Covenant Laughter

Our text is from Ruth 4:13-17 So, Boaz married Ruth. Then he slept with her. The Lord blessed her so that she became pregnant. And she had a son. The women said to Naomi, "We praise the Lord. Today he has provided a family protector for you. May this child become famous all over Israel! He will make your life new again. He'll take care of you when you are old. He's the son of your very own daughter-in-law. She loves you. She is better to you than seven sons." Then Naomi took the child in her arms and took care of him. The women living there said, "Naomi has a son!" They named him Obed. He was the father of Jesse. Jesse was the father of David. The Lord's name is mentioned regularly in this little book, but mostly in prayers and blessings. Here, God finally emerges from behind the curtain. He acts by enabling Ruth to conceive a son, fulfilling the prayer Boaz prayed for her on the grain fields of Bethlehem. Yet, it is Naomi's lap that is full--so full the story nearly tumbles over itself with joy! "The Lord enabled Ruth to conceive" is the grand finale of this waltz of self-giving devotion! Naming just one generation isn't enough--this family went on and on, generation after generation! "The women living there said, "Naomi has a son." They named him Obed (provider). "He was the father of Jesse, the father of David." And without skipping a beat the joy and amazement are spoken again, from a bigger perspective, but that's for tomorrow. What a phenomenal act of God! Wrinkled, old Naomi sitting with a newborn on her lap. The Israelites hadn't seen anything quite this exciting since Abraham, "as good as dead," and Sarah, having the dead womb, laughed together with Isaac on their knees. And now Naomi laughs with the women of Bethlehem. Death and emptiness have given way to life and fullness. Here sits Naomi with a womb perhaps as dead as Sarah's, and her husband isn't "as good as dead," he is dead! No earthly possibility of an heir. What amazing things should we expect when God places a child on this old widow's lap? Look what the Lord is doing! The Lord is establishing something as important as the house of Israel. The Lord is establishing the throne of David. This is not just any throne. The "throne of David" will not be a mundane kingdom. It exists because the covenant Lord has acted. It exists because people as diverse as Naomi, Ruth, and Boaz emptied themselves for the welfare of others. It is this covenant faithfulness, not tribal affiliation or economic standing, that identifies the subjects of this kingdom, now named the Kingdom of God. Self-sacrificing devotion to the Lord and to one another are the ways of this kingdom. Naomi's lap is filled because of this covenant devotion. Ruth, the Moabitess, forsaking claims of nation and religion, devoted herself to Naomi, come what may; Naomi's devotion to Ruth prompted a risky scheme on the threshing floor; Boaz' devotion caused him to ignore self-interest and exceed the requirements of the guardian-redeemer; and God's devotion to his people graciously provided fruitfulness for field and womb. God himself wove these four devotions together to provide a home and husband for Ruth, the restoration of life and fullness for Noami, and immeasurable benefit for all Israel. This story illustrates the behaviour of the true Israelite and the faithfulness of God, inviting us to join this waltz of self-giving devotion! May you too receive the blessing of this God: May the peace of the Lord Christ go with you: wherever he may send you. May he guide you through the wilderness: protect you through the storm. May he bring you home rejoicing; at the wonders he has shown you. May he bring you home rejoicing once again into our doors.