Heartbreak of God

Sorrow in the garden

Blood on noble brow

"Abba Father, Father"

Our suffering King cries out

Betrayed with a kiss

Denied in fear

He alone

The burden must bear

Crowned with thorns

Bestowed with purple shroud

"Crucify Him, Crucify Him"

Rang among the crowd

Led up the hill

Nailed to the tree

Soon from sin

To set us free

A darkened sun

A veil that rent

At last 

The Savior's breath was spent

Heaven's perfect Lamb

Dying for the flawed

Here at the cross

We break the heart of God

In the Lord's Field

Bible marking is a pretty popular topic these days.  There are also plenty of ways to approach it as it evidenced by the numerous examples on Pinterest.  A few years ago, I bought a bible specifically for the purposes of bible marking.  When I finally got around to using it, I began with a pretty straightforward book - Ruth.  The most common lesson of the book of Ruth centers on the Jewish law of the kinsman-redeemer - Boaz being an archetype of Christ.  There is also, of course, the example of God’s command for harvesters to “leave” some grain for the poor to gather.  Because of these circumstances we find Ruth gleaning grain in Boaz’s field.  

Ruth chapter two offers us insight into three of the blessings found for those who stay in the master’s field.  If Boaz is a foreshadowing of Christ, then his fields can be viewed as the kingdom of God.  In Ruth 2: 8-9, Boaz gives Ruth specific instructions regarding where and how she should glean.  Like Ruth, those who remain in the folds of the brethren are assured companionship, protection, and refreshment. 

Companionship

“Then Boaz said to Ruth, ‘You will listen, my daughter, will you not?  Do not go to glean in another field, nor go from here, but stay close by my young women.’”  At the time Boaz sought her out, Ruth would have been gleaning in the back of the field alone.  The young women Boaz refers to were responsible for tying the stalks of grain.  Boaz offers Ruth a place among the harvesters.  Here she would find companionship with other young women and would also be one of the first to glean from the harvest.  No longer would she, a stranger, be alone.

From the beginning, God said, “It is not good that man should be alone; I will make a helper comparable to him.” (Genesis 2:18).  Scripture has much to say on the importance of those we choose as our companions.  In correcting a false teaching, Paul reminds the Christians at Corinth that “evil company corrupts good habits” (I Corinthians 15:33). This, of course, echoes the teaching of Proverbs 12:26: “The righteous should choose his friends carefully, for the way of the wicked leads them astray.”  Solomon also extols the virtues of friendship in Ecclesiastes 4: “Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their labor. . . . Though one may be overpowered by another, two can withstand him.  And a threefold cord is not quickly broken.” (9 & 12).  As Christians we are called to community.  And, it is when we remain with our fellow harvesters that we find companionship in Christ.

Protection

Further, Boaz instructs Ruth, “Let your eyes be on the field which they reap, and go after them. Have I not commanded the young men not to touch you?”.  Along with companionship, Boaz’ instructions provide protection for the young widow.  We find in verse 11 that Boaz is already aware of Ruth’s circumstances.  Even before he dons the mantle of kinsman-redeemer, Boaz seeks to lighten Ruth’s load.  Among the other young women, Ruth is allowed to glean in peace, unharassed by young men who might seek her favor.  Like Boaz, God provides protection for his people.

Psalm 91 tells us that we can find shelter under the wings of God.  And Psalm 34:7 reads, “The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him, and delivers them.”  As members of the body of Christ we are called to “bear one another’s burdens” and restore those who have fallen from grace.  This goes back to what was mentioned earlier from the book of Ecclesiastes 4:12: “Though one may be overpowered by another, two can withstand him.  And a threefold cord is not quickly broken.”  The first century Christians were together on a daily basis.  Consistent fellowship with members of the body of Christ affords protection against Satan’s temptations.

Refreshment

Lastly, Boaz instructs Ruth, “And when you are thirsty, go to the vessels and drink from what the young men have drawn.”  If she had been gleaning alone, Ruth would have been responsible for drawing her own water.  She would have possibly been exposed to unwanted attention.  It would also have taken more time to draw her own water, leaving less time for the actual gleaning.  As Christians we must find our refreshment in Christ and his church.

