STUFF

Luke 17:26-30, “...as it was in the days of Noe, so shall it be also in the days of the Son of man. They did eat, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, and the flood came, and destroyed them all. Likewise also as it was in the days of Lot; they did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they builded; But the same day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed them all. Even thus shall it be in the day when the Son of man is revealed.”

These verses, speak of the Lord’s day, which remind us of our moving day! Praise God! It won’t be long till we will be leaving here! Jesus taught that the conditions which prevailed on Noah’s and Lot’s “moving day” shall also be prevalent preceding our Lord’s return for the Church and His revelation to Israel. All the buying, selling, and building are very descriptive of the materialistic age in which we are living.

On moving day when we leave one place for another, we are prone to say, “What are we going to do with all this stuff?” Now, if we have much of the so-called earthly goods and we cannot use them where we are relocating, it is just stuff. Stuff is an accumulation of material things. The Greek “skeos” can also be translated “things, goods, possessions, substance.” Two main questions come to mind: “What are we doing with our stuff?” and “What is our stuff doing to us?” Stuff is a hindrance to swift travel. “In that day, he which shall be upon the housetop, and his stuff in the house, let him not come down to take it away: and he that is in the field, let him likewise not return back” – Lk. 17:31. You cannot take it with you! The Apostle Paul says: “Let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and Let us run with patience the race that is set before us” – Heb. 12:1.

Where do you keep your stuff? In the house? In the field? Where does your stuff keep you? In the yard, garage, or on a lake? It is great if it has you on your knees in thankfulness, or at the feet of Jesus! “Remember Lot’s wife!” When Lot and his wife were practically dragged out of Sodom, God said, “Look not behind thee.” The same day…it rained fire and brimstone from heaven and destroyed them all.

Some civic-minded people today try to help the ecology, attempting to clean up the cities’ water and air. Most do not know of God’s recycling program. “The elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up. Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolver, What manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness?” – II Pet. 3:10-13. Fire tells us of coming judgment. We either leave our stuff behind, or we stay behind with our stuff and get burned with it to a certain degree.

Apostle Paul spoke of “forgetting those things which are behind” – Phil. 3:13. Where are we looking? What gets the most of our attention? As the song says, “Turn your eyes upon Jesus, look full in His wonderful face. And the things of earth will grow strangely dim, in the light of His glory and grace.” Jesus said, “where your treasure is, there will your heart be also” – Lk. 12:34. We find that “a man’s life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth” – Lk. 12:15. It is that which possesses us that counts for eternity, rather than what we possess of the earthly goods. Set over against heaven’s treasure, earth’s stuff is just junk which moth can corrupt, and thieves can break through and steal – Mt. 6:20.

We have heard the saying, “One man’s junk is another’s treasure.” But what is our stuff doing to us? If what you have of material things has you, holds you, controls you, or hinders you in God’s things – if it constrains you from God’s perfect will for your life, in God’s opinion – it is just stuff, and poisonous stuff at that. You had better lay it aside, or loosen your grip on it, or Satan will use it to put a noose around your neck. I am reminded of the method they have used to capture monkeys. They cut a hole in a coconut just large enough to get an open hand in, but not large enough to get a closed fist out. They attach the coconut to a tree and put nuts or other inviting goodies inside. Now, when the monkey reaches in and once gets a grip on that stuff inside, he does not want to open his fist and turn loose. So he is caught. The devil is making a monkey out of most of God’s people today. Oh, beloved, do not let him rob us of a full inheritance, by giving us a mess of pottage!

Our Father does not always give us everything we want, because He knows what it will do to us. Some things will hinder and even enslave us. He knows just what we can be trusted with. While one person will use what he has for the glory of the Lord, another will be hindered spiritually by that very same thing. Even in the service of the Lord, responsibility or accomplishment will sometimes be allowed by us to block our route to God’s best, Our wise Father knows best.

