Contrasted against a backdrop of idolatry; immorality; and war; found in the Book of Judges; comes a story of love; devotion; and redemption; found in the Book of Ruth. Although this eighth Book of inspired Scripture was probably not written until after the time of King David, and possibly by Solomon; the time period for the story is during the reign of the Judges of Israel. (Ruth 1:1). Within this Book of Ruth we have the founding of the family line within that nation through which the Savior would come. Ruth became the great-grandmother of David the king, and the progenitor of Jesus Christ.The Hebrew word for Ruth is Routh, and the meaning for this name includes: a friend, a female associate, an additional one, another, mate, neighbor, etc. This Book of Grace takes its name from the principle character of the story and it is one of only two in the Scriptures named after a woman; the other being the Book of Esther. It makes for an interesting comparison between the two Books when it is seen that Ruth is the story of a Gentile woman, who lived among the Jews, and married a Jewish man in the royal line of David. In Esther it is a story of a Jewish woman, who lived among the Gentiles, and married a Gentile man, who ruled an empire.
While the literary merit and the Spiritual applications of analysis of the Book of Ruth are endless, this writing will draw on a condensed unfolding of events and some of their meanings. For within this "pastoral poem" of only 85 verses filled with a story of love and beauty, we have an observable theme of Divine Providential leading. The actions of the four major characters in this book present for us a spiritual learning experience if we are willing to "glean from their field".
First there is Naomi whose name means pleasant. She later became bitter at the circumstances that had befallen her, and asked that she be called Mara (which means bitter) to reflect how she felt. Naomi, along with her husband Elimelech and two sons Mahlon and Chilion left the land of Bethlehem-Judah because of a famine, to live in the land of Moab (land of ease). Bethlehem means house of bread and represents the Word, and Judah means praise and represents the Spirit. This means that because they experienced a famine of the Spirit and the Word, rather than trusting God where they were, they left it all behind to dwell in ungodly Moab.
During the time the family dwelt in Moab, Naomi’s husband died leaving her a widow with two sons. Then Mahlon married Ruth and Chilion married Orpha, both Moabitish women. When we leave our Spiritual heritage and settle in with the world, we will soon become attached to the desires of the world and the compromise will deaden us to the things of God. For after they had lived in Moab for ten years time and there was no indication of any intention of them returning to their homeland, the sons also died. But even though the family had forsaken their spiritual past and had died in an ungodly place, God was using all those circumstances to bring about His plan and purpose. With all the men of the family dead, God made it so that it now became desirable through necessity for Naomi to return back to the land of her heritage.
We may forsake God, but He will never forsake us, and He will always have His way. Like the Prodigal Son, we may wander off to spend our inheritance, but the day arrives when we come to our senses and rise up to return back to the "house of our birth" having learned maturity with humility.
The key to restoration is repentance. Repentance is a change of mind; a turning around; a leaving from one direction and going in an opposite direction. Here we see that Naomi starts out on the road back to Judah (Praise!) and Ruth and Orpha started on the road with her. It's not so much were we’ve been that matters, but what direction we are going now that counts. Naomi however, was not filled with hope about returning to her heritage, and encouraged her two daughters-in-law to not go with her.
Thus Naomi began on the right road to Praise, and we must get on the same road starting in the right direction and Praise whether we feel like it or not. (As one pastor had put it; that we must "prime the pump.") After we have traveled that road for a while we will be glad we are on it and the praise will begin to flow on its own. We can also learn from this how much of an influence our position and negative attitude can affect the actions and outcomes of others. Naomi having no sensitivity to any feelings but her own, was able to persuade Orpha not to come with her. When we are out of step in our relationship with God, we too can not be sensitive to His voice for the needs of others.
Because Orpha was true to her nature and went back to Moab, for her name means "turning the back," she missed out on the blessings of her kinsman-redeemer. Because Orpha gave in to the bitterness of Naomi, she would not be heard from again. Because Orpha went back to Moab, her life remained unchanged, and she died as she had lived.
Ruth, on the other hand, did not let Naomi persuade her to return to Moab. The Providence of God was using even the negatives to bring about a positive. Because of the love within her, Ruth determined that her past life was not going to hold her back. She was not going to be dissuaded from changing her life and experiencing all that God has in store for her. As such, Ruth later became even a source of blessing to Naomi. How true it is that the fresh experience of a new conversion; and all the more so the ones we were a part of; will inspire faith within our own walk.
