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Greetings. In our series on the book of Ruth we have come to part of the story where Ruth has come under the protection of a man name Boaz, in whose field she has been gleaning. And Naomi is excited about this man Boaz, because he can (if he wants to) redeem them and make them his own, preserving their name and securing provision for them. And so she begins to play the role of matchmaker. Look at…
Ruth 3:1-6 ESV-- 1 Then Naomi her mother-in-law said to her, “My daughter, should I not seek rest for you, that it may be well with you? 2 Is not Boaz our relative, with whose young women you were? See, he is winnowing barley tonight at the threshing floor. 3 Wash therefore and anoint yourself, and put on your cloak and go down to the threshing floor, but do not make yourself known to the man until he has finished eating and drinking. 4 But when he lies down, observe the place where he lies. Then go and uncover his feet and lie down, and he will tell you what to do.” 5 And she replied, “All that you say I will do.” 6 So she went down to the threshing floor and did just as her mother-in-law had commanded her. Wash, Anoint, & Put On— Now keep in mind that Ruth had (like every widow did), gone through a period of mourning over her husband’s death, not wearing perfume and wearing mourning clothes. But now the time of mourning was over. Naomi tells her to wash, anoint, and put on. And so she does. Imagine being Ruth at night-- Now just imagine being Ruth; wrapping yourself in a cloak and sneaking out of Bethlehem eastwards toward the threshing floor. And she’s moving stealthily, trying to hide her face from anyone who might recognize her. And, approaching the threshing floor, she enters quietly without making herself known. And Boaz and his men are threshing. And after they are finished, they begin turning in for the night, grabbing some dinner and going to bed. And verse 7 says... Ruth 3:7 ESV-- 7 And when Boaz had eaten and drunk, and his heart was merry, he went to lie down at the end of the heap of grain. Then she came softly and uncovered his feet and lay down. {And the reason she lays at his feet is to demonstrate her dependence on him.} Cold Feet— Now I think that most of the men in our congregation are taller than their wives. And usually that is helpful, but not always; especially when it comes to how your wife makes the bed because the end of the bed doesn’t really matter too much for your wife. She rarely, if ever comes into contact with it. However, for tall guys like me, there is always a danger of my feet sticking out the bottom. And many of you guys know exactly what I mean. You can’t sleep like that. You gotta have those feet covered! My wife will reserve a little material to tuck under the foot of the bed, but not much. When I make the bed, I like to get a lot more of the end under that mattress to ensure that my feet aren’t going to get exposed. Because few things are more uncomfortable than having your feet exposed while you’re trying to sleep. And men, if you wake up to exposed feet, what do you do? You try to bend a little to kind of suck those babies back in. Especially on some of the nights we have been having lately. Now verse 8 says... Ruth 3:8-9 ESV— 8 At midnight the man was startled and turned over, {the Hebrew is actually “bent forward”. And this makes sense. The night is getting colder and his exposed feet are getting more uncomfortable. So he is startled and bends forward. And what does he see?…)} and behold, a woman lay at his feet! 9 He said, “Who are you?” And she answered, “I am Ruth, your servant. Shipkah and ‘ Amah-- Now in the English we kind of lose what is going on. For us “servant” is “servant”. But in Hebrew there are actually two words for servant. There’s “‘amah” and then there’s “shipkhah”. Now remember that before Ruth called herself a servant in 2:13; she called herself a “shipkhah”, which was a slave-servant with few rights. She didn’t have to take that title, but she did out of humility and respect. But notice that here she no longer calls herself “shipkhah”. She calls herself “‘amah”, which is a maidservant who could enjoy the privileges of being in an Israelite household (e.g.,Ex. 20:10) and could give birth to an heir (see Gen. 30:3–4, 9). And so she (like many girls do today) is dropping her guy a hint. “I am no longer shipkhah. No,.......I am ‘amah. You can claim me. I have that right. Now remember that verse from Ezekiel 16 we just read a few moments ago?... Ezekiel 16:8 (ESV)— 8 “When I passed by you again and saw you, behold, you were at the age for love, and I spread the corner of my garment over you and covered your nakedness; I made my vow to you and entered into a covenant with you, declares the Lord God, and you became mine. The Talith & Prayer— In that culture every man would wear a prayer shawl called a “Talith”. And the word TALITH contains two Hebrew words; TAL meaning tent and ITH meaning little. Thus, you have LITTLE TENT. Each man had his own little tent. Six million Jews could not fit into the tent of meeting that was set up in the Old Testament. Therefore, what was given to them was their own private sanctuary where they could meet with God. They would pull it up over their head and pray and chant privately to God. And so the Talith became known as their prayer closet! That’s right. When Jesus talks about going into your closet to pray, he is not talking about a literal room in your house; He is referring to the Jewish custom of going into your Talith to pray secretly, as opposed to those who want to make their identity known while they pray publicly. The Talith & Marriage— Now the Talith also has significance for marriage. Jewish weddings are sometimes performed under a prayer shawl held up during the ceremony. And in Mid East culture they cast a garment over the person being claimed for marriage. But in Numbers 15:38 the word translated for the border or corner of the tallish is a Hebrew word which can also be translated wings, as it is some seventy-six times in the biblical text. For this reason, the corners of the prayer shawl are often called wings. In Ezekiel 16:8, the Lord speaks to Jerusalem and likewise says, "and I spread my wing over thee, and covered thy nakedness,”] And this is a way of saying that they have come under the talith of God. So you have all this imagery going on. Now in light of that, look at what Ruth asks Boaz to do... Ruth 3:9b ESV— Spread your wings over your servant, for you are a redeemer.” Wings of Fulfillment— Now remember Boaz had blessed her, saying in 2:12: The Lord repay you for what you have done, and a full reward be given you by the Lord, the God of Israel, under whose wings you have come to take refuge!” (Ruth 2:12 ESV) Well here Ruth is bringing up that same terminology. And what I think she is doing here is incredible. She is saying, “Boaz, I want you to be the fulfillment of your blessing to me. I want you to be God’s wing of protection over me. Ruth 3:10-11 ESV— 10 And he said, “May you be blessed by the Lord, my daughter. You have made this last kindness greater than the first in that you have not gone after young men, whether