Truth for today, #18

The relationship between Boaz and Ruth is deepening. He saw her at once upon entering his fields and soon he is talking to her. He called her a damsel at first, verse 5 but soon he was calling her daughter, verse 8, an affectionate and polite term. In speaking to her Boaz tells her to stay in his fields as it would be safer and she would be cared for, verse 9.

1. Ruth lived with an awareness of her sinful background. She was conscious of her unworthiness, verse 10. She was a stranger, an alien, a foreigner. What a feature of true grace this is!

Moses — “And Moses said unto God, Who am I, that I should go unto Pharaoh, and that I should bring forth the children of Israel out of Egypt?” Exodus 3:11.

David — “And David said, Seemeth it to you a light thing to be a king’s son in law, seeing that I am a poor man, and lightly esteemed?” 1 Samuel 18:23. Paul — For I am the least of the apostles, that am not meet to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God,” 1 Corinthians 15:9 & “Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ,” Ephesians 3:8.

In heaven the saints abidingly recall from whence they came. “And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation,” Revelation 5:9.

2. Ruth recognised the grace of Boaz. She realised that Boaz looked with favour upon her. This is how Christ looks upon His people, unworthy as they are. Mephibosheth — “And David said unto him, Fear not: for I will surely shew thee kindness for Jonathan thy father’s sake, and will restore thee all the land of Saul thy father; and thou shalt eat bread at my table continually. And he bowed himself, and said, What is thy servant, that thou shouldest look upon such a dead dog as I am?” 2 Samuel 9:7-8.

3. How unconscious Ruth was of her own graciousness. Verse 11-12. “Why have you been so kind,” she says. Her acting as she did toward Naomi was seen as a most virtuous thing by Boaz. Matthew 25:37-40. Boaz admired her faith, her love and her identifying of herself with the God of Israel and His people.

Christ loves those who have left all for Him. Luke 18:29-30. “And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb,” Revelation 7:14.