THE LORD GOD OF ISRAEL, UNDER WHOSE WINGS THOU ART COME TO TRUST

Naomi had returned to Bethlehem-Judah after a tragic excursion into Moab, where she lost her husband and her two sons. When she decided to return to her home in Israel, she remonstrated with her two widowed daughters-in-law, Orpah and Ruth, to remain in Moab. Orpah chose to remain in Moab, but Ruth clave to Naomi, and vowed never to leave her until, ‘death part thee and me’, Ruth 1. 17.

Ruth came from a people prohibited from entering the con­gregation of Israel. We read, ‘An Ammonite or Moabite shall not enter into the congregation of the Lord; even to their tenth gen­eration’, Deut. 23. 3. But she chose to follow Naomi to her home, not expecting any right or making any claim. After arriving she was introduced to Boaz, the mighty man of wealth, who was also of the royal lineage. In his grace, Boaz welcomed her among his people and later he embraced her as his bride. The name of Ruth is to be found in the genealogy of our Lord Jesus Christ as given in Matthew chapter 1.

This story has a parallel with our experience as Gentiles. The apostle reminds us of what we once were, ‘aliens from the com­monwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world’, Eph. 2. 12. He then reminds us of what we have become, ‘But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ’, Eph. 2. 13. Ah yes, and all of this because of our links with our heavenly Boaz, the mighty man of wealth, our Lord Jesus Christ. Like Ruth, we have not been introduced as second-class citizens, but given the full honours of sonship. Lit­tle wonder the apostle breaks out in a doxology of worship saying, ‘Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ’, Eph. 1. 3.

Heirs of God. Joint heirs with Jesus, Long e’er time its race began, To His name eternal praises, See what wonders love has done. [John Kent]