Category Archives: Jesus

Ruth Chapter 3- The Covenant

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Then Naomi her mother-in-law said to her, “My daughter, shall I not seek security for you, that it may be well with you? Now Boaz, whose young women you were with, is he not our relative? In fact, he is winnowing barley tonight at the threshing floor. V1-2

Naomi is once again concerned with the future and security of Ruth. Remember she tried to get her to go back to her home and find a new husband. Here Naomi once again turns her attention to the future of Ruth and her security.

Could this still be , Naomi has no hope for the future and may be trying to send Ruth off, so Naomi can die and be buried in her hometown. Remember Naomi said to call her Mara, for she felt cursed by God

Naomi brings up Boaz, their Kinsman Redeemer, Naomi doesn’t realize all that already transpired in Chapter 2, we see the provision and sovereignty of God

When brothers dwell together and one of them dies without a son, the widow must not marry outside the family. Her husband’s brother is to take her as his wife and fulfill the duty of a brother-in-law for her. / The first son she bears will carry on the name of the dead brother, so that his name will not be blotted out from Israel. / But if the man does not want to marry his brother’s widow, she is to go to the elders at the city gate and say, “My husband’s brother refuses to preserve his brother’s name in Israel. He is not willing to perform the duty of a brother-in-law for me.” Deuteronomy 25:5-10

Therefore wash yourself and anoint yourself, put on your best garment and go down to the threshing floor; but do not make yourself known to the man until he has finished eating and drinking. Then it shall be, when he lies down, that you shall notice the place where he lies; and you shall go in, uncover his feet, and lie down; and he will tell you what you should do.” V3-4

Boaz is out sleeping in the fields to protect his crop from thieves and vandals

Ruth is going to get all dressed up to present herself to Boaz for marriage, the Kinsman Redeemer Covenant

This symbolic action communicates a request for covenant covering:

• In ancient custom, spreading one’s garment signified protection and marriage (Ezekiel 16:8).

• Ruth’s gesture seeks Boaz’s role as kinsman-redeemer, aligning with Deuteronomy 25:5-10.

And she said to her, “All that you say to me I will do.”  So she went down to the threshing floor and did according to all that her mother-in-law instructed her.  V5-6

Ruth was being obedient to her mother in law, Naomi, however Naomi didn’t realize Ruth already had Boazs favor and protection. This is a cosmic love story of Gods provision and grace. Remember this a shadow of our relationship with Christ, our Redeemer!

And after Boaz had eaten and drunk, and his heart was cheerful, he went to lie down at the end of the heap of grain; and she came softly, uncovered his feet, and lay down.  V7

Remember Bethlehem just went through a 7 year famine. Boaz had a good harvest, Gods provision is plentiful, Boaz was cheerful for Gods mercy and provision he offers us, the same Christ does for us!

Boaz went to rest, Ruth will now perform the marriage proposal ritual of laying at his feet. This is not a bizarre act for this cultural context, this is part of the Kinsman Redeemer Covenant

Now it happened at midnight that the man was startled, and turned himself; and there, a woman was lying at his feet. And he said, “Who are you?” So she answered, “I am Ruth, your maidservant. Take your maidservant under your wing, for you are a close relative.”  v8-9

Ruth not only boldly lays at the feet of Boaz, but then identifies herself. “Take your maidservent under your wing” This is a sign of the covenant protection from God, Ruth is asking Boaz to take her as his wife, for the covenant blessings

“For you are a close relative” She is identifying Boaz as the Kinsman Redeemer of Naomi’s family line. Remember Ruth is a Moabite, so not related by blood line but by marriage as Naomi’s daughter in law

Ruth is a shadow of the Church, the Gentiles coming into Covenant with God through our Redeemer Jesus Christ

“When I passed by you again and looked upon you, indeed your time was the time of love; so I spread My wing over you and covered your nakedness. Yes, I swore an oath to you and entered into a covenant with you, and you became Mine,” says the Lord GOD.  Ezekiel 16:8

Then he said, “Blessed are you of the LORD, my daughter! For you have shown more kindness at the end than at the beginning, in that you did not go after young men, whether poor or rich  v10

Boaz is aware of all the kindness and loyalty she demonstrated to Naomi, even though she is only her daughter in law, a Gentile, she still refused to abandon Naomi, and provided for her by threshing in Boazs field

