Ruth
Notes
Transcript
Handout
OPENING
Ruth 1:1 (ESV)
In the days when the judges ruled there was a famine in the land...
We remember what that was like!
There was no king… no one to lead the people of Israel… everyone did what was right in their own eyes…
This led to Israel’s sin… which led to God’s discipline where God allowed the nations around them to plunder and oppress them… then the people of Israel would realize their sin and call out to God for help… and He would graciously deliver them by raising up a judge.
These judges were imperfect, but God used them to deliver His people… but eventually the people would sin again.
So this is the setting/backdrop for the book of Ruth.
DESCRIBE THE BOOK OF RUTH IN A NUTSHELL…
The Godly Character of Ruth
The Godly Character of Ruth
At the end of the book of Joshua, God has faithfully brought His people into the Promised Land.
Joshua then commands the people to remain committed to God, and not turn to other gods. He essentially says,
“You choose whether you want to serve the gods on the other side of the river that God defeated… the gods on this side of the river that God defeated… OR the God who defeated all the other gods!”
And yet, the Israelites go after other gods, serve them, and bow down to them.
We read in Judges 2:12
And they abandoned the Lord, the God of their fathers, who had brought them out of the land of Egypt. They went after other gods, from among the gods of the peoples who were around them, and bowed down to them. And they provoked the Lord to anger.
Rather than remaining committed to the God who brought them out of Egypt, and delivered them safely into the Promised Land just as He promised… they chose to serve the gods of the nations from around them.
But this is the exact opposite of what Ruth does!
Remember that this story is set in the time of the Judges.
While others are turning away from the true God of Israel to other gods, Ruth is turning away from the other gods to the true God!
After being married in the family for about ten years, Ruth’s husband dies, and Naomi decides to head back to Bethlehem because she has heard there is food there again.
Since she has no more sons for her daughters-in-law, she blesses them and tells them to go back home.
Here is Ruth’s response…
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. 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.”
Ruth chooses to remain loyal to Naomi, and to God.
At this point, Naomi’s family line will die. She has no husband, and no more children.
By staying loyal to Naomi, Ruth keeps the family line going.
So Boaz took Ruth, and she became his wife. And he went in to her, and the Lord gave her conception, and she bore a son. Then the women said to Naomi, “Blessed be the Lord, who has not left you this day without a redeemer, and may his name be renowned in Israel! He shall be to you a restorer of life and a nourisher of your old age, for your daughter-in-law who loves you, who is more to you than seven sons, has given birth to him.”
Through Ruth, Naomi’s family name will continue.
We learn that this is the family line that will lead to King David.
APPLICATION
What I want us to stop and take note of is the godly character of Ruth.
She is a godly woman who pursues God (leaving her family), and follows His Word (redeemer).
She is also loyal to Naomi, rather than pursuing her own personal interest (desiring to give her a redeemer; working hard to provide for them both).
She is a godly example for ladies to follow.
These are not typically the messages we are sent by culture and social media of what women should be like.
Ladies, in what ways do you feel pressured by culture and social media?
to look a certain way
to wear certain things
to be a specific body weight
to use specific products
Most of these things are related to appearance. If you look a certain way… a man will love you.
This story tells us nothing of Ruth’s appearance! We have no idea what she looked like… because it’s not important!
She was a godly woman who was committed to God!
Ladies, this is what you ought to strive for.
Don’t listen to what the world is telling you… that is going to attract all of the wrong men.
I’m not telling you not to dress nice… you can be stylish without being immodest.
What I am saying is that you should be striving to be a woman who is pleasing in God’s sight… and then you will attract a godly man.
That is the kind of man you want standing by your side, who will remain committed to you till the day you die!
Ruth is not the only godly character in this story worth modeling our lives after…
The Godly Character of Boaz
The Godly Character of Boaz
Ruth and Naomi need to eat, so Naomi sends her out to get some grain.
She just so happens to come to the field of Boaz… who is a relative who can redeem the family line of Naomi.
Boaz shows Ruth incredible grace and favour…
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. 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.”
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?” 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.
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!” 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.”
Boaz tells Ruth to continue to come there until the end of the harvest, so they can continue to be provided for.
Boaz is a godly man who is concerned about following God’s Word, and taking care of widows… who cannot take care of themselves.
There’s nothing in it for him… no benefit to be gained… it is actually costing him potential money.
He is more concerned about obedience to God, and caring for others.
APPLICATION
Boaz is a godly example for us as men to follow.
