Ruth Chapter 4
The girl gets the boy and everything else! She’s all that!
There is always a bright future in the destiny of those who are humbly submissive and obedient.
Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool. If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land: But if ye refuse and rebel, ye shall be devoured with the sword: for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it. Isaiah 1:18-20 KJV
Ruth’s resolve and commitment restored to Naomi what Elimelech’s selfishness and disobedience has lost!
Ruth’s actions was as if she had cast a living stone into the pool of life creating historical ripples that kept spreading out in circles of ever increasing magnitude, to roll over us in waves of blessing through the advent of the Messiah!
Elimelech went out in disobedience albeit he would not have seen it that way. He obviously made a personal decision without the sanction of Yahweh. His disobedience was thought in Jewish tradition to be due to an unwillingness to open his supplies to his neighbors who would in a famine most certainly come to him for some relief.
There is that scattereth, and yet increaseth; and there is that withholdeth more than is meet, but it tendeth to poverty. Proverbs 11:24 KJV
The liberal soul shall be made fat: and he that watereth shall be watered also himself. Proverbs 11:25 KJV
He that withholdeth corn, the people shall curse him: but blessing shall be upon the head of him that selleth it. Proverbs 11:26 KJV
Ruth came in obedience and submission to Yahweh, in her love and compassion for her mother-in-law. She may not have had much materially but she abounded in the spirit and it showed!
Elimelech placed his own comfort first. Ruth placed her own comfort last.
Elimelech made a decision based on his own future. Ruth made a decision based on Naomi’s future and Yahweh!
Elimelech moved selfishly to ease and comfort. Ruth moved selflessly towards anticipated hardship, rejection and loneliness.
Elimelech made backward steps downwards! Ruth made forward steps never looking back!
Elimelech left his people for a heathen culture and lost! Ruth left her people for Yahweh and gained.
Elimelech’s move resulted in his curse and Naomi’s loss. Ruth’s move resulted in her blessing and Naomi’s gain
Elemelech lost everything including his life. Ruth gained everything including life in the Messsiah!
Luke 9:23-26 KJV And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me. 24 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: but whosoever will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it. 25 For what is a man advantaged, if he gain the whole world, and lose himself, or be cast away? 26 For whosoever shall be ashamed of me and of my words, of him shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he shall come in his own glory, and in his Father's, and of the holy angels.
An Inconvenient Truth
Boaz wanted the girl and he wanted her badly but in the right way! He would only do that which was honorable to Ruth, and his ethics demanded that the nearer kinsman be notified. Boaz was willing to sacrifice his inheritance for the love of Ruth!
The kinsman is willing to do his part when it involves only the acquisition of the land, but he draws back from marrying the Moabitess woman for fear of marring his inheritance.
Boaz however, sees the real worth of Ruth and makes the move towards redemption. Boaz, knowing his kinsman well, played him publicly into rejecting the right to inheritance! Then said Boaz, What day thou buyest the field of the hand of Naomi, thou must buy it also of Ruth the Moabitess, the wife of the dead, to raise up the name of the dead upon his inheritance. 6 And the kinsman said, I cannot redeem it for myself, lest I mar mine own inheritance: redeem thou my right to thyself; for I cannot redeem it. Ruth 4:5-6 KJV
From the kinsman's response we see that Ruth was an unwanted woman. Many would just want to use or abuse her but would never excuse her!
By his refusal to marry Ruth and become the kinsman redeemer this kinsman forever missed out on the glorious future. We do not even know his name and he is simply referred to as Ploni Almoni (peloniy almoniy) or as we say today John Doe!
Many times in our own prejudices we allow our religious, cultural and personal bias to become a barrier between us and the promises, blessings and glory of the Almighty!
A chance stranger that we find unappealing may be the very person God wants to use but we looked at him or her with a superior who is she or who is he. Our very snobbish attitude or on the other extreme condescending attitude becomes a permanent barrier to our blessing and God's plans for us.
