Chapter 4 Ruth And Esther: Lessons In Love And Compassion
Love and compassion are two vital tenets of a good Christian. Indeed, a good person. Apostle Paul, speaking on love, wrote an entire chapter to remind believers of the importance of love.
1 Corinthians 13:1-13: “If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing.
If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing. Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, and it keeps no record of wrongs.
Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away.
Read and Learn More Bible Study Acts Chapter wise
For we know in part, and we prophesy in part, but when completeness comes, what is in part disappears. When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me.
For now, we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known. And now these three remain:faith, hope, and love. But the greatest of these is love.”
Now, if your love looks nothing like the love described above, you have some work to do. Lucky for you, this chapter will guide you when you are confused about what love should look like.
Jesus taught about love during His time on earth. In John 13:34, he said:
Matthew 22:34-40:
“Hearing that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, the Pharisees got together. One of them, an expert in the law, tested him with this question: “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” Jesus replied: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself. All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”
This chapter is about love, love, and more love. Right next to the theme of love is compassion. God is a loving and compassionate father. Micah 7:18 says:
“Who is a God like you, who pardons sin and forgives the transgression of the remnant of his inheritance? You do not stay angry forever but delight to show mercy.” In John 3:16, the Bible states, “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”
God is love. John the Beloved confirms this in 1 John 4:7-12: “Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God because God is love.
This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.
Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God, but if we love one another, God lives in us, and his love is made complete in us.”
Many characters in the Bible showcase love and compassion. This chapter focuses on two spectacular women in the Old Testament, Ruth and Esther. They had love and compassion embedded in their stories. These women displayed remarkable selflessness, compassion, loyalty, courage, and, most importantly, love.
The Story Of Ruth
For a time in Israel, the people did not have a king. Instead, God raised leaders, “judges,” to guide the people; this era was known as the “era of judges.” The book lies between the book of Ruth and the book of Joshua.
When Joshua died, there was no one to rule or lead the people like Moses had, giving rise to the need for judges in the land. However, the people of Israel had a problem. They were fundamentally stubborn and disobedient. Sometimes, they worshipped other gods or did things entirely against God’s commands. They went against the covenant God made with Abraham so many times with their tendency to idolize manmade gods.
Due to their behavior, God allowed difficult situations, like famine or enemy attacks, as punishment. The people cried out to God when the suffering became too much. He showed mercy by raising another judge to save them. It was a never-ending cycle with Israel.
There was a famine during this time in the small town of Bethlehem. Yes. The same Bethlehem where Jesus was born. People were suffering from the drought and crops were dying, which meant no food for the masses. A man named Elimelek from Bethlehem took his family to Moab, a nearby country, because of the famine. He ran away from the land God gave his people because the suffering was too much.
Elimelek took his wife, Naomi, and their two sons with him. It was a difficult decision to leave since Moab and Israel were not on friendly terms, and often the tension brewed between them. However, Elimelek believed that going to a place where they could find food, even if it were an enemy land, would be better.
Unfortunately for the small family, tragedy struck. Elimelek died not long after they arrived in Moab. His sons, who took wives from the Moabites, died 10 years later, leaving Elimelek’s wife, Naomi, and his sons’ wives, Ruth and Orpah, widows. After burning her husband and sons, Naomi heard that God had remembered Bethlehem, and the famine was over. So, she prepared to return to her homeland.
Naomi called her daughters-in-law and advised them to go to their mother’s houses and find new husbands since they were still young. It was an emotional day for the women. They wept bitterly. The young women told their mother-in¬law they would willingly go with her wherever she went. Naomi tried to convince them:
“But Naomi said, “Return home, my daughters. Why would you come with me? Am I going to have any more sons, who could become your husbands? Return home, my daughters; I am too old to have another husband.
Even if I thought there was still hope for me even if I had a husband tonight and then gave birth to sons would you wait until they grew up? Would you remain unmarried for them? No, my daughters. It is more bitter for me than for you, because the LORD’s hand has turned against me!” (Ruth 1:11-13)
Orpah saw sense in Naomi’s words and returned to her mother’s house. She kissed Naomi, packed up her belongings, and left. On the other hand, Ruth wasn’t willing to let go of her mother-in-law. Naomi looked at her and said, “Look, Naomi, your sister-in-law is going back to her people and her gods. Go back with her.” But Ruth didn’t budge.
She told Naomi in Ruth 1:16-17:
Naomi realized Ruth was determined to travel with her. She was deeply touched. She stopped urging Ruth to leave, and they returned to Bethlehem together.
Ruth was committed to caring for her late husband’s mother. The woman was already old and could do very little for herself. She made a vow to follow Naomi to the ends of the earth, and she meant it.
