89 - From Gleaner to Wife and Mother

Ruth and Boaz
Gustave Dore

Chareen's Thoughts

• Today continues the story of Ruth.
• Ruth goes to glean food in Boaz's fields.
• Boaz gives her his blessing and instructs her to glean in his fields.  He tells his harvesters to look after her and feed her.
• As was their custom Boaz was the family redeemer and Naomi encouraged Ruth to stay with the woman in Boaz's fields for protection.
• Naomi instructed Ruth to go to Boaz after the winnowing of barley. She did as Naomi said and Boaz acknowledges his duty to her as redeemer.
• Boaz spoke to the family redeemer at the gate who refuses his inheritance at the city gates.
• Boaz redeemed Naomi and Ruth and married Ruth.
• The Lord blessed Ruth with Obed. He was the father of Jesse, the father of David [the ancestor of Jesus Christ]. Ruth 4:17.
• During this time the Lord anointed and appointed Deborah and Barak as the fourth and fith judges of Israel.
• Barak was a man of fear too and would not go as the Lord said unless Deborah went with him.  She warned him that because of this he would receive no honour for the Lord would deliver Sisera into a woman's hand.
• Sisera was defeated ...all the army of Sisera fell by the sword; not a man was left. Judges4:16

As I read the story of Ruth today my thoughts were about how Naomi's husband moved to make a better life for his family yet he and his two sons both died.  When you look at this situation in the flesh it looks hopeless and yet God's design was to graft a non believing nation into Israel.  Not only that she was the mother of the grandfather of King David from whom the Messiah was born. She who's heart was faithful and obedient was rewarded with a book in the bible named for her and she is mentioned in the linage of Jesus. I think I forget to often that The steps of a [good] man are directed and established by the Lord when He delights in his way [and He busies Himself with his every step]. Psalm 37:23

Blessings
Chareen.

A Triumphant Love Story.

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