Secondly Ruth is willing to fulfill the requirements of the Kinsman Redeemer, which will not only benefit her but Naomi. Boaz points out, you didn’t go after a younger man, maybe even a Gentile, but Boaz doesn’t realize Ruth loves him regardless

And now, my daughter, do not fear. I will do for you all that you request, for all the people of my town know that you are a virtuous woman.  V11

Boaz is now going to go make the request to become Ruth’s Kinsman Redeemer, much like Christ is our mediator and represents us before God the Father

Also notice the reference to the Virtuous Woman of Proverbs 31, Ruth represents many characteristics of this Bilbical model

For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.  2 Corinthians 5:21

Now it is true that I am a close relative; however, there is a relative closer than I.  v12

Boaz, confirms that He is the Kinsman Redeemer (It is true I am a close relative)

However , here comes the first real challenge of the love story, there is actually another male who is a closer relative to Naomi’s husband , Elimelech. Therefor because Boaz is a righteous man, he will speak to this man to get his approval to become the Kinsman Redeemer

Stay this night, and in the morning it shall be that if he will perform the duty of a close relative for you—good; let him do it. But if he does not want to perform the duty for you, then I will perform the duty for you, as the LORD lives! Lie down until morning.”  v13

Even though Boaz wants to be Ruth’s husband, he is willing to do the right thing, he is demonstrating his righteousness, by allowing the other man the opportunity to claim Ruth and their property

Boaz made his intention well known , he wants to be Ruth’s redeemer and husband, but he also put it all in Gods hands “as The Lord lives”

So she lay at his feet until morning, and she arose before one could recognize another. Then he said, “Do not let it be known that the woman came to the threshing floor.”  v14

Boaz did not want any misconception that something immoral happened that night, Boaz and Ruth are both righteous people, so he instructed her to leave before anyone saw her, so there was no speculation about a possible immoral relationship

Also he said, “Bring the shawl that is on you and hold it.” And when she held it, he measured six ephahs of barley, and laid it on her. Then she went into the city.  V15

Boaz is filling Ruth’s shawl with the harvest, this is provision and protection.

6 ephahs could weigh as much as 200 lbs. , regardless its a large amount to show Boaz’s provision to Ruth and Naomi

When she came to her mother-in-law, she said, “Is that you, my daughter?” Then she told her all that the man had done for her.  V16

Remember all of this is leading to Christ, the line of David. So while Naomi is concerned about their own well-being, God has bigger plans, and is working out His will through this love story, Boaz and Ruth

And she said, “These six ephahs of barley he gave me; for he said to me, ‘Do not go empty-handed to your mother-in-law.’ ”  v17

Notice Boaz not only was providing for Ruth, but also her mother in law,  Naomi , this is the role of Boaz as the Kinsman Redeemer, which is a shadow of Christ, our Redeemer

Then she said, “Sit still, my daughter, until you know how the matter will turn out; for the man will not rest until he has concluded the matter this day.”  v18

Naomi had great faith in Boaz (he will not rest) they both believe and trust in Boaz as their Kinsman Redeemer, much like we need to put our faith and trust in Jesus Christ as our Redeemer

As noted before notice the hope that Naomi is now demonstrating, she went from basically accepting her demise, to now finding a new life and hope in her Redeemer, such as us in Christ!

Ruth 2:9-23- Gods Providence

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Let your eyes be on the field which they reap, and go after them. Have I not commanded the young men not to touch you? And when you are thirsty, go to the vessels and drink from what the young men have drawn.” So she fell on her face, bowed down to the ground, and said to him, “Why have I found favor in your eyes, that you should take notice of me, since I am a foreigner?” v9-10

Again we are seeing the foreshadow of the Church (Ruth) we are seeing a foreshadow of the New Covenant, (Jew and Gentile becoming One in Christ)  Boaz a shadow of Christ, the Redeemer, Ruth has found favor in his eyes, just as we are chosen by Christ (Ephesians 1)

She bows down to Boaz, we the Church and every knee will bow down to The Lord Jesus Christ, the King of all Kings and Lord of all Lords (Philippians 2) And she makes an interesting statements “Why have I found favor in your eyes, since I am a foreigner (Gentile)?

Again clearly showing the New Covenant , a Gentile finding favor with the Kinsman Redeemer, nobody would have believed this story unless it actually happened!

