Ⅰ
At the beginning and at the end of the portion of Israel’s history from Joshua to Ruth are two prominent persons typifying Christ; these persons are Joshua and Boaz, who signify two aspects of one person—Josh. 1:1; Ruth 4:21-22:
A
At the beginning Joshua typifies Christ in bringing God’s chosen people into God’s ordained blessings; as typified by Joshua, Christ has brought us into the good land, has taken possession of the land for us, and has allotted the land to us as our inheritance for our enjoyment; Christ has gained the good land for us, and eventually, He is the good land for us to enjoy.
B
At the end Boaz typifies Christ as our Husband for our satisfaction.
Ⅱ
In the book of Ruth, Boaz typifies Christ in the following aspects:
A
As a man, rich in wealth and generous in giving (2:1, 14-16; 3:15), Boaz typifies Christ, whose divine riches are unsearchable and who takes care of God’s needy people with His bountiful supply (Eph. 3:8; Luke 10:33-35; Phil. 1:19).
B
As the kinsman (Ruth 2:3; 3:9, 12) who redeemed the lost right to Mahlon’s property and took Mahlon’s widow, Ruth, as his wife for the producing of the needed heirs (4:9-10, 13), Boaz typifies Christ, who redeemed the church and made the church His counterpart for His increase (Eph. 5:23-32; John 3:29-30).
C
According to the book of Ruth, Boaz redeemed Ruth and redeemed her birthright; hence, he became a notable forefather of Christ—4:1-17, 21-22; Matt. 1:5-6:
１
As a brother and a Boaz, you should take care of others’ birthright of Christ, not only your own birthright; in other words, you should not only take care of your own enjoyment of Christ but also others’ enjoyment of Christ—Eph. 3:2; 1 Pet. 4:10-11; Matt. 24:45-47.
２
Suppose some dear ones in the church life become like Ruth, losing the enjoyment of their birthright, their enjoyment of Christ; we need to have a number of Boazes in the church life to bring these dear saints back into the enjoyment of Christ.
３
The book of Ruth tells us that there was another kinsman who was even closer to Ruth than Boaz was, but that man was selfish; he only took care of his own birthright:
ａ
Some brothers should take care of ones who are like poor “Ruths” in the church life, but they are selfish in the spiritual enjoyment of Christ—Ezek. 34:2-23.
ｂ
Someone who is a real Boaz and is rich in the enjoyment of Christ will pay the price to bring such saints into the full enjoyment of Christ; by shepherding others in this way, he will have even more enjoyment of Christ, the greatest enjoyment of Christ; day by day we should take care of others’ enjoyment of Christ—Prov. 11:25; Acts 20:35; 1 Pet. 5:1-4.
Morning Nourishment
Josh. 1:5-6 …I will be with you….Be strong and take courage, for you will cause this people to inherit the land which I swore…to give to them.Ruth 4:9-10 And Boaz said…, You are witnesses today, that I buy from Naomi’s hand all that was…Mahlon’s. Furthermore Ruth the Moabitess…I acquire as my own wife so that I may raise up the dead man’s name upon his inheritance…
Boaz and Ruth typify Christ and the church…. At the beginning and at the end of the portion of Israel’s history from Joshua to Ruth are two prominent persons typifying Christ (Josh. 1:1; Ruth 4:21). These persons are Joshua and Boaz, who signify two aspects of one person.
At the beginning Joshua typifies Christ in bringing God’s chosen people into God’s ordained blessings (Josh. 1:2-4; Eph. 1:3-14). As typified by Joshua, Christ has brought us into the good land, has taken possession of the land for us, and has allotted the land to us as our inheritance for our enjoyment. Christ has gained the good land for us, and eventually He is the good land for us to enjoy.
At the end Boaz typifies Christ in other aspects. In particular, he typifies Christ as our Husband for our satisfaction. As a man, rich in wealth and generous in giving (Ruth 2:1, 14-16; 3:15), Boaz typifies Christ, whose divine riches are unsearchable and who takes care of God’s needy people with His bountiful supply (Eph. 3:8; 2 Cor. 12:9; Phil. 1:19b). (Life-study of Ruth, pp. 27-28)
Today’s Reading
The book of Ruth tells us that Boaz redeemed Ruth; he also redeemed the birthright for her. This means that Christ, as our real Boaz, has redeemed both us and the birthright. Boaz redeemed his kinsman’s inheritance and married the man’s widow (Ruth 4:1-17); hence, he became a notable forefather of Christ, a great associate of Christ. As a brother and a Boaz, you should take care of others’ birthright of Christ…. In other words, you should not only take care of your own enjoyment of Christ, but also others’ enjoyment of Christ.Ruth and Naomi had lost the enjoyment, the birthright, but according to God’s regulation there was a way to restore the birthright, to redeem it. But it had to be redeemed by someone else. The principle is the same in the church life today….Quite often, some dear ones lose their enjoyment of Christ. In a sense, they become Naomi or Ruth. If so, you need to be a Boaz, able to redeem the lost birthright and marry the redeemed one.
To lose the husband means to lose the enjoyment of the birthright….Thus, I need you, as my brother, to redeem my birthright. But you need to be somewhat richer in Christ….Then you pay the price to regain my birthright, and you also marry me. This means that you become involved with me. This kind of spiritual involvement will produce Obed, the grandfather of David. Boaz became one of the great forefathers of Christ. In a spiritual sense, he was the one who enjoyed the largest and richest portion of Christ. If a brother becomes a Boaz to me, he will be the one with the greatest enjoyment of Christ. Because he redeemed my birthright and became so involved with me, our involvement in the Lord will eventually bring forth the full enjoyment of Christ.
In the church life today we need to have a number of Boazes…. Some brothers should take care of me, the poor Ruth, but they are selfish in the spiritual enjoyment of Christ. Even in the spiritual enjoyment of Christ it is quite possible to be selfish. However, a Boaz will be generous and pay the price to redeem my birthright. All this indicates that we should take care of not only our own birthright, but also others’ birthright. DAY by day we should take care of others’ enjoyment of Christ. The more we do this, the better. (Life-study of Matthew, pp. 32-33)
Further Reading: Life-study of Ruth, msgs. 6-7; Life-study of Matthew, msg. 3