Freedom is Good News Part 149

It may very well be argued that the gist of the bible story concerns a betrothal and a marriage.  We have been talking about this in our discussion of the 45th Psalm.  The Psalmist advises the bride to “Forget your people and your father’s house.”  Strong words, we said, for a young bride-to-be; but ones that truly apply to the bride (i.e. the Church) who is betrothed to her husband, the Messiah.

We left our previous article with Ruth’s most amazing statement of faith to both her mother-in-law and to God.  “Your people shall be my people and your God my God”, she said to Naomi.  Her words echoed the Psalmist’s; she would not go back to her people. 

I have mentioned in the past that much of the Old Testament uses shadowy references and types to teach us concerning the ideas and concepts that God would have us to know.  The book of Ruth is one of these types.  The actual terminology to use with this book is “allegory”.  The book of Ruth is an allegory of the courtship and marriage of Jesus Christ and the Church.  She was a real character in history, dwelling in the Middle East some thirty five hundred years ago.  God uses this event to teach us the lesson.

As God would have it, Ruth found herself working (actually gleaning behind the harvesters) in the field of a man named Boaz.  When Boaz comes to the field and meets Ruth he says to her, “Now, listen, my daughter, do not go to glean in another field or leave this one, but keep close to my young women.  Watch the field that they are reaping, and go after them.”  Such words the Messiah uses to tell us to keep our eyes upon Him and not to stray after false ideas and doctrines. 

Yes, they do become betrothed and eventually marry.  Their union produces the lineage of our Savior.  Boaz and Ruth are the great grand-parents of King David.  I will say it again; it is a beautiful story and well worth your time to read!

Brethren and friends, there is a future wedding and if we would consider ourselves a part of the bride of Christ we must take to heart the words of the Psalmist, “Forget your people and your father’s house.”  We would do well to adopt Ruth’s words as our own, “Where you go I will go and where you lodge I will lodge.  Your people shall be my people and your God my God.  Where you die I will die, and there will I be buried.  May the LORD do so to me and more also if anything but death separates me from you.”  

The institution of marriage was ordained by God to foreshadow the upcoming union of Jesus Christ and His bride, the Church.  “Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish.  …. Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.  This mystery is profound, and I am saying that it refers to Christ and the church.”  (Ephesians 5:25-32)  There is a beautiful future ahead for those who belong to Christ, and yes, that is good news!!