Episode Transcript
[00:00:03] So, church, family, I do encourage you. Like, one of the things that we try to foster here is using these cards as a way to remind us of the men and women that are serving alongside of us in other places. And so if you would grab one of those cards on the way out and just take a moment, even if it's being on his prayer list, there's an email form and all that stuff, so please take advantage of that.
[00:00:25] So we're in the Book of Ruth, and. And I'm excited that we're here. We introduced it last week. And so one of the things that I love about this story for us is that more than anything, Ruth is not a story about remarkable people, though it has them in there. It's a story about a remarkable God whose faithful love meets us in our emptiness and whose love is exactly what our hearts desperately need. Catch that? He. He's the hero of the story, and it shows how he meets us providentially where our hearts need it most desperately. So if you were here last week, one of the neat things we did, and I'm just going to kind of go over chapter one real quick. We understood a little bit more about God's providence and how it is active in loss, and God's providence is active in bitterness, and God's providence is even active in moments of our uncertainty.
[00:01:17] Naomi's tragedy is profound. I mean, if you were here, you know, she lost her. Her husband, her sons, her security, and what she thought was her future.
[00:01:28] Yet God has not abandoned Naomi, even when his hand seems hidden.
[00:01:35] Ruth's covenant, loyalty and sacrificial love became instruments of God's grace. If you were here, you know that Ruth is one of her daughters in law who lost her husband as well. But we see as the chapter ended, there was a barley harvest that signaled that this piece of hope and God's redemptive plan that was on the way. And so a key takeaway here is that God is sovereign even in the middle of our suffering, meaning God is in control of all things, even in the midst of what we see is hard.
[00:02:07] His silence. This was key for me, and I hope it is for you. His silence is not his absence.
[00:02:14] So now we get to chapter two, and we're going to go through a few of these areas and kind of fill in the blanks in other places. But I want us to see this verse one of chapter two. Look at this with me. It says, now, Naomi, a relative of her husband's, a worthy man of the clan of Elimelech, whose name was Boaz. And it seems like the writer of this book is kind of given a brief introduction of who we're about to see on the scene.
[00:02:42] Verse 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. So basically, they finally get settled after coming back to Bethlehem from Moab.
[00:02:59] They get situated and Ruth wakes up with her plan, hey, I'm gonna go glean to make sure that we've got food to eat so that we're cared for. And I'm gonna see if there's somebody be favorable enough to let me go and get.
[00:03:15] And she said to her, go, my daughter, in verse three.
[00:03:19] So she set out and went and gleaned in the field after the reapers.
[00:03:25] And notice this, and you can highlight it. And she happened to come to the part of the field belonging to Boaz, who was of the clan of Elimelech. Now, a lot of times what happens is we read things or we think about moments and we think, okay, that's really cool. What happened there? Is there some backstory that lets us know? Cause they're using phrases like gleaning. There's an assumed approach that Ruth and Naomi are using here about gleaning and what is it? And so what would happen is wealthier people would have a plot of land. And if you have studied the book of Joshua towards the end of Joshua kind of lets you know the breakdown of the different clans and where their land would be.
[00:04:06] And the hope is that they would maintain that over the generations, part of the rule that God gave them in Leviticus 19, verse 9 and 10 says this.
[00:04:16] When you reap the harvest of your land, you shall not reap your field right up to its edge. Neither shall you gather the gleanings after your harvest. And you shall not strip your vineyard bare. Neither shall you gather the fallen grapes of your vineyard. You shall leave them. Listen to this. For the poor and for the sojourner, I am the Lord your God. So in this law, here is a provision from God in his grace long before Ruth and Naomi ever existed, where God made providence possible for them to walk and benefit from in their desperation. So there's that. The gleaning, they would go on. The crops of the barley, wheat, and the outskirts of it would be there for them, for the poor and for the foreigner. And this was God's providence for them.
[00:05:08] It was physically exhausting and potentially dangerous for women. Yet Ruth willingly humbles herself to provide for her mother in law, from a human perspective, Ruth is simply looking for grain. She's just kind of rolling out, hoping she lands somewhere that would be nice. Some guy that would be a person of peace for her. From God's perspective, he is directing her steps to toward redemption.
[00:05:35] What looks like an accident to human eyes is actually providence from God.
[00:05:41] God's providence often appears ordinary.
[00:05:45] No miracles occur, no visions are given, no audible voice from God appears. Yet you need to know that God guides locations, meetings, timing, provisions, and relationships. We see in Proverbs 16, 9, the heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps.
[00:06:09] So briefly.
