Ruth Redeemed - A Woman Becomes A Bride
The
book of Ruth is a story of how a woman became a bride. The book
provides inspirational instruction about the steps leading to our
ultimate destiny… to be the Bride of Christ at His return.
The
opening scenes of the book take place in Moab. Elimelech, a man of
Bethlehem, and his wife Naomi, have gone to live in Moab to escape a
famine in Judah. In Moab Elimelech’s two sons married native
Moabite women.
Elimelech
dies, and in quick succession his 2 sons also die before any children
are born. The 3 women [Naomi, Ruth, and Orpah are now widows. Naomi
hears the drought has ended in Israel and plans to go back home.
Naomi encourages the young women to stay in Moab. Orpah kisses her
mother goodbye, but Ruth insists on remaining with Naomi.
They
arrive in Bethlehem poor and destitute. So, Ruth goes out to glean in
the field.
She
ends up gleaning in the fields owned by Boaz. He notices her…
offers her protection and encouragement while she continues to work
in his fields.
Naomi,
probably noticing that Boaz was showing Ruth favor advises Ruth to
indicate her desire to marry Boaz. However, according to Levitical
law, another kinsman has prior claim which Boaz must first address.
Boaz redeems Ruth from this other kinsman and marries her.
The
book closes with Naomi, who had earlier lamented her loss and
barrenness, rejoicing in her children through Boaz and Ruth.
Ruth
1:22; Ruth 2:23 the main events of the book take place during the
spring harvest in Israel.
Note:
Israel’s Spring Harvest lasted 7 weeks. The cutting of the wave
sheaf on the day after the Sabbath [last Sunday March 31st]
signaled the beginning of the barley harvest. The 1st
harvest of barley was followed by the 2nd harvest which
was wheat (which ripened later). These 7 weeks of harvest end with
Pentecost.
Who’s Who? In the Analogy
Ruth
= the one redeemed to become
a bride Ruth is you
Boaz
= the redeemer Who takes a
bride Boaz is Jesus Christ
The
main themes of the book are redemption, marriage, and harvest. The
time setting of the book is the 7 week period between the Feast of
Unleavened Bread and the Feast of Weeks… or Pentecost. Therefore
its reasonable to assume the instruction and symbolism of this book
are appropriate for a day like today.
What
can we learn?
Ruth’s Total Commitment
Ruth
1:15-18 Orpah returns to the idolatry of Moab, whereas Ruth wants
to remain connected to the God of Israel… through her connection to
Naomi.
In
these memorable words Ruth pledges her willingness to abandon
everything: her homeland, her people, her religion… her whole
identity… to follow Naomi.
Colossians
3:5-11 This is total renunciation of self… the total commitment
to a new identity. Isn’t this exactly what our baptism signifies?
Isn’t this the solemn pledge we made… to become a new creation in
Christ.
Our
commitment must be as thorough as Ruth’s. We must attach our self
to the Israel of God and not let go.
Ruth Was A Gleaner
When
she agreed to return with Naomi to Israel Ruth was agreeing to help
support an aging woman. Ruth was young and strong so she went to work
in the fields gathering up the grain that the harvesters had dropped
or left behind so she and Naomi could eke out an existence. It would
have been exhausting, hot, and humbling work.
Biblical
law established this practice as a way even the most down and out
people in Israel could earn a living. Leviticus 23:22 [Lev.
19:9-10, Deut. 24:19-21]. Principle: help the poor to help
themselves.
Ruth
2:2-3 Ruth’s labor as a gleaner was in the fields of Boaz…
the man who would later become her husband. Here is another
interesting symbol through which we can gain insight.
What
does a gleaner do? A gleaner does not sow the seed, they don’t
water it or nurture the crop as it grows. The farmer [husbandman] who
owns the field sows and nurtures. The gleaner is, by definition one
who Is allowed to share in… and benefit from the difficult,
complex, enterprising work of another.
God’s
purpose is to bring in a harvest. He owns the field, He provides the
seed, and He sustains all things. Its God’s plan… and its God’s
power that sees it through [His holy Spirit].
God
gives you and me the opportunity to work in His field… to bring in
His harvest. We are part of what is being harvested, and we are
actively involved in the harvest of others.
Like we see in the biblical principle of gleaning: He does not simply
fill up a bushel basket and hand it to us. He expects us to be
active. Following the lead of His spirit: putting out sin, actively
pursuing the mind of Christ. Obedient, self controlled, virtuous,
wise & fair in judgment, joyful, seeking peace and
reconciliation, patient, kind, good, faithful… filled with
knowledge of the truth and doing out part in sharing it with others.
Being
a gleaner requires effort. But our opportunity to participate, and
our profit (godly character) are due to God who owns and operates the
field.
Boaz Provided For Ruth
A
gleaner’s work wasn’t easy or pleasant. Ruth would be exposed to
ridicule and possible physical abuse at the hands of the harvesters,
and her long hours of work might have been rewarded with only a
little bit of grain.
Ruth
2:8-9 Boaz took notice of Ruth and provided protection for her.
Once again we see that Ruth had to do her part: stay in my field,
stick with the young women of my household, stay away from the men.