He loves God, and he loves people!
He is a godly example of a man.
Men, in what ways do you feel pressured by culture and social media?
you gotta be tough
you gotta be strong
you gotta have a 12 pack
you gotta make a lot of money
A lot of pressure that is put on a man has to do with what he does… his achievements.
Once you’re successful, then a woman will love you.
This story doesn’t tell us anything about how successful or unsuccessful Boaz was!
Because it’s not important!
What’s important, is a godly man, following God’s ways, choosing to be different than other men in the society.
Men, don’t listen to what society is telling you to be!
If you just focus on your achievements, then you are going to attract the wrong women!
I’m not telling you not to strive to be successful… you can be successful without finding your identity in your accomplishments.
What I am saying is that you need to strive to be pleasing to God!
Follow His Word… be different from other men… be the godly man who cares for others, and can faithfully lead a woman to growing as a follower of Jesus.
Then you will attract a godly woman who you actually want to stand by your side until the day you die!
Ruth and Boaz are faithful, godly examples that we should follow.
But it is God’s faithfulness to these godly individuals that is the main point of this story…
The Faithfulness of God
The Faithfulness of God
We have talked about the fact that the book of Ruth stands out from the previous book, Judges, in that the characters in this story are not like the people of Israel, who are doing what is right in their own eyes.
They are not doing what is right in their own eyes, these characters are following God’s Word.
And God is blessing their obedience.
As Ruth goes out to glean in the field, she “just happens” to come to the field of Boaz.
This is not a coincidence, but the hand of God guiding and directing her.
Ruth finds favour in the sight of Boaz, because of her noble character.
Boaz blesses her, and he finds favour in the sight of Ruth, because of his noble character.
We see God working in their hearts to draw them together.
As Ruth proposes to Boaz, we see her seeking to follow God’s Word.
Boaz also does not rush things, but follows God’s Word.
God is moving in their hearts to honour Him and His ways.
Ultimately, God provides a son through this union.
Then Naomi took the child and laid him on her lap and became his nurse. And the women of the neighborhood gave him a name, saying, “A son has been born to Naomi.” They named him Obed. He was the father of Jesse, the father of David.
We know from the NT that Jesus ultimately comes from the line of David.
He is the promised seed who will ultimately defeat the serpent from back in the garden.
God is faithful to bring about His promises, in His time, in His ways…
And He never asks for our permission. We don’t know how He is going to do it, but He will!
APPLICATION
Maybe you’re really struggling with the desire to find a girlfriend or boyfriend.
You see others getting married, engaged, or dating, and you long to have that.
God has not promised in His Word that He will provide that for you.
That does not mean that He won’t… but we cannot cling to it as it was His promise to us.
He does promise to give us joy, privilege, blessing in this life through salvation in Christ!
This is far better! Not because marriage isn’t good, but because God and His presence are far better.
Marriage is great, but it ultimately does not satisfy all the needs of our heart.
So during this season of waiting, God wants you:
To draw near to Him…
To cultivate a relationship with Him…
To find your joy and satisfaction in Him…
To know Him through His Word…
And depend on Him through prayer…
So that you can find your ultimate satisfaction in this life.
Falling more in love with your Saviour, Jesus Christ, who gave everything up for you.
This is the ultimate love story!
CLOSING
As I close, I want to share what Vivian L. Hyatt has written in an article she wrote, entitled, “Whom Should I Marry? Ask Boaz and Ruth”.
Ruth’s story has wise application for Christians today, a day of later marriages and online dating, a day of choosing or rejecting a mate on the basis of “chemistry.”
We don’t know if Boaz was handsome or whether Ruth was gorgeous, whether they were serious or “fun,” or what they liked to do in their free time. We know their character and their God. Maybe that’s enough.
As with Ruth, the contemporary woman’s “contingency plan” is submission to God, following what she understands to be his will for her today, tomorrow, and the next day, regardless of “prospects.” If a man begins pursuing you, get firsthand knowledge of his reputation. Look for honor and integrity and the desire to provide and protect. Wait on the Lord.
How do godly men pursue women? With the utmost honor, integrity, and purity. With firsthand knowledge of her reputation. With time and patience. She is not yours until there is a ceremony of marriage, with the blessing of God and his people.
Then, together, live it up.
Pursue God…
come to find Him the greatest companion/friend/helper you could possibly have…
and then if He chooses to bring someone into your life, you will be the godly spouse He wants you to be as you strive to become holy together.
Let’s pray.
