Ruth or Orpah?

[Shmanu YAH]

shalom mishpacha, baruk h'shem YHWH, weh baruka ha'bo beh' ha'shem YHWH , "blessed the name of YHWH", and "blessed the coming in the name YHWH" ->>>Yahushua!,

I pray all is well with you and yours and I know it will be even better soon. In this message I'd like to deal with the shadow figure we have read of in the past from the book of Ruth. This book is widely read and well embraced by many from the "new believers" to the so-called biblical scholars but if you know me by now, Imma look at a aspect of this book we need to be forced to deal with - false claim of allegiance .....OH OH! Here we go.

If we take the time to rightly divide the word of truth we have to be honest with ourselves and keep it "100". One of the more favorite matriarchs of the scriptures folks want to claim be influenced by is the daughter-in-law of Naomi -> Ruth. Now first lets go where the spirit of truth should lead us on this particular definition: "Daughter in law", yes Ruth the Moabitess was a daughter in law of Naomi by marriage covenant, but more importantly after her husband's (Mahlon) death she was willing to be a Daughter in "Law / TORAH" of Naomi and her lineage - Ephraym (doubly fruitful).

We have read in Ruth her heart felt declaration in chapter 1:16-17, "...and Ruth said, "Intreat 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 Elohym my Elohym: 17 Where thou diest, will I die, and there will I be buried: YHWH do so to me, and more also, if ought but death part thee and me". .....- Ruth the moabite by lineage stated her intent and vow from that point till her end to be "grafted in" to Yehuda, so to be like Ruth you have to be "ALL IN" because it's not so much about where YOU are geographically but where your HEART is. Now this is where the story gets interesting, the point I stated about honestly, rightly dividing the word. Ruth had a sister-in-law by marriage- Orpah, also a moabite by lineage that many try to ignore and disconnect from .....NOT SO FAST!!!

If we take the time to see what Naomi said to her daughters we can better evaluate the decisions made by the two. In Ruth chapter 1:11-15, .....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? 12 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; 13 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 YHWH is gone out against me". 14 And they lifted up their voice, and wept again: and Orpah kissed her mother in law; but Ruth clave unto her. 15 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 gave them a charge she felt was in their best interest (unselfish Mother) and Orpah felt the same and returned to her people to try and start a family in a place of pagan gods.

Now we have to honestly make the uncomfortable parallel, how come after being exposed to the laws, commands, covenant and righteous directives of the true and living Elohym, only 1 of the 2 daughters were willing to forsake their pagan past?....reality check! - In this day and time most people sware on a stack of bibles they woulda been like Ruth but when givin the opprortunity to step away from the traditional paganism and wickedness in these times they decline. I think one of the main sermons that need to be preached for salvation from the pulpit all over the world is "STOP LYING ORPAH !" People today can't be serious when they read this book about the kinsman redeemer BOAZ, a name etymologically meaning: "bo" = come + "az" = help / support, aka "help / support comes" ( Strong's 935 + 5826 ) but can't honestly identify themselves as the person that reverts back to the old as opposed to the person thats willing in heart to releases that old way for a YHWH obedient better way. People need to stop being self-righteous and be more honest with themselves: If you deny the 1 true and living Elohym - you are Orpah!, If you worship by pagan names - you are Orpah!, If you say the law isn't anymore - you are Orpah!, If you deny the existance of the everlasting covenant - you are Orpah!, If you say no need for works - you are Orpah!, If you deny the "moadym" appointed times - you are Orpah!, If you keep pagan holidays - you are Orpah!, If you cherish your materials - you are Orpah!, If you cherish carnality over spirituality - you are Orpah!, If you accept tradition over truth - you are Orpah!, etc...

Now in this day and current age if we think the Ruth-Boaz relationship was just a ensample of a woman and a man then we are really goofy! Ruth can not be limited to represent one woman but many women and not being gender specific, not just any one man but men or any human that is willing to seperate from their pagan past .....more importantly, Ruth should represent the "q'hallym" or assemblies aka the CHURCHES!

