Pentecost and the Book of Ruth
The Holy Spirit came to Christ’s disciples on the day of Pentecost. One of the functions of the Holy Spirit is to baptize us into the "body of Christ." It doesn’t matter what race or gender everyone who receives the Holy Spirit is baptized (dipped or dunked) into the Church (1Cor. 1213). But in the early Church where the first members were mostly Jews, there was a difficulty accepting Gentiles into the Body of Christ.
This was evidenced by Paul’s statements (Eph. 41-4; Eph. 211-19). It would not be surprising that Jews would take a skeptical look at foreigners coming to the Messiah of Israel. After all, the law of the old covenant forbid certain people from worshipping in the "assembly of the LORD." "No one who is emasculated or has his male organ cut off shall enter the assembly of the LORD. No one of illegitimate birth shall enter the assembly of the LORD; none of his descendants, even to the tenth generation, shall enter the assembly of the LORD. No Ammonite or Moabite shall enter the assembly of the LORD; not of their descendants, even to the tenth generation, shall ever enter the assembly of the LORD" (Deut. 231-3 NAS).
Following the Persian captivity It was customary for the Book of Ruth to be read during Pentecost. This book was part of the festival scroll which consisted of five books. Ruth was connected to Pentecost because the law of Pentecost talked specifically about allowing the stranger and widows to glean the fields of the grain during the Spring harvest of which Pentecost was the symbol (Lev. 2310-22).
The book of Ruth is primarily the story of Naomi and her family. She and her husband left the land of Israel during a famine and settled in Moab. During that time Naomi’s husband died, her sons matured and married Moabite women Orpah and Ruth. Then her sons died leaving her bereft of all of her original family. Naomi then decided to go back to her own people Israel. While she urged her daughters-in-law to return to their own people, Ruth would not be persuaded. Her famous words were, "…for where you go, I will go, and where you lodge, I will lodge. Your people shall be my people, and your God, my God" (116 NAS). Ruth was a wonderful daughter-in-law. But as is true in human relationships, Naomi had to be a wonderful mother-in-law also!
When they first come to Bethlehem (city of Jesus birth) the city is stirred because Naomi is known and has been missed during the years she was away. Naomi recognized that she has suffered the great loss. She doesn’t want to be called Naomi which means "pleasant" but Mara (bitter, 120). She knew God allowed it and therefore attributed it to God. God does not always protect His people from natural disasters, death, disease, troubles.
What follows is one act of kindness after another. Ruth, by chance, happens to glean in the fields of Boaz. He sees her and learns about her. His servants tell him that she has been there from early morning to late and working hard. He invites Ruth to glean only in his fields (28) and to help herself to his rations (v.9). She is overwhelmed by his kindness and wonders why he is doing this since she is a foreigner (v.10).
But Boaz was aware that Ruth was being extremely kind to her mother-in-law since the death of her husband(v.11). He wishes her well and wishes her the reward from God for all her work "under whose wings (covering) you have come to seek refuge" (212).
When Ruth tells Naomi she was in the field of Boaz, Naomi tells her that he is a "redeemer" or next of kin. Naomi hearing how kind Boaz was to Ruth instructs Ruth on a very bold move to sleep next to him at his feet (34). When Boaz discovers her in the middle of the night he asks, "Who are you?" She answered, "I am Ruth your maid. So spread you covering over your maid for you are a close relative (redeemer)" (39). Here Ruth asks him to do his duty and become the next of kin to her as the law required.
When a closer relative refused to take Ruth as his wife and redeem the land, Boaz was free to take Ruth as his wife.
Boaz was kind to Ruth and she to him. Ruth was kind to Naomi who in turn was kind to Ruth. This book is about kindness which transcends racial boundaries. We have a word for unkind people. They are called ruthless.
Ruth became the great grandmother of King David (419-22). She and is listed in the genealogy of our Lord Jesus Christ (Matt. 15). Since the Christian era, God accepts people who fear Him and do what is right regardless of race or national origin (Acts 1034-35. The NT Church recognizes no difference in the treatment of people based on race, gender or social status (Gal. 326-29).
