The Redemption of God: Ruth 4
Notes
Transcript
The great victorian pastor and theologian Charles Spurgeon, once famously declared that (His) “My entire theology can be condensed into four words: Jesus died for me.”Everything that Spurgeon saw in the Bible, every theological principle that God he understood circled back to that simple truth. And church family, the same should be true for us. Oh, how easy it is to get lost in deep theological debates that have been going on for thousands of years. How easily we can argue over the limits of God’s sovereignty, free will, or the ability to lose one’s salvation. We can spend hour upon hour unpacking theological definitions to wonderful words like election, atonement, propitiation, justification, sanctification, glorification, or eschatology. But let’s be honest, as great and glorious as theology is, there is always great danger in learning theology, and its this: we can easily lose sight of the radical personal nature of our faith. Therefore, Spurgeon’s quote is so important because: Jesus– is a real person from history, He is our Redeemer- who died for me– a are real sinner in desperate need of Jesus.
You see it is really easy to love a theological system more than Jesus, and when we do so we completely lose sight of the very purpose of theology. May we never forget that redemption, as we are seeing unfold in the book of Ruth, is radically personal in nature. That Jesus Himself, according to Galatians 2:20, loved me and gave Himself up for me. That personal truth should inspire our endless praise, adoration, and obedience. You see it is the beauty of the Redeemer, not the beauty of theology, that captivates our hearts and our souls. Therefore, our understanding of theology should only lead us to marvel over the great love and sacrifice of Jesus, the Savior King.
This grand story of redemption works its way through the entire Bible. Early on, in Deuteronomy 7:6-8 Moses conveyed God’s great love for Israel in terms of redemption… “the Lord your God has chosen you to be a people for His personal possession out of all the peoples who are on the face of the earth. The Lord did not make you His beloved nor choose you because you were greater in number than any of the peoples, since you were the fewest of all peoples, but because the Lord loved you and kept the oath which He swore to your forefathers, the Lord brought you out by a mighty hand and redeemed you from the house of slavery, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt.” Later on in the OT, the Bible testified that it was God’s great love for His children that motivated the Exodus… Hosea 11:1… “When Israel was a child, I love him, and out of Egypt I called my son.” In the New Testament we find this same loving redemptive truth expressed in Christ’s great love for the the churh. Paul says it clearly in Romans 5:8, “God shows His love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Furthermore, the beloved disciple John began the last book of the Bible with these words, Revelation 1:5-6… “to Him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by His blood and made us a kingdom, priests to His God and Father.” Listen, the more we understand the great theology of God’s redemption that is grounded in the unmeasurable deep love of God, the more we will stand amazed, and the more we will certainly long to love others like Him.
The book of Ruth gives us a powerful example of God’s personal love for His family, those He considers His children. It’s just a marvelous short story that fits perfectly within the larger storyline of God’s glorious redemption, that runs throughout the entire Bible. The last chapter of Ruth that we are about to read is all about redemption. The redemption of two widows named Ruth and Naomi, as well as the redemption of all God’s children. Intentionally, the author uses the HBW words for redeem, redemption, and redeemer over and over again in this closing chapter. He does so to grab our attention. So let’s pay attention to what God has to say to us this morning. Read along with me as I read Ruth 4:1-17. Today, I want you to keep your eyes on three true redeemers found within this final chapter of Ruth…
1) The selfless Redeemer who is willing to pay the high price of redemption (4:1-10)
Chapter 4 begins with Boaz going directly to the city gate. Now, the city gate in the ancient world provided a spacious place for people to assemble, away from the small and crowded narrow streets, and the gate acted much like the modern-day courthouse. It was the place where the elders and rulers would meet and sit to make their judgments and decisions for the people. And so, Boaz who will not rest until a redeemer is in place for both Ruth and Naomi, goes directly to the place where such decisions were made. And notice what the text says next, “and behold, the close relative of whom Boaz spoke was passing by, so he said, ‘Turn aside, friend sit down here.’ And he turned aside and sat down.”It’s here again that we see the providence of God in action… for just by chance, the man whom Boaz was looking for just happens to appear. This man was whom Boaz referred to 3:12…. he was the closer relative to Naomi and Ruth than Boaz. In light of the law, this man is the rightful redeemer. Therefore, he had the obligation and responsibility to redeem his relatives in distress. You see according to the Levirate marriage law found in Deuteronomy 25, when a man died and left a childless widow, the brother of that man or closest male relative, would have the responsibility to marry the young widow and care for her, but he also, and this important, he was expected to have children with her so that the dead relative’s name and inheritance would live on. And in that manner, he would serve as their redeemer. This man who just happen to shows up, is the only person who stands in the way of Boaz being able to marry and care for Ruth and Naomi.
