Day: January 30, 2016

Do you remember where you were when The Holy One whispered, “Follow Me?

Throughout this series on The Book of Ruth, I’ve stated repeatedly that Boaz is the allusion of Christ and, Ruth representational of the bride He is coming to take to Himself. We see Christ mirrored once again in the actions of Boaz. Ruth did not choose Boaz in that, she made no unseemly or forward advance toward him, quite the contrary. Throughout chapters two and three we witness Boaz actively guiding Ruth consistently toward himself. Yes, her heart was open to receive him to, hence her bold move to lay at his feet in submission; yet without his acknowledgement of her, Ruth may have wandered into the field of another. Verse 8 of the second chapter has Boaz telling Ruth directly, “not to go to any other field to glean” but to stay there in his field where she will find favor and protection.

“I will never leave you, nor forsake you.”

Doesn’t that sound remarkably like our loving Savior? He sends His Holy Spirit to woo us, with gentle purpose. He calls us back to Himself and away from danger; often long before we realize we are being wooed. Listen to Jesus’ words, “I no longer call you servants [(outsiders)], because a servant does not know his master’s business,” (John 15:15 NIV). Ruth went from servant to betrothed in one night on a threshing floor. Where did your life in Christ eternally change? Church? Driving…on a walk perhaps? Do you remember where you were when The Holy One whispered, follow me into your ear, and your heart melted within you? When He wrapped you within His eternal promises of Love (John 3:16), Faithfulness (Lamentations 3:22-23) and, Rock Solid Loyalty (2 Samuel 22:47)? As with Boaz toward Ruth, covering her with the corner of his cloak, so Jesus sealed you to Himself through His shed blood and, a vow that promises, “I will never leave you, nor forsake you,” (Hebrews 13:5 NIV).

“We have a Savior in the now, and His Living Holy Spirit Present with us in our every moment…”

The last verse of chapter two has Naomi reassuring Ruth that Boaz will not rest until he fulfills his promise to her, bringing this unnamed nearer kinsman, or coming himself for her. Thankfully for us there is no other to wait for. There is no other name under Heaven by which we are saved, but the name of Jesus. We don’t have to wait on some future kinsman, person, ritual, or promise of a utopia to come. We have a Savior in the now and, His living Holy Spirit presence with us in our every moment. Christ, the only sinless one who willingly laid down His temporal life to offer us life eternal with the Father. Boaz keeps his promise to Ruth mirroring the promises Our Lord made to us. He finds this nearer kinsman of Elimelech and Naomi, and ask him to come and sit, then he assembles ten elders to sit with them as witnesses in the gate of the city. (A place where judicial matters were resolved by the elders, and men of respect gathered and listened on, a city council of sorts). According to the Law of Moses, all transactions or accusations of wrong doing must be attested to by two or three witnesses or ‘it’ was not considered valid. Listen to how this is stated in the Old Testament, “One witness is not enough to convict anyone accused of any crime or offense they may have committed. A matter must be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses,” (Deuteronomy 19:15 NIV). And in the New Testament Paul is speaking and repeats the law given in Deuteronomy to the Corinthians on sin that is taking place among them and the punishment that was to result. “Every matter must be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses,” (Deuteronomy 13:1 NIV). So why ten elders and all these others witnesses?

“The Fate of the Three Strand Cord of Boaz, Ruth and, Naomi was sealed…”

Once Boaz had the attention of the nearer kinsman as well as this great cloud of witnesses he made public why he has gathered them. He stated in their hearing that Naomi had returned from Moab and must sell her land as a result of both her husband and both sons having died. Boaz suggest to the unnamed Kinsman that his being Elimelech’s closer relative, should redeem the property from Naomi; but, he also states that if this kinsman should decide against it. He then would redeem it. Notice here that in Boaz’ entire telling Ruth’s name is not yet mentioned. It’s only when the nearer kinsman stated he would redeem the land to add to his existing estate that Boaz finally told him that to do so meant redeeming Ruth as well. Ruth had as much at stake in the outcome of the kinsman’s decision as Naomi. More, as she was in love with Boaz and He with her and, she would be legally bound to this stranger. So why did Boaz mention her in as a seeming afterthought? Was it intentional? Is it perhaps his heart sunk when the kinsman said he would redeem the land, knowing all chances of marrying Ruth would be gone? He knew this kinsman would then have Ruth, and had to be responsible to insure the name and line of her dead husband were maintained. Maybe some shadow fell across the unnamed kinsman’s face. Maybe it was that one second of hesitation in his speech that gave wings to Boaz’ hopes and heart. And with the last words spoken by this unnamed kinsman the fate of the Three Strand Cord of Boaz, Ruth and, Naomi are sealed. “Then I cannot redeem it, (Nomi’s land) because I might endanger my own estate. You redeem it for yourself. I cannot do it, buy it yourself,” (Ruth 4:6). At that he took off his sandal (as was custom to prove legal redemption or transfer of property) and handed it to Boaz finalizing his decision.

“Knowing his heart was bound to his material wealth and the enticements of this world…”

Through the unknown kinsman’s action we catch a glimpse of the world and some of its thinking. When he thought there were no strings attached and gain was his in the redeeming of a widow’s property, he was all for it. People in the world treat, our Lord, and faith in Him this way also. They don’t necessarily always have bad things to say about either, they’ll even acknowledge they believe in God, faith, and the tenants of their denomination. Yet, when it comes to committing themselves to this God that may require something of them, that may ask them for something as opposed to always giving something over to them, the tables turn quickly. Some act like our unnamed kinsman and the Rich Young Man found in Matthew Chapter 19. Jesus offered this young man the opportunity to follow Him knowing his hypocrisy, knowing his heart was bound to his material wealth and the enticements of this world. Sound familiar? Jesus knew the young man ignored the question of why it was He called Jesus good, and rebuke him stating, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me,” (Matthew 19:21 NIV). Notice the consistency in scripture, how aptly it applies to the unnamed kinsman, The Rich Young Man and to those in the world today… Jesus states in Matthew, “No one can serve two masters. For you will hate one and love the other; you will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money,” (Matthew 6:24). So, our unnamed kinsman walked away. As did The Rich Young Man, and so do many today. For the price they must pay to follow Christ is simply too high. But not for Boaz.  All those under the sound of his voice heard his pledge, “You are witnesses today that I have bought from the hand of Naomi all that belonged to Elimelech and all that belonged to Chilion and Mahlon. Moreover, I have acquired Ruth the Moabites, the widow of Mahlon, to be my wife to raise up the name of the deceased on his inheritance, so that the name of the deceased will not be cut off from his brothers or from the court of his birth place; you are witnesses today,” (Ruth 4:9-10).

“But if serving the LORD seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve.”

This is the transparent expression of those whose hearts are pure. Set on serving the Lord with integrity, transparency, and uprightness. But as with Boaz and the unnamed kinsman we too must choose, Christ’s way or the worlds? There is no middle ground. Listen to Jesus’ words, “Anyone who isn’t with me opposes me, and anyone who isn’t working with me is actually working against me,” (Luke 11:23 NIV). It’s not any man’s opinion, it’s God’s word. Boaz chose the better way and, as a result of their union Obed was born, a blessing to Naomi in her old age as well as to his parents. Obed was the father of Jesse who was the father of David, a man after God’s own heart, and from his line the Messiah is born in a stable—Consider all that this small Book has taught us. I will turn and leave you with the word until we meet again… “But if serving the LORD seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD,” (Joshua 24:15 NIV).