poor or rich. {(And listen to how he gives her assurance. He says…)} 11 And now, my daughter, do not fear. I will do for you all that you ask, for all my fellow townsmen know that you are a worthy woman. A Worthy Woman-- Now that phrase, in Hebrew, is ’eshet khayil. It is the same phrase that is used in Proverbs 31:10 of the “excellent wife” . You see, Ruth fits that description; that rare quality of woman. And not only does Boaz see her this way, but Boaz’s fellow townsmen also see clearly that she is ’eshet khayil an “excellent” woman. And we remember from chapter 2, when Boaz first enters the scene, he is also called “worthy”. So they share the same qualities and are therefore a good match. But there is a problem. Although Boaz is very moved and reassures her that he will do all that she asks (v. 11), he explains in verse 12, saying… Ruth 3:12-17 ESV— 12 And now it is true that I am a redeemer. Yet there is a redeemer nearer than I. 13 Remain tonight, and in the morning, if he will redeem you, good; let him do it. But if he is not willing to redeem you, then, as the Lord lives, I will redeem you. Lie down until the morning.” 14 So she lay at his feet until the morning, but arose before one could recognize another. And he said, “Let it not be known that the woman came to the threshing floor.” {(You see, [Boaz is concerned for propriety and for his and Ruth’s good reputation.])} 15 And he said, “Bring the garment you are wearing and hold it out.” So she held it, and he measured out six measures of barley and put it on her. Then she went into the city. 16 And when she came to her mother-in-law, she said, “How did you fare, my daughter?” Then she told her all that the man had done for her, 17 saying, “These six measures of barley he gave to me, for he said to me, ‘You must not go back empty-handed to your mother-in-law.’” A Sign to Naomi-- Now Boaz isn’t sending the barley back with Ruth solely for their sustenance. The fact that he gives Ruth such an ample supply was to [confirm his intentions to Naomi (v. 17).] And even in his saying ‘You must not go back empty-handed to your mother-in-law.’”, he is revealing himself to be [the channel of the Lord’s recompense (Ruth 2:12) and kindness (2:20) to Naomi.] as well as to Ruth. He has heard of the new name (Mara/“bitterness”) Naomi had given herself and wants to demonstrate to her that God is not done blessing her. Now Naomi reassures Ruth... Ruth 3:18 ESV— 18 She replied, “Wait, my daughter, until you learn how the matter turns out, for the man will not rest but will settle the matter today.” In other words, Boaz is not going to waste any time. Why? Not just because He wants to help, but He is eager to enter into that marriage relationship with Ruth. And that eagerness (just like the eagerness of every man who is betrothed) is a picture of God’s eagerness to enter into a relationship with you and me. Yet sometimes we think of ourselves as Ruth did; as the slave-servant (the shipkhah). But God says, “No, you are nobody’s shipkhah. You are MY ‘amah, for I desire you to dwell in my house; to dwell in My tent; to dwell under the shadow of My wings. I want to envelop you. I sent my Son for that very purpose, that in Him you might be brought into my family. You know, there is an amazing prophecy of Jesus in Malachi 4, which says: But for you who fear my name, the sun of righteousness shall rise with healing in its wings. You shall go out leaping like calves from the stall. (Malachi 4:2 ESV) The question is, have you receive that spiritual healing; are you living every moment knowing that you dwell under the wings of your Redeemer? If not, you can invite Him today. You can say, “Jesus, throw Your cloak over me. Lay claim to every area of my life. Take all of who I am; all the sin and bitterness that goes with it and make me sweet.” If that is your prayer this morning, as we sing our closing song, enter into your closet (in a spiritual sense) and lift up your heart to Him.
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Greetings. As we continue our series on the book of Ruth, we find that Ruth and Naomi have just returned to Bethlehem. And it says in…
Ruth 2:2 ESV— 2 And Ruth the Moabite said to Naomi, “Let me go to the field and glean among the ears of grain after him in whose sight I shall find favor.” And she said to her, “Go, my daughter.” Care for the Poor— Now remember the because God cares about the poor, He required that part of the fruit of the land of Israel during harvest was to go to the poor, the sojourners, the widows, and the orphans. The corners of the fields were not to be reaped, and the scatterings of the cut grain were not to be picked up. That was for them. (Lev. 19:9–10; 23:22; Deut. 24:19). Ruth 2:3-4 ESV— 3 So she set out and went and gleaned in the field after the reapers, and she happened to come to the part of the field belonging to Boaz, who was of the clan of Elimelech. 4 And behold, Boaz came from Bethlehem. And he said to the reapers, “The Lord be with you!” And they answered, “The Lord bless you.” The First Words-- Now this is significant because the very first words she hears this man Boaz speak are “The Lord be with you”, a phrase that [acknowledges the Lord’s presence with the workers in the field.] So Ruth sees that this man is a God-fearing man that keeps the knowledge of God on his lips. He acknowledges God in the workplace. And the workplace can be the hardest place to acknowledge God. But to see a man unafraid to acknowledge God in his place of work is a good sign that he keeps God at the center of his home life as well. Now Boaz begins to take notice of Ruth as she is working diligently in the field. Verse 5... Ruth 2:5-9 ESV— 5 Then Boaz said to his young man who was in charge of the reapers, “Whose young woman is this?” 6 And the servant who was in charge of the reapers answered, “She is the young Moabite woman, who came back with Naomi from the country of Moab. 7 She said, ‘Please let me glean and gather among the sheaves after the reapers.’ So she came, and she has continued from early morning until now, except for a short rest.” 8 Then Boaz said to Ruth, “Now, listen, my daughter, do not go to glean in another field or leave this one, but keep close to my young women. 9 Let your eyes be on the field that they are reaping, and go after them. Have I not charged the young men not to touch you? And when you are thirsty, go to the vessels and drink what the young men have drawn.” An Unexpected Gesture— Now Ruth is in awe of what has just happened. She has come to the field expecting to hear the other women gossiping about who she is and where she came from. She is expecting dirty looks and rejection from everyone she comes into contact with. All she wants to do is keep her head down and keep working. But then she is met with this thoughtful and overwhelming gesture of love and care from a man who should (by every social standard prevalent in that day) reject and despise her. And yet his response is opposite. He invites her to take what food she can; he promises her protection; he invites her (a Moabite) to drink from the pitchers of the Jewish men! And what he has done is he has met two of the most important things women need: security and provision. And she is overwhelmed with gratitude. Verse 10... Ruth 2:10-13 ESV— 10 Then she fell on her face, bowing to the ground, and said to him, “Why have I found favor in your eyes, that you should take notice of me, since I am a foreigner?” 