Redeeming Love - Studies in the Book of Ruth
7 - God is Our Refuge
Ruth has moved to Judah with Naomi. Their husbands had died in Moab. They are destitute and without any inheritance. In the month of April they had arrived in Naomi’s hometown of Bethlehem. It was harvest time and Ruth joins the servant girls working in the fields of Boaz a relative of Naomi. Boaz cares for Ruth and protects her. He discovers that Ruth has taken it upon herself to look after Naomi, and so we read in Ruth chapter two verse eleven, “I have been told all about what you have done for your mother-in-law since the death of your husband, how you left your father and mother and your homeland and came to live with a people you did not know before”. He begins to support her and show kindness to her. In verse fifteen he says to his men, “Even if she gathers among the sheaves, do not embarrass her. Rather pull out some stalks for her from among the bundles, and leave them there for her to pick up, and do not rebuke her”. This was very kind as usually the poor were allowed only to gather the leftover grain.
Boaz tells Ruth something comforting and encouraging. He says in chapter two verse twelve, “May the Lord repay you for what you have done. May you be richly rewarded by the Lord, the God of Israel, under whose wings you have come to take refuge”. This is the key verse in the Book of Ruth. This is Ruth’s position as a new believer in the Lord. She is under the wings of the Lord. God has become her protector. The picture is of an eagle fluttering its wings over its young. Being under the “wings of the Lord” is the place of great reward and blessing. Like Naomi and Ruth we face troubles, problems and trials in life. The child of God is in that place of refuge in our Lord Jesus Christ. The Psalmist says in Psalm forty-six verse one, “God is our refuge and strength, an ever present help in trouble”.
There are definite blessings to be found under the wings of the Lord. Ruth experienced these and so will you. She found all that she needed in the Lord. It is under the care of our God that we find safety. Psalm thirty-six verse seven says, “How priceless is your unfailing love! Both high and low among men find refuge in the shadow of your wing”. We face many temptations and trials. Sometimes we face opposition and even persecution as believers. In it all we can find a place of safety in the Lord because He loves us and wants to help us. We read in the Book of Proverbs chapter eighteen verse ten, “The name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righteous run to it and are safe”.
Under the Lord’s wings there is a place of refreshment for the soul. Psalm thirty-six verse eight says, “They feast in the abundance of your house, you give them drink from your river of delights”. Because of his love for us, the Lord nourishes our souls and strengthens us. In Psalm twenty-three verse two we are reminded of the love and care of the good shepherd: “He makes me lie down in green pastures; he leads me by still waters; he restores my soul”. Christ rejuvenates us when the going has been tough. Under the shadow of the Lord is also the place of fellowship. Meal time is always a time of togetherness, friendship and relaxation. Feasting speaks of fellowship with the Lord. They are blessed times for the soul when we can retreat from the demands of the day and spend time in his presence feeding on his word, and drinking the water of life in communion with our Saviour. Such times do our souls good.
Under the Lord’s wings is a place of stillness, peace and quiet. We read in Psalm fifty-seven verse one, “I will take refuge in the shadow of your wings until the disaster has passed”. There is an old poem which says, “In the centre of the whirlpool, while waters rush around, there’s a place of perfect stillness, though with turmoil it is bound; all is calm and all is quiet, scarcely even a sense of sound. So with us, despite the conflict, when in Christ his peace is found”. We are told in Psalm ninety-one verse four, “He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart. You will not fear the terror of night, nor the arrow that flies by day”.
Under his wings there is hope and joy. Psalm sixty-three verse seven is another reference to the wings of the Lord: “Because you are my help, I sing in the shadow of your wings”. Satan tries to use our problems and trials to rob us of our joy. So often we allow him to get away with it. We become worked up in our troubles, but we should sing in them rather than complain. Why? Because we have God as our helper. No matter how severe the storm, the Lord is our shield and strength. Paul says in Philippians chapter four verse four, “Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again. Rejoice!” Notice that this is a command. It is not a request or a “take it or leave it” option. God commands us to rejoice because we have no reason to do otherwise for He is with us in the storm. The very creator of the universe is our helper. Let us say with the Psalmist, “I will lift up my eyes to the hills; where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth”. (Psalm 121) The Psalmist drew his strength from the fact that the God who made all things was well able to help him in his troubles, and was willing to do so. No situation you face is too difficult for Him to deal with. God is referred to as a rock in Scripture. Psalm thirty-one verse three says, “You are my rock and my fortress”. This means that God is a sure help and support at all times.
A ship was wrecked in a furious storm. The only survivor was a small boy. He was swept by the waves onto a rock. He remained there all night long. The following morning he was found and rescued. His rescuer said to him, ‘You must have trembled as you sat on that rock during the night”. “Yes”, replied the boy, “I trembled all night - but the rock didn’t”. Build your life on the solid rock of Christ and when the storms come you will be safe.
This world is a dangerous place. There is war, evil, terrorism and all kinds of sin. The safest people in the world are those resting by faith under the wings of the Almighty. In times of upheaval, bereavement, loss, hopelessness, emptiness, loneliness, troubles and trials, He will strengthen you in it. He will, in his own time and manner, bring you through it all. God does not promise a trouble free life. We are in a fallen, sinful world and that will affect our circumstances. But God does promise his presence and his help. He was protecting and overruling in the life of Ruth to fulfil his purposes and for her blessing. Psalm ninety-one verse one tells us, “He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High, will rest in the shadow of the Almighty”.