A redeemer to restore life

Ruth 4

The Sovereignty of God and Redemption

Sunday, November 20, 2022

Pastoral Prayer

Church: Mulberry Grove; pastor Doug Bell in loss of wife, Linda (cancer)

Nations: James & Sonya Herron (Uganda)

A continual heart of thankfulness.

Rec. of Word

Introduction

What do the names of Gandhi, Mother Teresa, Beethoven, Michalengelo, Leonardo, Davinci, Winston Churchill, and Shakesphere have in common?....They are all famous household names throughout history. They are known for their various works and influence on society around them. Their legacy continues on even after they are gone.

It is interesting the various ways we see people become famous. Some for sports, others for acting, others because they are singers. Others still for their great works of art or deeds. Then others simply are famous because of their family name. Then there's the story of the most famous reindeer of all in Rudolf. Stories of fame live, they carry on.

And this morning is no different, we want to consider one who is worthy of fame and glory for all his mighty works. The LORD our God is worthy of being famous to the ends of the earth. And that is what we are going to see as we close out our study of the book of Ruth this morning.

Throughout the book of Ruth we have seen that there is a great need for Naomi to be redeemed. For even the loyal love of Ruth is not able to provide the needed care and rest for her, especially in carrying on the family line. The anticipation has been building in these first 3 chapters of Ruth, showing that as Naomi and Ruth came back to Bethlehem, Naomi felt as if the Lord had dealt very bitterly with her. Then in chapter 2, Ruth finds herself in the field of a family redeemer, a worthy man who shows great kindness to Ruth. And Naomi’s wheels start to turn. Last week, in Ruth 3, we saw what looked as would be the climax of the pursuit for a redeemer, but there was a snag, there was one nearer than Boaz to redeem the land of Elimelech and to redeem Ruth. Therefore the anticipation was left hanging. But this morning, we come to the final chapter of Ruth, the climax of the story. (ILLUSTRATION)

Read Ruth 4…

Main Idea: The name of the LORD is to be made famous (renowned), for he has provided a redeemer to restore life to his people.

A redeemer to restore life

A name worthy of fame

A redeemer to restore life

Will Boaz be the one to redeem Ruth or not? Of course, having just read Ruth 4, we know the answer is, YES! Boaz redeems Ruth, he takes her to be his wife. But we need to consider how we got from the potential hindrance in Ruth 3 to this marriage of Boaz and Ruth. For in the events that unfold in chapter 4, we begin to understand the beauty of redemption and what takes place in it. For we see 3 things that transpire in Boaz’s redeeming act. First, a transaction. Second, a Prayer. Third, a Child.

A Transaction

First, we consider the transaction of the redemption. Boaz wasted no time going to find the other redeemer who was nearer than him. In fact, as Ruth was being told to rest, that the matter would be settled, we see that Boaz had already gone up to the gate in Bethlehem. He was wasting no time. He sat down, waiting on the redeemer to pass by and then he called him over as we see in verse 1 of chapter 4.

But here is the thing, the act of redemption wasn’t a private matter. It wasn’t even a private transaction. Like certain legal documents need a notary in our culture, eyewitnesses were needed to complete a transaction of the redeeming act of buying the property of Elimelech and ultimately gaining Ruth. So, Boaz calls ten men of the elders of the city aside to join him and the other redeemer (v.2).

This is important to note, because this pursuit of redemption is a binding, legal agreement between two parties with eyewitnesses. And the terms of this agreement concern both the land of Elimelech which Naomi was going to sell (v.3), and it also includes taking Ruth for a wife and perpetuating the name of the dead (v.5). That is to give your first son as part of the dead’s family line, not your own.

Hearing the first part of the transaction proposal, the other redeemer was at first willing to count the cost of the transaction and redeem the land. However, in hearing that he would also acquire Ruth, he backs out. Verse 6 reads, “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.’”

A close call for Boaz, but why this sudden exchange? The cost of the transaction for the other was too much for him. It says that it would cost him his own inheritance. We are left in the dark a bit about what this inheritance was. Possibly he was already married, maybe even already had his own son to inherit all his land. Whatever the case, the cost was too high. He was willing to purchase the land, but unwilling to redeem Ruth and take on that responsibility.

Regardless of why the nearer redeemer backs out, we see that legal transactions affect both parties. Both the redeemed and the redeemer. And both parties must agree to the terms or the transaction will not go through. Such as is the case here with this other redeemer. He is willing to agree to part of the terms, but not all. And therefore he turns the opportunity for redemption over to Boaz.

