Protective Kindness
Notes
Transcript
Welcome
Welcome
Hey, friends! Good morning. If we haven’t met yet, my name is Dan and I serve here as the teaching pastor for Lifepoint | Worthington. Glad you are here with us today.
New Guest Info
If this is your first time here…
Alright, if you have a bible with you, why don’t you meet me in the Old Testament book of Ruth. The Old Testament book of Ruth. We’ll be in chapter 2 today.
Introduction
Introduction
We are continuing in our series through this short book called, Hand in Hand - looking at how God’s hand is often at work through ours.
We are continuing in our series through this short book called, Hand in Hand - looking at how God’s hand is often at work through ours. Now, in case you missed week one, let me catch up to speed.
Last week, in Chapter 1, we saw Ruth make a stunning choice. Even though she was a widow who had every right to leave her mother-in-law Naomi, she chose to stay. We learned a Hebrew word for that kind of loyalty: Hesed. It’s a relentless kindness. It’s a love with a backbone. It is the refusal to walk away even when logic says you should. Ruth bound herself to Naomi in the middle of a hopeless situation.
But as we continue in the story today, we’re going to see another dimension of hesed...It is not only relentless kindness. But it is a kindness that moves to our hands.
So if you’re not there yet, open with me to Ruth, chapter 2. I’ll pray and we’ll get started.
Prayer
Boaz Protective Kindness
Boaz Protective Kindness
Alright, let’s go ahead and get started.
Look with me starting at v. 1 (Ruth 2:1-3
1 Now Naomi had a relative of her husband’s, a worthy man of the clan of Elimelech, whose name was Boaz. 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.” 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.
So Ruth and Naomi are back in Bethlehem.
We talked about this a bit last week, but they are not in the best position. Women were generally under the care of their fathers or their husbands at this time - of which Ruth and Naomi have neither.
But God had not left them without hope. In fact, God had built a safety net into the very laws of Israel to catch people exactly like Ruth. It was a practice called Gleaning.
The idea was simple.
Both Leviticus 19 and Deuteronomy 24 cover the practice of gleaning. God gave the instruction that as people were going through the process of harvesting their fields, they were supposed to be inefficient on purpose. Listen to what God says in Deuteronomy:
19 “When you reap your harvest in your field and forget a sheaf in the field, you shall not go back to get it. It shall be for the sojourner, the fatherless, and the widow, that the Lord your God may bless you in all the work of your hands. 20 When you beat your olive trees, you shall not go over them again. It shall be for the sojourner, the fatherless, and the widow. 21 When you gather the grapes of your vineyard, you shall not strip it afterward. It shall be for the sojourner, the fatherless, and the widow.
The idea being that the vulnerable person could walk behind the harvesters and pick up what was left over and work for their food with dignity.
And this is where we find Ruth in chapter 2.
But we have to feel the weight of this. Ruth isn't just 'working hard.' She is Exposed. She is a Moabite in Israel. She is an outsider. She has no covering, no husband, and no advocate. She knows that she is one bad interaction away from ruin.
And that creates a very specific kind of fear. One that I think we tend to be much more familiar with - even if we’ve never set foot in a field to glean.
It’s the fear of being seen.
It’s the fear that says: "If I step out of line... if I draw attention to myself... if they realize who I really am... I will be rejected."
And honestly? That is a feeling we know, isn't it? I don’t mean you’ve gleaned in a barley field. But have you ever had to walk into a room—a boardroom, a cafeteria, a new social circle—where you felt like the 'Outsider'?
You feel the eyes are on you.
You feel the 'Imposter Syndrome' kicking in. You think, "If they really knew me... if they saw my insecurity, or my past, or my failures... they wouldn't let me stay in this field."
That low-level anxiety? That is the Fear of Exposure.
And that is exactly what Ruth is carrying as she walks into that field. She is holding her breath, waiting to be cast out.
And while all of this is going on, Boaz, Naomi’s relative takes notice.
Look at v. 5 (Ruth 2:5
5 Then Boaz said to his young man who was in charge of the reapers, “Whose young woman is this?”
He’s told it’s Ruth - the one who came back with Naomi from Moab. And that lets us know that Ruth’s reputation stands out, right? Bethlehem was not a big town - people talk - people know she’s not from there - and they know the story of Ruth’s kindness towards Naomi (which is what we talked about last week).
And right here is where things get interesting.
We skipped over this, but back in verse one, Boaz is described as a worthy man…or a man of valor in some translations. And what that’s trying to get across is that Boaz is a man of godly character. [RELEVANCE?]
At this point, when he sees Ruth, he does so from the position of someone with the upper hand. He’s pretty well off - after all, there’s a bunch of people running around working for him. He’s got money, influence, and the list could go on.
Most importantly though, in allowing Ruth to glean in his field, he is fulfilling God’s law. He’s doing the thing that Deuteronomy 24 lays out. He could have left it at that and would still have been a “worthy man.”
