The Sovereignty of God and Redemptive Plans (Ruth 3)
Notes
Transcript
Introduction
Introduction
Marriage proposals are both exciting and nerve wrecking, especially for the one who is about to propose. Hoping that the other person doesn’t reject you. But have you ever thought how much culture influences proposals? The majority of our culture, even now, it is normally the custom for a guy to get a ring and then get down on one knee, pop the ring out, and say, “Will you Marry Me?”
However, that is not the same in every culture. In parts of the world, a man will pay a bridal price to his soon to be wife’s father as part of the proposal process. Other traditions and cultures, marriages are arranged by the families, the two being married end up having no say in the matter. Culture dictates proposals. Imagine if our culture demanded that instead of a ring and getting on a knee to propose, it was a crown to be given, we would give the crown. If culture dictated us to go and propose by giving chocolate, we would give chocolate for the proposal, and so forth.
In part this culture aspect of wedding proposals is what makes Ruth 3 seem so strange to us. We often read the story of Ruth with our own culture lenses and think how strange this is. And yet, while there are moments of obscurity within Ruth 3, it appears something more culturally normal and not so far fetched than we thought. Ruth 3 is a proposal in the context of ancient Israel, of a woman seeking a man to be her husband, in hopes that she is not rejected. The climax of this love story is approaching.
If you have a Red Pew Bible, you can find our passage this morning on page #264.
As we have been studying the book of Ruth for the last two weeks, we have seen a pendulum swing for the widow Naomi. We ended Ruth 1 with these words:
She said to them, “Do not call me Naomi; call me Mara, for the Almighty has dealt very bitterly with me.
But by the end of Ruth 2, Naomi’s mourning had turned to rejoicing.
And Naomi said to her daughter-in-law, “May he be blessed by the Lord, whose kindness has not forsaken the living or the dead!” Naomi also said to her, “The man is a close relative of ours, one of our redeemers.”
And amid this hope, we pick up this morning. Hear the word of the LORD from Ruth 3. . . .
The main idea of Ruth 3 is this: As the sovereign kindness of God has been shown to us, we therefore are to show that same kindness to one another. We are going to unfold this in 3 points: (1) Godly kindness to others requires strategy, (2) Godly kindness to others requires risk, and (3) Godly kindness to others requires determination.
Now, let it be stated, these points are kind of like handlebars on a bicycle for you throughout the sermon. They are to help you hang on and know where we are at and going. They are like bearings, to help us move as smoothly as possible and help people keep up even if they were to get distracted for forget for a moment.
Point #1: Godly Kindness to others requires Strategy
Point #1: Godly Kindness to others requires Strategy
As the darkness of hopelessness and despair begins to fade for Naomi and hope arises, a strategic plan begins to come to mind. Hope has given her new life and clear thought.
In his book, Sex, Race, and Sovereignty of God, John Piper writes,
Hope helps us think up ways to do good. Hope helps us pursue our ventures with virtue and integrity.”
The new hope of God’s sovereign kindness to Namoi in providentially leading Ruth to Boaz enables Naomi to now consider how to show kindness to Ruth.
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?
Naomi knows that her daughter-in-law needs rest. And because of her renewed hope, she is able to think clearly on how to strategize to seek this rest for her. And though she rejoices in the sovereign kindness of the LORD, she doesn’t sit ideally by. Naomi seeks to be God’s means of showing kindness to Ruth through the worthy man Boaz.
Is not Boaz our relative, with whose young women you were? See, he is winnowing barley tonight at the threshing floor.
A strategic plan is forming. A plan to put the worthy man Boaz and Ruth together, a strategy to provide abundant rest to Ruth. All she needs is for them to be put together and see how they are able to go above and beyond the kindness they both have already shown to others. So, Naomi strategizes a plan to help her daughter-in-law present herself to Boaz in a clear manner.
Wash therefore and anoint yourself, and put on your cloak and go down to the threshing floor, but do not make yourself known to the man until he has finished eating and drinking. But when he lies down, observe the place where he lies. Then go and uncover his feet and lie down, and he will tell you what to do.”