“The Word of the Lord also came unto me saying, Son of man, thou dwellest in the midst of a rebellious house, which have eyes to see, and see not; they have ears to hear, and hear not…prepare thee stuff for removing, and remove by day in their sight…it may be they will consider…Then shalt thou bring forth thy stuff by day in their sight, as stuff for removing: and thou shalt go forth at even… as they that go forth into captivity” Ezek. 12:1-4. Ezekiel was a sign to Israel that a moving day was coming. We may also be a sign today, to the world and the Church, by Our attitude toward our stuff. We may be a sign to all about us, that we are about to be “delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God” – Rom. 8:21. The attitude of rebellion in the world and in Christendom is to us a sign of the nearness of Jesus’ coming. Are we preparing to move? Our moving day is at hand.

Some in the Old Testament used their stuff for a hiding place. Joshua 6 & 7, we read of Israel’s victory at Jericho. God told them of the spoils not to take for their own the vessels of iron and brass nor silver or gold, for it belonged to the treasury of the Lord. Achan and his family took that which belonged to God and hid it among their stuff. They were stoned and burned. Joah tried to hide from God and in turn, was hidden from everyone. When he learned his lesson, he said, “Salvation if of the Lord” Jonah 2:9. Let us not attempt to hide that which belongs to the Lord among our stuff. Sometimes we hear preaching which is a perversion of the Gospel, a message of personal attainment and accomplishment, that which tries to intermingle human merit and human effort with a Message of Divine Deliverance. This is building with wood, hay and stubble. It will be judged and burned. God will not have it. No one is going to get by with taking to himself that which belongs to the Lord. No flesh is going to glory in His presence. Will a man rob God? Some have tried, but it does not pay.

“And the Lord answered, Behold, he hath hid himself among the stuff” – I Sam. 10:22. The Lord knows right where we are. Saul, who became king of Israel, was called “a choice young man, and there was not among the children of Israel a goodlier person than he….” The Spirit of God came upon him, and he prophesied” – I Sam. 9:2; 10:10. Yet, he tried to hide the fact that he was anointed to reign; and when Samuel came to announce him as king he hid among the stuff. Let us not try to hide among the stuff. Let us believe and say what God says about us. Admit the truth about our old nature, and rejoice in the truth concerning the new nature. Those of means, today, often try to hide among the stuff. I speak of the bright, talented, gifted, and wealthy; but they are just as corrupt, polluted, depraved, and poverty stricken as any other human being, having the same ungodly drives and desires. (I Cor. 4:6-9)

The Apostle Paul severely chides such: Why do you boast? “What hast thou that you didst not receive?” Their stuff made them smug, complacent, and indifferent. They were full of self and reigning, but not on the right throne. There is quite a difference in their reigning and Paul’s reigning. He reigned by grace, not by goods. I Cor. 13:1-3 mentions some of the stuff that people hide behind. Though I may be a gifted public speaker, without Divine love I say nothing. Having all understanding, all knowledge, and all faith, yet without love I am nothing. Philanthropy without Divine love will get you nowhere with God. It does not count. It profits nothing.

In the Laodicean letter, Rev. 3:14-22, the present prevailing conditions of Christendom are described. Jesus is on the outside of most religions, and knocking to get into the individual heart-door. We see how distasteful this condition is to Him, “I will spue thee out of My mouth.” He will have no fellowship with such. Jesus has described clearly the materialistic attitude that is so very repulsive to God. “Thou sayest, I am rich, increased with goods, and have need of nothing.” Materialism is so blinding to spiritual reality. Their stuff made them self-sufficient, self-centered and spiritually blind. But by faith, we may purchase and enjoy pure fire-proven gold, partakers of the divine nature II Pet 1:4. White raiment: Clothed in Christ’s own righteousness now and eventually in robes of glory. Eye salve: The Holy Spirit illuminating vision, so we see clearly the full beauties of our precious Lord. We see as He sees, looking from His point of view. The four living ones had eyes, “before and behind” – Rev. 4:6. They could see the future, the past, and the present. With this eye salve we may look into the future and see those “things which God hath prepared for them that love Him” – I Cor. 2:9. We may also have a clear understanding of the past; but right now we may look within and see if we are in anything other than perfect minded – Phil. 3:15. Jesus spoke concerning externalism, an outward show to cover an inward shabbiness. Materialism is occupation with temporal things to the neglect of the eternal. How should we invest wisely? “Lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven” – Mt. 6:20. Read Heb. 10:32-35, they took joyfully the spoiling of their goods knowing they have a better and enduring substance in heaven, exchanging the temporal for eternal treasure.

