In chapter four Boaz calls ten men, a number of men to be a suitable number to care for a worldwide issue such as the issue of nearest kinsman. This struggle of near kinsman is another one of the many symbolic issues in the great controversy between Christ and Satan. When Jesus healed a demon possessed man on the Sabbath day in Matthew 12:1-24 the people said “Is not this the son of David?” Matthew 12:23. The Pharisees claimed that Jesus cast out the demon not because He was the son of David – the Messiah who came through the lineage of David and Ruth in Matthew 1:5-17, but because he was of the lineage of Satan. Jesus took up the challenge and tells a parable about how a “man” can not take a “strong man’s” property unless he is stronger than the other man and can bind him. Jesus puts the struggle between Himself and Satan on the level of a man struggling with another man over possessions. The struggle in the story of Ruth is between Boaz, the type of Jesus, and the unnamed kinsman, the type of selfish Satan.
When Boaz has his ten witnesses he asks them to sit at the gate, a type of the setting up of the thrones for the investigative judgment in Daniel 7:9. When the other kinsman comes by Boaz confronts him about the issues of the return of Naomi, the type of the church, and her return from the world – Moab. Boaz reminds the kinsman that Naomi’s husband had a parcel of property and he encourages him to redeem it if he chooses to and if not Boaz will redeem it. The kinsman says that he is willing to purchase the property. When the kinsman commits to purchase the property then Boaz introduces the human element. He reminds the kinsman that if he purchases the property then he is obligated to go through the process of purchasing Ruth and then will need to raise up a family for the dead husband. In type, Jesus was willing to do all for the church family of His making. He was willing to give all and to die for all, that as many of the family who choose to can enter into heaven, through the purchase of His blood.
When the kinsman hears of the price that he will have to pay, his innate selfishness kicks in and he refuses to perform his duties as a kinsman and sells it to Boaz because it could “mar his inheritance.” Ruth 4:6. This is the crux of the matter with Satan. He can not do anything in the spiritual realm that is good for Satan has become the embodiment of self centeredness. He can not do anything that requires self-sacrifice. On the other hand, Jesus is the fulfillment of self-sacrifice. He gave His all, including His life, to be sure that His bride, His church, was to be taken care of.
In the manner of the times, when a transaction of this kind occurred, then the sale was testified to by the plucking off of his shoe and giving it to Boaz. This is a multileveled spiritual testimony. In Exodus 3:1-5, Joshua 5:13-15 God instructs Moses/Joshua to take off His shoes for the ground, on which Moses stood, in the presence of God, was holy because of the presence of God. Taking off ones shoes on holy ground had a dual meaning – one was that the priests wore no shoes in the temple activities so that there was no contaminating dirt brought in by the person’s shoes. In addition the story of Ruth indicates the idea of shoes equaling ownership. When the kinsman gave up his shoe he in effect transferred possession/ownership to Boaz. So when Boaz received the shoe he inherited the priesthood of this family temple and he “owned” the family and the family property including the church and His bride to be. All of these things Jesus did when He came to Earth to receive His bride and His territory and possessions. When Jesus died on the cross He “won” the possession of Earth from Satan.
When Boaz receives the shoe he proclaims that he has purchased all that belonged to the family of Elimelech. He received all that belonged to Mahlon and Chilion, Naomi, and this included Ruth the onetime Moabitess. Boaz challenged the ten men to be faithful witnesses of this act of purchase. They agreed to witness this transaction and the people watching agreed to testify also. The people then proclaim a special blessing on Ruth and ask God to help her be fertile like Rachel and Leah, Jacob’s wives which two built up the house of Israel. Then they also refer to Pharez the son of Judah through whom the lineage of Judah came down to Boaz. Thus the spirit of prophecy was poured out upon the people to proclaim such things.
After the process of time Boaz takes Ruth to be his wife. God then adds His blessing and gives her conception and she bore a son to Boaz. They called the son’s name Obed – Serving. And Obed became the father of David, and David, and his generations after Him led to the Messiah. Matthew 1.
When Ruth delivered the baby boy the prophesied unto Naomi and blessed her in the name of the Lord God of Israel. They blessed Naomi in that God had blessed her with a kinsman, both Boaz, and Obed, that would become famous in Israel. This kinsman would take care of Naomi, literally, and Naomi, the type of God’s church. The women also proclaim the virtues of the converted Moabitess – Ruth, and testify that she is better unto Naomi than seven sons, a perfect son. So Naomi no longer claims to be Marah – bitterness, any longer for she has accepted that God has blessed her and blessed her more abundantly than Elimelech could have done had he remained alive. Naomi can sing the praises of God from a fully settled heart. Naomi is at peace and is ready to pick up the job of raising this blessed son in the ways of Jehovah.
In the closing portions of the book of Ruth, God wants us to go over the lineage of David through Pharez. In Matthew 1 God goes over this lineage again from Adam down through Joseph. God wants us to know that the lineage of Jesus has come down through the genetics of many interesting people including Rahab the Canaanite and Ruth the Moabitess as well as David the murderer, Solomon the rebel, and Manasseh the spiritualist. God wants us to be settled that the lineage of Messiah is just like ours and yet He overcame by faith and truth in His Father in heaven. As Jesus did so can we. Jesus our great High Priest came through the lineage of the flesh just like we did. Romans 1:3 and Hebrews 2:16
And so I give you the book of Ruth. Please find Jesus in this book, and find the assurance that Jesus has seen the end from the beginning. He has incorporated all issues into the Bible so that we can appreciate His power and wisdom. This same Jesus came to us through men and women who know what struggle is like. God wanted us to see these things so that we can develop trust in Him and His plans for us. I pray that if you have not surrendered your life to Jesus that you will take this opportunity to accept God as Ruth the Moabitess did. This is the promise of this book.
