O Come, All Ye Unfaithful: Ruth

Call to Worship

Adoration

Confession

Thanksgiving

Message

Ruth 4:14–17 ESV

14 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! 15 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.” 16 Then Naomi took the child and laid him on her lap and became his nurse. 17 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 story of Ruth took place at a time that the nation of Israel was spiraling to destruction, yet individual faithfulness remained in the land of Israel.

In the book of Ruth, the scarlet theme of redemption is on full display.

Much like Tamar’s scarlet thread on the heel of her son.

Rahab’s scarlet thread brought about a gentile passover.

In a similar way the scarlet thread of redemption is clearly observed in Ruth.

God preserves the blessing of promise despite bitter providence and human injustice through a Gentile and her Kins-man Redeemer.

Bitter Providence of a Sovereign God

Ruth 1:1 ESV

1 In the days when the judges ruled there was a famine in the land…

The best summary of the times of the Judges is seen…

Judges 21:25 ESV

25 In those days there was no king in Israel. Everyone did what was right in his own eyes.

No king meant that there was no figure to represent Yahweh to the people.

Everyone did whatever they wanted,

Ruth 1:1–2 ESV

1 In the days when the judges ruled there was a famine in the land, and a man of Bethlehem in Judah went to sojourn in the country of Moab, he and his wife and his two sons. 2 The name of the man was Elimelech and the name of his wife Naomi, and the names of his two sons were Mahlon and Chilion. They were Ephrathites from Bethlehem in Judah. They went into the country of Moab and remained there.

Elimelech’s name which means “my God is king” appears to flea the land of promise as an act of unbelief in God’s provision.

Ruth 1:3 ESV

3 But Elimelech, the husband of Naomi, died, and she was left with her two sons.

Naomi’s name which means “pleasant” begins with her in fullness and joy moving away from Yahweh.

Then her being brought to emptiness but moved back under His care, and finally restored to fullness.

Ruth 1:4–5 ESV

4 These took Moabite wives; the name of the one was Orpah and the name of the other Ruth. They lived there about ten years, 5 and both Mahlon and Chilion died, so that the woman was left without her two sons and her husband.

These two sons married women from Moab which was opposed to the law of God (Deuteronomy 7:1-4).

Intermarriage was forbidden because it led Israel into pagan idolatry that marked the nations.

Ruth 1:6–7 ESV

6 Then she arose with her daughters-in-law to return from the country of Moab, for she had heard in the fields of Moab that the Lord had visited his people and given them food. 7 So she set out from the place where she was with her two daughters-in-law, and they went on the way to return to the land of Judah.

Naomi sets herself to return to the land of Israel without her daughter-in-laws.

On the surface it appears noble, but it’s truly out of unbelief that she doesn’t think they’ll be cared for in the land of promise.

She perceives it better to be far from Yahweh, away from the land of promise, way from the people of promise.

These Moabite women even try to persuade her to allow them to come for a time (Ruth 1:8-14).

Naomi is bitter because she has received God’s left-handed providences with unbelief.

Ruth 1:15 ESV

15 And she said, “See, your sister-in-law has gone back to her people and to her gods; return after your sister-in-law.”

Naomi is hardened in her unbelief and spite.

As a dark backdrop of Naomi, Ruth, her daughter-in-law’s faith shines bright.

Ruth 1:16 ESV

16 But Ruth said, “Do not urge me to leave you or to return from following you. For where you go I will go, and where you lodge I will lodge. Your people shall be my people, and your God my God.

Her allegiance to Naomi’s people.

Her allegiance is to the God whom Naomi claims she serves.

This allegiance is the evidence of her faith.

She trusted Yahweh’s promises that He made to His people.

Ruth 1:17 ESV

17 Where you die I will die, and there will I be buried. May the Lord do so to me and more also if anything but death parts me from you.”

As Joseph requested his bones to be taken up out of Egypt and into the land of promise (Genesis 50:25), so Ruth expects to live in the land of promise despite no evidence of it.

Ruth 1:18 ESV

18 And when Naomi saw that she was determined to go with her, she said no more.

Listen to how bitter Naomi perceives herself…

You can picture the scene at the city gates of two widowed women returning, tattered, worn out, and without any protection.

Ruth 1:19–21 ESV

19 So the two of them went on until they came to Bethlehem. And when they came to Bethlehem, the whole town was stirred because of them. And the women said, “Is this Naomi?” 20 She said to them, “Do not call me Naomi; call me Mara, for the Almighty has dealt very bitterly with me. 21 I went away full, and the Lord has brought me back empty.

Naomi’s name means “pleasant” but refuses to be called that but Mara which means “bitter.”

She claims she left “full” but came back “empty” but she neglects to see that Ruth has come with her in this.

Ruth 1:21 ESV

Why call me Naomi, when the Lord has testified against me and the Almighty has brought calamity upon me?”

