On Coming Back Empty…Ruth 1

 

Now the two of them went until they came to Bethlehem. And it happened, when they had come to Bethlehem, that all the city was excited because of them; and the women said, "Is this Naomi?"

But she said to them, "Do not call me Naomi; call me Mara, for the Almighty has dealt very bitterly with me. I went out full, and the LORD has brought me home again empty. Why do you call me Naomi, since the LORD has testified against me, and the Almighty has afflicted me?"

So Naomi returned, and Ruth the Moabitess her daughter-in-law with her, who returned from the country of Moab. Now they came to Bethlehem at the beginning of barley harvest.—Ruth 1:19-22

Naomi had lost her husband and two sons during her time in Moab.  She had also just said good bye to her daughter-in-law, Orpah who had remained in Moab. Truly, this woman’s life was filled with much heart-wrenching grief. As Naomi comes into the town of Bethlehem where she had lived “full” with her husband and her sons, all she can see are reminders of what will never be again.  Naomi had gone out full and the Lord brought her home again empty. 

I have read the book of Ruth many times through and each time I do, I see something new. With this reading I looked past Naomi’s grief and I focused on what God in His mercy was doing.  Seeing this way is obviously much easier when we are on the outside looking in and know the end of the story.   With that said, here is what I noticed this time as I read this section of Scripture. 

—This time I saw God’s mercy in bringing her back home at all…in that is hope. 

—This time I saw that Naomi did not come back empty.  The Lord was right there with her as was Ruth, her loyal and loving daughter-in-law, who left her family and her country to abide with Naomi and Naomi’s God. 

—This time I noticed that the Scripture tells us that when the two of them arrived in Bethlehem the entire city was excited because of them.  The people of Bethlehem were glad she was back. 

Are you seeing the irony?  While Naomi is speaking to the “excited to see her” women of Bethlehem, loyal, loving, left everything, entreat me not to leave you, Ruth is standing, unacknowledged, right next to her.  She doesn’t seem to count.  AND YET…Ruth is the woman, God is already using to bring an end to Naomi’s emptiness. 

Beloved…I think all of us can be like Naomi was here at times.  We can so focus on what is missing from our lives that we completely ignore and do not appreciate the gifts that are right in front of us.  Don’t do this. We can and should grieve and we should acknowledge what we are feeling.  

Trust in Him at all times, you people;

Pour out your heart before Him;

God is a refuge for us.

Selah—Psalm 62:5

But in our grief we can also remember that the steadfast love of the Lord never ceases. His mercies never come to an end. His lovingkindness is always before our eyes and His goodness endures continually. 

If I say, "Surely the darkness shall fall on me,"

Even the night shall be light about me;—Psalm 139:11

So go ahead and cry all you want, but in your crying remember that your God is with you. His plans for you are good. There is no where you can flee from His steadfast love. 

For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.—Jeremiah 29:11

O LORD, You are the portion of my inheritance and my cup;

You maintain my lot.

The lines have fallen to me in pleasant places;

Yes, I have a good inheritance.

I will bless the LORD who has given me counsel;

My heart also instructs me in the night seasons.

I have set the LORD always before me;

Because He is at my right hand I shall not be moved.

Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoices;

My flesh also will rest in hope.

For You will not leave my soul in Sheol,

Nor will You allow Your Holy One to see corruption.

You will show me the path of life;

In Your presence is fullness of joy;

At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.—Psalm 16:5-11

I love the LORD, because He has heard

My voice and my supplications.

Because He has inclined His ear to me,

Therefore I will call upon Him as long as I live.

The pains of death surrounded me,

And the pangs of Sheol laid hold of me;

I found trouble and sorrow.

Then I called upon the name of the LORD:

"O LORD, I implore You, deliver my soul!"

Gracious is the LORD, and righteous;

Yes, our God is merciful.

The LORD preserves the simple;

I was brought low, and He saved me.

Return to your rest, O my soul,

For the LORD has dealt bountifully with you.

For You have delivered my soul from death,

My eyes from tears,

And my feet from falling.