11 But Boaz answered her, “All that you have done for your mother-in-law since the death of your husband has been fully told to me, and how you left your father and mother and your native land and came to a people that you did not know before. 12 The Lord repay you for what you have done, and a full reward be given you by the Lord, the God of Israel, under whose wings you have come to take refuge!” 13 Then she said, “I have found favor in your eyes, my lord, for you have comforted me and spoken kindly to your servant, though I am not one of your servants.” A Woman of Character— Now Boaz sees something special about this woman. Even though she is not a Jew, Ruth is a woman of incredible character. She is faithful, dedicated, hard-working, and deeply committed; so much so that in our English Bibles we place the book of Ruth after the book of Judges (in order to contrast her character with faithless Israel). She is the opposite. And in the Jewish Bible, the order of the books is a little different. Do you know where the book of Ruth falls in their Bible. Right after Proverbs 31, which is a description of the wife of noble character. Why? Because she (apparently, even though a Moabite) was that caliber of woman. And so no matter which order of books you go with, the point is the same; this is a woman worth modeling your life after. She is admirable. Her heart is beautiful. Boaz even says to her later in 3:11: all my fellow townsmen know that you are a worthy woman. (Ruth 3:11b ESV) Humble Servant— Not in addition to all this, she is incredibly humble. We see this in the fact that she [calls herself a foreigner, but by virtue of her loyalty to Naomi and to the Lord she has become a sojourner, who can enjoy many of the rights of an Israelite (see note on 1:1; Lev. 24:22; Num. 9:14; 15:14–16; Ezek. 47:22–23).] Yet instead Ruth calls herself a servant. And [The type of servant (Hb. shipkhah) to which Ruth humbly compares herself had limited rights (cf. Gen. 16:6; Lev. 19:20).] So, interestingly, she doesn’t claim those rights of a “sojourner” in front of Boaz. Yet Boaz still chooses to bless her. He says in verse 12: 12 The Lord repay you for what you have done, and a full reward be given you by the Lord, the God of Israel, under whose wings you have come to take refuge!” He is the Abundant Answer— Little does he know that he himself will become the Lord’s answer to his prayer. He [becomes the Lord’s protective “wings” when he “spreads his wings” over Ruth (see note on Ruth 3:9).] But even now he is being God’s hand of blessing in her life, being that strong arm that can provide for her. And we see in the next passage that [Boaz’s favor goes well beyond the requirements of the law (see notes on vv. 2 and 7).] Look at verse 14 and following... Ruth 2:14-17 ESV— 14 And at mealtime Boaz said to her, “Come here and eat some bread and dip your morsel in the wine.” So she sat beside the reapers, and he passed to her roasted grain. And she ate until she was satisfied, and she had some left over. 15 When she rose to glean, Boaz instructed his young men, saying, “Let her glean even among the sheaves, and do not reproach her. 16 And also pull out some from the bundles for her and leave it for her to glean, and do not rebuke her.” 17 So she gleaned in the field until evening. Then she beat out what she had gleaned, and it was about an ephah of barley. Ephah— This was about 5.5 gallons. This was “at least a two-week supply for the two women.” Plus she had food leftover from the meal Boaz provided for her. So, overwhelmed by the grace she had been shown that day, she hurries back into the city. Ruth 2:18-20 ESV— 18 And she took it up and went into the city. Her mother-in-law saw what she had gleaned. She also brought out and gave her what food she had left over after being satisfied. 19 And her mother-in-law said to her, “Where did you glean today? And where have you worked? Blessed be the man who took notice of you.” So she told her mother-in-law with whom she had worked and said, “The man's name with whom I worked today is Boaz.” 20 And Naomi said to her daughter-in-law, “May he be blessed by the Lord, whose kindness has not forsaken the living or the dead!” Naomi also said to her, “The man is a close relative of ours, one of our redeemers.” What this meant— Now what this meant for Ruth and Naomi was that Boaz stood in a position where he might be able to redeem the land. And not only that, but he could also marry Ruth in order to provide her with children who could help her in her old age and carry on the family name. Verse 21... Ruth 2:21-23 ESV— 21 And Ruth the Moabite said, “Besides, he said to me, ‘You shall keep close by my young men until they have finished all my harvest.’” 22 And Naomi said to Ruth, her daughter-in-law, “It is good, my daughter, that you go out with his young women, lest in another field you be assaulted.” 23 So she kept close to the young women of Boaz, gleaning until the end of the barley and wheat harvests. And she lived with her mother-in-law. Undeserved Grace— Now one thing that stands out in this passage is the fact that Ruth had everything going against her in that culture. She was a Moabite; she was young; and she was a woman. And women had very low status in ancient culture. But Boaz takes her, even when she is unworthy, and meets her needs in a very deep and personal way. He puts his reputation on the line in order to lift her up. When We Are Least Worthy— And what is so encouraging to me is that when we are least worthy, it is then that God reaches out to us. Sometimes in my own life I have found that it is not during the times that I am at my best that Christ is closest; it is during those darker hours in which I need Him most that He shows Himself most. And sometimes; I don’t know how to explain it; but we kind of resist Him because we subconsciously think that either we are unworthy of that presence or that that sense of His presence must be imaginary because surely God would not draw close to me now; in this hour. But He does. He does. God doesn’t just draw closest to us when we are at our best. He draws closest to us when we need Him the most. Why? Because He is our Redeemer who redeems us by grace. He sees us gleaning along and because of His own grace, He lifts us up. He says, “Come dine with me. You are picking up scraps from the field? I’ll give you more. Come dine at my table. Come have your fill of me to where you have left-overs; to where your cup runneth over. Drink from my pitcher. Rest in the shade under the shadow of my wings. Let me give you security; let me be your fortress; your provider. She DIDN’T Seek Boaz Out— Now what is an amazing point in the story of Ruth is that she didn’t seek Boaz out. She doesn’t ask for special treatment; she doesn’t ask for food and water to keep her strong as she worked with sweat on her forehead. But Boaz reached out to