Walking into the old building was refreshing despite it being an old farmhouse converted into a church, which could use a serious facelift. The space was small and humble but held something of great importance. The saints gathered here, and most importantly, the presence of God resided here. On this day, I was alone in the building, just the Lord and me. I felt peace when I arrived on the property, and upon entering the sanctuary, I felt a strong, sweet, inviting presence. I took a deep breath of relief: a subconscious habit, an effort to draw the richness of…
“Then went Boaz up to the gate, and sat him down there: and, behold, the kinsman of whom Boaz spake came by; unto whom he said, Ho, such a one! turn aside, sit down here. And he turned aside, and sat down.” Ruth 4:1 This fourth chapter of Ruth gives us an interesting picture of how they settled legal matters in those times. The elders would gather at the City Gate and cases discussed, and a decision reached. The decisions made were binding. Elimelech’s property was up for sale and there were only two who were eligible to purchase it, Boaz or the one who was a closer relative than him. At first, the other man said he would purchase the property, but then Boaz explained to him that there were conditions. “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.” The other man was not willing to do it and told Boaz he was free to redeem it. To seal the deal, the man took off his shoe. What…
“Then said she, Sit still, my daughter, until thou know how the matter will fall: for the man will not be in rest, until he have finished the thing this day.” Ruth 3:18 God had a plan for Ruth, and he had chosen Boaz to be the one who would bring that plan to fruition. He was a wealthy man but loved the Lord. Today we will consider the characteristics that he possessed. Humility – Notice how he treated his employees greeting them kindly at the beginning of the workday. Kind and considerate – provided food and water and rest times for his workers. Unselfish – shared his lunch with Ruth, even though she was a stranger. Compassionate – treated Ruth as if she were one of his workers. Generous – at the end of the day he gave Ruth extra grain above what she had been able to glean. Protective of Ruth’s reputation (Ruth 3:14). Honest and reliable – his word was his bond. Put others before himself. He gave the closer kinsman an opportunity to purchase Naomi’s property. Boaz was a good steward of what the Lord had given him. No matter what our circumstances in life, whether…
“And he said, Blessed be thou of the LORD, my daughter: for thou hast shewed more kindness in the latter end than at the beginning, inasmuch as thou followedst not young men, whether poor or rich. And now, my daughter, fear not; I will do to thee all that thou requirest: for all the city of my people doth know that thou art a virtuous woman.” Ruth 3:10-11 God’s law defined the responsibilities of the kinsman redeemer and that included that they marry a childless widow and that the children born would carry the dead husband’s name. Deuteronomy 25:5-6 “If brethren dwell…
“Then Naomi her mother in law said unto her, My daughter, shall I not seek rest for thee, that it may be well with thee?” Ruth 3:1 God blessed us with a beautiful daughter, who has been faithful to the Lord from the time she was a little girl. When she left home to go to Bible College, one of the prayers we prayed for her was that she would find the right young man to spend her life with and God answered that prayer. This month she and her husband celebrated their thirty-sixth anniversary. I am so thankful for the way the Lord has blessed them and is using them in ministry. Naomi loved Ruth and desired to see her happy and fulfilled. As Ruth returned from her first day of gleaning in the fields and reported how she had been received and blessed, Naomi realized that God was at work and that this was not a coincidence, but a God-incidence. So, she began to plan. Before she even knew whose field Ruth had been in, she prayed a blessing upon that man. “blessed be he that did take knowledge of thee.” Ruth 2:19. Upon learning that it was…
“And Ruth the Moabitess said, He said unto me also, Thou shalt keep fast by my young men, until they have ended all my harvest. And Naomi said unto Ruth her daughter in law, It is good, my daughter, that thou go out with his maidens, that they meet thee not in any other field. So she kept fast by the maidens of Boaz to glean unto the end of barley harvest and of wheat harvest; and dwelt with her mother in law.” Ruth 2:21-23 Ruth’s beautiful character is revealed as she returns from her first day of gleaning in the barley fields. Boaz had used her well. She had been welcomed in his field and he had not only let her glean but had also given her extra grain to take home to Naomi. She presented her mother-in-law with an ephah of barley which would have been about twenty litres, enough to feed them both for ten days. She also had saved part of her lunch to share with Naomi. When the Lord showers His blessings on us, we must not keep them to ourselves, but share. We cannot outgive the Lord, the more we give, the more He…