This bitter woman is not living by faith.

She went away into the land of Moab physically but also abandoned her faith in that same land.

Naomi is a perfect picture of the results of living in a pagan land which is draw a person away from Yahweh.

Ruth 1:22 ESV

22 So Naomi returned, and Ruth the Moabite her daughter-in-law with her, who returned from the country of Moab. And they came to Bethlehem at the beginning of barley harvest.

Quiet Providence in the Kindness of an Israelite Man

Ruth 2:1 ESV

1 Now Naomi had a relative of her husband’s, a worthy man of the clan of Elimelech, whose name was Boaz.

Boaz is an older man (maybe 50-60’s).

Ruth 2:2 ESV

2 And Ruth the Moabite said to Naomi, “Let me go to the field and glean among the ears of grain after him in whose sight I shall find favor.”

Notice that Ruth the Moabite is the one who knows and understands Yahweh’s law.

Yahweh commanded that the corners of fields were to be left alone for the weak, vulnerable, and those who had no one to provide for them (Leviticus 23:22).

Ruth trusts that Yahweh will provide through the provision of another’s righteous character, she hopes to find favor.

Ruth 2:2–3 ESV

And she said to her, “Go, my daughter.” 3 So she set out and went and gleaned in the field after the reapers, and she happened to come to the part of the field belonging to Boaz, who was of the clan of Elimelech.

God’s quiet providence is all over the book of Ruth.

Ruth 2:4 ESV

4 And behold, Boaz came from Bethlehem. And he said to the reapers, “The Lord be with you!” And they answered, “The Lord bless you.”

The only account of Boaz is that he is an upright and righteous man.

His name literally means “strength” and his strength is because he is righteous!

This is even attested by his workers.

In this period of time, a righteous person isn’t known merely by their profession by how they treat those under their charge.

In his goings and comings with his workers, he is speaking of the LORD.

These workers attest to the fact that Yahweh will bless Boaz.

Not only does he care well for his workers and those under his care, he pays attention to the widows and sojourners amongst his workers.

Ruth 2:5 ESV

5 Then Boaz said to his young man who was in charge of the reapers, “Whose young woman is this?”

Boaz is righteous because he notices Ruth.

She is single.

She has no husband.

She’s a foreigner and has no father.

This makes Ruth vulnerable and open to be taken advantage of, but Boaz promises to protect her.

Ruth 2:8–9 ESV

8 Then Boaz said to Ruth, “Now, listen, my daughter, do not go to glean in another field or leave this one, but keep close to my young women. 9 Let your eyes be on the field that they are reaping, and go after them. Have I not charged the young men not to touch you? And when you are thirsty, go to the vessels and drink what the young men have drawn.”

Boaz invites Ruth to remain in the field and he promises his protection and safety to her and Naomi.

Ruth 2:10 ESV

10 Then she fell on her face, bowing to the ground, and said to him, “Why have I found favor in your eyes, that you should take notice of me, since I am a foreigner?”

He sees the way she has interacted with the promises of God toward the people of Israel and her care for her mother-in-law without any regard for her own well-being (Ruth 2:11-12).

Ruth 2:13 ESV

13 Then she said, “I have found favor in your eyes, my lord, for you have comforted me and spoken kindly to your servant, though I am not one of your servants.”

Ruth recognizes the undeserved kindness she has received from Boaz.

He didn’t owe her anything.

Yet Boaz’s posture toward Ruth, the weak and marginalized, put her in a position among the women of Israel by allowing her to eat at his table, and giving the best of the harvest (Ruth 2:14-16).

Ruth 2:17–18 ESV

17 So she gleaned in the field until evening. Then she beat out what she had gleaned, and it was about an ephah of barley. 18 And she took it up and went into the city. Her mother-in-law saw what she had gleaned. She also brought out and gave her what food she had left over after being satisfied.

Naomi was rightfully surprised by this amount of grain Ruth brings home.

Women did not bring home this amount of food unless someone who has been above and beyond generous.

Illustration:

This would be like a single woman after loosing her husband coming home with large sums of cash.

Ruth 2:19–20 ESV

19 And her mother-in-law said to her, “Where did you glean today? And where have you worked? Blessed be the man who took notice of you.” So she told her mother-in-law with whom she had worked and said, “The man’s name with whom I worked today is Boaz.” 20 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.”

What is a “redeemer”?

When a woman lost her husband, as we saw in the story of Tamar, she would be vulnerable to many dangers.

Social dangers, economic dangers, and truly she was at the mercy of the care of the community as a whole.

A kinsman-redeemer was an allowance in the law of God that a man could take a widow and raise children for the former husband.

As we see in the story, Boaz was within the family of Naomi and could take them and provide for them under the law of God to protect them and care for them.

