UT 2{We have seen in the first chapter the beautiful expression of faith on the part of Ruth. Beautiful too in effect, for such characterizes everything that comes from God. Did not Jesus Himself marvel at the centurion of Capernaum, who, by faith, acknowledged his own unworthiness and the 'all-sufficiency of the word of the Lord to heal? Chapter 2 brings before us the various characteristics of this faith and the blessings which grace attaches thereto.
Up to this Ruth's faith was resting upon the work of grace that God had wrought in behalf of people; but it is absolutely necessary that faith should have an object-a personal object-and it is impossible that such should not be met with. As yet Ruth did not know this mighty man spoken of in the first verse; but she hopes to meet him on the ground of grace. Hearken to what she says to Naomi: " Let me now go to the field, and glean ears of corn after him in whose sight I shall find grace." This land of Israel where God has visited His people to give them bread, will be sure to have some ears of corn for her likewise. Although poor and without any rights, she knows that she can count on the resources of Jehovah. Her path is clear, for the path of faith is always so, but it was not the choice of her own will. We often call that the path of faith which is the outcome of our own thoughts, or the desires of our natural hearts, whilst faith never acts save in dependence on the word. Ruth consults Naomi, and Naomi says to her: " Go, my daughter!" God was certainly guiding her in this path. His grace caused her providentially to enter the field of Boaz.
Boaz, of the family of Elimelech, who was dead, replaces him, so to speak. Naomi has in Israel a protector, a rich and powerful head of the family. " In him is strength" to restore this poor house completely ruined. His name is that of one of the two pillars of the future temple of Solomon
1 Kings 7:2121And he set up the pillars in the porch of the temple: and he set up the right pillar, and called the name thereof Jachin: and he set up the left pillar, and called the name thereof Boaz. (1 Kings 7:21)), set up by that king as witnesses of the establishment of his kingdom, of that glorious period which followed the troublous reign of David. Boaz comes from Bethlehem, wishing his servants the blessing of the harvest day (Psa. 129:88Neither do they which go by say, The blessing of the Lord be upon you: we bless you in the name of the Lord. (Psalm 129:8)), and at once notices Ruth among the reapers. Thus it is that grace anticipates faith. The servant that was set over the reapers bears witness to the Moabitess. She has come, says he, as a humble and poor supplicant, and immediately set to work, scarcely allowing herself any rest. Like this servant, the Spirit of God bears witness at the present time to the character and activity of our faith. " Remembering without ceasing your work of faith," says the apostle to the Thessalonians. Faith is diligent and does not take rest, lest it should not gather up the blessings that God has strewn in its path.
What a touching interview is this first meeting between Boaz and Ruth! The words which fall from the lips of the mighty man sound like heavenly music in the ears of the poor stranger. Is he going to upbraid her for her intrusion? Who would do him the injustice to suppose it? Hearest though not my daughter It has been and is my desire that you should be in my field and not in any other; let nothing induce you to leave it. He puts her with his maidens. Let her not fear the men; has he not given them charge not to touch her? If the domain of Boaz yields her nourishment, she also finds wherewith to quench her thirst there. What tokens of grace are thus showered upon Ruth! But wait: this and the following chapters have fresh ones in store for her. They go on augmenting and expanding unto the; utmost bound of the everlasting hills (cf. Gen. 49.26)! Ah! it is because she has to do with Boaz. If faith is a wonderful thing, how much more so is He who is the object of it. Such dignity, and that combined with such condescension, as well as with tenderness almost maternal! It rises aloft like the pillar of brass in Solomon's temple, it comes down to the minute and delicate considerations of love-a love that has nothing in common with human passion—full of holy majesty and mercy, lifting up to itself the beloved one after having in grace come down to its level. Such is Boaz, such is our Jesus!
The apprehension of the resources of grace does not come to us in a moment. They are ours according to the measure of the activity of our faith. Christ opens to us gradually the enjoyment of the infinite treasures of His heart.
The first movement of Ruth is to fall on her face, and bow herself to the ground. How can she be other than grateful when Boaz expresses himself thus? You who say you knew Him, you have never believed, if the words from the mouth of Christ have not cast you down at His feet. 0 dry hearts, and arid souls! You rationalists of the present day, who dare to take the name of Christian, and judge the word of our Lord instead of receiving it! Fools, asserting yourselves in His presence, criticizing and dissecting Him (conduct more outrageous really than that of the coarse soldiers who spat upon Him) when you should cast yourself broken and abject at His feet! Away! dwell with your pride until judgment overtakes you; the fields of Boaz, his promises and his person will never belong to you!
