Ruth's tender plea
Notes
Transcript
Handout
Handout
A Woman of Character
A Woman of Character
In our journey through the story of Ruth we have already seen she is a woman of great character.
She made a noble choice (Ru1:1-22) to leave everything she knew to go with Naomi.
She was of lowly service (Ru2:1-23) gleaning in the field of Boaz to provide for Naomi and herself
I think we could agree that Ruth was God’s instrument to Naomi to take her from her bitterness, despair.
I think we can agree that since Boaz entered the picture, Ruth’s life as well as Naomi’s got better. This happened when Ruth went and served Naomi, God blessed her through Boaz.
It is often when we get out of our own way and serve others that we find true joy, contentment and peace.
Note: Maybe as a reminder, the book of Ruth is more than a story about a widow and a new marriage, but is a picture of Christ’s relationship to those who put their trust in Him. It is a story of redemption.
We can find it true that for God’s people the steps we must take if we want to enter into a deeper relationship with the Lord.
“Like Ruth, we must not be satisfied merely with living on leftovers (2:2), or even receiving gifts (2:14, 16). We must want Him alone; for when we have him, we also have all that He owns. It is note the gifts that we seek, but the Giver.” (Wiersbe)
(transition) our passage tonight is easily broken into sections and we will read them separately as we go.
The Preparation (instructions)
The Preparation (instructions)
1 Then Naomi her mother-in-law said to her, “My daughter, shall I not seek security for you, that it may be well with you? 2 “Now is not Boaz our kinsman, with whose maids you were? Behold, he winnows barley at the threshing floor tonight.
3 “Wash yourself therefore, and anoint yourself and put on your best clothes, and go down to the threshing floor; but do not make yourself known to the man until he has finished eating and drinking. 4 “It shall be when he lies down, that you shall notice the place where he lies, and you shall go and uncover his feet and lie down; then he will tell you what you shall do.”
5 She said to her, “All that you say I will do.”
What stands out to you in this passage?
What is Naomi’s desire for Ruth (v.1)?
Security for her, that it may be well with her.
Look closely at (v.3), what instructions does Naomi give to Ruth?
Wash, anoint, wait (implied)
There are more instructions (v.4) but how does Ruth respond to all the instructions (v.5)?
All you say, I will do
Naomi looks at Ruth as a daughter, not just a daughter in law. She has true concern for her.
Interesting the word security; which is translated as “rest” and that is what is found in marriage (also see Ru1:9)
It was common in those days for parents to arrange a marriage (ref: Jud14:1-2)
So, Naomi looking at Ruth as daughter could be seeing Boaz as husband for Ruth and trying to work it out. It would not be out of line at all.
Preparation instructions: Wash yourself
She had to take a part of this, like we are to wash ourselves and in other times have the Lord wash us (2Cor7:1; Ps51:2, 7; Isa1:16; 1Jn1:9 also see 2Cor6:14-7:1)
1 Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all defilement of flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.
or then look at
16 “Wash yourselves, make yourselves clean; Remove the evil of your deeds from My sight. Cease to do evil,
Other times we asks God to do it (Psm51:2)
2 Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity And cleanse me from my sin.
When we seek forgiveness, God washes us (1Jn1:9)
9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
Only we can choose to put out things in our lives that defile us. And in reality only we know what some of those things are. We need to separate ourselves from the things that defile us (ref: 2Cor6:14-7:1)
I read some stuff from Ogelive and in summary that the Jews would not dare to come into worship defiled, they knew it could lead to death. Today many come into the assembly, into the presence of God, expecting the blessings of God when we have not rid ourselves of the things that defile us as a child of God.
Preparation instructions: Anoint yourself
In the culture anointing oil was used to protect, and to heal and make oneself pleasant to others (I am Shirley would agree wholly with that)
A bride would wash herself and wear a fragrant perfume that would make her nice to be near.
As a believer we have received an anointing (1Jn2:20, 27) that is the Holy Spirit so we can be a fragrant aroma (2Cor2:15 or consider Eph5:2)
15 For we are a fragrance of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing;
Preparation: Change your clothes (put on the best)
Ruth was a widow, in distress, it was time to take of the clothes of grief, or sorrow, and to put on the best in preparation for a wedding.
As a Christian we are given new clothes and we need to take off the grave clothes of sin and put on the new clothes, the righteousness of God and what he has for us. (see Isa61:1-3)
1 The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, Because the Lord has anointed me To bring good news to the afflicted; He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to captives And freedom to prisoners; 2 To proclaim the favorable year of the Lord And the day of vengeance of our God; To comfort all who mourn, 3 To grant those who mourn in Zion, Giving them a garland instead of ashes, The oil of gladness instead of mourning, The mantle of praise instead of a spirit of fainting. So they will be called oaks of righteousness, The planting of the Lord, that He may be glorified.
