Sometimes we need to do a double take. Think about this for a minute. Ruth followed this woman Naomi, who was all but on the verge of suicide for all we know, to a land in which she would be a stranger. Her love for this person, who was obviously a blessing in Ruth's life, drove her to such a commitment. She gets to this land where nobody knows her, but the people are glad to see Naomi, and all Naomi has for the people is, Call me not Naomi, call me Mara: for the Almighty hath dealt very bitterly with me. I went out full, and the LORD hath brought me home again empty: why then call ye me Naomi, seeing the LORD hath testified against me, and the Almighty hath afflicted me? (Ruth 1:20-21) Not a fun person to be around. She's been through the wringer, and hasn't gotten out of it.
But this Ruth, this Moabitess, who is she? We see her working her hind end off to help this miserable woman. She obviously meets some of the young men in the fields, and even seems somewhat hopeful that maybe something can happen (Ruth 2:21 - And Ruth the Moabitess said, He said unto me also, Thou shalt keep fast by my young men, until they have ended all my harvest.); but Naomi tells her to stay close by the young women (Ruth 2:23). So Ruth obeys this woman to whom she is committed to serve.
She meets Boaz, the man who owns the land, and he treats her exceptionally well. Naomi tells Ruth that he is a near kinsman. Yet that is all we get out of chapter 2. Naomi tells Ruth that Boaz is a near kinsman, and to stay close to the young maidens.
It appears that Ruth would have been content to have married any one of the young working men. Can you imagine what must have gone through her mind when Naomi told her to propose to what we might call the equivalent to a prince, or king? Boaz was the man in charge. He was the owner of the whole thing. Forget the small fries, Ruth! Go for the King!
Ruth 3:1 Then Naomi her mother in law said unto her, My daughter, shall I not seek rest for thee, that it may be well with thee?
3:2 And now is not Boaz of our kindred, with whose maidens thou wast? Behold, he winnoweth barley to night in the threshingfloor.
3:3 Wash thyself therefore, and anoint thee, and put thy raiment upon thee, and get thee down to the floor: but make not thyself known unto the man, until he shall have done eating and drinking.
3:4 And it shall be, when he lieth down, that thou shalt mark the place where he shall lie, and thou shalt go in, and uncover his feet, and lay thee down; and he will tell thee what thou shalt do.
3:5 And she said unto her, All that thou sayest unto me I will do.
3:6 And she went down unto the floor, and did according to all that her mother in law bade her.
3:7 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.
It is in Ephesians that we learn that the church is the bride of Christ.
Ephesians 5:30 For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones.
5:31 For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh.
5:32 This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church.
Jesus is our Redeemer. He is also our near kinsman; for He became as one of us, in order that we might become as He is. When Ruth placed herself at the feet of Boaz, it was a proposal for marriage. When we place ourselves at the feet of Christ, is it not a proposal? And how would the King take such a proposal from the likes of us? Ruth was a Moabitess, and a foreigner to Israel. As such, she was forbidden to enter the congregation of the LORD (Deuteronomy 23:3). But we already know the story of Ruth, and Boaz said Yes! How much more will Jesus Christ receive anyone who honestly comes to Him by faith?
John 6:37 All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.
Sunday, September 11, 2011
Wednesday, February 2, 2011
Wheat or Chaff?
Ruth humbled herself to the bidding of Naomi, who she loved dearly. She left her homeland and accompanied the agonizing widow to Bethlehem. She went to work in the fields to provide for Naomi, where she also met Boaz.
The time has come for threshing; separating the good grain from the chaff. Boaz would be out on the threshing floor, where he would also be spending the night. It is at this time that Naomi chooses to find what Boaz will do with Ruth.
First, she needs Ruth to do what she says. Ruth had proven faithful in smaller things, and now she is tested with a greater commitment. As we have seen, Ruth is faithful to the very end. She will go to the threshing floor to find out what Boaz will do with her. And this is the second part of the test: exactly what will Boaz do?
Ruth 3:6 And she went down unto the floor, and did according to all that her mother in law bade her.
