In type both Ruth and Orpah experienced the figurative fulfillment of the first three feasts in their Christian walk, but only Ruth goes on to receive the filling of the Holy Spirit, which leads to the figurative fulfillment of the remaining feasts. Only Ruth crosses over of Jordan, which typifies entering into the spirit-filled life.

(Ruth 1:9 KJV) The LORD grant you that ye may find rest, each of you in the house of her husband. Then she kissed them; and they lifted up their voice, and wept.

Naomi continues in her exhortation for both to count the costs that would apply if they continued to follow her into the land. Jesus did the same thing with His disciples. He told them to count the costs that would be exacted for following Him. It would be better for them to turn back then than to go on into spiritual maturity and then turn back later. It is better for a Christian to have not known the spirit-filled life, than to have known it and then depart from it. The judgment will be much stricter at the Judgment Seat of Christ for a Christian who has matured in the faith and then fallen away from the faith.

Naomi expresses a petition that the Lord grant them both to find rest in the house of their husband. The rest is the millennial kingdom and the betrothed is Jesus Christ. It is seen later that only Ruth enters into the millennial kingdom in the position of the bride. It is because of her work in the fields of Boaz, and receiving his special attention because of her faithfulness to her work and her love for Naomi (i.e., Israel).

The kiss by Naomi is indicative of a show of love, respect and reverence for both Ruth and Orpah. Orpah is clearly a member of the household of God. Naomi's advice for the two daughters-in-law apparently comes to the Church via the Word of God, the Bible, which was given to the Church via the Jews.

(Ruth 1:10 KJV) And they said unto her, Surely we will return with thee unto thy people.

At this point both daughters-in-law are determined to go on with Naomi. This further clarifies the determination by Ruth and Orpah to be faithful, and to complete the spiritual journey into the Promised Land across the Jordan River. The prophetic meaning of crossing the Jordan River is to enter into the spirit-filled life and qualify for entrance into the kingdom of heaven. The figurative meaning of crossing over Jordan is to die physically and go to heaven.

(Ruth 1:11 KJV) And Naomi said, Turn again, my daughters: why will ye go with me? are there yet any more sons in my womb, that they may be your husbands?

The meaning of "will ye go" figuratively refers to the manner of life. It also means to die, to live. It has reference to a continuation in living the exchanged life. It refers to faithfulness in going on into maturity. Naomi refers to the hopelessness in the power of the flesh to redeem their widowhood. She was elderly and her womb was unfruitful for the bearing of children.

(Ruth 1:12 KJV) Turn again, my daughters, go your way; for I am too old to have an husband. If I should say, I have hope, if I should have an husband also to night, and should also bear sons;

Naomi reiterates the hopelessness in the power of the flesh to redeem their widowhood. It should be repeated here that both Ruth and Naomi have entered into the familial relationship with God. Both serve as a type for the Christian, and now they are both being exhorted to count the costs for going on into the spirit-filled Christian life. It is expensive for the Christian to enter into the spirit-filled life, for he must lose his life. He must die to self and allow Christ to live His life through him. It has been stated that the Christian's spirit is saved by the death of Christ, but the Christian’s soul is saved by the life of Christ. The following passage of Scripture is referring to discipleship and not simply becoming a Christian:

(Luke 14:25 KJV) And there went great multitudes with him: and he turned, and said unto them,
(Luke 14:26 KJV) If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple.

(Luke 14:27 KJV) And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple.
(Luke 14:28 KJV) For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it?

(Luke 14:29 KJV) Lest haply, after he hath laid the foundation, and is not able to finish it, all that behold it begin to mock him,

(Luke 14:30 KJV) Saying, This man began to build, and was not able to finish.
(Luke 14:31 KJV) Or what king, going to make war against another king, sitteth not down first, and consulteth whether he be able with ten thousand to meet him that cometh against him with twenty thousand?

(Luke 14:32 KJV) Or else, while the other is yet a great way off, he sendeth an ambassage, and desireth conditions of peace.

(Luke 14:33 KJV) So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple.

A Christian must be willing to take up his cross and lose his life (i.e., soul) in order to be a disciple of the Lord Jesus Christ.

(Ruth 1:13 KJV) Would ye tarry for them till they were grown? would ye stay for them from having husbands? nay, my daughters; for it grieveth me much for your sakes that the hand of the LORD is gone out against me.