While they were in Bethlehem, Ruth went to the fields to gather leftover grain for her and her mother-in-law. With Naomi’s blessing, she set out and found herself in a field belonging to one of late Elimelek’s distant relatives.
The field owner, Boaz, came to greet the harvesters, and Ruth caught his eye. She wasn’t a familiar face but had a beautiful face, and Boaz couldn’t help but ask the overseer of his harvesters about her.
The overseer explained how Ruth came to the field and humbly asked to pick up the leftover grains as the harvesters did their job. She worked tirelessly. The overseer told him about her kindness toward her mother-in-law, whom she followed from Moab into a foreign land.
After hearing about Ruth’s story, Boaz called Ruth and told her she could work in his field permanently. He commanded the men in his field not to touch her and provided everything she needed to be comfortable in his field.
Ruth was surprised at his kindness toward her when he barely knew her. Boaz smiled and told her he had heard her troubles and her kindness to Naomi and assured her she would be safe with him (Ruth 2:8-11).
Boaz called her to eat with the harvesters at dinner time and offered her food. She ate until satisfied and even had some to take home to Naomi. When she left the field, Boaz ensured Ruth had more than enough grain to take home for her and Naomi.
Ruth 2:15-18:
“As she got up to glean, Boaz gave orders to his men, “Let her gather among the sheaves and don’t reprimand her. Even pull out some stalks for her from the bundles and leave them for her to pick up, and don’t rebuke her.” So, Ruth gleaned in the field until evening.
Then she threshed the barley she had gathered, and it amounted to about an ephah. She carried it back to town, and her mother-in-law saw how much she had gathered. Ruth also brought out and gave her what she had left over after she had eaten enough.”
Back home, Naomi couldn’t believe her eyes when she saw Ruth. The younger woman told her all that transpired between her and Boaz at the field. Naomi advised her to continue working in his field because he was obviously fond of her.
After learning that Boaz was a relative who could redeem their property, Naomi devised a plan. Following Naomi’s guidance, Ruth approached Boaz on the threshing floor, humbly asking him to spread his cloak over her as a symbol of protection and redemption.
Boaz, moved by her request, agreed, but there was a closer relative who had the first right to redeem. Not wanting to miss his chance, Boaz quickly went to the town gate the next day to present his case- Boaz was freed to act as the kinsman-redeemer for Naomi and Ruth.
Boaz declared his intention to redeem Naomi’s land and marry Ruth. The elders and people blessed the union, saying: “May the Lord make the woman who is coming into your home like Rachel and Leah, who together built up the house of Israel” (Ruth 4:11).
Boaz and Ruth married, and God blessed them with a son, Obed. Once filled with bitterness and despair, Naomi held her grandson in her arms – her joy and hope restored. The town’s women celebrated with her, saying:
“Praise be to the Lord, who this day has not left you without a guardian-redeemer. May he become famous throughout Israel! He will renew your life and sustain you in your old age. For your daughter-in-law, who loves you and who is better to you than seven sons, has given him birth.” (Ruth 4:14-15)
Obed would become the grandfather of King David, linking Ruth, a Moabite woman, into the lineage of Israel’s greatest King and Savior of the world, Jesus Christ.
The Story Of Queen Esther
At one time in history, Jewish people lived under Persian rule, exiled from their homeland. King Xerxes, who knew nothing about the Jewish people, ruled the Persian Empire. The Israelites weren’t numerous and surrounded by people who didn’t understand or respect their faith.
Although they lived and worked in the empire, they always risked persecution. A high-ranking official in King Xerxes’ court, Haman, developed a hatred for the Jewish people, causing them to live in fear.
Haman’s hatred was personal. He encountered Mordecai at the gate, a Jew who refused to bow to him. In his anger, Haman plotted to destroy all the Jews in the empire, convincing King Xerxes to issue a decree to have them killed (Esther 3:8-11).
While the feud between Haman and Mordecai lurked. A different drama was unfolding in the palace. King Xerxes dismissed his wife, Queen Vashti, because of her attitude, creating a vacuum in the palace and a need for a new queen. The King’s servants suggested he permit them to search the kingdom for young virgins to select a new queen. The King gave his word, and the search began.
Mordecai was the orphaned Jewish girl Esther’s uncle. As soon as he heard of the King’s request, he recruited Esther. She was very beautiful, and Mordecai had no doubt she would be selected.
When Esther made it to the palace for selection, she found favor with Hegai, the keeper of the women. He gave her special oils and quickly gave her what she needed to win the King’s heart.
When presented to the King, Esther found favor in his sight, and he selected her to be his new queen. Esther’s status was changed overnight – from the orphaned Jewish girl to the new queen of the Persian Empire. (Esther 2:7-17). Esther’s rise to queen was part of a divine plan. Mordecai, who had cared for Esther, instructed her not to reveal her Jewish identity (Esther 2:10).