her anyways. Why? Because he is good. God is already seeking you out— And I want to tell you this morning that God is already reaching out to you. God wants to be your redeemer in every sense of the word. Why? Because He is good. And He promises that if you remain in Him; in His field; in His house; He will meet your every need. The Psalmist writes: The lions may grow weak and hungry, but those who seek the Lord lack no good thing. (Psalm 34:10 NIV) This week, seek the Lord your Redeemer. Abide in Him and He will abide in you. Amen Greetings. Recently we began a series on the book of Ruth, a book that opens with a woman name Naomi and her husband and two sons moving to Moab to escape the hardships of a famine that had come over Israel; a famine that may be part of God’s judgment on Israel for their sins. And while there Naomi’s sons marry Moabite women (Ruth and Orpah). But Naomi’s husband and sons all die and she and her daughters-in-law are left without any providers. But when Naomi hears at long last that there is food in Israel, so she decides to go back. And Ruth (out of love for her mother-in-law) vows to continue on with Naomi and remain with her; to be a friend and support for her; not just till her needs are met, but until death. And this of course was of great cost to her, as it meant that (because of her being a Moabite) she would be seen as an outcast in Israel, who had bad history with the Moabites and despised them. But even so, Ruth is willing to return with Naomi to Bethlehem in Israel. And Naomi is grieved and embittered. In fact she is so grieved that she tells her people (upon her arrival) to no longer call her Naomi (which means “pleasant”) but to call her Mara (which means “bitter”). We see that (in a very powerful way) she lets her grief become how she defines herself; her center of identity. And we also can do that if we’re not careful.
The When: 3 Harvests-- Now it is the time of the barley harvest (as 1:22 indicates). And remember that these people live in a culture of harvest. Their lives revolve and depend on the fruitfulness of the land. [The economy of the Israelites was strictly agricultural. Harvesttime was a very significant event for them. They had three each year. The barley reaping (Ru 1:22) came in April-May; the wheat harvest (Ge 30:14) was about six weeks later, in June-July; and the ingathering of the fruits of tree or vine took place in September-October.] Whose Land is it— But remember how God wanted them to think about the land. It was His land; not theirs. Israel was His people on His land. He was the owner of that land. This is why you could not permanently sell your land or permanently buy land. Why? Because it’s not yours to buy and sell. It’s God’s. And He wants it to be kept within your family as part of your inheritance. Remember how Ahab wanted to buy Naboth’s vineyard. Naboth refused. Why? Not because it was a bad business deal. In fact, Ahab made him a great offer. But Naboth refused, saying in 1 Kings 21:3 “The Lord forbid that I should give you the inheritance of my ancestors.” Who forbid? The Lord forbid. Naboth is not willing to disobey the Lord. He still recognizes whose land it it; not his, but the Lord’s. And because it is God’s land, just like you would do if you leased your land out to someone, God set certain rules that He expected His people to follow while they abided in His land. And so God builds into their economic system reminders that help keep their eyes on Him; not only as their Lord, but as the Lord of the land also. Rules of the Land— And to help the owner of the land remember that God is the ultimate owner of His land, [The owner was required each year to present the first-fruits of the crop as an offering to God before he could take any of it for his own use ({Lev.} 23:10, 14). Stalks of grain that grew up without being sown were not to be harvested. ({Lev.} 25:5). With a new orchard or vineyard, the fruit was not to be gathered for three years, and the fourth year’s crop had to be given entirely to the Lord. So the owner had to wait until the fifth year to get any fruit for himself ({Lev.} 19:23-25).] Feasts— In addition to this, God commanded that they observe three major feasts every year that would remind them of God’s provision. And I guarantee that all of you know the names of all three of these feasts. First you have the Passover Feast, when they remembered their captivity in Egypt and how God struck down the firstborn of the Egyptians, yet caused the death angel to pass over them. Hence the name “the Passover”. Second you have the Feast of Pentecost. Now many of you might be surprised because when we think of Pentecost we think of the book of Acts, when the Holy Spirit came. But the Bible doesn’t say the Holy Spirit’s coming was Pentecost. The Holy Spirit came, the scriptures say: “When the day of Pentecost came,” (Acts 2:1). In fact, [The word derives from the Greek for “the fiftieth day.” It was the Jewish Feast of Weeks (Ex 34:22; Dt 16:9-11), variously called the Feast of Harvest (Ex 23:16), or the Day of Firstfruits (Nu 28:26), which fell on the fiftieth day after the Feast of the Passover....the festival was the time when, with appropriate ritual and ceremony, the firstfruits of the corn harvest, the last Palestinian crop to ripen, were formally dedicated] to the Lord. And when you think about it, how appropriate it is that the Holy Spirit came at Pentecost; when Christians became not only dedicated to, but indwelled by our Lord in and through the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit. We became the firstfruits. The Third feast you have is the Feast of Tabernacles (also known as the Feast of Booths), when the Israelites set up booths to remember their wandering in the wilderness when they lived in tents. Harvest Festivals/Feasts & Remembrance— Now what is fascinating is that [The Lord fitted the three main religious feasts that he prescribed for the people into this agricultural economy. The Passover came in the season of the barley harvest (Ex 23:16). Seven weeks later at time of the wheat harvest the Feast of Pentecost occurred (34:22). The Feast of Tabernacles was observed in the seventh month, which was the period of the fruit harvest (34:22).] So I want you to see that you not only have a culture of harvest. You have a culture of remembrance; remembering the good things the Lord has done for you. Every time they collect food they visually and actively remember Who the source of their food and provision is. What a testimony that is to us in our culture. The Passover Connection— Now when you understand that this story happens at the time of the barley reaping, what does that mean? It means that it was April-May and was also around the time they were celebrating the Passover, when God redeemed Israel from physical death in Egypt by their shedding the blood of a lamb. Now I find this interesting because we know that Jesus Christ was crucified during Passover; in fact, at the time the Passover lambs were being slaughtered in order to redeem us from our sins as our ultimate Passover Lamb, so that we might be delivered from death. And so scripture makes this remarkable connection