Jack Davis

What does the Bible say?

Is the term ‘full overcomer’ scriptural?

In Christ’s letters to the 7 churches (Rev. 2 & 3) we find this phrase “to him that overcometh,”  followed by the reward offered to the overcomers in each church. The rewards differ in value. The best reward is to the overcomers of Smyrna and Philadelphia churches. They both are promised a crown. They will have authority to reign as kings with Christ. A lesser reward is offered to the overcomers of Ephesus, Pergamos and Sardis churches. It is better than some others, but far below that of Smyrna and Philadelphia. The church of Laodicea does not have Christ, they are Christians in name only. He stands outside the door knocking for any individual to open their hearts door to Him. Those who will receive Him are overcomers of that condition. Their reward is less than that of Ephesus, Pergamos and Sardis churches. The reward to Thyatira overcomers is the lowest rank of all. They are not translated, yet have a high place in the earthly kingdom. Though the term ‘full overcomer’ is not in the Scriptures, yet it is a scriptural term. For there are greater rewards for the greater overcomers and lesser rewards for the lesser overcomers.

E. J. D.

THE LAST DAYS

Anita Clark – Pastor, Carbondale, KS

“This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves [utterly self centered], covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, without natural affection, truce-breakers, false accusers, incontinent [uncontrolled], fierce, despisers of those that are good. Traitors, heady [inflated with self conceit], high minded, lovers of pleasure more than lovers of God, Having a form of Godliness, but denying the power thereof; from such turn away.” II Tim. 3:1-5 (added meanings – Strong’s Concordance).

This world is rapidly getting worse and worse. Evil is running rampant. Apostle Paul’s description above absolutely shows the condition of the world in these last days. The violence brought on by Islamic terrorism is growing and so disturbing to hear. It is happening more and more in various parts of the free world. We must not walk in fear despite all that is going on in this world. We trust in the Lord God to protect us from harm.

We hear of many Christians in foreign lands being persecuted and murdered by evil people who say they are doing it in the name of their god. They are serving another God other than the true God because our God of the Bible does not back these terrorists in their actions. Sometimes we may wonder why God would allow the Christians to suffer. We can only say that God has a purpose. We trust His decisions. Many have given their lives for Christ in the past. He was glorified in their deaths We marvel at the archaic way in which many of these believers are being killed. Beheading? Long ago when one heard of the “beheading” which would be used by the Antichrist in the endtime, it seemed such an odd way to execute in this modern time, so old fashioned, but now we see the Scripture being fulfilled in these last days.

ZIKA VIRUS – Is now considered a “Global Health Emergency.” this has been in the news for a few months now. Brazil is especially effected with over 4,000 cases reported of malformation of newborn babies, whose mother’s were infected with the virus during pregnancy. As most of us know by now, the disease is carried by mosquitoes, and is now believed to be transmitted through blood and sexual activity, as well as directly caused by a carrier mosquito, which causes an illness which people rarely die from, but they can become a carrier. Jesus Christ told of the “pestilences [diseases]” that would come in the endtime (Mt. 24 & Lk. 21) as a sign of His coming.

