Ruth: Under the Shadow of His Wings

 

Ruth: Under the Shadow of His Wings

by Spencer

Introduction

Genesis - The book of ruin. It begins in Eden and ends in Egypt. It begins in fellowship with God and ends in bondage. If we would understand the teaching of the books that follow Genesis and lead on to the sweet experiences of Ruth, we must first see ourselves as |God sees us - in bondage, sold under sin, literally fallen, his enemies by nature - then learn that he seeks us, and in the school of divine love would fain teach us as Ruth was taught to know the Shepherd's heart, the Shepherd's care and the Shepherd's desire.

Exodus - God's wonderful redemption and deliverance from bondage and death. Israel learnt their own utter inability to deliver themselves, but found God to be "the God of their salvation". His light and love, which are inseparable, go together all through it.

Leviticus - presents Sacrifice and Priesthood, tells us we are worshippers and shows us how to worship, and the ground of our worship in type. The shadow is in Leviticus - the substance in the epistle to the Hebrews.

Numbers - God's purposes hindered by man's unbelief. He never intended Israel to come out of Egypt into the wilderness - Exodus 3 verse 8. In the 18th and 14th chapters of this book we see an awful picture of unbelief and only 2 faithful men. For this unbelief Israel was to spend 40 years wandering in the wilderness and at last their blanched bones were to be the sad lessons and memorials to their children. How often we hinder the free action of God's loving purposes by our unbelief. Let us always say "God can" but never "can God".

Deuteronomy - practical consecration or preparation for Canaan. It is worth noticing how constantly we meet with these words "observe to do". The 8th chapter gives us the key note - "all the commandments which I command thee this day shall ye observe to do, that ye may live and multipy and go in and possess the land which the Lord sware unto your fathers."

Our consecration must be complete - all

Our consecration must be now - this day

Our consecration must be practical - observe to do, not to argue, not to admire, but observe to do; practical obedience. Now faith can go in and possess.

Joshua - book of rest and victory, of plenty and joy, of purity and power, grand types we all get in our blessed Joshua. Here we find no defensive war as in the wilderness but aggression. Forward is the word and forward God's children go - on, on, on from strength to strength and victory to victory. "One man of you shall chase a thousand; for the Lord your God, He it is that fighteth for you, as He hath promised you." Joshua 23 verse 10. Only before Ai were they defeated, but when Achan was judged, defeat was a thing of the past. They lusted not for Egypt's fleshpots, for they now had the old corn of the land - a land flowing with milk and honey - a land of promise. Shadows and types of "good things to come", good things which we are called to enjoy. 

It is sad to notice the contrast between the Book of Joshua and the Book of Judges. Victory, joy an communion are changed to defeat, sorrow and backsliding. Gilgal is changed for Bochim and he who had promised and blessed, now mourns over his erring people with all their dead profession and evil. He who wept over doomed Jerusalem has chosen this place of weeping, while he tells them: "I made you to go up out of Egypt and have brought you into the land which I sware unto your fathers, and I said I will never break My covenant with you. And ye shall make no league with the inhabitants of this land; ye shall throw down their altars; but ye have not obeyed my voice; why have ye done this? Wherefore I also said, I will not drive them out from before you; but they shall be as thorns in your sides and their gods shall be a snare unto you." Judges 2 verses1 to 3

In the last chapter of Joshua we read of 3 burials:

"And it came to pass after these things that Joshua, the son of Nun, the servant of the Lord, died, being an hundred and ten years old, and they buried him in the border of his inheritance." "And the bones of Joseph, which the children of Israel brought up out of Egypt, buried they in Shechem." "And Eleazar the son of Aaron died, and they buried him in a hill".

Joseph the leader

Joshua the saviour

Eleazar the priest

But Israel's God was left! The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, the Lord of Hosts, He who had said "Surely I will be with thee" had not failed!

Judges - chapter 1 we see disobedience; constantly the words "did not" "neither did" occur.

