A Deeper Dive Into the Book of Revelation - Part 45
“So Boaz took Ruth, and she became his wife. And he went in to her, and the Lord enabled her to conceive, and she gave birth to a son.”—Ruth 4:13 (AMP)
Ruth represents those believers in the parable of the Sower who receive the seed of the Word of God into hearts of “good soil.” As Jesus described this type of believer, “this is he who hears the Word and grasps and comprehends it; he indeed bears fruit and yields in one case a hundred times as much as was sown, in another sixty times as much, and in another thirty” (Matthew 13:23 AMPC).
Of the three women in this story (Orpah, Naomi, and Ruth), only the life of Ruth bears fruit that remains. Orpah had no children, and Naomi’s sons Mahlon (meaning “sickly”) and Chilion (meaning “wasting away”) died in Moab. This is just as it is described in the parable of the Sower. In that parable, only the seeds that fell on “good soil” bore lasting fruit.
This is a powerful message to us. We must ask God to make our hearts “good soil” that we may receive, understand, and obey the Word of God. It is only in these conditions that God’s Word can bear lasting fruit in our lives.
Jesus speaks about this in John chapter 15:
“You have not chosen Me, but I have chosen you and I have appointed and placed and purposefully planted you, so that you would go and bear fruit and keep on bearing, and that your fruit will remain and be lasting, so that whatever you ask of the Father in My name [as My representative] He may give to you.”—John 15:16 (AMP)
“I am the true Vine, and My Father is the vinedresser.** Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit, He takes away; and every branch that continues to bear fruit, He [repeatedly] prunes, so that it will bear more fruit [even richer and finer fruit]. You are already clean because of the word which I have given you [the teachings which I have discussed with you]. Remain in Me, and I [will remain] in you. Just as no branch can bear fruit by itself without remaining in the vine, neither can you [bear fruit, producing evidence of your faith] unless you remain in Me. **
“I am the Vine; you are the branches. The one who remains in Me and I in him bears much fruit, for [otherwise] apart from Me [that is, cut off from vital union with Me] you can do nothing. If anyone does not remain in Me, he is thrown out like a [broken off] branch, and withers and dies; and they gather such branches and throw them into the fire, and they are burned.** **
“If you remain in Me and My words remain in you [that is, if we are vitally united and My message lives in your heart], ask whatever you wish and it will be done for you. My Father is glorified and honored by this, when you bear much fruit, and prove yourselves to be My [true] disciples.”— John 15:1-8 (AMP)
Sadly, many Christians, like Orpah, do not continue in the faith, and their lives bear no real fruit that glorifies God.
And many believers, like Naomi, allow the “thorns” of anxieties and concerns of this life, along with the pursuit of other things, to choke God’s Word in their lives so that their lives bear no good fruit that lasts.
Ruth, on the other hand, bore a son named “Obed,” which means “a servant who worships.” This is definitely good fruit from the life of Ruth! This good fruit is a wonderful by-product of her intimate relationship with her redeemer.
The women of Bethlehem spoke these wonderful blessings over Obed and Naomi:
“Then the women said to Naomi, ‘Blessed is the Lord who has not left you without a redeemer (grandson, as heir) today, and may his name become famous in Israel. May he also be to you one who restores life and sustains your old age; for your daughter-in-law, who loves you and is better to you than seven sons, has given birth to him.”—Ruth 4:14-15 (AMP)
These blessings came true for Obed and Naomi. Obed’s name did become famous in Israel. Obed went on to become the father of Jesse and the grandfather of King David. Obed’s name is recorded in Scripture as part of the family line of Jesus Christ Himself!
Obed did restore life and purpose to Naomi in her old age, as we are told in verse 16:
“Then Naomi took the child and placed him in her lap, and she became his nurse.”—Ruth 4:16 (AMP)
Naomi had guided the life of Ruth in her journey to find good food and eventually become the bride of her redeemer, and now Naomi was providing nourishment and guidance to the beginning of a new generation, raising up a new “servant who worships.”
This ministry was a great benefit to Obed and Ruth, but it also gave renewed life and purpose to Naomi.
Ruth’s life represents the journey of the Overcomers in the Church. As we’ve seen throughout her story, when the Overcomers pursue their Redeemer with all their hearts, they experience wonderful blessings, but also, along with them, the whole Church is blessed by the fruit of the lives of the Overcomers!
**Reference: **
Cummins, D. (2021). I Am Ruth Thy Handmaid. Capitol Worship.
