Ruth - a type of the Church?

[awfulthings9]

When I read the book of Ruth recently, it struck me that Ruth’s life and struggles parallel the salvation history of our Church. I don’t have my Bible in front of me so my explanation will be a little vague and without chapter and verse references, but here’s what I saw:

• Ruth’s original husband, who passed on, represented the Old Covenant.
• Boaz represents the New Covenant and, therefore, serves as a type of Christ.
• Before she can marry Boaz, there is another next-of-kin who must pass her on, so to speak, to Boaz. This man represents John the Baptist.
• Naomi would represent, perhaps, the Holy Spirit (and I’m not implying the Holy Spirit is a woman, so let’s not start that thread) in that she leads Ruth to the Christ-figure.
• Boaz is the bridegroom, as is Christ for the Church.
• Ruth finds Boaz on the threshing room floor, representing Christ as the bread that gives eternal life.
• Boaz spreads his skirt over Ruth as we are clothed in Christ, or perhaps as we are buried in baptism.

Now, I know that no “type” is perfect, so the parallel is no more perfect than any other type in the Old Testament. I’m sure I’m not the first to have seen this parallel, but I can’t find any commentary that goes completely in this direction. Some declare Boaz as a Christ-figure and Ruth as a symbol of Israel, but I believe it goes a step further and the story symbolizes the actual transition of Israel from the Old Covenant into the New.

Any thoughts? Anyone know some resourse that explores this further? Or am I just stretching?

 

[Della]

You can certainly find those elements in the story of Ruth–it wouldn’t be the primary interpretation, but I can’t think of anything wrong with seeing Ruth as a type of the Church, etc.

 

[RyanL]

awfulthings9:

Any thoughts? Anyone know some resourse that explores this further? Or am I just stretching?

I think you’re on the right track!

Further, I would say that Ruth is a type of Mary, who is a type of the Church. Ruth was overshadowed by Boaz, just as Mary was overshadowed by the Holy Spirit. Further, Ruth is a Moabite, and the great (?) grandmother of King David - Mary is one of David’s descendents.

St. Bonaventure observes that Ruth, whose name means “seeing and hastening,” was a figure of Mary; “for Mary, seeing our miseries, mercifully hastens to help us.”

Personally, I think St. Bonavnture’s quote is more tenuous than anything you’ve presented, and he’s still a saint. Take that for what it’s worth.

You might also look into Jael, who while King Sisera slept in the tent, took an iron tent peg and a hammer and drove the long spike through Sisera’s head, ending his life and the power of the northern Canaanite tribes (Judges 4:17-22). Then read Gen 3:15 again. Oh, and perhaps, “Most bless among women is Jael” (Judg 4:21).

If that gets you going, you might consider Judges 9:53, where “a certain woman” (Judith) dropped an upper millstone on the head of Abimelech. Lastly, Judith cut off the head of Holofernes (Judith 13:6-8). The praise directed toward Judith is important. “And Uzziah said to her, 'O daughter, you are blessed by the Most High God above all women on earth. . . . May God grant this to be a perpetual honor to you” (Judith 13:18, 20).

Sorry if this wasn’t a smooth read - I’m preoccupied and had to cut/paste a bit from a few sites.

That said, I can’t believe it when people tell me, “the Bible barely ever mentions Mary.” For those who have eyes to see, no?

God Bless,
RyanL

PS
Reading Recommendation: Daughter Zion by Card. Ratzinger