RUTH

Debra Isenbletter

Ruth 3:5 & 6

Ruth 3:5 – “And she said unto her, All that thou sayest unto me I will do.”

What a wonderful attitude of obedience Ruth reveals with these words to Naomi! This little word “all” shows a full obedience. Ruth holds back nothing and gives everything. She heard all that was said: “All that thou sayest…” and she agreed to do it all: “All … I will do.” This is the obedience of our Lord who obeyed in all things, for He said, “Lo, I come to do thy will O God” (Heb 10:7); “I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me.” (Jn 5:30) and “I do always those things that please him” (Jn 8:28). Ruth’s obedient testimony is a picture of that same obedience that Christ showed, it is the obedient testimony of Christ in us, the Christ life fully surrendered to the will of God and the Word of God. Ruth “obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered” (Ro 6:17) to her. This is heart obedience, it is an inward obedience that is shown forth in an outward obedience.

Ruth’s obedience is a picture of the Bride’s obedience, a Full Obedience. Full obedience lets love energize faith and in the end “believeth all things, hopeth all things” (1 Cor 13:7). Full obedience is one that is a “doer of the word and not hearer only” (James 1:22). Full obedience is the “obedience of faith” (Ro 16:26). Full obedience holds nothing back, and is a heart obedience “do it heartily” (with all your heart) (Col 3:23). The real test of true obedience, heart obedience is seen when that obedience is given even when we don’t fully understand why or what we are asked to do. Look at Samuel when he was a child and his obedience to Eli, the priest, though he didn’t fully understand. Eli had told Samuel that the next time he heard the voice calling his name to say, “Speak Lord; for thy servant heareth” (1 Sam 3:9-10). Little Samuel didn’t fully understand what that meant but without question he obeyed and when he did, the Lord spoke to him and revealed His will. Then we have Saul, who saw Jesus on the road to Damascus and his obedience to the words of Jesus in answer to his question, “Lord, what wilt thou have me to do?” (Acts 9:6-9). He was told to do nothing but wait until he was told what to do. He wasn’t told how long it would be or what it would be but he did what was asked of him. He obeyed.

Ruth’s response showed and obedient spirit, a teachable spirit, she was willing to be instructed. Growth and blessing flow from this attitude! Job said: “that which I see not teach thou me” (Job 34:32) and David said: “…teach me thy paths. Lead me in thy truth, teach me” (Psa 25:4-5). Let us say this and when we do our obedience will bring a greater revelation and blessing!

[Mary Bodie]: “And this yielded attitude {all that thou sayest unto me I will do} of which Ruth sets us the example, is the only place in all the earth to find rest. Here we rest from toil and labor; here we rest from all responsibility. We put all our care for spirit, soul and body, on Him, roll everything over on the shoulders of our Boaz, our Strong One, and leave it there. We let Him stand up to our help, fight our battles and undertake for us in every respect. And here, in this utter abandonment of our own way and will, we find the rest that Jesus gives. It is that “good part” (Lk. 10:42) which Mary found and which Jesus said no one could take away from her.”

Ruth 3:6 – “And she went down unto the floor, and did according to all that her mother in law bade her.”

In this verse we see what Ruth did to show her obedience, to fulfill those words, “I will do” that she spoke to Naomi. Ruth “went down unto the floor,” the threshing floor. She went down to the place Naomi told her to go. She did what she was told to do, she “did according to all that her mother in law bade her.” The word “bade” means “to give a charge,” it means “to send with a command,” it means “to send a messenger.” Ruth’s actions acknowledge Naomi’s authority and wisdom for her life. He had been “charged” by Naomi with a great responsibility and she had been commanded” by Naomi to go to Boaz and she was “a messenger” from Naomi to Boaz. Naomi is asking Boaz through Ruth to be their “kinsman-redeemer.”

What Ruth said was both a promise to Naomi and a solemn vow to God. Her promise is given to Naomi “All that thou sayest” (3:5) and her promise “I will do” was a voluntary vow to both Naomi and to God. Ruth made a vow, she swore an oath, and she “bound her soul with a bond” (Num 30:2) to do what she was told to do. Making a vow was a series matter, it was not done lightly, whether it was made to another person or to God.

 “A vow was a solemn promise or pledge that binds a person to perform a specified act or behave in a certain manner. Vowing was voluntary. But after a vow was made, it had to be performed. Vows, therefore, were to be made only after careful consideration.” (Nelson’s Bible Dictionary)

Now we see Ruth fulfilling that promise and vow, and the care she took to do this. She kept and guarded the words given to her by Naomi, she didn’t alter or add to what Naomi told her to do. This is the testimony of the overcomer, they don’t compromise or change the Word. Like Paul she “kept (guarded) the faith” (2 Tim 4:7). and like the Philadelphia saints she “kept (guarded) my word” (Rev 3:8). Ruth gave the words (given to her by Naomi) to Boaz in perfect obedience. She did what she was told to do, she obeyed in every way. Her actions show two things, first that she acknowledged the authority and wisdom of Naomi to give her those words, and the power and right of Boaz to fulfill those words.

This is what we do every day, we trust in the words given to us by Paul, we trust in Jesus to fulfill those words, those promises. We do as Ruth, we do “according to all” we have been told and wait for the blessing!
To be Continued