They Named Him "Obed"

It was a neighbor woman who looked over the cradled arms and, spying the child, declared him to be “Obed”.  She declared him to be “a worshipper”, “a servant” and “a follower”.  He would follow in the bowed low steps of his birth mother Ruth and the lavishing love of his birth father Boaz.  Their narrated union is a blessing to us.  They have shown us how to serve and worship; how to give all for the cause of another; how to offer one’s whole ability; how to bless until another is full.  Obed, you will follow these Redemptive Streets of Gold.

And that is how the story ends… .with a heritage.  In the heart of Israel a legacy of servants and worshippers are born; from King David to King Jesus.  God would spend a lifetime forming the first king right before our eyes.  We would observe the story of a patient God teaching a young boy to grow in service and worship.  Divinity would pound, maneuver and caress this lump of human clay to reveal that one ought to lay down their own cause and take up the cause of others.  David learned some to be a servant and a worshipper.  He is a good example to us…

But King Jesus learned all.  “In the days of his flesh, Jesus offered up prayers and supplications with loud cries and tears, to him who was able to save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverence.  Although he was a son, he learned obedience through what he suffered.  And being made perfect, he became the source of eternal, salvation to all who obey him…” Hebrews 5:7-9.  Being fully human, being our brother in all respects, it was not easy for Christ to lay down His own causes - the causes of demanding His own way or taking up His own rights.  He did so with loud cries and many tears; with great patience and a trust in eternal restoration.  He suffered when learning to serve, to worship and to follow.  

Before His coronation as a King, before any exaltation, He bowed low as a human and took up the cause of the human race.  He became a foreigner among us.  He became our closest kin.  He became a servant.  He became as Obed….

“Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father,” Philippians 2:9-10.  And because He perfectly accomplished this low position, He is exalted.  He now receives full restoration for all the losses He incurred in His earthly service.  It is commanded that He receive grateful honor and service of the human race.  It has become His right to receive it.  We are taught to bow low for His cause.  And, more beautiful yet, He is positioned to eternally restore us.  He is positioned to take up our cause.  We, who choose to bow low will receive the full restoration for all losses incurred in our earthly service.  He has become our Eternal Great Goel….