In yesterday's verse found
in Ruth chapter four and verse eleven we studied the witnesses'
blessing of Boaz and Ruth by saying, “The LORD make the woman
that is come into your house like Rachel and like Leah, which two did
build the house of Israel: and you do worthily in Ephratah, and be
famous in Bethlehem:” and
today they continue their blessing in verse twelve of the same
chapter. We read:
And let your house be
like the house of Pharez, whom Tamar bare unto Judah, of the seed
which the LORD shall give you of this young woman.
People
in the Bible days were known to use historical figures to bless
others. Those who were successful in life and family were often
referenced as examples of those whom God had blessed. The witnesses
to Boaz' proclamation as kinsman redeemer began to bless him with
favorable families from the past. More than likely one spokesman
among the ten elders shared and the others agreed, but nonetheless
they were all consenting to this blessing. They said, “let your
house be like the house of Pharez, whom Tamar bare unto Judah,”. At
first glance this seems to be quite the blessing, and it is, however,
when we dig deeper into what is stated, we see an even greater
blessing than we may know.
In
Genesis chapter thirty-eight, almost in parenthetical form, a story
is told about how Judah and Tamar came together. Tamar was Judah's
daughter-in-law who had married and was widowed to two of his sons.
Though there was another son who was available for Tamar to marry, he
wasn't quite old enough at the time of the second son's death. Do we
remember the law of redemption where they were told if a son died his
brother was to marry the widowed woman and bring up seed through her?
This was the case with Tamar, and Judah delayed having the third son
marry Tamar. If we think about it we might understand why. However,
Tamar played the role of a prostitute and had relations with Judah
without him knowing who she was, and later was found to be pregnant.
Seems like a scandalous story doesn't it? And yet, this is the
background for the birth of Pharez who incidentally was a twin. Now
does the blessing to Boaz and Ruth seem even more intimate?
Finally
the crowd says, “of the seed which the LORD shall give you of
this woman.” In other words, let your offspring be as abundant
as those who came from Judah, Tamar, and Pharez. Let your house
continue and be abundant with the LORD's blessing. What a wonderful
blessing this is to Boaz and Ruth. Oh how Boaz must have enjoyed
hearing the people share such wonderful thoughts with him. Boaz knew
there were no greater blessings than those who came from the LORD,
and when the people not only agreed with his redemption claim but
honored it with blessing, he must have been overjoyed.
We too
have an opportunity to bless others in our lives. As witnesses to
their “redemption” claims, we can ask the Lord Jesus for His
blessing upon them. We may or may not have Judah and Tamar like
examples to reference, but there is usually joy experienced because
someone else blesses them. We may have examples of people who blessed
us in our lives and gave us hope in our futures, and today the
crowds' blessing upon Boaz and Ruth should inspire us to encourage
others in this manner. By the way, a wonderful example of blessing
others is found in the book of Numbers in chapter six and verses
twenty-four through twenty-six:
The LORD bless you, and
keep you: The LORD make his face shine upon you, and be gracious unto
you: The LORD lift up his countenance upon you, and give you peace.
Next
time we read of marriage and a baby, so read ahead, and we shall join
together then.
Until
tomorrow...there is more...
Look
for the new devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From
Generation to Generation” in all major bookstore sites,
www.amazon.com
; www.barnesandnobles.com
; download
to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore
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