Day 50; Ruth 1–4; Isaiah 43–48; 1 Corinthians 13–14
The story of Ruth begins with the tragic story of Naomi. Her husband Elimelech (his name can be translated (Molech is God or My God is Molech [king]). He dies and so do her two sons, Mahlon (means failing) and Kilion (means sickly). Naomi is destitute and thinks God is against her. Don't miss the fact that these men took refuge under Molech and Chemosh the gods of the Ammonites and Moabites by leaving Bethlehem during a famine. Why was there famine? Because of idolatry during the time of the judges. God's people were unfaithful to the covenant and so they are now experiencing the curses promised for unfaithfulness...famine, sickness and death (Deut. 28:15-68).
Isaiah reminds the people of this folly when God says through the prophet,
"All who make idols are nothing,
and what they treasure does not profit.
Their witnesses do not see or know [anything],
so they will be put to shame. (Isa. 44:9)"
I am not much for sappy romance stories, chick flicks and all manner of mushiness. And yet I have to admit I do have a heart for this romance between Ruth the Moabitess and Boaz the kinsman redeemer. There so much rich death to this short story if yo read the book in context of the Law and the Monarchy of King David and Messiah the Son of David. The scarlet cord that yarns through all of the scriptures (the thread of redemption) picks up again in the love story. Boaz is the descendant of Perez, a son of Tamar and Judah (Judah the unwitting family redeemer) and the ancestor of the Davidic kings (Gen 38:1-30; Ruth 4:18-22). Boaz is also the son of Salmon and the prostitute of Jericho, Rahab, who hung from her window a scarlet cord to save her and her family from the Israelite attack on the city (Josh 2:8-21; Mat. 1:5).
A family redeemer is one who saves the family name of a close relative who has died and left no sons as heirs to carry his name and property. The man would take the widow as his wife (polygamy with purpose). The woman would likely be destitute with no sons or husband to care for her. Through this redeeming act a son was meant to come through this union so the child born would carry the name of the deceased ancestor (Lev. 25:25-26).
When Naomi realized Ruth had come under the kindness of Boaz her dead husband's kinsman, her faith in God was restored. She realized God had not abandoned her as she thought before (Ruth 1:20-21; 2:20). Ruth had been gleaning the fields for grain and Boaz had taken notice of her and welcomed her. It was a covenantal ordinance to not glean grain that had fallen to the ground. Leave it for the poor and the foreigner (Lev. 19:9).
She devises a plan for Ruth to be married to Boaz. Naomi tells Ruth to go during the threshing and find Boaz sleep and uncover his feet and lie next to him. This is a delicate conversation. The bible uses euphemism to portray this test to see if Boaz is interested in Ruth as a sexual companion. Would Boaz consider taking Ruth as his wife as a family redeemer? When Naomi tells Ruth to uncover the feet of Boaz, it is a delicate way to say expose his genitals (Ruth 3:4). The cool air of the night on Boaz's naked body would cause him to stir from his slumber. He would see Ruth and realize what was happening. It was a big risk, even more so for a Moabite woman to try.
Boaz is moved and honored by this action and expresses his intimate feelings for her. It's just so beautiful! Can I have a tissue? ;)
The good news it that even in a time of terrible covenant unfaithfulness in the time of the judges, there are still good faithful and godly people keeping the covenant. They trust Yahweh alone. They love Yahweh with their whole heart and obey all His laws, commands and statutes. They trust that through covenant faithfulness they we enjoy the love and blessing of God. Covenant love is faithful love. It is real love. It can always be trusted. God will always be true, even when His people fail to be.
Isaiah writes inspiring words of God's faithful love for His people,
Now this is what the LORD says—
the One who created you, Jacob,
and the One who formed you, Israel —
"Do not fear, for I have redeemed you;
I have called you by your name; you are Mine.
I will be with you...
Because you are precious in My sight
and honored, and I love you...
You are My witnesses" —
the LORD's declaration—
"and My servant whom I have chosen,
so that you may know and believe Me
and understand that I am He.
No god was formed before Me,
and there will be none after Me.
I, I am the LORD,
and there is no other Savior but Me. (Isa. 43:1-2a, 4a, 10-11)
Paul tells us of the true manner of love (agape - self giving). Love does not keep records of wrong is the one attribute we tend to most often forget. It's one thing to forgive, but it's another to forget. Yet Paul says love forgets wrongs. Love doesn't keep a score card. When the book of Revelation says there's a book of Life and records of right and wrong for all humanity, there seems a contradiction. It's not that what we do wrong or right has no consequence. It does. But God does not look upon us according to our sins. He has reconciled Himself with the world through Christ (2 Cor. 5:19). In the same way we who love like God look at others not by their failures, sins and shortcomings. We look upon them as precious in God's sight, as one for whom Christ died.
Paul applies the more excellent way of love to building up the church. Remember the church in Corinth was plagued by division. Paul is working as their loving father to heal the divisions by helping them to see the core reason for their problems are pride, a lack of humility and false worship (idols). Those who cling to charismatic leaders and teachers in the church are in danger of idolatry. They give praise to a mere mortal and take the honor due the Lord and give it to a man or woman. And those who allow others to praise and honor him/her lacks humility.
To seek the accolades of others is even more a danger. Think about how Americans' current fascination with celebrity and skinny models has caused millions low self image. It's not bad to be beautiful or popular. It is bad for us to worship them and it's bad for them to seek the limelight. Think of all the miserable stars who have sacrificed a private life or a family life. Few find the balance.
Remember how Paul and Barnabas stopped the people of Lystra from worshipping and sacrificing to them as gods after they had brought a lame man to healing in Christ? Paul said, "Why are you doing these things? We are men also, with the same nature as you, and we are proclaiming good news to you, that you should turn from these worthless things to the living God, who made the heaven, the earth, the sea, and everything in them."
Once Jesus was approached by a man who called after Him with a question. "Good teacher," he said, "what must I do to be saved?" Jesus responded, "Why do you call me good? There is only One who is good." There the Master set the example of humility.
We need more people who will show humility like Ruth who had shown wonderful faithfulness to Naomi was humble before Boaz's kindness when she said, "I am less than your own servant girls (Ruth 2:13)."
Paul taught the church to think of others first (1 Cor. 10:24). He deals with speaking in tongues in public worship, It is a private matter for personal prayer and worship. When one babbles in corporate worship and there's no one who is gifted by the Spirit to interpret the unintelligible speech, no one is built up. But if we prophecy (speak a timely and relevant word on God's behalf) people will be touched by the Spirit of God and proclaim, "God is really among you! (1 Cor. 14:25)"
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