Ruth 3: Resting in the Risk
Ruth: From Ruin to Redeemed • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
0 ratings
· 5 viewsNotes
Transcript
Handout
We live in a world that is restless. This comes in all kinds of forms. According to the CDC, at least 1/3 of Americans 33%— do not get the recommended amount of sleep (1). They are restless. They are worried and anxious. 50% of people in this study said they felt isolated and lonely as well (2).
Where do we turn in order to get rest? Many turn to all the wrong things— substances like drugs or alcohol, sexual sins, money, even work can become the medication that we are trying to apply to our hurt. But they all leave us empty and restless in the end. The promise rest but the end up leading to more and more restlessness.
Today we are going to talk about finding rest in the Lord. We are going to see how God sovereignly provides rest for Ruth and we are going to see how this applies to us even today.
Just as a review, we have identified two key concepts in the first two chapters here:
Hesed Love-
Ruth displays it in her loyalty to Naomi— when Naomi was at a dark point, Ruth is a bright light of God’s Hesed Love.
Ruth continues to display humility and hesed by working hard to provide for Naomi
Boaz displays hesed love in protecting and providing for Ruth through the barley harvest season.
God’s Providence- His intimate interaction with creation
The end of the famine draws Naomi back to Bethlehem after her husband dies.
Ruth “happens” to end up in Bethlehem, with Naomi, and gleaning in a field Boaz owns.
Boaz is a relative of the deceased Elimalek’s.
Today we are going to discuss a third powerful concept— Rest. In the NIV translation, the word is often
I. Resting in God is a Risk. (v.1-7)
I. Resting in God is a Risk. (v.1-7)
1 One day Ruth’s mother-in-law Naomi said to her, “My daughter, I must find a home for you, where you will be well provided for.
Ruth 3:1 (ESV)
1 Then Naomi her mother-in-law said to her, “My daughter, should I not seek rest for you, that it may be well with you?
If you remember last week - we ended with around a 6-7 week barley harvest if not a bit longer. Ruth has been working in the field of Boaz and providing a great deal of food for she and Naomi. One must assume that the first day was not the only time that Boaz invited Ruth to his table. They have probably had some further conversations during this time as well. God has continued showing favor to these poor and widowed women through the personal demonstration of grace through Boaz.
Naomi seeks safety and rest for Ruth. (v. 1)
This is a powerful turning point for Naomi— as a side observation. When she came back to Bethlehem, she was down. In a dark night of her soul. Remember? “Call me bitter”. God is against me. “He has done me wrong.” But now--Something has shifted— she is recovering. She has begun to show concern and takes initiative to think of someone other than herself.
That is the commentary I want you to consider. Just a little verse like this— but she has turned a corner. She is healing inside. And that’s what can happen to you also— if you’ve been beat down. When do we know you are healing? When you are actively taking responsibility to bless and assist another— to see someone else’s success, happiness and security— that is another form of the “hesed” love, and the providence of God in your life.
You are taking up the cause of someone else— in this case, Naomi wants Ruth to find a home.
What does Naomi mean when she says she seeks rest for Ruth?
mānôaḥ (mah-no-ah): “rest”, “a safe place”
The word, mānôaḥ (mah-no-ah), translated rest, refers to finding her a husband under whose protection would guarantee her safety and security in Israel.
You see, Naomi is significantly older than Ruth and realizes that if she dies then Ruth will be in trouble. There is no Israelite inheritance for her. She would have no home and would likely be forced to go back to Moab or at best to live in poverty in Israel.
2 Now Boaz, with whose women you have worked, is a relative of ours. Tonight he will be winnowing barley on the threshing floor.
Then we see Naomi start to reveal where Ruth can find that rest that she just mentioned!
Note that none of this is about Naomi. Naomi is fine. Her faith has been renewed through seeing the providential work of God in her own life. She is able to stay in her home. She is able to eat well because of the kindness of Boaz. However, she knows that after she passes, Ruth will be left with no one.
Naomi has concluded that this man would be great for the job of marrying Ruth!
Note an incredibly subtle - yet important comment in verse 2: A relative of “ours”.
This is a first person plural pronoun here ladies and gentlemen! She just called Ruth an outright Israelite!
Moving to the end of verse two we see that Boaz is going to be winnowing barley that night at the threshing floor.
For those of you who haven’t heard of winnowing - Boaz would hammer the barley grain and then throw up (or winnow) the straw which would be carried by windy gusts and the barley being heavier would fall onto a rocky surface and be collected. It separated the inedible straw from the edible barley.
