Time with Jesus - Saturday, 23 June
2012
Hi all,
When you and I talk about “rest”
we think about sitting or lying down after a trying time of some sort. That’s
partly true. We do stop doing whatever it is because we are sick or tired. God
is never tired. We know that God “rested” on the seventh Day. It means He
ceased creating. In that sense we also rest when we have achieved our intentions.
In Bible days, looking for a husband or a wife was completed after marriage.
The couple could then rest from their task. Today we look at “Ruth’s rest.
Blessings
Jim & Phyllida Strickland
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Matt 10:8
Freely you received, Freely give |
Time with Jesus – Saturday, 23 June 2012
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Matt 10:8
Freely you received, Freely give |
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©
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These devotionals are the intellectual property of Jim Strickland and
copyright protected. You are welcome to copy and distribute them to anyone provided
it is for non-commercial Christian purposes
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©
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INTRODUCTION
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DAILY LIGHT EVENING SCRIPTURES
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RUTH’S
REST
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It’s always been a source of some amusement that Elimelech, his wife
Naomi and their two sons Mahlon and Kilion left Bethlehem in Judah because of
famine in the land. They went to Moab. Moab means “of my father”. Moab was
the incestuous son of Lot and his eldest daughter. Bethlehem means House of
Bread. It makes no sense to leave the house of bread because they have no
bread!
The story of Ruth, Naomi and Boaz, the man Ruth subsequently married,
is popular beyond the confines of Judaism or Christianity.
We read how Ruth followed behind the reapers and picked up what they
dropped. We smile when we read of Boaz instructing his harvesters to be deliberately
clumsy! Surely there was more to this than meets the eye? Who knows? Was this
love at first sight? This story of a poor girl becoming a princess has
universal appeal. Furthermore, we applaud when we learn that subsequently as
Boaz’s wife, she became the great grandmother of King David.
What most of us fail to recognise is the open handed generosity of
Boaz. How many of us would ask our workers to be clumsy for the benefit of a
pretty, out of town stranger? How many would willingly take on the responsibility
of a spouse with an impoverished and family related mother-in-law? Yet,
that's what Boaz did. Why? Is this generosity the root of David being a man
after God's heart? Perhaps? This man, who could have had his pick of any of
the marriageable young women in the
He did it because it was required of him in terms of his commitment to
God. In consequence of his generosity, Boaz "gleaned" something
from God. Something or rather someone of greater value than he could possibly
have guessed. Tucked away in a corner of God's field he found a wife; yet
someone much more than a mere wife. He found a legend; someone who has become
one of history’s favourite women.
This story of how Ruth, Naomi and Boaz entered their “rest” is
extraordinary. Ruth had to work hard. At harvest time, the fields are very
hot from the scorching sun. Gleaning was not a task for the lazy. It took
commitment by Boaz to Ruth and the customs of that day. In a way, Naomi
became the tool in God’s hand whereby a Moabite woman became the forerunner
of David and Jesus. Four women are referred to by name in Matthew’s genealogy.
Tamar, Rahab, Ruth and Bathsheba. All are of questionable ancestry. God’s
call enabled them to rest in the pages of Biblical history. Later another
woman would feature. Her name is Mary, the mother of Jesus. Together they are
now at rest in the arms of God.
Jim & Phyllida Strickland
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1 One day Ruth's mother-in-law Naomi spoke to her. She said, "My daughter, shouldn't I try to find a secure place for
you? Shouldn't you have peace and rest? Shouldn't I find a home where things
will go well with you?
Ruth 3:1 NIrV
9 So then, there remains
a Sabbath rest for the people of God,
Hebrews
4:9 ESV
18 My people will live in peaceful dwelling
places, in secure homes, in undisturbed places of rest.
Isaiah 32:18 TNIV
16 Why wasn't I buried like a stillborn child, like a baby who never
lives to see the light? 17 For in death the
wicked cause no trouble, and the weary are at rest.
Job 3:16-17 NLT
13 Then I heard a voice from heaven say, "Write: Blessed are the
dead who die in the Lord from now on." "Yes," says the Spirit,
"they will rest from their labour,
for their deeds will follow them."
Revelation 14:13 NIV
20 That is where Jesus has gone. He went
there to open the way ahead of us. He has become a high priest forever, just
like Melchizedek.
Hebrews 6:20 NIrV
28 Then Jesus said, "Come to Me, all of
you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. 29
Take My yoke upon you. Let Me teach you, because
I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls.
30 For My yoke is easy to bear, and
the burden I give you is light."
Matthew 11:28-30 NLT
15 GOD, the Master, The Holy of Israel, has this solemn counsel: "Your salvation requires you to turn back to me and stop
your silly efforts to save yourselves. Your strength will come from settling
down in complete dependence on me-- The very thing you've been unwilling
to do.
Isaiah 30:15 MSG
A psalm by David. 1 The LORD
is my shepherd. I am never in need. 2 He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me
beside peaceful waters.
Psalms 23:1-2 GW
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Naomi
was the mother. Two sons she had brought forth.
She
was from a village a little to the North,
Of
Bethlehem in Judah. Her husband moved their home,
Into
the land of Moab. But now she was alone.
Her
husband and her sons had died. So now all she had left -
The
wives her sons had married! Now all three were bereft.
Naomi
then decided to go to the “House of Bread”
To
Bethlehem in Judah. If not, she’d soon be dead.
Ruth
went with her “mother”, Orpah stayed behind.
They
both needed a husband and thought that they might find,
Someone
who would marry them. So Orpah made her choice,
To
stay behind in Moab. Perhaps she would rejoice?
If
she could find a husband, where she was quite well known.
But
Ruth went with Naomi; she’d not leave her alone.
The
Ruth and Boaz story. He took her as his wife.
Ruth
then had a husband who’d take care of her for life.
The
story is a classic, of true love and romance.
And
how the God of Israel gives folk a “second chance”.
She
became a mother and so found peace and rest.
King
David was her great grandson. So she was truly blessed.
Now
resting isn’t idleness. She had a lot to do.
To be a wife and mother and “rest” is never true.
Her rest was from her searching to be taken as a
bride.
Now her quest was over, she put that search aside.
We’re told that our God rested, upon the seventh
day.
But He was never tired. Not in the smallest way.
He rested from creating. All He had planned to do,
Was finally completed. He’d done it “right on
queue’!
And what about the Christian. He doesn’t lie in bed!
He always does precisely, that which the Lord has
said.
And one day in his working week, he seeks to put
aside,
To being with his children, his family and bride.
We call it “recreation”. And this word says it all.
A time of his refreshing from duty’s busy call.
Of being with his Maker. The Shepherd of his soul.
To walking in green pastures and where still waters
roll.
Of getting inspiration right from its proper source,
And how is it we do this? In Jesus Christ of course!
Jim
Strickland
Written 23 June 2012
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