Ruth 1:1-22
Following
the triple tragedy of the deaths of Elimelech, Mahlon and Chilion (Ruth
1:3-5) and the departure of Orpah (Ruth 1:14), there was a new
beginning for Naomi and Ruth. This new beginning came to them when "they
came to Bethlehem" (Ruth 1:19). The town of Bethlehem marked a new
beginning for them. It marks a new beginning for us. This was the place
where our Saviour was born. "They happened to to enter Bethlehem just
when the barley harvest began." The timing of their arrival turns our
thoughts towards fruitfulness. We come to our Saviour - born at
Bethlehem, and He makes us fruitful in His service. Without His help, we
cannot even begin to see a harvest gathered in for Him. If we are to
see the Lord's blessing on the work we do for Him, we must look to Him,
putting our trust in Him.
Ruth 2:1-4:22
This
is the story of Ruth and Boaz. It is a story which leads on to David
(Ruth 4:22) - and, beyond him, to Christ. In this story of love, we have
the fulfilment of Naomi's words: "May the Lord bless him" (Ruth 2:20).
It is a story which prompts the response: "Praise the Lord" (Ruth 4:14).
It is a story which points beyond itself to the story of our Saviour,
the Lord Jesus Christ: the story of the greatest blessing of all -
salvation; the story which inspires our worship, causing us to say, with
heart and voice, "Praise the Lord." In this short story, we learn an
important lesson: As we read the many stories told in Scripture, we must
learn to see, in each of them, the story of our Saviour.
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