Thursday, September 23, 2010
Wednesday, September 22, 2010
Ruth Chapter Three
In Chapter three and verse one Naomi seeks to comfort Ruth and has the desire for Ruth to enter into a restful relationship with Boaz. Naomi understands what it is like for a woman to be without a man and a man to be without a woman for she experienced this loss with the death of her husband. She wanted Ruth to have this happiness and the fulfillment that comes from the rest of a true relationship with God’s plans, both for a husband and potential family, as well as the deeper significance of the restful relationship with God through His Sabbath. This rest is discussed in Hebrews 4:1-11 where God speaks to the true rest of His Sabbath which He had promised to His created people at Creation and commanded them at Mt. Sinai. Genesis 2:1-3; Mark 2:27-28; Exodus 20:8-11.
Naomi, Ruth’s counselor and confidant, is aware that the harvest was about to end, another one of the many gospel symbols of the prophetic experience of God’s true harvest and the rest that He has promised His people in Matthew 13:36-43, and she saw that a special opportunity afforded itself. Naomi knew that Boaz was not married and that he was of her kindred. She instructed Ruth to wash herself and put on special clothing, the righteousness of Jesus Matthew 22:11-14; Zechariah 3:1-5, and when Boaz has finished eating and drinking he will go and lay down by the harvest. Naomi instructs Ruth that when he has lain down to go uncover his feet and lay down at his feet and if Boaz accepts her he will instruct her as to what to do.
Ruth, in her total obedience and surrender agrees to follow the instructions of Naomi. Naomi is fulfilling her role as the church to Ruth to guide her in the special instructions of the Jewish nation, something that Ruth, as a Moabitess would not know on her own. Ruth, totally surrendered to God, trusted that the counsel of Naomi was in harmony with the God of Israel, and was willing to obey. This obedience to God, through the instructions of Naomi, is another sign of the fact that Ruth was a totally converted and Spirit filled individual for God says in Acts 5:30-32 that Jesus gives repentance, forgiveness of sins, and the Holy Spirit to those who obey Him.
Ruth follows Naomi’s instructions to the letter and goes and uncovers Boaz’s feet at midnight (see Matthew 25:1-13 regarding the midnight declaration of the bridegroom) and lies down at his feet. Boaz, the type of Christ, was afraid when he felt something at his feet and woke up and conducted an investigative judgment of what had happened and asked who the woman was at his feet. Ruth testified that she was indeed Ruth, Boaz’ handmaid, and declared unto him her awareness that he was her near kinsman, and asked him to spread his garment over her, thus declaring that she was his wife.
This interaction between Ruth and Boaz on the harvest floor at midnight is one total gospel story. This was a discussion between a man and woman preparing to get married, as well as a symbolic picture of Jesus and His church preparing to fulfill their marriage covenant. They are to join together and have the child prophesied in Revelation 12:1, 2 5, 6. Please take your place at the feet of Jesus, just as Ruth did to Boaz. Accept His marriage garment over you as a pledge of His ability to redeem you and to care for you always. As Ruth did with Boaz so Jesus offers us His total care if we will surrender to Him and to His love.
When Boaz hears that that the woman at his feet is Ruth, and she is willing to enter into a marriage relationship with the near kinsman – himself, he is overjoyed and he blesses her in that she has showed him kindness by offering herself to him in response to his gestures of compassion during the harvest time. He blesses her wisdom in that she did not seek young men but she had accepted him, an older man, wise, mature, and in full relationship with the God of Israel. Then He blesses her a third time when he tells her that all of Bethlehem knows that she is a virtuous woman and so he will fulfill his role in the marriage interaction. Boaz then tells Ruth that although he is indeed a near kinsman there is one who is nearer to Naomi than Boaz. But if she will tarry through the night Boaz will follow up in the morning and will settle the issue with the elders of Bethlehem as to who is the nearest kinsman and he will surrender himself to the will of God. Ruth agrees to this proposal and lies at his feet all night.
In the morning, before anyone could recognize her, and think evil of her, Boaz awakens Ruth and asks for her vail – her cloak. This vail is a symbol for the sanctuary system in Israel that the vail hides the presence of God so that He can draw near to them without harming them with His brightness. She offers her vail to Boaz and he fills it with six measures of Barley so that when she returns to her mother-in-law to testify of the abundance of the harvest, and the ability of Ruth’s husband to be to care for her and for Ruth’s Israelite family member – Naomi. This is a symbolic figure of the abundance of the harvest that Jesus will gather in Revelation 14:14-16 from His church on Earth.
When Ruth returns to the city of Bethlehem she brings her gift of harvest to Naomi. Naomi asks her a prophetic question “Who are thou my daughter?” This inquiry is a prophetic question regarding what Ruth’s name is now. Is she Ruth, the daughter- in-law of Naomi, or is she Ruth the soon to be wife of the man who is in the lineage of Messiah? Ruth tells Naomi all that occurred, and brings forth the harvest testimony, indicating a fruitful relationship between Ruth and Boaz, and Naomi tells Ruth to sit still for Boaz will not be able to rest, fulfill the glories of the true Sabbath rest, until he settles the matter this very day. Boaz wants Ruth to be his wife and he will force the issue with the other kinsman until it is settled in the courts of the day, at the gate of the city of Bethlehem.