Naomi continues to enumerate the costs that apply to entering into the spirit-filled life. The word for "tarry for" means to wait for and hope for a long time for the redemption of their widowhood. The word for "grown" means to become powerful and be magnified. The prophetic meaning is would they be willing to wait a long, long, time for the redemption of their widowhood by one who will become powerful and magnified as the Great One. "Would ye stay for them from having husbands?" means that would they be willing to keep themselves pure and undefiled from the world. The implication is that it will be a long, long time before Jesus returns, and they might become weary during that time and go back to the world. The consequences then would be much more severe than if they turned back now. The consequences for entering into the spirit-filled life and then turning back are far worse at the Judgment Seat of Christ than if the Christian never entered into the spirit-filled life. This is why Jesus states that we must count the costs beforehand and determine if we are willing to lose our life before becoming a disciple of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Naomi then states that she is greatly embittered because of the punishment wrought against her by the Lord. Israel is greatly embittered by the punishment exacted upon them by the Lord for their unfaithfulness. During the time of the Diaspora God has called out the Church (i.e., Orpah and Ruth), but only Ruth (i.e., the bride) will receive the inheritance of the kingdom of heaven. Naomi will still receive the earthly inheritance in the land of Israel. There is a jealousy on the part of Israel that the Church was offered the inheritance of the kingdom of heaven after Israel forfeited it. It is because of this jealousy that many Jews have become part of the Church and many will also be part of the bride of Christ at His Coming again. This is confirmed in the following Scriptures:

(Rom 10:19 KJV) But I say, Did not Israel know? First Moses saith, I will provoke you to jealousy by them that are no people (i.e., the Church), and by a foolish nation (i.e., the Church) I will anger you.

(Rom 11:11 KJV) I say then, Have they stumbled that they should fall? God forbid: but rather through their fall salvation is come unto the Gentiles, for to provoke them to jealousy.

(Ruth 1:14 KJV) And they lifted up their voice, and wept again: and Orpah kissed her mother in law; but Ruth clave unto her.

It is a tough decision, but Orpah expresses her affection to Naomi and returns to the world, but Ruth clings to Naomi and crosses over the Jordan River into the Promised Land. Orpah has decided that she cannot endure the costs of going on into the promised inheritance, but Ruth has decided that she is willing to pay the price for realizing her inheritance. Ruth will discover that she will be required to work diligently in the field of Boaz, but He will provide for her needs and watch over her and protect her during the time that she will be working in His field. Also, Ruth will become the bride of this rich and powerful Jew, and she will share in His wealth and His power. The costs are great, but the reward will be worth the costs.

One important lesson in this passage is that the Lord Himself has warned Christians about the costs involved in becoming His disciple. Numerous Christians have decided that the costs are too great, and they are not willing to pay the price for being a disciple of the Lord. Consequently, Christians who have become disciples of the Lord and are looking forward to the Blessed Hope should not be surprised that these other Christians are not looking forward to this Blessed Hope, for they have already decided against striving for it. The hopes and desires of these other Christians rest in the world and the world system, so they are unable to understand our longing and desire for the Bridegroom to return. Jesus Christ is the Blessed Hope for those Christians who have counted the costs and determined to follow Jesus as disciples in spite of the persecutions and hardships that these Christians must endure.  

Unfortunately, there are numerous Christians who have chosen the world, but have deceived themselves that they will still realize the inheritance of being the bride of Christ without any sacrifice or work on their part. This is a common belief in this Laodicean church age, and these Christians will actually get angry with those Christians who enumerate the costs for realizing the redemption of our widowhood.  

(Ruth 1:15 KJV) And she said, Behold, thy sister in law is gone back unto her people, and unto her gods: return thou after thy sister in law. 

Naomi makes one last effort to encourage Ruth to go back to her people and her gods just as Orpah has done. One important question that occurred to me in my study of the prophetic meaning of Ruth was how Naomi was fulfilling this prophecy in exhorting the Church to count the costs before entering into the spirit-filled life. It was then that I realized that it was Naomi or Israel that gave us the Word of God in the Bible, and the Bible exhorts us to count the costs before becoming disciples.  

(Ruth 1:16 KJV) And Ruth said, Entreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee: for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God: 

This verse confirms that there comes a time when the decision to be a disciple is final, and the entreaty to return to the world stops. Ruth has chosen to remain close to the family of God and to serve the God of the Jews with all of her heart, mind and soul. Her walk or manner of life will reflect the same as the people of God, and she will dwell in the tents of Shem. Ruth has decided to follow the God of the Jews, and in the process, she will love the Jews and remain close to them. The faithful Christian prays for the peace of Jerusalem and for the Jewish people to return to God the Father and to their Messiah, Jesus Christ. The faithful Christian remains close to the Jews for he realizes that they are still God's people and they will still realize their earthly inheritance.