Notice, how quickly Boaz gets the court in session if you will… I think this speaks of Boaz’s great character, for he had no problem quickly assembling the required ten elders who would gladly give him their time and attention. Then in verse 3, Boaz informs the man of the situation and interestingly he doesn’t mention Ruth at the beginning, does he. Instead, he simply informs the man of Naomi’s land that she must sell to her close relative so that she can survive. So, Boaz asks him to redeem the land for Naomi, to purchase it from her so that she may live. Well, this man looks at this situation and concludes that is this is way too sweet of deal to pass up. For he can acquire the land a make a profit and the he could leave the land as an inheritance to his own family, especially since Naomi is too old to have children and therefore the Levirate marriage was not an issue. So, notice how he excitedly exclaims at the end of verse 4, “I will redeem it!”
Well, Boaz wasn’t done yet, after setting him up he responds to this man in verse 5… “On the day you buy the field from the hand of Naomi, you must also acquire Ruth the Moabitess, the widow for the deceased, in order to raise up the name of the deceased on his inheritance.” Obviously, this was a quick deal breaker for the man, for he wanted nothing to do with God’s law that required such a marriage, especially to someone for Moab. He concludes in verse 6. “I cannot redeem it for myself, because I would jeopardize my own inheritance. Redeem it for yourself; you have my right of redemption, for I cannot redeem it.” Twice, for emphasis he says, “I cannot redeem it!” But please understand that it wasn’t because he could not do it, no, it was simply that refused to do it. You see, this closer relative had no desire to obey God, no heart for the hopeless widows, nor did he desire to care for his own extended family members. He could only see how Naomi’s field would benefit his own household, his own inheritance, but when you added marriage to a Moabitess and a mother-in-law who had a reputation for being bitter, when you add the responsibility to providing children for them, who would then have the right to inherit the field over his own children… then this man was eager to walk away from the high cost of redemption.
It’s very fitting that the Bible doesn’t give us this man’s name. Did you notice that? The HBW literally calls him something like “Mr. so and so…” It seems to go to great lengths to keep the man’s name unknown, yet no doubt Boaz, knew this man’s name, he was his relative… but either in grace or in judgment the text doesn’t share this man’s name with us. Maybe it was God’s grace that kept his name hidden, protecting him from the shame of not obeying the Law to care for his relatives… Or maybe, since the text hints that he was only interested in making a name for himself, and that is he was only interested in purchasing the land to enlarge his own wealth, that the Bible refuses to name in him all together. Interestingly, chapter 4 is all about preserving names. From Boaz, to Ruth, to Obed, to Naomi, to the genealogy listed at the end… perhaps it is the judgement of God that this man’s name be not remembered. And what a fitting and sobering reminder it is to us today… that if we live for ourselves, to make our own name great, we too will eventually be forgotten. Jesus said it very clearly in Matthew 20:26… “It is not this way among you, but whoever wishes to become great among you shall be your servant.”