This struggle between the two kinsmen is a type of the struggle between Christ (Boaz) and Satan (the kinsman who selfishly will not fulfill his role as kinsman to Ruth and Naomi). Boaz, the type of Jesus, will seek to complete the matter and to fulfill His promises to His wife to be, the church. In the next chapter we will see how God settles this issue.
Naomi, Ruth’s counselor and confidant, is aware that the harvest was about to end, another one of the many gospel symbols of the prophetic experience of God’s true harvest and the rest that He has promised His people in Matthew 13:36-43, and she saw that a special opportunity afforded itself. Naomi knew that Boaz was not married and that he was of her kindred. She instructed Ruth to wash herself and put on special clothing, the righteousness of Jesus Matthew 22:11-14; Zechariah 3:1-5, and when Boaz has finished eating and drinking he will go and lay down by the harvest. Naomi instructs Ruth that when he has lain down to go uncover his feet and lay down at his feet and if Boaz accepts her he will instruct her as to what to do.
Ruth, in her total obedience and surrender agrees to follow the instructions of Naomi. Naomi is fulfilling her role as the church to Ruth to guide her in the special instructions of the Jewish nation, something that Ruth, as a Moabitess would not know on her own. Ruth, totally surrendered to God, trusted that the counsel of Naomi was in harmony with the God of Israel, and was willing to obey. This obedience to God, through the instructions of Naomi, is another sign of the fact that Ruth was a totally converted and Spirit filled individual for God says in Acts 5:30-32 that Jesus gives repentance, forgiveness of sins, and the Holy Spirit to those who obey Him.
Ruth follows Naomi’s instructions to the letter and goes and uncovers Boaz’s feet at midnight (see Matthew 25:1-13 regarding the midnight declaration of the bridegroom) and lies down at his feet. Boaz, the type of Christ, was afraid when he felt something at his feet and woke up and conducted an investigative judgment of what had happened and asked who the woman was at his feet. Ruth testified that she was indeed Ruth, Boaz’ handmaid, and declared unto him her awareness that he was her near kinsman, and asked him to spread his garment over her, thus declaring that she was his wife.
This interaction between Ruth and Boaz on the harvest floor at midnight is one total gospel story. This was a discussion between a man and woman preparing to get married, as well as a symbolic picture of Jesus and His church preparing to fulfill their marriage covenant. They are to join together and have the child prophesied in Revelation 12:1, 2 5, 6. Please take your place at the feet of Jesus, just as Ruth did to Boaz. Accept His marriage garment over you as a pledge of His ability to redeem you and to care for you always. As Ruth did with Boaz so Jesus offers us His total care if we will surrender to Him and to His love.
When Boaz hears that that the woman at his feet is Ruth, and she is willing to enter into a marriage relationship with the near kinsman – himself, he is overjoyed and he blesses her in that she has showed him kindness by offering herself to him in response to his gestures of compassion during the harvest time. He blesses her wisdom in that she did not seek young men but she had accepted him, an older man, wise, mature, and in full relationship with the God of Israel. Then He blesses her a third time when he tells her that all of Bethlehem knows that she is a virtuous woman and so he will fulfill his role in the marriage interaction. Boaz then tells Ruth that although he is indeed a near kinsman there is one who is nearer to Naomi than Boaz. But if she will tarry through the night Boaz will follow up in the morning and will settle the issue with the elders of Bethlehem as to who is the nearest kinsman and he will surrender himself to the will of God. Ruth agrees to this proposal and lies at his feet all night.
In the morning, before anyone could recognize her, and think evil of her, Boaz awakens Ruth and asks for her vail – her cloak. This vail is a symbol for the sanctuary system in Israel that the vail hides the presence of God so that He can draw near to them without harming them with His brightness. She offers her vail to Boaz and he fills it with six measures of Barley so that when she returns to her mother-in-law to testify of the abundance of the harvest, and the ability of Ruth’s husband to be to care for her and for Ruth’s Israelite family member – Naomi. This is a symbolic figure of the abundance of the harvest that Jesus will gather in Revelation 14:14-16 from His church on Earth.
When Ruth returns to the city of Bethlehem she brings her gift of harvest to Naomi. Naomi asks her a prophetic question “Who are thou my daughter?” This inquiry is a prophetic question regarding what Ruth’s name is now. Is she Ruth, the daughter- in-law of Naomi, or is she Ruth the soon to be wife of the man who is in the lineage of Messiah? Ruth tells Naomi all that occurred, and brings forth the harvest testimony, indicating a fruitful relationship between Ruth and Boaz, and Naomi tells Ruth to sit still for Boaz will not be able to rest, fulfill the glories of the true Sabbath rest, until he settles the matter this very day. Boaz wants Ruth to be his wife and he will force the issue with the other kinsman until it is settled in the courts of the day, at the gate of the city of Bethlehem.
This struggle between the two kinsmen is a type of the struggle between Christ (Boaz) and Satan (the kinsman who selfishly will not fulfill his role as kinsman to Ruth and Naomi). Boaz, the type of Jesus, will seek to complete the matter and to fulfill His promises to His wife to be, the church. In the next chapter we will see how God settles this issue.
