Loved Without Reproach

The book of Ruth is a beautiful and heartwarming passage of virtue, kindness and redemption.  The most compelling and romantic fairy tales written by people fall infinitely short of its perfection.  This historical narrative is no work of fiction dreamed up by man but is the word of God that leads us to wonder and marvel over the Redeemer of lost sinners, Jesus Christ.

The plot of the story is simple:  Naomi went to Moab to avoid a famine in Bethlehem-Judah with her husband and two sons, and she later returned widowed, childless and bitter accompanied by her loyal daughter-in-law named Ruth.  This industrious woman went to glean in a field which turned out to be owned by a rich older man named Boaz, who was unmarried, and he also happed to be a near relative of Naomi.  He was aware of Ruth and her relation to Naomi, and he did everything to generously extend kindness to Ruth.

Boaz urged Ruth to only glean in his field to protect her from unsavoury men.  He provided access to water, shade and bread--though she was a foreigner and a Moabite.  Boaz invited Ruth to eat with his own servants and gave directives concerning her in Ruth 2:15-16:  "And when she rose up to glean, Boaz commanded his young men, saying, "Let her glean even among the sheaves, and do not reproach her. ¹⁶ Also let grain from the bundles fall purposely for her; leave it that she may glean, and do not rebuke her."  Boaz extended unrestricted access for Ruth to glean even among the sheaves without reproach or rebuke.  He told his workers to intentionally let grain fall so she might gather it up for herself and her mother-in-law.

Ultimately the book comes to a close with Boaz and Ruth being wed and Naomi holding her dear grandson Obed--who would be the father of Jesse and grandfather of king David.  Boaz fulfilled the responsibility of a kinsman redeemer, and the Bible reveals Jesus far outshines the great kindness Boaz showed Ruth through the Gospel to redeem lost sinners to be citizens of His kingdom and members of the people of God.  Jesus is the Bread of Life who does not reproach us for our unworthiness, nor does He rebuke us for our woeful sinfulness:  He invites all who are hungry to come to Him and freely receive Him, and all who are thirsty are invited to partake of His living water by faith in Him.  Instead of us needing to find Him, Jesus has drawn near to us in person and given us the Bible so we might feed on His faithfulness continually.

I love the scene of Boaz generously telling his servants to do a lousy job of gathering grain so Ruth might benefit.  How awesome it is when we are empty, hungry, thirsty and needy, we can rest assured Jesus provides us access into His presence, and in Him all our needs are met by grace.  At all hours of the day we can hear His voice through His word and venture into His presence through prayer.  It is bad manners to overstay one's welcome as a guest, and though God regards Christians as His beloved children He does not whisk us off to bed so He can have quiet or rest:  our rest and peace is found in the living God with us!  Christians can identify with Naomi, Ruth and Boaz at various times in our lives, but we have a source of joy, prosperity and fruitfulness through the everlasting Gospel that overwhelms the temporal happiness of family and friendship.

Seasons come and go; a spouse passes away and a child is born.  We are perpetually worthy of reproach and rebuke for our sins, yet God graciously made a way of salvation and redemption by His own Son.  He does not remember our faults but commends us for our faith we received from Him.  He gives wisdom and life liberally without reproach.  The LORD sent word to shepherds in the fields of Bethlehem in Luke 2:10-11:  "Then the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. ¹¹ For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord."  The death of Jesus and Calvary, His resurrection and ascension reveals our Redeemer lives and has drawn us to Himself by His grace.  No longer need we be bitter, for the sweetness of His love, grace and acceptance fills and satisfies with His presence.