A LOVE STORY The Book Of Ruth Dr. Jon McNeff, Senior Pastor March 5, 2017 Note: The following are the pastor s notes used in preaching this message. This is not a complete, word-for-word transcription of what was preached. These notes serve as a companion to the complete message, which is available by listening to the audio version. Bible quotes are primarily from NASB and ESV, respectively. A classic love story Dating guide? Love story? If you think that s the theme you re wrong greater story God s love for all through the Messiah! I. GOD S PROVIDENTIAL CARE Much information in Ruth 1:1-5 During the time when the judges governed 1370-1041 B.C. Ruth bridges the time between the judges and David There was a famine in the land of Israel Elimelech and wife Naomi (pleasant) escaped to Moab lived there ten years total time of book 11-12 years Two sons Mahlon (sickly) and Chilion (wasted away) Elimelech died Sons married Moabite women Orpah (gazelle) and Ruth (pleasant) Situation looked hopeless but God s providence is seen in: Moab perennial enemy of Israel formed when Lot s daughters got him drunk for the purpose of getting pregnant by their father the nations of Moab and Ammon were the results Moab harassed Israel for 18 years during the time of the judges (Judges 3:12-30; 1 Samuel 14) continued during David s rule (2 Samuel 8:2; 23:20; 1 Chronicles 18:2) Because of Moab s idolatrous worship of Chemosh (1 Kings 11:7, 33; 2 Kings 23:13) and its opposition to Israel, God cursed Moab (Isaiah 15 16; Jeremiah 48; Ezekiel 25:8 11) Intermarriage against the law of God Deuteronomy 7:3-4 Furthermore, you shall not intermarry with them; you shall not give your daughters to their sons, nor shall you take their daughters for your sons. For they will turn your sons away from following Me to serve other gods; then the anger of the Lord will be kindled against you and He will quickly destroy you. Famine used by God in Genesis to bring Joseph s whole family to Egypt so God could preserve them Death all three men women were devastated Naomi begged her daughters-in-law to return to families Ruth 1:13 the hand of the Lord has gone forth against me. Naomi returned home ten years after leaving left Orpah there Ruth returned with Naomi pitiful sight women asked Is this Naomi? Where s her husband? Her boys? Looks older Who is that with her? Ruth 1:20 Do not call me Naomi (pleasant), call me Mara (bitter) Ruth 1:21 I went out full, but the Lord has brought me back empty. Why do you call me Naomi, since the Lord has witnessed against me and the Almighty has afflicted me? The only good thing that happened Ruth 1:15 your sister-in-law has gone back to her people and her gods Chemosh evil required child sacrifice but Ruth persisted in staying with Naomi Ruth 1:16-17 Do not urge me to leave you or turn back from following you; for where you go, I will go, and where you lodge, I will lodge. Your people shall be my people, and your God, my God. Where you die, I will die, and there I will be buried. Thus may the Lord do to me, and worse, if anything but death parts you and me. Beautiful, poetic expression of love I ve heard this sung at weddings but it s for her mother-in-law! Ruth was spiritually converted wanted to serve Naomi s God! Erickson providence is the continuing action of God by which he preserves in existence the creation which he has brought into being, and guides it to his intended purposes for it. 1 Thomas Oden describes it as God is guiding 1 Erickson, Christian Theology (repr., 1984, Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books, 2007), 387. 1
all creatures, inorganic and organic, animal and rational creation, toward a purposeful end that exceeds the understanding of those being provided for. 2 II. GOD S PLAN TO SAVE GENTILES A. The man Ruth 2:1 Now Naomi had a kinsman of her husband, a man of great wealth, of the family of Elimelech, whose name was Boaz. kinsman = yada to know a relative brother or cousin? He was a man of great wealth lit. a man of valor integrity equivalent to tall, dark, and handsome and rich Ruth 4:14 he is called a redeemer sometimes called a kinsman redeemer the verb form is used 11 times in Ruth 3 and 4 go el in Hebrew redeem, avenge, revenge, ransom, do the part of a kinsman. 3 Used to redeem a family sold into slavery (Leviticus 25:47-49) protect family name in a levirate marriage i.e. single brother had responsibility to marry dead brother s wife (Deuteronomy 25:5-10) Original purpose was to protect the life and property of a relative if someone was killed, the closest relative thought of as full brothers became their redeemer they were duty bound to take revenge and protect the estate and name of their relative Leviticus 25:23-28 duty also extended to land if a relative had to sell his land for whatever reason, the redeemer had the obligation to buy it back so the man wouldn t end up in abject poverty Greater significance when Israel went into captivity and lost her land of the 33 usages of redeemer in Old Testament, 19 occur in Isaiah where they look to God as the redeemer of their land. 4 B. The meeting Ruth 1:22 time of the barley harvest hard, intense labor Ruth 2:2 Ruth went to work from dawn to dusk gleaning in the fields: Mosaic law provided for gleaning harvesters left the corners of the field after the first cutting for poor, especially widows, orphans, and strangers in the land (Deuteronomy 24:19-21) Ruth 2:4 ENTER BOAZ Ruth 2:3 she happened to come to the portion of the field belonging to Boaz, who was of the family of Elimelech. NOTHING JUST HAPPENS