Sunday, September 19, 2010
Ruth Chapter Two
After settling back into the routine of Israel, Ruth wants to go and glean in the field of “him in whose sight I shall find grace.” Ruth 1:2. This statement is wonderful in its literalness of hoping to find someone who will show her, a stranger in Israel, grace to allow her to glean for food. Gleaning is what the poor did to find food when work was not available. Gleaning was a requirement of each farmer to allow people to come into their fields to glean. The area of their field was to be the corners and a strip down the sides of the field. These areas were not to be harvested by the farmer but were to be left for the gleaner. Deuteronomy 24:19-22; Leviticus 19:9-10; Leviticus 23:22. This law was proclaimed by the merciful God to watch over the stranger, the poor, and the widow.
On the other hand this statement by Ruth was also a type of the harvesting relationship between the God and His gospel. God was the “Him” in Whom Ruth would find grace. She was the Gentile who would choose to work with God to bring forth the harvest of souls to Jesus. So she was a literal worker and a spiritual worker as well.
Ruth apparently did not know that Naomi had a “mighty man of wealth” in the family of Elimelech by the name of Boaz (his name means strength) and that she could go and glean in his field. So she headed out and in the providence of God she “happened” to start gleaning in the field of Boaz. During the time that Ruth was gleaning in the field Boaz came from Bethlehem to check on his fields and greeted his workers in the traditional manner of the time. He said “The Lord be with you” and they responded “The Lord bless thee.” Ruth 2:4.
After checking his field Boaz asked who the new girl was who was gleaning in the field. He was informed that she was “the Moabitish damsel who came back with Naomi out of the country of Moab.” Boaz’s workers informed him that she had asked permission to glean in the field and that she had stayed at work steadily except for a short break. The Boaz, knowing the story of Ruth and the circumstances under which she had come to Israel, approached her and asked her not to go to any other fields to glean but to glean in his field. He reassured her that she need not be afraid of the men in the field for he personally had given instructions for her safety. He also assured her that if she thirsted that she had his permission to come to the vessels out of which the men drank. It would appear that Boaz already had moving in his heart that he would act the role of kinsman for her and potentially be open to marrying her. He had found out that she was a good worker, and she had clearly displayed her loyalty to Naomi, and had chosen the God of Israel as her God. These were the signs that he was looking for in a wife and he apparently suspected that God may have been answering his prayers as God had done for Abraham’s servant when he found Rebekah. Genesis 24:11-60.
When Ruth heard Boaz’s gracious offer of continual work in his fields, and his protection, she fell on her face and bowed herself to the ground. She asked why it was that she had found grace in his eyes, since she was a stranger in the land. Boaz, speaking under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, told her that he had heard of her decision to come to Israel and how she had made the decision to remain with Naomi. Because she had done these things Boaz, again under the influence of the Holy Spirit, blesses her and asks that the Lord God of Israel will recompense her for her decisions and that he asks that God will give her a full reward, because she has come to place her trust under His wings. Ruth 2:11-12. This blessing is clearly a Christ like statement that anyone who will come to the God of Israel, the Pre-Incarnate Son of God, that they will be blessed and that the Son of God will give them a full reward, sometimes on this Earth, and a full recompense in the New Earth after His second coming.
Ruth is being blessed as a person and as a symbol of God’s church (a woman symbolizes God’s church Jeremiah 6:2; II Corinthians 11:2 in the Bible), coming into contact with Boaz, the type of Jesus, she is also being blessed. Ruth responds that she has indeed found favor with her lord, for Boaz had been a comfort to her and had spoken to her in a friendly manner. She was still not sure that she was in the same category as the other maid’s in the field but she would accept his gifts.
Boaz then invited her to his supper, a preamble to the wedding feast of Matthew 22:1-10, he invites her to eat of the bread, the vinegar, and the corn which he supplied for the workers in the field. These are all symbols of the gospel – John 6:48; Joel 2:19; John 4:46. Ruth ate the food supplied by Boaz and then went back to work. Boaz instructed the young men to leave her alone and to put extra food in the area where she was gleaning that she would have an abundance of food. So Ruth gleaned all day and was blest like the 11th hour workers even though she had worked all day. Matthew 20:1-16 She was content and she had been able to glean a whole Ephah, about a half a bushel, of barley after she had beaten and winnowed the barley. She had been blessed by God through Boaz.
When Ruth went home that night she brought the Barley and she brought some of the fragments of the food she had eaten at lunch. Thus again Ruth proved herself to be a faithful gospel worker. She had eaten of the food provided by Jesus and she had taken some of the fragments home to her loved one to testify of the blessings she had received from the Lord God of Israel. Matthew 15:32-39 see also Desire of Ages 368.
After Naomi had eaten the food and been refreshed she asked where she had gleaned and who had blessed Ruth so much, and Naomi blessed the field owner for his kindness. Then Ruth informed Naomi that it had been Boaz. When Naomi heard that it was Naomi who had blessed Ruth she also began to think of the potentiality of a Levirate marriage between Boaz and Ruth. Naomi also blessed the Lord for she could see the workings of God in this blessed providence. Naomi was now beginning to see the hand of God in the tragic workings of her life. She was spiritually aware of the blessings that God was manifesting for the living and for the dead.
Naomi then informed Ruth that Boaz was a man who was a near kinsman to them. We can assume that Naomi informed Ruth that the near kinsman could enter into a marriage arrangement to care for the family of the deceased. If Boaz was a faithful Israelite he would take on this responsibility for these kinds of things were ordained by the God of Israel. So we can also assume that Naomi was praying that God’s will would continue to unfold for its blessings to Naomi and Ruth, and to the entire world.