The barley and wheat harvests have come to the end. They have gathered now at night according to custom, so that as they thrash the barley and wheat, the night breeze can blow the chaff away. The same night air, that Naomi strategically plans to awaken Boaz with Ruth at his feet, which is why Ruth is instructed to remove the blanket from Boaz’s feet.
Now, this plan of Naomi’s is debated by scholars. Some think that Naomi still is short-sighted in sending Ruth to the threshing floor in the middle of the night and putting herself so forward. Especially in her instructing Ruth to wash and anoint herself and going to Boaz after he has laid down following his eating and drinking.
But we must not read our own presumptions into the text. For Naomi here is not seeking harm or shame for her daughter-in-law. Consider with me back to Ruth 2:22 “And Naomi said to Ruth, her daughter-in-law, “It is good, my daughter, that you go out with his young women, lest in another field you be assaulted.””
Naomi cares for Ruth’s protection and safety. She seeks to show godly kindness to Ruth as a result of God’s kindness to her in remembering her and not leaving her without a family redeemer.
Naomi seeks to show godly kindness to Ruth in pairing her with the worthy man, Boaz, one who could redeem her and provide lasting rest.
Therefore, these instructions should not be taken as Naomi instructing Ruth to go down to the threshing floor as one to provoke Boaz into marriage in an unworthy manner. No, in Naomi telling Ruth to wash and anoint herself, she is instructing her to cleanse herself from the ashes of mourning, to ready herself to being ready to have the appearance of one ready and available for marriage.
This is comparable to our culture of a young widow who lost a husband and previously kept on her wedding ring, but now has taken it off as a sign ready to move forward with life.
Naomi comes up with a strategy to have Ruth make it clear to Boaz that she desires to marry him, as the family redeemer. As the one to continue the name of her former husband, to continue the line of Elimelech.
The kindness shown here by Naomi for Ruth took strategy, strategy in how to ensure Ruth was cared for and found lasting rest. And Ruth, accepts that plan.
And she replied, “All that you say I will do.”
Naomi recognizing God’s sovereign kindness has empowered her to seek to show kindness to Ruth. But that kindness for Ruth required strategy, and the same is true for us here this morning.
If we have recognized God’s sovereign kindness to us Christian, we too should be seeking to show that same kindness in return to others. We are not passive onlookers who are to sit ideally by hoping for God’s kindness to be shown to others. We are to realize that we are often the means of God’s kindness to one another. And that part of our Christian discipleship is to extend that kindness to others. And like with Naomi, that will require strategy. It won’t just happen.
Consider how you think through Sunday mornings as we gather as the body of Christ. Do you just show up, without strategically thinking of how can I connect and serve the body of Christ today?
Brothers and sisters, part of our gathering is to labor to build one another up. And in order to do that, strategizing how to do that will be important for us to show kindness towards one another.
Strategizing how to show kindness to those who are in need of encouragement. Strategizing how to connect with those we do not yet know within the body or those that we don’t know very well.
Let me encourage you, though we are currently small, don’t neglect now the importance of strategizing to connect with those you don’t know well. Because part of our showing kindness to one another requires us to know one another. Let us strategize how we are going to connect with those who are different than us and have different interests.
Believe it or not, we don’t all have to have the same interests and hobbies to connect, but it will require us to have some strategy to connect in other and unique ways.
If we are to show kindness to one another, strategy is going to be required. Therefore let us continue to strategize how to better show kindness to others around us. From meeting real needs in a timely manner, to strategy in how to help one another grow in Christ, to strategizing how we can better place ourselves to show kindness to the world in pointing them to Jesus!
And above all, strategizing how we can better help point one another to Jesus, where we will find our ultimate rest!
But not only will showing kindness require strategy, it will also require risk.
Point #2: Godly kindness to others requires Risk
Point #2: Godly kindness to others requires Risk
So she went down to the threshing floor and did just as her mother-in-law had commanded her.
As Ruth does what her mother-in-law has instructed, risk is involved. For Ruth here is going down to the threshing floor, in the middle of the night. Ruth is made vulnerable in going out in the middle of the night as a single woman, likely in a remote place where no one would be able to possibly hear her if she was assaulted. And yet, despite the risk, she goes in order to show kindness to her mother-in-law in caring for her and obeying her instructions.
And further, Ruth takes risk as she comes to Boaz.
