Ruth A Living Epistle
of Jesus Christ

Apostle Paul wrote, 

 Forasmuch as ye are manifestly declared to 

be the  epistle of Christ ministered by us, 

written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the

living God; not in tables of stone,

 but in fleshy tables of the heart. 

( 2Corinthians 3:3) 

You show that you are a letter of the living 

Lord God ,

 written not with ink but with the

 Spirit of the living God, not on tablets

of stone but on tablets of human heart.

Clearly you are a letter from  Christ .

 The letter is written not with pen and ink ,

 but with the Holy Spirit.

It is carved not in tablets of stone,

 but in human heart.

You  show that you are a letter from

 the Lord Jesus Christ,

written not with  computers but with the Holy Spirit 

of the living God , not in computer tablets

 but in tablets of human heart.

You are demonstrating that you are the

 Messiah’s epistle ,

 written not with ink but with
 
the Spirit of the living 

God , not in tablets of stone , but in tablets

 of human heart.

It is clear that you are
 Christ’s epistle.

 You are a letter

written not with ink but with
 the Holy Spirit  .
 
You are a letter written not
 in tablets of stones

 but in human heart.

You are manifestly declared
 to be the epistle of Christ,

written not with ink ,
 but with the Spirit of

 the living of God, 
not in tablets of  stones

 but in fleshly tablets of
 the heart.

You are the living letter 
of the Lord Jesus Christ.

 Your hearts are the substance which 

God’s writing is made.

The Holy Spirit produces the love
 in your heart  and the mark of 
love becomes  the evident

 to the world.

The Lord intended to rule the
 nation of Israel through 

righteous men, who made known
 God's will to His people.

Moses was a faithful servant
 and was Israel's  leader.

 Joshua was also a faithful
 servant of the Lord . 

Those people who succeeded 
 them were leaders known 

as judges,but  there were
 times when apparently no 

man could be found to act
 as a judge.


 And every man did that was
 right in his own 

eyes (Judge 21:25)

The period of unfaithfulness
 was one of violence

and unrest. The children of Israel
 forsake the Lord .

 They  did evil in the sight
 of the Lord . They 

served idols And the anger
 of the Lord was hot

 against Israel, and He delivered
 them unto the hands

 of spoilers , that spoiled them.
 And he sold them

 into the hands of their enemies
 round about , so 

that they could not any longer 
stand before their

 enemies (Judges 2:14)


Tribal jealousies , oppression
 by Canaanites and

 the people's sins weakened the
 nation of Israel. 

And Idolatry sapped the spiritual
 strength of the

 people. When the people forsake
 the Lord , disaster

 would strike them. Disease ,
 corruption, famine and

 other curses fell upon them
 because they forsake 

the Lord and whore after the
 idols and the 

abominations of the Canaanites.

The Lord executes  righteousness
 and judgment for all that are
 oppressed (Psalms 103:6),

Those people who sinned are punished.
 Those folks who obey the Lord will
 be blessed. Those people who

 turn away from the Lord will
 surely perish. But the

 Lord is always ready to save 
His people when they 

repent and return faithfully to Him.
So, even during

 this sad period , and against a
 background of famine 

and early widowhood , the Lord
 was still working through humble
 folks like Ruth , the maid from Moab.

Today the Lord is still working
 out His purpose and will. 
Now faith is the substance of
 things hoped for , the evidence
 of things not seen (Hebrews 11:1)
For by faith , Ruth and Boaz won
 God's approval. For by faith Ruth
 and Boaz obtained a good report. The

 Lord has called Abraham to found
 a nation for the reason of one
 day  bringing a Savior to mankind. 

In Ruth and Boaz we have 
the founding of the family 

within that nation in which Christ
 the Savior would 

come. Ruth was the great grandmother
 of David, Israel's greatest king.


 NAOMI
(RUTH 1:1-5)

Now it came to pass in the
 days when judges

ruled, that there was a famine
 in the land. And a certain
 man of Bethlehemjudah went to live in
 the country of Moab, he  and his
 wife, and his two sons. And the 
name of his wife Noami, and the

 name of his two sons Mahlon
 and Chilion,  Ephrathites of 
Bethlehemjudah.And Elimelech 

Naomi's husband died ; and she
 was left with her  two sons.
And they took them wives of 
the women of Moab;the name 
of one was Orpah, and the name 

of the other Ruth.And they lived
 in Moab for about  ten years .
And Mahlon and Chilion died also both 

of them.And the woman was left 
without husband or sons.

