He Left Us

Introduction

God left us …

I. One Who Will Not Rest Until the Work is Completed (3:18-4:1)

A. The problem of Ruth and Naomi

Ruth and Naomi are in desperate need of redemption.

They are widows with no way to save themselves

Boaz has shown incredible kindness to Ruth and Naomi, but has not yet acted to perform the duties of a kinsman-redeemer.

Naomi seized the opportunity to confront Boaz and ask him for help

Boaz acknowledged his role, but said there was a closer relative than him

Without someone who steps in, Ruth and Naomi have no way to save themselves

When we last left Ruth and Boaz, Ruth had returned home to recount to Naomi everything that had happened. Boaz returned to town. Chapter 3 ends with Naomi’s encouragement that the man won’t rest until he has settled things today.

One way or another, Boaz was going to ensure the redemption of Ruth and Naomi

He would see to it that either the closer relative would take up his responsibility as a kinsman-redeemer, or he would assume the responsibility himself.

B. A man of his word

Chapter 4 begins with Boaz going to the town gate and sitting there

The town gate was not just the entrance and exit to the city. It was also a common gathering place and the place where any legal decisions would be made.

We get the impression that after Ruth’s venture to the threshing floor, Boaz followed through on his promise the very next morning. He is not resting until the situation has been resolved.

C. Our problem

When we studied the book of Genesis, in chapter 3 we were confronted with the singular problem that plagues our lives: sin.

We learned:

We can’t hide our sin

We can’t avoid punishment for our sin

We can’t save ourselves from our sin

Ultimately, the consequence of our sin is death. When we went through the genealogies in the Genesis, that was one of the key takeaways:

“And he died, and he died, and he died …”

Hebrews 9:27 NASB95

27 And inasmuch as it is appointed for men to die once and after this comes judgment,

If we can’t save ourselves from our sin, the situation seems pretty hopeless. But like Boaz promised to not rest until the problem was solved, we also saw a promise of future hope in Genesis:

The proto-evangelium

Genesis 3:15 NASB95

15 And I will put enmity Between you and the woman, And between your seed and her seed; He shall bruise you on the head, And you shall bruise him on the heel.”

Even in the midst of humanities willful disobedience against its Creator, God promised that there would one day come One who would defeat sin and death once and for all.

And since the dawn of creation, God did not rest until this matter was settled.

God left Ruth with one who would not rest until the work was completed. God left us with One who would not rest until the power of sin and death was defeated.

How did He do this?

God left us ...

II. One Who Fulfilled What Others Could Not (vv. 1-12)

A. Just a coincidence

Once again, the narrator hints at the hidden hand of God working behind the scenes

Boaz goes to the town gate to settle the matter legally, and it just so happens that the closest relative was walking by.

Like Naomi chanced upon the field of Boaz, Boaz chances upon the closest relative, and the narrator continues to wink at the audience saying this is no mere coincidence, God is orchestrating all this behind the scenes.

B. Business to discuss

Boaz essentially says, “Hey man, have a seat, I have some things I would like to discuss.”

He also gathers 10 elders from the city.

These elders will serve as witnesses to the legal proceeding about to take place

The fact that both the close relative and the elders oblige once again acknowledges not only Boaz’s influence, but also his integrity and the respect he has earned from the people.

With everyone assembled, Boaz gets right down to business.

Essentially, these next verses are like a court transcript

Boaz explains the situation:

The rights to Elimelech’s land is available

Israelite law required that the land never leave the family

The problem is, the land had to be passed to a near relative (i.e., son, daughter, brother, uncle, etc.). However, there is no mention of a widow being allowed to claim the land.

This is why Naomi and Ruth’s position is so precarious, and is why God instituted specific provisions to care for widows.

You are the first in line in the “pecking order” of family members

You have first dibs

If you will redeem the land, then it is yours

If not, let me know because I am next in line

The closer relative announces he will redeem the land

If Ruth was one of the people who had gathered to watch what was going on, we can imagine her heart sinking.

I imagine Boaz being completely unconcerned here. I imagine him nodding and saying, “Very well. Of course, you should know that on the day you acquire the land from Naomi, you also have to marry that Moabite woman, Ruth.

This is the first time in awhile that we see Ruth referred to as Ruth the Moabitess. Boaz knows what he is doing. He is drawing attention to the foreign nature of Ruth to see if the man is really willing to assume his responsibility.

