(Ruth's 3)"Boaz and Ruth: The Waiting and Grace of Faith"

Shalom,

The feeling of emptiness and disappointment when I lose a reflection I've written... it can be hard to gather myself again, even with the thought that God must have a purpose behind it. I had just finished writing my reflection, and I had added more to it, only to lose the entire draft. Each time this happens, I can't help but think of Esther. Esther used the royal beauty treatments given to her by the king and did not ask for anything more. But why do I still feel the need to strive for more?

Although I lost much from the original thoughts I had when I first began writing, I turn my heart back to the Lord and reflect once again. Lord, forgive me for my shortcomings and foolishness.

Cover me with Your cloak and show me Your grace...

 

I am Your servant Ruth; please cover Your servant with Your garment. (Ruth 3:9)

 

The second chapter of Ruth ends with the words that Ruth lived with Naomi until the barley and wheat harvests were completed. As most of us know, the barley harvest represents the first rapture and the wheat harvest represents the second. So, does it mean that Ruth is not part of the first rapture, since she lived through both harvests?

As I return to my reflection on Ruth chapter 3, I still need time to revisit it. But for now, I want to reflect once more on things I couldn't include in the previous reflection. This part is deeply personal, so I ask for your understanding if you have different thoughts on this.

 

The Feast of First Fruits (Leviticus 23:9-14; 1 Corinthians 15:20)
The Feast of First Fruits, called "Bikkurim" in Hebrew, takes place during the Feast of Unleavened Bread. It happens the day after the first Sabbath following Passover. The Passover lamb was sacrificed on the 14th of Nisan, the Feast of Unleavened Bread began on the 15th, and the First Fruits offering took place on the 16th. It was a time for offering the first sheaf of grain, marking the beginning of the barley harvest. Before this offering was made, the people were not allowed to eat bread, roasted grains, or even fresh grains.

In Ruth chapter 2, we see that Boaz started the barley harvest, and Ruth, along with the reapers, was invited to eat bread and roasted grains. From this, it seems that Boaz had offered the first fruits to God.

Boaz told Ruth to come and eat bread and dip it in the vinegar. When Ruth sat among the reapers, Boaz gave her roasted grain, and she ate and was satisfied, with some left over. (Ruth 2:14)

This aligns with the command in (Leviticus 23:14)

which instructs that until the first fruits offering is made, no one should eat of the grain.

 

Boaz and Ruth: A Picture of Christ and the Church
Boaz, who is a picture of Jesus, marries Ruth. So, how should we reflect on the book of Ruth? The line of Judah is the lineage through which the Messiah comes, and kings were permitted to take many wives. The command against multiplying wives (Deuteronomy 17:17) was not about prohibiting many wives altogether, but about ensuring the king's heart was not led astray. In the history of Israel's kings, there were very few who had only one wife, and those who did were exceedingly rare.

The position of queen and concubine is different in Scripture, and we see various depictions of women in this role: the wives of David, the wives of Solomon, and the foreign queens like Esther. So, where does Ruth fit in among these women? I ponder deeply.

In Revelation 12, there is a depiction of a woman who gives birth to a child, and God takes that child to His throne. The woman is then nurtured in a place that God has prepared for her.

"She gave birth to a male child, who will rule all the nations with an iron scepter," (Revelation 12:5) and then she flees into the wilderness where she is nourished for 1,260 days (Revelation 12:6).

 

The authority to rule with an iron scepter is given to the overcomers in the church of Thyatira, and Boaz’s words to Ruth reflect a similar message of overcoming.

Ruth, like the woman in Revelation 12, represents God's people who, while waiting for their true husband (the Messiah), are nurtured in a place of preparation. I reflect on the story of the Samaritan woman in John 4, whom Jesus revealed as waiting for the Messiah. Just as she was waiting, we too are called to wait for our true Husband, the Lord, with patience and hope.

The woman in Revelation 12 gives birth to a son who will rule the nations with an iron scepter. I see this authority in connection with the promise to the overcomers in the church of Thyatira. Ruth’s story also holds a parallel to this promise, as her act of waiting and patience, much like that of the church, is rewarded.

As for the kingship and authority, we know that the Messiah, Jesus, came from the line of David.

David had many wives and concubines, but the woman whom God had prepared for him was Bathsheba, and from their line came Solomon. Even in the midst of David’s failings, God’s plan continued to unfold through him.

 

The King's Heart for His Bride
The story of Ruth and Boaz is a beautiful representation of Christ's relationship with His bride, the Church. Ruth, an outsider, becomes the bride of Boaz, and through this union, she moves from a position of lowly status to one of honor. Likewise, the Church, though we were once outsiders, has been brought into union with Christ, elevating us to a place of honor and glory.

The Scripture also warns against allowing other affections to take hold of our hearts, as we are betrothed to Christ. Just as God is the husband of Israel, we, too, are called to remain faithful to Him. There are times when we are drawn away by the things of the world, but God's love is unshakable. He calls us back to Himself, just as He called Israel back to His love after they turned to other gods.

In the story of the ten concubines of David, we see a similar theme of God's grace and the process of restoration. These women, who were abandoned and misused, were given a time of protection and healing. It’s as though God gives us time to be restored, even when we have been defiled by the world.

In the end, Ruth's story is a story of redemption, restoration, and hope.

God, in His perfect plan, chooses the weak and the lowly to bring about His will.

He does not call the strong and the mighty, but those who are humble and obedient.

The same grace that allowed Ruth to marry Boaz is the same grace that invites us into union with Christ.

 

Conclusion
The book of Ruth reminds us that God's redemption is available to all, regardless of their background. Ruth, a Moabite, an outsider, became a part of God's redemptive plan. Through her union with Boaz, she became part of the lineage of the Messiah. We, too, are invited into this same redemptive story, called to wait for our true Husband, the Lord Jesus Christ. As we reflect on the story of Ruth, let us remember that God’s grace is sufficient for all of us, and He calls us to live in His love, waiting faithfully for His return.

"Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love Him." (James 1:12)

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