What's In A Relationship?

So Boaz took Ruth into his home, and she became his wife. When he slept with her, the LORD enabled her to become pregnant, and she gave birth to a son. Then the women of the town said to Naomi, “Praise the LORD, who has now provided a redeemer for your family! May this child be famous in Israel. May he restore your youth and care for you in your old age. For he is the son of your daughter-in-law who loves you and has been better to you than seven sons!” [Ruth 4.13-15]

Since writing yesterday about the value of a relationship like Naomi and Ruth had, I was immediately interested in the passage of scripture above that was the first paragraph in today's One Year Chronological Bible reading selection. I felt like there was something important to be found in this passage in addition to what was discussed in yesterday's post.

I really didn't know what I felt like was being said to me until I read all of today's reading. Today was one of those days that the OYCB included selections for multiple books of the Bible. And, although the reading started in Ruth, it finished in 1 Samuel.

Here is the last paragraph of today's OYCB selection:

“Why are you crying, Hannah?” Elkanah would ask. “Why aren’t you eating? Why be downhearted just because you have no children? You have me—isn’t that better than having ten sons?” [1 Samuel 1.8]

See a pattern?

"Seven sons" were mentioned in the Ruth passage. "Ten sons" were mentioned in the 1 Samuel passage. Both referred to multiple sons.

I am struggling to stay on point here, but it seems to me that in both passages, multiple sons are understood to be a blessing.

However, in Ruth's case, multiple sons, even though considered a huge a blessing, paled in comparison to her relationship with Naomi.

In the 1 Samuel reference today, poor Elkanah would liked to have thought the value he brought to Hannah was better than ten sons, but the obvious point of that story is that it wasn't (she wouldn't have been crying otherwise, right?)!

The difference in the two stories today is relationship. In Ruth, the relationship was better and more valuable than seven sons. In 1 Samuel, the relationship there was lacking compared to having many sons.

Of further interest today in the OYCB reading is 1 Chronicles 2.13-15:

Jesse’s first son was Eliab, his second was Abinadab, his third was Shimea, his fourth was Nethanel, his fifth was Raddai, his sixth was Ozem, and his seventh was David.

King David, a direct descendant of Ruth was the seventh son of Jesse. Ironic?

And how did David, this seventh son of Jesse, come about? Through Ruth's commitment to her relationship with Naomi.

Wow - I don't think I am articulating my thoughts well here, but in my mind, I know this is significant!

Father, help me to understand further the value of relationships. Particularly help me to trust the value of relationships I currently have because only You know the true value of those relationships going forward.