(Ruth 1:17 KJV) Where thou diest, will I die, and there will I be buried: the LORD do so to me, and more also, if ought but death part thee and me.

Ruth takes an oath that she will remain faithful to the people of God even until death, and she states that she realizes that punishment will be substantial if she ever departs from this oath.

(Ruth 1:18 KJV) When she saw that she was stedfastly minded to go with her, then she left speaking unto her.

Naomi stops speaking to Ruth about going back to the world once Naomi is certain that Ruth has resolutely determined in her mind that she is going to cross over the Jordan River. Once a Christian has made up his mind to be a disciple, the consequences for turning back become even more severe. It is then that the exhortations for remaining faithful become important to the Christian. We will see that this is just what Naomi does in the following verses.  

(Ruth 1:19 KJV) So they two went until they came to Bethlehem. And it came to pass, when they were come to Bethlehem, that all the city was moved about them, and they said, Is this Naomi?

Naomi and Ruth travel until they came to Bethlehem. Bethlehem means the "house of bread," and it has reference to the Word of God. The Bible is the source of our bread, and it is necessary for realizing the inheritance of the Blessed Hope. We must read and study the Word of God. The Christian who thinks that he can realize the inheritance by working diligently in the Church, but never going to the Bible for nourishment and maturing in the faith is greatly deceived. Many Christians, including pastors, work hard and long hours in the Church without ever studying the Bible. This is unfortunate for all of our nourishment for growth and maturity comes from the Word of God.  

When Israel was reestablished, the whole city was in a stir because of the return of the Jews to Israel. The word for city means a place guarded by a waking or watch. In other words, that part of the Church that was awake and watching for the Return of the Lord came to be in a stir when Israel returned to the land. In 1948 my Grandfather stated that Jesus would return before this generation passes away, since the nation of Israel had been reestablished. We are now very close to the end for this generation to pass away. Jesus Christ will surely return very soon.  

(Ruth 1:20 KJV) And she said unto them, Call me not Naomi, call me Mara: for the Almighty hath dealt very bitterly with me. 

Naomi tells the people who are awake and watching not to call her Naomi, which means pleasant, but to call her Mara, which means bitter, for the Almighty has dealt with her bitterly during the time of her exile. God has dealt with Israel bitterly because of her disobedience, but she has returned to the land, and she will be restored to her earthly inheritance. This will occur after the long night of threshing and winnowing, which is to take place during the tribulation period.

(Ruth 1:21 KJV) I went out full, and the LORD hath brought me home again empty: why then call ye me Naomi, seeing the LORD hath testified against me, and the Almighty hath afflicted me? 

Israel was put out of the land because she was puffed up and prideful in her position as the family of God. In this position, she had rejected the Kinsman-Redeemer that God the Father had sent to her. Israel not only rejected Jesus Christ, but she crucified Him. Israel was dispersed from the land because of her pride and arrogance, but she was brought back to the land in an empty state. It was after Hitler had killed six million Jews, and Israel was at its lowest point in history that God brought Israel back into the land. Israel went out of the land because of her pride and arrogance, but she was brought back into the land in humility and emptiness. The word for empty also means undeservedly. In other words, Israel was brought back into the land out of God's Grace and not because she deserved to be brought back into the land.

The Lord had testified or judged Israel, and the Almighty had afflicted her or punished her for her disobedience. It is also important to note that she is still empty. Israel has not yet been filled with the Spirit of God, even though she has been returned to the land. It is important that the vision of the valley of dry bones in Ezekiel demonstrates that the nation of Israel will be resurrected physically as a nation before she is regenerated spiritually. The spiritual resurrection will take place after the long night of threshing and winnowing, which is the seven-year tribulation period.

(Ruth 1:22 KJV) So Naomi returned, and Ruth the Moabitess, her daughter in law, with her, which returned out of the country of Moab: and they came to Bethlehem in the beginning of barley harvest.