Ruth then informed Naomi that Boaz wanted her to continue to glean in the field until the end of the harvest. Naomi thought this was good counsel as well and encouraged Ruth to continue to glean in the fields of Boaz and to go to no other fields. So Ruth continued to glean in the fields of Boaz until the Barley harvest was completed and the Wheat harvest was completed as well. While all of these events were taking place Ruth dwelt with her mother in law Naomi.
In summary it is clear that God had found a faithful follower of truth in Moab and in his providences he chose to bring her to Israel with Naomi His faithful worker. God then led her to glean in the fields of Boaz, another of His faithful workers. It is clear that Boaz was under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit and recognized the moving of the hand of God and encouraged Naomi to glean in his fields and no others. Then Boaz provided steady work for Ruth and provided her all of the elements that she, and Naomi, would need to continue to live and was a type of Christ in all of these things. Ruth, at the encouragement of Naomi, stayed with Boaz during the entire harvest season and worked in a steady manner while the two of them got to know each other and to set the stage for their eventual marriage.
All of the above things were told to us to see how God moves and leads. God will inform us in the next chapters that all of this was done to provide the best grandparents possible for the lineage of the Messiah. This is a gospel book because it leads us to a deeper understanding of Jesus in the future, by watching Jesus take care of His eventual grandparents. All of these stories are written to encourage us so that no matter what happens, like Naomi’s loss of family, we may know that the hand of God is still leading, guiding, supporting. We can have the assurance that God will be vindicated when all is done and we will also be vindicated because we are in Christ Jesus. May He continue to bless us with an understanding of His Holy Word, and an understanding of His Holy Gospel.
On the other hand this statement by Ruth was also a type of the harvesting relationship between the God and His gospel. God was the “Him” in Whom Ruth would find grace. She was the Gentile who would choose to work with God to bring forth the harvest of souls to Jesus. So she was a literal worker and a spiritual worker as well.
Ruth apparently did not know that Naomi had a “mighty man of wealth” in the family of Elimelech by the name of Boaz (his name means strength) and that she could go and glean in his field. So she headed out and in the providence of God she “happened” to start gleaning in the field of Boaz. During the time that Ruth was gleaning in the field Boaz came from Bethlehem to check on his fields and greeted his workers in the traditional manner of the time. He said “The Lord be with you” and they responded “The Lord bless thee.” Ruth 2:4.
After checking his field Boaz asked who the new girl was who was gleaning in the field. He was informed that she was “the Moabitish damsel who came back with Naomi out of the country of Moab.” Boaz’s workers informed him that she had asked permission to glean in the field and that she had stayed at work steadily except for a short break. The Boaz, knowing the story of Ruth and the circumstances under which she had come to Israel, approached her and asked her not to go to any other fields to glean but to glean in his field. He reassured her that she need not be afraid of the men in the field for he personally had given instructions for her safety. He also assured her that if she thirsted that she had his permission to come to the vessels out of which the men drank. It would appear that Boaz already had moving in his heart that he would act the role of kinsman for her and potentially be open to marrying her. He had found out that she was a good worker, and she had clearly displayed her loyalty to Naomi, and had chosen the God of Israel as her God. These were the signs that he was looking for in a wife and he apparently suspected that God may have been answering his prayers as God had done for Abraham’s servant when he found Rebekah. Genesis 24:11-60.
When Ruth heard Boaz’s gracious offer of continual work in his fields, and his protection, she fell on her face and bowed herself to the ground. She asked why it was that she had found grace in his eyes, since she was a stranger in the land. Boaz, speaking under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, told her that he had heard of her decision to come to Israel and how she had made the decision to remain with Naomi. Because she had done these things Boaz, again under the influence of the Holy Spirit, blesses her and asks that the Lord God of Israel will recompense her for her decisions and that he asks that God will give her a full reward, because she has come to place her trust under His wings. Ruth 2:11-12. This blessing is clearly a Christ like statement that anyone who will come to the God of Israel, the Pre-Incarnate Son of God, that they will be blessed and that the Son of God will give them a full reward, sometimes on this Earth, and a full recompense in the New Earth after His second coming.
Ruth is being blessed as a person and as a symbol of God’s church (a woman symbolizes God’s church Jeremiah 6:2; II Corinthians 11:2 in the Bible), coming into contact with Boaz, the type of Jesus, she is also being blessed. Ruth responds that she has indeed found favor with her lord, for Boaz had been a comfort to her and had spoken to her in a friendly manner. She was still not sure that she was in the same category as the other maid’s in the field but she would accept his gifts.
Boaz then invited her to his supper, a preamble to the wedding feast of Matthew 22:1-10, he invites her to eat of the bread, the vinegar, and the corn which he supplied for the workers in the field. These are all symbols of the gospel – John 6:48; Joel 2:19; John 4:46. Ruth ate the food supplied by Boaz and then went back to work. Boaz instructed the young men to leave her alone and to put extra food in the area where she was gleaning that she would have an abundance of food. So Ruth gleaned all day and was blest like the 11th hour workers even though she had worked all day. Matthew 20:1-16 She was content and she had been able to glean a whole Ephah, about a half a bushel, of barley after she had beaten and winnowed the barley. She had been blessed by God through Boaz.
When Ruth went home that night she brought the Barley and she brought some of the fragments of the food she had eaten at lunch. Thus again Ruth proved herself to be a faithful gospel worker. She had eaten of the food provided by Jesus and she had taken some of the fragments home to her loved one to testify of the blessings she had received from the Lord God of Israel. Matthew 15:32-39 see also Desire of Ages 368.
