09-02-07
Sorry, you must have Windows Media Player 9 or higher. This is a large file which may take a few seconds to start Windows Media Real Audio MP3 Click HERE, or scroll down for the diagram. (Ruth 1:22) So Naomi [named pleasant; but still Mara “bitter” Ruth 1:20, which relates to the majority of the present day Hebrews] returned, and Ruth [friend] the Moabitess [a Gentile, heathen, infidel, pagan, stranger, (unbeliever)], her daughter in law, with her, which returned out of the country of Moab: and they came to Bethlehem in the beginning of barley harvest [Heb: in the sense of roughness, coarseness]. 1. Nelson’s Illustrated Bible Dictionary: Because barley was considered a food for slaves and the very poor, it was held in low esteem as a grain. 2. Commentary: Commensurate with its low position in the eyes and palates of the people, barley was also used as animal fodder and fed to horses and camels (1 Kings 4:28). Barley was a grain universally held in low esteem by the Hebrews, Egyptians, and other nations; a firstfruits grain representing Jesus Christ. (Ruth 2:1-3) And Naomi had a kinsman [first mention in the Book of Ruth] of her husband's, a mighty man of wealth [valour: Gideon, Jephthah], of the family of Elimelech [my God is King]; and his name was Boaz [in his swift strength – he will establish (Jachin)]. And Ruth the Moabitess said unto Naomi, Let me now go to the field, and glean [to pick up, to gather] ears of corn after him in whose sight I shall find [future tense] grace [Ruth was seeking Grace – she didn’t have it yet. Why not? She had to first glean the Word and then “meet” Boaz]. And she said unto her, Go, my daughter. And she [Ruth] went [Satan’s earthly point of view], and came [God’s heavenly point of view], and gleaned in the field [Ruth had to “pick up, to gather” to herself the Word of God before she could be saved] after the reapers [i.e. after those Hebrews of the Old testament who were already harvesting (picking up) the seed of God’s Word; Ruth the Gentile is symbolic prophetically of the New Testament]: and her hap was to light on a part of the field [“And she happened to come to the part of the field” NKJV] belonging unto Boaz [a type of Jesus Christ “full of grace and truth” John 1:14], who was of the kindred [second mention] of Elimelech. (Ruth 2:5-7) Then said Boaz unto his servant that was set over the reapers, Whose damsel is this? And the servant that was set over the reapers answered and said, It is the Moabitish damsel that came back with Naomi [the evangelist] out of the country of Moab: And she said, I pray you, let me glean and gather [assemble; (assemble vs. collect: Mat 13:30)] after the reapers among the sheaves [among the bundles of stalks, referring prophetically to different Christian denominations]: so she came [spoken from the heavenly point of view: Ruth 2:2], and hath continued even from the morning [the rising of the sun] until now, that she tarried a little [but not a lot, the idea being that she was industrious in gleaning the Word] in the house [“except when she rested a little in the house” Amplified Bible]. 1. Commentary: “his servant that was set over the reapers” = this phrase is repeated twice for emphasis, and strongly points toward “Michael the archangel [Gk: a chief angel]” (Jude 9 & Dan 12:1). This individual is a “servant” in authority, rather than a member of the “reapers” doing the work who we have already identified as being mortal Hebrew believers. The fact that this individual was “set over the reapers” speaks of the existence of a heavenly hierarchy and a chain-of-command that extends from the heavenly realm downwards and upwards. It is in that sense of circumstance that Boaz (Jesus Christ), the owner of the field, receives a report from His servant the archangel Michael. a. (Gen 28:10-13) And Jacob went out from Beersheba, and went toward Haran. And he lighted upon a certain place, and tarried there all night, because the sun was set; and he took of the stones of that place, and put them for his pillows, and lay down in that place to sleep. And he dreamed, and behold a ladder [a stair-case (a chain-of-command)] set up on the earth, and the top of it reached to heaven: and behold the angels [messengers] of God ascending and descending on it. And, behold, the LORD stood above it, and said, I am the LORD God of Abraham thy father, and the God of Isaac: the land whereon thou liest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed; b. (John 1:51) And he saith unto him [Nathanael], Verily, verily, I say unto you, Hereafter ye shall see heaven open, and the angels [messengers] of God ascending and descending upon the Son of man. (Ruth 2:5-7) Then said Boaz unto his servant that was set over the reapers, Whose damsel is this? And the servant that was set over the reapers answered and said, It is the Moabitish damsel that came back with Naomi [the evangelist] out of the country of Moab: And she said, I pray you, let me glean and gather [assemble; (assemble vs. collect: Mat 13:30)] after the reapers among the sheaves [among the bundles of stalks, referring prophetically to different Christian denominations]: so she came [spoken from the heavenly point of view: Ruth 2:2], and hath continued even from the morning [the rising of the sun] until now, that she tarried a little [but not a lot, the idea being that she was industrious in gleaning the word] in the house [“except when she rested a little in the house” Amplified Bible]. 