I will walk before the LORD

In the land of the living.

I believed, therefore I spoke,

"I am greatly afflicted."

I said in my haste,

"All men are liars."

What shall I render to the LORD

For all His benefits toward me?

I will take up the cup of salvation,

And call upon the name of the LORD.

I will pay my vows to the LORD

Now in the presence of all His people.

Precious in the sight of the LORD

Is the death of His saints.

O LORD, truly I am Your servant;

I am Your servant, the son of Your maidservant;

You have loosed my bonds.

I will offer to You the sacrifice of thanksgiving,

And will call upon the name of the LORD.

I will pay my vows to the LORD

Now in the presence of all His people,

In the courts of the LORD's house,

In the midst of you, O Jerusalem.

Praise the LORD!—Psalm 116

Oh, give thanks to the LORD, for He is good!

For His mercy endures forever.

Let Israel now say,

"His mercy endures forever."

Let the house of Aaron now say,

"His mercy endures forever."

Let those who fear the LORD now say,

"His mercy endures forever."

I called on the LORD in distress;

The LORD answered me and set me in a broad place.

The LORD is on my side;

I will not fear.

What can man do to me?

The LORD is for me among those who help me;

Therefore I shall see my desire on those who hate me.

It is better to trust in the LORD

Than to put confidence in man.

It is better to trust in the LORD

Than to put confidence in princes.

All nations surrounded me,

But in the name of the LORD I will destroy them.

They surrounded me,

Yes, they surrounded me;

But in the name of the LORD I will destroy them.

They surrounded me like bees;

They were quenched like a fire of thorns;

For in the name of the LORD I will destroy them.

You pushed me violently, that I might fall,

But the LORD helped me.

The LORD is my strength and song,

And He has become my salvation.

The voice of rejoicing and salvation

Is in the tents of the righteous;

The right hand of the LORD does valiantly.

The right hand of the LORD is exalted;

The right hand of the LORD does valiantly.

I shall not die, but live,

And declare the works of the LORD.

The LORD has chastened me severely,

But He has not given me over to death.

Open to me the gates of righteousness;

I will go through them,

And I will praise the LORD.

This is the gate of the LORD,

Through which the righteous shall enter.

I will praise You,

For You have answered me,

And have become my salvation.

The stone which the builders rejected

Has become the chief cornerstone.

This was the LORD's doing;

It is marvelous in our eyes.

This is the day the LORD has made;

We will rejoice and be glad in it.

Save now, I pray, O LORD;

O LORD, I pray, send now prosperity.

Blessed is he who comes in the name of the LORD!

We have blessed you from the house of the LORD.

God is the LORD,

And He has given us light;

Bind the sacrifice with cords to the horns of the altar.

You are my God, and I will praise You;

You are my God, I will exalt You.

Oh, give thanks to the LORD, for He is good!

For His mercy endures forever.—Psalm 118

For this is God,

Our God forever and ever;

He will be our guide

Even to death.—Psalm 148:14

Aspects of Faith in Ruth Chapter 3…

 

Chapter 3 of the book of Ruth is a beautiful picture of faith in action.  In verses 1-4 (below) we find Naomi concocting a plan to deliberately reach out in faith to their near kinsman-redeemer, Boaz.  This reaching out for security for her daughter-in-law, Ruth, is based on the covenant promises of God to them, as widows.  Boaz, as a near kinsman-redeemer, had a covenant obligation to raise up offspring for Elimelek (Naomi’s deceased husband). Naomi is calling in this implicit promise. (See Deuteronomy 25:5-10)

Beloved…Our faith is also grounded in the covenant promises of God to us that are found in His word. Faith is a conscious decision on our part to reach out to God and trust Him to do what He has promised.  AND we know that all of God’s promises are yes and amen in His Son. (2 Corinthians 1:20)

Then Naomi her mother-in-law said to her, "My daughter, shall I not seek security for you, that it may be well with you? Now Boaz, whose young women you were with, is he not our relative? In fact, he is winnowing barley tonight at the threshing floor. Therefore wash yourself and anoint yourself, put on your best garment and go down to the threshing floor; but do not make yourself known to the man until he has finished eating and drinking. Then it shall be, when he lies down, that you shall notice the place where he lies; and you shall go in, uncover his feet, and lie down; and he will tell you what you should do."—Ruth 3:1-4

In verse 5 Ruth agrees to do all that Naomi has asked. Faith obeys. 

