SCRIPTURE: Ruth 4:1-22
OBSERVATION:
The main point of this story is to show how God works through the culture and times of Israel’s history to produce the ‘seed of the woman’ who will crush the serpent’s head (Genesis 3:15). King David is an anticipation of the future messiah to come.
The reference to Perez and Tamar (see Genesis 38) is another example of God using a righteous foreign woman in the messiah’s family tree (one of 4 mentioned in Matthew 1:3,5,6). The story of Tamar is a dramatic example of twisted double-standards (why was it a sin for Tamar to prostitute herself but not for Judah to visit a shrine prostitute???). How God must weep, working through the immorality of this world to bring redemption.
Thankfully Jesus did not hold back as kinsman-redeemer for fear of endangering His own estate (v.6). He willingly let go of His ‘estate’ (see Philippians 2:5-8) and emptied Himself to redeem (rescue, restore) us.
APPLICATION:
The Lord invites me to work in/through this twisted, mixed up world to ‘birth the messiah’ into the world, i.e. to be Jesus to others, and to help them receive Jesus into their lives, join Him in His kingdom restoration plan.
When I hear the horrible stories of the abuse of women and girls, my heart cringes. I just heard that in many AIDS stricken African communities, the men believe sleeping with a young virgin will cure them; they force the girls to sleep with them, t us spreading AIDS and ruining their lives… ARGH!!! One day there will be hell to pay!
Not only should I be thankful for God’s mercy (He does not treat us as our sins deserve, Psalm 103:10), I need to have the same attitude as Jesus, willing to endanger my own estate for the sake of others, to help and bless them. Jesus calls us to take up our cross (cruel instrument of redemption) and follow Him (Luke 9:23-24).
PRAYER:
Lord, how can You endure all the immorality in the world? Thank You that You have done, and are doing, something about this mess. Help me to take up the cross and join You in redeeming the world. Amen.