1. Commentary: “Whose damsel is this?” = if we may we paraphrase the dialogue between Boaz and his servant, it might seem as this: Christ Jesus asked the archangel Michael “Who has authority over this young woman?” Michael replied that Satan had authority over this “Moabitish (Gentile, infidel, unbeliever) damsel” but she “went” from him “and came” under the authority of Naomi the evangelist who led her into the covenant community (synagogue/church). //// Furthermore, since arriving in the covenant community, she has “prayed” to be allowed to “glean” the crumbs of God’s Word (Mat 15:27) and to “gather” (assemble) them to herself into correct doctrine, and she has so labored in the field of God’s Word from this early morning until even now with very little rest. a. (1 Th 4:11,12) And that ye study to be quiet, and to do your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you; That ye may walk honestly toward them that are without, and that ye may have lack of nothing. b. (1 Tim 5:17) Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honour, especially they who labour in the word and doctrine. c. (2 Tim 2:15) Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman [toiler, labourer (bringing in the sheaves)] that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing [to make a straight cut, i.e. (fig.) to dissect (expound) correctly (the divine message)] the word [logos; seeds] of truth. 2. Commentary: “that she tarried a little in the house” = the house connotes rest, comfort, fellowship, food, protection, a quiet place for study and meditation, and symbolizes the synagogue/church. The house was presumably located in the center of the field for practicality, accessibility, and convenience of the workers, as similarly, the Tabernacle was pitched in the center of the twelve tribes of Israel while they were not marching, but at rest. The encampment of the twelve tribes, consisting of approximately 2 ˝ million people then formed an enormous living cross with the Tabernacle at its center (Num 2:1-34). Is the house of God, or more properly, is God… the center (hub, heart, core, focus) of your life? Amen Click HERE for a printable version (pdf) Previous Chapter Table Of Contents Next Chapter Click here to download a printable version of this message Click here to download a DOC version of this message
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(Ruth 1:22) So Naomi [named pleasant; but still Mara “bitter” Ruth 1:20, which relates to the majority of the present day Hebrews] returned, and Ruth [friend] the Moabitess [a Gentile, heathen, infidel, pagan, stranger, (unbeliever)], her daughter in law, with her, which returned out of the country of Moab: and they came to Bethlehem in the beginning of barley harvest [Heb: in the sense of roughness, coarseness].
1. Nelson’s Illustrated Bible Dictionary: Because barley was considered a food for slaves and the very poor, it was held in low esteem as a grain.
2. Commentary: Commensurate with its low position in the eyes and palates of the people, barley was also used as animal fodder and fed to horses and camels (1 Kings 4:28). Barley was a grain universally held in low esteem by the Hebrews, Egyptians, and other nations; a firstfruits grain representing Jesus Christ.
(Ruth 2:1-3) And Naomi had a kinsman [first mention in the Book of Ruth] of her husband's, a mighty man of wealth [valour: Gideon, Jephthah], of the family of Elimelech [my God is King]; and his name was Boaz [in his swift strength – he will establish (Jachin)]. And Ruth the Moabitess said unto Naomi, Let me now go to the field, and glean [to pick up, to gather] ears of corn after him in whose sight I shall find [future tense] grace [Ruth was seeking Grace – she didn’t have it yet. Why not? She had to first glean the Word and then “meet” Boaz]. And she said unto her, Go, my daughter. And she [Ruth] went [Satan’s earthly point of view], and came [God’s heavenly point of view], and gleaned in the field [Ruth had to “pick up, to gather” to herself the Word of God before she could be saved] after the reapers [i.e. after those Hebrews of the Old testament who were already harvesting (picking up) the seed of God’s Word; Ruth the Gentile is symbolic prophetically of the New Testament]: and her hap was to light on a part of the field [“And she happened to come to the part of the field” NKJV] belonging unto Boaz [a type of Jesus Christ “full of grace and truth” John 1:14], who was of the kindred [second mention] of Elimelech.