Another problem facing the world‘s health is an antibiotic resistant strain of E. Coli infection that has scientists very concerned because it is an infection that can’t be treated by any known antibiotic. For some time they had an antibiotic called Colistin which was a last resort to use because it was so toxic. Now, they have found bacteria that is resistant in more than two dozen countries. Doctors at Walter Reed Hospital have decided to start testing samples from the U.S. As time goes by, mankind nearly conquers one disease and then another one pops up. This is the endtime and this is fulfilling prophetic Scripture showing the nearness of Christ’s return.

FIRESTORMS, HEAT, FLOODS AND TORNADOES – More and more as times goes by, we are experiencing these disasters in the U.S.A. Fires in California, Arizona and New Mexico are rampaging, destroying thousands of acres. There was a recent fire which started in Oklahoma and spread to Kansas before it was stopped. It burned 397.420 acres and was the largest fire in recorded history in Kansas. It was seen from NASA’s Aqua Satellite. The annual number of wildfires in the U.S. have grown by more than 75%, and are more devastating and costly because more and more homes are being built in mountainous and wooded lands. There are the highest risks, in these fires. Authorities say that the increased fires are having an impact on public health, property, the ecosystem and livelihood.

Heat - greatly due to the El Nino causing weather patterns to change increasing heat and rainfall in many places in the U.S. which in turn causes flooding. There has been increased tornado activity also. These conditions are warning us that there is a God in heaven Who rules the universe. He is warning this world of coming judgment. During the tribulation of seven years, times will be much worse than this. Let us look up! He’s coming.

THE SPREAD OF WICCA IN THE US – stands for Witches International Coven Counsel Association. This group and Satanism (devil worship) in America are growing by leaps and bounds. WICCA is a modern version of ancient pagan religions, created in England and brought to the United States in the 1960’s. This group claims to be able to contact spirits of the dead, so some in bereavement flow to this falsity to try to find comfort in their time of loss. Actually, it is evil satanic spirits that they codger up, deceiving people with this method. The Bible teaches that the spirits of those who die go immediately to either heaven or hell. They don’t hang around on earth. Recently the U.S. military has declared  they will allow all religious symbols to be worn by members of the military. These include beards, scarfs turbans or yarmulke or crosses or any signs even WICCA would like to wear, along with their uniforms as long that they don’t inhibit their military activities. This is called “religious accommodation.”

UNITED KINGDOM VOTES TO LEAVE THE E.U. –   (June 23, 2016) it was decided by vote that they will leave the European Union. It is not yet apparent as to what this will mean prophetically. We have been watching this organization, realizing they are “The Revived Roman Empire,” from which many feel the Antichrist will come. Revelation 17:9-12 speaks of kings [leaders] of the endtime who will “fall.” Only time will tell what exactly this will mean, but we know God is bringing about the endtime scenes, and the unification of the nations into a kingdom of darkness ruled by Satan and the Antichrist will come just as it was prophesied.

WARNINGS OF THE TIMES ARE ALL AROUND! I Thessalonians 5:1-7 is the warning for today. Let us heed the admonitions of these verses - “…For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night…But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that the day should overtake you as a thief. Ye are all the children of the day…Therefore let us not sleep as do others; but let us watch and be sober…For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation (deliverance) by our Lord Jesus Christ.” He’s coming soon! Praise God!

Know Thy God

“And thou, Solomon my son, know thou the God of thy father, and serve him with a perfect heart and with a willing mind: for the Lord searcheth all hearts, and understandeth all the imaginations of the thoughts: if thou seek him, he will be found of thee; but if thou forsake him, he will cast thee off for ever.” 1 Chronicles 28:9

Words of wisdom from David to his son Solomon. This verse brings a thought that I  have been considering a lot recently. Two things that go together. Knowing God, and personal responsibility.

David’s encouragement is for Solomon to personally know God. As parents, we can introduce our children to God,  and give them a good knowledge of God, but there comes a time when they will have to know Him for themselves and because they want to know Him.