But unlike this nameless man who was unwilling to pay the price, Boaz is more than willing. You see the great Boaz understood that redeeming the property would involve sacrifice. And he was more than willing to buy everything from Naomi and marry the converted Moabitess, even knowing that some people would look down upon such a marriage. Notice, oh how Boaz gladly and selflessly takes on the role of the redeemer… notice, verses 9-10… “Then Boaz said to the elders and all the people, ‘You are witnesses today that I have bought from the hand of Naomi all that belonged to Elimelech and all that belonged to Chilion and Mahlon. Moreover, I have acquired Ruth the Moabitess, the widow of Mahlon, to be my wife in order to raise up the name of the deceased on his inheritance, so that the name of the deceased will not be cut off from his brothers or from the court of his birth place; you are witnesses today.” Now pay attention that Boaz has no intention to make his own name great… it’s all about the family in need. It’s about redeeming the name of the deceased family, even though they left the Promise land to the seemingly greener grass in the pagan country of Moab. Even though they married unbelievers in that foreign land. Boaz is concerned about serving their name and not his own. What a price this man was willing to pay. He was willing to give it all away and receive nothing in return. Boaz understood the Levirate marriage to be the law of love, not a means to acquire wealth or self-glory. You see, the Law, as well as the gospel, is a call to loving self-denial, not a call to self-fulfillment. And out his great love for God, Ruth, and Naomi, Boaz was willing to walk away from his own reputation, his own name, and give of his own finances to simply obey God. This is a selfless redeemer who reflects the immensurable love of God to others!
The great author and thinker C.S. Lewis once wrote, “He loved us not because we are loveable, but because He is love.” Both Ruth and Naomi are portrayed in this book as rather unlovable people, are they not? Are we not constantly reminded that Ruth is the Moabitess, as if to say she doesn’t belong within the story of God’s love towards His chosen people. And does not the story continually paint Naomi as a bitter prodigal child of God, who chose to leave the presence of God the Father to wander into a distant land filled with idolatry? And yet our loving God draws their sinful hearts to Him and pours out His grace upon them, by placing a selfless man in their life to save them from their hopeless plight. Remember, these were the darkest days in all of Israel’s history, when everyone did what was right in their own eyes.
Sounds a lot our world, doesn’t it? And sadly, today there are few men and women who love the LORD and how are willing to obey His Word like Boaz. Rarely, do we see people willing to risk their reputation or a pay the great cost of loving others. Yet, God, who is love, calls us to such love.
So, the question we must ask ourselves is, will you live for God and love like Him? Like Boaz, will you be a redeemer to those in need? Will you care for your family and church family by being willing to pay a high price for their redemption? Are you willing to risk your reputation for their great need? Are willing to give of your finances? Are you willing to love those who are hard to love so that they may come to know the peace of God? Are you willing to obey His Word, even when it cost you much? Boaz, the selfless redeemer in this chapter models this so well for us. But notice also from our text…
2) The life-giving Redeemer who gives physical, eternal, and abundant life (4:11-17)
After Boaz pronounces his intention to marry Ruth and redeem both her and Naomi… the elders and witnesses to this profound moment speak in one voice and pronounce three blessings over Ruth and Boaz. First, over Ruth they proclaim… verse 11, “All the people who were in the court, and the elders, said, ‘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…” Now we must remember again, lest we forget, that Ruth was a foreigner. And yet, here the people pray that she will be used to build up the nation of Israel like Rachel and Leah, whom between the two of them and their two handmaids, bore Jacob twelve sons, whose descendants made up the twelve tribes of Israel. You see, the people no longer saw Ruth as the outsider, and they longed for her to have a key role among God’s people. Now, we also need to remember, that up to this point in Ruth’s life, she had been unable to bear children. She’s childless. A woman, who undoubtedly longed to have children, but has never had the blessing of carrying her own child. And that too, is significant, because in in the case of both Rachel and Leah, the scripture clearly states that it was God who enabled them to have children. We see this clearly in Genesis 29:31… “Now the Lord saw that Leah was unloved, and He opened her womb, but Rachel was barren.” And in Gen. 30:22… “Then God remembered Rachel, and God gave heed to her and opened her womb.” And so, this prayer of blessing perhaps was a request that God would open Ruth’s womb and bless her and Boaz with children.
The second prayer of blessing was aimed at Boaz. They asked in the second half of verse 11 that God would allow Him to “achieve wealth in Ephrathah and become famous in Bethlehem”. Note that this is not just a prayer for prosperity and a good reputation; but it is a prayer for righteousness. You see, Boaz’s renown would come from his righteous actions- his kindness, compassion, and integrity that we have observed throughout this book. Indeed, God answered this prayer, as we have learned so much about what a righteous man looks like, by simply studying Boaz.