NAOMI AND RUTH RETURN TO BETHLEHEM
(RUTH 1:6-22)

Some time later Naomi heard 
that the Lord had blessed 

His people by giving them 
a good harvest. Then she got

 ready to leave Moab.
 Then she arose with her 

daughters in law, that she might return from the 

country of Moab: for she had heard in the country 

of Moab how that the LORD had visited his people in

 giving them bread.(Ruth 1:6)


She went forth out of the place where she was,

 and her two daughters in law with her. And they went 

on the way to return  unto the land of Judah.

(Ruth 1:7)

And Naomi told her two daughters in law to return

 each to her mother's home. And Naomi said unto

 her two daughters in law, Go, return each to her

 mother's house: the LORD deal kindly with you, 

as you have dealt with the dead, and with me.The 

LORD grant you that you may find rest, each of you

 in the house of her husband. Then she kissed them; 

and they lifted up their voice, and wept.

(Ruth 1:8-9)

May the Lord deal kindly with the two young widow,

 as they have dealt kindly to Naomi.May the Lord 

grant them rest.Then Naomi kissed them . And they 

lifted up their voice , and wept.Naomi was 

determined to return to the land of her birth. 

Naomi dismissed her daughters in law with prayer 

and with love. And they said unto her, Surely we
 
will return with thee unto thy people. And Naomi 

said, Turn again, my daughters: why will you go with 

me? Are there yet any more sons in my womb, that 

they may be your husbands? Turn again, my daughters,

 go your way; for I am too old to have an husband.

 If I should say, I have hope, if I should have an 

husband also to night, and should also bear sons; 

you stay for them from having husbands? Nay, my 

daughters; for it grieves me much for your sakes that

 the hand of the LORD is gone out against me.

(Ruth 1:10-13)

And they wanted to   return with Naomi unto her 


people.And Naomi had treated  them well during 


their stay with her family  She had loved them as


herself. She had loved them as the Lord had loved her.


Naomi wanted to give the two young widows an 


opportunity to choose their way of life.They could 


go back to their pagan way oflife  with  their pagan

 people. Or they could follow poor Naomi back to her

people under the Lord.And they lifted up their 

voice, and wept again: and Orpah kissed her mother 

in law; but Ruth clave unto her.(Ruth 1:14)

And Orpah , in sorrow , turned back to her own

land of Moab.But Ruth stayed with Naomi. Ruth 

expressed her determination to accompany Naomi.

 Determination silences temptation. Determination

resists the devil and forces him to flee.Ruth was 

determined to follow Naomi. 

 And she said, Behold,your sister in law is gone

 back unto her people, and unto her gods: return 

you after your sister in law.,br>(Ruth 1:15)

Naomi had introduced the Lord to her daughters in 


law. Before they joined Naomi's family,they were 


unbelievers .They were given  choices. Stay with


 a poor family who believed in the Lord. Or go back


 to their mother's families with their idols.Orpah 


had gone back to her idols.


 And Ruth said, Intreat me not to leave you, 


or to return from following after you: for whither 


you go, I will go; and where you lodge, I will lodge: 


your people shall be my people, and your God my God: 


Where you die, will I die, and there will I be


 buried: the LORD do so to me, and more also, if 


ought but death part you and me.(Ruth 1:16-17)

Ruth was determined to follow Naomi.Ruth had 


experienced the love of 
the Lord through Naomi.It was 


a real love. Love your neighbor as yourself. The


 Lord was real in Naomi's family. Ruth wanted to be


 among the people of God. Ruth wanted to be among 


believers of the Lord. When she saw that she was


 steadfastly minded to go with her, then she left 


speaking unto her (Ruth 1 :18)

When Naomi saw that Ruth was determined to go with 


her, she said nothing more. 
Naomi saw that Ruth was 


steadfastly minded to go
 with her. Ruth expressed a 


love and loyalty that Naomi could not reject.


 So they two went until they came to Bethlehem. 


And it came to pass, when they were come to Bethlehem,


 that all the city was moved about them, and they said,


 Is this Naomi? And she said unto them, Call me not


 Naomi, call me Mara: for the Almighty has dealt very 


I went out full, and the LORD has brought me home 


again empty: why then call you me Naomi, seeing the 


LORD hath testified against me, and the Almighty has


 afflicted me?(Ruth 1:19-21)

The name Naomi means pleasant

Mara means  bitterness

Could it be that Naomi realized that she might


have made a mistake in leaving her people to


go a pagan country ? Now Naomi had come home poor,


 empty, a widow, and childless. Naomi recognized that


 the Lord controls all circumstances of life. And we 


know that all things work together for good to them


 that love God, to them who are the called according 


to HIs purpose.(Romans 8:28)
But it is written ,


 Eye has not seen, nor earheard, neither have 


entered into the heart of man, the things which God 


has prepared for them that love Him.(1 Cor 2:9)

This, then , was how Naomi came back from Moab with 


Ruth, her Moabite daughter in law.And they came into 


Belethleham in the beginning of the barley harvest.


