Building An Inheritance Ruth 4: All Before we start reading I want to remind you of where we are in the account of Ruth the Moabitess. She and her mother in-law have been returned in Bethlehem for at least a season- the barley season to be specific. Upon her return Naomi has felt and expressed her sadness and loss at the hand of God. And yet using her own words, though she had gone out full and come home empty- God isn t done yet. They have found shelter and Ruth has been secured a job and a source for food through the landowner Boaz. Remember Boaz is related to Naomi s husband and she recognizes his kindness in permitting the girl to glean in his fields. Her latest bold attempt has been to send Ruth down to the threshingfloor and request in symbolic manner the protection and provision for her life in becoming Boaz s wife. Boaz is agreeable- commits to the request with a stipulation of only seeking out a closer kin to make known their rightful claim. This is where we break in on the account in the 4 th chapter. 4:1 THEN WENT BOAZ UP TO THE GATE, AND SAT HIM DOWN THERE: AND, BEHOLD, THE KINSMAN OF WHOM BOAZ SPAKE CAME BY; UNTO WHOM HE SAID, HO,SUCH A ONE! TURN ASIDE, SIT DOWN HERE. AND HE TURNED ASIDE, AND SAT DOWN. 2 AND HE TOOK THEN MEN OF THE ELDERS OF THE CITY, AND SAID, SIT YE DOWN HERE. AND THEY SAT DOWN. 3 AND HE SAID UNTO THE KINSMAN, NAOMI, THAT IS COME AGAIN OUT OF THE COUNTRY OF MOAB, SELLETH A PARCEL OF LAND, WHICH WAS OUR BROTHER ELIMELECH S: 4 AND I THOUGHT TO ADVERTISE THEE, SAYING, BUY IT BEFORE THE INHABITANTS, AND BEFORE THE ELDERS OF MY PEOPLE. IF THOU WILT REDEEM IT, REDEEM IT: BUT IF THOU WILT NOT REDEEM IT, THEN TELL ME, THAT I MAY KNOW: FOR THERE IS NONE TO REDEEM IT BESIDE THEE; AND I AM AFTER THEE. AND HE SAID, I WILL REDEEM IT.
5 THEN SAID BOAZ, WHAT DAY THOU BUYEST THE FIELD OF THE HAND OF NAOMIT, THOU MUST BUY IT ALSO FO RUTH THE MOABITESS, THE WIFE OF THE DEAD, TO RAISE UP THE NAME OF THE DEAD UPON HIS INHERITANCE. 6 AND THE KINSMAN SAID, I CANNOT REDEEM IT FOR MYSELF, LEST I MAR MINE OWN INHERITANCE: REDEEM THOU MY RIGHT TO THYSELF; FOR I CANNOT REDEEM IT. 7 NOW THIS WAS THE MANNER IN FORMER TIME IN ISRAEL CONCERNING REDEEMING AND CONCERNING CHANGING, FOR TO CONFIRM ALL THINGS; A MAN PLUCKED OFF HIS SHOE, AND GAVE IT TO HIS NEIGHBOUR: AND THIS WAS A TESTIMONY IN ISRAEL. 8 THEREFORE THE KINSMAN SAID UNTO BOAZ, BUT IT FOR THEE. SO HE DREW OFF HIS SHOE. 9 AND BOAZ SAID UNTO THE ELDERS, AND UNTO ALL THE PEOPLE, YE ARE WITNESSES THIS DAY, THAT I HAVE BOUGHT ALL THAT WAS ELIMELECH S AND ALL THAT WAS CHILION S AND MAHLON S, OF THE HAND OF NAOMI. 10 MOREOVER RUTH THE MOABITESS, THE WIFE OF MAHLON, HAVE I PURCHASED TO BE MY WIFE, TO RAISE UP THE NAME OF THE DEAD UPON HIS INHERITANCE, THAT THE NAME OF THE DEAD BE NOT CUT OFF FROM AMONG HIS BRETHREN, AND FROM THE GATE OF HIS PLACE: YE ARE WITNESSES THIS DAY. 11 AND ALL THE PEOPLE THAT WERE IN THE GATE, AND THE ELDERS, SAID, WE ARE WITNESSES. THE LORD MAKE THE WOMAN THAT IS COME INTO THINE HOUSE LIKE RACHEL AND LIKE LEAH, WHICH TWO DID BUILD THE HOUSE OF ISRAEL: AND DO THOU WORTHILY IN EPHRATAH, AND BE FAMOUS IN BETHLEHEM: 12 AND LET THY HOUSE BE LIKE THE HOUSE OF PHAREZ, WHOM TAMAR UNTO JUDAH, OF THE SEED WHICH THE LORD SHALL GIVE THEE OF THIS YOUNG WOMAN. 13 SO BOAZ TOOK RUTH, AND SHE WAS HIS WIFE: AND WHEN HE WENT IN UNTO HER, THE LORD GAVE HER CONCEPTION, AND SHE BARE A SON.