What about you? Can you accept people based on their character rather than on their race?
This was evidenced by Paul’s statements (Eph. 41-4; Eph. 211-19). It would not be surprising that Jews would take a skeptical look at foreigners coming to the Messiah of Israel. After all, the law of the old covenant forbid certain people from worshipping in the "assembly of the LORD." "No one who is emasculated or has his male organ cut off shall enter the assembly of the LORD. No one of illegitimate birth shall enter the assembly of the LORD; none of his descendants, even to the tenth generation, shall enter the assembly of the LORD. No Ammonite or Moabite shall enter the assembly of the LORD; not of their descendants, even to the tenth generation, shall ever enter the assembly of the LORD" (Deut. 231-3 NAS).
Following the Persian captivity It was customary for the Book of Ruth to be read during Pentecost. This book was part of the festival scroll which consisted of five books. Ruth was connected to Pentecost because the law of Pentecost talked specifically about allowing the stranger and widows to glean the fields of the grain during the Spring harvest of which Pentecost was the symbol (Lev. 2310-22).
The book of Ruth is primarily the story of Naomi and her family. She and her husband left the land of Israel during a famine and settled in Moab. During that time Naomi’s husband died, her sons matured and married Moabite women Orpah and Ruth. Then her sons died leaving her bereft of all of her original family. Naomi then decided to go back to her own people Israel. While she urged her daughters-in-law to return to their own people, Ruth would not be persuaded. Her famous words were, "…for where you go, I will go, and where you lodge, I will lodge. Your people shall be my people, and your God, my God" (116 NAS). Ruth was a wonderful daughter-in-law. But as is true in human relationships, Naomi had to be a wonderful mother-in-law also!
When they first come to Bethlehem (city of Jesus birth) the city is stirred because Naomi is known and has been missed during the years she was away. Naomi recognized that she has suffered the great loss. She doesn’t want to be called Naomi which means "pleasant" but Mara (bitter, 120). She knew God allowed it and therefore attributed it to God. God does not always protect His people from natural disasters, death, disease, troubles.
What follows is one act of kindness after another. Ruth, by chance, happens to glean in the fields of Boaz. He sees her and learns about her. His servants tell him that she has been there from early morning to late and working hard. He invites Ruth to glean only in his fields (28) and to help herself to his rations (v.9). She is overwhelmed by his kindness and wonders why he is doing this since she is a foreigner (v.10).
But Boaz was aware that Ruth was being extremely kind to her mother-in-law since the death of her husband(v.11). He wishes her well and wishes her the reward from God for all her work "under whose wings (covering) you have come to seek refuge" (212).
When Ruth tells Naomi she was in the field of Boaz, Naomi tells her that he is a "redeemer" or next of kin. Naomi hearing how kind Boaz was to Ruth instructs Ruth on a very bold move to sleep next to him at his feet (34). When Boaz discovers her in the middle of the night he asks, "Who are you?" She answered, "I am Ruth your maid. So spread you covering over your maid for you are a close relative (redeemer)" (39). Here Ruth asks him to do his duty and become the next of kin to her as the law required.
When a closer relative refused to take Ruth as his wife and redeem the land, Boaz was free to take Ruth as his wife.
Boaz was kind to Ruth and she to him. Ruth was kind to Naomi who in turn was kind to Ruth. This book is about kindness which transcends racial boundaries. We have a word for unkind people. They are called ruthless.
Ruth became the great grandmother of King David (419-22). She and is listed in the genealogy of our Lord Jesus Christ (Matt. 15). Since the Christian era, God accepts people who fear Him and do what is right regardless of race or national origin (Acts 1034-35. The NT Church recognizes no difference in the treatment of people based on race, gender or social status (Gal. 326-29).
What about you? Can you accept people based on their character rather than on their race?
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