Promise - "all that thou commandest we will do" Joshua 1 verse 16 "God forbid that we should forsake the Lord to serve other gods" Joshua 24 verse 16

Disobeyed - "did not" "neither do" Judges 1 verses 21 and 28

"And the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the Lord and served Baalim" Judges 2 verse 11 "And they forsook the Lord" Judges 2 verse 13

We rejoice over the devotedness of some who walked with God and were living witnesses. These men seemed to be raised up to be instruments in the work of revival, gathering Israel's forces and inspiring them once again to seek the Lord with all their heart. Wonderful were the results and the old days of blessing were enjoyed for a season. But these revivals, while they produced blessed effects were only followed by worse periods of declension.

The necessity for faithful witnessing is the one great lesson the Book of Judges teaches and so leads on to the sweet story in the Book of Ruth, the story of individual witnessing and devotedness even on the part of a Gentile girl. Let us not forget that Ruth lives in the days of the judges (Ruth 1 verse 1), otherwise we shall miss what this book is meant to teach us.

Chapter 1

We might call this book "the book of individual witnessing."

Bethlehem is the House of Bread

Judah is praise of the Lord

We may find a famine to test our faith but remember a tested faith should be like a ship driven by a fair gale, blowing us into the harbour of plenty. 

A weak Moabitish damsel, she became a bright witness by her decision and devotion - chapter 1 verses 16 and 18. Hidden away in heathendom, she came forth to trust and find shelter under the wings of the God of Israel - chapter 2 verse 12. and displayed in her life spiritual lessons which have been handed down from generation to generation. From being an obscure Gentil, she became the mother of kings, and so, on to a direct genealogical line with our Lord - Matthew 1.

But a sad lesson is to be learned in the first chapter and it opens with a remarkable example of Israel's condition. A famine was in the land and among the unbelieving Israelites was a man of position and learning of the lofty name of Elimelech (My God is King); his family seemed to share his privileges, for all their names had a very significant meaning.

His wife Naomi = sweetness

His sons Mahlon = song and Chilion = completeness

These words seems to express a beautiful family chain, each one linked together and revealing some sweet grace. It was a fatal step indeed when he went to sojourn in the land of Moab, ending in disaster and death.

We shall have these famines in our Christian experience to deepen our spiritual life, and to call into exercise our trust - "many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivereth him out of them all" Psalm 34 verse 19.

Thomas Adams the Puritan says of this: Be our troubles many in number, strange in nature, heavy in measure, yet God's mercies are more numerous, his wisdom more wondrous, his power more miraculous. He will deliver us out of all.

In spite of the Lord's commands concerning Israel and Moab (Joshua 23 verse 7), Elimelech journeys thither. He might have applied to his richer brethren, or moved to another district and still kept in God's land but no - Moab was his destination. No doubt he only meant to sojourn there until the famine was over but we find he continues there. His soul out of communion, he cares not for the Father's bread and his Father's bounty. He loses his taste for the food of the King's banqueting house and acquires a taste for Moab's food. His spiritual health then gave him a spiritual appetite for Bethlehem's bread but now "his life abhoreth bread and his soul dainty meat." (Job 33 verse 20) Many seek to create a desire for the things of God before they return but are disappointed. Only an ungrieved Spirit creates a spiritual appetite and obedience means restoration and restoration communion.

These people of Moab not only had a shameful beginning (Genesis 19 verses 31 to 37) but were in the days of the Judges known idolators. Baal-peor was their God and although Israel had an awful warning in the days of wilderness wandering (Numbers 25), this Israelite seeks an asylum amongst these God-dishonouring people an din this God-dishonouring land. No divine oracle had been consulted and when we seek to Self as an oracle, we are indeed trusting to a poor fallible thing. How such conduct must grieve our God and hinder his cause. "One sinner destroyeth much good" said Solomon (Ecclesiastes 9 verse 18) and we read that those who looked up to Elimelech were led into this land by the one, who above all, should have pointed them to Jehovah-jireh and bidden their fainting hearts take courage. As we have already seen in the history of Lot, Sodom that wicked city, was his destination and those dear to him were led on by him to evil. His daughters were married to the men of Sodom, and their union only led them to commit a deeper act of sin; while his poor wife's end was sad indeed. what a lesson to us to avoid first steps out of the path of obedience!