RUTH GLEANING UNDER GRACE
(RITH 2:1-2:3)


And Naomi had a kinsman of her husband's , a mighty
 man of wealth, of the family of Elimelech.And his 
name was Boaz. Boaz means in him is strength.

Boaz is typical of the Lord Jesus Christ, the mighty 
Savior, in whom there is strength. And Ruth the 
Moabitess said unto Naomi, Let me now go to the field,
 and glean ears of corn after him in whose sight 
I shall find grace. And she said unto her, Go, my
 daughter. And she went, and came, and gleaned in the
 field after the reapers: and her hap was to light 
on a part of the field belonging unto Boaz, who was 
of the kindred of Elimelech.(Ruth 2:1-3)

It so happened that she was in a field that belonged 
to Boaz, a kinsman of Elimelech.The Lord had led
 Ruth into the field of Boaz. The Lord works out 
His purpose in our lives for the good of mankind.
 Sometimes we don't understand why 
things happen as they do. 
But it is best to follow the Lord
 by faith as Ruth had done.
 And behold, Boaz
 came from Bethlehem, and said
 unto the reapers, The LORD be with you. And they
 answered him, The LORD bless you.
(Ruth 2:4)
Boaz loved his neighbours
 as himself becausehe loved the Lord.
 He realized that his wealth came from
 the Lord. Boaz was generous 
with God's wealth. Boaz treated 
those people who worked
 for him with kindness
 and respect.Boaz was a man 
of faith in the midst
 of an age of faithlessness.
 Boaz was a true man in the
 midst of liars.  Boaz was
 faithful to the Lord 
in the midst of difficulties.
 Boaz loved people because
 he loved God.Boaz tried to  
please the Lord in all his 
affairs.He lived by faith in
 the Lord.According to God's
 law given through Moses the
 poor is entitled to gather grain that was left
 over by the reapers. We must
 understand that all things belong to the Lord.
 We are to share with others
 what the Lord has given
 to us.The Lord blessed 
us so that we will 
share our blessing with others.
Boaz knew that only the Lord 
will help thepoor. For this reason
  Boaz said to them.
 The Lord be with you.
And the poor wanted the Lord to continue 
bless Boaz. The Lord bless you.

These are the commandments of the Lord.
And when you reap the harvest of
 your land, you shall not wholly
 reap the corners of your field, 
neither shall you gather the gleanings of
 your harvest. And you shall not glean
 your vineyard, neither shall you
 gather every grape of your vineyard. 
You shall leave them for
 the poor and stranger.I am
 the Lord your God.(Leviticus 19:9-10)
And when you reap the harvest of
 your land,you shall not make
 clean riddance of the corners
 of your field when you reap, 
neither shall you gather  any
 gleaning of your harvest. You shall 
leave them unto the poor , and to 
the stranger. I am the Lord your
 God. (Leviticus 23-22)

These are words of love from the Lord.
The Lord tells His people how to
love the fatherless, the stranger, 
and the widow.
The Lord does not want greedy people.
 The Lord wants His people to share 
His wealth.When you cut down
 your harvest in your field,
 and have forgotten a sheaf in 
the field, you shall not go 
again to fetch it, It shall be 
for the stranger, for the fatherless ,
and for the widow ;
that the  Lord your  God may 
bless you in all the works of your hands.                      
When you have picked your olives once,
 do not go back and get those
 that are left. They are for stranger,
 for the fatherless, and for the widow.
When you gather the grapes of the
 vineyard, you shall not glean it
 afterward. It shall be for the stranger, 
for the fatherless, and for the 
widow (Deut 24:19-21)
 
 The Lord had commanded His people
 to love one another. As the 
Lord had loved you , so you
 must love one another. People will
 know that you are disciples of
 the Lord if you love one another.
As the Lord has loved him, Boaz
 loved others.Boaz had faith 
in the Lord. Faith works by love.
Boaz loved his neighbours according 
to the word of the Lord. Boaz 
helped the stranger, the fatherless,
 and the widow. His  Lord God 
blessed Boaz in all the works 
of his hands.
 Then said Boaz unto his servant
 that was set over the reapers, 
Whose damsel is this? And the servant
 that was set over the reapers 
answered and said, 
It is the Moabitish damsel that 
came back with Naomi out of the 
country of Moab: And she said,
 I pray you, let me glean and gather
 after the reapers among the sheaves:
 so she came, and had continued even
 from the morning until now,
 that she tarried a little in 
the house.(Ruth 2:6-7)