between Passover and redemption. The two are intertwined; and so it is fitting that in the very town where Jesus would be born, at the point when Ruth and Naomi are in their greatest need of a redeemer, it is the time of Passover, when Israel is reminded of God’s past provision, which also points forward to the future work of Christ. Scene 2— So Ruth and Naomi return to Israel. And so ends scene 1. But now enter scene two, where Ruth and Boaz encounter one another for the first time. Ruth 2:1 ESV— 1 Now Naomi had a relative of her husband's, a worthy man of the clan of Elimelech, whose name was Boaz. Choosing Husbands-- Now for you ladies who are listening, before you met you husbands, did you have a list of requirements ahead of time of the kind of man you wanted to marry? I don’t know, maybe you had rugged; handsome; kind; gentle; has to make at least such and such amount of money; he’s respectful; must be good with and want many many kids. You know, its not unusual or weird to have those kinds of lists; reasonable expectations of what you are looking for in a mate. And you should think ahead; because choosing a mate is important. You need to know that you are going to be provided for; that the kids you hope to have with that man are going to be provided for; that you will be safe and secure with him. Now nowadays a woman who has suffered the loss of her husband can make it pretty well on her own, though not always without difficulty. But imagine, in choosing a husband, the reality that the man you choose to marry will affect the course of your life forever; financially & socially. Imagine being wholly and completely reliant upon that man for your every single need. I mean there is a lot of pressure in choosing the right guy. And the story of Ruth and Naomi is itself a picture of what can happen when that protection (your husband, the house of your father, and even your children) is lost. You are thrust to the edge of poverty; you have the fear of starvation placed upon you. And so here we find that in every way that you could be in need in the Old Testament, Ruth and Naomi find themselves. They are poor; they are alone; they have no security; and they have no hope for provision. They are the living picture of what it means to be destitute in the ancient world. There was not a woman in that time who (reading this story) would not cringe in horror at the painful, hopeless nature of their situation. But imagine also if you marry someone who is cruel towards you; someone who uses and mistreats you. Divorce is not really an option in that culture, so marrying a man who has a Godly character, which is manifested in how he provides for and treats you, is very important. 4 Key Characteristics of Boaz-- Now it is interesting how in the very first sentence (where Boaz enters center stage) we discover four things about Boaz: (1) His name: Boaz, which means [in him is strength] (What a great name for a guy!) (2) His relation to Naomi— He is a relative of her dead husband’s. (3) And not only that, but he is of the same clan. (4) There is also this statement about Boaz’s character: he is a worthy man. And in Hebrew the word for “worthy” is hayil, which literally means “of worth or excellence”. But it also “connotes character, wealth, position or strength.” All character qualities that would meet Ruth’s husband checklist. Remarriage Almost Impossible— But right now Ruth isn’t looking for a husband. Remember she, because she is a Moabitess, doesn’t even think that remarriage is a possibility. All that is on her mind is providing for the immediate physical needs of herself and her mother-in-law. And their immediate need is food. While they have plenty of farmland to grow their own crops, that land has not been sown. And you can’t reap what you don’t sow. So until their land becomes fertile again, they need to find food somewhere else. Look at verse 2... Ruth 2:2 ESV— 2 And Ruth the Moabite said to Naomi, “Let me go to the field and glean among the ears of grain after him in whose sight I shall find favor.” And she said to her, “Go, my daughter.” As a pastor, one of the things I have learned (especially as I have participate in so many funerals over the years) is that people can deal with grief in any number of ways. But in essence, what it ultimately boils down to when it comes to grief is that we can allow our grief to drive us from God; or we can allow our grief to drive us to God. We can allow our grief to become our identity (as Naomi did) or we can choose to love; choose to serve; choose to move forward in the midst of it. Ruth doesn’t let her grief handicap her. She chooses to open her heart in love to Naomi. She chooses to serve. She doesn’t withdraw into herself. And that is what ultimately leads her into the field of Boaz and into a position where God can bless her. And what this should say to us is that (no matter what we are going through), if we choose love rather than bitterness and still seek to serve God and others rather than just focusing on ourselves, God can (and always will) lift us up. God will only do what you allow Him to do in you. He will only remake what you give Him. And so I’d like to say, “Let’s give it all to Him.” And He will bring us from death to life. Amen. Last week we started our series on the book of Ruth, a book that (in many ways) begins in tragedy. A man named Elimelech and his family flee a famine in Bethlehem and go to the land of Moab. And then he dies, and after his sons take Moabite wives, they die, leaving the man’s wife (Naomi) and the two daughters (Orpah and Ruth). And (because they have no male providers) they are left destitute and without provision. And verse 6 of chapter 1 picks up where we left of. It says…
Ruth 1:6— 6 Then she arose with her daughters-in-law to return from the country of Moab, for she had heard in the fields of Moab that the Lord had visited his people and given them food. The Lord Visits-- Now why did Naomi choose to go back? Well, two reasons: First, in Israel, it says the Lord had visited, which meant that God had sent rains to water the crops; and so now, in the springtime, there was the long-anticipated harvest where food, or “bread” (Hb. lekhem) was available again. But remember she has no men in her family to farm her land. And even if she did, remember they have been gone from their land for 10 years, so there was probably no crop to be harvested. So what good is it to go back? Provisions for The Poor-- Well, God had made provisions for people in her predicament. God breaks the mold of ancient culture by building into Israel’s economy a system for caring for the poor. Women like her could survive by doing such things as picking up the grain dropped by the harvesters and intentionally left, as God commanded, as a provision for the poor. And we will talk more about that provision in later weeks. But for now I merely want to point out that this was probably not a possibility in Moab. So Naomi leaves. And Naomi’s return to Bethlehem begins the first major scene in the the book of Ruth. Let’s look at it; verse 7... Ruth 1:7-13 (ESV)— 7 So she set out from the place where she was with her two daughters-in-law, and they went on the way to return to the land of Judah. 