After Naomi had eaten the food and been refreshed she asked where she had gleaned and who had blessed Ruth so much, and Naomi blessed the field owner for his kindness. Then Ruth informed Naomi that it had been Boaz. When Naomi heard that it was Naomi who had blessed Ruth she also began to think of the potentiality of a Levirate marriage between Boaz and Ruth. Naomi also blessed the Lord for she could see the workings of God in this blessed providence. Naomi was now beginning to see the hand of God in the tragic workings of her life. She was spiritually aware of the blessings that God was manifesting for the living and for the dead.
Naomi then informed Ruth that Boaz was a man who was a near kinsman to them. We can assume that Naomi informed Ruth that the near kinsman could enter into a marriage arrangement to care for the family of the deceased. If Boaz was a faithful Israelite he would take on this responsibility for these kinds of things were ordained by the God of Israel. So we can also assume that Naomi was praying that God’s will would continue to unfold for its blessings to Naomi and Ruth, and to the entire world.
Ruth then informed Naomi that Boaz wanted her to continue to glean in the field until the end of the harvest. Naomi thought this was good counsel as well and encouraged Ruth to continue to glean in the fields of Boaz and to go to no other fields. So Ruth continued to glean in the fields of Boaz until the Barley harvest was completed and the Wheat harvest was completed as well. While all of these events were taking place Ruth dwelt with her mother in law Naomi.
In summary it is clear that God had found a faithful follower of truth in Moab and in his providences he chose to bring her to Israel with Naomi His faithful worker. God then led her to glean in the fields of Boaz, another of His faithful workers. It is clear that Boaz was under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit and recognized the moving of the hand of God and encouraged Naomi to glean in his fields and no others. Then Boaz provided steady work for Ruth and provided her all of the elements that she, and Naomi, would need to continue to live and was a type of Christ in all of these things. Ruth, at the encouragement of Naomi, stayed with Boaz during the entire harvest season and worked in a steady manner while the two of them got to know each other and to set the stage for their eventual marriage.
All of the above things were told to us to see how God moves and leads. God will inform us in the next chapters that all of this was done to provide the best grandparents possible for the lineage of the Messiah. This is a gospel book because it leads us to a deeper understanding of Jesus in the future, by watching Jesus take care of His eventual grandparents. All of these stories are written to encourage us so that no matter what happens, like Naomi’s loss of family, we may know that the hand of God is still leading, guiding, supporting. We can have the assurance that God will be vindicated when all is done and we will also be vindicated because we are in Christ Jesus. May He continue to bless us with an understanding of His Holy Word, and an understanding of His Holy Gospel.
Friday, September 17, 2010
Ruth Chapter One
The story of Ruth starts in approximately 1312 BC. This time is between the Exodus of Israel from Egypt and the establishment of the system of Kings in the time of Samuel. We are told that there was a famine in the land of Israel. The presence of famine indicates the absence of the presence of the Holy Spirit and indicates that Israel had gone into rebellion against God. I Kings 8:35-36. Then a certain man named Elimelech (My God is King) and his wife Naomi (My Pleasantness) went to live in the land of Moab. They brought their two sons with them Mahlon (Sickness) and Chilion (Pining, or Destruction). They went to Moab because there was food there and there they would wait until the time of famine passed and God would have restored water and Spirit to the land.
While they waited in Moab Elimelech dies and Naomi is left to the care of her two sons. While in Moab the two sons took wives, the one son took Orpah (Youthful) as a wife and the other son married Ruth (Friendship). They all lived together in Moab for about ten years. Then Naomi experienced even more heartache when both of her sons died in the land of Moab.
Then Naomi heard that the Lord had visited His people and forgiven them their sins and restored to them the blessing of rain and thus there would be a harvest and some bread. Naomi decided to return to Israel and to her house and land. The house would always be available to the land owner for this was a part of the social guidelines laid out by God when Israel settled into Canaan. When she left Moab her two daughters-in-law went with her. When they chose to follow Naomi she encouraged them both to return to their mother’s homes and try to reestablish themselves in the Moabite lands and perhaps find another husband.
Both of the women wept as the idea of being separated from Naomi. But Naomi continued to encourage them to go back home. She also explained to them that in Israel that a mother in law can have additional children and if the woman will wait until the man is matured then the wife of the dead husband can marry the now mature son and continue on with the family. See Genesis 38:1-14. But Naomi explained to them that she was so old that it was not likely that she would have another husband and then she confronted them with whether they would even be willing to wait for another child to come along and go that long without a husband? Then Naomi states her thought that she thinks that God is against her because of the death of her husband and two sons and she says “…it grieveth me much for your sakes that the hand of the Lord is gone out against me.” Ruth 1:13 This thought shows that Naomi is missing a truth about God and feels that all sadness and disaster is coming from God, rather than from the adversary Satan.
After all of this encouragement to return to Moab, Orpah made the decision and went back to her mother’s house. Naomi reports to Ruth that Orpah had made the decision not only to return to Moab but to return to Moab’s gods and unto her people. But Ruth decided to stay attached to Naomi. She did not want to go back but testifies that she wants to be with Naomi. Her song is as follows: “And she (Ruth) said, Entreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee: for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God; where thou diest will I die, and there will I be buried: the Lord do so to me, and more also, if ought but death part thee and me.” Ruth 1:16-18. This testimony is the evidence of the change of Ruth’s mind from that of being a Moabite to that of being a Jew. She claimed the God of Israel as her God, and God’s people would be her people, and God’s peoples lands would be her lands, and Canaan would be her burial place. She made this declaration, and the story of Ruth shows that God accepted her testimony and blessed her with being the great great grandmother of the Messiah.