We have to take good care of
 what God has entrusted to us.
God had given wealth to Boaz.
 And Boaz had to manage it righteously.
 He had to know what was going 
on in hisfields. Boaz asked
 his servants about the damsel
 on his field. Boaz had to know
 the needs of his neighbor
 before he could help  her.
 This is love in understanding 
other people's needs.Boaz obeyed
 the commandments of the Lord by
 sharing his blessings with the 
needy, the fatherless, and the 
widows .By faith Boaz won 
God's approval. Faith works 
by love. And God is love. 
Boaz took care of those needy 
folks thatthe Lord had placed 
before him.He was not a 
careless man.Everything he did ,
 Boaz had to answer to the
 Lord.Boaz had to give account 
of his actions.Boaz immediately 
saw the stranger in his field.
His workers informed him that,

 It was the Mobitish damsel 
that came back with Naomi out 
of the country of Moab.

Ruth was humble. She was 
contented with whatever
the Lord had given to her.
 High spirits  and proud spirits
 will rather starve than to stoop
 to be gleaners. This was not
 so with Ruth.Ruth wanted to glean
 so that she and Noami would
 have food to eat. Ruth was
 an example of industry. She
 worked hard. When the overseer gave
 Ruth permission to glean in
 the field of Boaz, she worked 
diligently.Then said Boaz unto
 Ruth, Hear thou not, my daughter?
 Go not to glean in another field,
 neither go from hence, but 
abide here fast by my maidens:
 Let thine eyes be on the field
 that they do reap, and go thou
 after them: have I not charged
 the young men that they shall 
not touch thee? And when thou 
art athirst, go unto the vessels,
 and drink of that which the
 young men have drawn.
(Ruth 2:8-9)

Boaz suggested that Ruth should remain in his
fields with the women there. Watch them to see 
where they are reaping and stay with them.Boaz
 had ordered the young men that they should not
 touch her. And then she was instructed to drink
 of the water provided for the workers,if she 
was thirsty. Ruth was humble. She thought humbly
 of herself, esteeming others much better than
 herself. Why had Ruth found grace in the eyes 
of Boaz ? Why should a mighty man such as Boaz 
took knowledge of Ruth, seeing that she was
only a stranger ?Boaz found out everything that
 Ruth had done for her mother in law since her 
husband haddied. Boaz knew how Ruth had left her
 father and mother and her own country and how she
came to live among a people she had never known
 before.
Then she fell on her face, and bowed herself 
to the ground, and said unto him, Why have I found
 grace in thine eyes, that thou shouldest take 
knowledge of me, seeing I am a stranger?(Ruth 2:10)

Faith works by love. Ruth's faith in 
the Lord is manifested in her love for others.
Boaz could see her faith in the Lord. 
 And Boaz answered and said unto her, 
It has fully been shewed me, all that you 
have done unto your mother in law since the 
death of your husband: and how you have left 
your father and your mother, and the land of 
your nativity, and are come unto a people which 
you knew not heretofore. The LORD recompense 
your work, and a full reward be given you of 
the LORD God of Israel, under whose wings you 
have come to trust.(Ruth 2:11-12)

Now faith is the substance of things hoped 
for,the evidence of things not seen. For by 
it the elders obtained a good report. Through 
faith we understand that the worlds were
 framed by the word of God, so that things 
which are seen were not made of things which 
do appear. (Hebrews 11:1-3)
But without 
faith it is impossible to please God; she that
 comes to God must believe that He is, and 
that He is a rewarder of them that diligently 
seek Him.By faith Ruth left her father and her
 mother and her country of Moab and came with
 her mother in law into the Promised Land.By 
faith Ruth came to live among the children of
 Israel. The Lord recompensed Ruth's work of 
love.A full reward was given to Ruth by the
Lord God of Israel, under whose wings she had
 come to trust.Ruth had found a place of 
refuge in the God of Israel . As a hen 
protects her young chicken under her wings, 
so the Lord protects those who come to Him
for safety. Then she said, Let me find 
favour in thy sight, my lord; for that you
 have comforted me, and for that you have 
spoken friendly unto thine handmaid, though
 I be not like unto one of thine 
handmaidens.(Ruth 2:13)

Ruth was deeply moved by what Boaz had said 
to her.You are very kind to me, sir ; for 
you have comforted me, even though I am not 
even worthy to be one of your servants 
Ruth  regarded herself to be inferior to
other girls who worked for Boaz, because
 of her poverty, her heathen background, and
 her Gentile nationality.His kindness to the 
people of Israel wasunderstandable. Ruth felt
 that she was unworthy of his acts of kindness.
 The kindnessof Boaz to her was pure grace.
 And Boaz said unto her, At mealtime come 
thou hither, and eat of the bread, and dip 
thy morsel in the vinegar. And she sat beside 
the reapers: and he reached her parched corn,
 and she did eat, and was sufficed, and 
left.(Ruth 2:15)

