The Sovereignty of God and Redemptive Consummation (Ruth 4)
Notes
Transcript
Introduction
Introduction
Throughout the story of Ruth, there have been so many twists and turns. Famine comes, Naomi along with her husband and sons leave Bethlehem for Moab to find refuge. Then the twist and turn of getting there, settling, but then Elimelech dies.
Then the two sons of Naomi marry, but they marry Moabite women which is against Israelite law. They live in Moab and married for around ten years, but then they die .
Naomi then hears of the LORD visiting Bethlehem and she with her two daughter-in-laws set out to return. However, Naomi decides to encourage her daughter-in-laws to return to their own homes, to their mother’s house. One does, but one clings closely to Naomi and returns with her, the Moabite Ruth. Ruth declares that Israel will be her people and YHWH will be her God and that nothing will separate her from Naomi except death. But as they come back, Naomi tells the women of the town to call her Mara because God has dealt bitterly with her. These are just the twists and turns of chapter 1.
Then there is the twists and turns of Ruth going to glean barley in the fields, hoping to find favor. And does she ever find favor in the field of Boaz. For he cares and provides for Ruth above and beyond the letter of the law. This is all orchestrated by the hand of the sovereign kindness of the LORD who led her there though.
Then there is a marriage plot in chapter 3, but then another twist and turn comes, there is actually another redeemer nearer to Naomi and her dead husband, Elimelech. And this nearer redeemer actually has first right to both the land of Naomi and to Ruth.
All of these twists and turns make me feel like I’m back in East Tennessee in the mountains on what we call switchback roads. Roads that turn so quickly going the other way that you feel like your behind parts are around the corner from where your head is. Roads that truly can give you whiplash. Roads that leave you with limited visibility of what is ahead.
That is what the story of Ruth has been, a switchback road with limited visibility at what is ahead. But the reality is, that is not just the story of Ruth, it is the story of each and everyone of our lives. We have limited visibility at what is ahead. But there is one who does, and it is he we need to trust along the way, for he is up to far more than we can imagine.
This is what the twists and turns of Ruth have been teaching us. Teaching us that though we may not see ahead with clear visibility, we can trust God who in his sovereign kindness is working to lead us and guide us to greener pastures and streams of living water.
And that is exactly what we see here as we come to the end of Ruth, that though we can barely see, we are to trust God who is doing more than we could ever imagine. Therefore, let us dive in to Ruth 4.
Here is what I think the main idea of Ruth 4 is: “Blessed be the LORD our God who has not left us without a redeemer to restore us.” We are going to unfold this in 3 points: (1) a redemptive transaction (Ruth 4:1-12), (2) a redemptive reversal (Ruth 4:13-17), and (3) a redemptive lineage (Ruth 4:18-22).
Point#1: A Redemptive Transaction
Point#1: A Redemptive Transaction
The worthy man Boaz has already made clear to Ruth that he will settle the matter of her need of redemption! For Boaz told her back in chapter 3, verses 12-13:
And now it is true that I am a redeemer. Yet there is a redeemer nearer than I.
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.”
It is morning, Ruth has gone back to Naomi and informed her of the outcome of the night which we ended with as Ruth 3 closed. And the worthy man, Boaz his actions we see here as Ruth 4 start.
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.
Boaz goes to the gate, because it is at the gate of the city where all legal matters must take place. For the gate of the ancient city is much like the courthouse today. And so it is here that Boaz goes.
Whether Boaz knew the other redeemer would be coming there that day or not, we see clearly how the providence of God was at play in that this other redeemer comes quickly following Boaz’s arrival. And so, Boaz invites him to sit down. And then Boaz takes the next step to settle the matter, he gets witnesses necessary to observe this legal matter.
And he took ten men of the elders of the city and said, “Sit down here.” So they sat down.
This act of redemption at hand is a legal matter. A matter that must follow the legal practices of the day. In reality, it is no different than today. When Darcy and I got married up here, we had to go to Vilas County Courthouse the day before our wedding and fill out papers and get our marriage license. This will help put the matter in perspective for us in grasping what is going on here.
With the legal procedures in place, Boaz informs the redeemer of the situation, as well as the witnesses.
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.
Boaz here doesn’t start with Ruth as the primary one needing redeemed, but the land. The reason for this is that the land of Naomi is what is first and foremost in order here calling for redemption to provide for Naomi, their relative. It is also a noble and worthy move on Boaz’s part. He presents the land first, leaving aside his own desire to care for Ruth, a worthy woman.
It is also unclear as to whether the land of Naomi here was previously sold or now being sold. For it is possible that Elimelech sold the land prior to their fleeing to Moab for refuge. Either way, the law calls for redemption of the land.
“If your brother becomes poor and sells part of his property, then his nearest redeemer shall come and redeem what his brother has sold.