It is at the time that Israel has returned to the land that the bride of Christ leaves the world and comes into the house of bread. This takes place at the beginning of barley harvest. Barley harvest is a type of the early or Firstfruits harvest before the time of the hot summer sun and the wheat harvest. We will see in the following chapters how Ruth, the bride, will be working in the barley field of Boaz gleaning before she appears at His feet at midnight. The Firstfruits Rapture of the faithful pertains to the barley harvest, but the Main Harvest Rapture of the Church pertains to the wheat harvest after the hot summer sun (i.e., the tribulation) ripens the grain.  

(Ruth 2:1 KJV) And Naomi had a kinsman of her husband's, a mighty man of wealth, of the family of Elimelech; and his name was Boaz. 

It is in this verse that the Kinsman-Redeemer is introduced. He is Boaz, a type of Jesus Christ, both Israel's Redeemer and the Church's Redeemer. In order to redeem the land of Israel, the lost condition of the Church, and the widowhood of the bride, Jesus Christ had to become a kinsman to all of us. This is why God had to become a human being. Jesus Christ is the Son of God and the Son of Man. He had to be both Human and Deity. Jesus Christ has both the nature of God, and the nature of Man. In theology, this is called the hypostatic union of Jesus Christ where His human and divine natures are united. Jesus Christ is both fully man and fully God. Our minds cannot quite conceive this fully, but it was essential for Him to be able to redeem us from our sins. His human nature came from Mary, the earthly mother of Jesus, and His Deity came from His Father via the Holy Spirit. His human name is Jesus and His divine name is Christ.  

Under the Old Testament laws of redemption, a redeemer must be a near-kinsman, able to pay the price for redemption, and willing to pay the price for redemption. In type, Boaz meets all three of these conditions, and we will see that in antitype, Jesus Christ also meets all three of these conditions. Jesus Christ is our kinsman as the Son of Man, He is able to pay the price of Atonement as the Son of God, and He did pay the price as the Lamb of God in His substitutionary death in our place.  

This verse confirms that Boaz was a kinsman of Naomi (i.e., Israel) and he was a kinsman of Elimelech (i.e., God). In the Old Testament, God the Father is portrayed as the husband of Israel, and Israel is portrayed as the unfaithful wife of God the Father. The whole book of Hosea depicts this relationship of God the Father with the nation of Israel. Hosea is a type of God the Father, and Gomer is depicted as Israel, the unfaithful wife of God the Father. The story portrays Hosea as divorcing Gomer, but redeeming her and marrying her again. In the present age, God has divorced Israel for spiritual adultery, but He will redeem her and take her back as his wife, just as Hosea did to Gomer.  

The name Boaz means "strength". Boaz was also one of the two brazen pillars on the porch or entrance to Solomon's temple. The other pillar was named Jachin. The pillars held up the temple. The pillars were made of bronze, a type for judgment, and decorated with lilies, a flower that typifies Jesus Christ. Lilies are red, blue and white and symbolize atonement, grace and purity. In order to enter the temple, the meeting place with God, one must come via the two pillars, which typify Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit.  

(Ruth 2:2 KJV) And Ruth the Moabitess said unto Naomi, Let me now go to the field, and glean ears of corn after him in whose sight I shall find grace. And she said unto her, Go, my daughter. 

It is after Ruth has crossed over Jordan and entered into the land that she works or gleans in the field of Boaz. This means that work for the Lord comes after dying to self and entering into the spirit-filled life. It is then that a person can work for the Lord in His field, such that He takes notice. Ruth knows about Boaz just as the Church knows about Jesus, but she must work in His field to come to know Him. Ruth is already a member of Boaz's family, but now she will work in His field to find grace (i.e., acceptance or favor) in his sight. The word for "go" means to walk after or to follow Him to gain favor or acceptance in His sight. The bride of Christ works in His field to gain favor in His sight. She works for reward. The Scriptures are clear that working for reward is right, appropriate, and it pleases God. It shows faith or belief in what God has stated in His Word. The Scriptures are replete with the teaching that spirit salvation is a free gift of God, but rewards are according to works. Those who denigrate working for reward are denigrating the Word of God. 

The word for "go" also means "to die, to live, manner of life (figuratively)". It is confirmed by Israel—those who gave us the oracles of God—that Ruth must die to self, and allow Christ to live in her to make her manner of life acceptable to God. We must allow Christ to live His life in us to be acceptable to God. Otherwise, our lives or souls—not our spirits—will perish at the Judgment Seat of Christ.  

(Ruth 2:3 KJV) And she went, and came, and gleaned in the field after the reapers: and her hap was to light on a part of the field belonging unto Boaz, who was of the kindred of Elimelech. 