At mealtime Boaz invited Ruth to take the 
place of honor. He made sure she had plenty
to eat. Come and have a piece of bread,and
 dip it in the sauce. So Ruth sat with the 
workers, and Boaz passed some roasted corn 
to her. And she dideat until she was 
satisfied.Little acts and words of kindness
 do not cost much, but they mean very much 
to a lonely soul.When we have chosen Christ ,
 one of ourexperience is to pick up the
 cross. We make it clear that we have 
chosen the Lord for Himself, and not for 
the wages that He pays.We have to endure 
the trials that will develop our nobler
 qualities. We have to glean in the fields 
of strangers. We have to trust in the Lord
 to provide forus because we know not where 
our next meal will come from.Those who are 
faithful in the least,are worthy to be 
promoted to do much.Ruth was starving in
 Moab because of the famine. By faith in the
 Lord she entered into the Promised Land, 
flowing withmilk and honey.Those folks who
 glean in the fields of the promised Land 
will have enough to spare. And when she 
was risen up to glean, Boaz commanded his
 young men, saying, Let her glean even among 
the sheaves, and reproach her not: And let 
fall also some of the handfuls of purpose 
for her, and leave them, that she may glean 
them, and rebuke her not. So she gleaned in 
the field until even, and beat out that she 
had gleaned: and it was about an ephah
 of barley.(Ruth 2:15-17)

Boaz the near kinsman us a glimpse 
of Christ Jesus, the great 
Kinsman-Redeemerwho appeals to
 each who does the will of 
His Father.The Spirit of the
 Lord is upon me because
He has anointed me to preach 
the Good Newsto the poor. 
He has sent me to heal the
 broken-hearted and to announce that the
captives shall be released and 
the blind shall see, that the
 downtrodden shall be freed from the oppressors,
and that the Lord is ready to give
 blessings to all who come to Him.
 And she took corn, and went into 
the city: And her mother in law
 saw what she had gleaned: and 
she brought forth, and gave to
 Naomi the foodleft over from 
the meal. And her mother in law
 said unto her, Where have you
 gleaned to day? And whose field
 have you been working in?
 Blessed be he that did take 
 knowledge of you. And she 
shewed her mother in law 
with whom she had wrought, 
and said, The man's name with
 whom I wrought to day is Boaz.
(Ruth 2:19)

Blessed be he that did take
 knowledge of you, Ruth.
God blessed the man who took
interest in Ruth.
And Naomi said unto her daughter 
in law, Blessed be he of the LORD, 
who has not left off his kindness
 to the living and to the dead.
 And Naomi said unto her,
 The man is near of kin unto us, 
one of our next kinsmen.(Ruth 2:20)

So Ruth told Naomi that she
 had been workingin a field 
belonging to Boaz.Naomi was
 thankful to Boaz. Blessed be he,
who has not left off his
 kindness to the
living and to the dead. By caring 
for the widows of Mahlon and
 Elimelech, Boaz was obeying 
the commandments of the Lord to
show kindness to the needy
 relatives.For I would not,
 brethren, that you should be 
ignorant of this mystery, lest you 
should be wise in your own conceits;
 that blindness in part is happened 
to Israel, until the fullness of
 the Gentiles be come in. And 
so all Israel shall be saved:
 as it is written, There shall
 come out of Zion the Deliverer, 
and shall turn away ungodliness 
from Jacob: For this is my covenant
 unto them, when I shall take 
away their sins.(Romans 11:25-27)
 
When the Lord blesses us ,
 let us not be found in
 any other field. Ruth dutifully
observed Naomi's directions. If Boaz wants
to treat you kindly, do not go
 elsewhere.It is good , my daughter ,
 that you go out with his maidens.
 And Ruth the Moabitess said,
 He said unto me also, 
Thou shalt keep fast by my young men,
 until they have ended all 
my harvest. And Naomi said unto
 Ruth her daughter in law, 
It is good, my daughter, 
that thou go out with his maidens,
 that they meet thee not in any
 other field. So she kept fast 
by the maidens of Boaz to glean
 unto the end of barley harvest 
and of wheat harvest; and dwelt 
with her mother in law.
(Ruth 2:21-23)