In the mean time, when they arrived together back in "Bethlehem that the whole city was moved about them and they said, ‘Is this Naomi?’" Here is where we see that Naomi is still bitter, and blames God for her reaping what she had sewn. She wants to be called Mara, as a testimony of her bitterness toward God. She has still not seen the providence of God in her life. Naomi still remained bitter over the past, and only returned in part so that she misses out on, and is blinded to the benefits that could be hers if she would "forget those things which are behind, and press toward the mark of the high calling in Jesus Christ." Instead, Naomi spends the summer pouting in the house while Ruth obtains the inheritance (Boaz) that she could have had.
The name Boaz means: in him is strength; son of strength; alacrity; might or power. He was a mighty man of wealth, and of the family of Elimelech, a kinsman of Naomi’s husband. Boaz is the type of Jesus Christ our kinsman-redeemer! Naomi passed up the chance to marry Boaz, and carry his son, a type of the Manchild Company of Rev. 12, the Overcomer. Naomi is typical of those who are only partially committed to the Lord Jesus Christ. "It is good to believe in God" they say, "and to receive Jesus for salvation, but you don’t need to be fanatical about it."
The blessings from the Beatitudes in Matthew Chapter 5-7 include those that hunger and thirst after righteousness shall be filled. Here we see that Ruth takes the initiative and goes out to glean ears of corn (the mature Word of God) in a field, trusting to find grace in God’s leading as she gathers all that she can. As she went out, she came in. God had directed her goings, and led her to the field of Boaz (a church under the Lordship of Jesus) where she could glean the most without fear from others.
When Boaz comes to visit the reapers (evangelists) in his field, he notices Ruth and inquires from his overseer about her. When God is doing a mighty work in someone’s life, it is easy to notice because of the diligence with which they pursue Spiritual things. The overseer points out that Ruth had prayed to gather from the leftovers after the reapers, and had continued working in the field ever since morning (the dawning of revelation) with only a little rest.
Now Boaz speaks to Ruth. He instructs her in the way that she should continue so that she would profit the most from her efforts in safety. "Go not to glean in another field." In other words, do not go to another message. We should continue in the field where God has placed us, and to get a clear vision of the outreach He has given to us. We can be refreshed from the water in the vessels the young men have drawn, but our intimacy must be reserved for the Lord Himself.
Boaz has taken notice of Ruth, and because of her faithfulness and integrity; Boaz invites her to eat with them at the mealtime. After partaking of this, Ruth was now able to glean from the whole field of Grace. There was no limit! Boaz even went so far as to instruct that "handfuls of purpose" or an abundant supply of blessings be left for her to gather. At the end of the day Ruth returned to the city, unto her mother-in-law with what she had gleaned, "and gave to her what she had reserved after she had sufficed." (Ruth2:18). Ruth had received from Boaz, and was now able and willing to minister out of her abundance to the bitter needs of Naomi.
Naomi then inquired where Ruth had gotten her supply. When we gather precious Truths from being in the presence of our Lord, let us be ready to share from our abundant supply so that others are able to be blessed from our labors in such a way that it causes them in turn to bless and praise the Lord. When Ruth had told Naomi that it was from the field of Boaz, Naomi then told Ruth who Boaz was; that he was a near kinsman, and now the older would instruct the younger what she should do. Naomi knows the doctrine, but Ruth knows Boaz!
Ruth continued to glean through the harvests of both Passover and Pentecost, and was now ready to enter into the full experience of the blessings of the Feast of Tabernacles. Now Naomi begins to teach Ruth "kingdom principles" so that she can enter into the intimacy of marriage to her redeemer. These same principles are for us to learn from that we might draw closer in intimacy with Christ our Redeemer. Ruth is told to wash herself (in the Word), and to anoint herself (with the Spirit), and to put on clothing (His righteousness). She is then to go to the threshing floor where Boaz is sifting, (we must go through that separating process) and wait until he has finished eating first. She is then to note where he rests, and then to go in, uncover his feet and lay down. Uncovering his feet speak of revealing His walk. After this she must wait; he will tell her what to do.
At midnight, (the overlap of two realms) Boaz notices Ruth at his feet. She claims her right to be in that place, and asks that he cover her with his garment. He blesses her for her faithful obedience in not following after other younger men. We too must seek maturity and not be distracted by immature foolishness. Therefore Boaz assures her not to fear, that he will do all that is required, and yet there is a kinsman nearer than him. That nearer kinsman is the LAW. However, the law had no power to redeem. Indeed, it transfers all claims to Him. The law passes responsibility over to Grace. Jesus as our kinsman did by grace deal with the law of sin and death to which we were nearest of kin, so that the law has no more claim on us!
"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." (Ruth 4:13). This son represents the Manchild Company which becomes a blessing to Naomi. And the son is named Obed and Naomi became nurse unto it, and laid it in her bosom. And Obed who is the father of Jesse, who is the father of David, is the generational descendant of our Lord Jesus Christ.
AMEN.
