RUTH 3

14 And she lay at his feet until the morning: and she rose up before one could know another. And he said, Let it not be known that a woman came into the floor.

Many, yea very many, of the beloved and faithful are now sleeping where their kinsman "the mighty man of wealth" whose name is "Strength" once lay, and must remain in the threshing floor until morning. But the Man of Strength will take off the vail which Paul calls the flesh, and as Boaz did to Ruth, will fill it, so that she went not empty away.

Naomi declared the kinsman would finish the work that day, and would not rest until it was accomplished; how suggestive. We perceive the land to be redeemed must as it were, have the signature of the natural Israel, and the wild by nature. For Boaz said, what day thou buyest the field of the hand of Naomi, thou must buy it also of Ruth the Moabitess, to raise up the name of the dead.

It was proved that Ruth had a nearer kinsman than that of Boaz, but he could not redeem the inheritance, nor raise up the name of the dead, lest he mar his own inheritance. But Boaz, the mighty man of wealth, who said I am after thee declared he would redeem it, if the nearer kinsman would give him the right.

He did so, and the mighty man of wealth not only redeemed the inheritance, but purchased Ruth to be his wife, and they two became one flesh.

Blessed be the Lord God who hath not left us this day without a kinsman, whose name is famous in Israel, who has indeed been a restorer of life, to raise up the name of the dead that the name of the dead be not cut off from his brethren, and from the gate of his place.

The people and elders prayed that Ruth also may, like Leah and Rachel, build the house of Israel and be famous in Bethlehem.

Gentile Ruth, did from her issue fill up the "Holy Square," the hundred and forty and four thousand, but for Obed, no Jesse; but for Jesse, no David; but David, no Christ; the mighty man of wealth, whose name is Eternal Strength. Ruth was indeed famous in Israel, and we her daughters will call her blessed.

The Christadelphian, Mar 1872