Naomi (the lovely, gracious one), is now a widow and childless.The thing which I greatly feared is come upon me, and that which I was afraid of is come unto me. Job.3:25 They had fled Judah for fear of death by famine, yet she became widowed and childless in the country to which they had escaped. Hearing of the visitation of the Lord in giving Judah bread she prepared with her two daughters-law to return home. Bread (the WORD) is attractive to the hungry. Like the prodigal son, bereft of all, she now determined to return to the house of her fathers. Naomi urged the two young women to return to their own people. Go, return each to your own mothers home. She invoked the blessing of the Lord upon them and complemented them for their kindness to their husbands and to herself. This is the moment of decision. We are brought to many places of decision that alter and pattern the whole of our future life, naturally and spiritually.
Naomi, in blessing her daughter-in-laws said;The Lord grant that you may find rest,Chap. 1:9. The Hebrew word, menuchah, is used here to indicate this rest. It bears the connotation of consolation, particularly that of matrimony and a dwelling place. They are freed to find the protection of another husband. That is exactly the theme of the Book of Ruth, the finding of a husband. Consider the usage of the manuchah, rest as used in the scriptures:
1. 1 King. 8:56 A beautiful fulfillment of the promises given to Moses and Israel acknowledged by Solomon. He said the Lord had executed all of his good promises. Not one word had failed. They had now come to their manuchah, they were enjoying the rest afforded by the Lord.
2. 1 Chr.22:9 The assurance of a kingdom of rest and peace for the kingdom of Solomon. Solomon is a type of the Christ of God who will establish the Kingdom of peace here on earth during the millennium. The man of rest is the Lord Jesus who now and at this time gives us rest and peace as we follow Him. He is the Man of Peace.
1 Chr.22:10 Solomon was to build the Temple of the Lord, that was to bear the glory of His Name. Surely in the words of the Lord in this verse we can see a prophecy that applies to the Lord Jesus. He is God’s only begotten son. He is building the everlasting, eternal Temple made up of lively stones.