In that Seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed. His name shall endure for ever, and all nations shall call Him blessed. And the period came when Bethlehem-Judah displayed greater wonders than those in the history of Ruth, when the outcast babe of another forlorn female of the same race appeared, controlling the counsels of the Roman master of the world, and drawing princes and wise men from the east, with treasures of gold, and frankincense, and myrrh to his feet. What a pity it is that pious language should not be more used among Christians, or that it should be let fall into formality! Here is the descent of David from Ruth. Prayer to God attended the marriage, and praise to him attended the birth of the child. She was a witness for God to the Gentile world, that he had not utterly forsaken them, but that in due time they should become one with his chosen people, and partake of his salvation. Verses 13-22 Ruth bore a son, through whom thousands and myriads were born to God and in being the lineal ancestor of Christ, she was instrumental in the happiness of all that shall be saved by him even of us Gentiles, as well as those of Jewish descent. But God did Boaz the honour to bring him into the line of the Messiah, while the kinsman, who was afraid of lessening himself, and marring his inheritance, has his name, family, and inheritance forgotten. Even deeper than that, we see her belief in and conversion by the Lord. They attend not to the concerns of their souls, but reject the salvation of Christ, for fear of marring their inheritance. In these verses we see one of the best expressions of commitment anywhere in the Bible. Such are the wise men of this world, whom the Lord charges with folly. Verses 9-12 Men are ready to seize opportunities for increasing their estates, but few know the value of godliness. Fair and open dealing in all matters of contract and trade, is what all must make conscience of, who would approve themselves true Israelites, without guile. In like manner many are shy of the great redemption they are not willing to espouse religion they have heard well of it, and have nothing to say against it they will give it their good word, but they are willing to part with it, and cannot be bound to it, for fear of marring their own inheritance in this world. This kinsman, when he heard the conditions of the bargain, refused it. Verses 1-8 This matter depended on the laws given by Moses about inheritances, and doubtless the whole was settled in the regular and legal manner. And we are His.The kinsman refuses to redeem Ruth's inheritance. May we go forward today knowing we are loved so genuinely and incredibly by the One who redeemed us to be His. In the most public way possible, Jesus redeemed us once and for all, a people for His possession. Even better, through this family tree, the Redeemer-our Redeemer-would come to buy back the world.Ĭhrist has redeemed us like Boaz redeemed Ruth. Ruth and Boaz have a remarkable family history of redemption. (The guy who slayed Goliath, was anointed king, and wrote many of the psalms.) David also happens to be the direct ancestor of a baby whose parents returned to their hometown, Bethlehem, to deliver Him in a manger. That blessing of fruitfulness would soon bring forth a son, Obed, who would be the father of Jesse. We pull back the curtain and see that Ruth’s decision to follow Naomi was so much more than an address change it is a tiny piece of God’s grand plan. God reveals a peek at His awesome tapestry when we look at the bigger picture of Boaz and Ruth’s love story. May you be powerful in Ephrathah and your name well known in Bethlehem” (Ruth 4:11). When Boaz fairly and legally takes Ruth as his wife, the ten elders and those at the gate invoke this incredible, ancient blessing for fruitfulness on their union: “May the LORD make …like Rachel and Leah, who together built the house of Israel. He respects the law, and he’s demonstrating over and over again that he is an honorable guy.īoaz wants this to be legal-for the agreement to be made in plain sight, in the presence of elders. (I say “our Ruth” because we all feel a little bit protective over her at this point, don’t we?) And Boaz is pursuing a future with Ruth through the proper channels. Our Ruth is waiting in obedience to Naomi.
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