That was my dad. A cowboy. He was a marine and I knew why we had guns. We needed protection from potential bad guys. And dads job was to protect.

Transcription

1 1 Ruth 3 To serve and protect What about guns? When I was young, my dad used to take me shooting. Mainly that meant that we would line up tin cans and try to pick them off with my.22. Sometimes I would get to shoot the.38 and eventually the.44 magnum. My dad used to tell me this was a man s gun. And it was. The recoil was so bad I could never take a second shot. My dad didn t have the same problem. One day I was working my way through a cinderblock with my.22, probably on bullet number 700 and my dad never one for patience or care, pulled his 44 from his holster and blew the cinderblock to smithereens. That was my dad. A cowboy. He was a marine and I knew why we had guns. We needed protection from potential bad guys. And dads job was to protect. In 1997, right before I got married, a friend gave me a 10 guage shot gun. I lived in a less than great neighborhood and I was about to have a beautiful new wife. It was for protection. That s why the vast majority of people in the US have guns. For fun, for hunting and for hurting someone who might try to hurt them. There are 337 million guns in this nation. There are less than 320 million people. And that makes sense to me considering all the people who are here right now who have a gun safe as a piece of their living room furniture. Heck, I don t care a bit about guns and I have four of them. For protection, I guess. Now I am not dumb enough to tell you my opinion about the constitution and about our rights and about our need for power. I know my place. I can preach about hell as metaphor, that there will not be a rapture,...i could probably even question the trinity in here but if I say anything bad about guns, my days at PBC would be numbered I bring all this up to talk about this: Protection. What about policemen? If the controversy over guns isn t enough to get you riled up in this nation, how about the controversy over police officers? My guess is that most of you here are glad that police officers exist, but you also recognize that some of these people should not be commissioned to protect us. The egos and the prejudice are obvious. There are real police officers that look an awful lot like Vic Mackey from the Shield or everyone from the Wire. Let s admit there are some policemen who simply should not be policemen. There are some husbands who should not be given a gun to protect their family.

2 2 That said, the idea of protection is a consistently biblical and godly theme. The ideal that exists in the words Protect and Serve are beautiful and part of the very fabric of the history of redemption. Boaz would make a great police officer. Protect and Serve. Is this only the call of the police? In what way might you be called to exactly the same thing? Boaz: Servant and protector These words epitomize Boaz s role. And as I will show you the role of every Israelite from the beginning to the end. NIV Ruth 2:1 Now Naomi had a relative on her husband's side, from the clan of Elimelech, a man of standing, whose name was Boaz. A Man of worth Right from the beginning the narrator wants us to know that Boaz is a man of standing. A gibor hayil. A man of worth. Showing respect even for his inferiors And we see it clearly when he appears on the scene. He greets his employees. They seem to have respect for him. 4 Just then Boaz arrived from Bethlehem and greeted the harvesters, "The LORD be with you!" "The LORD bless you!" they called back. We see it clearly when he first speaks to Ruth in verse 8 "My daughter, listen to me. Don't go and glean in another field and don't go away from here. Stay here with my servant girls. 9 Watch the field where the men are harvesting, and follow along after the girls. I have told the men not to touch you. And whenever you are thirsty, go and get a drink from the water jars the men have filled." Protecting her physically Is this not a great picture of protect and serve? He is providing for her needs and keeping the idiot guys away. He is using his power to care for her. Now the narrator has made his point, but he really wants to emphasize it. 14 At mealtime Boaz said to her, "Come over here. Have some bread and dip it in the wine vinegar." When she sat down with the harvesters, he offered her some roasted grain. She ate all she wanted and had some left over. 15 As she got up to glean, Boaz gave orders to his men, "Even if she gathers among the sheaves, don't embarrass her.

3 3 16 Rather, pull out some stalks for her from the bundles and leave them for her to pick up, and don't rebuke her." Protecting her emotions He not only protects her from the guys advances or worse, he also protects her from embarrassment. Men, it s not only about physically protecting her, it s about protecting her emotions. 17 So Ruth gleaned in the field until evening. Then she threshed the barley she had gathered, and it amounted to about an ephah. 18 She carried it back to town, and her mother-in-law saw how much she had gathered. Ruth also brought out and gave her what she had left over after she had eaten enough. He provides for her Talk about providing. Leftovers plus a week s worth of grain. And Naomi again emphasizes how Boaz is protecting her in verse Naomi said to Ruth her daughter-in-law, "It will be good for you, my daughter, to go with his girls, because in someone else's field you might be harmed." Time goes by and Naomi realizes that Boaz might be the guy to take care of them. She sends Ruth to him at night and basically proposes marriage to him. It's chapter 3, verse 9 "I am your servant Ruth," she said. "Spread the corner of your garment over me, since you are a kinsman-redeemer." He protects her future forever That s a request for him to commit to always protect and serve her. And in verse 11 we find the answer 11 And now, my daughter, don't be afraid. I will do for you all you ask. But part of protection and serving is doing what is right. And he realizes that he can t butt in line. There is someone else who has the privilege of redeeming her and he is first in line 12 Although it is true that I am near of kin, there is a kinsman-redeemer nearer than I He protects her reputation He says he will take care of it. He is serving her by taking care of all the legal matters. Oh, and her reputation 14 So she lay at his feet until morning, but got up before anyone could be recognized; and he said, "Don't let it be known that a woman came to the threshing floor." He is generous again

