89 - Ruth & Boaz

The Summer (Ruth and Boaz)
Nicolas Poussin 1660

Kathleen's thoughts
Ruth 2,3,4
Judges 4

The story of Ruth is such a lovely story of how she supports her mother-in-law and her mother-in-law speaks over her.

Ruth goes to gather the fallen grain in Boaz's fields and he notices her and has compassion and tells his workers to leave the the extra grain on the ground for her to pick up and he gives commands to the workers to protect her as well as tells Ruth to only pick from his harvest. Boaz also invites her to eat lunch with the workers and himself.

Naomi asks Ruth where she is gathering her grain and when Naomi finds out she tells Ruth he is a family member of her husband now known as a redeemer.

Naomi gives instructions to Ruth to put her best clothes and perfume on as the evening will be a winnowing barley on the threshing floor. Naomi says to Ruth "When he lies down, notice the place where he's lying, go in and uncover his feet, and lie down. Then he will explain to you what you should do"

Ruth obeys her mother-in-law by doing exactly what she was told to do. Boaz woke to find Ruth lying at his feet asking who she was . "I am Ruth your slave,' "Spread your cloak over me, for you are a family redeemer" Boaz said to Ruth May the Lord bless you , my daughter. You have shown more kindness now than before, because you have not pursued younger men, whether rich or poor. Now don't be afraid, my daughter I will do for you what every you say. because the people in town say you are of noble character.

Boaz also tells Ruth that there is another family member who is actually her redeemer and will confront him in the morning and this he did but this family member when discovering that he would be landed with Ruth on the purchasing of Naomi's property he declined in front of the elders who were witnesses to this who was sitting with Boaz. And so Boaz took over the purchase of property as well as marrying Ruth.

Ruth then bore him a son naming him Obed who is the father of Jesse,the father of David.

Salmon the father of Boaz, whose mother was Rahab, Boaz the father of Obed, whose mother was Ruth, Obed the father of Jesse Matthew 1:5

Naomi took this child and looked after him.

Judges

During this time there was a prophetess named Deborah the wife of Lappidoth who was judging Israel at the time. It was custom for her to sit under the palm tree between Ramah and Bethel in the hill country of Ephraim, and the Israelites went up to her for judgement.

She summoned Barak son of Abinoam from Kedesh in Naphtali and asked him has not the Lord, the god of Israel commanded you , Go deploy the troops on Mount Tabor to fight Sisera and this he did along side Deborah and Sisera was defeated.

It's wonderful when one sees that when you listen to the Lord you shall prosper in all things.

Psalm 37:23 A man's steps are established by the Lord, and He takes pleasure in his way.

Blessings
Kathleen.