But he doesn’t leave it there.
Look at v. 8 (Ruth 2:8-9)
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.”
And I think it’s worth calling out all of what happens here.
He speaks to her: In a culture where men didn't typically address foreign women in public, he initiates the conversation.
He creates a 'Safe Zone': He tells her, "Don't go to another field." Why? Because he knows what can happen in other fields.
He ensures her safety: "Have I not charged the young men not to touch you?"
He provides for her needs: "When you are thirsty, drink what the men have drawn." Boaz flips the script. He says, "You are not a servant here; you are a guest."
The point is Boaz goes way beyond what he needed to do! It’s what we saw last week - hesed….kindness in excess.
As an Israelite, following God’s Law, he has a duty to let her glean…but out of Hesed he goes farther than that.
Ruth recognizes this.
Look at v. 10 (Ruth 2:10)
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?”
And his response is fascinating!
V. 11 (Ruth 2:11)
11 But Boaz answered her, “All that you have done for your mother-in-law since the death of your husband has been fully told to me, and how you left your father and mother and your native land and came to a people that you did not know before.
In other words - you’re reputation - your Hesed…I’ve heard all about it!
And then he says, in v. 12 (Ruth 2:12)
12 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!”
And let’s just put this together for a moment.
Boaz has heard about how Ruth left everything she knew to stick with Naomi - coming to a place she did not know, to a people she did not know…and Boaz says what’s really happened is that she has sought refuge with God!
He uses this beautiful imagery: "You have come to take refuge under His wings."
It’s a picture of a mother bird covering her young—protecting them from the wind, the rain, and the predators. It is the ultimate place of safety. And Boaz looks at her and prays, "May Yahweh, the God of Israel, be that covering for you. May He protect you. May He hide you."
But pause and look at the reality of the situation. Ruth is standing in a field. She is exposed. She is vulnerable. She doesn't see a giant pair of supernatural wings descending from the clouds to shield her. She doesn't see a forcefield springing up around her. What does she see?
She sees Boaz.
Think about what we just listed:
Boaz is the one with the field.
Boaz is the one who let’s her glean.
Boaz is the one who speaks to her.
Boaz is the one who ensures her safety by commanding the men to back off.
Boaz is the one providing her food, water, and what she needs to survive!
Do you see the irony? Boaz is looking at Heaven praying, "God, take care of this woman." But down on earth, Boaz is the one writing the check!
He is asking God to take care of her, but he’s the one actually offering the shelter. And in that moment, I think the theology of the book of Ruth clicks into place.
Boaz became the answer to his own prayer. Ruth sought refuge in God...and she found it in the protective kindness of Boaz. Boaz realizes that God's hand of protection is often experienced through the hands of His people.
And friends, this is so important for us to grasp. Because we often think of "God's Protection" as this mystical, invisible thing. We pray, "God, be with the poor. God, protect the single mom. God, watch over the vulnerable." And then we sit back and wait for a miracle.
But the story of Ruth tells us that often, God doesn't send a miracle. He sends a person. He sends a Boaz. He sends someone with a field, or a resource, or a voice, or a position of power, who decides to act with Hesed.
When Boaz extended his protection to Ruth, he wasn't just being a "nice guy." He was acting as the physical extension of God's wings. He was showing Ruth: "You trusted God, so God sent me."
Now, it’s not that Boaz is just taking matters into his own hands because God is absent, uninterested, or uninvolved. It’s quite the opposite!
Think of it this way.
Did it just so happen that Ruth came back with Naomi at the harvest season?
Did it just so happen that she came to Boaz’s field?
Did it just so happen that she was there when Boaz happened to be there?
No!
The book of Ruth is not painting God as the one who is uninterested in our problems—but as one who often chooses to move His Hand through ours.
The Attraction: Why We Love Boaz
But this brings us to a bit of a confrontation. Because if we are honest, we really like Boaz. We want to be the "Safe Person." We want to be the kind of person who is known for being generous and protective.
But here is the danger. Because we want to be that kind of person, we are often tempted to settle for just sounding like that kind of person. There is a cultural term for this: Virtue Signaling.
I think there is such a thing as Spiritual Virtue Signaling. And we are really good at it.
We see a need—a family in crisis, a single mom struggling—and what do we do? We pull the "Boaz Prayer" card. We say: "I’m praying for you." or "May the Lord provide!"
And listen, I am a Pastor. I believe in prayer! But be honest with yourself: How often do we use "I'm praying for you" as a spiritual way of saying, "I hope someone else fixes this"? We signal the virtue—"I am a caring person"—but we avoid the cost. We want the reputation of Boaz without the expense of the barley.
And for those of you who were with us in our last series, this should be ringing some bells. James—the brother of Jesus—said:
15 If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, 16 and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled,” without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that?
James is saying: That is Spiritual Virtue Signaling. It is looking at a "Ruth" in your life and offering them invisible wings when you have the power to offer them real protection.