4 4 And then he serves her again by providing a ridiculous amount of food. Already ready for baking. 15 He also said, "Bring me the shawl you are wearing and hold it out." When she did so, he poured into it six measures of barley and put it on her. Then he went back to town. 16 When Ruth came to her mother-in-law, Naomi asked, "How did it go, my daughter?" Then she told her everything Boaz had done for her 17 and added, "He gave me these six measures of barley, saying, 'Don't go back to your mother-in-law empty-handed.'" 18 Then Naomi said, "Wait, my daughter, until you find out what happens. For the man will not rest until the matter is settled today." He does what is right A man who serves and protects will not rest until what is right is accomplished. And chapter 4 is all about him approaching that other guy who has rights to Ruth first and his refusal to take care of her. I think this is important. He refuses to protect and serve. NIV Ruth 4:1 Meanwhile Boaz went up to the town gate and sat there. When the kinsmanredeemer he had mentioned came along, Boaz said, "Come over here, my friend, and sit down." So he went over and sat down. Notice this. This kinsman redeemer does not have a name. I mean, of course he has a name, but the author doesn t want us to know it. NIV translates this as my friend but its really just a generic place holder. Come over here, so and so, and sit down. They don t name him because what he does is shameful. 2 Boaz took ten of the elders of the town and said, "Sit here," and they did so. 3 Then he said to the kinsman-redeemer, "Naomi, who has come back from Moab, is selling the piece of land that belonged to our brother Elimelech. 4 I thought I should bring the matter to your attention and suggest that you buy it in the presence of these seated here and in the presence of the elders of my people. If you will redeem it, do so. But if you will not, tell me, so I will know. For no one has the right to do it except you, and I am next in line." "I will redeem it," he said. 5 Then Boaz said, "On the day you buy the land from Naomi and from Ruth the Moabitess, you acquire the dead man's widow, in order to maintain the name of the dead with his property." 6 At this, the kinsman-redeemer said, "Then I cannot redeem it because I might endanger my own estate. You redeem it yourself. I cannot do it." He doesn t want to do it because it might endanger his estate. Let s not dwell on that, but let s see once again that Boaz is ready and willing to endanger his estate. He is risking it all to care for her. What s a goel?

5 5 Perhaps you don t understand exactly what is happening. See, the job of the kinsman redeemer (the Goel) is to protect the family line of the dead husband. So, when he buys back Naomi s field he will get to use it for awhile but at some point the children born to Ruth and Boaz will inherit that field. He bought it. They get it. And they are in the line of Elimilech, not Boaz. Verse 9 and 10 help summarize this: 9 Then Boaz announced to the elders and all the people, "Today you are witnesses that I have bought from Naomi all the property of Elimelech, Kilion and Mahlon. 10 I have also acquired Ruth the Moabitess, Mahlon's widow, as my wife, in order to maintain the name of the dead with his property, so that his name will not disappear from among his family or from the town records. Today you are witnesses!" He is restoring to them what they need for the future and risking his own future in so doing. Because that is what it means to protect another. It means you risk of yourself. Prenuptials? Israel s job as servant and protector Now, I know I have to do this fast, but can I show you what I said in the first sermon I preached on Ruth. The story of Ruth is a microcosm of Israel. That is, Ruth s story is an ideal for that of Israel. Protect and Serve Adam and Eve are to represent God and they do it by fulfilling the call to protect and serve. The very words abad and shamar mean to serve and to protect. They were called to do that in the garden. To protect it from those who promote false worship and to serve in the rituals and purity of the sacred space. Joseph is a story about one who was exemplary as he grew up, fleeing from sexual temptation and being called to be the protector and servant of Egypt and the world by providing food for the needy. In such he represents God as Boaz will one day do Moses was to protect the Israelites and Aaron to serve them in the cult. They are representatives of God The priests (representatives of God) who functioned in the temple are told to protect and serve it as well. Protect it from false prophets and unfit worship practice and serve those in need through offering sacrifice and prayer. All of Israel is a kingdom of priests all called to protect and to serve and in so doing represent God. Jesus as ultimate servant and protector And at the crux of history, Jesus.

