The Stranger Within Thy Gates. Part [5] 08/01/2025 (Morning thought)

Ruth 2:10 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 2:11 And Boaz answered and said unto her, It hath fully been shewed 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 knew not heretofore. 12 The Lord recompense thy work, and a full reward be given thee of the Lord God of Israel, under whose wings thou art come to trust.

Furthermore, the stranger or foreigner was not to be excluded from the religious services, once he or she had fulfilled the prerequisites given by God. In fact, the 4th commandment pertaining to Sabbath worship, also includes the stranger that is within thy gates, from which the title of the study is lifted.

Isaiah 56: 3 Neither let the son of the stranger, that hath joined himself to the Lord, speak, saying, The Lord hath utterly separated me from his people: neither let the eunuch say, Behold, I am a dry tree. 6 Also the sons of the stranger, that join themselves to the Lord, to serve him, and to love the name of the Lord, to be his servants, everyone that keeps the sabbath from polluting it, and taketh hold of my covenant;

Isaiah 56:7 Even them will I bring to my holy mountain, and make them joyful in my house of prayer: their burnt offerings and their sacrifices shall be accepted upon mine altar; for mine house shall be called a house of prayer for all people.

May The Lord add His blessing to the study of His word. God bless!

The Stranger Within Thy Gates. Part [4] 08/01/2025 (Evening thought)

Leviticus 19:9 And when you reap the harvest of your land, thou shalt not wholly reap the corners of thy field, neither shalt thou gather the gleanings of thy harvest. 10 And thou shalt not glean thy vineyard, neither shalt thou gather every grape of thy vineyard; thou shalt leave them for the poor and stranger: I am the Lord your God.

These items and these sums should not be given based on feelings, and emotion, which tend to fluctuate with the high cost of living, and tariffs. A percentage of whatsoever is our increase should be laid aside for benevolent purposes, and should be a deliberate and well thought out pledge that is made for the advancement of God’s kingdom upon the earth, as it pertains to the exercise of kindness.

In other words, we should never entirely glean our fields, nor gather every grape for our own personal use. There is no support for that mode of thought and action in the Scriptures. That’s what Boaz did, when Ruth the stranger came by looking for food and grain for Naomi and herself. Boaz did not leave it up to chance or feeling, neither did he inquire up front about where she was born.

All he asked was whose damsel is this, and when he learned that she was an immigrant who had come in with Naomi, it was enough to trigger the humanity in Boaz, since she needed food and drink. Those basic needs touched a corresponding chord in the heart of Boaz, because the Christian must never be blind, or tone deaf to the plight, and suffering of his fellowmen, whoever they may be and thus, Boaz was deliberate in his instructions to the reapers.

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

May God add His blessing to the study of His word. “Good night” and God bless!