[00:06:10] The first time I got to go on a foreign mission trip was to Togo, West Africa.
[00:06:16] And the Wednesday night before we were about to leave, this lady rolls up to me. After I was done teaching. On Wednesday night, we had a Wednesday night Bible study. And after I was done teaching and said, hey, can I talk to you? I was like, sure. She said, God told me that I was supposed to give you this necklace, and you are to give it to a woman that you will meet. And I know you're going to meet her. I just don't know when. But you'll know when you meet her. I'm like, any more ambiguity or is that all we got?
[00:06:45] She gives me the necklace, no big deal.
[00:06:47] We get on this flight. I'm sitting in the middle section of this giant plane flying to West Africa, and I, because I'm super nervous, first time out of the country, I start talking to the people around me, which is totally normal.
[00:07:03] And I talked to this woman on my left, Miss Etta. I come to find out her name. And Miss Etta was going back to her home country because her sister was just murdered. And so she tells me this whole deal, and she's crying and weeping, and so I get to pray for her, and no big deal. And then, so I'm in the plane, still can't sleep, and I start praying like, lord, show me what to do. How can I bless this woman? And then I began to read notes that people had written me just as a kindness, as an encouragement on this trip and all that.
[00:07:39] And then I pull out the note from the lady from Wednesday night, and it's, you know, I don't know if you've ever been on a flight where you try to wake the person up when you got to go to the bathroom because they got the aisle seat.
[00:07:52] And I did that. And Etta wakes up.
[00:07:56] Oh, you're awake. Great, great, great. Hey, Etta, you need to know what happened. And I gave her the whole rundown of the lady and all that stuff. And you just shared with me this hard thing that you've been going through. And you needed to know that there's some lady back in Crawfordville, Florida who knew I was going to meet you.
[00:08:16] She set this not knowing this moment up. And you need to know that God loves you even though you're going through this hard season Game changer. Both of us were blowing snot bubbles. I mean, you get the picture. I know that's gross, but I mean, it was sloppy agape. We were crying Kleenex poster children. You get the picture. And this is one of those moments where God in His grace provided something that neither one of us knew that we needed before we got on that flight.
[00:08:43] And so we see this role here of God and His grace. How the heart of man plans his way but the Lord establishes his steps. And then we see just a couple things here in takeaway in summary of the next section, in verses 4 to 12 it says this But Boaz notices Ruth and asks about her. He's like, hey, who is that girl? He learns who she is and that she's been working with diligence.
[00:09:06] Boaz shows extraordinary kindness, welcoming her. He tells Ruth to stay in his fields, remain with his workers and gather freely. He ensures her protection and her safety. His actions display providential care for this vulnerable foreign woman God provides for his people. Notice this through the faithful kindness and obedience of other people.
[00:09:29] Notice too, Boaz epitomizes covenant faithfulness against the backdrop of of the Book of Judges. Again the same timeline.
[00:09:40] Instead of exploitation and corruption, Boaz demonstrates covenant integrity.
[00:09:46] He becomes a picture of the kind of covenant faithfulness that Israel as a nation was supposed to display. And Boaz does it faithfully. He goes far beyond the minimum requirements of the law. He goes the extra mile.
[00:10:02] Now look in verse 10 and following it says this. Then Ruth, 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'm a foreigner?
[00:10:21] 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.
[00:10:30] And how you left your father and your mother and your native land and come to the people that you did not know before.
[00:10:37] And then he gives a word of blessing.
[00:10:39] The Lord repay you for what you've done. A full reward be given to you by the Lord, the God of Israel. And notice this key phrase here that we're going to come back to in chapter three, under whose wings you have come to take refuge.
[00:10:56] Then she said, I have found favor in your eyes, my lord.
[00:11:03] Excuse me, for you have comforted me and spoken kindly to your servant, though I'm not one of your servants, the ones that you have called to be your servant.
[00:11:13] Then we see in verse 14 and following it says, Boaz invites Ruth to his table. He treats her with unexpected honor and generosity. He he provides more food than she can eat, leaving her with leftovers. And then he instructs his workers to intentionally leave extra grain for Ruth.
[00:11:31] Ruth is allowed to gather freely without rebuke or shame.
[00:11:36] She's able to work diligently throughout the day and keeps going back until the harvest is over.
[00:11:44] Boaz kindness exceeds again, I want to say it again exceeds the minimum requirements of the law. He goes Beyond.
[00:11:51] In verse 18 it says this and she took it up and went into the city.