8 But Naomi said to her two daughters-in-law, “Go, return each of you to her mother's house. May the Lord deal kindly with you, as you have dealt with the dead and with me. 9 The Lord grant that you may find rest, each of you in the house of her husband!” Then she kissed them, and they lifted up their voices and wept. 10 And they said to her, “No, we will return with you to your people.” 11 But Naomi said, “Turn back, my daughters; why will you go with me? Have I yet sons in my womb that they may become your husbands? 12 Turn back, my daughters; go your way, for I am too old to have a husband. If I should say I have hope, even if I should have a husband this night and should bear sons, 13 would you therefore wait till they were grown? Would you therefore refrain from marrying? No, my daughters, for it is exceedingly bitter to me for your sake that the hand of the Lord has gone out against me.” Ruth and Orpah’s Predicament-- Now what is going on here is that Ruth and Orpah want to come with Naomi back to Israel. But there is a problem. They would not be able to get married again and have children of their own. Why? Because they are Moabites. No Jew would marry them. If Naomi had more sons and they waited for those sons to grow up, then maybe they could get married to them and produce children who could in turn provide for them in their old age. And that may seem strange to us, but was the custom of the day. And that system makes sense because it provides you with children who can take care of you and (if sons) preserve the family name. But, even if it were possible still for Naomi to find a husband and conceive (though she was too old), it would be ridiculous for Ruth and Orpah to wait so long. So Naomi urges them to return each to their father’s house. And we know from 2:11 that Ruth still has a father who is living, so it would seem to be in Ruth’s best interest to return to her father’s house. But look at verse 14. It says… Ruth 1:14-18— 14 Then they lifted up their voices and wept again. And Orpah kissed her mother-in-law, but Ruth clung to her. 15 And she said, “See, your sister-in-law has gone back to her people and to her gods; return after your sister-in-law.” 16 But Ruth said, “Do not urge me to leave you or to return 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. 17 Where you die I will die, and there will I be buried. May the Lord do so to me and more also if anything but death parts me from you.” 18 And when Naomi saw that she was determined to go with her, she said no more. Ruth’s Oath-- [Ruth’s decision had far-reaching spiritual implications (2:12; Mark 10:29–31). Her confession of faith, your people … my God, recalls the central covenant promise: “I will be your God and you shall be my people” (Gen. 17:7–8; Ex. 6:7; Deut. 29:13; Jer. 24:7; 31:33; Hos. 2:23; Zech. 8:8; 2 Cor. 6:16; Rev. 21:7).] And not only that, but [...Ruth binds herself by an oath that invites punishment if she is unfaithful. She swears this oath in the name of Yahweh (cf. 1 Sam. 3:17; 1 Kings 2:23), thereby owning him as her God.] And this is one of the things that makes the story of Ruth so amazing; because here in the period of the Judges, where you have Israelites turning to Canaanite religion, here you have a Moabitess forsaking her idols and following Yahweh. It is such a reversal. And for her it is transformative. Chemosh-- Because the Moabites worshiped an evil god named Chemosh; a god of child sacrifice; a god of fear. In fact in Ruth’s culture [It was customary for those who worshipped this god Chemosh to offer their infant children as sacrifices on an altar, {as} burnt offerings {in order to appease him}.] Imagine serving a god of terror like that. But then Ruth comes to Bethlehem; and in and throughout the book of Ruth we see the one true God challenging her worldview, showing her that He was a very different kind of God; a God who loves her and wants to bless her. And he reveals His love to her in that He provides food for Ruth and Naomi; He provides a husband for Ruth; He provides for the redemption of their property. And from what we know in history, God even chooses to bring the Messiah (Jesus Christ, the Son of God) through her future husband Boaz’s line, the line of David. And what is most fascinating is that many years later, when Jesus is born in Bethlehem, He is born for a purpose. The sins of the world had to be payed for. But our God is not like Chemosh. Although a sacrifice is necessary, God doesn’t demand us to sacrifice our children; He sacrificed His. He allowed His own Son to die on the altar of the cross for us!!! That is why, when Jesus (the one who is and called Himself The Bread of Life) was born in Bethlehem (this very city; the House of Bread), the house was full again. Salvation had come to all those who would receive Christ as their Savior. Romans 3:23-25a (NIV)-- 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. 25 God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement, through the shedding of his blood—to be received by faith… Three-fold Commitment-- Now Ruth’s Commitment meant three things: (1.) First, she was forsaking her loyalty to Moab and pledging allegiance to Naomi, her country, and the God of Israel. (2.) Secondly, she was resolving to live a life of celibacy, knowing that she would likely never get remarried because of her nationality. (3.) Third, she forsook her gods, turning from Molech and Chemosh to worship of Yahweh, the God of Israel. Ruth’s Love a Picture of God’s-- Why does Ruth do all this? She could have taken the easy route and gone home, where she would have been provided for. But instead she chooses to really give up her life for her mother-in-law, pledging herself to take care of her. And this kind of love is really at the heart of the whole book. A love that doesn’t seek its own good but the good of another; a love that seeks to love and sustain another. And what the message of the book teaches us is that God is also seeking to love and sustain us, even though He doesn’t have to. God never takes the easy road in His relationship with us. God gave it all (even at the cost of His own Son), who died on a cross so that we could enter into a relationship with God. Don’t Know How-- Now Ruth and Naomi don’t yet know how God is going to love and provide. And I am not sure if Naomi even expects Him to. Look at verse 19... Ruth 1:19-21-- 19 So the two of them went on until they came to Bethlehem. And when they came to Bethlehem, the whole town was stirred because of them. And the women said, “Is this Naomi?” 