Part 6: Love at First Sight in the Field of Grace
Notes
Transcript
Introduction
Introduction
Last study we did in the book of Ruth, we were in verses 1-3 of chapter 2…We were introduced to A Mighty Man, Boaz, and we looked at A Moabitish Maiden named Ruth, and we finished the thought up with the Marvelous Moment when Ruth just happened to walk into Boaz’ field to glean.
The message was one concerning the provisions and providence of Almighty God.
The “unseen hand of God” guided Ruth into the field of Boaz, but that was only half of the equation, because we also find this “unseen hand of God” maneuvering Boaz to come to the very field where Ruth is gleaning.
Tonight, we are going to look at the other half of God’s providence here in this chapter and preach on “Love at First Sight in the Field of Grace”
Boaz Seeing
Boaz Seeing
And, behold, Boaz came from Beth-lehem, and said unto the reapers, The Lord be with you. And they answered him, The Lord bless thee. Then said Boaz unto his servant that was set over the reapers, Whose damsel is this? And the servant that was set over the reapers answered and said, It is the Moabitish damsel that came back with Naomi out of the country of Moab: And she said, I pray you, let me glean and gather after the reapers among the sheaves: so she came, and hath continued even from the morning until now, that she tarried a little in the house.
After salutations here, Boaz looks over the workers and notices the daring damsel working to glean her barley...
He asks, “Whose damsel is this?” and an unnamed servant answers him about the lady.
This was love at first sight! He didn’t call her a Moabitess or a Gentile, and keep in mind here, she would have been dressed fully in black since she was a widow...
Can I put it this way? He probably saw her at her worst but it was love at first sight!
Boaz saw Ruth before she ever saw him and he fell in love with her before she ever had the chance to love him. Ruth was in a tough situation as I’ve mentioned before; she was a stranger in a foreign land, she was poor, and she was a widow, but Boaz came to where she was and he found her!
We love him, because he first loved us.
Boy I remember the day that I was lost and undone, standing in need of salvation, but no idea where to turn or what to do, and the Lord found me, he loved me, and he willingly extended his love, mercy, and grace to me!
You might think, well preacher, that’s kind of a stretch to say he fell in love at first sight…well, hold your horse and let me tell you the next part!
Boaz Seeking
Boaz Seeking
Then said Boaz unto Ruth, Hearest thou not, my daughter? Go not to glean in another field, neither go from hence, but abide here fast by my maidens:
Look at the way Boaz addresses Ruth in this verse. She is no longer called “the damsel”, but he calls her “my daughter.”
Ruth can be pictured in this chapter in three relationships:
(vs. 1-6) She is a Damsel in the Field...
(vs. 7-13) She is a Daughter in the House...
(vs. 14) She is a Diner at the Table...
When Boaz called her “my daughter,” she received a welcome from him.
In the same way, our Heavenly Boaz, Jesus, will welcome all who come to Him
All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.
and He will give them the titles of “sons” and “daughters” which refer to sonship through the new birth in Jesus Christ!
But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.
Boaz in verse 8, not only saw Ruth, but friend, in a matter of moments he has sought her out!
This is a beautiful picture of the Gospel of Jesus!
For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.
Ain’t this just the perfect picture of how the Lord does?
Oh my ya’ll! I’m going to jump a little ahead tonight and we’ll come back and fill in the blanks, but look at verse 14...
And Boaz said unto her, At mealtime come thou hither, and eat of the bread, and dip thy morsel in the vinegar. And she sat beside the reapers: and he reached her parched corn, and she did eat, and was sufficed, and left.
I’m thankful that I can testify tonight that there was a day when I was just a stranger in the field, not knowing my need, not knowing what I was going to do, but Jesus came looking for me! He saw me, and loved me before I ever knew everything that was going on, and He give me a welcome to His house, I accepted and called me son, and I’ve been dining at His table ever since!
Notice with me…verse 8 again...