Neither man was required by the law to marry Ruth. However, recognizing the spirit of the law of a kinsman-redeemer, even though there was no legal obligation, Boaz is highlighting the moral obligation.

On second thought, I can’t redeem the land

There are several possibilities as to why he now gives away his rights. The two most probable are:

In recognizing that he must marry Ruth and hope to produce an heir to continue the family line, any descendants he has with her will one day claim his whole estate.

With being reminded of Ruth’s foreign status, he is concerned that in marrying a Moabite woman his reputation will be damaged.

It is interesting that the closer relative is concerned about his reputation. Have you noticed that not once he has been named?

Elimelech, Mahlon, and Chilion are all named. They’re dead. Ruth and Naomi are named. Boaz is named. But the man who is concerned about ruining his reputation is confined to the dustbin of history as simply the closest relative.

Why?

God is looking for a man who will be faithfully different, going above and beyond what the law requires of him.

The removal of the sandal indicates the transferring of rights. It serves as a symbol that the man has ceded his right to Boaz.

C. Witnesses

Upon seeing the exchange of the sandal, Boaz announces that all those who are watching are witnesses.

If the Boaz’s right to the land is ever called into question, not only will he be able to produce the sandal, but also has witnesses who observed the legal process.

The witnesses acknowledge their role and announce their blessing of the events

They ask that God bless this woman who is coming into your home, Ruth.

This is the idea of a bride/bridal party proceeding to the groom’s home and him formally ushering her in.

They ask that God bless her like Rachel and Leah

The wives of Jacob produced sons who became the twelve tribes of Israel. Just as God established a rich legacy of descendants through them, they ask He does the same through Ruth.

They ask that God richly bless Boaz because of his incredible actions by both:

Prospering him (e.g., financially, with descendants, etc.)

Keeping his name alive (i.e., remembering him for his selfless actions)

Unlike the other man whose name is forgotten, Boaz’s name will be remembered for generations to come

They ask that God make Boaz’s house like the house of their ancestor Perez

We will discuss the significance of this statement in a little while

D. What the Law could not fulfill, Christ did

As I was studying this passage this week, I kept coming back to the contrast between Boaz and the closest relative, and the contrast between Christ and the Law.

In both instances, there is one who can redeem and one who n redeem

The Law

Romans 3:19–20 NASB95

19 Now we know that whatever the Law says, it speaks to those who are under the Law, so that every mouth may be closed and all the world may become accountable to God; 20 because by the works of the Law no flesh will be justified in His sight; for through the Law comes the knowledge of sin.

Why was the Law established? — Paul explains the Law removes from us any excuse and holds us accountable before God

What does the Law do? — Paul explains the Law shows us our sin, that we fall incredibly short of the standard God has set

There is nothing inherently wrong with driving 70 mph down the highway.

However, if the posted speed limit is 40, this tells us we are driving too fast.

The Law acts in the same way. Sin entered the world before the Law was established, but it is through the Law that we recognize the sin of our actions.

Notice that Paul does not say the Law saves us. In fact, he says just the opposite, that the Law does not justify us in the sight of God. It merely shows us our desperate need for Him.

Christ

Romans 3:21–26 (NASB95)

21 But now apart from the Law the righteousness of God has been manifested, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, 22 even the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all those who believe; for there is no distinction; 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 being justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus; 25 whom God displayed publicly as a propitiation in His blood through faith.

What the Law could not fulfill (i.e., our salvation, our redemption) Christ Jesus did through His perfect obedience to the Law and thus to the Father

Now, by acknowledging our sinfulness before God and putting our faith in Jesus Christ, we are able to be justified. We are able to be redeemed.

God left Ruth with one who could fulfill and redeem what another could not. God left us with Jesus Christ, who perfectly fulfilled and redeemed what the Law was incapable of. In doing so …

God left us …

III. One Who Abundantly Blesses Those Who Love Him (vv. 13-17)

A. From empty to full

Boaz and Ruth marry and have a son, an heir who will carry on the family name.

Notice that it says the Lord enabled her to become pregnant.

For 10 years Ruth had lived with her husband in Moab and she never had a child. We don’t know for sure, but it’s very possible she was infertile.

Now God has allowed her to conceive a child.