When Naomi saw that there was not going to be any way for her to dissuade Ruth she did not encourage her to go back any more but accepted her as part of her family. Then the two of them continued their journey back to Israel and to Bethlehem of Judah.
When they arrived at Bethlehem the entire town came out to meet them. They city had not seen Naomi for ten years and she did not look as she had looked when they have left many years before. They asked if she was indeed their Naomi. Naomi protested and said for them not to call her Naomi (Pleasantness) but to call her Mara (Bitterness) because she had one out full but had returned empty. This statement was a claim that the loving God of heaven had dealt bitterly with her and that God had afflicted her. She did not understand yet that God was using her to accomplish a great work through her daughter in law.
Finally, when they returned to Israel God’s providence had directed them to be there in the beginning of Barley Harvest – approximately in March-April about the time of early spring. The great festival of Israel would indicate that the times of Barley harvest would be between Passover and Pentecost. This would be the time that the early rains were completing their work and the time of harvest, ingathering would occur. This story then is an Old Testament rendition of the harvest to come in the time of Pentecost for not only a harvest of grain but a harvest of people. Acts 2:37-41 It is in this setting that the first chapter of Ruth comes to a close.
While they waited in Moab Elimelech dies and Naomi is left to the care of her two sons. While in Moab the two sons took wives, the one son took Orpah (Youthful) as a wife and the other son married Ruth (Friendship). They all lived together in Moab for about ten years. Then Naomi experienced even more heartache when both of her sons died in the land of Moab.
Then Naomi heard that the Lord had visited His people and forgiven them their sins and restored to them the blessing of rain and thus there would be a harvest and some bread. Naomi decided to return to Israel and to her house and land. The house would always be available to the land owner for this was a part of the social guidelines laid out by God when Israel settled into Canaan. When she left Moab her two daughters-in-law went with her. When they chose to follow Naomi she encouraged them both to return to their mother’s homes and try to reestablish themselves in the Moabite lands and perhaps find another husband.
Both of the women wept as the idea of being separated from Naomi. But Naomi continued to encourage them to go back home. She also explained to them that in Israel that a mother in law can have additional children and if the woman will wait until the man is matured then the wife of the dead husband can marry the now mature son and continue on with the family. See Genesis 38:1-14. But Naomi explained to them that she was so old that it was not likely that she would have another husband and then she confronted them with whether they would even be willing to wait for another child to come along and go that long without a husband? Then Naomi states her thought that she thinks that God is against her because of the death of her husband and two sons and she says “…it grieveth me much for your sakes that the hand of the Lord is gone out against me.” Ruth 1:13 This thought shows that Naomi is missing a truth about God and feels that all sadness and disaster is coming from God, rather than from the adversary Satan.
After all of this encouragement to return to Moab, Orpah made the decision and went back to her mother’s house. Naomi reports to Ruth that Orpah had made the decision not only to return to Moab but to return to Moab’s gods and unto her people. But Ruth decided to stay attached to Naomi. She did not want to go back but testifies that she wants to be with Naomi. Her song is as follows: “And she (Ruth) said, Entreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee: for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God; where thou diest will I die, and there will I be buried: the Lord do so to me, and more also, if ought but death part thee and me.” Ruth 1:16-18. This testimony is the evidence of the change of Ruth’s mind from that of being a Moabite to that of being a Jew. She claimed the God of Israel as her God, and God’s people would be her people, and God’s peoples lands would be her lands, and Canaan would be her burial place. She made this declaration, and the story of Ruth shows that God accepted her testimony and blessed her with being the great great grandmother of the Messiah.
When Naomi saw that there was not going to be any way for her to dissuade Ruth she did not encourage her to go back any more but accepted her as part of her family. Then the two of them continued their journey back to Israel and to Bethlehem of Judah.
When they arrived at Bethlehem the entire town came out to meet them. They city had not seen Naomi for ten years and she did not look as she had looked when they have left many years before. They asked if she was indeed their Naomi. Naomi protested and said for them not to call her Naomi (Pleasantness) but to call her Mara (Bitterness) because she had one out full but had returned empty. This statement was a claim that the loving God of heaven had dealt bitterly with her and that God had afflicted her. She did not understand yet that God was using her to accomplish a great work through her daughter in law.
Finally, when they returned to Israel God’s providence had directed them to be there in the beginning of Barley Harvest – approximately in March-April about the time of early spring. The great festival of Israel would indicate that the times of Barley harvest would be between Passover and Pentecost. This would be the time that the early rains were completing their work and the time of harvest, ingathering would occur. This story then is an Old Testament rendition of the harvest to come in the time of Pentecost for not only a harvest of grain but a harvest of people. Acts 2:37-41 It is in this setting that the first chapter of Ruth comes to a close.
Thursday, September 16, 2010
Preamble to the Ruth Studies
In the Old Testament is the little book of Ruth. Its humble size belies the great importance that God has given to this book. It will be the focus of this blog to tell the story of Ruth and to dig into the depths of this book as seen through the many faceted doctrines that are in this book and to expose the many concepts that God wants us to see.