In the ancient world of Israel, land was meant to remain within the family line, and when sold out of necessity, it was meant to be redeemed by a close relative to stay in the family. And when it did get sold or taken, the family redeemer was to come in and plead the case for the original owners and the land to be restored to them.
Do not move an ancient landmark or enter the fields of the fatherless,
for their Redeemer is strong; he will plead their cause against you.
And that is what Boaz is doing here for the land that Naomi is selling. He is presenting it first and foremost as a land needing to be redeemed.
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.”
In Boaz doing what is good and right, by presenting the land in need of redemption, he seems to cost himself. For the nearer redeemer says that he will indeed redeem it ahead of Boaz. That it will be he who gets the land. But then Boaz tells further what the purchase of the land will require.
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.”
Boaz now informs this other redeemer that there is another obligation here in redeeming the land, the Moabite, Ruth. The widow of their relative Mahlon. And that in that, this other redeemer will need to marry Ruth and seek to provide a son who will count in the line of Mahlon instead of his own. This was the means for ensuring the family line, the family name carried on. And it would be this son who would then inherit the land, even though the redeemer purchased the land. And at this addition, something changes.
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.”
This unnamed redeemer hears this additional requirement of redemption, this additional cost, and declares that it is too high of a cost. For the cost of redemption will not benefit him, but cost him. It will cost him potentially his own inheritance, whether that meant him personally or maybe he was already married with a son of his own, and he feared it costing his own son. Whatever the case, this unknown, other redeemer now declines.
There is some irony in this. Here this other redeemer seeks to preserve his own inheritance instead of preserving his relative in doing good to Naomi and Ruth. And in seeking to preserve his own inheritance instead of fulfilling the law of God, this other redeemer’s inheritance isn’t even worthy of being remembered by name. For he is the nameless other redeemer, as he fails to honor his relatives in prolonging their name and lineage. He counted the cost of worldliness and found his name forgotten.
Boaz on the other hand, in his righteousness, almost lost the chance to redeem and marry Ruth. But he counted the cost of being a worthy man and honoring the LORD and received the reward.
Christian, the pursuit of godliness is costly. But the pursuit of godlessness is far more costly. For not only will the godless find themselves forgotten, but they too will find themselves eternally separated from Christ.
Count the cost and pursue godliness in adhering to all that King Jesus commands!
For it is here that Boaz does just that, the other redeemer refuses to redeem with the high cost, Boaz eagerly agrees to it!
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.
So when the redeemer said to Boaz, “Buy it for yourself,” he drew off his sandal.
The cost is not to high for Boaz, he takes off his sandal ready to pay the cost for redeeming the land and Ruth.
Now, as strange as this might seem of Boaz drawing off his sandal, this marks once more the willingness of Boaz to do what was worthy of redeeming his relatives land and lineage, it also marks that Boaz went about the matter following the legal procedures of the day. And therefore the matter has been settled, there is nothing that can now be done to overturn the matter. The redemption is secure!
Christian, like the matter has been settled for Ruth in finding her redemption from the worthy man Boaz, we too can rest that the matter of our redemption has been settled in Jesus!
As Boaz withdrew his sandal to seal the redemptive transaction, so Christ shedding his blood on the cross and rising from the dead has sealed ours.
His blood was the payment to purchase us from the grips of sin and death and his resurrection was the withdrawing of the sandal to show that the transaction was official. For in Christ’s rising from the grave it proves that death could not hold him, for he was truly without sin.
Friend, if by God’s grace you have received Jesus and rest upon him alone for salvation, you can rest assured you have been redeemed by Christ! That your redemption is secure! There is nothing that can undue it!
For this is the assurance that came when Boaz redeemed Naomi’s land and took Ruth to be his wife.
But not only that, the transaction was confirmed by witnesses.
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.
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.”
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,
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.”
The eyewitness account of the elders confirm the transaction, they confirm all has been done according to the law. And they pray for the blessing of God to come upon Ruth, that her womb might be opened.
For we must remember that Ruth had been married to Mahlon for 10 years, and no children. This indicates that her womb was closed. And so, they ask that not only would the LORD open her womb, but that the LORD would make her a key figure like that of Rachel and Leah, the matriarchs of all of Israel. For from them and their servants came the twelve tribes of Israel.
They ask that Boaz too be one who acts worthily and whose name becomes renown for his loving kindness to that of Elimelech and Naomi and Ruth. That his house be built like that of Perez who too was a child through a redeemer. More on that next week from Matthew 1.
Redemption in all its legality has now come for Ruth and Naomi. Elimelech’s name will be remembered and continued on through this marriage. But there is more that this redemption brings!
Redemption has been purchased, the transaction is complete! And a reversal is now brought about!