And when Boaz had eaten and drunk, and his heart was merry, he went to lie down at the end of the heap of grain. Then she came softly and uncovered his feet and lay down.
Here more risk is required for Ruth to take. There is the risk of uncovering the feet of Boaz and making sure she herself doesn’t stir him while taking the blanket off of his feet. For if she touches him and he is startled, he might let out a loud noise, causing others to perceive her as a promiscuous woman, and by Israel law, then could be sentenced to death for her promiscuous behavior.
There is risk required by Ruth in this plan, because what if Boaz misinterprets her plan, thinking of her as inappropriate?
Then there is the risk of rejection, for he is an Israelite and her a Moabite. Who is he to say yes to her?
All of these are the risks required of Ruth to follow through with this plan. And yet, she goes through it. She goes through it because she has tasted of the sovereign kindness of the LORD already to her in the provisions through Boaz. She desires to continue to show kindness to her mother-in-law. And she desires to show kindness to that of her dead husband.
And Naomi said to her daughter-in-law, “May he be blessed by the Lord, whose kindness has not forsaken the living or the dead!” Naomi also said to her, “The man is a close relative of ours, one of our redeemers.”
Ruth desires to show kindness to her dead husband in being able to continue on his family name through the redeemer, Boaz.
But more importantly, this kindness is grounded in God’s kindness to Ruth, and her seeing that Boaz is the answer to his own prayer.
At midnight the man was startled and turned over, and behold, a woman lay at his feet! He said, “Who are you?” And she answered, “I am Ruth, your servant. Spread your wings over your servant, for you are a redeemer.”
These are the very words that Boaz had prayed for Ruth previously:
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!”
In Ruth coming to Boaz, despite the risks, she shows kindness even here to Boaz, in saying you are God’s means of refuge for me. Without saying it precisely, she is asking Boaz, will you marry me.
Boaz recognizes the kindness that Ruth takes here:
And he said, “May you be blessed by the Lord, my daughter. You have made this last kindness greater than the first in that you have not gone after young men, whether poor or rich.
Ruth shows Godly kindness by not going after just any man to find rest. She has gone after a Godly man in order to show kindness to her mother-in-law and dead husband. And kindness even to Boaz here in recognizing him as a worthy man and one worth resting in, despite his age.
Risks were required for Ruth in carrying out these acts of kindness to both Naomi and her deceased husband. The same will be true for us, Christian. If we are to show godly kindness to others, risk is required.
Risk will be required as we make ourselves vulnerable to hurt and rejection in pursuing others. Risk will be required as our motives could be misconceived. Risk will be required as we must pursue righteousness and worthiness in a compromising world.
Consider here the compromise at hand for Ruth and Boaz. Sexual immorality is at hand, but though they take risks here in this situation, they ensure they both guard themselves in seeking godliness.
Christian, part of living east of eden will require us to take risks as we follow Jesus. Risk to stand firm in the midst of compromise or unlikely situations. Risk to live godly lives and honor the LORD. Risk that can leave us ostracized from the world around us. Risk that is worth it! Risk is involved as we seek to care for others.
And yet, we are to see these risks and take them. For our kindness flows not from ourselves, it is to flow from God’s kindness to us!
God’s sovereign kindness has come to us in Christ! For even here as Ruth asks Boaz to spread his wings over her as a redeemer, God has done for his people.
“When I passed by you again and saw you, behold, you were at the age for love, and I spread the corner of my garment over you and covered your nakedness; I made my vow to you and entered into a covenant with you, declares the Lord God, and you became mine.
God has covered us in the nakedness of our sin by the shedding of the blood of his own beloved Son, Jesus. The blood of Christ washes us clean from our sin and makes us white as snow. He invites us to enter into covenant with him though we are unworthy. This is the gospel, the good new of Jesus Christ! It is because of this good news, this kindness from God, that we then are to display this kind of risk taking kindness to others!
We are to show risk taking kindness to those who are unworthy. We are to have risk taking kindness towards those who cannot reciprocate that kindness to us.
Risk taking kindness will require that we do not think as the world thinks, but go after something better. For Boaz commends Ruth for not going after younger men, whether rich or poor. Godly kindness will require us to take risks in what the culture around us thinks as kind and right.
