RUTH 2:1-4:22
Ruth 1:1-5 Rest Forsaken
Ruth 1:6-22 Rest Desired
Ruth 2-3 Rest Sought
Ruth 4 Rest Secured
REST: Being at peace with God's sufficiency, God's ability and God's strength."There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God. For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his. Let us labor therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief." (Heb 4:9-11)
This is speaking of the "rest of faith". When we are "in faith", we are at rest. The "labor" is getting into that faith. The opposite of grace is NOT effort, but it is "earning". The effort and labor are what we must do with our minds and emotions and wills. They must be instructed to trust God, to believe God, to depend on God. Its opposite is "an evil heart of unbelief" - resulting in "turning back", which is what Orpah did, missing out on the Kingdom. Our rest is obtained by coming to the Lord and trusting Him. We do that OUT LOUD by instructing our hearts that it is safe to trust Him. We meditate (OUT LOUD) on the goodness and greatness of God. Our "labor" is what we do to get "in the rest of faith" (Which is a condition in God of faith and obedience and safety.) Repentance is a process of retraining my heart away from independence, arrogance, insensitivity and self-sufficiency, so that I am free to rest in faith.
BOAZ: A "mighty man of wealth" - our hero. His field (outside of Bethlehem, by the way) is the Kingdom of God. Keep in mind, Boaz is probably Naomi's age - much older, seasoned, matured than Ruth. As Ruth seeks REST, in 2:13 her focus changed from the field and its benefits, to Boaz Himself. She went from "gleaning" to "abiding". (2:8) She "found grace" because she left father and mother and trusted "the Lord God of Israel, under whose wings she had come to trust." (2:11). Next she ate at the Lord's table (2:14) until she was satisfied. Next she ate at the Lord's table (2:14) until she was satisfied.
CHAP 3: STILL SEEKING REST: Pressing in. This comes via the threshing floor. (death to self) The threshing floor is the place of crushing, sifting and cleansing - usually done at night ("dark night of the soul"). She prepared herself through cleansing and waiting. Then Ruth risked it all to be in His Presence. "Spread Your skirt over me" - Jesus, I want Your Name, Your Life, Your Presence.
A NEARER KINSMAN: Our "nearer kinsman" is the Law. It has prior claims on us.
CHAP 4: REST SECURED: "For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh (producing the Son in us), God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit." (Rom 8:3-4)
Because the Law cannot and will not produce the image of Jesus in us, Boaz satisfied the Law by purchasing all the forfeited fields (the world) and bought the Bride! The 10 witnesses are the 10 commandments. The Law of sin and death have relinquished all claims - sin no longer has dominion over us. We can now walk in our inheritance - REST.
OBED: The Seed of Boaz. His name means "worshipping servant". His life ministered restoration of life to Naomi. Ruth brought forth a Manchild who was to rule the nations - David and Jesus. RESPONSE: Every year my husband asks me what I want for my birthday. Every year I give him the same answer, "I got all I wanted when I married you." It's the difference between gleaning the fields and being married to the farmer. NOW do you understand why the Bible calls that "REST"?
JOHN 4:43-54
SIGNS: The word "miracle" is actually the word "sign". These first two "signs" show that John’s purpose for recording "signs" is being fulfilled. People are believing in the person of Christ. There has been a movement from signs to the Savior; movement from wonder to worship. The purpose of the miracle in its context is to bring faith. Jesus is not just the creator of life, but also the restorer of life.
RESPONSE: V.53 says that the father "believed, and his whole house." The man's faith grew and grew as the event unfolded. Faith in the sign; faith in Jesus' words (v.50); faith in Jesus. He didn't just believe that Jesus was a miracle-worker, but that Jesus was the Savior - and his whole household believed too! Jesus confronted unbelief, knowing it would be there (a prophet without honor) - and it didn't stop Him!
PSALM 105:16-36
IN EGYPT: Notice that GOD SENT Joseph ahead of His people to Egypt. For the first time we also discover that Joseph was put into metal stocks that were painful. Some translations say "Iron entered his soul". He matured spiritually. The promise God gave him "tried him" - meaning "to refine with fire".
GOD INCREASED His people greatly. GOD turned the Egyptians against the Israelites. GOD harassed the Egyptians until they were GLAD when the Israelites departed. GOD brought forth His people "with joy...and with gladness (shouting)".
PROVERBS 14:26-27
THE FEAR OF THE LORD: Acute awareness of God's power that produces respect. Overwhelmed by the Greater One. Trembling awareness that life has meaning, and my choices have consequences. Obedience is a demonstration of the fear of God.
RESPONSE: The fear of God is my REFUGE - it keeps me safe. It keeps me from doing stupid stuff and helps me say "no" when I should.
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