There are many stories inside the book of Ruth but there are two essential stories involved in the book. The first story is the story of Ruth. Ruth is a Moabitess and by the Word of the Law of God no Moabitess can enter into the camp of Israel for ten generations. Deuteronomy 23:3-6 So for the story of Ruth to make it into the Jewish Bible is a miracle. What makes this story a miracle is that it is the story of the gospel of Jesus Christ. The law says that a Moabitess cannot come into the camp of Israel for ten generations. The gospel states that anyone who is born again is no longer a Moabitess but a Jewess by faith. When Ruth chose to accept the God of Naomi as her God (this God was the pre-incarnate Son of God the One we know of as Jesus the Christ – see Exodus 3:14 and John 8:58) then she no longer was a Moabitess according to the law and when the law examined Ruth it found her to be a new creature in Christ and no longer under condemnation of the law of God. This gospel message was available from the foundation of the world according to Revelation 13:8.
The second major theme in the book of Ruth is that of the Messiah. It is important to remember that the God of the Old Testament is not so much the Everlasting Father but the Everlasting Son of God. The God of Ruth is the I Am spoken of in Exodus 3:14 and His name was claimed by Jesus Himself in John 8:51-58. Once we can accept the fact that the Pre-Incarnate Son of God was the God of the Old Testament then many of the confusing concepts of the Bible become plain and straight forward. Then His gospel that He presented to all sinners would be clearly known because of how we know Jesus and His desire to save all sinners. Jesus did not come to save New Testament sinners only but any and all sinners. There is no sin so dark that Jesus can make it white in His blood. Jesus extended His gospel to all sinners including Abraham Galatians 3:6-9 and to Israel itself Hebrews 4:2. Then because Ruth is converted we know that the gospel was in effect when Ruth claimed it for herself in her confession in Ruth 1:15-18.
Another major aspect of the Messianic components of Ruth is that Ruth was the great, great, great Grand Mother of Jesus Himself. Matthew 1:5. As we have just seen Ruth was incorporated into the very lineage of Messiah. I believe that God did this to show us that the human nature of Jesus passed through many channels to reach Him in 5-4 BC at His birth. Jesus has many interesting people in His lineage including Ruth the Moabitess who became a Jew by faith in Jesus. So functionally Jesus has a portion of Ruth’s gene pool in His human nature.
In addition to the fact that Messiah came from the lineage of Ruth it is also clear that Jesus experienced Ruth’s fleshly nature through Ruth’s great-grandson David. Romans 1:3 states that “Concerning His Son Jesus Christ our Lord, which was made of the seed of David according to the flesh.” So Jesus not only had the flesh of David, but He also had the flesh of Ruth, David’s Great Grand Mother and the flesh of Abraham, the Father of the Faithful. Hebrews 2:16.
So with this introduction to Ruth I would like to start this series and take you, the reader, through many Bible studies based on the experience of Ruth and her precious descendent Jesus of Nazareth. May God bless you with a renewed faith in His gospel story.
There are many stories inside the book of Ruth but there are two essential stories involved in the book. The first story is the story of Ruth. Ruth is a Moabitess and by the Word of the Law of God no Moabitess can enter into the camp of Israel for ten generations. Deuteronomy 23:3-6 So for the story of Ruth to make it into the Jewish Bible is a miracle. What makes this story a miracle is that it is the story of the gospel of Jesus Christ. The law says that a Moabitess cannot come into the camp of Israel for ten generations. The gospel states that anyone who is born again is no longer a Moabitess but a Jewess by faith. When Ruth chose to accept the God of Naomi as her God (this God was the pre-incarnate Son of God the One we know of as Jesus the Christ – see Exodus 3:14 and John 8:58) then she no longer was a Moabitess according to the law and when the law examined Ruth it found her to be a new creature in Christ and no longer under condemnation of the law of God. This gospel message was available from the foundation of the world according to Revelation 13:8.
The second major theme in the book of Ruth is that of the Messiah. It is important to remember that the God of the Old Testament is not so much the Everlasting Father but the Everlasting Son of God. The God of Ruth is the I Am spoken of in Exodus 3:14 and His name was claimed by Jesus Himself in John 8:51-58. Once we can accept the fact that the Pre-Incarnate Son of God was the God of the Old Testament then many of the confusing concepts of the Bible become plain and straight forward. Then His gospel that He presented to all sinners would be clearly known because of how we know Jesus and His desire to save all sinners. Jesus did not come to save New Testament sinners only but any and all sinners. There is no sin so dark that Jesus can make it white in His blood. Jesus extended His gospel to all sinners including Abraham Galatians 3:6-9 and to Israel itself Hebrews 4:2. Then because Ruth is converted we know that the gospel was in effect when Ruth claimed it for herself in her confession in Ruth 1:15-18.
Another major aspect of the Messianic components of Ruth is that Ruth was the great, great, great Grand Mother of Jesus Himself. Matthew 1:5. As we have just seen Ruth was incorporated into the very lineage of Messiah. I believe that God did this to show us that the human nature of Jesus passed through many channels to reach Him in 5-4 BC at His birth. Jesus has many interesting people in His lineage including Ruth the Moabitess who became a Jew by faith in Jesus. So functionally Jesus has a portion of Ruth’s gene pool in His human nature.
In addition to the fact that Messiah came from the lineage of Ruth it is also clear that Jesus experienced Ruth’s fleshly nature through Ruth’s great-grandson David. Romans 1:3 states that “Concerning His Son Jesus Christ our Lord, which was made of the seed of David according to the flesh.” So Jesus not only had the flesh of David, but He also had the flesh of Ruth, David’s Great Grand Mother and the flesh of Abraham, the Father of the Faithful. Hebrews 2:16.
So with this introduction to Ruth I would like to start this series and take you, the reader, through many Bible studies based on the experience of Ruth and her precious descendent Jesus of Nazareth. May God bless you with a renewed faith in His gospel story.
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