14 AND THE WOMAN SAID UNTO NAOMI, BLESSED BE THE LORD, WHICH HATH NOT LEFT THEE THIS DAY WITHOUT A KINSMAN, THAT HIS NAME MAY BE FAMOUS IN ISRAEL. 15 AND HE SHALL BE UNTO THEE A RESTORER OF THY LIFE, AND A NOURISHER OF THINE OLD AGE: FOR THY DAUGHTER IN LAW, WHICH LOVETH THEE, WHICH IS BETTER TO THEE THAN SEVEN SONS, HATH BORN HIM. 16 AND NAOMI TOOK THE CHILD, AND LAID IT IN HER BOSOM, AND BECAME NURSE UNTO IT. 17 AND THE WOMEN HER NEIGHBORS GAVE IT A NAME, SAYING, THERE IS A SON BORN TO NAOMI; AND THEY CALLED HIS NAME OBED: HE IS THE FATHER OF JESSE, THE FATHER OF DAVID. 18 NOW THESE ARE THE GENERATIONS OF PHAREZ: PHAREZ BEGAT HEZRON, 19 AND HEZRON BEGAT RAM, AND RAM BEGAT AMMINADAB, 20 AND AMMINADAB BEGAT NAHSHON, AND NAHSHON BEGAT SALMON, 21 AND SALMON BEGAT BOAZ, AND BOAZ BEGAT OBED, 22 AND OBED BEGAT JESSE, AND JESSE BEGAT DAVID. I want to consider just a few things tonight very briefly in this reading. If we go back to the first part of the chapter- we see this second kinsman brought into the picture. Boaz has been true to his word and lays out the full proposition before the relative. He starts out letting the man know that there is some property left by Elimelech, Chilion and Mahlon that is open for claim. And the kinsman s response is a typical one. He s all for it at the start. Maybe he had been wanting some new land to rent...or maybe there was a crop he wished to cultivate, he just needed more room to do it. Whatever the case he was glad to learn about the land offer. Whenever there is gain to be had- we are susceptible to it in the flesh. Even salvation can be taken in this way. We are presented with the open
offer...the eye sees the good things that can come from it. The flesh can reason that it is a good move, a good step all things considered. And so it sounds good- and seems to be the best way to take. But upon closer inspection the relative discovers there is more involved than just claiming some land and making it a profitable addition to what he already possesses. Boaz lets the man know- when you redeem the field...you will also redeem it off Ruth the Moabitess and will need to raise up the name of the dead upon his inheritance. In other words- you get the field, you get a new wifeand you ll need to raise up an inheritance to the dead man s name. Now it had all sounded good before- the relative was more than ready to engage himself to the offer of land... but when the reality of the transaction set in...when he realized it was going to cost him something- when he understood there would be responsibility to take on- he wasn t as eager. He figured he could do just as well without it all things considered. We can be all about being a Christian in certain settings and boundaries. As long as we see it working for our good- and being easy, it s all right. It looks like what that man saw that day at the city gates...a picture of landjust some free ground and being able to use it for future profits. But when it was shown that it would cost him something... What happened? He underestimated the worth of the land. It was worth something free- but it lost it s worth when it proved to cost something. How eager are we for the freebies? Come on- there is nothing wrong with freebies- the point is our salvation shouldn t mean less to us when we discover it s going to require something of us. People are laying their experiences down left and right because they see its going to cost them some extra responsibility. And while that may seem reasonable in the beginning that kinsman missed out on something in the long run. People want to raise a gain for themselves but they are going about it the wrong way. Today they are looking for the fastest and cheapest way to put