She is commanded to glean in his fields only. Ruth doesn’t know it, but Boaz has plans to take care of her. If she will abide in his field, she will enjoy the best he has to offer.
The same is true for the child of God. If we will abide faithful in His field, He will bless us beyond our wildest dreams. The reason so many miss out on the Lord’s best for their lives is that they glean hear and there and never settle down and make the Lord’s will their number one priority! We cannot glean here and there and expect God to bless us! God is looking for faithful stewards.
Boaz Supplying
Boaz Supplying
Let thine eyes be on the field that they do reap, and go thou after them: have I not charged the young men that they shall not touch thee? and when thou art athirst, go unto the vessels, and drink of that which the young men have drawn.
Boaz has commanded the men to leave her alone. Boaz is making sure that no one takes unfair advantage of Ruth. He is telling her not to worry, he has taken care of the details for her. She can trust him to look after her.
What a lesson for the church! We can trust our Lord to take care of us! He is more concerned over our welfare than we are!
Boaz makes sure Ruth knows that he has everything she needs to be satisfied…It’s the same way with the children of the Lord!
Jesus has and is all we need!
He’s rest for the weary.
He’s refreshment for the thirsty.
He’s food for the hungry.
He’s healing to the injured.
He’s hope for the discouraged.
He’s shelter for the frightened.
HE IS ALL YOU NEED! Have you figured that truth out yet? It’s all summed up in:
The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
Boaz Smiling
Boaz Smiling
Then she fell on her face, and bowed herself to the ground, and said unto him, Why have I found grace in thine eyes, that thou shouldest take knowledge of me, seeing I am a stranger? And Boaz answered and said unto her, It hath fully been shewed me, all that thou hast done unto thy mother in law since the death of thine husband: and how thou hast left thy father and thy mother, and the land of thy nativity, and art come unto a people which thou knewest not heretofore. The Lord recompense thy work, and a full reward be given thee of the Lord God of Israel, under whose wings thou art come to trust. Then she said, Let me find favour in thy sight, my lord; for that thou hast comforted me, and for that thou hast spoken friendly unto thine handmaid, though I be not like unto one of thine handmaidens.
Ruth is completely overwhelmed and stunned by the kindness that this Jewish man is showing toward her. She falls on her face and begins to question Boaz as to the reason of his kindness to her, knowing she was a stranger.
But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
Hey ya’ll, when I think of how I’ve experienced this same feeling when I see the marvel of God’s grace - How I’ve been redeemed, forgiven of all sin, washed in His blood, filled with His Spirit, now enjoying Christian fellowship, and possessing all the promises I have for the future.
I ask myself the question, “Why have I found grace in thine eyes?”
Boaz Sharing
Boaz Sharing
And Boaz said unto her, At mealtime come thou hither, and eat of the bread, and dip thy morsel in the vinegar. And she sat beside the reapers: and he reached her parched corn, and she did eat, and was sufficed, and left.
I’ve already mentioned this once, but here Boaz tells Ruth to come forward at mealtime and not be timid. He was going to treat her as if she were one of his.
Boaz was in love and he is doing all that he can to let this Moabitish Maiden realize his love for her. It had nothing to do with Ruth’s goodness, but everything to do with his grace and mercy.
Conclusion
Conclusion
In closing tonight, I want you to think about this:
I adapted this from something I found written by the great Methodist writer, Doctor Watson:
“It seems that God is beside Himself in love for us! Out of His love He gave us this wonderful existence, and then gave us grace to repent, to believe, and to love Him in return, and out of His love gave us the sanctifying Spirit, to live and labor for Him; and then out of His love He contrived to reward us, with honors, and glories in teh age to come. He gives us the love to love Him with, adn then rewards us for loving Him with His own love. Did you ever see anything to beat it? If we pondered these things, would not our hearts burn within us, with a feverish desire to love Him up to all our capacity?”
It was love at first sight…Do you love Him tonight?