Of course this is the climatic moment we have been waiting for, Boaz agrees to these terms. He will buy both the land and acquire Ruth through it. And according to culture, he seals the deal. We read in verses 7-8….

A sandal is drawn and given to the other as the contractual agreement between the two redeemers. It is as serious as the old spit shake that some of you might be familiar with. There is to be no breaking of it. And then, just like the notary in witnessing the signing of an important document, Boaz calls attention to the ten elders as eyewitnesses of this redeeming transaction. That they have witnessed the terms of the agreement and verbal agreement to those terms. They are able to verify to all that this transaction is settled, it is legal, and it is binding.

And notice their response there in verse 11, “Then all the people who were at the gate and the elders said, ‘We are witnesses.’” The transaction has been affirmed by the eyewitnesses that Boaz is to buy the land from Naomi and acquire Ruth with it. The proposal and wedding can move forward through this binding agreement.

A Prayer

Following the transactional agreement, we see a second thing that takes place in the midst of this redemption coming about, a prayer. The ten elders pray for Boaz, and ultimately Ruth. Return with me again to the second part of verse 11 through verse 12, it says, “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, 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.”

Rachel and Leah together were responsible for providing Jacob with 12 sons. These sons made up the twelve tribes of Israel. They also ask that the house of Boaz be like the house of Perez, connecting it to Tamar and Judah and how Tamar is responsible for bringing a son to Judah, a son that would keep the line of Judah alive. A son of redemption. This is the first part of the prayer then that Ruth will bear children. And while some might think this a silly fact, don’t forget Ruth had been married for 10 years before she became a widow. 10 years without a child in a culture that women don’t wait to try and bear children, as children then were vital to the well being of the family line and the well being of aging parents. For those aging parents would need their children to care for them in their old age. Ruth therefore in all likelihood struggled with fertility, something else in comparison to both Tamar and Rachel. But even Leah’s womb was opened by the Lord, in his timing.

So it is this prayer that Ruth perpetuates the name of the dead in having children. At the same time, a prayer is said for Boaz to act worthily in Ephrathah and be renowned in Bethlehem. Though the act of redemption is being completed, prayer is sought after. Not just for God’s gracious gifts, but for Boaz to walk in holiness as well.

A Child

And that brings us to the third part of this act of redemption, the marriage of Boaz and Ruth and their consummation of that marriage which results in conception. The conception of a Son, a Son who would redeem Naomi. A son who would carry on the lineage of Elimelech, Chlion, and Mahlon. Or as we see that the women told her in verse 15, “He shall be to you a restorer of life and a nourisher of your old age.”

Naomi who felt as if she was left empty handed is able to be restored to fullness through this child. Ruth has cared well for her and has given her a child and they named him Obed, which means servant, worshiper. Through this child, Naomi finds redemption, she finds redemption in her thinking God’s hand had bitterly dealt with her, now she turns and worships him in his gracious care and provision for her.

A Foreshadowing

The book of Ruth is more about the redemption of Naomi than it is about Ruth. Ruth and Boaz are the means to provide redemption for Naomi. But even then, the story of Ruth and this climatic moment isn’t done yet. For the author here of this short love story doesn’t want us missing the main point here, that in the midst of all of this, God has been at work. But it wasn’t just to bring Naomi redemption. It was to bring redemption to the whole of Israel and ultimately to the nations.

As Ruth closes, we see in verse 17 that Obed was the father of Jesse, the father of David. David the King of Israel, the man after God’s own heart who would have a son who would come and sit on his throne forever and ever as the King of glory.

This King of glory would come as a child and would be laid in a manger. But he would be no ordinary child, he would be the God-man, both fully God and fully man. This child would grow and live among us, but he would be without sin. And like the child Obed would be a redeemer to Naomi in restoring life to her, this child, the King of glory, would restore life to a people dead in sin.

For he, like Boaz, would make a transactional agreement. This child, this Jesus, the King of glory came to purchase a people for himself by the shedding of his own blood. The laying down of his own life. And in doing so, he paid the price for our sin. Our sin demanded death, and yet Jesus settled that debt, he purchased us from the hold of sin and death. And the sign of this transaction was his rising from the grave. For in Jesus rising from the grave showed that his sacrificial death on the cross satisfied God’s wrath against sin and that in it death was defeated as well. Therefore, all who belong to Jesus are restored to life in Jesus through his death and resurrection.