up buildings, put up a business, put up a family, put up their lives, and put up their spiritual experiences. The second kinsman declined the offer because he couldn t make the commitment right then. And in doing so he relinquished all rights to Boaz who accepted it fully along with the responsibilities and obligations. He received the land- and he took on the care of Ruth as his wife. This is what brings us to the second point of the lesson. Boaz s willingness in this matter brought a blessing on the entire family. Not only did he become richer-not only did he gain a wife- but she bore him a son. This son Obed- became a main point in a succession of births that led straight to royalty. Obed-meaning son- and symbolically referring to builder fully to his part in becoming the groundwork for King David. Obed would be King David s grandfather. So Boaz and Ruth become the predecessors to a king. They join together in the inheritance. Not only that- but someone else is also touched by the move. The reproach that Naomi felt in her disgraced return to her homeland was taken away. God moved on her behalf...the women in v.14 make this clear in their words... BLESSED BE THE LORD, WHICH HATH NOT LEFT THEE THIS DAY WITHOUT A KINSMAN, THAT HIS NAME MY BE FAMOUS IN ISRAEL. 15 AND HE SHALL BE UNTO THEE A RESTORER OF THY LIFE, now remember who are they talking to- The same one that testified she was empty. AND HE SHALL BE UNTO THEE A RESTORER OF THY LIFE, AND A NOURISHER OF THINE OLD AGE: FOR THY DAUGHTER IN LAW, WHICH LOVETH THEE, WHICH IS BETTER TO THEE THAN SEVEN SONS, HATH BORN HIM. So God filled up that which was empty in Naomi s life as well. And it did not stop there...this union between Boaz and Ruth was blessed in the fact that it also initialized and left their mark in the lineage to Jesus Christ. So not only a king after God s own heart would follow- but the King, the Son of God was impacted by Boaz s and Ruth s commitment. Matthew 1:1-17 support this fact.
The Proverb writer instructs us to BUY THE TRUTH AND SELL IT NOT...do we see the significance in that admonition tonight? Boaz made a very wise purchase- he paid the price- not in a monetary fashion- but in taking on and shouldering the responsibility of these two women. Are we like Boaz or the kinsman? When Boaz accepted the field and committed to Ruth he gained something for himself that provided more worth than even he realized at the first. That s what leads so many people astray- they see the first reapings of the effects of the truth-and they don t look so good. But they don t stick around to see what it brings forth down the way. On the other hand they look on the reapings of this life and it appears full at the start-and they jump right in- headfirst without considering where those things will lead and end up. The Word of God teaches and admonishes us to consider the end thereof. Why? Because many things that seem so important and of value today- will lose their value in the tomorrow...because the things done today will bring out other attributes in the tomorrow. We don t think on or consider these things enough. Sometimes it leads us to even underestimate the value of doing things God s way. The devil tells hearts you are putting forth all this effort for God and what is it bringing you- there s no profit. Really in reality if we would stop and think about this- we would see that the enemy of our souls is doing nothing more than exposing us for how selfish we really are. Boaz wasn t thinking about all the things he would gain from a marriage to Ruth...he couldn t even see that as yet on former side of the matter. When it was presented to him it was in the shape of another mouth or two to feed and clothe and care for. It was to do a favor for someone in need- to meet the request and necessity of someone less blessed than himself.