(Ruth 2:5-7) Then said Boaz unto his servant that was set over the reapers, Whose damsel is this? And the servant that was set over the reapers answered and said, It is the Moabitish damsel that came back with Naomi [the evangelist] out of the country of Moab: And she said, I pray you, let me glean and gather [assemble; (assemble vs. collect: Mat 13:30)] after the reapers among the sheaves [among the bundles of stalks, referring prophetically to different Christian denominations]: so she came [spoken from the heavenly point of view: Ruth 2:2], and hath continued even from the morning [the rising of the sun] until now, that she tarried a little [but not a lot, the idea being that she was industrious in gleaning the Word] in the house [“except when she rested a little in the house” Amplified Bible].
1. Commentary: “his servant that was set over the reapers” = this phrase is repeated twice for emphasis, and strongly points toward “Michael the archangel [Gk: a chief angel]” (Jude 9 & Dan 12:1). This individual is a “servant” in authority, rather than a member of the “reapers” doing the work who we have already identified as being mortal Hebrew believers. The fact that this individual was “set over the reapers” speaks of the existence of a heavenly hierarchy and a chain-of-command that extends from the heavenly realm downwards and upwards. It is in that sense of circumstance that Boaz (Jesus Christ), the owner of the field, receives a report from His servant the archangel Michael.
a. (Gen 28:10-13) And Jacob went out from Beersheba, and went toward Haran. And he lighted upon a certain place, and tarried there all night, because the sun was set; and he took of the stones of that place, and put them for his pillows, and lay down in that place to sleep. And he dreamed, and behold a ladder [a stair-case (a chain-of-command)] set up on the earth, and the top of it reached to heaven: and behold the angels [messengers] of God ascending and descending on it. And, behold, the LORD stood above it, and said, I am the LORD God of Abraham thy father, and the God of Isaac: the land whereon thou liest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed;
b. (John 1:51) And he saith unto him [Nathanael], Verily, verily, I say unto you, Hereafter ye shall see heaven open, and the angels [messengers] of God ascending and descending upon the Son of man.
(Ruth 2:5-7) Then said Boaz unto his servant that was set over the reapers, Whose damsel is this? And the servant that was set over the reapers answered and said, It is the Moabitish damsel that came back with Naomi [the evangelist] out of the country of Moab: And she said, I pray you, let me glean and gather [assemble; (assemble vs. collect: Mat 13:30)] after the reapers among the sheaves [among the bundles of stalks, referring prophetically to different Christian denominations]: so she came [spoken from the heavenly point of view: Ruth 2:2], and hath continued even from the morning [the rising of the sun] until now, that she tarried a little [but not a lot, the idea being that she was industrious in gleaning the word] in the house [“except when she rested a little in the house” Amplified Bible].
1. Commentary: “Whose damsel is this?” = if we may we paraphrase the dialogue between Boaz and his servant, it might seem as this: Christ Jesus asked the archangel Michael “Who has authority over this young woman?” Michael replied that Satan had authority over this “Moabitish (Gentile, infidel, unbeliever) damsel” but she “went” from him “and came” under the authority of Naomi the evangelist who led her into the covenant community (synagogue/church). //// Furthermore, since arriving in the covenant community, she has “prayed” to be allowed to “glean” the crumbs of God’s Word (Mat 15:27) and to “gather” (assemble) them to herself into correct doctrine, and she has so labored in the field of God’s Word from this early morning until even now with very little rest.
a. (1 Th 4:11,12) And that ye study to be quiet, and to do your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you; That ye may walk honestly toward them that are without, and that ye may have lack of nothing.
b. (1 Tim 5:17) Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honour, especially they who labour in the word and doctrine.
c. (2 Tim 2:15) Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman [toiler, labourer (bringing in the sheaves)] that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing [to make a straight cut, i.e. (fig.) to dissect (expound) correctly (the divine message)] the word [logos; seeds] of truth.
2. Commentary: “that she tarried a little in the house” = the house connotes rest, comfort, fellowship, food, protection, a quiet place for study and meditation, and symbolizes the synagogue/church. The house was presumably located in the center of the field for practicality, accessibility, and convenience of the workers, as similarly, the Tabernacle was pitched in the center of the twelve tribes of Israel while they were not marching, but at rest. The encampment of the twelve tribes, consisting of approximately 2 ˝ million people then formed an enormous living cross with the Tabernacle at its center (Num 2:1-34). Is the house of God, or more properly, is God… the center (hub, heart, core, focus) of your life?
Amen
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