And Boaz answered and said to her, “It has been fully reported to me, all that you have done for your mother-in-law since the death of your husband, and how you have left your father and your mother and the land of your birth, and have come to a people whom you did not know before v11

Again , I can’t help but see the New Covenant in this, Boaz representing Christ, saying “its been reported to me, all you have done for Naomi (Israel), I truly believe as God promised in Genesis 12

I will bless those who bless you, And I will curse him who curses you; And in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.” Genesis 12:3

You have left your land of your birth (Gentiles) you have been grafted into the Olive Tree, into the Covenant with Israel

And if some of the branches were broken off, and you, being a wild olive tree, were grafted in among them, and with them became a partaker of the root and fatness of the olive tree, Romans 11:17

The LORD repay your work, and a full reward be given you by the LORD God of Israel, under whose wings you have come for refuge.” v12

Boaz echoing Genesis 12, Bless those who bless you. Also Boaz makes a reference to the Exodus

‘You have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I bore you on eagles’ wings and brought you to Myself.  Exodus 19:4

Then she said, “Let me find favor in your sight, my lord; for you have comforted me, and have spoken kindly to your maidservant, though I am not like one of your maidservants.”  v13

Again a shadow of Ruth as the Church and Boaz as Christ, let us find favor or grace in the eyes of our Lord, even though we don’t deserve it! All our righteousness is in Christ, who bestowed His grace upon us unworthy sinners!

Ruth humbly owned herself unworthy of favours, seeing she was born and brought up a heathen. It well becomes us all to think humbly of ourselves, esteeming others better than ourselves. And let us, in the kindness of Boaz to Ruth, note the kindness of the Lord Jesus Christ to poor sinners.  Matthew Henry

Now Boaz said to her at mealtime, “Come here, and eat of the bread, and dip your piece of bread in the vinegar.” So she sat beside the reapers, and he passed parched grain to her; and she ate and was satisfied, and kept some back. V14

Come To The Table! Ruth a Gentile outsider being invited to sit at the table with Boaz the Jew, the Kinsman Redeemer. Shadows of Christ inviting us to his table, The Lord supper which ultimately leading to the Great Wedding Feast!

7Let us be glad and rejoice and give Him glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His wife has made herself ready.” Revelation 19:7

And when she rose up to glean, Boaz commanded his young men, saying, “Let her glean even among the sheaves, and do not reproach her. Also let grain from the bundles fall purposely for her; leave it that she may glean, and do not rebuke her.” v15-16

Boaz, the Redeemer, gave Ruth the authority to glean in his fields, “do not rebuke her” Nobody can come against Ruth in his fields.

Just as in Christ, we are not only redeemed, authority has been given to us, nobody can bring false charges or past sins against us in Christ

Then Jesus called the Twelve together and gave them power and authority over all demons, and power to cure diseases. Luke 9:1

So she gleaned in the field until evening, and beat out what she had gleaned, and it was about an ephah of barley. Then she took it up and went into the city, and her mother-in-law saw what she had gleaned. So she brought out and gave to her what she had kept back after she had been satisfied. V17-18

Ruth again demonstrating the qualities of the Virtuous Woman of Proverbs 31, she worked the field all night to provide for her and Naomi.

She rises while it is still night to provide food for her household and portions for her maidservants Proverbs 31:15

And her mother-in-law said to her, “Where have you gleaned today? And where did you work? Blessed be the one who took notice of you.” So she told her mother-in-law with whom she had worked, and said, “The man’s name with whom I worked today is Boaz.” v19

God sovereignty is being demonstrated, The field that Ruth is gleaning from happens to be their Kinsman-Redeemer Boaz. A time that seemed to be total desperation, God is in complete control

Then Naomi said to her daughter-in-law, “Blessed be he of the LORD, who has not forsaken His kindness to the living and the dead!” And Naomi said to her, “This man is a relation of ours, one of our close relatives.” v20

Other English translations do a better job here KJV has “kinsman” instead of relative. ESV has redeemers , it clear Noami is making known Boaz is their Kinsman Redeemer, the Savior of their family. A shadow of Christ

Ruth the Moabitess said, “He also said to me, ‘You shall stay close by my young men until they have finished all my harvest.’ ” And Naomi said to Ruth her daughter-in-law, “It is good, my daughter, that you go out with his young women, and that people do not meet you in any other field.” v21-22