6 6 Jesus the ultimate servant and protector. And the ultimate representative for God. In the High Priestly Prayer (John 17), Jesus prays that the father would protect them by the power of his name (vs 11) and again in verse 15, protect them from the evil one. And the way God protects them (us) is by covering us in the blood of Jesus. And talk about being a servant: Don t easily gloss over the story of the basin and the towel. Jesus takes the position of the lowliest servant, washing the feet of his disciples. This picture is beautiful. A large group of European pastors came to one of D. L. Moody s Northfield Bible Conferences in Massachusetts in the late 1800s. Following the European custom of the time, each guest put his shoes outside his room to be cleaned by the hall servants overnight. But of course this was America and there were no hall servants. Walking the dormitory halls that night, Moody saw the shoes and determined not to embarrass his brothers. He mentioned the need to some ministerial students who were there, but met with only silence or pious excuses. Moody returned to the dorm, gathered up the shoes, and, alone in his room, the world s only famous evangelist began to clean and polish the shoes. Only the unexpected arrival of a friend in the midst of the work revealed the secret. When the foreign visitors opened their doors the next morning, their shoes were shined. They never know by whom. Moody told no one, but his friend told a few people, and during the rest of the conference, different men volunteered to shine the shoes in secret. Perhaps the episode is a vital insight into why God used D. L. Moody as He did. He was a man with a servant s heart and that was the basis of his true greatness. 1 But not only the servant posture of Jesus in washing their feet. Matthew says the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many." (Mat 20:28 NIV) Jesus protects and serves us when he took the death we deserved. When he gave us heaven and abundant life. This happens because of what he did on the cross. Boaz is a picture of every Israelite and Jesus is the antitype of that picture. The one who lives up to the ideal as God in the flesh and gives his life. And, just like Moody in shining the shoes, on the other side of that death, he calls us to follow him by protecting and serving. 1 Gary Inrig, A Call to Excellence (Wheaton: Victor Books, 1985), 98.

7 7 Christians as servants and protectors Christians we are called to protect and serve Of course, this means that men must physically protect their wives as Boaz does for Ruth. That may mean that you men are the ones who have to go downstairs in your underwear looking for whatever made that noise. Maybe it means you walk on the road side of the girl. (did you see this twitter upset?) Maybe it means you throw yourself in front of her and take the bullet. Maybe it means all of those things, but I don t want to remain there this morning. Being a protector and a servant should characterize all Christians, regardless of gender. Protecting and serving physically Physically is probably what comes up first. We probably should be the one who protects the person being bullied. We should be ready to put a stop to abuse as Boaz does for Ruth. But we should also stand strong for the unborn who have no voice. We should stand strong for the homeless who are treated like lepers. We should stand strong for vets who have been ignored. We should protect the eyes of the innocent. We should be giving money to those who hurt. We should be standing up for better laws to protect abused mothers and children. We should be lobbying our representatives to stop funding those who hurt others. We should be praying for peace. Protecting and serving emotionally We should also be protecting and serving others emotionally. When was the last time you sent an encouraging note to someone? Texted someone to tell them you love them? Invited someone for dinner who probably doesn t have a lot of friends? Protecting and serving spiritually When was the last time you put your arms around someone and told them how important them being disciple was? Are you ready to mentor someone and maybe take them through a Christian book? When was the last time you prayed with someone over the phone or in person? Protecting and serving their reputation Are you saying nice things about others when they aren t around? Building up their reputation Are you protecting their reputation? Not letting others belittle them or say anything demeaning to them. Look, you can come up with a thousand examples of what it looks like for you to protect and serve one another.

8 8 Do me a favor right now. Pick one. Write it down here. And then take it home and do it. Then try again tomorrow. Maybe take a handful of encouragement notes home with you and bring them back next week and put them in the offering. Dear Family, In 1955, the LAPD introduced the new motto of their police academy: To Protect and Serve. A few years later this phrase made it to all the cars and since then it has been adopted by Police departments all over the country. To Protect and Serve. Boaz was an Israelite that took this idea very seriously. This week I want to show you the numerous ways that Boaz showed himself a man of worth as he protected and served those around him especially Ruth. Of course, from there I want to show you the ultimate protector and servant and call us to follow in his footsteps. I look forward to being with you. Reading John 13:3-17 Call to worship if you do Psalm 91 as the intro song. If you don t, I may rethink 4 He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart. 5 You will not fear the terror of night, nor the arrow that flies by day, 6 nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness, nor the plague that destroys at midday. 7 A thousand may fall at your side, ten thousand at your right hand, but it will not come near you (Psa 91:4-7 NIV) Songs. These will work, but maybe you have much better ideas. I hope. Michael Card, Basin and the towel Psalm 91 There is a shelter in the storm Strong Tower Kutless Brother, let me be your servant