Every one of us must take personal responsibility for our interest and desire to know God. And this is  where it gets good. Each person can and should have a personal relationship with God in which they can get to know Him. Not just know about Him, but a deep, personal knowledge.

And, lest someone think that it is not possible to know the living God, creator of the universe, consider these verses: “But let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth me, that I am the Lord which exercise lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness, in the earth: for in these things I delight, saith the Lord.” Jeremiah 9:24 – “And I will give them an heart to know me, that I am the Lord: and they shall be my people, and I will be their God: for they shall return unto me with their whole heart.” Jeremiah 24:7

God wants us to know him. He wants to make Himself known. This is so amazing. What are we waiting for? This is better than anything else that we could find. It should be our number one priority.

Sadly, many of God’s people seem completely uninterested in knowing their God. Maybe they like the idea of their salvation, but that is as far as they go. Not Paul. He made it his top priority to know his Lord better. “Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ,” Philippians 3:8

So, what do you want? Do you want to know the amazing God of all creation? The God who showed His grace and mercy in sending His Son to die for us? Do you want to know how God feels about you? There is so much to know, but I cannot do that for you and you cannot do it for me. We must each know our God for ourself.

Gordon Crook

The Willing Perfect Servant

The Old Testament is a book of shadows of the coming Redeemer, Jesus Christ. He is the central figure of the Bible. The apostle Paul speaking of the Old Testament scriptures under the law said in Col. 2:17 – “Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ.” A shadow is a faint representation of an object or body. Jesus said in John 5:39, “Search the Scriptures…they are they which testify of me.” In these shadows and types we find the outline of our precious Lord.

Ex. 21:1-6 - “Now these are the judgments which thou shalt set before them. If thou buy an Hebrew servant, six years he shall serve: and in the seventh he shall go out free for nothing. If he came in by himself, he shall go out by himself: if he were married, then his wife shall go out with him. If his master have given him a wife, and she have born him sons or daughters; the wife and her children shall be her master’s, and he shall go out by himself.  And if the servant shall plainly say, I love my master, my wife, and my children; I will not go out free:  Then his master shall bring him unto the judges; he shall also bring him to the door, or unto the door post; and his master shall bore his ear through with an aul; and he shall serve him for ever.”

This is one of the statutes God have unto Israel. Its chief value for us today is its spiritual application to the Lord Jesus Christ. It is a most beautiful foreshadow of His person and work. Prophetically speaking, Jesus says in Psalm 40, “Sacrifice and offering Thou didst not desire; Mine ears hast Thou digged;” Proving that the servant brings out in type the Perfect Servant.

Messianic prophecies frequently view Him as Servant. Isa. 42:1, “Behold My Servant, whom I uphold.” Isa. 52:13, “Behold My Servant shall deal prudently, He shall be exalted and extolled, and be very high.” Isa. 53:11, “By His knowledge shall My Righteous Servant justify many for He shall bear their iniquities.” Zech. 3:8, “Behold I will bring forth My Servant.”

Philippians 2:5-8 – “Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:  But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.”

He stooped from the highest authority to the utmost dependency, took the form of a Servant, humbled Himself to suffering and shame, even the death of the cross. May we reverently contemplate it with awe and adoration.

The Gospel of Mark tells of His service as the Perfect Servant. Also in Hebrews 10:9 we read His utterance when he took the form of a Servant. “Lo, I come, to do Thy will O God.” At the age of 12, he said, “Wist ye not that I must be about My Father’s business.” John 6:38 sums up the whole of His life as He tabernacled among men, “I came down from heaven, not to do Mine own will, but the will of Him that sent Me.” Rom. 15;3, He “pleased not Himself.” Luke 22:27, “I am among you as He that serveth.” Never did He deviate from the path of complete submission to the Father’s will.

