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