After finishing the book of Judges, the next book is Ruth. Ruth is somewhat of a continuation of Judges, because Boaz was a Judge in Bethlehem. If you read through it slowly, and soak in every morsel, you will notice that Boaz is a picture of Jesus.
The scripture lets us know that Boaz was much older than Ruth, and that she was not an Israelite. He commends her for not going after the younger men; he was taken by her because of her good reputation of loving, and working to help her mother in law, Naomi. There is even a moment where he gives her a morsel of bread and allows her to dip it in the bowl of wine, just like a picture of communion with Jesus. The secular definition of communion is, - “the sharing or exchanging of intimate thoughts and feelings, especially when the exchange is on a mental or spiritual level.” What a beautiful way to define communion! Ruth and Boaz shared this moment, even though communion hadn’t been instituted by Jesus yet, it is a precursor to what is to come.
The next time you take communion, think of this definition; it is an intimate exchange between you, and Jesus. This is just one picture of Jesus in the book of Ruth; when you get the chance, read it, and see if you can find other morsels pointing to Jesus; you may be surprised.
And at mealtime Boaz said to her, “Come here and eat some bread and dip your morsel in the wine.” So she sat beside the reapers, and he passed to her roasted grain. And she ate until she was satisfied, and she had some left over. Ruth 2:14
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