If women and men and assemblies were true to their claim they would do what Ruth did and listen to the wisdom of the older woman of Bethlehem-Judah -> Naomi, and go lay at the feet (Ruth 3:8 &14) of the blood / kinsman redeemer Boaz to show us how to be prepared to humble ourselves when our help comes. We read in Ruth 3:1-5, Then Naomi her mother in law said unto her, "My daughter, shall I not seek rest for thee, that it may be well with thee? 2 And now is not Boaz of our kindred, with whose maidens thou wast? Behold, he winnoweth barley to night in the threshing floor. 3 Wash thyself therefore, and anoint thee, and put thy raiment upon thee, and get thee down to the floor: but make not thyself known unto the man, until he shall have done eating and drinking. 4 And it shall be, when he lieth down, that thou shalt mark the place where he shall lie, and thou shalt go in, and uncover his feet, and lay thee down; and he will tell thee what thou shalt do". 5 And she said unto her, "All that thou sayest unto me I will do".

I know women lib'ers may have a problem with this but they better realize this a nothing compared to the problems their rebellious souls gonna have!. I also know the some of the "new testament christians" may not care much about the "old testament" as they refer to it but didn't we see this humility of Ruth repeated in Matthew 26:6-13?, Now when Yahushua was in Bethany, in the house of Simon the leper, 7 There came unto him a woman having an alabaster box of very precious ointment, and poured it on his head, as he sat at meat. 8 But when his disciples saw it, they had indignation, saying, To what purpose is this waste? 9 For this ointment might have been sold for much, and given to the poor. 10 When Yahushua understood it, he said unto them, "Why trouble ye the woman? for she hath wrought a good work upon me. 11 For ye have the poor always with you; but me ye have not always. 12 For in that she hath poured this ointment on my body, she did it for my burial. 13 Verily I say unto you, Wheresoever this gospel shall be preached in the whole world, there shall also this, that this woman hath done, be told for a memorial of her". .....- WOW!

also in Mark 14:3-9, And being in Bethany in the house of Simon the leper, as he sat at meat, there came a woman having an alabaster box of ointment of spikenard very precious; and she brake the box, and poured it on his head. 4 And there were some that had indignation within themselves, and said, "Why was this waste of the ointment made? 5 For it might have been sold for more than three hundred pence, and have been given to the poor". And they murmured against her. 6 And Yahushua said, "Let her alone; why trouble ye her? she hath wrought a good work on me. 7 For ye have the poor with you always, and whensoever ye will ye may do them good: but me ye have not always. 8 She hath done what she could: she is come aforehand to anoint my body to the burying. 9 Verily I say unto you, Wheresoever this gospel shall be preached throughout the whole world, this also that she hath done shall be spoken of for a memorial of her". .....- WOW again!, then also in John 12:3, Then took Mary a pound of ointment of spikenard, very costly, and anointed the feet of Yahushua, and wiped his feet with her hair: and the house was filled with the odour of the ointment. .....- irreguardless of the reputation of this woman from her past, Yahushua said: "Wheresoever this gospel shall be preached throughout the whole world, this also that she hath done shall be spoken of for a memorial of her" .....- this is in NO wise the action of Orpah but truly the spirit of RUTH!.                                                                                                                                                                              Did you pay attention to the response of Boaz when Ruth humbly presented herself? Ruth 3:6-13, And she went down unto the floor, and did according to all that her mother in law bade her. 7 And when Boaz had eaten and drunk, and his heart was merry, he went to lie down at the end of the heap of corn: and she came softly, and uncovered his feet, and laid her down. 8 And it came to pass at midnight, that the man was afraid, and turned himself: and, behold, a woman lay at his feet. 9 And he said, "Who art thou?" And she answered, "I am Ruth thine handmaid: spread therefore thy skirt over thine handmaid; for thou art a near kinsman". 10 And he said, "Blessed be thou of YHWH, my daughter: for thou hast shewed more kindness in the latter end than at the beginning, inasmuch as thou followedst not young men, whether poor or rich. 11 And now, my daughter, fear not; I will do to thee all that thou requirest: for all the city of my people doth know that thou art a virtuous woman. 12 And now it is true that I am thy near kinsman: howbeit there is a kinsman nearer than I. 13 Tarry this night, and it shall be in the morning, that if he will perform unto thee the part of a kinsman, well; let him do the kinsman’s part: but if he will not do the part of a kinsman to thee, then will I do the part of a kinsman to thee, as YHWH liveth: lie down until the morning". .....- see how she presented herself in righteousness according to instruction and torah? (Deut. 25:5),