Naomi is instructing Ruth, its good for her to stay under Boaz’s protection and favor. If Ruth, a Gentile, went to glean in another field, the situation might not be as fruitful, as there are many who could target her as a widow and a Gentile, possible putting her life at risk

So she stayed close by the young women of Boaz, to glean until the end of barley harvest and wheat harvest; and she dwelt with her mother-in-law. V23

Ruth, clings to Boaz for safety and provision, just as we should cling to Christ for our salvation and provision also

My soul clings to you; your right hand upholds me. Psalm 63:8

Ruth Chapter 1 – The Famine

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Now it came to pass, in the days when the judges ruled, that there was a famine in the land. And a certain man of Bethlehem, Judah, went to dwell in the country of Moab, he and his wife and his two sons.  V1

The author, who is believed to be the prophet Samuel, inspired by the Holy Spirit gives us a timeline of these events, “in the days when the judges ruled” , these events happened around the same time period of the book of Judges between 1380 BC to 1050 BC

We see there is a severe famine in the land, this will kick off a sequence of catastrophic events which God will ultimately use for His glory and the fulfillment of the Messianic line in Jesus Christ. This is a fascinating book of how we connect the dots between the Old Testament to The Lord. 

A certain man of Bethlehem (Elimelech) you should already see the ties to Christ, as this man is a citizen of Bethlehem, a Jew, however due to the severe famine, they were forced to move to Moab to find food. Of course Jesus Christ was born in Bethlehem as prophesied by Micah, as we walk through the book of Ruth, we will make all the connections to the Messiah

Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem,  Matthew 2:1

But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, who are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come forth for Me One to be ruler over Israel—One whose origins are of old, from the days of eternity.  Micah 5:2

The name of the man was Elimelech, the name of his wife was Naomi, and the names of his two sons were Mahlon and Chilion—Ephrathites of Bethlehem, Judah. And they went to the country of Moab and remained there.  V2

So the mans name is Elimelech, which means “My God Is King” which is very prophetic as this story will be about the Kinsman Redeemer which ultimately leads to Jesus Christ. HIs wifes name is Naomi and their twos sons are Mahlon and Chilion, make note they are all Jewish from Bethlehem, where when the sons move to Moab they will marry gentiles wives (Ruth and Orpah)

Then Elimelech, Naomi’s husband, died; and she was left, and her two sons.  Now they took wives of the women of Moab: the name of the one was Orpah, and the name of the other Ruth. And they dwelt there about ten years.Then both Mahlon and Chilion also died; so the woman survived her two sons and her husband.  V3-5

Now here is where the the issues begin, because of the severe famine in the land, Elimelech dies, who is the man of the household, but also Naomi’s sons will also die during this time of famine, this will lead this family in a severe crisis, how will they be able to support themselves?

You must remember during this time period, it was almost impossible for a widow or single mother to raise her family financially. Typically the husband or next of kin, the son, would support the family , however in Naomi’s case , she lost her husband and two sons in a pagan land. 

This reminded me of a scenario the religious leaders were challenging Jesus on who would be the husband of a widow who theoretically lost 7 husbands

23The same day the Sadducees, who say there is no resurrection, came to Him and asked Him, 24saying: “Teacher, Moses said that if a man dies, having no children, his brother shall marry his wife and raise up offspring for his brother. 25Now there were with us seven brothers. The first died after he had married, and having no offspring, left his wife to his brother. 26Likewise the second also, and the third, even to the seventh. 27Last of all the woman died also. 28Therefore, in the resurrection, whose wife of the seven will she be? For they all had her.”  Matthew 22:23-28

The Sadducees (religious leaders) presented this bizarre challenge to Jesus, about a woman who lost her husband and then all seven of his brothers died, who will be together in the resurrection, what were the religious leaders referencing?

Well they were presenting what we know as “Kinsman Redeemer” during ancient times, if a wife lost her husband, should be married to one of his brothers to provide for her and the family, since there was no welfare or unemployment. While the religious leaders use an exaggerated example to try and trip up Jesus, you can get an understanding of this practice in that time period

This how the story of Ruth begins, with Naomi heading back to Bethlehem to find her Kinsman Redeemer, which will ultimately be found through Ruth, a Gentile in Boaz which is a shadow of Christ