Chapter 3

The storm bursts at last, Elimelech dies. It was a storm for weeping Naomi, but surely it was only to clear the atmosphere of her worldly life, and to bring her into God's sunshine once more. What a scene of grief! The open grave, the desolate widow and no true, divine comforter.

Naomi had hard thoughts of God (chapter 1 verses 20 and 21). This hurricane of sorrow did not drive her to the haven of God's love, to an unchanged heart of true sympathy, but only drove her more and more out upon the sea of wordliness. Sometimes this is the case but it will increase divine discipline for God must have his child back.

The 2 sons now seek wives in Moab and unholy marriages take place: the result, no fruit, although 10 years of wedded life was theirs (verse 4). Death again visits that home and with his cold touch lays low these young men.

Three widows stand weeping around open graves, but Naomi's sorrow was deepest, husband and sons had gone and she was bereft; she "went out full" but she is now desolate, broken, empty! "Then she arose with her daughters-in-law that she might return from the country of Moab for she had heard in the country of Moab how that the Lord had visited his people in giving them bread, wherefore she went forth out of the place where she was."

A very decided step, for she not only arose that she might return, but she went forth. We must notice that it was for the Lord's bread and not for the Lord, so she had no influence over one daughter-in-law. When a point in the road was reached, her entreaties were listened to by Orpah but set aside by Ruth. Naomi's was an influence for evil - "Go return" she said. How could she recommend the Lord she had forsaken? Her conduct had estranged her from him. He changed not, as we shall see, and yet she sought to make out that he would be found in Moab, the land of idols. "The Lord deal kindly with you" she said and later on in verse 15 she speaks of Orpah as having gone back to her people and her gods, thus contradicting her own words. How this brings out the awful hindrance a backslider becomes and shows us that such conduct is the great cause of infidelity and a stumbling-block to thousands.

The steadfast-mindedness of Ruth silenced her mother-in-law and she pursued her journey homewards in bitterness of spirit. But although her thoughts of God were hard, yet she found an unchanging Jehovah. The last clause of the last verse is very sweet and expresses the fact that in the Father's house there is enough and to spare. "And they came to Bethlehem at the beginning of barley harvest (verse 22), a true type of plenty. The very ones that met her were a testimony against her. They had remained and the Lord had provided for them through the famine and now although Naomi had found plenty in Moab, she returns empty, bereft "I went out full and the Lord hath brought me home again empty" (verse 21) but he had brought her home again and truly to find a barley harvest of plenty. Oh was a heart our Father's heart is! "If we believe not (are unfaithful) yet he abideth faithful. He cannot deny himself." (2 Timothy 2 verse 13

Chapter 4

Naomi had started for home and with her walked her 2 daughter-in-law Orpah and Ruth.

Orpah's name means a skull or nakedness.

Ruth means satisfied, filled.

That little company of 3 widows was a sad one. Their hearts were still tender, for we read they wept much. The centre one was using her weakened influence to persuade them not to come to God's land, but to go back to their land of idols. It is an epoch in the life of the younger. Idols and death or God and life. Orpah seems to have shown the most outward demonstration, for twice she kissed her mother-in-law even saying "Surely we will return with thee unto thy people" (verse 10) but it was all lip expression and not heart determination, for twice she kissed her mother-in-law, even saying "Surely we will return with thee unto thy people" (verse 10) but it was all lip expression and not heart determination. The test came again (verses 12 and 13) and she yielded to her heart's craving and returned - a fatal choice! What an awful fact Naomi expressed to Ruth, "thy sister-in-law had gone back unto her people and unto her gods"(verse 15).  We hear nothing more of Orpah; her name seems to be a finale to that fatal choice, and in spite of all her profession, empty and dead, she is back again in the land of soul famine and death. Naomi spoke of rest (verse 9) but how could there be rest where the God of rest was not found? The tears, the expressions of devotion, were false. Would to God they had never been shed and never been made! Years have rolled by, but that scene stands like a finger post pointing to the many Orpahs who now walk in her steps.

