King James Bible Study – [Mark 8:34 And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.]
Date: Friday, April 07, 2023
Chapters: THE BOOK OF RUTH
Study: Made One By The Blood of Christ
Hello My Brother/Sister/Friend,
As I dealt with one distraction after another this morning and felt awful for not getting all the chapters read in the time that I wanted to, God, reminded me that I am redeemed, which reminds me of the Gospel hymn, I Stand Redeemed, [When I think of all my faults and my failures. When I consider all the times I let God down. I am humbled at the grace he has extended. I’m amazed at the mercy I have found I could never earn his love on my own. Yet every time I come before His throne. I stand redeemed by the blood of the lamb, I stand redeemed before the great I Am. When he looks at me he sees the nailed scarred hands, That bought my liberty, I stand redeemed.]
There is not one thing we could ever do, even if we became the sacrifice ourselves, that could redeem our soul from hell. That is why Jesus came and purchased my soul for me, with His own blood, [Ephesians 2:11-13 Wherefore remember, that ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands; 12 That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world: 13 But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.]
The Book of Ruth contains four chapters, the author is unknown, but is probable to be Samuel as he wrote the Book of Judges. The timeline for these events is approximately 1300 -1290 BC. The purpose of the book was to show Israel and everyone else that God is not a respecter of persons, He will redeem and accept anyone who comes to Him, [And the women said unto Naomi, Blessed be the LORD, which hath not left thee this day without a kinsman, that his name may be famous in Israel. – Ruth 4:14]
Ruth was a Moabite, Moab despised Israel, and the feelings were mutual. It was full of idolatry, and known for sacrificing children to their god. This was around the time that the civil war was taking place between Israel and the Benjamites, the tribe of Judah being the first to go up against them and lose twenty thousand men. A terrible famine hit the land, a man of the tribe of Judah, named Elimelech, thought the best thing to do for his family was to leave until things got better, and ended up in the land of Moab.
[Ruth 1:1-4 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 Bethlehemjudah went to sojourn in the country of Moab, he, and his wife, and his two sons. 2 And the name of the man was Elimelech, and the name of his wife Naomi, and the name of his two sons Mahlon and Chilion, Ephrathites of Bethlehemjudah. And they came into the country of Moab, and continued there. 3 And Elimelech Naomi’s husband died; and she was left, and her two sons. 4 And they took them wives of the women of Moab; the name of the one was Orpah, and the name of the other Ruth: and they dwelled there about ten years.]
[the country of Moab, and continued there.] This was not supposed to be a permanent stay, only temporary, but as they became content in their temporary dwelling it became permanent. We need to be careful with contentment, while God does want us to be content with what He gives us, contentment often leads to complacency and that is when God needs to stir some things up to get us moving again, [Philippians 4:11-13 Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content. 12 I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. 13 I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.]
Now, it appears that it was after Elimelech died that his sons both married Moabite women, perhaps their decision was based on the mourning of their father. It was likely that they just got too comfortable in their dwelling and decided to stay there, we may never know because they both died as well. So, here is Naomi left with her two daughter-in-laws and no grandchildren. She felt the best thing to do now was go home, her daughter-in-laws actually wanted to come with her, but she actually urged them to stay.
[Ruth 1:7-9,12-14 Wherefore she went forth out of the place where she was, and her two daughters in law with her; and they went on the way to return unto the land of Judah. 8 And Naomi said unto her two daughters in law, Go, return each to her mother’s house: the LORD deal kindly with you, as ye have dealt with the dead, and with me. 9 The LORD grant you that ye may find rest, each of you in the house of her husband. Then she kissed them; and they lifted up their voice, and wept. 12 Turn again, my daughters, go your way; for I am too old to have an husband. If I should say, I have hope, if I should have an husband also to night, and should also bear sons; 13 Would ye tarry for them till they were grown? would ye stay for them from having husbands? nay, my daughters; for it grieveth me much for your sakes that the hand of the LORD is gone out against me. 14 And they lifted up their voice, and wept again: and Orpah kissed her mother in law; but Ruth clave unto her.]
[but Ruth clave unto her.] You see, Ruth, wanted something much more than a husband, she wanted God, and was willing to go wherever she needed to go to be with God even if that meant that she needed to leave her home and family. In fact, she wanted to become an Israelite.
