5.4.36 7.30.2023 Redeeming Love Ruth 4

Start:

Entice: We all need a little romance in our lives. There are times when we want to read a story or watch a movie that makes us feel good, and that doesn’t ruin our appreciation for humanity. A story pulls at our heart strings.

Ruth does those things.

It is a wonderful story that teaches us important lessons about redemption,

and grace,

without getting all up in our face.

Ruth reminds us of God’s lovingkindness without spending time

focusing on our

sins,

shame,

and

shortcomings

—all of which we tend to be aware of already.

Engage: We all have love stories. In a good marriage the couple always thinks that their love story is the best.

Some love stories are

so strong,

so powerful,

so engaging

that they include others. That is the kind of love story the simple story of Ruth and Boaz becomes.

Expand: Boaz was an exemplary man. He intended to do exactly what he said he would. As we look over the shoulders of the inhabitants of Bethlehem we recognize the maneuvering of businessmen trying to make a good deal. We can identify with a man in love trying to win the hand of the woman he loves. We understand the relief felt by Naomi and Ruth as their widowed exile comes fully and finally to an end. The customs, and way of doing business may be unfamiliar, but the strength of the story is not in those details but in the characters we meet and the empowering, unseen hand of God which is moving the action forward.

Excite: . Everyone wants to be a part of a life-changing love story. The big story of Redemption is made up of a lot of little stories

Explore:

Jesus is the Redeemer of all our stories.

Expand: Boaz in an earthly, and Jesus in an eternal fashion illustrate the true nature of redemptive love…

Body of Sermon: Redemptive love

1 Takes Character.

Ruth 4:1–8 ESV

1 Now Boaz had gone up to the gate and sat down there. And behold, the redeemer, of whom Boaz had spoken, came by. So Boaz said, “Turn aside, friend; sit down here.” And he turned aside and sat down. 2 And he took ten men of the elders of the city and said, “Sit down here.” So they sat down. 3 Then he said to the redeemer, “Naomi, who has come back from the country of Moab, is selling the parcel of land that belonged to our relative Elimelech. 4 So I thought I would tell you of it and say, ‘Buy it in the presence of those sitting here and in the presence of the elders of my people.’ If you will redeem it, redeem it. But if you will not, tell me, that I may know, for there is no one besides you to redeem it, and I come after you.” And he said, “I will redeem it.” 5 Then Boaz said, “The day you buy the field from the hand of Naomi, you also acquire Ruth the Moabite, the widow of the dead, in order to perpetuate the name of the dead in his inheritance.” 6 Then the redeemer said, “I cannot redeem it for myself, lest I impair my own inheritance. Take my right of redemption yourself, for I cannot redeem it.” 7 Now this was the custom in former times in Israel concerning redeeming and exchanging: to confirm a transaction, the one drew off his sandal and gave it to the other, and this was the manner of attesting in Israel. 8 So when the redeemer said to Boaz, “Buy it for yourself,” he drew off his sandal.

1.1 Promise

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.”

1.2 Process

There is no right way act in bad faith.

1.3 Propriety

For redemptive love

2 There are Consequences

Ruth 4:9–10 ESV

9 Then Boaz said to the elders and all the people, “You are witnesses this day that I have bought from the hand of Naomi all that belonged to Elimelech and all that belonged to Chilion and to Mahlon. 10 Also Ruth the Moabite, the widow of Mahlon, I have bought to be my wife, to perpetuate the name of the dead in his inheritance, that the name of the dead may not be cut off from among his brothers and from the gate of his native place. You are witnesses this day.”

2.1 Word.

(promises)

2.2 Deed.

(practices)

Redeeming love

3 Requires Conviction.

Ruth 4:11–17 ESV

11 Then all the people who were at the gate and the elders said, “We are witnesses. May the Lord make the woman, who is coming into your house, like Rachel and Leah, who together built up the house of Israel. May you act worthily in Ephrathah and be renowned in Bethlehem, 12 and may your house be like the house of Perez, whom Tamar bore to Judah, because of the offspring that the Lord will give you by this young woman.” 13 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. 14 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! 15 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.” 16 Then Naomi took the child and laid him on her lap and became his nurse. 17 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.

3.1 Who God’s story is about.

3.2 Where God’s story is going.

Finally, Redeeming love

4 Makes Connections.

Ruth 4:18–22 ESV

18 Now these are the generations of Perez: Perez fathered Hezron, 19 Hezron fathered Ram, Ram fathered Amminadab, 20 Amminadab fathered Nahshon, Nahshon fathered Salmon, 21 Salmon fathered Boaz, Boaz fathered Obed, 22 Obed fathered Jesse, and Jesse fathered David.

4.1 Past to the Present.

4.2 The little picture and the big picture.

Shut Down

The reality of redemption is a theme at the heart of the love-songs we sing in worship.

I will sing of my Redeemer…

Redeemed how I love to proclaim it

Redeemed, Redeemed—His child and forever I am.

In the book of Ruth it was a real love song, a ballad of romance. From that love story and the noble actions of the kinsman redeemer, Boaz comes a new nuance to knowledge of the promised Savior, the Messiah.

Jesus acts with supreme character to save us. He bore the consequences, convicted of the power of God’s redeeming story. In so doing He makes the eternal, redeeming connection between a loving God and His fallen creation.

Yes. That is a love story. The best love story of all.

Under His wings,

Under His wings

Who from his love can sever,

Under His wings my soul shall abide

Sweetly abide forever