And she said to her, "All that you say to me I will do."—Ruth 3:5

In verses 6-9 (below) we see Ruth going down to the threshing floor and doing all that Naomi instructed her to do. Ruth abandons all other securities and does something very risky by going unaccompanied after dark to a harvest threshing-floor full of “relaxed and off-duty” men.  The book of Ruth takes place in the time of the Judges, when men did what was right in their own eyes. Can you feel her vulnerability as you read?  She, as a foreigner and a widow, truly has no other hope for not only her own survival but Naomi’s as well.  So in doing what Naomi says, Ruth lets go of whatever vestiges of safety and security she may have been holding on to and entrusts herself to Boaz…a near kinsman redeemer…believing that he will protect, provide and act rightly toward her. 

Again, it is the same for us when we first come to Christ.  We abandon all other avenues of help, safety and security and place ourselves completely into His care. 

For when God made a promise to Abraham, because He could swear by no one greater, He swore by Himself, saying, "Surely blessing I will bless you, and multiplying I will multiply you." And so, after he had patiently endured, he obtained the promise. For men indeed swear by the greater, and an oath for confirmation is for them an end of all dispute. Thus God, determining to show more abundantly to the heirs of promise the immutability of His counsel, confirmed it by an oath, that by two immutable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we might have strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold of the hope set before us.

This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, and which enters the Presence behind the veil, where the forerunner has entered for us, even Jesus, having become High Priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.—Hebrews 6:13-20

Beloved…this aspect of faith is the most difficult for me.  Trust makes us vulnerable. But God is faithful. He who promised it will do it. 

So she went down to the threshing floor and did according to all that her mother-in-law instructed her. And after Boaz had eaten and drunk, and his heart was cheerful, he went to lie down at the end of the heap of grain; and she came softly, uncovered his feet, and lay down.

Now it happened at midnight that the man was startled, and turned himself; and there, a woman was lying at his feet. And he said, "Who are you?"

So she answered, "I am Ruth, your maidservant. Take your maidservant under your wing, for you are a close relative."—Ruth 3:6-9

Verses 8-15 (below) picture faith as very personal…what happens at the far end of the threshing floor after midnight between Ruth and Boaz, her near kinsman redeemer, is just between them. Again, it is the same for us when we come to Christ.  No one else is there, no one else sees and no one else can do it for us. We open our heart to Him and enter into the Kingdom of the Son of His love privately and personally. 

This chapter began with Ruth exhibiting obedience by telling Naomi she would do whatever she says.  Boaz here in these verses promises that he will do for Ruth all that she asks.  Beloved…Jesus will do the same for us as we live obediently in surrender to His will for us.  He is faithful. He will always fulfill His covenant promises.  Mark 1:40-41 says this. 

Now a leper came to Him, imploring Him, kneeling down to Him and saying to Him, "If You are willing, You can make me clean."

Then Jesus, moved with compassion, stretched out His hand and touched him, and said to him, "I am willing; be cleansed."—Mark 1:40-41

True faith is effective because God keeps His promises. 

Now it happened at midnight that the man was startled, and turned himself; and there, a woman was lying at his feet. And he said, "Who are you?"

So she answered, "I am Ruth, your maidservant. Take your maidservant under your wing, for you are a close relative."

Then he said, "Blessed are you of the LORD, my daughter! For you have shown more kindness at the end than at the beginning, in that you did not go after young men, whether poor or rich. And now, my daughter, do not fear. I will do for you all that you request, for all the people of my town know that you are a virtuous woman. Now it is true that I am a close relative; however, there is a relative closer than I. Stay this night, and in the morning it shall be that if he will perform the duty of a close relative for you—good; let him do it. But if he does not want to perform the duty for you, then I will perform the duty for you, as the LORD lives! Lie down until morning."

