"RUTH: The Sacred Love Story"

 

Ruth 1:16-17 "And Ruth said, Intreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee: for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy GOD my GOD: where thou diest, will I die, and there will I be buried: the LORD do so to me, and more also, if ought but death part thee and me."

     Ruth is one of only two books in the Bible bearing the name of a woman, the other being Esther. It is titled after the Moabitess Ruth, who figures prominently in the narrative. Little, if anything, in world literature is more beautiful than Ruth's earnest address to her mother-in-law Naomi in today's text -- it is sublime, as eloquent as any oration that can be found within the whole range of man's writings.

     The book of Ruth singles out a family who lived during the days of the Judges. It is an appendix to the book of Judges, standing in striking contrast to that book while being closely connected with it. This story illustrates the truth that the LORD has never left HIMSELF "without witness" (Acts 14:17 pictured above). Throughout the long period of Israel's degeneracy, a remnant of devoted souls, children of faith, lived a life of fidelity to GOD. This account carries us from the disloyalty of Elimelech and his family to the loyalty of Ruth to Naomi and ultimately to the royalty that would arise through David (Ruth 4:17 pictured above).

     M.R.DeHaan called the book of Ruth "The Romance of Redemption." How fitting ! Boaz, the kinsman redeemer, is a type of CHRIST while Ruth is a type of the Gentiles -- this story foreshadows the calling out of the Gentiles and portrays CHRIST as our KINSMAN-REDEEMER. What Boaz was to Ruth, JESUS is to all who draw near to GOD through HIS shed blood. The kinsman-redeemer had to be a physical relative (Philippians 2:5-8; Hebrews 2:14); he also had to have the ability to pay (Ephesians 1:7) and be willing to redeem (Luke 19:10 pictured above; John 10:17-18). The theme of rest permeates the whole book. Ruth found rest in redemption and union with her redeemer (Boaz), and so do we in CHRIST. JED

Your servant in CHRIST,

Julie

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