[00:11:57] She's on her way home. Her mother in law saw that she had gleaned. She also brought out and gave her what food she had left over after being satisfied. And her mother in law said to her, where did you glean today?
[00:12:12] Total accent match. Okay.
[00:12:15] Same amount of sass and everything. Where did you glean today? In where have you worked? And then she gives a blessing on whoever it was. She says this blessed is the man who took notice of you.
[00:12:27] So she told her mother in law with whom she had worked and said, the man's name with whom I work today is Boaz Shrug. Right.
[00:12:36] 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.
[00:12:45] Naomi also said to her, the man is a close relative of ours, one of our Redeemer's key phrase.
[00:12:56] This generosity reflects God's own covenant mercy to us.
[00:13:01] Boaz is functioning as an instrument of divine kindness and grace in their life. What's powerful is that word for Redeemer is this Hebrew word goel.
[00:13:11] We see the call for a goel in Leviticus 25 and Deuteronomy 25 with the idea of a Levirite marriage. It's a family guardian who was responsible for redeeming family property, protecting vulnerable relatives, preserving a deceased relative's name and inheritance, and restoring what had been lost. It was his responsibility.
[00:13:38] Then we see in verses 21 and 22 this idea that Ruth reports Boaz invitation to remain in his fields throughout the harvest.
[00:13:47] She urges Naomi, urges Ruth to stay with him and his workers to risk any danger elsewhere.
[00:13:54] Boaz Fields have ongoing protection, ongoing provision, ongoing security and God's care. We see through all of this is evident through his faithful provision and protection. It's God's kindness that is shown and demonstrated again through the kindness of others.
[00:14:13] Then we see in chapter three, right at the beginning here, this is where the story takes a new turn, a new page.
[00:14:20] Naomi seeks rest, long term security and well being for Ruth.
[00:14:27] Notice this.
[00:14:29] This is a complete change from Naomi in chapter one, who is really focused on her emptiness and her grief. Now she's thinking about the good and benefit of Ruth.
[00:14:40] She recognizes Boaz as a kinsman redeemer and develops a plan.
[00:14:45] So Naomi instructs Ruth to prepare herself and to go to the threshing floor. Take off your common clothes and gussy up a little bit. Okay, total language there. Okay, there you go. The plan reflects faith in God's provision through his appointed means.
[00:15:04] Ruth responds. Notice she doesn't push back.
[00:15:08] She responds with trust and obedience, agreeing to follow Naomi's plan.
[00:15:13] Now here's the key to think about.
[00:15:16] You're Ruth, this encounter that you are coached to go do.
[00:15:22] You gotta think about it a little bit. She's already said, how can he show favor to me, a foreigner?
[00:15:27] Ruth is risking rejection.
[00:15:31] She's risking misunderstanding, shame.
[00:15:34] She's showing personal vulnerability.
[00:15:37] Yet she still approaches Boaz.
[00:15:40] Chapter three, verse six says this.
[00:15:44] So she went down to the threshing floor. The threshing floor is where they would take the heads of the wheat and they would basically get it off the stalk and on the threshing floor she did just as her mother in law had commanded her. 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 notice this, uncovered his feet and lay down.
[00:16:12] At midnight the man was startled and turned over and behold, a woman lay at his feet. And. And he said, who are you?
[00:16:18] And she answered, I am Ruth, your servant. And notice this phrase. Spread your wings over your servant, for you are a redeemer.
[00:16:31] Going back to 2:12 where this idea of refuge under his wings.
[00:16:37] Verse 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 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. And now it is true that I am a redeemer. Notice this. Yet there is a Redeemer nearer than I, closer in relation than him. He says, remain tonight. And in the morning, if he will redeem you, good, let him do it. But if he's not willing to redeem you, then as the Lord lives, I will redeem you. Lie down until the morning.
[00:17:26] We look at this scene and we've watched. I don't know about you, but I love. And what's great, Let me just let you in on a secret.
[00:17:33] Don't tell him I told you, but my boys are starting to like rom coms just like me, which is awesome.
[00:17:44] This moment, you see this moment that seems a little bit romantic until she uncovers his feet. Right?
[00:17:52] But a few things I want to key in on here. Uncovering Boaz's feet likely awakens him naturally, but lying at his feet symbolizes humility and appeal.
[00:18:04] The emphasis is not sensuality, but it's meekness and trust.
[00:18:09] And then she talks about being covered in his wings. This was the invitation, the protection, the covenant safety, the divine care and refuge, which points to Psalm 46:1, God is our refuge and our strength, a very present help in time of trouble.
[00:18:27] Ruth is asking Boaz to become the earthly expression of that protection that God is.