Naomi counsels Ruth to approach Boaz in the night. (v.3)
3 Wash, put on perfume, and get dressed in your best clothes. Then go down to the threshing floor, but don’t let him know you are there until he has finished eating and drinking.
Through verse two we are all probably on the same page. Boaz seems like a great guy. Ruth seems like a great girl. Why not connect these two up. Naomi is showing signs that she has truly grown through her tragedy. When you are actively taking responsibility to bless and assist another— to see someone else’s success, happiness and security— that is another form of the “hesed” love, and the providence of God in your life.
And then we get to this crazy plan in verses 3-5.
Before going through this further I think it is important to understand a pivotal understanding of Scripture.
Naomi and Ruth know something important about Boaz as this plan is formulated. They know his reputation in the city and they know he is a righteous and upstanding man (Ruth 2:1). This is a specific set of instructions for Ruth, from Naomi, for her interaction with Boaz— Customs and cultures are very different, and we must understand that Ruth is acting from withing a context— one that Naomi is helping her navigate. But it’s definitely still a risk. How might he react?
4 When he lies down, note the place where he is lying. Then go and uncover his feet and lie down. He will tell you what to do.”
5 “I will do whatever you say,” Ruth answered.
What kind of trust does Ruth have in Naomi’s instructions? FULL TRUST.
Ruth says she will do it and doesn’t even interrogate Naomi! The faith of Ruth in God and in Naomi is incredible. I’m pretty sure most of us would have a lot of questions if asked to do something this risky. You would think she would ask questions like this:
What do I do if he gets angry?
What if he rejects me?
What if he tries to harm me?
But not Ruth - she goes in faith and does exactly what Naomi told her to do.
6 So she went down to the threshing floor and did everything her mother-in-law told her to do.
Ruth approaches Boaz, and carries out the plan.
We see Naomi’s plan played out here. He lays down at the end of the heap of grain - no one else is around him. And Ruth uncovers his feet and lays down.
I love this book of Ruth. Like many other stories in scripture--It has places where you don’t know exactly what is going to happen next. We have just been presented with this risky plan of Naomi’s and we have seen Ruth follow it exactly as directed. How will Boaz respond to this incredible risk that Ruth has just done? Will he cast her out? Will he see her as trying to damage both of their reputations? Or will he respond favorably?
This is the part of the show that the commercial would start. All 10 minutes of them. The suspense is definitely brewing!
While we are left with this cliffhanger - we can learn a lot from Ruth here. We see Ruth step out in faith and risk it all. She could have lost her good reputation. This is quite un-refined, and even in our culture today— quite forward. She stands to lose everything. Boaz could have gotten upset and dismissed her! Yet she proceeded in the risk— in faith.
This story is full of imagery, foreshadowing, inferences to other places and times in scripture. Does your mind travel to any other story that you might remember— picturing a women entering where she wasn’t invited, taking a risk, and lying down at the feet of an upstanding man? Focusing on his feet— covering his feet with an expensive perfume? Perhaps a redeemer? YES! OF COURSE! THE WOMAN Named MARY AT THE FEET OF JESUS in John 12!
2 Here a dinner was given in Jesus’ honor. Martha served, while Lazarus was among those reclining at the table with him.
3 Then Mary took about a pint of pure nard, an expensive perfume; she poured it on Jesus’ feet and wiped his feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.
Mary is worshiping Jesus— thanking Him for the great change and impact He has made in her life. She is expressing her love for him.
Ruth is basically doing the same thing. In this context - she is proposing marriage, safety, protection together with Boaz. She is taking a risk— putting herself “out there” in showing herself at Boaz’s feet. She is finding rest in the risk.
Brothers and sisters - we have the offer in front of us to find rest in that risk as well. In a world full of restlessness - we can seek rest under the wings — at the feet--- of the Lord Jesus. This is personal— it’s intimate— this is our deepest desire, to know and to be known by God. Do you have this type of relationship with Jesus?
Listen, you are invited to enter the rest of Christ and avoid eternal judgment. Avoid being alone and an outsider in this world.
Yet entering the rest of Christ does come with a risk. We must give up some other things in order to enter God’s rest.
Just like Ruth risks it all to find rest under the wings of Boaz - we are asked to risk it all to find rest under the wings of Christ. We must give up our lives in order to find this rest. But “rest” may not look like what we think it does:
18 “If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. 19 If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you.
Making the decision to go all in for Christ comes at a price. The risk is definitely real.
But the risk is real— and the reward is real also!
II. Resting in God is a Reward. (v.8-11)
II. Resting in God is a Reward. (v.8-11)
8 In the middle of the night something startled the man; he turned—and there was a woman lying at his feet! 9 “Who are you?” he asked. “I am your servant Ruth,” she said. “Spread the corner of your garment over me, since you are a guardian-redeemer of our family.”