IN GOD S PROVIDENCE God was carefully working out the meeting of this destitute Moab girl and the wealthy Jewish landlord to form an alliance that would bring about the Messiah! Ruth 2:4 his character Now behold, Boaz came from Bethlehem and said to the reapers, May the Lord be with you. And they said to him, May the Lord bless you. Respected Ruth 2:5 noticed Ruth Whose young woman is this? Women didn t go around unattached foreign and pretty! Took an interest human kindness aware of family connection Ruth 2:8-9 protected her told her to glean in his fields stay close to my young maids provided water and food She asked, Why have I found favor in your eyes, that you should take notice of me, since I am a foreigner? Boaz responded Ruth 2:11 All that you have done for your mother-in-law since the death of your husband has been fully reported to me, and how you left your father and mother and the land of your birth, and came to a people that you did not previously know. 2 Thomas Oden, The Living God: Systematic Theology (Peabody: Prince 1998), 1:272-73. 3 R. Laird Harris, Gleason Archer Jr., and Bruce K. Waltke, eds., "300 " in Theological Wordbook of the Old Testament, (Chicago: Moody Press, 1999), 144. 4 Ibid. 2
C. The mission Ruth 2:17-23 Ruth reported to Naomi Ruth 2:20 This man is our relative. He is one of our closest relatives. Not kinsman of Ruth 2:1 but redeemer official responsibility Naomi immediately began to see God s providence Boaz had a responsibility because he was related to both her husband Elimelech as well as Ruth s husband Naomi s mission Ruth 3: Not devious initiates law of redemption Knew Boaz would be working late Ruth 3:3 instructed Ruth to wash therefore and anoint yourself look nice and smell pretty! Ruth 3:4 Told to go down to the threshing floor wait for him to finish eating don t get between a man and his food! you shall go and uncover his feet and lie down; then he will tell you what you shall do. She was taking the initiative some men are slooooow! But she was merely calling to mind his legal responsibilities uncover his feet from Deuteronomy 25:5-10 if a man died, the widow was to go to the next of kin and remind him of his responsibility to her if the relative did not respond, the woman was to pull his sandal off his feet and spit in his face God s way of preserving memory of the dead man and preventing poverty among single women if he didn t help her, he would be called The house of him whose sandal is removed. Ruth was pulling his sandal off! The ultimate DTR (Defining the relationship)! Nothing immoral Ruth 3:10 he recognized her commitment to Naomi Ruth 3:11 I will do for you whatever you ask, for all my people in the city know that you are a woman of excellence. Ruth 4 problem there is a redeemer closer than him brother or cousin Boaz met him at the city gate Ruth 4:3 Naomi, who has come back from the land of Moab, has to sell the piece of land which belonged to our brother Elimelech. Ruth 4:4 the man agreed I will redeem it. Ruth 4:5 Boaz upped the ante On the day you buy the field from the hand of Naomi, you must also acquire Ruth the Moabitess, the widow of the deceased, in order to raise up the name of the deceased on his inheritance. Replied in Ruth 4:6 I cannot redeem it for myself, because I would jeopardize my own inheritance. Redeem it for yourself; you may have my right of redemption, for I cannot redeem it. Didn t want inheritance split between his current children and any future children with Ruth D. The meaning The full meaning the salvation of Ruth as a picture of the saving message of the coming Messiah: 1) The absolute destitution of Naomi and Ruth is a picture of spiritual depravity in Ruth 1:21 Naomi said I went out full, but the Lord has brought me back empty part of her emptiness was the responsibility of Ruth three strikes: 1) Destitute she had nothing no husband no family no money no help; 2) Moabite pagan nation constantly fought Israel pictures the spiritual nature of man spiritually dead estranged by God from womb of mother; and 3) Woman of no value Picture of the beginning of the gospel grossly distorted today: 1) The Walnut Creek Wally felt-need gospel find out what normal person in your city is like and give him what he wants his music, his styles, his felt needs, his morality 2) The rock concert/worship gospel huge! The right band with right amount of strobe lights, smoke, long, 17 minute mantras of begging God to fill us up countered by soft breathy songs that sound like junior high mournful love songs If they like our music, they will like our Jesus 3) The bless our cities gospel if we just do enough good works they will like us and embrace Jesus 4) The arts and media gospel emphasis on branding, graphics, drama, video clips, stage presence If we show we are just like they are, they will come to Jesus because we are hip and cool 3