3:7 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.
Do you suppose that Boaz knew he was being watched? He was a marked man, and Ruth set her sights on him. She watched patiently until he went to lie down. Then she made her move. She uncovered his feet and laid down.
What she did is what we all must do. There comes a time when we are faced with that same decision: to place ourselves at the feet of the Redeemer. There is no other place for us to go. And in a sense, it always involves an element of risk. We want to be accepted by Him, but there is the reality of rejection. Jesus Christ will never reject those who come to Him, but your friends will reject you. Your family will reject you. You may have to change jobs. The reality is that as this world rejected Jesus, it will also reject those who belong to Jesus.
Ruth placed herself at the feet of one who held the power of redemption. Unlike Jesus, who promises that of all who come to Him, He will cast out nothing, Boaz is a mere human. As far as Ruth knew, he may not accept her. But did that stop her? The possibility of rejection did not stop Ruth. She did as Naomi told her, and did not allow the opportunity to pass without taking action.
It just occurred to me that there is a story in the New Testament where Jesus actually did reject someone.
Matthew 15:22 And, behold, a woman of Canaan came out of the same coasts, and cried unto him, saying, Have mercy on me, O Lord, thou Son of David; my daughter is grievously vexed with a devil. 15:23 But he answered her not a word.
Jesus went about His business as if she were not even there. To make matters worse, His disciples tried to have her removed!
And his disciples came and besought him, saying, Send her away; for she crieth after us.
Even Jesus Himself told her that he was not there to help her.
15:24 But he answered and said, I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel.
The woman was rejected. She was not an Israelite, and Jesus came to minister to the house of Israel. She may have already known this, but that did not stop her from trying. It gets worse.
Matthew 15:25 Then came she and worshipped him, saying, Lord, help me.
This woman is desperate. She throws herself at His feet and worships Him, pleading for help. Then He drops this bombshell:
Matthew 15:26 But he answered and said, It is not meet to take the children's bread, and to cast it to dogs.
While some may take that to heart, and walk off griping and complaining because of these words of Jesus (He called her a dog!), we might learn something from her response. This woman will not give up, but she knows her place.
Matthew 15:27 And she said, Truth, Lord: yet the dogs eat of the crumbs which fall from their masters' table.
We appoach our Redeemer in times of desperation. Even though He may reject us (But He is on our side!), we are to throw ourselves at His feet. Job 13:15 Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him:
That attitude of humility the Lord will hear. He gives grace to the humble. As for this woman, Jesus heard her, and granted her request.
Matthew 15:28 Then Jesus answered and said unto her, O woman, great is thy faith: be it unto thee even as thou wilt. And her daughter was made whole from that very hour.
Ruth was humble. She did not go down to that threshing floor as some self-serving opportunist to gain something from Boaz for her own benefit. She obeyed Naomi, and placed herself at the mercy of Boaz. What will he do with her that night on the threshing floor?
Ruth 3:8 And it came to pass at midnight, that the man was afraid, and turned himself: and, behold, a woman lay at his feet.
If Boaz was asleep before, I bet he didn't sleep a wink the rest of that night!
Ruth 3:9 And he said, Who art thou? And she answered, I am Ruth thine handmaid: spread therefore thy skirt over thine handmaid; for thou art a near kinsman.
Don't you love how God works? This is not about making gradual decisions, with time to think things over. You find yourself suddenly confronted with the truth, and have to decide what to do. What is Boaz going to do? Suddenly there is not only a woman at his feet in the middle of the night, but now she wants him to take her in under his covering!
So he has a decision. Hers is already made. What will Boaz do with Ruth?
Here is a clue: That night on the threshing floor, the good grain was separated from the chaff, which was carried off by the wind. Ruth was by no means chaff.
What are you?
The time has come for threshing; separating the good grain from the chaff. Boaz would be out on the threshing floor, where he would also be spending the night. It is at this time that Naomi chooses to find what Boaz will do with Ruth.