However Boaz the desired kinsman-redeemer did NOT take the opportunity to be carnal and go into her but sought out anyone that was worthy or willing or able to fulfill the RESPONSIBILY of being a redeemer, ..... so he later offered and not even 1 blood relative was willing to commit or even able to - now this is surely a shadow figure of greater fullness to come: the law can't redeem, your rulers can't redeem, the churches can't redeem, your spiritual leaders can't redeem, your wealth can't redeem, not even your family can! (only h'mashiach - Revelations 5:2-8). Boaz instructed her to cover herself back up and be patient!

One thing about all saw about Ruth that didn't go un-noticed is her virtue - Ruth 3:11, "...and now, my daughter, fear not; I will do to thee all that thou requirest: for ALL the city of my people doth know that thou art a virtuous woman" .....- years later in mishle/ proverbs it was aked "who can find a virtuous woman? .....well BOAZ did!, - a woman that was willing and determined to walk away from her entire lineage to hold on to whats really real. We have read in shmote / exodus 7:16, 8:1, 9:1 how YHWH sent Moshe to tell pharoh to "let my people go that they may serve me" and later beat Egypt down with plague after plague to accomplish this, but once in freedom many isrealites as well as the mixed multitudes wanted to go back to where and what they were accustomed --> their pagan past. Now we need to be serious and ask: can the assemblies or Churches today PROVE they are willing to part from their traditionally misguided or pagan past so that it can be a testimony and memorial of them? - Can you?

If you dedicate yourself or attach yourself to that which is good, you are Ruth-like ... but if you refuse to dedicate or attach yourself to anything good you are "Ruth-less".....WOW!.

Are you now Ruth or are you still Orpah? - "STOP LYING ORPAH !",

selah ......shalom

[AtalYah Baht Yehudah]

Shalom Akhee Shmanu YAH, Todah for such a thought provoking writing. I am so blessed to learn from 'the wise ones' & I give YAHWAH the praise for this.  As you know, I left the teachings of 'pagan' Islam & I can gratefully say I am a Daughter of YAHWAH I pray, all my days left in which I live!  I thought it very interesting that Ruth's sister-in-law left Naomi & returned to her way of living / pagan deities.  And thought more so how Ruth not only remained with her mother-in-law but took on the life of one living as Torah instructed. She not only believed but lived the life as well.  I do not want to have an 'Orpah' state of mind.  The churches do not want to let go of their beliefs..be it $, clout, or standing = an Orpah state of mind!  Our sistahs in the world find it hard to be a Daughter of YAHWAH for some do not want to give up this so-called life they live.  When I first began learning of YAHWAH'S lAWS & RIGHT RULINGS I wondered if I would be able to uphold all that HE asks of us. But then I thought, if this is what HE calls me to do, how can I not do it? Ha Shatan tried to slip me up a few times making me think I wasn't worthy, but then coming to really know of YAHOSHUA and all that he did and how he lived and the sacrifices he made, that I may have a chance at salvation - it was worth letting go of everything I ever believed in to start my life over.  So, i can happily say I am Ruth like, and striving to be more like her every day, HALELUYAH!    May YAHWAH continue to bless you for HIS TRUTH you help us / me to understand!  Todah, todah, Emah AtalYah