Many of us are willing to do the right thing because it gives us a sense of respectability and looks good on our resume.
We conveniently do good up to the point it becomes inconvenient to us to do good!
Jesus did not see us in that way! For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich. 2 Corinthians 8:9 KJV
While duty may demand certain obligations fulfilled, Love compels an action beyond our creature comfort and convenience.
Ruth had this quality. Boaz displayed this quality and this quality abounds in our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ!
The boy gets the girl and the land. He’s all that!
Boaz is a fitting type of the Messiah our Kinsman Redeemer!
Boaz was willing and able!2 Corinthians 9:6-11 KJV 6 But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully. 7 Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver. 8 And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work: 9 (As it is written, He hath dispersed abroad; he hath given to the poor: his righteousness remaineth for ever. 10 Now he that ministereth seed to the sower both minister bread for your food, and multiply your seed sown, and increase the fruits of your righteousness;) 11 Being enriched in every thing to all bountifulness, which causeth through us thanksgiving to God.
About man God said what shall it profit a man if he gains the whole world and lose his own soul or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul. God so loved the world Christ died for us. We are of worth in His eyes. His Blood was a ransom price for our souls!
For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul? Matthew 16:26 KJV
We are of worth in His eyes. His Blood was a ransom price for our souls!
Psalms 49:6-8 KJV They that trust in their wealth, and boast themselves in the multitude of their riches; 7 None of them can by any means redeem his brother, nor give to God a ransom for him: 8 (For the redemption of their soul is precious, and it ceaseth for ever:)
WE HAVE BEEN REDEEMED BY THE BLOOD (purchased back from the slave market of sin)
Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; 19 But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: 20 Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you, 1 Peter 1:18-20 KJV
In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins: Colossians 1:14 KJV
In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace; Ephesians 1:7 KJV
Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood. Acts 20:28 KJV
Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us. Hebrews 9:12 KJV
And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation; Revelation 5:9 KJV
There we stood in the devil’s slave market sold as slaves. The purchase price of redemption is precious indeed. Here comes Jesus with an irresistible offer. “My Blood for his life” Jesus says smiling. It is an unbeatable price, an enormous sacrifice. The bargaining power of the Blood is irresistibly overwhelming and it all depends on my response now!
He smiles at me and says it so gently “Come meet my Father!”
I look at myself and am aware of all the filth of sin, the stench of evil, and the perversion of despair. It fills me with self loathing and despairing hopelessness! I think how can I meet a Holy Father in this wretched condition?
Jesus knows my thoughts and smiles, reaching out a beckoning hand and I see the gaping, bleeding hole in His hand! I become aware of the enormous price He paid because HE loves me so much! I reach out hesitantly and He grasps my hand gently but firmly and I know He will never let go. He leads me through the Pathway of Redemption through His Blood to His Father! How can red blood wash the blackness of sins and evil making my soul whiter than driven snow is beyond my understanding, just like the peace that floods my heart and mind in His presence! With my Kinsman Redeemer by my side I stand before the Father and there is no condemnation because the Blood of Messiah has paid it all!
I hear the Savior say,
“Thy strength indeed is small;
Child of weakness, watch and pray,
Find in Me thine all in all.”
Refrain: Jesus paid it all,
All to Him I owe;
Sin had left a crimson stain,
He washed it white as snow.
For nothing good have I
Whereby Thy grace to claim;
I’ll wash my garments white
In the blood of Calv’ry’s Lamb.
And now complete in Him,
My robe, His righteousness,
Close sheltered ’neath His side,
I am divinely blest.
Lord, now indeed I find
Thy pow’r, and Thine alone,
Can change the leper’s spots
And melt the heart of stone.
When from my dying bed
My ransomed soul shall rise,
“Jesus died my soul to save,”
Shall rend the vaulted skies.
And when before the throne
I stand in Him complete,
I’ll lay my trophies down,
All down at Jesus’ feet.
Words by Elvina Mable Hall (1865); Music by John Thomas Grape