Throughout the harvest time,
 Ruth continued to work with the
 maidens during the day. And 
she returned home to Naomi , her
mother in law each evening. 
Ruth listened to the good advice of her
mother in law, who drew out her
 wisdom from the Lord. Compare 
Ruth with another woman named Dinah.
Dinah went out to see the daughters 
of the land;
 Dinah's vanity ended in sorrow 
and disgrace.(Genesis 34)
And Dinah was foolish.Ruth was
 wise.Ruth kept at homeand was 
blessed by the Lord.Ruth helped 
maintain her mother in lawand did
 not go out for unnecessary errands.
Her humbleness and meekness ended 
in happiness.Blessed are the poor 
in spirit; for theirsis the kingdom 
of heavenRuth recognized her poverty 
in spiritual things and had allowed 
the Lord to meet and supply her 
needs. Ruth recognized that God 
is her Lord. She trusted the 
Lord in everything, because she 
knew the Lord was her Saviour.
The Lord works through godly
 people suchas Naomi. Ruth recognized 
that Naomi was spiritual mature than her. 
And Ruth wisely accepted Naomi's
 directions and advices.
 A NEAR KINSMAN
 
( Ruth 3:1-18)

we can only find rest in
 the Lord who gives us rest.
The marriage state should be
 a rest. The home should always 
mean rest.And we can find rest
 in Christ.The heart that learned 
its true relationship with the 
great kinsman, Christ Jesus, 
is truly at rest.Then Naomi her
 mother in law said unto her,
 My daughter, shall I not seek 
rest for you, that it may be well 
with you ? And now is not Boaz of
 our kindred, with whose maidens 
you have been working with? 
Behold, he winnows barley to night
 in the threshing floor. 
Wash yourself therefore, and anoint
 yourself , and put your best 
clothes upon
yourself, and get yourself down 
to the threshing floor: but make 
not yourself known unto the man,
 until he shall have done eating
 and drinking. And it shall be,
 when he lies down, that you 
shall mark the place where he
 shall lie, and you shall go in,
 and uncover his feet, and lay
 you down; and he will tell
 you what you shall do. And 
she said unto her, All that
 you say unto me I will do.
(Ruth 3:1-5)

The Lord led Ruth to make all
 the right decisions. She had
 faith in the Lord .Ruth had 
faith in the Lord who is the
 Law-giver. Ruth had faith 
in the Lord by 
obeying God's law.The law gave Ruth 
a legal claim upon Boaz. Ruth did
 not go after younger men, nor
 did she go after rich and 
mighty men. Ruth looked 
to her kinsman, Boaz to redeem 
her according to the will of the
Lord.We, as believers, should 
look only to the Lord Jesus Christ
 to save us. And she went down 
unto the floor, and did according
 to all that her mother in law
 bade her. And when Boaz had 
eaten and drunk, and his heart
 was merry, he went to lie 
down at the end of the heap 
of corn: and she came softly, 
and uncovered his feet, and 
laid her down. And it came to 
pass at midnight, that the man 
was afraid, and turned himself: 
and, behold, a woman lay at
 his feet. And he said,
 Who are you? And she answered, 
I am Ruth your handmaid: 
spread therefore your skirt 
over your handmaid; for you 
are a near kinsman.(Ruth 3:6-9)

The custom of a man spreading his 
garment over a maiden is a token 
of marriage. The law gave Ruth
 a legal claim upon Boaz, because
 he is her  near kinsman.
If brethren dwell together ,
 and one of them die, and have 
no child , the wife of the dead 
 shall not marry without unto 
a stranger . Her husband's brother
 shall go in unto her, and take
 her to him to wife, and perform 
the duty of an husband's brother 
unto her. (Deuteronomy 25:5)

And it shall be, that the fist
 born which she bears shall 
succeed in the name of his brother
 which is dead, that his name be 
not put out of Israel. 

Boaz admired Ruth for her 
faith in the Lord.It is better to
 let the Lord give you a 
marriage partner. The Lord
 knows you from the very beginning.
 The Lord knows what is best for you. 
Boaz knew this wisdom. And Ruth 
also knew this wisdom. 
 And he said, 
Blessed be you of the LORD, 
my daughter: for you have 
shewed more kindness in the latter
 end than at the beginning,
 inasmuch as you followed not
 young men, whether poor or rich.
 And now, my daughter, fear not; 
I will do to you all that you
 require: for all the city of
 my people doth know that you
 are a virtuous woman. And now
 it is true that I am your 
near kinsman: but there is
 a kinsman nearer than I. 
Tarry this night, and it 
shall be in the morning,
 that if he will perform
 unto you the part of a 
kinsman, well; let him do
 the kinsman's part: but
 if he will not do the part
 of a kinsman to you, then 
will I do the part of a 
kinsman to you, as the LORD lives:
 lie down until the morning.
 And she lay at his feet until
 the morning: and she rose up 
before one could know another.
 And he said, Let it not be 
known that a woman came into 
the floor. Also he said, 
Bring the vail that you have
 upon you, and hold it. 
And when she held it,
 he measured six measures
 of barley, and laid it on 
her: and she went into the
 city.(Ruth 3:10-15)

