UT 3{Naomi, we have said, presents not only an example of experience but of intelligence. She is happy that Ruth should have found such a guide. Naomi commands, but her commands are not grievous, being those of love. " My daughter, shall not seek rest for thee, that it may be well with thee? " What she enjoins is with a view to the happiness of Ruth, whom she loves; but likewise because she knows the heart of Boaz: "Is not Boaz of our kindred?" Ruth, the woman of faith obeys " She did according to all that her mother- in-law bade her " (ver. 6). May we be able to obey in the same manner. Obedience is easy to those who know that God loves them, and that He only desires their rest and happiness, and that Christ loves them, and bears them continually upon His heart; but it is difficult when the soul has as its object the pleasing of self, and the finding of happiness and rest apart from Christ.
Boaz is about concluding his labors; the harvest over, he must winnow his crop on the threshing floor, after which he will gather it into his grainaries. His heart was satisfied; will he repulse the poor Moabitess? Naomi is full of confidence, and knows how to point out to Ruth the path of blessing. " Wash thyself therefore, and anoint thee, and put thy raiment upon thee, and get thee down to the floor: but make not thyself known to the man, until he shall have done eating and drinking. And it shall be, when he Beth down, that 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." Ruth prepares herself for this meeting, lies down at his feet and awaits his word. This will be the character of the poor remnant of Israel, found faithful at the moment that the Messiah will manifest Himself after their long night of waiting. But is there not a much greater reason that these characteristics should be ours? We have heard the voice which tells us to wash and anoint our selves, and to be prepared for Himself only. Have we forgotten Him? Where are we now? Have we gone in to pass the night on His threshing floor, or on that of strangers? Have we responded like Ruth, from the bottom of our hearts: " All that thou sayest unto me I will do "? Yes, He wishes that we may be practically worthy of Himself; that, lying at His feet, acknowledging His rights over us, we may wait patiently for His word during the hours of the night. Soon our Boaz will break the silence. Will it be to reprove us severely, or to express His approbation of our conduct?
In the middle of the night Boaz recognizes the one who had come to place herself under his protection, and blesses her. The book of Ruth, this history of grace, is full of the blessings of both of the giver and of the receiver. Every heart is full of joy, from the moment that Boaz appears on the Scene. His presence awakens praise, for he dispenses about him all the blessings of grace. What infinite happiness to praise Him! But is it not also happiness to receive, like Ruth, the testimony of His satisfaction with us? May we covet earnestly the approbation of Christ. How humbling to pink how little we seek it! The praise of men puffs us up, but His never does. He commends us for what His infinite grace sees in us; He sees an us what His grace has produced, and what answers to His thoughts.
Boaz praises Ruth in that she has " showed more kindness in the latter end than at the beginning." At first her love had been in exercise towards her mother-in-law, who represented for her the people of God; now she was actuated by love for Boaz. She had not gone after young men whether poor or rich, nor sought companions according to natural affections, but had come to the one whose rights she acknowledged. He reassures her and promises to do for her all that she requires (ver. 1). What encouragement for faithfulness! All that we receive is of His grace, but He also gives us according to the measure of our obedience and of our spirit of sacrifice for Himself. " Give and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together and running over " (Luke 6:3838Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again. (Luke 6:38)). As soon as Ruth had come to know Boaz, she had done everything with respect to him; and now he does everything for her. He is not satisfied to remain debtor to us; He would grant all the desires of the faithful heart.
" All the city of my people doth know that thou art a virtuous woman." Ruth combined those qualities of which Peter speaks, which make the one who has them neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. She adds to her faith virtue (courage); to virtue knowledge; to knowledge temperance (self-control); to temperance patience; to patience godliness. To love for her own she adds love, and " shows more kindness in the latter end than at the beginning." She receives likewise an abundant entrance into the kingdom. This faithfulness touches the heart of Boaz: " I will do to thee all that thou requirest!" What an example for us! May it be our earnest desire to receive a response like that. The church at Philadelphia received it. Having kept the word of His patience and walked in practical holiness like Ruth, Jesus says to her: I will do all for thee! The Lord will also bless the poor Jewish remnant at the last according to the virtue, the holiness and the practical righteousness which they have manifested in their ways. He blesses us now in the same way: " Whatsoever ever we ask we receive of him, because we keep His commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in His sight " (1 John 3:2222And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight. (1 John 3:22)).
However, a near kinsman who had the right to redeem was before Boaz. Would he, or could he, exercise his right? We shall see later. In the meantime Ruth has the privilege of lying at the feet of Boaz until the morning. This will be the [: part of the remnant, and it-is ours also. We can rest at His feet while the night lasts. Is it not a most blessed place? To be at His feet, having His approval of our walk, depositaries of His promises, fully assured that He has heard us, and that the labor of this wretched life will have a termination, and give place to the public manifestation of our association with Him, and to the possession of the glorious fruits of His work!
Now it is himself who has a care for Ruth's reputation, and justifies the holiness of the one whom he wishes to make his companion. But before openly espousing her cause, he fills her wail: giving her secretly the pledge of what he has in his mind to do for her. (Ver. is.) He acts in the same way towards us. The dawn is near, but before we can see and meet Him, He has already given us the Holy Spirit of promise, and the earnest pledge of our future inheritance.
Ruth returned laden to her mother-in-law and " told her " (not what she had done for Boaz, but) " all that the man had done to her." Her heart is 4 full of him, but she needs that her mother-in-law should enjoin patience. She will not have very long to wait, for the one who has taken her cause in hand, will not delay bringing it to a triumphant conclusion. " The man will not be in rest," says-Naomi, " until he have finished the thing this day." Why? Because he loves her. Ah! this is the great, and the only reason of His work for us. Do we ourselves, brethren, speak like Naomi? Have we the happy consciousness of the love of Jesus for us? Are we waiting for Him as the One who will give Himself no rest, until He has finished this day? The this day is, for us, the daily expectation of our Savior. He wishes to have us with Himself. Yet a little patience, for, " Yet a little while and He that shall come will come, and will not tarry."
(Continued from page 40.)
( To be continued, D.V.)