Boaz’ first response - Ah! I think that is an appropriate response when you wake up startled! He was sleeping and minding his own business and there is someone laying at his feet in the middle of the night! A woman for that matter. Its probably dark, he didn’t recognize her!
We can only imagine what is going through his mind right now. He has no idea who this is. He is a pure and righteous man. And now there is a woman at his feet at night.
She identifies herself and repeats part of the exact prayer that Boaz expressed in chapter 2 and identifies him as God’s personal demonstration of God’s providence as we saw last time. She wants to be under his wings of protection. She actually calls him to become the very blessing that he proclaimed on her!
Boaz awakens to find Ruth at his feet.
12 May the Lord repay you for what you have done. May you be richly rewarded by the Lord, the God of Israel, under whose wings you have come to take refuge.”
And now Ruth repeats this blessing letting Boaz know that she wants him to be her continued personal demonstration of providence and protection from the Lord.
This phrase “under His wings”— may not mean quite as much to us here in our culture— but don’t miss this— This is an ancient phrase that is used throughout scripture to describe a powerful protection and sustaining shield. A descendant of this very couple, Ruth and Boaz— their great grandson will write these words describing the action of God in His own life:
4 He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.
Ruth proposes to Boaz, reminding him that he is a family redeemer.
She brings up this word redeemer that we heard last week. We will start addressing it this week somewhat, but we will address it in its entirety next week. In essence she is proposing marriage to Boaz. We may often think of this as a romantic and intimate gesture— but actually many scholars and commentators believe she is simply talking “business” at this point. She is asking that he step in and take her as his wife and continue the line of Elimelech’s son, Mahlon (her deceased husband), through her. This is quite a bold request. It leads us back to the Law of Israel.
This idea of a kinsman redeemer is likely taken from Deuteronomy 25:5-10 where we see the line of a particular family should be continued if a man passes away with no sons. The brother is encouraged to step in to continue the lineage of his brother. If you remember, the Israelites were God’s chosen people and He wanted to ensure that these 12 tribes continued on. Even today we see God’s providential protection over the people of Israel. There is still a plan for these people as we see in Revelation 7:4-8 the 144,000 sealed during the Tribulation.
5 If brothers are living together and one of them dies without a son, his widow must not marry outside the family. Her husband’s brother shall take her and marry her and fulfill the duty of a brother-in-law to her. 6 The first son she bears shall carry on the name of the dead brother so that his name will not be blotted out from Israel.
Boaz’s response is powerful as well:
10 “The Lord bless you, my daughter,” he replied. “This kindness is greater than that which you showed earlier: You have not run after the younger men, whether rich or poor. 11 And now, my daughter, don’t be afraid. I will do for you all you ask. All the people of my town know that you are a woman of noble character.
His response is appreciation, love, and respect. He is grateful that this younger woman would choose him - an older man who is a bachelor.
Just a quick side word about Boaz---A man who is the son of a prostitute (Rahab) as we see in the Biblical record (Ruth 4:21, 1 Chron. 2:11, Matt. 1:5)
5 Salmon the father of Boaz, whose mother was Rahab, Boaz the father of Obed, whose mother was Ruth, Obed the father of Jesse,
It is clear that Rahab was the wife of Salmon who was the father of Boaz!
He states that this display of kindness is even greater than the first. The first kindness was her love for Naomi and her coming from Moab with Naomi. Her second kindness was greater because it showed a self-sacrifice for Naomi and her family. She could have been disgraced or shunned by Boaz. She risked her reputation for Naomi and in order to continue the line of Naomi’s family. She also valued Naomi’s security and the lineage of her deceased husband greater than her own preferences or desires. She didn’t go approach the younger men. She goes approaches a man with godly character instead, and both of these people are committing to build the family of Elimelech.
Boaz lets her know in verse 11 that he will do all that she asks because she is a worthy woman. He sees her godly character. He has seen it clearly over the past several weeks as she has gleaned in his field.
Boaz is blessed by Ruth’s gesture, and agrees to marry her.
We see that Ruth stepped out in faith in the first section. Although the risk for Ruth was real - the reward is real also. With this response, she was shown that she will be cared for and protected.
During the first point we discussed the risk of following Christ. Why should we step out in faith and seek rest in the Lord Jesus Christ? Why should we take a risk and give our lives to Christ? Especially if it may mean some hardship in this life at times.
Did you catch the echoes of a phrase that was spoken twice in this dramatic evening>?
