May 18, Day 138 – A Place of Settled Rest and Refuge
- Dr. Eric Stricker
- 5 hours ago
- 3 min read
Today in Ruth 3-4, we can see God working in the background to help this special family. Naomi, who understands her responsibilities to the law and to the customs of Israel, seeks to “find a home where Ruth will be well-provided for” (verse 1). Finding a home implies locating a place of settled rest – a place of refuge – which is the object of chapter 3. Coming back to Israel is only the first part of their search for a home; now, Ruth needs a place of lasting rest. Naomi recognizes Boaz as their kinsman, so she instructs Ruth in the customs of the land; “‘I will do whatever you say,’ Ruth answered” (verse 5). This should always be our response to our Kinsman-Redeemer. Ruth follows Naomi’s advice, and Boaz realizes that Ruth is a “woman of noble character.” He promises “to do for her all she asks” (verse 11). Boaz explains to her that He “is near of kin, but there is a nearer kinsman” (verse 12). However, the nearer kinsman may not be willing or able to redeem her, so Boaz says, “I will do it” (verse 13). In this section, we see certain requirements for redemption, among which, the more important are: [1] the one who needs redemption cannot redeem himself or herself; [2] the redeemer must be available to redeem; [3] the redeemer must be like the one who needs redemption; [4] the redeemer must be qualified to redeem; [5] the redeemer must be willing to redeem; [6] the redeemer must be free from the condition that produces the need for redemption. Boaz recognizes God’s hand and honors Ruth properly by following the required legal steps in his desire to marry her – even though he knows he could lose her. Chapter 4 concludes the book with an eternally happy end – Boaz redeems Ruth, and they marry. The book includes a brief genealogy of David – the grandson of Obed and great-grandson of Ruth – which now becomes the royal, messianic line of our Lord JESUS CHRIST. In the context of the times of the Judges, the book of Ruth is a divine love story that points us to our Kinsman-Redeemer, Jesus Christ.
Psalm 62, of David, is a wonderful Psalm that has special meaning to me because its first two verses capture the commitment and the words by which my late wife, Terri Lynn, lived her entire life: “My soul finds rest in God alone; my salvation comes from Him. He alone is my Rock and my Salvation; He is my Fortress; I will never be shaken” (verses 1-2). These verses are inscribed on Terri’s headstone. In this life, we are but “a leaning wall, a tottering fence” (verse 3), and in Him alone can we find “hope and rest” (verse 5). David advises us to “trust in Him at all times … for God is our refuge” (verse 8). We are but “a breath … nothing, if weighed on a balance” (verse 9). David tells us that “God is strong, and He is loving” (verses 11-12), and we would do well to live our lives by these words.
Yesterday, from John 9, we ended our thoughts with the question, “Who in this account was really blind?” This question has little to do with physical blindness, for we see that Jesus could easily deal with that, and He healed the man born blind. For Jesus, it was “a piece of cake.” But here in John 9:35-10:21, we see another kind of blindness – willful spiritual blindness – which, apart from one's personal willingness to be cured, Jesus cannot heal. After the Pharisees threw the man out of the synagogue, Jesus found him and asked him, “Do you believe in the Son of Man?” (verse 35). The man said that he did, and Jesus said, “the blind will see, but those who see will become blind” (verse 39). The Pharisees – ever intent on pushing their point beyond the limits – could not accept this, so Jesus told them, “Your guilt remains” (verse 41). In chapter 10, verses 1-21, Jesus presents himself as “the Gate for the sheep and … the Good Shepherd Who lays His life down for the sheep” (verse 7-21). We see that His words severely divided the Jews – some “said He was demon-possessed, but others said that a demon-possessed man could not open the eyes of a blind man” (verses 19-21). Willful spiritual blindness has no cure.