Jottings

by J. Miller | Category: Jottings | Apr 1944

In what we previously "rote on Ruth chapter 4 we said that it illustrated the parable of Matthew 13.44. The near kinsman refused to act the part of a kinsman redeemer. He said to Boaz "I cannot redeem it for myself take thou my right of redemption on thee; for I cannot redeem it (verse 6) He stepped down and Boaz stepped up. He said to Boaz "Buy it for thyself, And he drew off his shoe". Boaz now stood in the shoes of another, in the place of the near kinsman. He could now perform the work of the kinsman redeemer. "He was a mighty man of wealth" (chapter 2.1), and, if we follow the marginal reading of the Revised Version, he was also" a mighty man of valour." The Hebrew word for " wealth" is the word Chayil, which means force, might, strength.

Boaz had not only the competence to be a redeemer, being a man of wealth, but he had also the strength of purpose so to act. He thought of the field, but he thought more of the treasure that was in it. He would buy the field, but he would buy Ruth the Moabitess to be his wife. The produce of a field might fill his stomach, but it took a woman's love to fill his heart. It was Ruth that he sought, not the field to add to his substance. He bought the field for the treasure that was in it. Note how the names of the dead live again in the transaction. Elimelech's Chilion's and Mahlon's, also Naomi's name is in the bargain.

Here we have the dead and living of a family that would all have perished, but for a redeemer who would keep alive their name. We have also a bridegroom and a bride. The bridegroom is of the family of Elimelech, and they are all of the tribe of Judah, but the bride is a Gentile, a Moabitish damsel. The bridegroom and the bride form the centre of the picture; others fill in the scene. Such surely is the meaning of the parable of the treasure hidden in the field.

The treasure includes the redeemed of all ages, but we must see that these redeemed are not all alike m their relation to the Lord The Lord bought the field, the world, because of His own who were in it, dead and alive Many were dead and these had perished but for Christ, the Redeemer He is a Kinsman Redeemer. He is not only of Israel, He is the Son of Man as well He is a Kinsman of the human race (though in that kinship He is without sin) The first man, that is natural man fails completely in the matter of redemption, he -has neither the competence nor the heart to redeem None can by any means redeem his brother nor give to God a ransom for him (Psalm 49. 7) But Christ, the second Man, the Lord from heaven, has all the Divine competence and the human right to redeem because of the failure of the first man to effect redemption. "I cannot redeem it said the near kinsman (Ruth 4. 6)

The name of "man" will not perish, as it would have done had Christ not come forward to redeem. He will raise up the name of the dead upon his inheritance He will raise up seed for the dead He will perform the levirate law that is the law of a brother. See Deuteronomy 25. 5-10 How inch is the grace and goodness of this Redeemer, this God Man! But it is done in love and that made His task the easier. He loved His brethren, but He loved one better than all else, He loved His Bride. She was the chief part to Him of the treasure hidden in the field The buying of Ruth was the chief part of the work of Boaz Christ also loved the Church, and gave Himself up for it (Ephesians 5 25) He bought all, but He bought His Bride. This is the great central feature of God's plan It is "the eternal purpose which He purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord (Ephesians 3 12)

The near kinsman thought it would mar his inheritance if he introduced a Moabitess into his home and genealogy. He despised her. But she whom he despised was the chosen and loved wife of Boaz. She was one of the Gentiles, and so are we. She was the product of a sinful race, and so were we. She had the law against her (Deuteronomy 23.3), and so had we. She sought and found grace, and so have we. She was in due time united to her bridegroom, and so shall we be (Revelation 19.7, 8).

Isaiah paints a very dark picture in chapter 8.22 when he says, "And they shall look unto the earth, and behold, distress and darkness, the gloom of anguish." Human sin and folly have darkened the days of the sons of men, and caused them to reap sour and bitter fruit. This was never more so than at the present time. Distress, like a raging tempest, has beaten down upon men, and, whilst the leaders of the nations seem to see through the lurid war clouds, the dawn of a brighter day and brave new world, men of sober thought, who view the world of affairs not merely from a political point of view but from a moral and spiritual one, fail to see ground for the fair hopes of a better day. Take this country for instance, and consider-Are the people now as God fearing, Bible loving, sin hating as were former generations? No, they are not. The drift of the last three or four decades has been tremendous. The most utter neglect of divine things and of the need of the souls of men exist, and any recognition of men's responsibilities to God has been almost banished from men's minds. Many religious leaders have aided and abetted the sinful course of those who once filled the pews. No warning cry has been raised by them of the consequences of sin hereafter. One would think, according to the modern cleric, that the people are sailing for a safe harbour and would land safely in the New Jerusalem. But how this can be it is impossible to make out; what with dancing, whist drives and amusements of all kinds they seek -to keep their straying flocks within the fold of-their churches. They have helped the world to convert the church, and not the church to convert the world. Their vain efforts might be viewed as a comedy were not the matters at issue so serious and the end so tragic.

But does God, through the prophet Isaiah, leave us with this picture of gloom? Is there no dawn of a better day? God never leaves men in hopeless distress. Though He may have no cause in man to work for him, He works for His own name sake. So the prophet goes on, "But there shall be no gloom to her that was in anguish" (9.1). In Galilee the people had "walked in darkness" and "dwelt in the land of the shadow of death." A great change came for that people and that land. The Man of Nazareth came to live amongst them. Midst the gloom a light sprang up. The promised Hope of Galilee of the nations is the Hope of the nations still. wherever Christ is received the gloom goes. The Light of the world dispels the darkness. There is comfort in Christ for the distressed and sorrowing, help for the helpless, hope for the hopeless, wealth for the poor, and peace in this scene of war. Christ is the sole answer to all human need. There is no gloom or dimness to those who in their anguish turn to Him.

The clouds of doubt and distress may be banked high on your dark horizon, but when the sun rises clouds take on his glorious hues, so may your cloudy troubles. You may yet thank God for every cloud of distress which Christ made bright and glorious with His presence. It takes the dark rain cloud with the sunshine to give us the rainbow. Gloom must go in Christ's realised presence. But should you think you sit far from Him, the heavenly Bridegroom, in loneliness, what sorrow there must be both to you and to Him!

The Bridegroom is not dead and you need not be sad and lonely. Nor need we know loneliness or gloom. "Lo, I am with you" is to be heard by Christ's followers over all the ages, and rises clear and sweet above the din of earth's discordant notes and the jarring events of our earthly life. Christ has promised His presence to His own throughout life's journey, and He is nearer to us than He was to the two men on the way to Emmaus. Then He dispelled their gloom; then He warmed their cheerless hearts, for they at last knew Him at that evening meal in the baking of the bread. Let us have the cheer we may have, the light of His countenance, the warmth of His love, the comfort of His word, the strength of His strong hand!

J. Miller | Apr 1944
Jottings