[Ruth 1:16-17,19-21 And Ruth said, Intreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee: for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God: 17 Where thou diest, will I die, and there will I be buried: the LORD do so to me, and more also, if ought but death part thee and me. 19 So they two went until they came to Bethlehem. And it came to pass, when they were come to Bethlehem, that all the city was moved about them, and they said, Is this Naomi? 20 And she said unto them, Call me not Naomi, call me Mara: for the Almighty hath dealt very bitterly with me. 21 I went out full, and the LORD hath brought me home again empty: why then call ye me Naomi, seeing the LORD hath testified against me, and the Almighty hath afflicted me?]
[seeing the LORD hath testified against me,] Naomi, being deprived of her husband, children, and substance acknowledges the hand of God in it. She is not really complaining, but does feel like God took everything away from her for a reason. Complacency, will cause us to get out of God’s will, but God will always work His will on those who seek Him, [1 Peter 3:15-17 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear: 16 Having a good conscience; that, whereas they speak evil of you, as of evildoers, they may be ashamed that falsely accuse your good conversation in Christ. 17 For it is better, if the will of God be so, that ye suffer for well doing, than for evil doing.]
God, saw Ruth’s faith in Him and that is when God would use her to secure the lineage of Judah, from which He would send His Son. Since Elimelech had no surviving sons and Naomi was not planning on getting married to someone related to Elimelech, she came up with a plan to get Ruth married. She just did not know it yet. Elimelech, had a cousin named Boaz, a very wealthy one at that, he was a husbandman, which is another title for a farmer. Naomi, sent Ruth to go work in the fields of which she found herself of all places, in Boaz’s field.
[Ruth 2:1-5 And Naomi had a kinsman of her husband’s, a mighty man of wealth, of the family of Elimelech; and his name was Boaz. 2 And Ruth the Moabitess said unto Naomi, Let me now go to the field, and glean ears of corn after him in whose sight I shall find grace. And she said unto her, Go, my daughter. 3 And she went, and came, and gleaned in the field after the reapers: and her hap was to light on a part of the field belonging unto Boaz, who was of the kindred of Elimelech. 4 And, behold, Boaz came from Bethlehem, and said unto the reapers, The LORD be with you. And they answered him, The LORD bless thee. 5 Then said Boaz unto his servant that was set over the reapers, Whose damsel is this?]
[Whose damsel is this?] Do you see how everyone’s eyes are always open to those who are or say they are one of God’s? However, true Christians are spotted a mile away. If it is not fellow Christians watching us, it is the world just waiting to catch us in the act of doing something they could accuse us of as being a hypocrite, [Hebrews 13:16-17 But to do good and to communicate forget not: for with such sacrifices God is well pleased. 17 Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you.]
When Boaz discovered that this stranger was the daughter-in-law to Elimelech, he did not question her faith or her honesty, in fact, he saw it right before his eyes. That was when he told her that if she is going to work in the field, then she needed to stay close to his group and reap in his field only.
[Ruth 2:8-12 Then said Boaz unto Ruth, Hearest thou not, my daughter? Go not to glean in another field, neither go from hence, but abide here fast by my maidens: 9 Let thine eyes be on the field that they do reap, and go thou after them: have I not charged the young men that they shall not touch thee? and when thou art athirst, go unto the vessels, and drink of that which the young men have drawn. 10 Then she fell on her face, and bowed herself to the ground, and said unto him, Why have I found grace in thine eyes, that thou shouldest take knowledge of me, seeing I am a stranger? 11 And Boaz answered and said unto her, It hath fully been shewed 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. 12 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.]
[Why have I found grace in thine eyes,] That amazing grace, how sweet it is to save a wretch like me. Whether we are working in the fields, washing dishes, answering phones, or taking care of the family, God always rewards us with not only the necessities we need, but desires as well. I cannot even count how many times God has protected me and still does. We can mess up a thousand times a day, and yet His grace saves the day each and every time, [Romans 7:24-25 O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death? 25 I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin.]
Boaz, was quite taken by Ruth, he commands the men to let her continue to glean in the field, only his field, and leave a little bit more than normal for her take home with her.
