Ruth
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 inlaw 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 weptagain: 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 throughNaomi.It was
a real love. Love your neighbouras 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
stedfastly 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
stedfestly 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 togetherfor 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. Butit 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 wealthcame from the Lord. Boaz was generous withGod's wealth. Boaz treated those people who worked for himwith 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 ofdifficulties. 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 tothe Lord. We are to share with others what the Lord has given to us.The Lord blessed us so that we will shareour 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 continuebless 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 thegleanings of your harvest. And you shall notglean your vineyard, neither shall you gatherevery 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 tolove the fatherless, the stranger, and the widow.The Lord does not want greedy people. TheLord 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 shallnot 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 goback 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 forthe stranger, for the fatherless, and for thewidow (Deut 24:19-21)
The Lord had commanded His people to love oneanother. As the Lord had loved you , so you must love one another. People will know thatyou are disciples of the Lord if you love oneanother.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 neighbour 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 whateverthe Lord had given to her. High spirits and proud spirits will rather starve than to stoopto be gleaners. This was not so with Ruth.Ruth wanted to glean so that she and Noamiwould have food to eat. Ruth was an example of industry. She worked hard. When the overseer gave Ruth permission to glean in thefield 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 donefor her mother in law since her
husband haddied. Boaz knew how Ruth had left her
fatherand 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 mustbelieve 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 PromisedLand.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 wingsshe 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 notcost much, but they mean very much
to a lonely soul.When we have chosen Christ ,
one of ourexperience is to pick up the
cross. Wemake it clear that we have
chosen the Lord for Himself, and not for
the wages thatHe 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 thefamine. 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 ofHis Father.The Spirit of the Lord is upon me becauseHe has anointed me to preach the Good Newsto the poor. He has sent me to heal thebroken-hearted and to announce that thecaptives 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 motherin law with whom she had wrought, and said, The man's name with whom I wrought to day is Boaz.(Ruth 2:19)
Bleeped be he that did take knowledge of you,Ruth.God blessed the man who tookinterest 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 theliving and to the dead. By caring for the widows of Mahlon and Elimelech, Boaz was obeying the commandments of the Lord toshow 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 Sion 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 dutifullyobserved Naomi's directions. If Boaz wantsto treat you kindly, do not go elsewhere.It is good , my daughter , that you go outwith his maidens. And Ruth the Moabitess said, He said unto me also, Thou shalt keep fast by my young men, until they have ended allmy 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 , hermother in law each evening. Ruth listened to the good advice of hermother 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 theland; Dinah's vanity ended in sorrow anddisgrace.(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 wiselyaccepted Naomi's directions and advices. A NEAR KINSMAN
( Ruth 3:1-18)
we can only find rest in the Lord who givesus rest.The marriage state should be a rest. Thehome should always mean rest.And we canfind 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 anointyourself , and put your best clothes uponyourself, and get yourself down to the threshing floor: but make not yourselfknown 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 rightdecisions. She had faith in the Lord .Ruth had faith in the Lord who is the Law-giver. Ruth had faith in the Lord byobeying God's law.The law gave Ruth a legal claim uponBoaz. Ruth did not go after younger men,nor did she go after rich and mighty men. Ruth looked to her kinsman, Boaz toredeem her according to the will of theLord.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. (Dieteronomy 25:5)
And it shall be, that the fist born which she bears shall succeed in the name of hisbrother 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 amarriage partner. The Lord knows you from thevery beginning. The Lord knows what is bestfor you.Boaz knew this wisdom. And Ruth also knew thiswisdom. 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 ofloving-kindness. He was a man of courage.Boaz was a man in all the strength and virtuesof manhood. Most of all Boaz was the manthat the Lord wanted him to be.Boaz would not take advantage of the poorGentile girl who appealed to him.Boaz was only the nephew of Elimelech ;whereas a brother of elimelech was stillliving.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 hercharacter. Though no sin was committed,Boaz did not want anyone to know that Ruthcame to the threshing floor, because peoplemight 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 doneto 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 knowhow 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 thehands 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 spakecame 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 thecountry 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 tohelp her and Naomi.Boaz told the man that Naomi intended to sell a parcel of Elimelech's land. The nearerkinsman was legally informed of his right toredeem it.The man wanted to redeem it.He thought that his duty would end with thepurchase 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 thedead upon his inheritance.[5] 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.[6] And the kinsman said, I cannot redeem itfor 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 toshare inheritance with another. He did notsee any personal advantage in buyingNaomi's land. He did not want the extraresponsibility of taking care of Ruth andNaomi.The man failed to obey God, because he cared more about worldly treasures. It was his responsibility to redeem Naomi andRuth as the nearer kinsman.He did not fulfil his obligation to the Lord.It was the Lord'scommandment to love. Love is not selfish.He broke God's commandment , because he wasa 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 anylegal rights to the matter. This was asymbolic act of transfer. The man didn't want to redeem it because this would involvefinancial 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 responsibilityof 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 includesboth 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.
Bible people
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Title : Ruth
Author: Anthony Ing
Publisher: Good News Publishing
paperback 1987 ISBN 10 0-921947-06-2
ISBN 13 978-0-921947-06-6
Digitized 2014