Ruth 2:21–23 ESV

21 And Ruth the Moabite said, “Besides, he said to me, ‘You shall keep close by my young men until they have finished all my harvest.’ ” 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.” 23 So she kept close to the young women of Boaz, gleaning until the end of the barley and wheat harvests. And she lived with her mother-in-law.

Bitter Unbelief and Shrewd Obedience

Naomi is trying to obligate this man to do what he might not be able to do.

Naomi is scheming to somehow force Boaz to become Ruth’s kinsman redeemer so she may also benefit.

Rather than trusting in Boaz’s character, she chooses to force Boaz’s hand.

Ruth 3:1–2 ESV

1 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? 2 Is not Boaz our relative, with whose young women you were? See, he is winnowing barley tonight at the threshing floor.

Threshing floors were a place for men.

A modern equivalent would be a bar, but more productive.

It was a rough and tumble, masculine, bravado-filled, center for societal trouble kind of place.

The men would gather and alcohol would flow as they did the arduous task of bringing in the crop for that year.

Ruth 3:3–4 ESV

3 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. 4 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.”

Naomi is trying to force a righteous man to do something he wouldn’t otherwise.

Naomi is making grotesque insinuations for Ruth.

Similar to how Tamar knew that Judah would oblige her on the way to the threshing floor.

Naomi is trying to put her daughter-in-law in the way of a righteous man.

Ruth 3:5 ESV

5 And she replied, “All that you say I will do.”

Ruth cannot reject Naomi because Naomi is the only connection that Ruth has to Israelite society.

To reject or shame Naomi would be to ostracize herself from this community.

Ruth will obey Naomi but only in the letter of the command and not in the details of what she is insinuating to happen.

Ruth 3:6 ESV

6 So she went down to the threshing floor and did just as her mother-in-law had commanded her.

Ruth does exactly what Naomi told her to do but does not follow the spirit of what Naomi told her to do.

Ruth secretly comes into Boaz so he does not even notice her.

Ruth 3:7–8 ESV

7 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. 8 At midnight the man was startled and turned over, and behold, a woman lay at his feet!

The text leaves us in suspense to what may happen next…

Ruth 3:9 ESV

9 He said, “Who are you?” And she answered, “I am Ruth, your servant. Spread your wings over your servant, for you are a redeemer.”

Boaz is a just man and Ruth is acting righteously here.

There were likely other prostitutes sleeping around with men in this threshing floor.

Boaz’ surprise is in the fact that Ruth is acting in an honorable way toward him unlike all the other women in this setting.

Her request to him is that he would act in an honorable way toward her.

She could have tried to take advantage of him and yet here she treats him with honor and merely requests his care.

Ruth 3:10–11 ESV

10 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. 11 And now, my daughter, do not fear. I will do for you all that you ask, for all my fellow townsmen know that you are a worthy woman.

Ruth reveals what it is like for a foreigner to be redeemed.

She is without hope in a foreign land and completely reliant on a society to live justly but also has her open to vulnerabilities.

The law of the redeemer would mean that Boaz will take her to be his own and raise Mahlon’s sons with Elimelech’s land.

A Kinsman-Redeemer for an Unlikely Gentile Widow

Ruth 4:1–3 ESV

1 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. 2 And he took ten men of the elders of the city and said, “Sit down here.” So they sat down. 3 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’ interaction with this redeemer is intriguing because of the way that he presents the situation.

He doesn’t even mention Ruth or Naomi being redeemed but focuses on the land of Elimelech which would benefit the man himself.

It could be that this redeemer had a reputation of neglecting the poor and the widow so Boaz presented the situation in a way that would immediately entice him.

Ruth 4:4–5 ESV

4 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.” 5 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 then appeals to the same law that would allow this redeemer to acquire the field to show that he is also obligated to care for the needs of Naomi and Ruth, even to care for Mahlon’s heir.

Ruth 4:6 ESV

6 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.”

Boaz’ true desire was to care for Ruth and Naomi himself.

He did not immediately want these desires to be known to this closer redeemer in fear that he would acquire it in spite and not care for the poor and the widows.

Ruth 4:11–12 ESV

11 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, 12 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.”

This blessing has several surprising elements.

The desire to see the house of Naomi and Ruth to be like that of Rachel and Leah is for an abundance of children.

The desire to see their house multiply like Perez, who was the offspring of Judah and Tamar. They are acknowledging that Boaz is acting justly as opposed to Judah and the offspring may exceed his.

Ruth 4:13–17 ESV

13 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. 14 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! 15 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.” 16 Then Naomi took the child and laid him on her lap and became his nurse. 17 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.

Yahweh’s covenant love has not been forsaken and is enacted through faithful and just Israelites like Boaz in this situation.

God preserves the blessing of promise despite bitter providence and human injustice through a Gentile and her Kins-man Redeemer.