Come Here, and Eat of the Bread, and Dip Your Piece of Bread in the Vinegar

At mealtime Boaz said to her, “Come here!” Take note of the words “at mealtime.” When the bread of life is to be broken, it becomes evident who should sit at the head of the table and who should sit in the lowest place. Many of those who are more on the quiet side, who are sparing with their words, suddenly become like the others when you speak together about God’s Word. On the other hand, those who speak about anything under the sun at all times, become quiet, for the fool does not open his mouth in the gate.

Boaz realized that Ruth had received an ear with which to hear, and he began to serve her himself. She was growing day by day through his ministry. Just as a person thrives by eating the bread of life, he nevertheless has to dip each piece of bread in vinegar. This is the cup of suffering for the flesh. The inner man can grow and thrive only if the outer man perishes at the same time. Israel had to eat the Passover lamb together with bitter herbs. Just as grace is sweet, so Christ’s cup of suffering can be biting and painful for the flesh. Jesus says, “The bread that I shall give is My flesh . . . unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you have no life in you.” John 6:51-53.