Boaz was full of chivalry . 
Boaz was a man of integrity,
 of courtesy. Boaz was a 
man of loving-kindness.
 He was a man of courage.
Boaz was a man  in all 
the strength and virtues
of manhood. Most of all
 Boaz was the man 
that the Lord wanted him
 to be.Boaz would not take 
advantage of the poor Gentile
 girl who appealed to him.
Boaz was only the nephew of 
Elimelech ;whereas  a brother 
of Elimelech was still 
living.Until his rights
 were clearly established,
 he could not marry Ruth.
If the man would not do the
 part of a kinsman to Ruth,
 then Boaz would do the 
part of a kinsman for Ruth.
Meanwhile Boaz took the greatest
 care of her character. Though
 no sin was committed, Boaz did 
not want anyone to know that 
Ruth came to the threshing floor,
 because people might misunderstood
 her presence there.
 And when she came to her
 mother in law, she said,
 Who are you, my daughter?
 And she told her all that 
the man had done 
to her. And she said, 
These six measures of barley
 gave he me;for he said to me,
 Go not empty unto your mother
 in law.[18] Then said she,
Sit still, my daughter, until
 you know how the matter will fall: 
 for the man will not be in rest,
 until he  have finished the
thing this day.(Ruth 3:16-18)

Who are you , Ruth ? Had she become
 the wife of Boaz ? Naomi wanted
 to know.Ruth told her about everything.
Sit still, my daughter, until you
know how the matter will fall ;
 for the man will not be in rest,
 until he has finished the thing 
this day.When we have put our matters
 into the hands of the Lord,
 we may sit still. The Lord Jesus 
Christ will not rest until He has 
finished what we have entrusted
 to Him. For the which I also
 suffer these things; nevertheless
 I am not ashamed; for I know whom
 I have believed, and am persuaded 
that he is able to keep that which 
I have committed unto him against
 that day.(2 Tim 1:12)

Christ is able to keep that
 which wehave committed unto him.
And I am sure that God ,
 who began this good work in you,
 will carry it on until it is 
finished on the day of Christ Jesus.
(Philippians 1:6)

RUTH RESTING IN REDEMPTION
(Ruth 4:1-22)

Then went Boaz up to the gate, 
and sat him down there: and,
 behold, the kinsman of whom 
Boaz spake came by; unto whom
 he said, Ho, such a one!
 Turn aside, sit down here.
 And he turned aside, and sat down.
(RUTH 4:1)

 And he took ten men of the elders
 of the city, and said,
 Sit you down here.
 And they sat down.
 And he said unto the kinsman,
 Naomi, that is come again out
 of the country of Moab, 
sells a parcel of land,which was our 
brother Elimelech's:And I thought 
to advertise thee, saying, Buy it
 before the inhabitants, and before 
the elders of my people. If you 
will redeem it, redeem it: but
 if you will not redeem it, 
then tell me, that I may know:
 for there is none to redeem
 it beside you; and I am after
 you. And he said, I will redeem it.
(Ruth 4:2-4)

Boaz did not leave Ruth to plead
 her own case with the other
 kinsman, but undertook to help 
her and Naomi.Boaz told the man
 that Naomi intended to sell a 
parcel of Elimelech's
 land. The near  kinsman was
 legally informed of his right 
to redeem it.The man wanted to
 redeem it.He thought that 
his duty would end with the purchase 
of the field from Naomi. What
 he did not realize was that the
 purchase of the land also included
 the responsibility of marrying
 Ruth to raise up the name of 
the dead upon his inheritance.
 Then said Boaz, What day you 
buy the field of the hand of Naomi,
 you must buy it also of Ruth the
 Moabitess, the wife of the dead,
 to raise up the name of the dead
 upon his inheritance. And the
 kinsman said, I cannot redeem
it for myself, lest I mar mine
 own inheritance:redeem thou my
 right to thyself; 
for I cannot redeem it.
(Ruth 4:5)