“I will do everything you have said”. Ruth says that to Naomi— an act of deep trust.
Now Boaz says the same thing— “I will do everything you have said”— Equally an act of Trust and Rest… Ruth give rest to Naomi through her Love and loyalty— Boaz gives rest to Ruth through protecting her while gathering food— Ruth now gives Rest to Boaz by submitting to him a request to be his wife— something he may have been longing for all along! Boaz finally promises “rest” to Ruth (and Naomi) by making sure that they will be assured the future Elimelech and Mahlon deserve as citizens of the nation of Israel.
All of these situations required RISK—
And IN IT ALL! GOD IS PRESENT< SHOWING US HIS DEEP AND FAITHFUL LOVE TO ALL of Mankind!
Friends - the reward is real. The reward is eternal life with our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
III. We rest in God because He is Reliable. (v. 12-18)
III. We rest in God because He is Reliable. (v. 12-18)
12 Although it is true that I am a guardian-redeemer of our family, there is another who is more closely related than I. 13 Stay here for the night, and in the morning if he wants to do his duty as your guardian-redeemer, good; let him redeem you. But if he is not willing, as surely as the Lord lives I will do it. Lie here until morning.”
Boaz knows of another family member that could also be a redeemer.
It seemed like the story was ready for a happy ending and then comes verse 12. There is a wrench in the plan! There is a closer redeemer nearer than Boaz who is related to Elimelech. Boaz shows integrity and complete purity here. He doesn’t make a move. He doesn’t fabricate the truth. He promises to redeem her if the other man will not. He states that if the other man will redeem her then so be it. That is a very selfless statement. By his comments about Ruth it is clear that he admires her greatly. It is evident that he would be very happy to marry her. But he cares so much for her that even if it wasn’t him, he wants to make sure she is cared for. One way or the other— she and Naomi will be protected and have a future.
We can see that he cares deeply for Ruth because he lets her know that he will seek an answer the following morning.
Boaz maintains purity, and promises to resolve the issue immediately.
14 So she lay at his feet until morning, but got up before anyone could be recognized; and he said, “No one must know that a woman came to the threshing floor.” 15 He also said, “Bring me the shawl you are wearing and hold it out.” When she did so, he poured into it six measures of barley and placed the bundle on her. Then he went back to town.
In the morning she is sent out with 6 measures (probably scoops of some sort) of barley --It needed to be kept secret for their reputations and also so that it would not complicate his talks with the nearest kinsman redeemer.
16 When Ruth came to her mother-in-law, Naomi asked, “How did it go, my daughter?” Then she told her everything Boaz had done for her 17 and added, “He gave me these six measures of barley, saying, ‘Don’t go back to your mother-in-law empty-handed.’ ”
When Ruth got back to Naomi - there was an intensity there. Naomi knew that Boaz would settle the matter as soon as possible - she actually is assured that he will settle the matter that very day!
There is an interesting subtle statement in verse 17 as well. Ruth was not to go to Naomi empty-handed. If you recall - Naomi, upon returning to Bethlehem, she was definitely empty— but Boaz is sending a very reliable message here:
Boaz remembers and wants Naomi to know that he means business. He wants her to know that he is determined to follow through with his promise to redeem Ruth. And he also likely expresses a thankful heart for her encouragement to Ruth to make this kind proposal.
Then verse 18 leaves us with another climax - we will see what this other redeemer and Boaz decide!
As we come to the end of this section, we have seen that seeking rest in the Lord comes with a risk and reward that are very real. We have seen that Boaz is reliable, and that God himself is also reliable in our lives.. Ruth stepped out in faith and God sovereignly provided a favorable result. We are in the midst of a climax at the end of this chapter of Ruth in not knowing who exactly this redeemer will be. But we are assured that there is a redeemer for Ruth one way or another.
God is reliable and faithful— we can sing: “Fear is Not my Future” along with Ruth today!
Today, we can step out in faith despite any risks because we know the reward of eternal life and a relationship with Christ far exceeds any of the risks involved. And we know Jesus as our redeemer is reliable. Our faith is not a blind faith. Our faith is firmly founded on the Person of Jesus Christ who never lies - who always fulfills His promises - and who is the All-powerful and Sovereign Creator of the Heavens and the Earth. He has our best interest in mind when he makes decisions.
We have a special guest here with us today— It’s Ruth— the very person who has lived this unfolding story— she is going to sing a contemporary song for us— I hope you can join along and feel the presence of God in this story, and in your life today.
Song from Meghan— Fear is Not My Future. Dramatic representation of what Ruth may have been able to sing.
Communion transition—