Then notice the third and final blessing of the elders and witnesses which is directed to the entire new family. Verse 12, “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 woman.” Now, this is a reference to a troubling story recorded in Genesis 38. You see, Tamar was the widow of Judah’s son. And like Ruth, she had lost her husband and was childless. Her family line was also threatened, and it seemed that her husband’s name would soon die out. With no prospect of marrying again, her father-in-law, Judah had promised that she would marry another one of his sons, just as the law demanded, but he never keep that promise. So, Tamar disguised herself as a prostitute and deceived her own father-in-law, so that she might have a child by Judah.
Though there were some similarities to the hardships which these two couples faced, we can honestly say that Boaz and Ruth were far greater examples of faith than Judah and Tamar. But both couples, however, in the providence of God, proved to play an important role in salvation history. God promised that the Messiah would come through Judah, and Judah’s strongest son was Perez. And so, the elders and witnesses are praying that Boaz would have a renowned lineage in Bethlehem. Little did they know just how great Bethlehem would become because of Boaz’s descendants. Israel’s great king David would be the fruit of this prayer, and of course eventually the Messiah Himself would come from this same family line. All three prayers of blessing are answered fully by God!
That’s what we read of next… Notice in verse 13, as we read of God’s providence… “So Boaz took Ruth, and she became his wife, and he went in to her, And the LORD enabled her to conceive, and she gave birth to a son.” Please don’t glance over the fact that it was God who enabled her to conceive. You see the Bible repeatedly affirms that children are a gift from God. In fact Psalm 127:3 says it clearly… “Behold, children are a gift of the Lord, The fruit of the womb is a reward.” Psalm 139 declares that God forms us and weave’s us together in our mother’s womb. And this work, the psalmist proclaims is wonderful. Listen, when we embrace the truth that God is the giver and author of life, that He alone creates life in the womb, making human beings in the very image of God, when we grasp that Biblical truth, then the pro-abortion and pro-choice argument falls completely apart. Listen, I know this subject can be controversial, but the Bible could not be more clear. If God is the ultimately the creator, the author, and giver of life. If children are a gift from God. If He is all-sovereign, all-wise, all-good, and all-loving, then who are we to play God, and determine which one of His image bearers gets to live and who does not? Our great Redeemer God is the giver of life, and we see that so clearly in this story, as God opens the womb of Ruth and blesses her with a child.
But moreover, He doesn’t just give us physical life, He pours out His grace upon His redeemed and gives them abundant life. It’s interesting that in verse 13, Ruth disappears from the story. And the spotlight returns once again to Naomi. In many ways, you could argue this book could have been entitled Naomi instead of Ruth. For the story starts with Naomi in the spotlight, and ends with her there as well. So, notice, verse 14 and following… “Then the women,” the same women who in chapter 1 who asked the question, “Is this Naomi?” They gather around her once again and notice what they say… “’Blessed is the LORD who has not left you without a redeemer today, and may his name become famous in Israel. May he also be to you a restorer of life and a sustainer of your old age; for your daughter-in-law, who loves you is better to you than seven sons, has given birth to him.’ Then Naomi took the child and laid him in her lap, and became his nurse. The neighbor woman gave his a name, saying, ‘A son has been born to Naomi!’ So they named him Obed. He is the father of Jesse, the father of David.”
What a powerful final scene to such an amazing book. Certainly, it is God alone who deserves the praise and glory for this great reversal in Naomi’s life. If you remember in chapter 1, she concluded that the hand of the LORD had gone out against her, and she asked these women to call her Mara which means bitter. But now we see that God’s hand was not against Naomi at all but with her, and He gave her this child to raise with Ruth, as a very special grandmother.
Notice in verse 14, that this child is clearly called Naomi’s redeemer. You see Ruth’s son will bless Naomi personally and will continue the family line. But more than that in verse 15, this baby is described as a “restorer of life and sustainer of old age.” Interestingly, the name Obed means “servant.” Some believe it is shorthand for “Obadiah” which means “servant of the Lord.” And this child, Obed, will surely serve God by serving Naomi and caring for her. He will bring her joy and nourish Naomi in her old age by providing the basic necessities of life for her and the family. The text is clear that this special relationship between Naomi and Obed will be more than a typical grandmother-grandson relationship. Obed will be her redeemer.