Chapter 5

We have now come to the decision of this Moabitish damsel, which took her out of Moab's land of idols and soul-famine, and brought her eventually under the wings of Israel's God. At every step the path now grows brighter.

Chapter 1 = Deciding

Chapter 2 = Abiding

Chapter 3 = Confiding

Chapter4 = Delighting

Indefiniteness is a great hindrance to spiritual progress. An indefinite sinner will never find a Saviour and an indefinite Christian will never enjoy the promises and blessings of God.

Abraham was definite from first to last in his obedience, faith and progress and he received definite blessing.

Queen of Sheba - her every step was a definite one and she returned home blessed beyond her expectations, because she was definite - 1 Kings 10 verse 13.

A definite weak, dying woman, pressed her way through the crowd, touched his garment and was made whole.

A blind beggar, definite in his desire for the restoration of his sight, made the ruins of Jericho echo with his cries for mercy to the Christ of God and he received his sight.

The definite step of the prodigal son brought him into the father's house of plenty, into the father's arms of love. 

Ruth was thus definite all through and her steps led her into blessed union with Boaz, the mighty man of wealth.

Naomi's attempts to persuade Ruth to return to Moab were of no avail and were accompanied with power. A soul out of communion has no power. Ruth could look back and see that the hopes and joys of this world were unsatisfying and transient and although Naomi presented them as things to be desired, she could look beyond to an unchanging God. "Thy God (shall be) my God." Father and mother, home and friends were lost. Only one desire filled her heart. One purpose was before her. She must have Israel's God at all costs. 

"Ruth was steadfastly minded to go" 

Chapter 6

From the moment she decided, new joys and new blessings became hers; no passing dream, but deep heartfelt realities. The very expressions Ruth made use of in speaking to Naomi, bring to our minds realities and privileges which are the part and portion of every true child of God. It is helpful to notice how 7 distinct experiences are represented. 

1. Companionship - "I will never leave thee" verse 16.

2. Discipleship - "Following after thee"

3. Citizenship - "Wither thou goest I will go"

4. Fellowship - "Thy people shall be my people"

5. Relationship - "thy God my God"

6. Partnership - "Where thou diest will I die, and there will I be buried."

7. Ownership - "Ye are not your own, for ye are bought with a price."

"The Lord do so to me and more also" (verse 17)

Chapter 7

Ruth's resolve to cleave to Naomi was not merely the outcome of natural affection. While she could see and love her poor backsliding mother-in-law, she had the clear vision of faith and could discern the Lord God of Israel, under whose wings she had come to trust (chapter 2 verse 12).

The first chapter is full of God's dealings and God's leadings. Now we enter upon the second stage. Boaz, a blessed type of the Lord, revealing his heart and his love to one who has turned her back upon what she counted gain.

Let us first of all look at the man.

Boaz means strength, might.