In the type of Ex. 21, The owner is God. The 6 years (6 is the number of man as we read in Rev. 13:18); man’s responsibility was to “love the Lord thy God with all thy heart…and thy neighbor as thyself.” Man could not keep the holy law of God, for the law showed all mankind to be guilty before God. Jesus said in Mt. 5:17, “think not that I am come to destroy the law…but to fulfill it.” Every demand of God upon men was fully met by the Perfect Man. Christ is the only man ever to fully discharge man’s responsibility Godward and manward.

“If his master have given him a wife, and she have born him sons or daughters; the wife and her children shall be her master’s, and he shall go out by himself.” Jesus had no wife when He entered His service. He was entitled to go out free, but alone, by Himself.

“…if the servant shall plainly say, I love my master, my wife, and my children; I will not go out free: Then his master shall bring him unto the judges; he shall also bring him to the door, or unto the door post; and his master shall bore his ear through with an aul; and he shall serve him for ever.” Love was the cause that compelled him to forego the freedom He was entitled to, a 3-fold love, for His Master, His wife and His children.

On the mount of transfiguration he could have gone out free, for He had fully met the Law requirements. In the Gospel of John His love is told forth as no where else. It is there we read Him saying, “the hour is come that the son of Man should be glorified…except the corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone…But for this cause came I unto this hour.” No matter what that terrible hour contained, He would go through it in His love to His Father, first of all and to us. Love led Him to undertake a service that the law did not lay upon Him and that service involved suffering and the cross.

“I love my wife” said prospectively, for the Lord Jesus is to have a bride. The “wife” is carefully distinguished from His “children,” which all are the fruit of His death. His wife was the joy set before Him that He endured the cross – Heb. 12:2. “He so loved the church and gave Himself for it, That He might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the Word, That He might present it to Himself a Glorious Church, not having spot or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish” (His Bride)- Eph. 5:25-28. He has many children, the innumerable company of Rev. 7:9; the 144,000 of Rev. 14; and the redeemed nation of Israel. Only on resurrection ground is man’s union with Christ possible, which necessitated His death. On resurrection morning was the first time He called His disciples “brethren.”

“His master shall bore his ear through with an aul.” This was the mark of the servant’s entire devotedness to His Master. It was at the door-post. Jesus is the door and all who enter there, are in the household of God. It was His master who bored his ear. Jesus bore the judgment of God against sin. The Hebrew servant carried about in his body the mark of his servitude as long as he lived. Our Lord wears forever in His body the marks of the cross. After He had risen from the dead, He said to doubting Thomas, “Reach hither thy finger and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand and thrust it into My side.” We read also in Rev. chapter 5 of Him, the Lamb “as it had been slain.”

“He shall serve his master forever.” The service of the Lord Jesus did not terminate when he left earth.
Though He ascended on high, He is still ministering to His own. “He ever liveth to make intercession for them” – Heb. 7:25. In His love He ever delights to minister unto His beloved ones. Oh praise the Lord, He declined to go out free; and the duration of His service as our High Priest is for ever.

Consider I Cor. 15:24-28, In the last dispensation, the seventh Age, the millennium, the Father will take a sabbath rest and the Lord Jesus Christ will rule and reign for 1,000 years, as God Almighty, King of kings and Lord of lords. But at the end of that 1,000 years, he will be subject unto His Father forever. “He shall serve Him forever.”
E. J. D.

RUTH

Pastor Debra Isenbletter

Springfield, Missouri

Ruth 3:12 – “And now it is true that I am thy near kinsman: howbeit there is a kinsman nearer than I.”

With these words Boaz assures Ruth and informs Ruth. That he was indeed her kinsman. Boaz doesn’t act surprised or shocked – he already knew this. He may have known exactly who Ruth was and his responsibilities the moment he first met her. He assures her, then he informs her and warns her. He makes two wonderful statements of assurance and acceptance. First he says: “it is true” and then he says: “I am thy near kinsman.” Remember the word for “kinsman” is “kinsman-redeemer” – there are two rights that Boaz must exercise in the work of redemption towards Ruth and Naomi. He must redeem the property that belonged to Naomi’s husband and he must redeem the person that belonged to Naomi’s son. In the redeeming of Ruth there was the responsibility of marrying her, supporting her and bringing forth children by her. Both of these responsibilities were costly!