So she lay at his feet until morning, and she arose before one could recognize another. Then he said, "Do not let it be known that the woman came to the threshing floor." Also he said, "Bring the shawl that is on you and hold it." And when she held it, he measured six ephahs of barley, and laid it on her. Then she went into the city.—Ruth 3:8-15

Now we reach the last few verses of chapter 3 which began with Ruth and Naomi together and now ends with them back together once again. 

When she came to her mother-in-law, she said, "Is that you, my daughter?"

Then she told her all that the man had done for her. And she said, "These six ephahs of barley he gave me; for he said to me, 'Do not go empty-handed to your mother-in-law.'"

Then she said, "Sit still, my daughter, until you know how the matter will turn out; for the man will not rest until he has concluded the matter this day."—Ruth 3:16-18

 (You will have to read Chapter 4 for the beautiful conclusion of this story. 😃)

Now comes the waiting…I hate waiting but more often than not trusting God involves it. But here is the thing. Our faith rests on the character of our Redeemer.  Ruth was waiting on Boaz, who was purportedly a man of excellent character, but we wait on Christ Jesus, the perfect Son of the Living God who will perform all that He has promised us in Christ.

For all the promises of God in Him are Yes, and in Him Amen, to the glory of God through us.—2 Corinthians 1:20

In the day when I cried out, You answered me,

And made me bold with strength in my soul.—Psalm 138:3

Though I walk in the midst of trouble, You will revive me;

You will stretch out Your hand

Against the wrath of my enemies,

And Your right hand will save me.

The LORD will perfect that which concerns me;

Your mercy, O LORD, endures forever;

Do not forsake the works of Your hands.—Psalm 138:7-8

Be merciful to me, O God, be merciful to me!

For my soul trusts in You;

And in the shadow of Your wings I will make my refuge,

Until these calamities have passed by.

I will cry out to God Most High,

To God who performs all things for me.

He shall send from heaven and save me;

He reproaches the one who would swallow me up.—Psalm 57:1-3

Beloved…By faith we who believe, deliberately and intentionally reach out to our Redeemer and trust Him to perform what He has promised. He is our betrothed. In Him, we look forward to the redemption of our bodies and ultimately to the marriage supper of the Lamb.

For I am jealous for you with godly jealousy. For I have betrothed you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ.—2 Corinthians 11:2

Not only that, but we also who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for the adoption, the redemption of our body. For we were saved in this hope, but hope that is seen is not hope; for why does one still hope for what he sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we eagerly wait for it with perseverance.—Romans 8:23-25

Let us be glad and rejoice and give Him glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His wife has made herself ready." And to her it was granted to be arrayed in fine linen, clean and bright, for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints.

Then he said to me, "Write: 'Blessed are those who are called to the marriage supper of the Lamb!'" And he said to me, "These are the true sayings of God."—Revelation 19:7-9

Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, 

"Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away."

Then He who sat on the throne said, "Behold, I make all things new." And He said to me, "Write, for these words are true and faithful."—Revelation 21:2-5

Now may the God of peace who brought up our Lord Jesus from the dead, that great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, make you complete in every good work to do His will, working in you what is well pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.—Hebrews 13:20-21

On Covenant Lovingkindness…

 

So she fell on her face, bowed down to the ground, and said to him, "Why have I found favor in your eyes, that you should take notice of me, since I am a foreigner?"

And Boaz answered and said to her, "It has been fully reported to me, all that you have done for your mother-in-law since the death of your husband, and how you have left your father and your mother and the land of your birth, and have come to a people whom you did not know before. The LORD repay your work, and a full reward be given you by the LORD God of Israel, under whose wings you have come for refuge."—Ruth 2:10-12

Now it happened at midnight that the man was startled, and turned himself; and there, a woman was lying at his feet. And he said, "Who are you?"

