The Subject of the Book of Ruth

Barclay F. Buxton was the father of Alfred Buxton, one of C. T. Studd's son-in-laws who went with him to the heart of Africa as a missionary. Barclay Buxton was cofounder, with A. Paget Wilkes, of the Japan Evangelistic Band, a remarkable group of missionaries that saw such wonderful works of God in Japan. In the preface to his booklet titled The Book of Ruth: Its Message for Christians to-day he explains why he wrote the booklet:

As a new edition goes out to the public it goes with prayer that the Holy Spirit will use it to bring light on the fullness of our Redemption, and that He will guide us into the fullest experience of our Redeemer and His Redemption. Then indeed we shall be blessed and bear fruit unto God and He will see the travail of His soul and be satisfied.

The truths revealed in the Book of Ruth are vital to-day if we are to fulfill our high calling. They do not represent Christian luxuries for the few, but divine necessities for all the redeemed.

The following is from the first chapter:

"This book [the Book of Ruth] is read by the Jews as their appointed lesson for the Day of Pentecost. This surely suggests that they see deep meaning in it, and a meaning that is connected with the day of Pentecost. Truly there is Pentecostal truth here. As we read through these chapters, we may well be led on by the Word of God, right into all the meaning of the Filling with the Holy Ghost and His abiding with us for ever.

"What is the subject of this book? This book speaks of Redemption, and what that means. You will see in Chap. ii. 20:

"Naomi said unto her, The man is near of kin unto us, one of our next kinsmen."

"In the margin it says:

"One that hath right to redeem."

"This book then tells us about the Redeemer and how far reaching is His Redemption. The word Redeemer is implied wherever kinsman is mentioned and you will see the word 'redemption' again and again in Chapter iv. So the subject of this book is the meaning of Redemption. In the Scriptures you will often find that there is one passage that will deal very specially with a subject, and elucidate it, and show you its meaning. The Book of Ruth shows us the meaning of Redemption, and when we come on the word 'redemption', or 'redeem' in other parts of God's Word we may define them in the light of the Book of Ruth.

"Redemption as taught in the Book of Ruth does not merely mean deliverance, but also union with the Redeemer. It means being brought into oneness with Him. Then He takes charge. You are under His loving care. Therefore there is real rest in union with Christ. When you come to the Lord Jesus, if you understand what salvation means, you will realize that you are one with Christ, a fact which will bring rest and peace of heart.

"Let us turn to three references about these things.

(1) 2 Cor. xi. 2. "I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ."

"Here is the spirit of a real evangelist and pastor, filled with the Holy Ghost. He has espoused His converts to Christ and so is jealous over them with godly jealousy. These Christians were in many particulars unsatisfactory, but they were espoused to the Lord Jesus, and St. Paul longed that they should lay hold of the redemption of their characters and be made worthy of their Bridegroom and Redeemer.

(2) Titus ii. 13, 14. "Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; Who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto Himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works."

"Being redeemed makes us:

1. Pure from all iniquity.
2. His own 'peculiar people' or 'a people for His own possession.'
3. 'Zealous' for Him.

(3) Isaiah xliii. 1. "But now thus saith the Lord that created thee, O Jacob, and He that formed thee, O Israel, Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by name; thou art mine.'

"Redemption leads you to belong to Him, and He to you. Redemption enables you to say 'My Beloved is mine, and I am His.' The third verse continues: 'For I am the Lord thy God, the Holy One of Israel, thy Saviour . . . since thou wast precious in my sight, thou hast been honourable, and I have loved thee . . . Fear not; for I am with thee.'

"Redemption means that we are His and He is ever with us as a husband is with his wife. Oh, that we may take it in!

"And so the subject of the Book of Ruth is Redemption, in all its fullness and blessedness.

"There are three little books in the Old Testament that speak to us of full salvation. The Book of Ruth, the Song of Solomon, and the Book of Esther.

"The Book of Ruth tells us how the outcast is brought into union with the Redeemer, and finds rest under the shadow of His wings.

"The Song of Solomon tells how the redeemed one can live in the fellowship of love, and rejoice in her Beloved, serving with Him in His Vineyard, where He reveals His love to her.

"The Book of Esther tells how the redeemed one is seated on the Throne, and has power against all the power of the enemy, and so defeats Satan and all his devices."