First, she needs Ruth to do what she says. Ruth had proven faithful in smaller things, and now she is tested with a greater commitment. As we have seen, Ruth is faithful to the very end. She will go to the threshing floor to find out what Boaz will do with her. And this is the second part of the test: exactly what will Boaz do?
Ruth 3:6 And she went down unto the floor, and did according to all that her mother in law bade her.
3:7 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.
Do you suppose that Boaz knew he was being watched? He was a marked man, and Ruth set her sights on him. She watched patiently until he went to lie down. Then she made her move. She uncovered his feet and laid down.
What she did is what we all must do. There comes a time when we are faced with that same decision: to place ourselves at the feet of the Redeemer. There is no other place for us to go. And in a sense, it always involves an element of risk. We want to be accepted by Him, but there is the reality of rejection. Jesus Christ will never reject those who come to Him, but your friends will reject you. Your family will reject you. You may have to change jobs. The reality is that as this world rejected Jesus, it will also reject those who belong to Jesus.
Ruth placed herself at the feet of one who held the power of redemption. Unlike Jesus, who promises that of all who come to Him, He will cast out nothing, Boaz is a mere human. As far as Ruth knew, he may not accept her. But did that stop her? The possibility of rejection did not stop Ruth. She did as Naomi told her, and did not allow the opportunity to pass without taking action.
It just occurred to me that there is a story in the New Testament where Jesus actually did reject someone.
Matthew 15:22 And, behold, a woman of Canaan came out of the same coasts, and cried unto him, saying, Have mercy on me, O Lord, thou Son of David; my daughter is grievously vexed with a devil. 15:23 But he answered her not a word.
Jesus went about His business as if she were not even there. To make matters worse, His disciples tried to have her removed!
And his disciples came and besought him, saying, Send her away; for she crieth after us.
Even Jesus Himself told her that he was not there to help her.
15:24 But he answered and said, I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel.
The woman was rejected. She was not an Israelite, and Jesus came to minister to the house of Israel. She may have already known this, but that did not stop her from trying. It gets worse.
Matthew 15:25 Then came she and worshipped him, saying, Lord, help me.
This woman is desperate. She throws herself at His feet and worships Him, pleading for help. Then He drops this bombshell:
Matthew 15:26 But he answered and said, It is not meet to take the children's bread, and to cast it to dogs.
While some may take that to heart, and walk off griping and complaining because of these words of Jesus (He called her a dog!), we might learn something from her response. This woman will not give up, but she knows her place.
Matthew 15:27 And she said, Truth, Lord: yet the dogs eat of the crumbs which fall from their masters' table.
We appoach our Redeemer in times of desperation. Even though He may reject us (But He is on our side!), we are to throw ourselves at His feet. Job 13:15 Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him:
That attitude of humility the Lord will hear. He gives grace to the humble. As for this woman, Jesus heard her, and granted her request.
Matthew 15:28 Then Jesus answered and said unto her, O woman, great is thy faith: be it unto thee even as thou wilt. And her daughter was made whole from that very hour.
Ruth was humble. She did not go down to that threshing floor as some self-serving opportunist to gain something from Boaz for her own benefit. She obeyed Naomi, and placed herself at the mercy of Boaz. What will he do with her that night on the threshing floor?
Ruth 3:8 And it came to pass at midnight, that the man was afraid, and turned himself: and, behold, a woman lay at his feet.
If Boaz was asleep before, I bet he didn't sleep a wink the rest of that night!
Ruth 3:9 And he said, Who art thou? And she answered, I am Ruth thine handmaid: spread therefore thy skirt over thine handmaid; for thou art a near kinsman.
Don't you love how God works? This is not about making gradual decisions, with time to think things over. You find yourself suddenly confronted with the truth, and have to decide what to do. What is Boaz going to do? Suddenly there is not only a woman at his feet in the middle of the night, but now she wants him to take her in under his covering!
So he has a decision. Hers is already made. What will Boaz do with Ruth?
Here is a clue: That night on the threshing floor, the good grain was separated from the chaff, which was carried off by the wind. Ruth was by no means chaff.
What are you?
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