Nativity Hymn 7: Tamar and Ruth

The Son of the Maker is like his Father, for he too is a Maker! He made himself a pure body and clothed himself with it. Then he came forth and clothed our weakness with glory, the glory which in his mercy he brought from the Father.

From Melchizedek the high priest a hyssop came to you; a throne and a crown came from the house of David; a race and a family came from Abraham. [a]

Be a harbor to me, for your own sake, great Sea. See, the Psalms of David your father, and the words of the prophets as well, have come out to me like ships.

David your father, in the hundred and tenth Psalm, twined two numbers together like crowns for you, and came to you, Conqueror! With these you will be crowned, and you will go up to the throne and sit. [b]

A great crown is the number twined in the hundred, and with it your Godhead is crowned! A little crown is the number ten, which crowns the head of your manhood, Victorious One!

For your sake women went after men. Tamar desired a man who was widowed, and Ruth loved a man who was old. Even Rahab, who took men captive, was taken captive by you. [c]

Tamar went out, and in the darkness she stole the Light. In uncleanness she stole the Holy One. By uncovering her nakedness she went in and stole you, glorious One, who bring the pure out of the impure. [d]

Satan saw her and trembled, and he hurried to trouble her. He brought the judgment to her mind, and she was not afraid; he brought stoning and the sword to her mind, and she did not tremble. He who teaches adultery hindered adultery, because he was one who hinders you.

For the adultery of Tamar was holy, because it was for your sake. It was you she thirsted for, pure Fountain. Judah cheated her out of drinking you. The thirsty womb stole a drink of dew from you, from its very spring.

She was a widow for your sake. It was you she longed for; she hurried and even played the prostitute for your sake. It was you she desired intensely, and she was made holy because it was you she loved.

Let Tamar rejoice that her Lord has come and has made her name known through the son of her adultery! Surely the name she gave him was calling on you to come to her. [e]

For your sake honorable women put themselves to shame, you who give chastity to all! She stole you away in the middle of the roads, you who pave the way into the kingdom! Because it was life she stole, the sword could not put her to death.

Ruth lay down beside a man on the threshing floor for your sake. Her love made her bold for your sake, you who teach all who repent to be bold. Her ears refused to listen to any voices for the sake of your voice.

The glowing coal went up into the bed of Boaz and lay down there. She saw the High Priest, in whose loins a fire for his incense lay hidden! She hurried and became a heifer to Boaz, a heifer that would bring you forth, the fatted Calf. [f]

She went gleaning out of her love for you; she gathered straw. You quickly paid her the reward of her lowliness. Instead of ears of grain, you made the Root of Kings spring from her, and instead of straws, the Sheaf of Life. [g]