Warriors Arise: June 13, 2021
Ruth 4:11 (NKJV) And all the people who were at the gate, and the elders, said, “We are witnesses...
When was the last time you were a witness to something? Not a participant, a witness.
A wedding
A divorce
A graduation
A fight
An agreement
An argument
A resolution
Someone getting a new job
Someone getting fired from their job
What is the purpose of a witness?
They are to see that everything that happened is recorded accurately.
They are to give account for the purpose of the event.
They are to be available to bring truth when facts are in question.
To do these things, they must know what has taken place. They must be alert, aware and trustworthy.
The custom during Boaz's time was for their to be people at the gate and elders who were available. Lots of people would have been around to give account of the arrangement. I don't think Boaz was concerned about the amount of land he would be getting from Naomi's family. He had his sights set on Ruth. He did not want her to go to someone who would not value her. The honor he bestowed upon her when she came to work in his fields, through how he respond upon her offer just hours before, revealed he cared for her. He gave them 6 measures of grain as a reinforcement of his word. He would seek to be her kinsmen redeemer. She had chosen him when she must have been some kind of beauty. For he tells her she could have had a younger or richer man but she chose him. Now, he was making it clear to the "powers-that-be" at the gate and the elders that he was choosing her. They were his witness. He would honor their custom and provide an heir to Naomi's family for the land to remain in their family. He would take Ruth as his wife and bestow honor upon her. They were his witnesses.
To be a valued witness, one of honor, you must be one who is trustworthy, one who does not mince words or wander from the truth. These people at the gate, these elders declared themselves to be witnesses but then they do something more.
Ruth 4:11-12 (NKJV) And all the people who were at the gate, and the elders, said, “We are witnesses. The Lord make the woman who is coming to your house like Rachel and Leah, the two who built the house of Israel; and may you prosper in Ephrathah and be famous in Bethlehem. 12 May your house be like the house of Perez, whom Tamar bore to Judah, because of the offspring which the Lord will give you from this young woman.”
They bless Ruth! They bless her to build the house of Israel! Makes you wonder if the one who shouted that out was a prophet. Did they know Ruth would carry the lineage leading to the Messiah, the Christ?
When you are a witness:
Are you bias or truthful?
Are you listening or assuming?
Are you allowing or objecting?
Are you aware or distracted?
Are you getting the facts or making them up?
Are you blessing or cursing?
Father, I ask for You to come and reveal to me what kind of a witness I am. I want to be a listener. I want to recognize I am only an observer, I am not the judge nor am I the jury. Nobody likes to be called to the jury but there are times I feel pulled into being on one in situations that rise up around me. I release those circumstances and place myself as a witness. I will be honest and truthful. I will listen intently and be aware. I will hold to the facts and not assume the reason nor the answer. I want to be trustworthy and a blessings. Teach me how to bless people and circumstances. Teach me to believe for the best in people and the most advantageous in the circumstances. My mind can get in the way and I predetermining how I think things are going to go, whether I think the matter will work out. I am wrong. I am to be a witness who brings about a blessing to the people involved and the situation that has been agreed upon. I will be a person who is trustworthy and blesses the people and agreement in Jesus' name amen.
A Warrior in the Lord’s Army,
Veridee Joy Hand
My hope is for Believers in Jesus Christ to join together each day to pray, to push back the enemy as we release God’s power here on earth against the coronavirus, riots, and lies. The prayers will be listed each day as Warriors Arise. I will put a date with it so we can keep them straight. If you have any questions please feel free to make a comment or private message me. If you would like this to come to your email directly please go to verideehand.com and subscribe.
Comments