While the fields may be ripe for gleaning, life takes its toll on everyone.  It can be hard tiring work.  Therefore, the importance of Christian refreshment should not be underestimated.  Jesus commands in Matthew 11:28, “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”  Barnabas, known as the Son of Encouragment,  was also encouraged during his visit to Antioch (Acts 11:22-23).  After being released from prison, Paul and Silas visited the house of Lydia and encouraged the brethren there.  And, Paul wrote to the Christians in Thessalonica instructing them “to comfort one another” (I Thessalonians 5:11).  Refreshment is an integral part of the Christian walk.  But, it is only available to those within the kingdom.


It is interesting that the number three often symbolizes completeness or perfection in the scriptures.  Boaz issues Ruth three instructions.  He first offers her companionship, a place among his workers.  He grants her protection from those who might disrupt her work.  And finally, Boaz offers Ruth physical refreshment from the hot sweaty work of gleaning.  As in Acts 2:47, God gives those who are saved a place in His fields.  He promises us protection in II Thessalonians 3:3.  Lastly, though physical water will quench our thirst but for a moment, Christ offers us refreshment that will be “a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life.” (John 4: 14).

When Life Gives You Lemons . . . Dig More Wells

Life’s Lemons

We’re all familiar with the proverbial phrase, “when life gives you lemons, make lemonade”.  And, we also know that the saying is meant to encourage optimism in the face of adversity.  Like the sour fruit, life can make us suck in our cheeks, pucker our lips, and bring tears to our eyes.  Adversities such as death, abuse, addiction, etc. can often leave us feeling us though we are camped out under a lemon tree.  Still, lemons have their uses.

Lemons are great for cleaning.  You can find just about anything in any room of your home that can be cleaned with lemon juice.  You can even use it to clean your skin.  The acidic properties that make lemons so difficult to tolerate, also bring about the removal of impurities.  While not all suffering is the result of sin, suffering can be an avenue by which barriers are torn down. 

Jesus preached in Matthew 5:3, “Blessed are the poor in spirit, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”  Pain beyond our own human understanding and abilities reveals our absolute need for an absolute God.  When life brings us broken and raw before the Lord, our eyes can be opened to the intimate knowledge God has of us.  Not that He didn't know us before, but now we realize there is no hiding from God.  And, we can take comfort in the hope we have in Him.  The comfort He brings us while on our knees gives us the strength to stand before Him in times of joy.

God’s Wells

In Genesis 26, after the death of Abraham, we see that Isaac obeyed the command of the Lord and dwelt in the land of Gerar, the land of the Philistines.  The Lord blessed him and he prospered.  Soon, the Philistines became jealous and Abimelech asked Isaac to leave.  He moved from there to the Valley of Gerar.  The wells that Abraham had dug had been filled in by the Philistines.  So Isaac dug a well for water.  But, the locals quarreled with Isaac’s servants and laid claim to the well.  Isaac moved on and dug another well.  Again, the locals quarreled over the well.  So Isaac moved from there and dug another.  Genesis 26:22 tells us that there was no quarrel over this well.  So Isaac spoke saying, “For now the Lord has made room for us, and we shall be fruitful in the land.”

Isaac had to deal with the lemons the herdsmen threw at him.  He could have retaliated, perhaps spitefully filling in the wells belonging to others.  He could have turned bitter and decided to leave the land God had given his father Abraham.  But, Isaac chose not to let his suffering deter him from following the command of the Lord.  Instead, he dug another well and God provided a place for him – as promised.

Your shovel

God never promised to take away our hardships; He never promised a life without suffering.  He has promised His love and the salvation found only through Him (John 3:16).  He has provided His Spirit to comfort and guide us (Galatians 4:6).  He has prepared a home for us, an eternal home without suffering (John 14:1-3).  Paul wrote in Philippians 4:12, “I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.”

If we are willing, there is water to be found, living water.  All our spiritual blessings are to be found in this water.  So here’s your shovel; let’s start digging.