A Picture of the Church Pt2 -The Book of Ruth

In this second helping of the series 'The Church In the Heart of God', I want to look at the book of Ruth from the Old Testament. In this book it is evident in its theme and types, that God pictured the Church long before its existence in the world. The Bride of Christ has been in the heart of the Father for a long time and if we have spiritual eyes we will see it throughout the Old Testament and the New Testament.

This is a long post but it has to be in order to do justice to the wealth of revelation in this book.

 

Ruth symbolises the Gentile Church.

• Elimelech symbolises unrepentant Israel that never returns to the Promised Land and loses his inheritance in the wilderness.

• Naomi is a picture of penitent Israel that returns to God in time.

• Elimelech means ‘My God is King’

• Naomi means ‘my delight’

• Mahlon means ‘sick’

• Chilion means ‘pining’

 Elimelech is a picture of apostate Israel, a people who once knew that their God was King, but have forsaken Him. He takes his family away from the Promised Land and dependence on God and the results are sickness and pining (in his two sons), and eventually death. The fruit of apostasy is always death.

However we see that not all of his people are wiped out. There is a remnant in his wife and daughters-in-law.
Naomi is a picture of the remnant of Israel that is still the ‘delight’ of the Lord. Israel is still the apple of His eye, however not just physical Israel but spiritual Israel, those who belong to Christ.

Ruth 1:6 Naomi hears that there is bread again in Bethlehem. The word of the Lord graciously comes to her where she is and it is good news. The Gospel (good news) will be told to the remnant Israel and they will respond by returning to the Lord.

Ruth is a picture of the Gentile Church that enters the Promised Land by faith. She is not born into spiritual Israel but is grafted in by faith and union with Boaz, who is a type of Christ.

She is characterised by loyalty and devotion because of Christ’s loving-kindness, as is the church.

Ruth must have learned about God through Naomi as the church learned of God through Israel. Rom.11:11-12,15

By Elimelech’s rejection of the provision of the Lord, he made it possible for Ruth-a gentile-to become part of Israel.
We, as the church, should have a deep loyalty and respect for Israel as Ruth did, since we have been grafted into spiritual Israel. Rom.11:17-21
Ruth never considered herself better than or superior to Naomi, even after her union with Boaz. She just humbly devoted herself to the Lord.
The Church is not better than Israel. Rom. 11:17-24
We belong to Christ by His grace and are grafted in by His grace. We have nothing to boast in but His grace.

Ruth 1:21 Naomi says ‘I went out full…’

She went away full, but full of what?
Was her confidence in herself or her national status as the people of God? Was she full of assurance that because she was born of Israel she would not suffer?
(The Pharisees thought the same thing in Jesus’ day. Jn 8:33)
Naomi went through a transformation while in Moab. The Lord emptied her there.

God will empty Israel of its national pride – He already is by welcoming Gentiles into His family. Rom 11:11-13

 Naomi rightly attributes her misfortune to the hand of God since He has disciplined her. However we know that He disciplines those He loves, to bring them back to Himself. Heb 12:7,10

Naomi made the best move in returning to the Lord in her emptiness.

Ruth’s name suggests ‘friendship’. As the Body of Christ we are welcomed as friends of Christ. Jn 15:15

Boaz’ name means ‘In Him is strength’ as a type of Christ with whom we are joined in friendship and receive strength.
The offspring of Boaz and Ruth is Obed whose name means ‘servant’. The produce of uniting in friendship with Christ is service to Him and His purposes.

2:8- Boaz instructs Ruth to remain working in his field. He provides safety, protection, provision and sustenance for her though she is a foreigner. What a picture of Christ and the Church.

The warning is there for the church – ‘Do not go anywhere else’. Outside of Christ there is danger and the Body is vulnerable. He alone is our provision and sustenance. Abide in Him.

2:9- there is water provided for the thirsty Church. Jesus has provided the Holy Spirit for us that we may drink to overflowing.

2:11- the church has found favour as the people have laid down their lives to align themselves with Christ and they will be rewarded by God for their faith.

2:13- Ruth understands that she has found favour by grace alone. She is not of the servant nation of God and yet has found shelter and provision as one of His people. The church exists by grace alone.