Boaz beautifully typifies Christ. He is the -

Lord of the Harvest - chapter 2 verse 3 - Psalm 23 verse 1

Supplier of wats - chapter 2 verses 13 and 14 - Philippians 4 verse 19

Near kinsman - chapter 3 verse 12 - Romans 8 verse 7, 1 John 3 verses 1 and 2

Redeemer - chapter 4 verse 9 - 1 Peter 1 verse 18

Bridegroom - chapter 4 verse 10 - Isaiah 62 verse 5

Chapter 8

Ruth's steps were steps of faith - from Moab to Bethlehem - from Moab's idols to Bethlehem's God, "under whose wings she had come to trust". Ruth had heard of the rich kinsman, the mighty man of wealth and with her trustful heart she said: "Let me now go to the field and glean ears of corn after him in whose sight I shall find grace." The same decision which characterised her first step is brought out here. "Let me now go" no indefiniteness at all about her actions, and this was accompanied with the most entire faith: "In whose eyes I shall find grace." What an example to many a trembling one who fears to go on and thus their unbelief keeps them out of this matchless grace. It is not enough to have faith but faith must be put into action and this opens up the unsearchable riches in Christ Jesus for the weakest of God's children. We have all we want, more than enough in Christ Jesus and all at our disposal. Let us no longer be passive but active. One of the fruits of the Spirit is faith. A yielded heart is a heart possessed by God and a heart possessed by God is the mainspring of the Christian life. A tree full of sap has no difficulty in producing fruit - it is the natural result. So with a Christian full of the Holy Ghost, the fruit of the Spirit is a spiritual result.

We have seen how link after link fits in throughout this story. We have dwelt upon entering into this fulness of blessing; in our next text we see how it is to be maintained - "Go not to glean in another field, neither go from hence, but abide ye here fast." The blessing is unchanged, but a path of absolute separation and obedience is necessary to constantly enjoy him in his fulness. 

There are many fields around us to allure us from the fields of Boaz. 

Worldliness - with its withering flowers

Ritualism - with its scarlet poppies full of the opium of a false religion

Gain - with it worked out mines

Popularity - with its many pitfalls

Sensuality - with its slimy ditches and stagnant pools

But this field has the "old corn of the land" in it. it is hedged about with a God-made hedge and the Rose of Sharon and Lily of the valley make it fragrant with their perfume. Sweet music sounds, with no discordant note, for all is real harmony when abiding in him. Nothing can hurst. "For they shall not touch thee" and we are as safe as the apple of his eye." We have ever a sweet well of living water to drink out of. "When thou art athirst go unto the vessels and drink". Here the Lord of the Harvest tells us not only to drink, but rivers of blessing shall flow out of us to others.

Let is be said of us: "They came ... and saw ... and abode with him." (John 1 verse 39)

Let us sum this chapter up in 3 words - words we can all remember:

Position - perfect and complete - surely we can say "I have all and abound"

Protection - nothing can touch us there

Invitation - when thou art athirst. "Drink, yea, drink abundantly O beloved" (Song of Solomon 5 verse 1)

Chapter 9

These blessings are all centred in him. In chapter 2 verse 4 we have the personal introduction of Boaz to Ruth and in his person she had presented to her the fountain head and source of all the blessings that flow like a stream through this chapter. In verse 8 Boaz points out to Ruth the only place of safety and blessing - abiding in his field. Our only place of perfect safety and power is in Christ (Ephesians 1 verse 3). The blessings Boaz heaped upon Ruth humbled her to the very dust (verse 10) and surely his blessings should weigh us down, that at his pierced feet we might recognise that it is all of grace and like her exclaim "Why have I found grace in Thine eyes that Thou shouldst take knowledge of me, seeing I am a stranger?" This is not only the position of safety but of further blessing.

True service then is the outcome of devotion and this is what our Master values. Not the magnitude of the work but  its object. Though Ruth had given up much she did not dwell on it like some would, but marvelled that Boaz should take notice of her and that she should find grace in his sight. She did not declare to the servants of Boaz her sacrifice - for it was a sacrifice from one point of view but simply asked permission to glean in the field. Humility characterised all her actions, but what she hid from the servants was known unto the Lord of the Harvest. "It hath fully been shewed me all that thou hast done." That which was done in secret was rewarded openly.

