Daily devotional

July 19 - Another key word

“This man is a close relative of ours, one of our redeemers.” - Ruth 2:20b  Scripture reading: Isaiah 43:1-3 If the key word of chapter 1 is “return,” and the key word of chapter 2 is “glean,” then the next key word is “redeem.” It occurs multiple times in chapters 3 and 4. However, its first occurrence is in chapter 2. There Naomi uses the word with reference to Boaz saying, “This man is a close relative of ours, one of our redeemers.” Do you see the progression in the story? A progression that’s so necessary also for the unfolding of redemptive history. Remember, if Naomi’s and Ruth’s family tree is to end in the graves of Elimelech and in the graves of Mahlon and Chilion, then there will be no Obed born to Ruth and Boaz. And if no Obed, no Jesse, and if no Jesse, no king David, and if no king David… well, then there will be no Jesus either. And if no Jesus then the comfort of the opening verses of Isaiah 43 wouldn’t be ours. What a story! From the ruin that is “everyone did what was right in their own eyes” because there was no king over Israel, the covenant LORD, in His faithfulness is working to undo the undoneness of one foreign, fatherless, widowed Ruth so that the Christ, the true King of Israel might come to be your Redeemer. What is our response to all of this? We need to just stand in awe of our God and thank Him for the gospel of redemption Suggestions for prayer Simply thank God for His faithfulness in seeing to it that the gospel of our redemption is a reality.

Since 2019, Rev. Rodney Vermeulen has served the Attercliffe Canadian Reformed Church near Dunnville, Ontario, Canada. He, his wife, children and grandchildren are deeply grateful for the blessing of daily living under the shelter of God’s wings. Get this devotional delivered directly to your phone each day via our RP App. This devotional is made available by the Nearer To God Devotional team, who also make available in print, for purchase, at NTGDevotional.com.