20 She said to them, “Do not call me Naomi;[a] call me Mara,[b] for the Almighty has dealt very bitterly with me. 21 I went away full, and the Lord has brought me back empty. Why call me Naomi, when the Lord has testified against me and the Almighty has brought calamity upon me?” The Famine in Naomi’s Heart-- Now this passage reveals that the famine that took place did not take place only in the land. It took place in Naomi’s heart as well. She [describes her family situation before her return (as full) and after her return (as empty). {In courtroom imagery, she says} the Lord has testified against me. {She’s saying} He has brought calamity (destitution, childlessness, widowhood) upon her. {And so} She sees her suffering as God’s testimony, i.e., as proof that God condemns her for…sin… (see note on Ruth 1:11–13).] Mara-- And so Naomi tells the people to no longer call her Naomi (which means “pleasant”) but to call her Mara (which means “bitter”). And that word for bitter is the same word used to describe the bitter water in the desert that the Israelites came across, and which God made sweet. Well here she is blaming God for doing the opposite; turning her from sweet into bitter. And [...Naomi is interpreting her hard circumstances as coming from God’s enmity toward her; {but} as the rest of the book will make plain, she is mistaken (see note on Ruth 1:20–21).] Verse 22… Ruth 1:22 (ESV)-- 22 So Naomi returned, and Ruth the Moabite her daughter-in-law with her, who returned from the country of Moab. And they came to Bethlehem at the beginning of barley harvest. Now sometimes you and I wonder just exactly how God is going to provide. And sometimes we, like Naomi, sometimes doubt whether He will or not. But He always does. In my preparation of this message, I think the Lord really spoke to me again the truth of Romans 8:28, which says: And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. And what this reminds us of is that God sees our future better than any of us can see our past. His hand is always on us; always steering our lives through the rough waters to the shores of His purpose for your life. You know it is amazing what can happen in your life when you let go and trust in the providence of God. Today, I would like to encourage you to turn to Jesus; the One who is your redeemer; your shelter; your Provider; your Comforter; and yes, even your Bread. Amen. I am so blessed to be starting as new series with you today on what has become one of my favorite books of the Bible; the book of Ruth, one of the most Christmas-oriented books of all the Bible. You may be surprised to hear me say that, but, it’s true. As you may know, it is a book about a woman who had the courage to leave her own country and go to a land where she knew she would be despised because of her ethnicity. A woman who knew she would never be loved by a man because of who she was. But God had other plans for her life and demonstrates, by bringing a man into her life, not only what the greatest quality of romance looks like, but also how God (as humanity’s husband) longs to have a relationship with us that is every bit as passionate; ever bit as redemptive. As she comes under the wings of the protection of this man, she in fact will discover that she has come under the wings of God. And as this man will make provision for her every need, so also God will make provision for our greatest need; the need for a Savior.
God & Israel— And so as we begin our study in the book of Ruth, It is important for you to see this not only as a picture of romance between a man and a woman, but a picture of the kind of relationship God desires to have with you and me; a relationship where, no matter what the circumstance, He will take care of us, He will provide for us, and He will redeem us. Even in the midst of tragedy, you can rely on God to meet your every need. Background— Now the book of Ruth reads more like an exciting novel rather than a mere history book. In fact, the book is written almost like a play, with various scenes in mind. We don’t know who wrote the book of Ruth; it could have been the prophet Samuel, as he seems to fit the scene pretty well. But we don’t know. What we do know is that because this story makes reference to King David, it was written many years afterwards either during his reign or later. But before that it was transmitted orally for years, being passed down from generation to generation before finally being written down. So as you also listen today, I want you to imagine this story being told among David’s family. Imagine David, when he was a boy, sitting on Great Granny Ruth’s lap to hear it for the first time. Go ahead and look with me at Ruth chapter 1... Ruth 1:1 (ESV)— 1 In the days when the judges ruled there was a famine in the land, and a man of Bethlehem in Judah went to sojourn in the country of Moab, he and his wife and his two sons. The Time of The Judges-- Now although Ruth was written during the time of David, the events of this book actually take place during the latter half of the book of Judges, being a mere three generations from David. And remember the time of the judges is a very tumultuous time. Israel kept sinning against God by worshipping other gods; so God would then allow Israel to be oppressed by an enemy so they would turn to Him in repentance; and sure enough the people of Israel would cry out to God; and then God would send a judge or liberator to free His people from that enemy. And we remember some of these judges, the most famous of them probably being Samson. However, after Israel would be liberated, they would fall into sin again. And the cycle would repeat over and over again. Famine as part of God’s judgment?— Now I mention this because I want you to see this famine not as a random meteorological event, but rather one that is strongly connected to this cycle of disobedience in the book of Judges. The book of Judges ends with a tragic one-line description of the heart of the problem in Israel; the problem that continued to bring God’s judgment upon them... Judges 21:25 (ESV)— 25 In those days there was no king in Israel. Everyone did what was right in his own eyes. That sounds increasingly like our culture, doesn’t it? And it’s interesting; our story begins with a famine; a physical famine that reflects the spiritual famine in Israel; and is likely the cause of it; being yet another part of the ongoing consequences of Israel’s continually rebelling against God. Now it says in… Ruth 1:2a— 2 The name of the man was Elimelech and the name of his wife Naomi, and the names of his two sons were Mahlon and Chilion. They were Ephrathites from Bethlehem in Judah. The House is Empty-- Now catch the irony of this famine. Elimelech’s family is from where? Bethlehem. They are from the Ephrathite clan in Bethlehem. And what does Bethlehem mean? “House of bread/food”. So the irony is that here you have a family who is leaving Bethlehem, the “house of bread”, because the house is empty; there is no bread. So, because they have no bread, it says in… Ruth 1:2b— They went into the country of Moab and remained there. Moabite-- Now this is actually a reversal of the Exodus; because you have Israelites going back into the land of their enemies from the promised land. It was a horrific, embarrassing thing. Not only Moab was in a barren desert area east of Israel and across the Dead Sea, but it was a country that for many reasons had been cursed by God. You will remember that Lot (after he left Sodom and Gomorrah) was made to be drunk and was seduced by his own two daughters into laying with them so that they might have offspring to carry on their father’s name; the worst kind of relationship there is. And so Moab was born out of that incestuous relationship (Genesis 19:37). In fact the similarity in Hebrew between Mo’abi (“Moabite”) and me’abi (“from my father”) is no coincidence. And after Israel had come out of Egypt after 400 years of bondage, you will remember Moab set themselves against Israel, seducing some of their men into idolatry and their king (Balak) even hired a man named Balaam to curse them. And yet you will remember he had a hard time doing it; and he eventually got a talking to from his donkey (Numbers 22-25). But because of all this, they invited God’s curse in Deuteronomy 23, where He declares that the Moabites were to be cut off from the assembly of His people the scripture says for 10 generations, which some argue is the Bible’s way of saying forever. And they continued to remain a thorn in Israel’s side. As we come to the time of the Judges we find that Israel is oppressed by Moab with at least 18 years of direct oppression. That was before King Saul came around and conquered them, leaving Israel to enjoy peaceful relations with them during David’s reign until they return to trouble Israel again in 2 Kings chapter 3. And then because of their unbelievable corruption and wickedness, their idolatry, their rejection of God, and their having been the consistent troublers of Israel, God speaks against them again through His prophets in Isaiah 15-16, Jeremiah 48, Ezekiel 25:8-11, and Amos 2:1. And in the Isaiah passage God declares that they will have three more years. And sure enough (as we know from history) three years later in 715 B.C. (300 years after David) a Syrian king by the name of Sargon came in to Moab and absolutely destroyed that nation, leaving only a small and feeble remnant. Cut Off-- And so here, it would seem that the Moabites could never be accepted by God. However, when we come to Isaiah 56, we discover remarkably that God lovingly opens up the way into the assembly of His people to any foreigner who is willing to live obediently before Him. And what this shows us is that the curse was only affective as long as the people persisted in their sin. God will not turn away forever anyone who is willing to enter into a relationship with Him. And this is ultimately why Ruth will be allowed to become a part of God’s people, which we will talk about later. But for now, all we need to know is that Naomi and her family have come to settle in Moab. And it says… Ruth 1:3-4a— 3 But Elimelech, the husband of Naomi, died, and she was left with her two sons. 4 These took Moabite wives; the name of the one was Orpah and the name of the other Ruth. The Problem of Marrying Outside Israel-- And we know from 4:10 that [Ruth’s husband was Mahlon (4:10).] Now this is a problem because God wanted Israel to remain separate from the surrounding nations, not taking on their ways or intermarrying with them. And [marriage to Moabites was discouraged because of their commitment to other gods (such as Molech {and Chemosh}), the Balaam debacle, Israel’s debauchery with Moabite women in the wilderness, and the 10-generation Moabite male exclusion from the assembly of the Lord (Numbers 22–25; Deut. 23:3–7; Ezra 9:2, 12; 10:44; Neh. 13:25).] But these men married Moabite women anyway and the scriptures say that... Ruth 1:4b-5--They lived there {(in Moab)} about ten years, 5 and both Mahlon and Chilion died, so that the woman was left without her two sons and her husband. All the Males Die-- So here you have Naomi’s family going to Moab in hope of preserving their lives. It is a desperate move; and sadly, it doesn’t help; because while in Moab, sadly all the males in the family who could provide for Naomi die. We don’t know how Naomi’s husband Elimelech died, though it was likely from old age. Her sons Mahlon and Chilion died likely due to poor health, because Mahlon means “unhealthy” and Chilion means “puny”. And so (as Biblical names often describe the nature of a person), that is likely how they were and why they died. But I can’t imagine what it would be like to lose a spouse and then (amidst that grief) to, on top of that, lose your own children. I don’t know if there is a greater pain in all the world. No Life Insurance or Welfare— And to lose a spouse in any culture is devastating in many ways. But because we in the United States have life insurance, this is not always as financially devastating as it would be to somebody in other places in the world today and especially in the ancient world. When we lose a spouse, we are paid a lump sum in order to help compensate for our financial need. And even if your spouse doesn’t have life insurance, we still have the nice soft cushion of a welfare system that ensures that we at least get the things we need. But in most ancient cultures (such as Moab) there was no life insurance policy; there was no welfare system like we have today. You know what your insurance policy was called? Kids. Your insurance was your children. You had as many children as God allowed you; and your children (when you could no longer take care of yourself) would take care of you in your old age. So we see that Naomi no longer has any means of support; all her security and means of provision are gone. When All Crumbles-- What do you do when the world seems to crumble underneath you. I don’t know if you have ever gone through an experience like that. A single family member’s death can sure make you feel this way. And in the midst of that, it can be hard to see God. We might wonder where God is in all of this. Is He still there? Does He still care about me? Am I forgotten? The story of Ruth begins in grief. But thankfully, it doesn’t end there. Even though Naomi feels forsaken, God is about to lift her up in a remarkable way and show her (in and through Ruth her daughter-in-law) that He still loves her, that He is still going to be her provider, and that He still has a plan and purpose for her life. And that is God’s message to us as well. No matter the valley, God (whether you recognize it or not) is walking it with you. And if we continue to keep our hands in His, He will lead us through. Are you trusting in Him today? If you do, you will find Him to be worthy of your trust. Let’s do so. Amen. |
Rev. Cameron Ury graduated from Asbury University in 2007 with a B.A. in Bible and Theology. From there he continued his studies at Wesley Biblical Seminary in Jackson, MS. It was there that he met his wife Tanya, who graduated from WBS with her M.A. and M.Div. degrees. Cameron and Tanya got married in 2009. Cameron then graduated with his M.Div. degree with a pastoral concentration in 2011.
After shepherding churches in both Mississippi and Ohio, they joined the ministry team at Renton Park Chapel in January of 2018, where Cameron serves as Senior Pastor and Teacher. Cameron is also the founder and host of Lechem Panim, a weekly radio show that airs on KGNW 820AM "The Word Seattle". The ministry of Lechem Panim is centered around leading people into the life-giving presence of God in and through Bible study, prayer, and active discipleship with the aim of ministering to a world that is in desperate need of the healing touch of Jesus Christ. Archives
February 2020
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