breaking the laws between man and man which were the most important laws that God created. There had to have been someone who would search for the justice and restore it in Israel. Searching for justice in the world doesn’t have to be for a whole society or community, like the community in Beit Lechem. Searching for justice can also be for helping someone find closure in their life so they don’t act out, and eventually contribute to making the society around them more unjust.
Ruth the Moabite was the person that brought back justice to Naomi, the Israelite and her late husband, Elimelech’s family in Beit Lechem. Ruth was an inspiration to Naomi, though Naomi did not always show it. Naomi was used to the very unjust society that was Israel at the time, and because of that she was bitter and wouldn’t accept Ruth’s help. “My lot is far more bitter than yours, for the hand of the Lord has struck out against me,” Naomi exclaimed. She was turning into a normal person of the time period. She would reject her fellow acquaintances because she didn’t feel as though she was good enough. It was all about her, like it was all about everyone and their individuality at the time. Ruth was an invisible woman to Naomi, a wall that Naomi didn’t recognize.
When Naomi and Ruth returned to Beit Lechem, Ruth was determined to help Naomi carry on her late husband’s name. She ended up in the field of one of Elimelech’s relatives that could help redeem Naomi’s husband’s family and carry on the family name. Boaz, the field owner, was the person who helped Ruth restore Naomi’s confidence and not contribute to the unjust society around her. Boaz was the person that helped Ruth stay out of injustice, while Ruth was Naomi’s person for the same thing.
Ruth was a foreigner. She is referred to as Ruth the Moabite. Why would a foreigner have any business in correcting the injustice of another society, especially one that is supposed to be the enemy. The Moabites and Israelites were meant to be enemies, and were commanded this in the bible itself when the Jews entered the land of Israel. When Ruth married Mahlon, Naomi’s son, she decided that it was her mission to defy the custom of the Moabites and Israelites, and help the sad woman that was standing before her. She understood what it was like to lose someone, and she felt that it was her duty to protect and help her mother-in-law fight the injustice when she returned to Israel. Here, Ruth is showing us that even if you have nothing to do with a situation of injustice, it is your duty to help fix it. You don’t have to be a blunt figure in the effort, like Ruth was not, but no matter who you are it is important to help protect people from the worse.
We learn from Ruth that, “life is a search for justice.” This is a lesson that we must take into account everyday of our lives. If and when we live in an unjust society and world, we must remember that whether we are or are not straightforward in inspiring people to have closure in order not to contribute to the unjust society, we must help. We must search for the justice that is within, even if it is deep down under. “So Boaz married Ruth; she became his wife; and cohabitated with her.” Ruth happened to have been the person that brought Naomi’s spirits up, which allowed them to bare children to carry on Elimelech’s name which finally created the reign of kingship that molded our just Jewish society that we think of today.
It has truly been a pleasure learning with all of you this year, and Mrs. Perl thank you soooo much! :)
Interesting. This isn't really something we talked about but I like it. It seems like Ruth would be very against the whole diffusion of responsibility/bystander effect thing. She did not have to get involved with the Jews or go help Naomi or go remind Boaz to step up his game and fulfill his responsibilities but she does it anyway.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Alyssa, I think Rus's desire to be involved made her all the more better. It's ironic to me that all of the Jewish people were the ones who were acting corrupt and Rus, a convert from the sworn enemy Moav, was the one who came to redeem them all. We learned that Boaz was the one who redeemed Rus, but Rus was the one who redeemed the rest of the world.
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