Prophecy of the Community

[S] Ruth 4:11-12,14-15 --
 ¹¹All the people who were in the court, and the elders, said, "We are witnesses. May the LORD make the woman who is coming into your home like Rachel and Leah, both of whom built the house of Israel; and may you achieve wealth in Ephrathah and become famous in Bethlehem.
 ¹²"Moreover, may your house be like the house of Perez whom Tamar bore to Judah, through the offspring which the LORD will give you by this young woman."

 ¹⁴Then the women said to Naomi, "Blessed is the LORD who has not left you without a redeemer today, and may his name become famous in Israel.
 ¹⁵"May he also be to you a restorer of life and a sustainer of your old age; for your daughter-in-law, who loves you and is better to you than seven sons, has given birth to him."

[O] As Boaz committed to redeem Naomi and Ruth, the community they belonged to blessed with a prophecy which we know came true.  Obed did become part of the line of David and Jesus.  I see how a godly community can bless its members with a powerful encouragement which God honors.  In verse 11, it says "All the people" and in verse 14, it says "the women" displaying the confirmation that God speaks through a group of people from the community.  These group of people are not merely echoing what God told them to say but they speak with confidence based on their own observations of the people they're blessing.  As in verse 11, "all my people in the city know that you are a woman of excellence," people had already observed Ruth's excellence and they were eager to bless her and Naomi.

[A] The power of belong to a godly community is very significant in my journey here on earth.  Even though God will judge me personally in the end, the course of battle here on earth is fought with my co-laborers and through them God can exhort me as well as guide me through prophecies coming from the community I belong.  So, I must continue to build the community of believers wherever I am.

[P] Dear God, You work through Your people and so may I get integrated into a wonderful community of believers to do Your wonderful works here on earth.  In Jesus' name.  Amen.