Chapter 10

"It hath been fully showed me all that thou hast done unto thy mother-in-law since the death of thine husband: and how thou hast left thy father and thy mother and the land of thy nativity and art come unto a people which thou knewest not heretofore. The Lord recompense thy work and a full reward be given thee of the Lord God of Israel, under whose wings thou art come to trust." (verses 11 and 12) 

3 points noticed and commended: Devotion - obedience - dependency.

This is what Boaz saw - it was fully seen - not one jot left out, "all that thou hast done" and a full reward was Ruth's.

Chapter 11

The smallest act done for His glory is not overlooked for "it has fully been showed him." Service is the great privilege he has given us down here. We are saved to serve. But there is such a thing as excess of service at the expense of communion and then it becomes dry and unfruitful. 

The key to the whole verse is Boaz

He spoke. She heard his word.

He invited. She came and sat down.

He gave. She received and was sufficed, and rose up to glean.

In verse 9 we had the "go thou" of service, now in verse 14 it is the "come thou hither" of communion. We go out of Christ's presence refreshed to win more souls, gain new victories and even unconsciously let the world take knowledge of us that we have been with Jesus.

He speaks. "Come thou hither". A blessed calling to himself. Notice when: "at mealtime" - you can get spiritual nourishment only from him. "I am the bread of Life, he that cometh to me shall never hunger and he that believeth on me shall never thirst." (John 6 verse 3) It matters not where you are; whatever your circumstances may be, you have Jesus. 

We read "she sat".

He spoke. Can you say "I heard"?

He invited. Can you say "I came and sat down"?

He gave. Can you say "I did eat"? for "he that cometh to me shall never hunger!"

Obedience always brings a blessing. We read "she sat down ... and he reached her parched corn and she did eat and was sufficed and left." We must also note that this place of communion is the place of fellowship one with another, for we read "she sat beside the reapers" and it is alone in this place of fellowship that we learn the true unity and the little petty differences concerning sects and schisms are lost sight of, while we love to sit in fellowship with others, lost in wonder, love and praise.

The Master becomes the servant - "he reached her parched corn" - the tender hand that was pierced must hand the food. When on earth he made the hungry multitude sit down, the bread they did eat and which filled them was broken by his hand.

It was parched corn - burned by fire; and while corn speaks of resurrection - life giving - it takes us back to the time when the scorching fire of God's wrath fell upon the "bruised bread corn" (Isaiah 28 verse 28). What a feast and what a blessed place to abide in and go out from to tell the dying world of a living Saviour, who passed through all this that we might have the "Bread of Life."

She did eat and was sufficed and left.

We never can want, for we have all, and abound.

Chapter 12

In our last chapter we dwelt upon the necessity of having rest and satisfaction ourselves before we can go out to the world in serve, and whiIe I may sit beside the reaper and gaze upon my Boaz, satisfied with the portion He may hand me, inward satisfaction with Him is seen by outward satisfaction with His will, and by my readiness to be and do what he desires.

Our blessed Lord never made barriers in the great harvest field. He meant gleaners and reapers to work together. "Let her glean even among the sheaves and reproach her not." 

The reaper represents a wider sphere of service than the gleaner, although they are both precious to Christ, but if we keep in mind that the greater the service the greater the blessing, and the greater the blessing the greater the responsibility, we shall let fall handfuls for those who may not be equally blessed. "There is that scattereth and yet increaseth, and there is that witholdeth more than is meet, but it tendeth to poverty." (Proverbs 11 verse 24)

"Handfuls on purpose" are often dropped when our dear Lord knows we are needing them. 

The Lord's portion is a satisfying portion. Yea, more than that, it is enough and to spare.

"And her mother-in-law saw what she had gleaned, and she brought forth and gave unto her after she was sufficed." This is proving gloriously that "God is able to make all grace abound toward you: that ye always having all sufficiency in all things may abound to every good work." (2 Corinthians 9 verse 8)

Chapter 13

It was a trustful path which Ruth took when she said "Let me now go to the field and glean ears of corn after him in whose sight I shall find grace " (chapter 2 verse 2) and this path led her into the rich pastures of grace Boaz manifested in his care for her.