Point #2: A Redemptive Reversal
Point #2: A Redemptive Reversal
Naomi was previously bitter and hopeless. She was left without a son. Ruth was a Moabite, a foreigner, and barren. But now.
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.
A son has been born. A son to the previously barren. In her redemption, the LORD reversed Ruth’s fortunes. She was a foreigner, but now joined to an Israelite as one belonging. This fulfilling the prayer of the elders from verses 11-12 and further showing the kindness of God’s sovereignty.
But that is just the start. There is also Naomi.
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!
Yes, the son belongs to Ruth through the worthy man Boaz who has redeemed her, but the son is also that of Naomi’s. For the son perpetuates the name of the dead, of Elimelech and Mahlon. Naomi was previously childless, but now a son has been born to her! A son who brings reversal for her life!
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.”
This son restores life to Naomi! Restores life in not leaving her without a child, without an heir. Though Naomi went through many twists and turns, though there were plenty of moments in which she could not see ahead, YHWH, the God of Israel was at work, caring for her in his sovereign kindness.
And he provided a daughter-in-law who proved to be worth more than seven sons to her. A daughter-in-law who loved her with fierce kindness. A daughter-in-law who gave birth to a son, a son who would continue on Naomi’s own son’s name.
Friends, wherever you find yourself this morning in the twists and turns of life, see that God is sovereignly working even now. He is up to more than you could ever imagine, even if you can’t see it. YHWH, the LORD, our God is perpetually working for our good. How we see God working behind the scenes in Naomi and Ruth’s lives is to help us trust him in the midst of our limited visibility ahead in our own lives.
And friends, God is at work in the here and now reversing the curses of sin and death in this world. For every time that the kingdom of God is advanced in winning souls to Christ, the kingdom of darkness is pushed back. As Christians are conformed more to Christ, the kingdom of darkness is pushed back.
And because we see these reversals in the here and now, because the transaction of our redemption is complete, we too can be sure that when King Jesus returns that a full reversal of the curses of sin and death will be overturned. Where death and sorrow will be no more. Where our every tear will be wiped away. Friends, in Christ a great reversal of our fortunes comes! And though we must wait for the fullness of it, we wait with hope!
Therefore with hope, let us trust God as we wait through life’s twists and turns! Let us trust that he is working all things out for our good and the reversal of our lives as redemption is being worked out in and through us. Let us see how God is up to more than we can even imagine in overturning the curse of sin and death.
For there is joy to the world for the LORD has come. No more will sins and sorrows grow. No more will thorns infest the ground. The LORD in his sovereign kindness has sent a redeemer to make his blessings flow! And this brings us to our final point this morning.
Point #3: A Redemptive Lineage
Point #3: A Redemptive Lineage
A son has been born to reverse the fortunes of Naomi, to restore life to her. But this is not just any child.
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.
The son laid in the lap of Naomi will become the grandfather of David, the King of Israel. A king who will be key in reversing the fortunes of Israel. For previously they were without a king in the days of the judges. And in that time, they did what was right in their own eyes. But in the coming of David as King, David though not perfect, was a man after God’s own heart. A heart that would lead God’s people to love the LORD.
But that is not all. For as we are going to continue to look at as we shift to the gospel of Matthew in the coming months, this Obed, this David prepare the way for the Messiah, Jesus, the one who came to redeem us from our sin.
The story of Ruth looks forward. It points us to how not only does God care for his people in Ruth and Naomi, he cares for us. From the beginning, God has put a plan in motion to redeem a people to himself. A people from every tongue and tribe and nation.
The women there in Ruth 4:14 asked that Obed’s name be renowned in Israel. Friends, his name is not just renowned in Israel, but the nations. Think about it, we here on November 26, 2023 in Land O’ Lakes, WI in the United States know about a son born in Israel thousands of years ago because he is the grandfather of King David who the Lord Jesus Christ came through.
The savior of the world comes because of God’s sovereign kindness to these two widows here in the book of Ruth. Our redemption comes, because of God’s sovereign kindness here. For the son, Obed points to the greater son who came at Christmas. The beloved Son Jesus Christ who came to fulfill the law, to obey to the point of death on a cross in order to overturn the curse of sin and death by not only dying, but rising again on the third day!
Friends, this is the gospel! This is the good news of Jesus Christ! The news that he came to redeem us. Friend, you who have yet to believe, see how God has brought you hope to reverse the curse of sin and death and give you life in Christ! Jesus and Jesus alone will restore you! Come and rest in him today! Come and rejoice that Christ the Lord has come today!
Christian, let us praise the name of our God who has not left us without a redeemer! Let us go and make his name renowned this Christmas! Let us not shut up talking about Jesus with others this Christmas! Let us tell the story of why he came! Let us go and tell it on the mountain that Jesus Christ is born!
Let’s pray!