Once, Mordecai overheard people discussing the assassination of the King and told Esther. She quickly informed the King. He immediately investigated and learned that, indeed, plans to assassinate him were afoot. King Xerxes had the suspects hanged, and Mordecai’s name was written in the King’s book of Chronicles (Esther 2:21-23).
Esther had become queen, so Mordecai discussed the problem of the Jews with her, particularly Haman’s role. When Mordecai learned of Hainan’s plan to destroy the Jews, he tore his clothes and put on sackcloth and ashes, mourning for his people (Esther 4:1).
He sent word to Esther, urging her to go to the king and beg for mercy on behalf of her people. It seemed a simple request. However, in Persian law, anyone who approached the king without being summoned could be put to death unless the king extended his golden scepter to them (Esther 4:11).
Esther was determined to deliver her people despite the possible consequences of her actions. She asked Mordecai and all the Jews in Susa too fast for three days and nights on her behalf, saying, “I will go to the king, even though it is against the law.
And if I perish, I perish” (Esther 4:16). The young Queen would willingly lay down her life for her people. She trusted that God would be with her when she went before the King.
After fasting and praying, she went to the king. Like someone spellbound, the moment the King laid his eyes on her, he extended his golden scepter, sparing her life (Esther 5:1-2).
Instead of immediately pleading for her people, she applied wisdom. Esther invited King Xerxes and Haman to a banquet she had prepared. At the banquet, her husband asked her to demand anything, and it would be granted. She only requested they attend another banquet (Esther 5:4-8).
This delay was a strategic move. Esther was wise to wait for the right moment to reveal Haman’s plot. That night, the king could not sleep and ordered the Book of Chronicles to be read to him.
He learned of Mordecai’s earlier act of saving his life and realized Mordecai had not received a reward (Esther 6:1-3). The King called for Haman and had him honor Mordecai, the man he despised, by leading him through the city on the king’s horse, saying, “This is what is done for the man the king delights to honor!” (Esther 6:6-11). At the second banquet, Esther revealed her Jewish identity and exposed Haman’s wicked plan to cut off her people from the land. Turning to her husband, she said:
“If I have found favor with you, Your Majesty, and if it pleases you, grant me my life—this is my petition. And spare my people —this is my request. For I and my people have been sold to be destroyed, killed, and annihilated.
If we had merely been sold as male and female slaves, I would have kept quiet, because no such distress would justify disturbing the king.” (Esther 7:3-4) King Xerxes was shocked and enraged that anyone would dare do such a thing. He asked Esther who the unfortunate soul was, and she pointed to Haman (Esther 7:5-6).
Esther and Mordecai were part of God’s larger plan to protect and deliver the Jewish people from destruction. After Esther revealed Haman’s plot, King Xerxes ordered Haman to hang from the gallows he had prepared for Mordecai (Esther 7:9-10).
The king issued a new decree allowing the Jews to defend themselves against their enemies (Esther 8:11). On the day the enemies had hoped to overpower the Jews, the tables had turned. The Jews gained the upper hand over those who hated them (Esther 9:1).
As the issue with Haman died down, Esther’s uncle, Mordecai, was elevated to a position of high honor, and the Jewish people were saved from their enemies. They celebrated the festival of Purim to celebrate their deliverance (Esther 9:20-22).
Lessons For Today
Ruth’s vow to Naomi proved her deep love and compassion for her mother-in-law. She was willing to leave everything behind to support Naomi in her time of need, which was an incredibly selfless act.
Like Ruth, Esther was also selfless. She risked her life to save her people from destruction. Her love for her people was greater than her fear of death. True love is sacrificial and more than mere words.
You must act it out. Don’t worry. It will be easy if your feelings are genuine. You should be willing to put the needs of others before yours.
Ruth, as a Moabite widow, had every right to return to her people and start a new life after her husband’s death. Yet, she chose to travel with Naomi to a land she knew nothing about and live among people she had never seen. Ruth was indeed a woman of faith.
Esther said, “If I perish, I perish…” with a heart determined to deliver her people. She was a woman of great faith. Faith in God is the fastest way to gain victory over a situation. 1 John 5:14 says, “For everyone, born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith.”
Ruth and Esther were empaths. Their compassion for others led to their upliftment. As an empath, you don’t only feel for others. You act on their behalf.
A leader is not a loud and obnoxious person in a group. No. A leader is someone with quiet strength, good intentions, strategic thinking skills, courage, and wisdom. Ruth and Esther were leaders who conquered all with love and compassion.
Journaling Prompt
Create a journal entry listing acts of kindness for the next three days. Aim to commit to these, journal daily, and track how you feel.