[00:18:34] She's using covenant language, redemption language, and likely it's a marriage proposal.
[00:18:41] Then in chapter three, verses 14 through 18, we see that Boaz protects Ruth's reputation by sending her home before dawn.
[00:18:50] He gives Ruth a generous gift of barley to take back to Naomi. And Ruth reports all that happened during the encounter with Boaz.
[00:18:59] Naomi encourages Ruth, and this is the close of the chapter, to wait patiently and trust the process.
[00:19:05] One of the things I want you to kind of notice, a little different than maybe you or I.
[00:19:10] Boaz, with integrity, refuses to be impulsive.
[00:19:17] He refuses to be selfish.
[00:19:21] He refuses secret gratification.
[00:19:26] He becomes an instrument of divine kindness, a mediator of a covenant blessing. And in this moment, he foreshadows the work of Christ the Redeemer.
[00:19:38] He points to a greater Redeemer.
[00:19:41] This is one of those encouraging things, like he could have just said, hey, I got a moment. But he said, nope, there's somebody who's closer than I. Let's make sure first, that integrity, that character in the moment, is transformational.
[00:19:56] And here's the thing I want us to dial in on as we come to this time of closing. Each of these people, when they are acting in line with God's design, and each of us, when we act in line with God's design, we reflect God's character.
[00:20:11] There's this understanding that is happening. And it's mentioned three times in the book of Ruth.
[00:20:20] In the language, it's this word chesed.
[00:20:25] What chesed is is more than just kindness or sentiment. It refers to covenant loyalty, faithful love, devotion expressed through sacrificial action.
[00:20:39] Love that persists like continues despite the cost.
[00:20:44] And what's great is so far we've seen all three characters in this story show chesed, this idea of covenant loyalty and love. Naomi. She leaves her homeland people in the future to care for her mother in law. Excuse me. Ruth cares for her mother in law this way.
[00:21:03] Naomi.
[00:21:05] Despite her suffering, Naomi seeks Ruth's welfare and security. Her rest, Boaz extends extraordinary generosity and protection and redemption toward Ruth and Naomi. Each of these things are arrows pointing to the true source of covenant loyalty, loving kindness. It points to Christ.
[00:21:29] A few things for us here today.
[00:21:32] The God who guided Ruth to Boaz is the same God who guides his people today.
[00:21:39] What appeared ordinary was actually God's providence. What seems uncertain now is not outside of his care. Think about that in your life. What seems uncertain in your life right now is not outside of God's care.
[00:21:54] The God who provided for Naomi in her bitterness is the God who sustains us today.
[00:22:00] His timing may be hidden, but but his purposes are never absent.
[00:22:06] The God who redeemed Ruth's story has already secured our story in Christ.
[00:22:14] If he was faithful then, then you and I can trust him now.
[00:22:21] Every act of God's faithfulness in the past is evidence that he can be trusted with the future. The same God who worked behind the scenes in Bethlehem at the House of Bread is still at work in our lives. He's still moving.
[00:22:36] There's areas of Providence that he's brought about from the past.
[00:22:41] Ruth reminds us that God's providence is not merely about solving today's problems, but accomplishing God's eternal redemptive purposes.
[00:22:52] And the cross is the ultimate proof of providence.
[00:22:56] Just as God was orchestrating redemption through Ruth and Boaz when no one could see it, he was also accomplishing our salvation through Christ. When the world only saw crucifixion, he was seeing our hope.
[00:23:14] So what I want us to do is to pray. And a few things I want to just frame for us in view is this gospel message that Ruth points to is the same gospel message that our friend Dan is going to proclaim in the Middle East. So let's pray for that. But it's also the same gospel message that you're called to proclaim where you live, work and play.
[00:23:36] Right now this hope.
[00:23:40] So what I want to do is just pray for us. Pray that God in his grace would meet us right here. If you need prayer after the service there'll be elders up here that would love to receive you for that but it is our joy that we get to think about the goodness of God's grace and I would encourage you go ahead and read ahead to chapter four. It is a crazy story and I'm excited to tell it to you next week. Let's pray.
[00:24:01] Father in Jesus name we thank you for this moment for your grace and kindness.
[00:24:08] Lord we pray that you would meet us here. Help us see that this story is bigger than Ruth and Naomi and Boaz.
[00:24:18] But Lord God this story is all about your character and how you've come to redeem a wretch like us.
[00:24:28] Lord, we thank you for this. We trust you. We place our faith and hope in you. In Jesus name amen. Please stand as we sing.
