Ruth 2:14 (ESV)
And at mealtime Boaz said to her, "Come here and eat some bread and dip your morsel in the wine." So she sat beside the reapers, and he passed to her roasted grain. And she ate until she was satisfied, and she had some left over.
As we move through the story of Ruth it will become apparent that every turn of the events will unfold for us unmistakable glimpses of grace. Who would have thought that an obscure widow named Naomi from the town of Bethlehem should become the great-grandmother to a King. Out of desperate and impoverished times comes a time of unexpected favor and restoration. In Ruth’s story we see echoes of the Gospel. The story of rebellious prodigals coming home and the pagan Moabites welcomed into God’s family.
Old Testament scholar, Ian Duguid puts it so wonderfully:
“We who live in the New Testament era should see the constant faithfulness and glorious grace of this God even more clearly than Naomi did. In the Scriptures, we have written down for us the rich history of God’s longsuffering with his rebellious children. We know more fully that the Father stands with open arms and open heart, scanning the horizon for the returning prodigal, eager to welcome her home. He doesn’t just allow us grudging admission to glean in his fields: he invites us to his table to partake in his feast.”
Most scholars recognized the element of sacramental grace in the invitation extended by Boaz for Ruth to share in his bread and wine. It is a picture of people like us who do not deserve grace, but “just happen” by providence to find ourselves in the fields of God’s mercy and invited to come to the table. By faith we grab hold of this favor and cling like Ruth to the blessed hope of our salvation. This Sunday we will be invited to share in the meal which is a preview of the Marriage Supper of the Lamb. Take stock of your past and your present in honest repentance, and then come clinging to the mercy as offered to you in the Gospel. This is because the cost has been paid. Jesus paid the cost with his own life.
Again Duguid’s words point to the essence of Gospel truth:
“In order to receive home the wandering sinner, it would cost the Father nothing less than the death of his Son on the Cross. It would cost the Father the unthinkable agony of pouring out his wrath and anger against sin on Jesus, God the Son. No mere duty could force God to pay that price. Nothing less than his faithfulness to his covenant purposes, his overwhelming love for us, and his desire to have us as part of his people, could inspire such sacrifice. What Naomi and Ruth most needed was not simply a redeemer to rescue them from their earthly poverty and danger, nor even a husband for Ruth. Rather, they needed a heavenly Redeemer to rescue them from their sin…Out of his covenantal faithfulness, God willingly paid the price in full.”
Come to the Lord’s Table for the food that does not perish. Calvin spoke of this meal as “spiritual food that nourishes our souls” as we feed upon Christ by faith.
Isaiah 55:2 (ESV)
Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread,
and your labor for that which does not satisfy?
Listen diligently to me, and eat what is good,
and delight yourselves in rich food.
Why would we look to other fields or other food when such a rich bounty has been provided for us? Do not take it lightly, or with presumptive hearts. Open hands, believing minds, and humble hearts are always welcome.
No comments:
Post a Comment