At the very beginning of Ruth, we see Naomi return to Bethlehem complaining that God has left her, that He has brought her back empty.

Now, after all the preparations for redemption, Naomi finally realizes that the Lord has restored everything. In fact, she left Bethlehem empty, but now she has been filled. She left dead, and now she has been given new life.

This is why the woman cry out probably the most significant verse in all of Ruth:

Ruth 4:14 NASB95

14 Then the women said to Naomi, “Blessed is the Lord who has not left you without a redeemer today, and may his name become famous in Israel.

Through Boaz, God redeemed the situation. He restored completely the lives of Ruth and Naomi.

In fact, the women say that Ruth, a foreign daughter-in-law who loves Naomi, is greater to her than seven sons!

Seven is the number of completion, so having seven sons would have been the ultimate blessing to a Hebrew family. But Ruth, with one descendant, is greater than all that.

God is blessing and rewarding those who love Him. The events in this book truly started when Ruth chose to be faithfully different and pursue the God of Israel. They reach their climax when Ruth chooses to pursue Boaz and seek His redemption.

B. Our Redeemer blesses those who love Him

1 Peter 5:5–7 NASB95

5 You younger men, likewise, be subject to your elders; and all of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, for God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble. 6 Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you at the proper time, 7 casting all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you.

Though these verses are in the context of outlining the role of elders in the church, they outline a truth that all Christians must recognize: that Christ, and Christ alone, can redeem us. It requires us to adopt an attitude of humility, recognizing that we can’t save ourselves, only He can.

If we completely depend upon Him, He will exalt us. Exalt means to lift up. And God will lift us up, in His time. As we see in Ruth, God rewards sacrifice and faithfulness, even here in this life. It wasn’t on Ruth’s time. It wasn’t on Naomi’s time. It was on God’s time.

And even if you don’t believe that God has rewarded your sacrifice and faithfulness in this life (though I can promise you He has), He will ultimately exalt you by lifting you up to be with Him forever. That is the ultimate blessing that the Christian can count on.

God left Ruth with one who abundantly blessed her because she loved Him. God left us with One who abundantly blesses us because of our humble love for Him. And in this truth we see …

God left us …

IV. One Who Perfectly Accomplishes His Plan (vv. 18-22)

A. A series of unfortunate events

The book of Ruth, this incredible love story, ends in an unusual fashion with a genealogy.

Obviously we want to jump to those last three names that have already been mention of Obed (Boaz and Ruth’s son), Jesse, and David.

But why does this genealogy start with Perez?

You can find this account in Genesis 38.

Judah marries a Canaanite woman and he has three sons, Er, Oman, and Shelah.

He arranges a marriage for Er to a woman named Tamar, but Er was an evil man so the Lord took his life.

Seeing that Tamar had no sons, it fell to Er’s brother Oman to act as a kinsman-redeemer. But Oman wasn’t too thrilled about this, so every time they had sex, he intentionally ejaculated on the ground to prevent her from getting pregnant.

Oman’s actions were also evil, so God took his life as well. Judah told Tamar to return to her father’s house and wait for his youngest son to become old enough to marry her. But Scripture also tells us he had no intention of doing this because he was afraid his third son would die as well.

Years go by and one day Tamar hears that her father-in-law is in the area shearing sheep. So she disguises herself as a prostitute, has sex with Judah, and becomes pregnant. From this incestuous relationship she has twin boys, one of who is named Perez.

Several generations later comes a man by the name of Boaz.

God did not let this event stop His plan. In fact, He used it to accomplish His plan.

B. The ultimate Kinsman-Redeemer

In the genealogies of Jesus that we read in the books of Matthew and Luke, you will see a common characteristic that binds everyone together: they are all sinners.

All the way back in the Garden of Eden, in Genesis 3:15, God was establishing preparations for redemption. We can’t hide our sin from God, we can’t escape the punishment for sin, and we can’t save ourselves. But the God who loves us and desires to act as our Kinsman-Redeemer if only we will receive Him, perfectly accomplished His plan despite that sin.

That’s why Ruth ends with this genealogy. It shows us that this is more than an incredible love story. It is more than the redemption of two widows. It is pointing us to David, who points us to the person of Jesus Christ. If Christ was able to redeem this hopeless and chaotic situation for His glory, then imagine what He is able to redeem in your life today if only you will seek Him.

Conclusion

Will you pray together this morning?