Part Two
We will continue our discussion on receiving a Boaz blessing by talking about chapter two of Ruth. This is one of the most important points we will discuss, because without this we will not be fully blessed by God on any level.
Consecration: devote to a solemn purpose, declare sacred
We are now at the point of the story where Ruth has returned to Bethlehem with her mother-in-law Naomi. Ruth has made the declaration to follow Naomi and to make God her God in chapter one. Ruth has left her old life behind and has just stepped into her new life in chapter two. Ruth has a made up mind and a fixed heart, which is why she says in verse 2:
And Ruth the Moabite said to Naomi, “Let me go to the fields and pick up the leftover grain behind anyone in whose eyes I find favor.”
Ruth is preparing to consecrate. She is devoting herself to a solemn purpose and that is to serve. With no other means of gaining, anything to eat Ruth is ready to gather leftovers of grain, she is not caring about from where or who but she is devoted to doing whatever it takes. She is not mindful of the country she left behind or her family where she could eat and drink without having to wait for leftovers. She died to her flesh and walked in the spirit. She maintained her character and showed her trust in God.
Matthew 15: 25-27: The woman came and knelt before him. “Lord, help me!” she said. 26 He replied, “It is not right to take the children’s bread and toss it to the dogs.” 27 “Yes it is, Lord,” she said. “Even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their master’s table.”
Just like the woman from Matthew who was a Canaanite, Ruth a Moabite, was also a stranger to the common wealth of Israel. All praises belong to, God, because God will have his remnant out of all nations, chosen vessels in all coasts, even the most unlikely, and he will send for them. God has sent for you and he wants to know if you trust & believe that He is a rewarder of them that seek after Him. Jesus reply to this Canaanite woman in Matthew who sought after him and trusted that he would see her need met was:
28(a) Then Jesus answered and said unto her, O woman, great is thy faith: be it done unto thee even as thou wilt.
Women we want to be blessed by God and we want a husband but we can’t devote our self solely to God first. It takes a strong act of dying to our flesh and our selfish desires before we can give our whole self to God. Ruth was brought to one of the poorest states in her life willingly. Her humility is one to remember. We let our pride get in the way of being humble, submissive, broken, and obedient.
So many people think that consecration is something you do when you go on a fast and shut in but it is something you do daily. Ruth, divinely guided by God, to the field she went to glean in although she thought nothing of it at the time, found great favor in this field. I want you to stop right there and think about the church you are at right now. God has directed you there and you have to know that favor is where you are, but in order to obtain it, you must dedicate your whole self to serving God. Humble yourself and find work somewhere in the church to do, whether it’s to help clean it up, assist the First lady, help out with getting people to church, or if nothing else be at the church every time the doors open. This is not done unto man but unto the Lord, with a sincere heart. *You will find that this is the key to a closer relationship with God* Just think if Ruth would have got to the field and said no way can I get out here and break my back picking up leftovers or quit in the middle of working and went back to her hometown. She never would have received her blessing.
Boaz approaches the scene and finds Naomi gleaming:
5 Boaz asked the overseer of his harvesters, “Who does that young woman belong to?” 6 The overseer replied, “She is the Moabite who came back from Moab with Naomi. 7 She said, ‘Please let me glean and gather among the sheaves behind the harvesters.’ She came into the field and has remained here from morning till now, except for a short rest in the shelter.”
Ruth has been gleaming and the owner of the field was unaware that she was even there, because he was gone, but because she now known of her relationship with Naomi & God, the workers allowed her to come gleam, knowing their masters’ heart would not have turned her away.
When we consecrate ourselves to God, we will be known for our relationship with Him and when it is time to be fully blessed we will be found doing the works of God and that is where our reward will come from.
Boaz blessed Ruth in an unexpected way:
8 So Boaz said to Ruth, “My daughter, listen to me. Don’t go and glean in another field and don’t go away from here. Stay here with the women who work for me. 9 Watch the field where the men are harvesting, and follow along after the women. I have told the men not to lay a hand on you. And whenever you are thirsty, go and get a drink from the water jars the men have filled.” 10 At this, she bowed down with her face to the ground. She asked him, “Why have I found such favor in your eyes that you notice me —a foreigner? ” (She was no longer a foreigner but adopted into the kingdom of God)
14 At mealtime Boaz said to her, “Come over here. Have some bread and dip it in the wine vinegar.” When she sat down with the harvesters, he offered her some roasted grain. She ate all she wanted and had some left over. 15 As she got up to glean, Boaz gave orders to his men, “Let her gather among the sheaves and don’t reprimand her. 16 Even pull out some stalks for her from the bundles and leave them for her to pick up, and don’t rebuke her.”17 So Ruth gleaned in the field until evening. Then she threshed the barley she had gathered, and it amounted to about an ephah.
Ruth just wanted something to eat and she received a lot more than that. She received favor and the eyes of the owner of the field upon her now.
Our next lesson will be on the impartation that must take place.
Related articles
- A Boaz Blessing
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