Things Written Aforetime For Our Learning - The Story Of Ruth

by N.D.W.Millar | Category: For Young Believers | Jun 1933

CHAPTER 3.

"'Hearken, 0 daughter, and consider, and incline thine ear; forget also thine own people, and thy father's house; so shall the king desire thy beauty: for he is thy Lord; and worship thou him" (Psalm 45. 10, 11).

"A virtuous woman who can find?

For her price is far above rubies

Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain;

But a woman that feareth the LORD, she shall be praised "(Proverbs 31. 10, 30).

These words can, I think, be fitly applied to Ruth in her day. Did she not hearken, and consider, and incline her ear? And did she not turn her back upon all that was naturally dear to her, and set out upon the unknown path-the path of faith? Yes! A retrospect-a looking back-reveals that Ruth made choice of God, and of God's people, in the day of opportunity. She proved God's faithfulness and the truth of His Word in providing for her in all her stranger need. And in doing so God brought her into life-long touch with Boaz her kinsmanredeemer. All through his harvest Ruth wrought diligently and well, right on to the end of barley harvest and of wheat harvest.

"And Naomi her mother in law said unto her, My daughter, shall I not seek rest for thee, that it may be well with thee ?

As we come now to consider chapter 3., we find the whole scene is changed. Naomi herself is very different. It is not now, as in chapter 1.-" The LORD grant that ye may find rest "-meaning all the while, rest in the dark land of Moab. Now that she herself is once more nestling beneath the wings of the God of Israel, her desire is for the well-being of the young woman who was better to her than seven sons. Naomi was a wise woman-she acted toward Ruth as "a mother in Israel." How delightful, in days such as Ruth lived in-" the days when the judges judged," to be a mother in Israel-a mother in the true spiritual sense. It is good when young sisters-- disciples of the Lord Jesus-have " a mother in Israel " to care for them-one whose whole behaviour-whose manner of life-not only commands respect, but wins the confidence of the young Christian. To such she can go and recount her trials ; and tell her troubles ; feeling assured she has a confidante.

And the same applies to "fathers." If ripe in years, and in experience, do try to be a father-a real confidant to the young of the Flock. "For though ye should have ten thousand tutors in Christ, yet have ye not many fathers," said Paul. "Tutors " are plentiful; but "fathers " are rare.

" Shall I not seek rest for thee, that it may be well with thee," said her mother in law. Rest here, means a settled spot-a home-a place of rest. It suggests at once the rest of obedience, which should follow the rest of satisfaction. You have noticed that there are two "rests " in Matthew 11. " I will give you rest," and, "Ye shall find rest." They are not the same. The first is His gift to every sinner who believes: the second is conditional, and results from obedience to Him. Many know the blessing of the former, who have no experience of the latter.

Ruth, thus far, by putting God's Word concerning His provision to the test, was altogether satisfied. But God had more for Ruth than the provision of the field-than gleaning after the reapers among the sheaves.

The harvest was now past. But by continued faith and obedience Ruth will find a place of rest-a settled spot---a home-at the feet of this same mighty man of wealth who took knowledge of her as "the Moabitish damsel" when he first came to her in all her stranger need.

Now it is no longer "the man." "Is there not Boaz our kinsman?" said Naomi. Ruth at first knew nothing of his nearness. But the more she grew in the knowledge of Boaz, the nearer she got to him. He is the one to buy back-to redeem. Naomi could instruct Ruth in these things. And it was for Ruth, on her part, to rise to the dignity of her new surroundings, and behave in a manner becoming such nearness of relationship. And she did, worthily and well.

"Is there not Boaz our kinsman ... Behold, he winnoweth barley to-night in the threshing floor." This is striking. For Boaz had servants many-men to plow; men to sow; men to reap his harvest; but when it came to the process of winnowing, the emphasis is laid on Boaz himself. He winnoweth. For, is not Boaz a type of Christ? "Whose fan is in His hand," and who "will throughly cleanse his threshing-floor; and He will gather His wheat into the garner, but the chaff He will burn up with unquenchable fire" (Matthew 3. 12). As in the parable of the drag-net, this speaks of the inevitable separation -the gulf that will for ever exist between heaven and hell-- between the saved and the lost. What a day that will be But after His winnowing is accomplished, think of the eternal satisfaction and joy that will for ever follow.

"Not the very image of the things." These words are applied to the Law in Hebrews 10. So is it with the types. As compared with the substance and the antitype, types are generally imperfect. It is perhaps needful to say this here as we come to consider Naomi's instructions to Ruth. In some way Naomi knew that Boaz was to spend the night in the threshing floor. "Wash thyself therefore," said Naomi, "and anoint thee, and put thy raiment upon thee, and get thee down

to the threshing floor ... and ... 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." This was no easy task; but again Ruth's faith and implicit obedience shine out with true disciple-like lustre. "And she maid unto her, All that thou sayest, I will do."