[Ruth 2:18-20 And she took it up, and went into the city: and her mother in law saw what she had gleaned: and she brought forth, and gave to her that she had reserved after she was sufficed. 19 And her mother in law said unto her, Where hast thou gleaned to day? and where wroughtest thou? blessed be he that did take knowledge of thee. And she shewed her mother in law with whom she had wrought, and said, The man’s name with whom I wrought to day is Boaz. 20 And Naomi said unto her daughter in law, Blessed be he of the LORD, who hath not left off his kindness to the living and to the dead. And Naomi said unto her, The man is near of kin unto us, one of our next kinsmen.]
[The man is near of kin unto us, one of our next kinsmen.] Remember when God gave the law concerning birthright and the inheritance of the father being passed down to the first born son?
[Deuteronomy 25:5,7-9 If brethren dwell together, and one of them die, and have no child, the wife of the dead shall not marry without unto a stranger: her husband’s brother shall go in unto her, and take her to him to wife, and perform the duty of an husband’s brother unto her. 7 And if the man like not to take his brother’s wife, then let his brother’s wife go up to the gate unto the elders, and say, My husband’s brother refuseth to raise up unto his brother a name in Israel, he will not perform the duty of my husband’s brother. 8 Then the elders of his city shall call him, and speak unto him: and if he stand to it, and say, I like not to take her; 9 Then shall his brother’s wife come unto him in the presence of the elders, and loose his shoe from off his foot, and spit in his face, and shall answer and say, So shall it be done unto that man that will not build up his brother’s house.]
When Naomi discovers that Ruth did have the favor of Boaz she thought it might be the opportune time for her to find out how interested he was in her. She encourages Ruth to doll herself up, go find Boaz, and when lies down, lay down at his feet, of all things.
[Ruth 3:1-4 Then Naomi her mother in law said unto her, My daughter, shall I not seek rest for thee, that it may be well with thee? 2 And now is not Boaz of our kindred, with whose maidens thou wast? Behold, he winnoweth barley to night in the threshingfloor. 3 Wash thyself therefore, and anoint thee, and put thy raiment upon thee, and get thee down to the floor: but make not thyself known unto the man, until he shall have done eating and drinking. 4 And it shall be, when he lieth down, that thou shalt mark the place where he shall lie, and thou shalt go in, and uncover his feet, and lay thee down; and he will tell thee what thou shalt do.]
[and uncover his feet, and lay thee down;] Naomi’s instructions may have been strange to us, but they were really quite simple. By laying at his feet she was humbling herself to him, pretty much asking him if he would marry her. Well, Boaz had quite a bit to drink that night, so, he ended up passing out on a heap of wheat, only to be frightened when he woke up to find someone laying at his feet.
[Ruth 3:7-12 And when Boaz had eaten and drunk, and his heart was merry, he went to lie down at the end of the heap of corn: and she came softly, and uncovered his feet, and laid her down. 8 And it came to pass at midnight, that the man was afraid, and turned himself: and, behold, a woman lay at his feet. 9 And he said, Who art thou? And she answered, I am Ruth thine handmaid: spread therefore thy skirt over thine handmaid; for thou art a near kinsman. 10 And he said, Blessed be thou of the LORD, my daughter: for thou hast shewed more kindness in the latter end than at the beginning, inasmuch as thou followedst not young men, whether poor or rich. 11 And now, my daughter, fear not; I will do to thee all that thou requirest: for all the city of my people doth know that thou art a virtuous woman. 12 And now it is true that I am thy near kinsman: howbeit there is a kinsman nearer than I.]
[spread therefore thy skirt over thine handmaid;] This may have been the strangest wedding proposal that you will ever see, and it was the woman who was doing the proposing. Boaz, was quite taken by Ruth and would have married her in a heartbeat, but there was one problem, there was another man who was of nearer kin to Elimelech. If he agreed to marry her then there was nothing he could do. I am sure that Ruth was not too happy about that news, but she patiently waited for Boaz to address the situation. So, the next morning Boaz stood before the kinsman and elders. In order for Ruth to become his wife, he would have to redeem or purchase Ruth from the kinsman. So, the next morning Boaz stood at the gate with the man who was the next of kin to Elimelech along with ten elders for a witness.