2:14- Jesus promises not just to provide for the church but also to come and eat with her. Rev. 3:20

2:18- Ruth has her fill and was able to carry back provision to Naomi. The Lord is going to strengthen the Body and use it to provide and nourish penitent Israel. Rom.11:30-31

We actually see this happening in 2:19. Naomi becomes curious of the provision given to Ruth. She begins to question about the goodness of the provider.

 2:20- Naomi acknowledges her relationship to Boaz and remembers his kindness to her people. Her grief is turned to joy and hope at the point. How much more for the remnant of Israel who will remember their God and His unfailing mercy toward them?

3:3- Ruth prepares herself as a bride to meet her husband. The church is preparing as the Bride to meet her Groom.

3:4- The church needs to go to the feet of the Master and he will tell us what to do.
3:9- Ruth appeals for Boaz’s protection, marriage etc… ‘corner’ of garment' = 'wings’ (2:12) The Church takes refuge under the wings of the Lord. He is her covering.

3:10- Ruth has chosen correctly and the Master is pleased with her. Jesus is delighted when we forsake all others and turn to Him alone for love and provision.
3:11- the promise to be faithful to her as Christ is faithful to the church. Jn.16:23,24
3:11- the people recognise Ruth’s character as one who trusts in the Lord and acts accordingly. This should be the reputation of the Church among the people of the land.

 Next I want to linger on the subject of the Kinsman-Redeemer.

3:12 Who is the kinsman nearer than Boaz? If Boaz is a picture of Christ, then who is nearer to redeem? This question troubled me for a long time. I brought it before the Lord a number of times for clarification and this is the answer I received.

Kinsman-redeemer is a picture of mankind under the Law.

As a close relative, mankind is given the opportunity by the Law to redeem. However he becomes subject to the same law if he chooses to redeem.

Jesus gave mankind the opportunity, by the Old Testament Law, to redeem its inheritance - however just as the man here says ‘I cannot redeem it because I might endanger my own estate. You redeem it yourself. I cannot do it.’ Man cannot redeem the inheritance for himself because he then endangers himself under that same law.

 We have no inheritance by law because we are law-breakers and subject to punishment. If we try to redeem our inheritance according to the law, we automatically put ourselves under punishment for breaking the same law.

So if man is a nearer kinsman than Jesus, it means we had a kinsman who could not redeem and a Redeemer who was not a kinsman.

We needed someone who was able to fulfil the law as both the Kinsman and the Redeemer.

Jesus became the ‘Man’ we needed to redeem us. He made Himself one of us so that He could redeem us. He became our kinsman so that he could be our Kinsman-Redeemer. He fully satisfied both requirements.

 4:7-8 – In order for Christ to become the Redeemer, mankind has to lay down any claim to the inheritance by the Law. The man hands over the right of redemption to Boaz as the only one willing and able to redeem.

Jesus is willing and able to redeem us but we have to lay down any claim by the Law. By the Law we deserve only death so any claim under that Law leads to our death.

Only when we reach out to Christ by faith and as we understand our redemption is only by His Grace can we have any inheritance. Our inheritance is in Him.

4:9- when Jesus died on the cross, He purchased for us the inheritance that once belonged only to Israel. Apostate Israel (Elimelech) turned away and relinquished any right to an inheritance and it came to the church (Ruth) because of the grace and mercy of the Redeemer.

4:10- However God is not finished with Israel. By law, Boaz and Ruth’s firstborn would still inherit the property that used to belong to his father. He possessed the right of ownership of his family inheritance. Israel still has an inheritance from the Lord based upon his everlasting covenant with them- however this will also come as an act of grace- from a Redeemer who will return to them their rights as sons.

Therefore the union of Christ and the Gentile Church will offer new birth and renewed sonship to Israel.

4:16-Naomi receives the blessing of their union. She receives an inheritance from the Lord. She receives this inheritance because of the grace of God. She played no part in it, yet she receives the blessing.(Picture of the New Covenant/salvation by grace extending to Israel.)

When Naomi sees the blessing of God on Ruth and Boaz she moves from emptiness to fullness and eventually receives life from their union.

How much more then will Israel receive life, after she returns to God, after witnessing the blessing of God on the union of Christ and the Church.

This 'new life' is the hope of Israel. The name Obed means ‘servant’. When Israel trusts again in the Lord they will humble themselves under His grace and become His true servants again.

For the church, the union of Christ and the gentiles produces the same – a people of service, eager to acknowledge the goodness and grace of God that will serve Him always!