But he did not balk at the responsibility. He did not cast off. He did not become uncharitable or surly or complain about how someone was always trying to take advantage of him and get to his money. He also didn t take Ruth on because she was a wonder of beauty and the belle of the ball. She was young- and I would think pretty enough-but the scripture doesn t support that. However, if I could take you over to the second chapter v.11 it makes it clear just exactly what Boaz saw and respected and admired in this new wife. What attracted his attention... I repeat= beauty is never mentioned once...instead he says...it HATH BEEN FULLY SHEWED ME, ALL THAT THOU HAST DONE UNTO THY MOTHER IN LAW SINCE THE DEATH OF THINE HUSBAND: AND HOW THOU HAST LEFT THY FATHER AND THY MOTHER, AND THE LAND OF THY NATIVITY, AND ARE COME UNTO A PEOPLE WHICH THOU KNEWEST NOT HERETOFORE. 12 THE LORD RECOMPENSE THY WORK, AND A FULL REWARD BE GIVEN THEE OF THE LORD GOD OF ISRAEL, UNDER WHOSE WINGS THOU ARE COME TO TRUST. Her actions spoke for her. How do our actions speak today on our behalf? I know we say a lot but our actions will tell the story- the reality. He noticed her attributes all right- she was serious- she was a hard workershe was committed and she was busy pursuing God. Her claim in the first chapter of Ruth prove this. And if we can take it this way- he was inspired by her inspiration. I read a saying recently that said- Creativity is contagious. Pass it on. I think the same thing can be said of inspiration do we realize that our inspiration- our excitement of living for the Lord- can induce a reaction in others. It s having an effect. For certain we know God doesn t overlook these things. He never has and He never will. God sees it- and people see it. And it is known if it is skin deep or soul deep.
Do you want to want to build a godly inheritance? This is how you do it. Do what is right and God will make it profit you. I didn t say man would make it profit you- but God will. You know the situations in our lives. Things we are responsible...things we commit to. Labors like extra services, traveling miles, special time in prayer and fasting or whatever needs doing for the Lord. I can't name them all -that just makes us feel too comfortable anyway But God saw the commitment that went into it. He sees the self denial, self displacement, and energies expended...that s why the Word tells us to do all we do to the glory of God. Can we truly attribute our actions to that end? Are we really doing what we do for the glory of God. Boaz wasn t thinking about trying to get ahead for himself...if that was the case he would have cruised over that second kinsman and just made good on the property and the new young wife that were before him. If that was the case he would have noticed only Ruth s looks. If that was the case he would have been convinced only on the basis of the field...but he didn t. He held and made all his moves in honor. Are our moves honorable tonight? Are they on the level with God? Or is something contrary generating our efforts. Some people are busy building dynasties- others are frantically creating empires...and yet we know that all kingdoms but the kingdom of God will fall. So it must be built right. It must be built God s way. Some choices that a couple of people made down through history has done a lot to influence the reality we live today. Think about that. What might we each be contributing to another s future- children, converts, brother and sisters in Christ?
How much are we considering the impact of our moves, our attitudes, our choices and decisions in light of how it will tie into the lives of others. Let me take it a step further now and consider it from a different perspective. In his action, Boaz was a type of Christ. Ruth pursued the people, the land and the God of her mother-in -law...but Boaz redeemed and made her part of it. He not only created an inheritance with Ruth but he gave her one. Christ did the same for us when He redeemed us from a life of sin. Boaz paid the price and so did Christ for all of us. What are we to do with such an offer? Such a claim? Such a redemption? The Revelation tells us they searched for one to redeem and could find no one worthy. It caused John to weep until one of the elders stepped forward and tell him the Lamb had triumphed. Boaz redeemed Ruth. He not only became her provider and sustainer...but he gave her a name and a place that she had otherwise lost. Wasn't that our position in life? Is there anyone in this room that would have been recognized, given a name and place and inheritance if not for Jesus Christ? You say where does that leave us? Joining right in as Ruth did. Filling our place in building a spiritual inheritance. An inheritance that can't be doubted or confused in any way. It needs to be evident who we are about...who we are for...and what we are against. There is no confusion in that lineage record because it was carefully tracked. We are being tracked too. God sees our unions, our affections and our commitment. And it tells the account of our own personal inheritance.