RUTH’S REST

Time with Jesus - Sunday, 23 June 2013

Hi all,

Naomi, Ruth
Orpah Returns to Moab

Men and women are usually classified. The “picture” of the male is of someone who is hard drinking, hard swearing; interested only in sex, money and sport, preferably in that order. The old saying, “What are little boys made of? – Snips and snails and puppy dogs tails!” The word “snips” being understood as “little bits of”. Other versions may describe boys as being made of "frogs", “snigs”,"snakes", or "slugs", rather than "snips". Not terribly complimentary! However, if you’re an ardent feminist, all four words fit rather well. 

On the others hand, “What are little girls made of? - Sugar and spice and everything nice.” Strangely enough, women, young ladies and girls don’t complain about this. By the way, (don’t tell anyone) the men tend to agree with this. Well, I do anyway.

Experience tells us that although there is a lot of truth in this, there are some who don’t fit the picture as well as they should. Queen Athaliah is a good example. She was the daughter of Ahab and Jezebel. For political expediency she married Jehoram, eldest son of Jehoshaphat, king of Judah. She was much like her mother. By political intrigue and murder she became the only “queen” to reign in Judah. This was forbidden. The monarch was always supposed to be male. Athaliah only reigned for 6 years.

The makings of little boys, is such that almost any man fits the

Boaz, Ruth, Obed, Naomi

picture. King David, for example, was like that. But he also had an artistic and prophetic side. The same man, a warrior and leader, wrote the most beautiful and heart rending Psalms. He played the lute with such ability; he could bring peace into the mind of the mad King Saul. David had an artistic, depressive temperament, ideal for a Psalmist. He could compose and lead an army second to none.

Where did he acquire the qualities he so clearly demonstrated? Yes indeed, they were God given. At the same time, God usually designs men and women through their ancestry. We saw a couple of weeks ago how God skilfully handcrafted Eve from Adam’s rib, to be the perfect woman for Adam. (Adam was “squeezed together” from mud) 

King David

There is a sense in which the Creator of all, “puts together a recipe” to finally produce someone who happens to be exactly what is needed for a given situation. Two women featured in King David’s genealogy that combined to bring forth the Greatest King the Children of Israel had ever known. Only Jesus Christ would be a greater King. But remember that King David was in Jesus’ genealogy.

The two women were his great grandmother and great, great grandmother; Ruth and Rahab. Rahab was a prostitute in Jericho. Ruth was a Gentile woman from Moab. In many ways, David acquired some of his understanding of outcasts through these two ladies. Moreover, through Bathsheba, the former wife of Uriah the Hittite, Solomon was born. He was destined to be known as the wisest and wealthiest man who ever lived.

In today’s meditation we look briefly at the story of one of these women. She is perhaps, one of the best known and best loved women in the Old Testament. The story of Ruth reads like a fairy-tale classic; with one major difference. The story is true. Ruth the Moabite met and married Boaz in extraordinary circumstances, no doubt choreographed by our Divine Choreographer. They had a son called Obed. His Son was called Jesse. Jesse’s son was King David. Only God Himself can get this right.

Shalom,

Jim & Phyllida Strickland

Matt 10:8 Freely you received, Freely give		Time with Jesus – 23 June 2013			Matt 10:8 Freely you received, Freely give
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	INTRODUCTION		DAILY LIGHT EVENING SCRIPTURES	RUTH’S REST
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 Bethlehem area, was moved by the plight of a destitute widow, who had no other means of support for herself or her mother-in-law. His generous heart opened to her. Why? 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			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	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