"Whose damsel is this?" (verse 5) was a true picture of grace seeking. 

Then his request "go not to glean in another field" (verse 8) was grace caring. 

"They shall not touch thee" (verse 9) was grace protecting. 

"It hath fully been showed me" (verse 10) was grace taking knowledge.

"At meal time come thou hither and eat" (verse 14) reveals grace providing 

and well might Naomi say "Blessed be he of the Lord, who hath not left off his kindness" (verse 2).

Yes, "surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life" but I want more: I want Himself and to dwell in His presence for ever.

"She did eat and was sufficed" we read but she now longed for him more than his gifts. This is a blessed illustration of Christian progress. 

Decision is brought out in chapter 1, the first step in the Christian life.

My decision for Christ leads me to a manifestation of His love and care, typified in the care of Boaz for Ruth (chapter 2).

But this does not bring true rest.

SHE LONGED FOR HIM

So in the divine life: the grace revealed meets all my needs, but the source of it all is the One in whom I can alone rest. 

So chapter 3 opens with "Shall I not find rest for thee?" and is a chapter full of the giver and not his gifts.

The word "rest" in this chapter has 3 very important meanings:

1. A sharer of all

2. A caretaker

3. A comforter

Chapter 14

In the preceding chapter we dwelt upon the fact of what Christ is willing to be to us. It brings us into the closest tie of relationship, with all its privileges - the place next to his heart, the place of the Bride to the Bridegroom. It means a present realised union, with all its deep-flet joys. It is nearness to him. Ruth had learnt by his acts that the heart of Boaz yearned for her. His gifts and care had revealed this. She had accepted them. now she was reaching out for that which far exceeded the tokens of love - the lover himself. In him she was to find rest: to rest in all he was and had, to rest in his tender care, to rest in his heartfelt comfort. It was for her, within her grasp and whatever was needed the price must be gained, gained at all costs, for, apart from him no earthly rest was hers.

Let us now learn the conditions - verse 9 "get thee down". Again in verse 4 "lay thee down."

This attitude maintains the former act - it is a blessed summary of abiding. Abiding seems to imply a deep satisfaction, so nought else is wanted, and there I stop. A "resting in" as I lay down on the bed of his will. The way out is by the door of disobedience, but a restful soul is an obedient soul, and rest is maintained by instant obedience. Do not ask "why" but obey.

Verse 4 "and he will tell thee what thou shalt do." Blessedly true! Not to be argued out, nor to be realised except by those who have laid down their all at his feet, in true submission to his sweet will. 

Chapter 15

Obedience is the door which lets the obedient Christian into the secrets and blessings of his Lord. It takes him out of poverty into wealth, from weakness to strength, from defeat to victory, from sorrow to joy and as our story tells us, from widowhood into wedlock. A real living union with the Bridegroom of my heart's affection. In the preceding chapter we had presented to us the conditions of blessing, here we have the joy of obedience. 

Notice the command followed by the blessing in the following examples:

Noah - "Come thou and all thy house into the Ark" Genesis 7 verse 1 - "To the saving of his house" Hebrews 11 verse 7

Abraham - "Get thee out of thy country" Genesis 12 verse 1 - "I will show thee ... I will make of thee ... I will bless thee." Genesis 12 verse 23

Abraham offering up Isaac Genesis 22 - "In blessing I will bless thee" Genesis 22 verses 17 and 18

Jacob - "Arise and go up to Bethel" Genesis 35 verse 1 - "And God ... blessed him." Genesis 35 verse 9

Gideon - Judges 6 - "Victory" Judges 7

Jeremiah - "Called to be a Prophet" Jeremiah 1 verses 4 to 19 - "His word was in my heart as a burning fire" Jeremiah 20 verse 9

Peter - "Let down your nets" Luke 5 verse 4 - "They enclosed a great multitude of fishes" Luke 5 verse 6

Disciples - "We ought to obey God" Acts 5 verse 29 - "Joy" Acts 5 verse 41

Summary of the results of obedience:

"Home Blessing"; a revelation of God's mind; a blessing to others; the blessing of God; victory; "a tongue of fire"; "a successful venture"; and joy. 