[Ruth 4:1-4 Then went Boaz up to the gate, and sat him down there: and, behold, the kinsman of whom Boaz spake came by; unto whom he said, Ho, such a one! turn aside, sit down here. And he turned aside, and sat down. 2 And he took ten men of the elders of the city, and said, Sit ye down here. And they sat down. 3 And he said unto the kinsman, Naomi, that is come again out of the country of Moab, selleth a parcel of land, which was our brother Elimelech’s: 4 And I thought to advertise thee, saying, Buy it before the inhabitants, and before the elders of my people. If thou wilt redeem it, redeem it: but if thou wilt not redeem it, then tell me, that I may know: for there is none to redeem it beside thee; and I am after thee. And he said, I will redeem it.]
[And he said, I will redeem it.] There are many who are willing to accept Christ until they read the fine print. In this case, if he were to buy the field, then someone would come with it, Ruth, and he would have to raise their first son in the name of Elimelech. Well, needless to say that the man refused the offer.
[Ruth 4:5-9 Then said Boaz, What day thou buyest the field of the hand of Naomi, thou must buy it also of Ruth the Moabitess, the wife of the dead, to raise up the name of the dead upon his inheritance. 6 And the kinsman said, I cannot redeem it for myself, lest I mar mine own inheritance: redeem thou my right to thyself; for I cannot redeem it. 7 Now this was the manner in former time in Israel concerning redeeming and concerning changing, for to confirm all things; a man plucked off his shoe, and gave it to his neighbour: and this was a testimony in Israel. 8 Therefore the kinsman said unto Boaz, Buy it for thee. So he drew off his shoe.]
[Buy it for thee. So he drew off his shoe.] It really was a tough call for a man who had hopes of his own wife and family to marry a woman what was his brother’s, and on top of that, their first born son would not be recognized as his own. However, that was the Law and they needed to abide by it, unless they absolutely refused, then that is when the show ceremony took place. Although this was a cousin, he was still the next of kin, and the same Law applied, and this man gladly accepted the disgraceful title and let Boaz purchase Ruth and he became his wife.
[Ruth 4:9-12 And Boaz said unto the elders, and unto all the people, Ye are witnesses this day, that I have bought all that was Elimelech’s, and all that was Chilion’s and Mahlon’s, of the hand of Naomi. 10 Moreover Ruth the Moabitess, the wife of Mahlon, have I purchased to be my wife, to raise up the name of the dead upon his inheritance, that the name of the dead be not cut off from among his brethren, and from the gate of his place: ye are witnesses this day. 11 And all the people that were in the gate, and the elders, said, We are witnesses. The LORD make the woman that is come into thine house like Rachel and like Leah, which two did build the house of Israel: and do thou worthily in Ephratah, and be famous in Bethlehem: 12 And let thy house be like the house of Pharez, whom Tamar bare unto Judah, of the seed which the LORD shall give thee of this young woman.]
[that I have bought all that was Elimelech’s,] Do you understand what Boaz did? Ruth was not a Jew, she had no inheritance, no heritage, no rights, when Boaz redeemed her, he not only paid the price to free her from a man that wanted nothing to do with her, he secured the lineage of Judah, which which David, and His very own Son, Jesus would descend from, [Matthew 1:1,5-6,16 The book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham. 5 And Salmon begat Booz of Rachab; and Booz begat Obed of Ruth; and Obed begat Jesse; 6 And Jesse begat David the king; and David the king begat Solomon of her that had been the wife of Urias; 16 And Jacob begat Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom was born Jesus, who is called Christ.]
[The LORD make the woman that is come into thine house] Ruth, was now as though she was born into the family of Jews. She was not known as a Moabite, or a strange woman, she became one of them, related by blood. This is a perfect illustration of Jesus purchasing His bride, which are the souls of those who believe in and receive Him, with His blood. The second we receive Christ as our Saviour we are one of God’s children, and that means whether Jew or Gentile, we are of God, and treated no differently,
[Romans 10:8-12 But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach; 9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. 10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. 11 For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed. 12 For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him.]
Today’s Prayer: God, I know and believe with all my heart that Jesus is Your Son, who died for my sins, was buried, and arose again on the third day, and I have accepted Him as my only way to You and Your Kingdom. To acknowledge this truth comes so naturally with great enthusiasm, boldness, and conviction, but the real test is when I publicly acknowledge these truths among those who do not agree with me. Lord, where You go, I go, no matter where you place me or what role You give me, by Your grace, I know I can and will endure the things before me, and I will reap the rewards for my faithfulness. I ask this in Your name, Jesus. Amen.
God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina
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