The Feast of Tabernacles must also be considered here. It is an integral part of the plan of the Lord. It was to take place in the Seventh Month. The number seven is the number of Divine completion. This was the feast that completed the Levitical Year. The first day of the month was a Sabbath day. It was to be a day of rejoicing. Lev.23:24 An offering made by fire was the sacrificed. v.25 The Bride of Christ will be purged by fire. She will be pure and Holy. The tenth day of the seventh month was a Day of Atonement. The fifteenth day of the seventh month was the Feast of Tabernacles. In the Feast of Tabernacles the Trumpet of the Jubilee was to be sounded every fifty years. It was the year of jubilee, the year of liberty. Lev.25:9-11 This feast is yet to be fulfilled in the Church. Rest assured if will be.
Ruth 3:1-2 Naomi is about to seek a permanent home for Ruth. She is thinking of her well being and that all her needs might be met. A place and sphere of rest, quietness and peace is her desire for Ruth. Naomi is well aware of the movements and activities of Boaz. Beside the fact that he is a near kinsman and has the right of redemption she is aware of his interest in Ruth. He is to be found winnowing barley tonight at his threshing floor. John the Baptist said of our great Boaz; that his fan or winnowing fork is in his hand. A work of separation is being accomplished. The sheep and the goats will be segregated. None will be in the Bride without having been winnowed. He will purge, cleanse perfectly, thoroughly, completely his threshing floor. His wheat he will gather into the granary. The chaff will be burned with fire that is unquenchable, not to be put out. Mt. 3:12 Christ will have a perfect Bride without spot, wrinkle, blemish or any such thing. Eph.5:27 The Word of God has established a standard for membership in the Bride of Christ. She will measure up to that pattern or will not be included in the wedding. The Bride will meet his standards of perfection. A work that is to be accomplished by the Word and the Spirit. Eph.4:13.
3:3 The instructions of Naomi are the instructions and the directions of the Holy Spirit to all those who aspire to be in the Bride. Wash yourself. Cleanse, sanctify. There are very important washings associated with the Christian life. First; we must be washed by the precious blood that was shed on Calvary. The blood of Jesus Christ Gods Son. Rev.1:5 Secondly we come to the washing of regeneration, the new birth and the renewing of the Holy Ghost. This is a spiritual work wrought in us by the Spirit. Thirdly; There is the water of baptism. We are to be washed by pure water. Heb.10:22 Paul was commanded to be baptized, calling on the name of the Lord while having his sins washed away. Water baptism is an imperative. It is as much a part of our spiritual life as is the newbirth. As we are born naturally, we are born of the Spirit by blood and water.
There is a washing for the Bride that is of utmost importance. Eph.5:26 Washed by the WORD. We must be into the Word for the Word to get into us. The Word sanctifies, it purifies and makes us to be ready for the Marriage of the Lamb.