We began the 5th video in our 6-video study of Ruth tonight and I am constantly amazed at how actively the Spirit works in our midst during this time each week. The overwhelming majority of the time tonight was spent in recapping the book of Ruth up through Chapter 3, but what brief time we spent in Chapter 4 was very insightful.
One of the "light bulb" moments for me was in the realization that Mr. Whats-his-name, the Kindsman Redeemer ahead of Boaz was likely not an honorable man. Never had I thought of this character revelation until Mark mentioned it in the video, but the reality is that the previous text of Ruth strongly supports the fact that Ruth and Naomi's plight was well-known, yet while they were starving, this man who should have been the one to step in and take care of them is nowhere to be found....or so it would seem. Yet this very same "Kindsman Redeemer" who should have been taking care of Ruth and Naomi was easily found at the City Gates. I find it very hard to support any claim of this man's ignorance about their situation, yet he not only fails to act responsibly on his own, but chooses again NOT to redeem the land along with Naomi and Ruth, because of his own interests. Contrast that with Boaz, a man of action, who seeks this man out to settle the matter immediately, the very next day after Ruth comes to him at the threshing floor. Boaz, a man who was not the one legally obligated to take care of Naomi, constantly shows kindness to her and to Ruth, the Moabite, to whom he owes even less. Yet Boaz's character combined with his pursuit of righteousness and love for Ruth spur him onward towards ultimately stepping up and being the man of action that Ruth and Naomi need in their plight and, ultimately, to be the vessel through which the Lord will answer the prayers of Ruth and Naomi for His providence.
I love this guy!! Yet I find it incredibly humbling because I am confronted with my own shortcomings in being a man of action. So often I find myself leaning so heavily on my analytical nature and "need" to fully think through the options, that I fail to act swiftly. I would not characterize myself as one who is "swift to act." Yet there is something about the character of Boaz and his swiftness to do what the Lord places in front of him that inspires me to be more like him in this respect. However, this is a fine line, as Mark points out in the video, because although Boaz is swift to act, he is not foolish in his actions. To me, this is a sign of wisdom and maturity that I am still pursuing as a young man.
"Lord, may I be a man who wisely descerns your will for my life and who is swift to act in accordance with it. Let me be swift to do good to others when it is in front of me to do so, and may I always point others toward You with my character."
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