Daily devotional

July 31 - The promise of a future King secured

“and Jesse the father of David the king … of whom Jesus was born, who is called Christ.” - Matthew 1:6,16b  Scripture reading: Isaiah 11:1-5 The story of Ruth really is our story. Throughout this story we see a glorious picture of what God is doing for each of us. For the last time let’s visit Bethlehem. Remember what the ladies of the town had said to Naomi in verse 14 of chapter 4? They said,  “Blessed be the LORD, who has not left you this day without a redeemer.” Noami has been rescued from herself. And so have you and I. In providentially using Boaz and Ruth to grant Naomi the blessing of redemption, the ever-faithful covenant LORD is working towards the day of the coming Redeemer that she, and we all, need. With the birth of Obed, the line to Christ, the future king, is secured. Yes, David the grandson of the little boy on Naomi’s lap is mentioned in Matthew 1. But his is not the last name in the genealogy. The last name is Jesus. It’s only He who can, and will, deal with the fundamental problem of sin that no other human king could deal with. It’s why we read in the opening verses of Isaiah 11. Christ is the shoot from the stump of Jesse. And the LORD’s Spirit will rest on him, “the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and the fear of the LORD.” Through Him the sin-ailment that plagued Ruth, Naomi and Boaz and that also plagues you and I has been resolved once-for-all. Praise God for His gift of redemption. Suggestions for prayer Praise and thank our God for his gift of redemption through his Son, Jesus who is called Christ.

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