◄ What Does Ruth 3:18 Mean? ►

The woman Ruth, is a most beautiful picture of the Church - as the Bride of Christ, and the man Boaz, is a stunning type of the Man, Christ Jesus - Who is our Lord and Kinsman-Redeemer, our precious Saviour and coming Bridegroom. 

Ruth was a Gentile woman, dead in trespasses and sins and at enmity with God. She was a poor widow, despised by the Israelites, with nothing to commend her. But she had come to know and trust the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, through the teaching and training of her Jewish mother-in-law - who taught her the Word of God. We too were lost in sin and entirely separated from God, but we were brought near to Him through the blood of Jesus Christ, the Word made flesh. Like Ruth, we also learned of Him through the Scriptures, given to man from God, and penned and proclaimed by so many Jewish prophets of old.

Boaz had expressed his love for Ruth, through the many gifts and abundant kindnesses, he showed her, and she in like manner sat at his feet until dawn as an expression of her love for him. His love for her was acknowledged when Boaz covered Ruth with his mantle, which was an honourable expression of his good intentions towards her. In the same way, our Lord and Saviour covers us with His own robe of righteousness, which is a demonstration of His gracious purpose towards us - and we are to sit at His feet.

Although it was evident to Naomi that the actions of Boaz towards Ruth were noble, and that he would fulfil his intentions towards her and make her his bride, nevertheless, Ruth had to wait for the matter to be settled - and she was not to be present when the marriage arrangements were being finalised. Similarly, we KNOW that Jesus is coming for His Bride, at the right time - but like Ruth, we have to watch patiently and eagerly await the coming of the Lord, when we will meet Him in the air.

Ruth longed for Boaz to come to her, but we hear the wise advice of her mother-in-law, "sit still my daughter, until you know how the matter will fall: for the man will not rest, until he has finished the thing this day." Ruth had to learn patience as she waited for Boaz to attend to the important business affairs regarding their marriage union, and Ruth had to trust him to return at the appropriate time, when all the arrangements had been completed - to claim her as his bride. Jesus similarly told us, "I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto Myself; that where I am, there ye may be also."

Just as Boaz bestowed love and grace on his bride, so our Bridegroom has given us many tokens of His great love. And although we have nothing to offer in return, and although we can do nothing for Him, except to sit at His feet and wait... our Lord Jesus has bestowed on us many precious promises. He has covered us with His robe of righteousness and given us the indwelling Holy Spirit as an expression of His fidelity and trustworthiness... and He will not rest until the matter is finalised.

In His absence He has encouraged us to abide in Him, to rest in His love, to wait for the fulfilment of His promises to us, and to watch for His any day return. We are bone of Christ's bone and flesh of His flesh, and our Lord desires every member of His Body to be with Him where He is, so that we may see His glory, which He received from the Father, before the foundation of the world. We know that one day, this earthly tent, which is our house will be torn down, for we have a building from God... a house not made with hands - eternal in the heavens.

Like Ruth, we trusted God's Word and like Ruth, we are to continue to trust His promises until they are fulfilled. Like Ruth we are to sit still and wait for our Kinsman-Redeemer to finish the preparation He is making for us in heavenly places. Like Ruth, we are to sit still, and quietly wait for the return of our coming Bridegroom.

As we look back to the consummation of God's greatest gift of love in our lives - Christ's finished work on Calvary's Cross, we see that Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews, Saviour of the world and only begotten Son of God is our own perfect Kinsman Redeemer, and like Ruth, we are to look forward to the coming of our promised Kinsman-Redeemer as we sit quietly and wait.

NEVER FORGET - JESUS is our coming Bridegroom, but unlike Ruth, OUR story is not yet over. Our story continues to be written. Our Bridegroom has yet to come to take us to heaven, to be with Himself. He is making preparations to claim us as His Bride and is busily preparing rooms for us. Let us sit still, and patiently watch and wait for His imminent return, knowing that the Man, Christ Jesus, rests neither day nor night as He makes intercessions for us - for, "Christ loves the Church and gave Himself up for her."

Thank You, Father, for Your Word. Thank You for Jesus, the living Word, and the Bible, Your written Word. Thank You for the Scriptures that point to the Man Christ Jesus, our precious Kinsman-Redeemer, risen Saviour, and coming Bridegroom. May I learn the many lessons that Your Word teaches and may I grow in grace and fall more in love with the Lord Jesus day by day. In His name I pray, AMEN.