"If a man love me he will keep my words (obedience) and my Father will love him and we will come unto him and make our abode with him." John 14 verse 23

While obedience opens the entrance into the blessings of God and we float on its ocean fulness, it opens the heart of the believer and he becomes a temple in which the triune God resides.

The Master can feast on the affection and obedience of a loyal heart. While such possibilities are within the grasp of all God's children, how few, comparatively speaking, are realising this abiding in its double aspect: "Abide in me and I in you."

Disobedience in even a small matter can and will shut the soul out of a rich blessing. The power of God is at our disposal, but how often there is this "stand still" in our life.

That one word "all" chapter 3 verse 5 is the key which obedience turns in the lock and the door to the store-house opens and I can share the love, affection, life, wealth and power of my Boaz: "Perfect love casteth out fear" 1 John 4 verse 18. Ruth's heart had been fully won. Her only desire now was to realise all that union with him implied. Naomi presented to her the prospect of that union, asking her "shall I find rest for thee, that it may be well with thee?" Ruth 3 verse 1. She did not ask Ruth if she should seek to win the love of Boaz for her, that was already hers, by his acts he had shown it. She knew he loved her. Only to look back upon his dealings in the harvest field proved it. She wanted more than his gifts - they had won her heart; she wanted the giver. She had no fear, his love had cast it out, so she could restfully obey and obey at all costs. "All that thou sayest unto me I will do" was her trustful reply. 

What does disobedience cost? It costs us a life of victory, joy unspeakable, a living union with the living Lord in glory, a sweet consciousness of his smile, and the melody of his voice, heaven below an da thousand more blessings. This is God's gold which many throw away. 

Chapter 16

 "And she went down unto the floor and did according to all her mother-in-law bade her (verse 6) ... and uncovered his feet and laid her down" (verse 7). "I will make the place of my feet glorious" Isaiah 60 verse 13.

First, to his pierced feet, the expression of perfect submission. Our love and devotion draw us there and expel all fear, and we trustingly rest.

There was a nearer kinsman who could claim Ruth (chapter 3 verse 12) whose claims Boaz could and did meet. it was the work of Boaz alone, and he fully accomplished it. The heart of Ruth had in it no place for the nearer kinsman; she had seen and heard Boaz and he had won her heart. Now she began to prove his love To make her his bride he must meet the claims of the law, and he did so when he sat at the gate (chapter 4 verses 1 to 6).

"Behold he winnoweth barley" (verse 2). First ripe and first gathered it becomes a true type of the resurrection - the first fruits. The corn of wheat at Calvary had fallen into the ground and died, the much fruit brought forth at his resurrection was to fill the garner of God, but the winnowing begun at Pentecost, was to separate the chaff from the wheat, and a blessed lesson these 4 words teach. 

The steps taken and the attitude maintained by Ruth told out the covenant of love she had entered into - she was to be his. 

Chapter 17

"I spread my skirt over thee ... and entered into a covenant with thee and thou becamest mine" (Ezekiel 16 verse 8) link it with the request of Ruth, "Spread therefore thy skirt over thy handmaid, for thou art one that hath a right to redeem." (Ruth 3 verse 9). The obedience of faith is a path that leads to the reward of faith. Along this pathway Ruth had been patient walking and now at his feet she was to learn from him, who had a right to redeem, what his heart of love was willing to bestow. How true it is - "perfect love casteth out fear" - expressed by the voice of love which says "fear not."

Ruth's path was a beautiful instance of walking in the light, and led her to the one who performed all he promised. The Highway of Holiness is following Jesus.