Merry Monday by Parris Bailey
“AND NAOMI SAID UNTO HER DAUGHTER IN LAW, BLESSED BE HE OF THE LORD, WHO HATH NOT LEFT OFF HIS KINDNESS TO THE LIVING AND TO THE DEAD.” Ruth 2:20
I came across a Hebrew word today that ministered to me while reading the book of Ruth. In fact it is mentioned throughout the Bible. It is chêsêd which means, kindness; by implication (towards God) piety; rarely (by opprobrium) reproof, or (subjectively) beauty: – favor, good deed, kindly, (loving-) kindness, merciful, mercy, pity. William Barclay describe it as “Chesedh is the ability to get right inside the other person’s skin until we can see things with his eyes, think things with his mind, and feel things with his feelings.” This what Boaz felt toward Ruth who is a type of Christ. All throughout the bible this “steadfast love” speaks of Gods covenant love He made with us. I’m not sure any of us will ever fully understand this wonderful part of God. The Apostle Paul admonishes the Galatians in 4:9 saying we should never turn back to the ‘beggerly elements of the world”. (Like Orpah) Even in the book of Hosea God again is trying to demonstrate the harlotry we play against Him by the relationship Hosea had with His wife Gomer. Hosea 2:19 says, “I will betroth thee unto me for ever!” God was so orchestrating Ruth’s life to give her the desire to “choose the best part”. I read that it’s not so much what we take up that makes us rich, but what we leave behind. He will bring us back to the heart of worship sooner or later. He will test our affection-in our emptiness he will bring fullness, in our danger he brings peace and security and our hope is fulfilled. Have you felt that you have come up empty? Just as David ministered to Mephilbosheth who was lame in his feet. He will surely allow you to feast at the banqueting table of His presence. Man may think they control their lives, but the hand of God is behind them as He works His purposes out. Maybe this makes you nervous, but when I think of the covenant of love-His steadfast love that reaches out to me, I am safe in my Father’s arms. Our kinsman redeemer encourages us when he says in Ruth 2:12, “The Lord recompense thy work, and a full reward be given thee of The Lord God of Israel, under whose wings thou art come to trust.”
Do you feel like all your decision making was wrong and you spent wasteful years? When Naomi held Obed in her arms (who was in the linage of Jesus Christ) the women prophesied over her saying, “And he shall be unto thee a restorer of thy life, and a nourisher of thine old age.” Ruth 4:15
Our kinsman redeemer Jesus Christ, does just that—–restores the wasted years and brings us fresh life and joy. Thank God for his steadfast love!