All the people
of my town know that you are a woman of noble character (Ruth 3:11).
Boaz refers to Ruth
as a woman of noble character. This could also be translated a woman of valor, or a woman of
excellence. This word is used many times in the biblical texts, but almost
exclusively of men... for instance, David’s mighty men (2 Samuel 23).
It’s interesting how the same word can be translated differently depending on
its context.
This is the point:
in all of Scripture, the phrase is used to describe women only three times – in
Proverbs 12:4; 31:10; and here in Ruth. The Proverbs 31 woman can prove intimidating
because she seems to be a cross between Martha Stewart and Super Woman. She’s
obviously a woman of means, running her own retail enterprise; she also does
wholesale manufacturing and uses her profits to buy land. Ruth, on the other
hand, is a poor, widowed foreigner. She lacks the standing of the Proverbs 31
woman, yet is called by the same name – a woman of excellence.
I wonder if Ruth
would describe herself as a woman of noble character, or as excellent. I doubt it. She was just being faithful to
her mother-in-law, whom she loved, and doing her best to deal with life as it
unfolded before her. Ruth’s story proves one doesn’t need a boatload of cash
and mad skills to be excellent.
Everyone is a “10” at something.
TODAY’S MEDITATION
Ask God how you can be a
person of excellence this week.
No comments:
Post a Comment