The man was a selfish man.
 He did not wish to share inheritance
 with another. He did not see any
 personal advantage in buying Naomi's land.
 He did not want the extra responsibility
 of taking care of Ruth and 
Naomi.The man failed to obey God, 
because he cared more about worldly
 treasures. It was his responsibility
 to redeem Naomi and Ruth as
 the nearer kinsman. 
He did not fulfill his obligation 
to the Lord.
It was the Lord's commandment to love.
 Love is not selfish.He broke 
God's commandment , because he was
 a selfish person. Now this was
 the manner in former time in Israel
 concerning redeeming and concerning
 changing, for to confirm all things;
 a man plucked off his shoe, and
 gave it to his neighbour:
 and this was a testimony in Israel.
 Therefore the kinsman said unto Boaz,
 Buy it for yourself. So he drew off 
his shoe.(Ruth 4:7-8)

The man took of his shoe to
 renounce any legal rights
 to the matter. This was a symbolic
 act of transfer. The man didn't
 want to redeem it because 
this would involve
financial loss to the purchaser .
 It wouldmar his own inheritance
 by spending money on the land 
that would not belong to him
 but to a son of Ruth. The 
 kin wanted Boaz to buy it.
 Boaz made it clear that if 
the next of kin didn't want
 to accept the responsibility of
 redeeming Noami and Ruth, he would
 do so. And Boaz said unto the
 elders, and unto all the people,
 Ye are witnesses this day, that 
I have bought all that was 
Elimelech's, and all that was
 Chilion's and Mahlon's, of the 
hand of Naomi.
 Moreover Ruth the Moabitess,
 the wife of Mahlon, have 
I purchased to be my wife,
 to raise up the name of
 the dead upon his inheritance,
 that the name of the dead
 be not cut off from among
 his brethren, and from the
 gate of his place: you are
 witnesses this day.
(Ruth 4:9-10)

Boaz had wise counsel from
 the Lord. Boaz could see 
in the heavenly treasure in 
Ruth. Only a spiritual person
 are able to understand the
 spiritual things ofthe Lord.
 It was a spiritual discovery
 for Boaz.
 And all the people that were
 in the gate,  and the elders,
 said, We are witnesses. The
 LORD make the woman that is
 come into thine house like
 Rachel and like Leah, which
 two did build the house of
 Israel: and do thou worthily
 in Ephratah, and be famous 
in Bethlehem: And let thy 
house be like the house of
 Pharez, whom Tamar bare unto
 Judah, of the seed which
 the LORD shall give thee
 of this young woman.
(Ruth 4:11-12)

Our great kinsman , the
 Lord Jesus Christ pleads our
 cause. All rights and power
passed into the hands of Christ.
We are His, because He has 
fulfilled the law.We are
His because Christ has redeemed
us.Many people cared more
about the things of the world 
than their souls. They rejected 
the salvation of Christ, because
 they fear of marring their
inheritance. But the Lord 
honours those folks who have
 faith in Him by obeying His
commandments. The nearer kinsman
who was afraid of marring his 
inheritance,has his name, family,
 and inheritance forgotten. We
 don't even know his name. Who
 is he ?The Lord gave honour
 to Boaz because he had faith
 in the Lord and obeyed the
 commandmentsof the Lord.
 So Boaz took Ruth, and 
she was his wife: and when 
he went in unto her, the
LORD gave her conception, 
and she bare a son. And
the women said unto Naomi,
Blessed be the LORD, which
has not left youthis day
without a kinsman, that his
name may be famous in Israel.
 And he shall be unto you
 a restorer of thy life,
 and a nourisher of your 
old age: for your daughter 
in law, which loves you, 
which is better to you
than seven sons, has born
 him. And Naomi took the
 child, and laid him in
her bosom, and became nurse 
unto him. And the women
her neighbours gave him a 
name, saying, There is a 
son born to Naomi; and 
they called his name Obed:
 he is the father of Jesse,
 the father of David.
(Ruth 4:13-17)
Race cannot exclude people
from the blessings of the
Lord. In Christ we are
one.The Lord sanctions the
redemption in the fertility
 of Ruth.Ruth was instrumental
 to the joy and happiness of
all that shall be saved by 
Christ. This includes both the
 Gentiles and the children 
of Israel, who have faith 
in the Lord Jesus Christ.

Now these are the generations
of Pharez: Pharez begat Hezron,
 And Hezron begat Ram, and
 Ram begat Amminadab, And 
Amminadab begat Nahshon, and
 Nahshon begat Salmon, And 
Salmon begat Boaz, and Boaz
 begat Obed, And Obed begat
 Jesse, and Jesse begat David.
(Ruth 4:18-22)

For by faith , Ruth and Boaz
 won God's approval. For by
faith Ruth and Boaz obtained
 a good report. The Lord has 
called Abraham to found a 
nation for the reason of 
one day  bringing a Savior
 to mankind. In Ruth and 
Boaz we have the founding
 of the family within that
nation in which Christ the 
Savor would come.Ruth was
the great grandmother of 
David, Israel's greatest king