The word for "went" means "to walk", and the word for "came" means "to enter in, bring to pass, or attain to something." In other words, it states right here in introduction that Ruth walked with the Lord, entered into the kingdom, and attained to become the bride of Christ. The rest of the story describes how she accomplishes this task.  

Ruth gleaned in the field after the reapers. This means that she worked in a subordinate or lower position than the reapers or harvesters. She worked behind them gathering the grain and threshing it a little bit at a time. The reapers are the primary figures or members in the Church who are also working in the fields harvesting the grain. These are those in the Church who evangelize in the field of the Lord. They are the ones who receive the attention for their work in harvesting the grain, and they hardly notice poor Ruth who is gleaning in the field behind them. However, we will see that Boaz does take notice of her faithfulness in meticulously separating the chaff from the grain. The bride is not the great evangelist, but the one who works meticulously with the individual stalks of grain in separating the chaff from the grain. The bride is the soul-winner in the Church. She is the one who meticulously helps other Christians—few in number—put off the old man and put on the new man in Christ. She does not work with the main part of the grain harvest, but only with a few here and there.  

It is interesting that the word for reaper means one who is impatient, vexed and grieved. The reapers go after the whole field to harvest it. They do not have the patience to attend to the few stalks of grain that need to be threshed and winnowed. They are also vexed or annoyed easily, and they shall be grieved or mourn for lost hopes. It is likely that they were annoyed by poor little Ruth, who seemed to be more of a hindrance to their work than co-worker.  

It was by chance or unforeseen circumstance that Ruth just happened to be gleaning in the field of Boaz. The bride does not see ahead of time that she will be working in the field of Jesus Christ. She likely had her mind on other things in the world, but she winds up gleaning in the portion of the field that belongs to Jesus Christ. She does not work in the whole field—the world—as the reapers do, but she works among the sheaves of grain. The bride works in the Church—the portion belonging to Boaz—and not the world. The reapers see Ruth as being inconsequential, but Boaz takes notice of her.  

(Ruth 2:4 KJV) And, behold, Boaz came from Bethlehem, and said unto the reapers, The LORD be with you. And they answered him, The LORD bless thee. 

Boaz comes from Bethlehem, which means "house of bread", and He does speak to the reapers and acknowledges their work by saying that the Lord is with them in this work. The reapers are doing the work of the Lord, and He acknowledges this. The reapers then "answer him" and this means that they said in their hearts that they adored and worshipped the Lord. A prophetic translation of the above verse is as follows:

(Ruth 2:4 Prophetic Translation) And, behold, Jesus was born in Bethlehem, and He said unto the Church, I the Lord am with you. And they answered to Him, the Lord, we worship and adore thee.

(Ruth 2:5 KJV) Then said Boaz unto his servant that was set over the reapers, Whose damsel is this?  

Then Boaz says to His Servant Who is over the reapers, "Who is this young woman?" Boaz takes special notice of this marriageable young woman, and inquires of the Holy Spirit about her, since the Holy Spirit is over all of the reapers and this young woman.  

(Ruth 2:6 KJV) And the servant that was set over the reapers answered and said, It is the Moabitish damsel that came back with Naomi out of the country of Moab: 

The Servant—the Holy Spirit—informs the Lord Jesus Christ that this marriageable young woman came out of the world in repentance with the delightful one (i.e., Naomi or Israel).  

(Ruth 2:7 KJV) And she said, I pray you, let me glean and gather after the reapers among the sheaves: so she came, and hath continued even from the morning until now, that she tarried a little in the house. 

The Holy Spirit informs the Lord that this damsel had made an entreaty or request to gather grain from among the sheaves of grain that had already been harvested by the reapers. The Holy Spirit continues to describe the bride as one who has faithfully worked in the field, and she only relaxed or sat in the household of faith for a short time. The bride is not one to sit and relax in the Church under the covering or rest of the Grace of God. She has gone to the field to work and glean among the grain to separate the chaff from the wheat.  