Ruth then opens her mouth.." Why," says she, " have I found grace in thine eyes, that thou shouldest take knowledge of me, seeing I am a stranger?" I love this "why" which denotes profound humility in this young woman: " I have no right," says she, " to such a favor." She is only occupied with herself to confess her unworthiness -but how she does appreciate him! " Thou hast taken knowledge of me, when I was nothing for thee!"
The servant had borne testimony to the poor Moabitess; it is now the master himself who is going to declare what he finds in her. She had not come before him in her own righteousness as Job had aforetime come before God—Her experiences had begun where Job's had finished, and it is he before whom she is prostrate who charges himself with the vindication of her character, for he was aware of everything. " It hath been fully showed me, all that thou hast done unto thy mother-in-law since the death of thine husband; and how thou hast left thy father and thy mother, and the land of thy nativity, and art come unto a people which thou knowest not heretofore." Boaz attributes to Ruth the labor of love, which is the fruit of her faith; and her care for Naomi (type of the afflicted people) had not escaped the notice of the master. Yes, this poor daughter of Moab was a true Israelite, in whom there was no guile. But also, a true daughter of Abraham, she had left her country and her relatives, and had set out on a journey to a people unknown to her. Boaz places the seal of his approbation upon so much love and faith, then he promised her a recompense;
" Jehovah recompense thy work, and a full reward be given thee of Jehovah the God of Israel under whose wings thou art come to trust." Recompense is not the end, but the encouragement of faith.
Ruth responds as did Moses in Ex. 33:1313Now therefore, I pray thee, if I have found grace in thy sight, show me now thy way, that I may know thee, that I may find grace in thy sight: and consider that this nation is thy people. (Exodus 33:13); the praise of Boaz does not exalt her; she realizes that all is of grace,: and desires to find more grace. She recognizes his authority over her and declares herself his unworthy servant. Then he honors her in inviting her to his feast. Ruth at the table of Boaz! What favor for the poor stranger! " She did eat, and was sufficed, and left" (of the food). Is it not as though we were present at the multiplying of the loaves by Jesus?
The communion which Ruth has just been enjoying at the table of Boaz does not make her forget her task. On the contrary she draws from it fresh strength and renewed activity, with more abundant and blessed results than before. Our work, to be effective, should flow from what we have received for ourselves, and the results will be so much the more rich, in proportion as we have personally found our own joy in the presence of the Lord.
The heart which has been nourished and had its thirst satisfied by Christ is never selfish. Is it not said, " Out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water?" Ruth thinks of Naomi and returns to bring her the remains of the repast, and what she t had gleaned, desiring that her mother should be satisfied as she had been. Thus he who is faithful gives an account of his labor to the people of God and seeks their prosperity. How little do Christians realize these things! What importance has the prosperity of the church of Christ, for those who prefer their own church, and their own people and their gods, to Him? The Lord's poor afflicted people do not seem worthy of care to these indifferent hearts. They will insist, perhaps, on the work of the gospel to the world; but a heart in communion with Christ does not sacrifice one to the other. The apostle Paul was as much a servant of the assembly as he was of the gospel. He loved that church which Christ, in His love, had purchased by His own blood. Far would it have been from him to have loved a sect or a church of his own invention; he only knew the assembly of Christ, and was jealous for His sake with a godly jealousy to present it to Him as a chaste virgin.
The heart of Naomi is full of gratitude towards the man who has recognized Ruth when he might have rejected her as a stranger. What sweet intercourse between these two women of God! Ruth pronounces the beautiful name of Boaz, Naomi responds with thanksgiving "to him who hath not left off his kindness to the living and to the dead."
What a touching character is that of Naomi! Ruth has more of the first transport of a youthful faith, Naomi the experience of a faith matured in the school of trial. You who are young Christians do not reject the experience of those who have known the Lord a long time before you have. Naomi helped her daughter-in-law to know Boaz better. " The man is near of kin unto us, one of our next kinsmen." Experience is always joined to intelligence. Naomi has the perception of what is suitable in Israel, of the order which becomes the house of God. The counsels of Christian experience always attach souls to the family of God and to Christ, as those of Naomi attached Ruth to the belongings of Boaz. But they also separate her from every other field (v. 22). It may be that these latter would offer as many ears of corn to the gleaners, but they would lack the presence of him to whom henceforth the heart of Ruth was indissolubly bound, as well as the peace, the joy and the communion which he imparts. Precious experience of those who have grown old in the path of faith, for it is a help to the young to walk in the path of holiness! It is furthermore from the lips of experience that the fullest praise flows, for it knows the grace and goodness of the Lord in the pest as in the present. Ruth attaches herself to Boaz and dwells with her mother-in-law.
(Continued from page 20.)
( To be continued, D. V.