But who are those who are his? Those who are his are those who have agreed to the terms of this redemptive transaction; just like Boaz had to do to buy the land of Elimelich and acquire Ruth. And those terms are this, to enter the door of life through him. By believing he is the only way to eternal life. By believing that he has settled the debt of our sin by his own death on the cross. By believing that he has been raised from the dead. By placing our faith in him and following him as our King. That is, to accept the terms of this covenant transaction is to believe Jesus is who he said he was and to rest in his complete and finished work for salvation, to believe in him alone!

Friend, this morning, what are you resting in for your salvation? Are you willing to accept Jesus’ terms of this covenant transaction that life comes through him alone? Or are you trying to find another way or agree to part of the terms while trying to negotiate your own terms into the covenant?

The terms of the covenant have been set by Jesus. We can either accept the terms in full and rest in the completed transaction or we can reject them and refuse the transaction. There is no middle ground.

So friend, if you have been trusting in your religious practices and habits. If you have been trusting in other things for your salvation such as your goodness, your own works, your growing up in the church for your salvation. Realize that you are denying the terms set by Jesus in the gospel. Stop resting in your religious or moral practices. Come and find rest in Jesus and what he has already done on the cross!

For salvation is won by Jesus’ victory over sin and death on the cross. And we receive it by turning from our sin and believing in Jesus alone for our salvation. Will you believe this today? Will you turn from attempting to earn your salvation to trusting in Jesus alone for your salvation today? I’ll be up front here after the service and would love to talk more with you about this.

The story of Ruth points us towards this reality of the need to recognize our own need of redemption and seeing how God has faithfully provided for us a redemption in the line of Obed, the line of David, in Jesus, the Messiah King.

And the prayer for us is to, like Boaz, act worthily in our call to follow Jesus by continually leaning on him for salvation and strength. And as we do, we boast of his name and glory to the ends of the earth, making his name famous. And that is where we now turn with our second point this morning.

A name worthy of fame

Verse 14 reads, “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!’” The LORD who has not left Naomi without a redeemer is worthy of his name being renowned, that is made famous in all Israel. For he had not dealt with her in bitterness. The LORD sovereignly worked to care for and provide rest for Naomi and Ruth in Boaz. Providing a son to perpetuate the name of the dead, the son of Naomi. And because of this, the women of Israel who knew this story, who knew Naomi, recognized that the LORD was worthy of being made known, being made famous for the ways that he has worked!

Friends, do you see this? The LORD Almighty has done a great work to redeem Naomi in orchestrating these details! And again, this child given to Naomi leads to another, the Messiah, Jesus Christ, the Son of God coming to redeem a people for himself.

Therefore, if the LORD is worthy of being made famous for a child being given to Naomi, how much more worthy of fame, when he has given a child to come and save his people from their sins (Matt. 1:21). To quote John Piper, ““The renown of this child will not be mainly in himself; it will come through his offspring, David—and through David’s offspring, the Messiah.”

The LORD, our God, the creator of the heavens and the earth, who created us in his own image is worthy of fame, because he makes a way to bring us back to himself, despite ourselves. For we sinned and rebelled against him, and yet he has made a way to save us from our sins, from ourselves. We shook our fists against him in rebellion, and yet he made a way to bring us back to himself. His redeeming work is worthy of being told to make the name of the LORD famous!

And his fame is not to be limited to just Israel, but to be made famous among the nations! Quoting John Piper again, “The glory of Christ is that he comes from the nations and dies for the nations. His blood was shed for the nations, and the nations’ blood ran in his veins.”

This God is worthy of his name being made famous around the world! He is worthy of talking about! It is for this reason we want to as Christians regularly talk about the glory of God! Both among ourselves and to others.

Making the name of the LORD famous is the very heart of evangelism and missions. For the task of evangelism is to make the fame of God known in what he has done through the life, death, and resurrection of his beloved Son, Jesus to rescue sinners; with the aim to persuade them to believe this. Missions, is crossing culture, language, and ethnic barriers for the same purpose.

This is why the task of evangelism and missions must not be foreign to the life of the Christian. For to be a Christian is to understand the gospel, the goodness of what has been won for us in Jesus. And because of this, we should realize just how worthy the name of the Lord is to be made famous! For we realize how awe striking his work is.

Brothers and sisters, if you struggle in evangelism, I don’t want to guilt you in it. But I do want to challenge you to ask yourself if part of your struggle is the lack of being awed by who God is and what he has done? For making the name of the Lord famous flows out of a heart awed by God!

Let’s pray…