Ruth approaches Boaz with the Word, with Truth, it is the “word of truth” (2 Cor 6:7; Eph 1:13; 2 Tim 2:15; James 1:18). Boaz agrees, he says “it is true,” Jesus said this repeatedly using the word “verily” and in the gospels (30 times in Matthew; 15 times in Mark; 8 times in Luke and 50 times in John and in John always repeating it twice. He knew what was true and comforted others by telling them the truth. Boaz will use this truth to prove and test another man, another “kinsman,” one who will not be able to redeem. Boaz goes on to say “I am thy near kinsman.” In the first part of that statement is seen the declaration of who he is, a wonderful picture of Christ. He says “I am,” this reminds me of all the times Jesus said “I am” in each statement He shows the ways He meets our needs as our “kinsman.”  Look at the 7 wonderful “I am” statements in John (John 6:35; 8:12; 10:7,9; 10:11,14; 11:25; 14:6; 15:1,5) and you see a perfect picture of the kinsman redeemer!

Boaz knew the full responsibilities of what a kinsman redeemer must do. Jesus knew the full responsibilities of being our Redeemer, He knew what it would cost Him and He took those seven steps down from Glory and Equality with God and became that Obedient Servant and died for us! (Phil 2:7-8). When God said – Who will I send? Isaiah said: “Here am I, send me” (Isa 6:8); that is a picture of what Jesus said and did, of His willing obedience. The Father had sent Him and He said, “Lo I come to do thy will, O God.” (Heb 10:9). Jesus repeatedly through the gospels says He was sent by the Father, by God. (1 times in Matthew; 1 times in Mark; 3 times in Luke; 33 times in John). There would be a cost for Boaz, a price he must pay to redeem both the land and the person of Ruth, but he was willing to pay it!

Before Boaz can do what Ruth asks of him, he informs her and warns her that there is another kinsman. He says: “howbeit there is a kinsman nearer than I.” Boaz knew what Ruth did not, that there was another. We do not know who this man was, we only know that Boaz says he is a “nearer” kinsman than he is. This shows Boaz had already been thinking about Ruth and his responsibility. Boaz doesn’t say to Ruth – Go to this man first. Instead, he will tell Ruth he will do this for her! This shows that Boaz wants to be her kinsman and her husband!

Ruth 3:13 – “Tarry this night, and it shall be in the morning, that if he will perform unto thee the part of a kinsman, well; let him do the kinsman’s part: but if he will not do the part of a kinsman to thee, then will I do the part of a kinsman to thee, as the Lord liveth: lie down until the morning.”

Instead of immediately sending Ruth home, Boaz says to her, “Tarry this night,” Boaz asks Ruth to stay, to “abide,” to “continue” in his presence. Boaz tells her to “tarry” and later Naomi will tell her to “sit still.”  Sometimes this is hard to do, but this is all that she has to do. This is simply waiting on the Lord to do what we cannot do. Waiting on the Lord is an important part of our experience, our growth and the exercising of our faith. We are to “wait on the Lord and “be of good courage” (Psa 27:14); we are to “wait on the Lord” and “keep his way” (Ps 37:34); we “wait on the Lord” in expectation, knowing “he will save” (Prov 20:22). When we do this we are actually doing something although it looks like we are doing nothing!

How long is Ruth to “tarry”? She is to tarry “this night,” or “all night.” Boaz doesn’t send her away at night but in the light. It is night but she is not alone, she had Boaz, she has hope. She is to “tarry” until the morning, it is then that Boaz will act on her behalf. So we have here a wonderful picture of a time of quiet communion and rest between Boaz and Ruth, it is a time of promise and expectation on her part. From this point on, this is all Ruth needs to do, “tarry.” Like Ruth, we learn to do this, we learn to “tarry” or “abide” (1 John 2:28), to “occupy” (Luke 19:13) until Jesus comes again. I don’t believe what Boaz asked Ruth to do she felt it was a burden, I believe it was a blessing. When we do this, wait or tarry on the Lord, He lifts the burden from off our shoulders, and bears it for us. What a weight was lifted off Ruth!