Salvation is pictured as a change of clothes (Isa61:10; LK15:22) - we take off off our graveclothes and put on our grace clothes when we are born again (Col3:1-17; Jn11:44)
10 I will rejoice greatly in the Lord, My soul will exult in my God; For He has clothed me with garments of salvation, He has wrapped me with a robe of righteousness, As a bridegroom decks himself with a garland, And as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.
Preparation instructions: Present yourself and wait.
She was to present herself at Boaz feet, at the feet of the lord of the harvest, and he would do the rest.
As a believer we too had to present ourselves to the Lord of the Harvest and he does everything. He redeems us.
Preparation instructions: Obedience
Ruth promised obedience to the words of Naomi. She was a hearer of the word and a doer too.
We too are to be obedient to the word (Jn7:17)
17 “If anyone is willing to do His will, he will know of the teaching, whether it is of God or whether I speak from Myself.
There are many other verses that speak of this, obeying the Lord’s words, His commands
“God expects us to accept all that He plans for us and to obey Him completely. Coming to God with a hidden agenda and with reservations in our hearts will only lead to grieving the Spirit and missing God’s best.” (Wiersbe)
Submission
Submission
6 So she went down to the threshing floor and did according to all that her mother-in-law had commanded her. 7 When Boaz had eaten and drunk and his heart was merry, he went to lie down at the end of the heap of grain; and she came secretly, and uncovered his feet and lay down.
8 It happened in the middle of the night that the man was startled and bent forward; and behold, a woman was lying at his feet. 9 He said, “Who are you?” And she answered, “I am Ruth your maid. So spread your covering over your maid, for you are a close relative.”
Anything stick out to you in these verses?
You can see Ruth’s obedience (v.6).
You can see Ruth’s patience (v.7).
You can see Ruth’s request (v.9).
The mantel (covering) over a person meant to claim that person for yourself (Eze16:8)
8 “Then I passed by you and saw you, and behold, you were at the time for love; so I spread My skirt over you and covered your nakedness. I also swore to you and entered into a covenant with you so that you became Mine,” declares the Lord God.
Ruth identifies herself as his handmaid, no longer say Ruth the Moabite.
Boaz acceptance
Boaz acceptance
10 Then he said, “May you be blessed of the Lord, my daughter. You have shown your last kindness to be better than the first by not going after young men, whether poor or rich. 11 “Now, my daughter, do not fear. I will do for you whatever you ask, for all my people in the city know that you are a woman of excellence.
12 “Now it is true I am a close relative; however, there is a relative closer than I. 13 “Remain this night, and when morning comes, if he will redeem you, good; let him redeem you. But if he does not wish to redeem you, then I will redeem you, as the Lord lives. Lie down until morning.”
14 So she lay at his feet until morning and rose before one could recognize another; and he said, “Let it not be known that the woman came to the threshing floor.”
In these verses you see Boaz acceptance of Ruth.
He addressed her as daughter and told her to fear not
Fear not, words of assurance. God said that to many people in scripture Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Moses, Joshua just to name a few.
He pronounced a blessing and a promise on her
That God bless her
And that he would do as she requested, redeem her.
God wants to pour a blessing and promises to those who call on His name to be saved. That He will redeem them.
He instructed her what to do under his cover (protection).
He gives specific instructions on what to do that night
We have specific instructions given to stay under Jesus cover, His protection.
Ruth could not redeem herself, just like we cannot, Boaz had to redeem her, she needed a redeemer as do we.
Boaz’ gifts
Boaz’ gifts
15 Again he said, “Give me the cloak that is on you and hold it.” So she held it, and he measured six measures of barley and laid it on her. Then she went into the city. 16 When she came to her mother-in-law, she said, “How did it go, my daughter?” And she told her all that the man had done for her.
17 She said, “These six measures of barley he gave to me, for he said, ‘Do not go to your mother-in-law empty-handed.’ ”
Not only did Boaz calm her fears, promise to redeem her, he gave her gifts.
Ruth carried the generous and gracious gift back to Naomi and told all he had said and done.
Ruth waited
Ruth waited
18 Then she said, “Wait, my daughter, until you know how the matter turns out; for the man will not rest until he has settled it today.”
It has been said that it is through faith and patience that we inherit the promises (Heb6:12; also Ps37:5)
12 so that you will not be sluggish, but imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.
When we commit our way to the Lord, He will do it (Ps37:5). He will save us.
We may have a tough time with this, waiting. We do not need to help God out, He is faithful to complete the work (Php1:6).
Boaz was working for Ruth as kinsmen redeemer, Ruth could not do anything. He was interceding on her behalf.
Jesus Christ is our mediator (1Jn2:1-2) and He continually intercedes for us (Heb8:3-4)
Maybe we need to put ourselves at the feet of the Lord and wait! Are there things we are trying to press through that we really should just be waiting on the Lord?
(Prayer) (Exit)