(Ruth 2:8 KJV) Then said Boaz unto Ruth, Hearest thou not, my daughter? Go not to glean in another field, neither go from hence, but abide here fast by my maidens: 

The word for "said" means "to be called." Boaz called Ruth unto faithfulness to work or glean in his field only. This means Ruth, or the future bride, was called to work among the Church to bring about soul salvation in the lives of Christians. Boaz also told her not to listen to what others tell her she needs to do, but to not leave His field to glean in another field. He told Ruth to cling to or follow closely with the other maidens, or marriageable young women. Ruth and the marriageable young women appear to be a special group of Christians in the Church who are called to work in the Church among Christians to bring them into faithfulness, and to help them in separating from the world to get the chaff or sin out of their lives. We will see later that Ruth gathers the grain very carefully stalk by stalk and threshes a little bit at a time to separate the grain from the chaff. This is a gathering and threshing of grain in which Ruth participates.  

The implication in this verse is that other Christians will attempt to get Ruth to go out and work in another field, and that field is the world. It is commonly thought in the Church that if a Christian is not out knocking on doors attempting to evangelize the world to try to get people saved, then he is not being faithful. A common question among Christians is "How many people have you saved?" There appears to be a great misunderstanding among the majority of Christians that being saved or born again spiritually is the only work of Christians, but this is just the first step in the life of a Christian. It is then incumbent upon a Christian to grow in grace and knowledge of the Lord for the purpose of entering the kingdom of heaven to reign and rule with Christ in the millennial kingdom. It is only a small group of Christians that realize the truth of seeking the kingdom of God for the purpose of reigning and ruling with Christ.  

The great majority of Christians seem to misunderstand the importance of studying the Word of God, so that they can become mature Christians. It is commonly thought among Christians that the sole work that a Christian needs to do is to "get people saved." The Scriptures are neglected and prophecy is relegated as unimportant. It is not seen or understood that the bride has a special calling to help other Christians to mature in the faith and to grow in grace and knowledge of the Lord. This calls for much patience in studying and learning the Word of God and in encouraging and helping other Christians to study the Scriptures. It is the getting rid of the chaff in ones life and receiving with meekness the engrafted Word of God that saves the Christian's soul in accordance with the following verse:  

(James 1:21 KJV) Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls. 

(Ruth 2:9 KJV) Let thine eyes be on the field that they do reap, and go thou after them: have I not charged the young men that they shall not touch thee? and when thou art athirst, go unto the vessels, and drink of that which the young men have drawn. 

Boaz tells Ruth to let her eyes (i.e., spiritual and mental faculties) be on the same field in which the young maidens are working. Ruth is to continue working in the field of Boaz just as the other young maidens are working. The word for "and go thou" is in reference to the manner of life that a Christian leads. Ruth (i.e., the bride) is to live the life of dying to self and living according to the life of Christ.  

The young men commanded not to touch Ruth appear to be the messengers of God who are given charge over this special group of Christians who are ordained to be the bride. These messengers would be the preachers and teachers who draw the water of life from the source of life, and that source is the Word of God. The Bible is the well from which the water of life is drawn. These servants are not to chastise or punish Ruth, but they are to help her and assist her in understanding the Word of God.  

(Ruth 2:10 KJV) Then she fell on her face, and bowed herself to the ground, and said unto him, Why have I found grace in thine eyes, that thou shouldest take knowledge of me, seeing I am a stranger? 

Ruth (i.e., the bride) humbles herself before the Lord Jesus Christ. She bows down and worships Him, and she is curious as to why she has found such grace in the eyes of the Lord, and why she is given such special treatment. Ruth was a stranger to the family of the Lord, but she has now been saved by grace to become a member of the family of God. She is now given special consideration in working in the Lord's field (i.e., the Church) and she is given special assistance in understanding the Word of God. The word for "shouldest take knowledge" means to have a special regard for someone and to acknowledge this person with honor and respect. This seems to indicate that not only are Christians ordained for spirit salvation, but the bride is also chosen and ordained by God to be the bride of Christ. Neither position is earned or deserved by the people in these positions, but the bride does receive a special call unto soul salvation and a special call unto a faithfulness that will qualify her as the bride of Christ. The bride of Christ has a special desire to be intimate with the Lord and to be His bride. Most Christians in the Church today are perfectly content to be saved and go to heaven with no desire to know the Lord intimately.  

(Ruth 2:11 KJV) And Boaz answered and said unto her, It hath fully been showed me, all that thou hast done unto thy mother in law since the death of thine husband: and how thou hast left thy father and thy mother, and the land of thy nativity, and art come unto a people which thou knewest not heretofore. 

Even though the bride appears to be ordained to this position, she comes from those who have been faithful in coming to the truth according to the oracles of God provided in the Bible by the Jews. These Chr