Ruth
2:14-17 Boaz fed her… but she still had to go to work. Boaz
instructed His reapers to deliberately drop grain in her path so she
would be encouraged and successful in her efforts.
Verse
19-23 Naomi could see that Ruth had collected a lot of grain for
a gleaner, so she asked “where did you glean”. This is
when Naomi finds out it is Boaz [a relative, probably a cousin of
some sort]. She starts connecting the dots… that He is actively
helping out because they are both widows.
The
work and effort of obeying pursuing righteousness can wear us down.
We might get discouraged, frustrated in our efforts, not seeing
enough results for all the hard work… we want to see more spiritual
growth, we want to be free of all doubts, we want to released from
the constant pulls of the flesh that cause us to slip backwards.
Galatians
6:9 the scripture tells us to not give up and remind ourselves of
the end purpose for our work.
Back
to our story… Boaz didn’t just hand her extra grain. He arranged
for it to be dropped on the ground and she had to pick it up. It took
a lot of small little stalks of barley or wheat to add up to a bushel
of grain. Ruth had to keep her head down and stick to her work to see
the blessings.
You
may wish for God to help you in a dramatic way… and He might... but
don’t let that keep you from paying attention to the many little
ways you are helped, guided, and protected.
Just
as Ruth was under the constant protection and loving eye of Boaz, you
are safe in the keeping of your heavenly Father, and His Son, Jesus
Christ.
Isaiah
41:10 God is ready to strengthen you in your weakness
Isaiah
43:1-3 God is with you in all your troubles
Hebrews
12:1-2
Ruth Boldly Sought To Marry Boaz
Acting
on Naomi’s counsel, Ruth boldly expressed her desire to marry Boaz.
It was an audacious move. Boaz was a wealthy, respected landowner…
and she was a penniless gleaner in his fields, an unclean foreigner,
from the idolatrous nation of Moab. Ruth 2:10-13
Yet
Boaz readily took Ruth as his wife. He saw a hardworking girl,
faithful and loyal to Naomi, eager to attach herself to Israel, and
the God of Israel… and he loved her.
Sometimes
the Church of God takes heat… because we take literally the goal of
spiritual birth into the actual God family… to participate in the
oneness of God. But it’s the true promise and we hold on to it
firmly.
Boaz
loved Ruth while she was still a gleaner in his fields. That love
encouraged her to seek a more permanent relationship with him.
Jesus
Christ has demonstrated His love for you even though you are not on
His level. That love should encourage you to seek a more permanent
relationship with Him.
The
Scriptures reveal that the Church is the future bride of Christ at
His coming
The
marriage of God’s Son and the Church will be a marriage between
beings that are on the same plane [Just as a man or woman does not
marry a cow…]
Boaz Redeemed Ruth
Although
Boaz loved Ruth and she loved him, Boaz was not free to take her as
his wife until he redeemed her from a prior claim.
Ruth
2:20b by biblical law the redeemer [ogle] had the right to buy
back family land sold during times of hardship. He could also pay the
redemption price for family members sold into slavery or bond
service. If he were single or widowed he could revive the family
lineage when someone died without producing an heir [he would marry
the widow and father children who would inherit the property of the
one who had died [Deuteronomy 25:5-10]. Levirate marriage has to be
understood in context of inheritance laws in Israel.
Boaz
would become Ruth’s goel redeemer. He would redeem her from
poverty, and widowhood. He had shown her great favor… but Ruth had
to declare herself willing to marry him. Ruth 3:7-13
Note:
scripture makes no mention of Boaz ever having been married. And he
is presented as if there was some reason why he would not seem
desirable for marriage. He seems pleased that Ruth would consider
marriage.
Christ
acts as your kinsman redeemer; He becomes our human brother, buys us
back from our bondage to evil, redeems our life from death and
returns to us the hope of our eternal inheritance which we lost
because of our sin.
Isaiah
53:2-3 speaking here Jesus… we do not love him because he is
beautiful or majestic… we love him because He first loved us…
because He is good… and because He is able to redeem us.
Romans
5:8-10 That redemption began with Christ’s death on Passover.
Ephesians
5:25-27 The preparation of the Bride [spotless and pure] has been
pictured by the Feast of Unleavened Bread
Now
enter the 7 week countdown to Pentecost. A time of harvesting barley
and wheat.
The
barley is harvested first: that is Christ [the wave sheaf] who is
already resurrected
Now
the wheat is being harvested: that is all those who are sealed with
the Holy Spirit. An amazing event we will celebrate at the Feast of
Pentecost.
The
actual resurrection of those in the second part of harvest does not
come until the return of Christ which is the Feast of Trumpets.
Hebrews 11:39-40 that way we are all together.
Revelation
19:6-9
Who is Naomi?
Naomi…
she represents the role of the Church.
-
It was through Naomi that Ruth was brought in contact with the true God.
-
It was through Naomi that Ruth attached herself to the Israel of God.
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It was through Naomi that Ruth was encouraged to seek marriage to Boaz
This is part of the great work of the Church of God. 2 Corinthians
11:2… Preparing the Bride
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