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Friday 6 November 2009

Ruth Chapter 3 (26th October 2000)

You can never exhaust Scripture! In Ruth 2:5, Boaz enquires after Ruth before she notices him - he is concerned and cares for her! While we were yet sinners Christ died for us, His people (Romans 5:6).

Boaz gave Ruth food and she found him satisfying. Christ is satisfying to the believer! In verses 15 and 16 we see Boaz iving more and more - Christ gives abundantly and everything is provided in Him!

[Chapter 3] How is Ruth going to come to Boaz? What is our attitude as we come to Christ? We must come carefully to Him!

Ruth wanted more than acceptance from people, she wanted God! Naomi points Ruth to Boaz - a picture of a believer pointing an unbeliever to Christ! Christians have a responsibility and duty to point people to Christ!

verse 3 - 3 things Ruth must do
1) Isaiah 1:16 - a sinner must realise the need to repent and be clean. Ruth could have been insulted but she wasn't - she had to be cleansed of the past! Repentance must be daily to gain a continuing refreshing.

2) Ruth has to humble herself to Boaz. She mustn't rush in on him because she must remember who she is approaching. God has to be approached in reverence and humility! cf the parable of the Pharisee and Tax Collector - the TC recognised who He was before God and approached Him in great humility of spirit!

3) She is obedient (v4), and we have to be willing and obedient! We are approaching the Lord Jesus Christ - this is His full title! We have to be willing to obey and repent.

Ruth would have been atrractive so by going to Boaz she was risking everything - she was risking humiliation and being tarnished with a bad reputation! In verse 9 she speaks humbly to Boaz and she was willing to do what Boaz commanded! Boaz was her only hope - everything else was vain! All her hope and trust was on and in Boaz. Here we see her being transformed and is a picture of coming to Christ; coming to His feet and trusting in Him completely! We come to Him because He is our hope in eternity. The apostle Paul was subject to the will of God and he knew it!

In verse 11 we see that see was a virtuous woman and everyone knew it. Coming to Boaz as she did risked the reputation she had with people. When we come to Christ we need to forget our reputation and cast it aside - all must be sacrificed for Him because the Lord is willing to give!

Boaz gives her a promise which is precious. He does not rest until all is completed (v18). We have to go to Christ - He always keeps His promises. He will not break the bruised reed or quench the smoking flax [Isaiah 42:3]. What a promise God gives in Hosea 14: 4 I will heal their backsliding, I will love them freely: for mine anger is turned away from him.

We have a precious Saviour - let's drink of the richness of Christ. May the Lord draw us so others may see the beauty of Christ in us! Amen!

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