Naomi’s journey from emptiness to fullness is perhaps best illustrated in verse 16. It simply reads, “Then Naomi took the child and laid him on her lap and became his nurse.” At the beginning of the story, Naomi was empty, having no food or child. And here at the end, she is full of life-holding this precious baby. God had not forgotten Naomi. She has gone from emptiness to fullness, from bitterness to happiness, she has been redeemed.
The book of Ruth, like the rest of the Bible, reminds us that God pours out His spiritual blessings and favor on those who repent of their sin and live in faith. Naomi was a living testimony to this principle. In chapter 1, she lost everything except Ruth. But after making her way back to the land of promise, and observing Ruth’s faith, she too begins to trust that Lord is not just sovereign but good. So as she begins to walk in faith and trust in His Word, God brings fullness to her heart and restores her life. Oh, how some of you need to hear that today. In your marriage, in your workplace, in your home, life has become so difficult, and in the midst of those hardship some of you have taken your eyes off God and His joy and peace that you once knew are no longer. And the life-giving God this morning stands as a redeemer, eager to pour out His favor upon you again… will you trust Him? Will you walk in faith? Or maybe another question to consider, is will allow God to use you as a redeemer, and will you serve those whom God has placed in your life like Obed?
Because here is something we need to chew on this morning…. If we are God’s people, and we love others like God, then I believe God will use us to bring a fullness of life to others. In other words, there should be something about our lives that brings joy and peace to those whom God puts in our path. The Psalmist said it like this… Psalm 16:11… “In your presence if fullness of joy; in your right hand there are pleasures forevermore.” As God’s children, this joyful presence should naturally be reflected in our lives. Yet, sadly, there are a lot of Christians who rarely model joy… they seem to love the doom and gloom of the Bible, and even here at church, where we should really enjoy the joy and hope of the Lord, some of you look rather miserable. Like you’ve been sucking on sour pickles all morning. Oh, that God’s Word would fill us with joy, peace, and hope this morning, and we leave these doors and go into His world, though it may be dark, may we shine like the stars and bring the warmth of His redeeming light to those in need. May we love them and serve them well while we share the message of God’s eternal and abundant life with them. Well, we’ve seen the Boaz the redeemer, and Obed the redeemer, but there’s one last redeemer to behold in our text today… And that is…
3) The glorious Redeemer who will forgive us of our sin and give us hope (4:18-22)
The mention of David at the end of verse 17, alerts us to the fact that the arrival of Obed was not the end of this story. For God’s chosen people, the nation of Israel was also in danger of extinction, just like the family line of Naomi. At this time, remember that there was a great void of godly leadership, where everyone did what was right in their own eyes, and now God provides them a king.
You see the book of Ruth is not just a story about two desperate widows- it’s also a story about a desperate nation on the verge of collapse. And so, here at the end of the book of Ruth, the author intentionally places a genealogy to show us how this story continues… And this is powerful reminder for us… because often we only live in the here and now, and we try to make sense of how God is sovereignly working all things together for His good, as if now is all there is to explore. And so, in these closing verses of Ruth, the narrator pulls back the zoomed in view of the camera lens, to allow us see how He is using these events to shape the future as well. You see sometimes the fullness of God’s promise to work all things together for our good, doesn’t come to full fruition in our lifetime. Sometimes, it may take generations, as we see that here… Read with me verse 18 and following… “Now these were the generations of Perez; and Perez was born Hezron, and to Hezron was born Ram, and to Ram, Amminadab, and to Amminadab was born Nahshon, and to Nahshon, Salmon, and to Salmon was born Boaz, and to Boaz, Obed, and Obed was born Jesse, and to Jesse, David.”