Consider here even with Ruth and the risks she takes, being wrongly perceived of being something she is not. Christian, especially you younger Christians, the world around us things that sexual desires should be acted upon, that it is how we show kindness and love to one another, regardless of marriage. But that is not what we see here in Ruth 3. Ruth and Boaz show kindness to one another, ensuring the other is not thought of in an unworthy manner.
So she lay at his feet until the morning, but arose before one could recognize another. And he said, “Let it not be known that the woman came to the threshing floor.”
If we are to show godly kindness to one another, we must make sure that the kindness is rooted in God and his instructions. For otherwise, it is not kindness that we show, it is our perversion of it.
Christian, let us labor in light of the kindness we have received in Christ to show kindness to others, despite the risks that come with it. Let us see that the risk of being rejected and hurt are worth it when our eyes are set on the kindness we have in Jesus!
Point #3: Godly kindness to others requires Determination
Point #3: Godly kindness to others requires Determination
And now it is true that I am a redeemer. Yet there is a redeemer nearer than I.
A hiccup to the plan arises, Boaz informs Ruth that there is another redeemer closer to Naomi than he. And therefore Boaz can only agree to cover Ruth with his wings if the nearer redeemer refuses. And yet, Boaz seeks to show godly kindness to Ruth with determination. He is determined that Ruth will find her rest, her redemption, whether through the other or him.
Remain tonight, and in the morning, if he will redeem you, good; let him do it. But if he is not willing to redeem you, then, as the Lord lives, I will redeem you. Lie down until the morning.”
Boaz is determined to show kindness to Ruth in guarding her reputation from being falsely maligned.
So she lay at his feet until the morning, but arose before one could recognize another. And he said, “Let it not be known that the woman came to the threshing floor.”
Boaz is determined to show kindness even in the midst of Ruth waiting for the outcome that she not return empty handed.
And he said, “Bring the garment you are wearing and hold it out.” So she held it, and he measured out six measures of barley and put it on her. Then she went into the city.
In the gift of six measures of additional barley here, Boaz shows his intentions to both Ruth and Naomi, that the rest they seek is coming, one way or another. The barley is his downpayment for the promise. And Naomi recognizes this.
And when she came to her mother-in-law, she said, “How did you fare, my daughter?” Then she told her all that the man had done for her, saying, “These six measures of barley he gave to me, for he said to me, ‘You must not go back empty-handed to your mother-in-law.’ ” 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.”
This determination of Boaz will provide comfort to Ruth as she waits for the matter to be settled. A determination that will be required of us if we are to show godly kindness to others. A determination to show kindness to others despite circumstances. A determination to do good to others and labor for their good and not just our own. A determination to show kindness to others in even laboring for their rest.
And friends, even right now I want to labor for your rest by pointing us to the big picture here so far of Ruth. For even here at the Threshing floor where Ruth makes a bold ask to Boaz to spread his wings over her, and Boaz’s response, it is not a strategy to finding your Boaz, it is not a dating strategy. It is how two unlikely people of worthy character who have come under the sovereign care of God respond when they taste of God’s kindness to them.
For even here with Boaz, his determination models the God in whom he trusts . The God who was determined to redeem a people, to spread his wings over a people as their refuge, as their hope. God was willing to move heaven and earth in order to bring redemption about. He gave his only begotten son into the world in order to save the world, to rescue us from the curse of sin and death.
Boaz is determined to provide rest to Ruth because of the rest he finds in the goodness of his God.
Brothers and sisters in Christ, rest is found for our weary souls in Jesus! God’s plan has been revealed, he ensured it was brought about. Like Ruth, we must now wait with certainty that it will be completed.
And friend, if you have yet to find that rest. I want you to see the plan of God, the determination of God, and risk accepting it. Want you today believe in this good news that God has made away for you to have rest, rest from your weary labors of trying to be good enough. Rest from your weary labors of trying to earn favor with him. Rest for your weary soul that is weighed by sin. Come and fall into the arms of Jesus and rest, knowing that he alone can take away your sorrow and sin, that he alone can save. As we close in a moment, I’ll move to the back, I’d love to talk to you more about what coming to this rest looks like.
Let’s pray.