In the language of typology Ruth is now washed, anointed, and clothed-three essentials in the realm of divine things.. Paul, in reminding the Corinthians of their sinner days, wrote- "And such were some of you; but ye were washed, but ye were sanctified, but ye were justified in the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ, and in the Spirit of our God" (I Corinthians 6.).

Think of Ruth! Not now as "the Moabitish damsel" in the rustic garb of the gleaner; but washed and anointed, and having her raiment upon her.

And think of Boaz! When he had "eaten and drunk, and his heart was merry," lying down at the end of the heap of corn. Surely it presents the picture of a man satisfied with the work he had accomplished. Seed-time and harvest are now past : the winnowing fan has accomplished its task, and he has cause to rejoice in the goodness of Israel's God.

It was under these circumstances that Ruth "came softly, and uncovered his feet; and laid her down. And it came to pass at midnight, that the man was startled (R.V.M.), and turned himself: and, behold, a woman lay at his fret."

What follows is very beautiful, and must be read in the light of the high tribute that Boaz paid to Ruth one of the highest commendations that any woman could earn-"AII the city of my people doth know that thou art a virtuous woman." And as such, Ruth's price was indeed "above rubies." -

"Who art thou," said Boaz, on awaking. "And she answered "-not-" I am the Moabitish damsel," or, "I am a stranger" but, "I am Ruth thine handmaid: spread therefore thy skirt over thine handmaid; for thou art a near kinsman,"

All this is rich in significance, when we read it in the light of the symbolic language of Ezekiel 16. There we get a divine illustration : there we view God in His dealings with Jerusalem, the holy and beloved city. Wonderful, indeed, is the language Cod uses. "The Amorite was thy father, and thy mother was an Hittite ... in the day thou wast born ... none eye pitied thee ... Now when I passed by thee, and looked upon thee, behold, thy time was the time of love; and I spread My skirt over thee ... and thou becamest Mine. Then washed I thee ... and I anointed thee ... I clothed thee also ... and thou wast exceeding beautiful ... thy beauty ... it was perfect, through My majesty which I had put upon thee, saith the Lord God."

In this way God instructs us. With absolutely nothing to boast about as to origin-abandoned, and ready to perish-Jerusalem lay with none to pity. But God passed by-and looked. That was all. God did everything. And so it was with you and me.

He looked on me-oh, look of love!

By it my heart was broken;

And with that look of love He gave

The Holy Spirit's token.

Viewing the type, then, we see that Ruth washed, anointed, and clothed herself, as instructed by Naomi; and that Boaz did in part what GOD says He did for Jerusalem. "I spread My skirt over thee."

I am Ruth," begat response, and in one brief sentence Boaz spoke volumes to her heart. "Fear not; I will do to thee all that thou sayest." There she was, in his presence-at his feet. How different those priceless moments as compared with the field, with its ceaseless labour ! Now she can listen, as one of the family, to the sweet unfoldings of his purpose. Here she can learn that there is "a nearer kinsman "-one with a prior claim-and, said Boaz, "if he will not do the part of a kinsman to thee, then will I do the part of a kinsman to thee, as the LORD liveth: lie down until the morning." Wondrous hour! The still midnight hour of quiet communion with himself. "And she lay at his feet until the morning." "At his feet." At His feet and, "until the morning." There is no place like it. And there is no moment for us, like the moment that will usher in "the Morning." At His feet-" Until the day break, and the shadows flee away" (Song of Songs 2.). May you, as you grow in grace, covet to know more of this. "Martha received Him into her house (and more than that-Martha received Him into her heart-see John 11. 27). And she had a sister called Mary, which also sat at the Lord's feet, and heard His Word" (Luke 10. 39).

Christ never asks of us such busy labour,

As leaves no time for resting at His feet

The waiting attitude of expectation,

He often counts a service most complete.

He sometimes wants our ear, our rapt attention,

That He some sweetest secret may impart

'Tis always in the time of deepest silence

That heart finds fullest fellowship with heart.

"And he said, Bring the mantle that is upon thee, and hold it; and she held it: and he measured six measures of barley, and laid it on her ... for he said, Go not empty unto thy mother in law." Six measures. Not seven. Seven is the perfect number, and speaks of fulness. Six was blessing in part-the seventh was to come. "When that which is perfect is come, that which is in part shall he done away "(1 Corinthians 13.).

What a wonderful story Ruth had to tell Naomi on her return with her burden. Did she feel the burden he laid upon her, heavy? We may be quite sure, No! "My burden is light." And on that early morning Ruth carried away from the presence of Boaz more than winnowed barley-she bore home, all unknown to herself, the impress of that interview stamped upon her radiant and happy face. May you, in your old or new surroundings, commend your Saviour and Lord, so that those who are strangers to grace and to God, as you once were, may be able to take knowledge of you that you have been with Jesus.

"Sit still, my daughter," said Naomi, "the man will not rest, until he have finished the thing this day." That is true.

He which began a good work in you will perfect it until the (lay of Jesus Christ " (Philippians 1. 6.)

N.D.W.Millar | Jun 1933
For Young Believers