The Life of Ruth (19)

Boaz said that Ruth had showed more kindness in the latter end than at the beginning. Her coming to the threshing floor during the blackness of the night declared what lay in her heart. It declared that her life was a life that God had wrought in her heart. Boaz mentioned this latter end and said that she did not follow young men, whether they were rich or poor. She did not seek for a deliverer in Bethlehem with the rich or with the poor—she did not go in the way of the flesh.

Do you see the important lesson here? One who walks with the convictions of God in his heart some- times seeks it here below and wants to be built up, as it were, by man. Ruth did not do that; she wanted only Boaz. She wanted to come to his feet because she needed him. He was the only one who could help her. Do you know why? Because she had learned that there was no one else who could help her, and so, driven by the Spirit, she came to him.

When Ruth was at the feet of Boaz, she received an encouraging promise. He said unto her, “My daughter, fear not.” Those words were a great encouragement for her. My friends, when that greater Boaz is going to speak to His people and comfort them, then He will say unto those souls in distress, “Fear not.” What was Ruth’s fear and soul distress? She had come to the threshing floor because no one else was able to help her. She had come, saying within her heart, “It is all or nothing. It is outside or it will be inside.” That was the concern of her soul. It was not a slavish fear. Boaz had not yet said unto her that he would do the kinsman’s part, so she still had soul concern. Can you understand that there are God’s people who walk around with soul concerns? Maybe it has been such a long time since He spoke encouraging words unto them. Perhaps they have been blessed in the past, but now the night has become so dark for them. Do you know something of that soul concern?

Boaz knew that Ruth loved him and that he loved Ruth, therefore he said unto her, “Fear not.” He knew the feelings that lay in her heart. He then told her that he would do unto her all that she required. What did she require of him? What did she really want from him? She wanted Boaz to spread his skirt over her. That skirt was a wide, flowing garment. She referred to the skirt which the bridegroom wore as he went out to meet the bride. She wanted to hear from him what her future would be. Those are tender times, my friends.

When that greater Boaz speaks unto His people, then He first says unto them, “Fear not.” He takes away all fear so that there is nothing between them. They may then tell Him what they want and desire from Him. They open their hearts unto Him, and He says, “I will do that for you. I will spread My skirt over you and will own you in this way.” That is what Ruth desired. She wanted and needed a deliverer who would redeem her, because she had lost everything. She and Naomi lived in Bethlehem with nothing; all their possessions were gone.

Boaz continued speaking unto her, saying, “For all the city of my people doth know that thou art a virtuous woman.” Was Boaz praising her because there is something to be praised in man? No, but he was saying how she was known by his people. Those people in Bethlehem saw her as a woman who feared the Lord. That is important, people of the Lord. When the people saw her walking through the city, they saw her as a woman who feared God. They could tell by her walk and the way that she spoke. They saw what company she kept. They saw how she dressed. They saw a converted woman. Our godly forefathers used to ask, “Does your husband know that you are converted? Does your wife know? Do your children know that you have a new heart?” I am afraid that our young people miss so much of that example in their lives. Do the young people of the congregation know that you are converted? Can they see it in your walk and conversation? Years ago there was deep reverence in the hearts of the young people when they saw a converted person. They had deep respect for the elders of the church. We have to fear that our young people see so little of the lives of the people of God because it is all so covered over. We have become so conformed unto the world that the young people miss something. They miss something when they cannot say, “I wish that my walk was the same as his or her walk.”

We sometimes speak of the darkness of the times. Jesus Christ says, “When I come, shall I find faith on the earth?” God will have His church and His people throughout all the ages, so we need not be afraid of that. But it is as if He wants to say that faith will be so low. Because of world conformity it will hardly be visible anymore. What did Boaz say unto Ruth? “All my people doth know that thou art a virtuous woman.”

“Howbeit there is a kinsman nearer than I.” What did Boaz mean by this? He was saying that there was one who was nearer and who had more rights than Boaz did at that time. Ruth did not know that, but when she heard it, she realized that she had to step back because there was nothing she could do anymore. It had to be done for her. What is the spiritual meaning here? When a sinner lies at the feet of Jesus Christ, he hears that He is willing to save. But then he hears that for Christ to give Himself unto His bride, satisfaction must first be made unto the justice of God. We have broken the covenant with God and have transgressed against His holy justice and His holy law. That law has a claim upon us. Jesus Christ first has to enter into the lost condition of His people and satisfy the justice of God before He can give Himself unto His people. Only then can they become bride and Bridegroom.

— Rev. J. den Hoed
(Franklin Lakes, NJ)

— to be continued —

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