Now, turn with me in your Bibles to Matthew chapter 1, because I want you to see this… Look at verse 1… “The record of the genealogy of Jesus the Messiah, the son of David” (notice how David is the first name mentioned). Now jump down to verses 3 through 6, and here we find the same list of names we just read in Ruth chapter 4… You see the book of Ruth, is not just about Ruth and Naomi, nor is it just about king David, but like all of Scripture, it’s all about king Jesus. And it’s worth noting, that there are some added details to Jesus’ genealogy, that we don’t see in others. Traditionally, like the one we just read in the book of Ruth, only men are listed, but not here… Here in Jesus’ family tree we see women listed as well. Notice the name Tamar in verse 3, we just learned about her sinful past of playing a prostitute and tricking her father-in-law Judah to sleep with her, in verse 5, notice the name Rahab, who you may remember from the book of Joshua. She was the prostitute in Jericho who saved two Israelite spies and later became part of God’s people; but don’t miss the detail in verse 5 that Rahab is whose mom? Boaz!!! Wow!!! Perhaps this explains why Boaz was so quick to notice and welcome Ruth into the community of faith, doesn’t it. Third, notice Matthew includes Ruth’s name, whom we have come to love, but we also know because refuses to let us forget that she was a Moabitess and once was idol worshiper.
But those are not the only women listed… in verse 6, we find Bathsheba who was the mother of David’s son Solomon, but notice, Matthew also brings attention to the fact that she “had been the wife of Uriah.” Oh, how this reminds us of David’s sinful past that included adultery and murder. And yet, there is one last woman to mention… the virgin Mary in verse 16 who gives birth to Jesus, a name that literally means “God saves.” Verse 21 clarifies this with the words, “you shall call his name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.” It’s almost as if Matthew wants us to see, how sinful Jesus’ family tree is, because Jesus came to redeem them, and sinners like you and me.
Isn’t it fascinating that Jesus’ genealogy includes prostitutes, adulterers, liars, and even murderers. It includes both men and women, both Jews and non-Jews. And yet none were disqualified from being loved by God or being used by Him. For from God’s providence, from this group of sinners, came the one called Immanuel, meaning God with us. You see God clothed Himself in flesh, was born of a virgin, implying He had no sinful nature of His own, and He came to save us from our sin and give us hope. He came as the greatest and glorious Redeemer of them all.
Oh, please know that it was Jesus who was willing to pay the ultimate price for our redemption. You see the Bible tells us that clearly that everyone has sinned and fallen short of His glory. An because we have sinned and will sin again, we stand hopeless condemned to spend eternity in hell, apart from His holy presence. You see God cannot allow sin into His presence, therefore we all stand condemned to die and face His wrath… because no matter how hard you try, you can’t make yourself sinless or good enough to be considered holy. Therefore, we need His redemption, and thankfully Jesus himself paid the most high price of our sin, by giving His life away on Calvary’s cross. Matthew 20:28, which was read earlier in today’s service proclaims it like this… “just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve (like Obed), and to give His life a ransom for many.” Oh how great was our Suffering Servant is who gave it all… You see Jesus embraced our guilt, our shame, our sin and stood before the judgement seat of a holy God in our place. He took the just punishment for our sin upon Himself so that we can be redeemed from our sin and be free from its condemnation so that we can live for Him and be like Him. He died so that we could be forgiven and brought into His household and family. He alone, paid our great sin debt in full by dying in our place with His precious blood. And out of His great love, He offers the gift of His glorious redemption to us all… we simply must respond to His love with faith and repentance. We must believe in Him and follow Him in obedience to His Word.
In this last chapter of Ruth, we have observed four men who were called redeems. The first redeemer, though he seemed to be interested in keeping the law, proved to be radically selfish. He only wanted to make his name great and enlarge his wealth. And fittingly, Scripture refused to give us his name, as if to say, don’t be like Mr. so and so. Don’t be a worldly Christian who is truly only interested in making himself great. For true greatness will never be found with such a life. But in His grace, God gives us three redeemers to model our lives after… There’s Boaz who was willing to obey the Law of God out of love. He was willing to pay the great price, risk his reputation and give away his finances to bless others, expecting nothing in return. Then there was Obed, the great servant redeemer, who also models for us a servant life. And as he gave his life away to serve His grandmother, her hope was restored, and her life became full. And yet both Boaz and Obed, clearly point us to Jesus. As they both model Christlike sacrifice and servanthood. For in Christ, we have a glorious Redeemer, whose love knows no end. I pray that you too can gladly say… Jesus died for me! And I will live for Him, and like Him!!!
Will pray with me….