Boaz will not hurry and will not rush, but he also will not tarry; he will not put off what must be done. He doesn’t rush away immediately, he waits until “the morning” or until “dawn” or “the break of day” and then he acts. Jesus began His day early in the morning, that is when he prayed (Mark 1:35) and that is when He taught (Luke 21:38). The Lord has a perfect time for everything He does and it is always the right time. There is also a promise in the words “it shall be…morning.” The promise is that there will be morning, the night will end! The promise is Boaz will do this as soon as the sun rises. The promise is that Ruth’s circumstances will change. There is the same promise to us, during the “night” or dark times of our lives. There may be uncertainty or sorrow at night but the promise is that “joy cometh in the morning.” (Ps 30:5). For both evening and morning Ruth has been assured and comforted. She will see his “faithfulness every night” and his “loving kindness in the morning” (Ps 92:1-2).

Boaz gives her hope and a promise when he says the words; “and it shall be. He tells her what he will immediately do! Though Ruth must “tarry,” Boaz will not. There are two scriptures with the word “tarry” in them that show what happens will happen at the right time, in God’s time. Habakkuk says to wait for the vision, that “it will surely come, it will not tarry” (Hab 2:3). Paul wrote the Hebrews saying “he that shall come will come, and will not tarry.” We are to wait patiently, though it may seem like nothing is happening, by faith we know the Lord is working behind the scenes. 

What does Boaz promise? He promises to talk to this kinsman and let him choose what to do. He can choose to fulfill his obligation. He may be willing: “that if he will perform unto thee the part of a kinsman, well.” If he is willing, he must do all of it, all that is required. Boaz says: “let him do the kinsman’s part.” Let him do it, do everything that is required, it must be all or nothing. Boaz goes on to say that he can choose not to fulfill his obligation: “but if he will not do (all) the part of a kinsman to thee,” notice the emphasis is on “thee,” on Ruth’s need.  He could refuse because he could not do it, or because he would not do it. If this kinsman refuses because he cannot or will not, Boaz promise Ruth that he will do it: “then will I do the part of a kinsman to thee.” He says “I will do the part” or “act the part.” One translation reads: “only I am redeemer” or “assuredly I am redeemer” (Keil). Boaz knows, just as Jesus knows, that only he is able to redeem, there is no other! To further assure Ruth, Boaz swears an oath. He says: “as the Lord liveth.” He swore by the Living God! Gideon said this when he swore to kill those who killed his brethren (Judges 8:19); Saul said this when he swore to Jonathan he would not kill David (1 Sam 19:6) but he broke his vow. Jonathan said this to David when he swore to warn him of Saul’s intentions. (1 Sam 20:21) and Elisha said this when he swore he would not leave Elijah (2 Ki 2:2,4,6). To say “as the Lord liveth” and attach it to a promise to do something was a solemn vow.  Boaz bound himself by an oath to take her as his wife if the other kinsman refused.

Finally, notice that the word “kinsman” is repeated four times in this verse and the word “thee” (referring to Ruth) is repeated three times. Ruth is in need of a kinsman, and the benefits and blessings that only this kinsman can bring are for Ruth and Boaz is this kinsman, he is the one who can redeem her fully and bless her fully. There is no other! Jesus is our kinsman-redeemer, only He can fully redeem us and there will be a group, a wonderful portion of the church that will lay claim to all that the kinsman redeemer will do for them, they will lay claim to Jesus as Ruth laid claim to Boaz and like Boaz, Jesus tells us to “tarry this night,” that there will be a “morning” and in the morning there will be a wedding! Praise the Lord!