Naomi and Ruth Bible Story. This poem is based on the Bible Story of a mother-in-law and her daughter-in-law, Naomi and Ruth. Although a great tragedy struck their family, Ruth proves herself.
This poem is the traumatic yet romantic Bible story of Ruth, a despised, poor immigrant in a hostile foreign land.
A daughter's careYoung and beautiful, pleasant, and married
To a strong family leader, a decisive man
They lived in a land of promise and plenty
Among their friends and extended family.
But their plentiful life turned into poverty
Their country plagued by famine
The people punished by God Almighty
For stubborn disobedience.
Unable to feed his wife and sons
He packed up and left for a foreign land
They said goodbye to all things familiar
Their culture, their faith and their trust in God.
They settled as immigrants in a land far away
Their boys grew strong, their future looked great
But soon tragedy struck the small family
Naomi was left widowed by her husband’s death.
She had left the famine in her homeland
To be starved of her beloved man
A traumatic loss, a family heartbroken
Who mourned alone, far from family and friends.
But love and laughter soon returned
To Naomi’s broken heart
Her two precious sons were engaged to be married
To women from this foreign land.
Blended cultures, a foreign religion
Beliefs and values less godly than her own
As time went on, her heart ached for home
And the country God had given them.
She remembered a time back in her youth
When her family lived by God’s way
Moral was high, family leadership-wise
Life had been filled with God’s blessings.
Ten years passed by, and yet no children were born.
By now, their family should have grown.
Again, catastrophe struck the family
Naomi’s sons were tragically killed
The two young wives without babe or a child
Three women alone with no future hope.
Naomi was now in a destitute state
Fearful and scared, unable to cope
Her daughters-in-law, so full of sorrow
Could not console her shattered soul.
The famine was over, so she travelled back home
Her daughters-in-law accompanied her
But the further they walked, the deeper she thought
My God has not been with me here in this land.
“Go back to your mothers and your family's homes
Remarry and have children while you still can
I have nothing to give to secure your future
You cannot help me, for my grief is too deep.”
One girl turned back with tears flowing
To stay in her country, religion, and culture
But Ruth would not leave the grieving Naomi
“Your God is my God; your people are mine.”
Naomi felt empty in her land of plenty
Guilt and shame now fed her sorrow
For having left God's promised land
"Would God forgive and hear my prayer?"
But Ruth sees hope and opportunity
“I can work for food and make ends meet
God has promised to take care of us
Just as he had throughout the past.”
She went out into the hostile land
Despised and vulnerable
Ruth chose a field; she asked to glean
From dawn till dusk to gather enough.
Boaz saw her in his field
He asked the foreman, “Who is she?”
He showed concern for her safety
For farmers and reapers would mistreat her.
His heart warmed as he heard her story
Her faithful devotion to Naomi
Her gentle nature, yet keen work ethic
Her humble respect, yet adventurous spirit.
With fatherly kindness, he said to her
“Stay in my field and gather my wheat
Eat and drink with my workers
May God bless you and Naomi.”
At dusk, Ruth walked home with a bundle of wheat
Surprised, Naomi asked her how and why?
Excitedly, Ruth talked about
The kind field owner - Boaz.
Naomi gasped, “I know that man
He was kind to my husband and sons
He is an older relative
A godly man of honour and truth...”
Read the full poem on the website.
Beverley Joy © 2017 of Simply Story Poetry
You can read my poems at Simply Story Poetry on Facebook, Pinterest, YouTube, Instagram and at simplystorypoetry.com.
Thank you for listening. Beverley Joy