5) The you don t have to believe the Bible tells me so gospel we must show proper humility lack of arrogance we don t have all the answers then they will follow our Jesus 6) The better you gospel how good do you have to get? Naomi came back empty Ephesians 2:1 we are dead in your trespasses and sins God doesn t care about name position money reputation your good works religious background Matthew 5:3 Blessed are the poor in spirit we don t approach God with our hands full! 2) The redeemer Boaz was everything Ruth was not powerful rich position completely in control of Ruth s destiny // Jesus is everything we are not Galatians 3:13 Christ redeemed us from the curse of the Law, having become a curse for us redeemed = exagaradzo buy out of the marketplace what price did He pay? 1 Peter 1:18-19 you were not redeemed with perishable things like silver or gold from your futile way of life inherited from your forefathers, but with precious blood, as of a lamb unblemished and spotless, the blood of Christ. How does this happen? John 10:27-28 My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me; and I give eternal life to them, and they will never perish; and no one will snatch them out of My hand. Ruth heard the voice of God through Naomi your God will be my God those who hear Jesus voice follow! 3) The cost of redemption Ruth gave up parents, home, friends, culture everything to follow the God of Naomi left the gods of her parents to embrace Jehovah! // Many presentations of the gospel today completely distort the cost of redemption doesn t cost you anything NOT TRUE! It costs you everything Luke 9:23-24 If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross daily and follow Me. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake, he is the one who will save it. 4) The marriage Boaz gave Ruth all of his benefits his name his money his position the offer of the gospel offers everything that Christ won on the cross to the recipient it is not an elevated self-esteem not financial success not a politically correct view of the world // it is complete forgiveness of sin the imputed righteousness of Jesus Christ placed into our bank account status as a child of God spiritual life in Jesus Christ a reserved place in heaven where God being rich in mercy seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus Ephesians 2:6 III. GOD S PURPOSE FOR WOMEN two books by women A. Virtue Saw Ruth s virtue in Ruth 1:16-17 turned back on family and foreign gods trusted in going to new land cared for Naomi worked hard obeyed Naomi s instructions Ruth 3:10 she did not go after young men, whether rich or poor shows wisdom and values Ruth 3:11 you are a woman of excellence. B. Value God places equal value on women and men Galatians 3:28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free man, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. Ruth illustrates this truth mere chattel in Jewish culture couldn t teach couldn t testify in court a devout Jew would thank God every morning that you have not made me a Gentile, a slave, or a woman The Bible reverses this process 1 Peter 3:7 You husbands in the same way, live with your wives in an understanding way, as with someone weaker, since she is a woman; and show her honor as a fellow heir of the grace of life, so that your prayers will not be hindered. God has provided wonderful women in our church teaching, discipling, and counseling women 4
C. Violations The Bible also indicates areas where God s provision for women can be violated most prominent in two areas: Home 1 Peter 3:1 In the same way, you wives, be submissive to your own husbands so that even if any of them are disobedient to the word, they may be won without a word by the behavior of their wives, as they observe your chaste and respectful behavior. Church 1 Timothy 2:12 But I do not allow a woman to teach or exercise authority over a man, but to remain quiet. Ignoring these roles ignores and perverts God s word capitulates to worldly view IV. GOD S PROVISION OF THE MESSIAH Ruth 4:11-22 Ruth and Boaz are married have a child brought to Naomi? Ruth 4:16-17 Then Naomi took the child and laid him in her lap, and became his nurse. The neighbor women gave him a name, saying, A son has been born to Naomi! She was no longer empty God restored her joy children do that Ruth 4:11-12 We are witnesses. May the Lord make the woman, who is coming into your home, like Rachel and Leah, both of whom built the house of Israel; and may you achieve wealth in Ephrathah and become famous in Bethlehem. Moreover, may your house be like the house of Perez, whom Tamar bore to Judah, through the offspring which the Lord will give you by this young woman. What s so significant about Perez Genesis 38:1 30 Judah had three sons first one, Er, marries woman named Tamar Er was wicked and God killed him to fulfill Levirate marriage (Deuteronomy 25:5-10), his brother Onan was to marry her he refused Judah promised her the youngest one, Shelah when he grew up Judah failed to do this Tamar heard about this and lured Judah into her tent by posing as a prostitute got pregnant by Judah to fulfill the obligation of family to her he was caught Genesis 38:26 says, She is more righteous than I. child born was Perez became main ancestor of Ephrathites in Bethlehem the witnesses of Boaz time were saying that God can even redeem the line of Perez as he had the line of Jacob through Rachel and Leah He did the same through the line of a destitute Moabite woman Ruth 4:17b So they named him Obed. He is the father of Jesse, the father of David. last word of the book 2 Samuel 7:11-13 promises one from the line of David will establish His Kingdom forever refers to the coming Messiah for the Jewish people and he would come through the line of a destitute Moabite woman! QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION 1. How does God save people in nations who have never heard of Him? 2. How is God s providential care seen in Ruth 1:1-18? 3. What does Ruth s nationality tell us about God s redemptive plan? 4. What is Boaz s relationship to Ruth, and how is he a picture of Christ? 5. How does Ruth 4:11-22 reveal God s provision of the Messiah? 6. What does Boaz s love for Ruth tell us about God s love for us? 5