So she answered, "I am Ruth, your maidservant. Take your maidservant under your wing, for you are a close relative."

Then he said, "Blessed are you of the LORD, my daughter! For you have shown more kindness at the end than at the beginning, in that you did not go after young men, whether poor or rich. And now, my daughter, do not fear. I will do for you all that you request, for all the people of my town know that you are a virtuous woman.—Ruth 3:8-11

I just finished reading the Book of Ruth last night and what touched me most was the lovingkindness that we see throughout the book.  First of Ruth toward her mother-in-law, Naomi and then of Boaz (also ultimately to Naomi), but brought about through Ruth.  

According to one commentator, the word kindness is the Hebrew word chesed, which means covenant steadfast loving kindness. Elsewhere in the Old Testament it is usually translated ‘love’ (NIV) or ‘steadfast love’ (ESV). It means the love that creates and sustains a covenant relationship. It includes the idea of faithfulness to covenant promises, and is therefore almost synonymous with the word ‘faithfulness’. But it is more than that. It is the superabundant loving kindness that goes beyond what is strictly required of it; hence the translation ‘kindness’. ‘It is that extra which both establishes and sustains covenant’.

Kindness always gives me pause.  I think it is because it is in the kindness of others that I see my Jesus most clearly. It is other worldly and beautiful.  God’s steadfast love toward each of us never ceases.  His goodness endures continually, and His lovingkindness is always before our eyes. One act of kindness can have far reaching eternal effects. Romans tells us that it is the goodness of God that leads us to repentance.

God used the kindness of Ruth and Boaz in history to bring about His purposes for our salvation centuries later. These found their final rest in His kindness to us in Christ Jesus His Son. (see Ephesians 2:1-10). What I also noticed about these kindnesses was that they were costly, just as the kindness shown to us by Jesus when He laid down His life for us, was costly.  Thinking on these kindnesses and seeing the effect of them cascade through the centuries truly overwhelmed my heart.  Read the book. It is only 4 chapters long but is filled with the eternal kindness of God and will encourage your own desire to be kind as Your Father in heaven is kind.

Oh Father…may we who belong to you be characterized by kindness. May Your covenant lovingkindness be displayed in all our relationships and by Your Spirit may its effect be eternal.

Now this is the genealogy of Perez: Perez begot Hezron; Hezron begot Ram, and Ram begot Amminadab; Amminadab begot Nahshon, and Nahshon begot Salmon; Salmon begot Boaz, and Boaz begot Obed; Obed begot Jesse, and Jesse begot David.—Ruth 4:18-22

The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the Son of David, the Son of Abraham:

Abraham begot Isaac, Isaac begot Jacob, and Jacob begot Judah and his brothers. Judah begot Perez and Zerah by Tamar, Perez begot Hezron, and Hezron begot Ram. Ram begot Amminadab, Amminadab begot Nahshon, and Nahshon begot Salmon. Salmon begot Boaz by Rahab, Boaz begot Obed by Ruth, Obed begot Jesse, and Jesse begot David the king.

David the king begot Solomon by her who had been the wife of Uriah. Solomon begot Rehoboam, Rehoboam begot Abijah, and Abijah begot Asa. Asa begot Jehoshaphat, Jehoshaphat begot Joram, and Joram begot Uzziah. Uzziah begot Jotham, Jotham begot Ahaz, and Ahaz begot Hezekiah. Hezekiah begot Manasseh, Manasseh begot Amon, and Amon begot Josiah. Josiah begot Jeconiah and his brothers about the time they were carried away to Babylon.

And after they were brought to Babylon, Jeconiah begot Shealtiel, and Shealtiel begot Zerubbabel. Zerubbabel begot Abiud, Abiud begot Eliakim, and Eliakim begot Azor. Azor begot Zadok, Zadok begot Achim, and Achim begot Eliud. Eliud begot Eleazar, Eleazar begot Matthan, and Matthan begot Jacob. And Jacob begot Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom was born Jesus who is called Christ.—Matthew 1:1-16