The Diagnosis: Why We Fake It
But we have to ask the deeper question: Why do we do this? Why do we settle for signaling virtue rather than actually doing the hard work of love? I think it’s because, deep down, we are confused about who we are in the story.
We want to be Boaz. We want to be seen as the strong one, the resource-rich one, the "worthy" man or woman. But the terrifying truth—the one we work so hard to hide—is that spiritually, we are not Boaz. We are Ruth.
We are the ones who are hungry. We are the ones who are spiritually exposed. We are the ones wandering in a field we don't own, hoping we don't get kicked out. And "Virtue Signaling" is just our way of putting on a costume. It’s a mask we wear to convince God and our neighbors that we belong at the head of the table, when we’re actually terrified we don’t even belong in the field.
God’s Protective Kindness
God’s Protective Kindness
And that is why the Gospel is so shattering.
Because imagine if God had operated the way we often do. Imagine if God looked down at us—trapped in a world broken by sin, exposed to death, unable to save ourselves—and just decided to "Virtue Signal."
Imagine if He just sent a "Prayer Card" from Heaven saying: "I see you’re struggling down there with all that violence, injustice, and pain. Sending love! Hope you figure it out."
He didn't do that. God didn't just send a message; He sent a Man. He didn't just send "thoughts and prayers" from a safe distance; He sent His Son into the danger zone.
And this is where we have to connect the dots. You see, Boaz did something beautiful: he created a "safe zone" in one field, for one woman, for one season. He pushed back the effects of poverty and vulnerability for Ruth. But Boaz couldn't fix the world that made Ruth vulnerable in the first place. He could feed her, but he couldn't stop the famine. He could protect her from these reapers, but he couldn't stop the war, or the selfishness, or the death that plagues our history.
Boaz treated the symptoms. But Jesus came to cure the disease.
The Bible tells us that the reason our world is full of "Ruths"—the reason the world is full of exploitation, fear, and "exposure"—is because of a brokenness called Sin. And Sin isn’t just breaking a religious rule; Sin is the anti-human force that fractures our relationship with God and turns us against one another. It’s what makes the world unsafe.
Jesus is the ultimate Boaz because He refused to let that darkness win. He saw us in our "field"—exposed to the elements of a broken world, carrying the weight of our guilt and shame—and He entered the field with us.
And on the Cross, He didn't just write a check. He stretched out His arms—like wings—to create a refuge. He took the heat. He took the judgment. He took the ultimate "exposure" of Sin and Death onto Himself so that their power over us would be broken.
Boaz gave Ruth grain to sustain her life for a season. Jesus gave His life to defeat the powers of Death, so we could live in His New Creation forever.
The End of the Performance
And friends, I need you to feel what this means for you right now, in your actual life. If you are a Christian, this is the death of that "Imposter Syndrome" we talked about earlier.
Think about it. Why do we "Virtue Signal"? Why do we try so hard to look like "worthy" men and women? It’s because we are terrified that if people saw who we really were, they would reject us. We are performing to prove we deserve to be in the room.
But the Gospel says: The performance is over.
Why? Because the King has already seen you at your worst—exposed, vulnerable, and empty-handed—and He didn't cast you out. He covered you. He took the "outsider" and made them family.
The Invitation
And friends, this—and only this—is what makes it possible for us to answer the call of this text.
You see, earlier I said we all want to be Boaz. We want to be the strong ones, the generous ones. But the secret of the Kingdom of God is this: You cannot be Boaz until you admit that you are Ruth.
You cannot offer a refuge to others until you have found refuge yourself. You cannot feed the hungry until you admit that you were starving and Jesus fed you.
If you try to go out there and "Be Boaz" just to prove you are a good person, you will burn out. You will get tired. You will start resenting the people you are trying to help. But, if you go out there knowing that you were the outsider, and that Jesus brought you in... knowing that you were empty, and Jesus filled you... then your kindness isn't a performance. It’s an overflow.
Our Protective Kindness
Our Protective Kindness
And that leads us to the final question: What does this look like for us? If we are the people who have been covered by the wings of Christ, how do we live this out?
Now, I know what you might be thinking. You might be feeling a heavy weight right now. You might be thinking, "Dan, there are needs everywhere. I can't fix them all. I can't be Boaz for every person I meet."
And you are absolutely right. At the end of the day, knowing about Hesed doesn't help us figure out what to do with every single "Ruth" we see around us. And honestly? You do not have the capacity to be Boaz for everyone. We just don't.
The Community Vision
But I think something really powerful begins to take shape when a community actually believes, "God's hand works through mine."
Because here is the beauty of the Church: I may be able to meet one need. You may be able to meet another. Someone across the room can meet another. And when we stop "Virtue Signaling" and start actually using our hands... there is something at work there that is all at the same time messy, beautiful, compelling, and mysterious!
And friends, that is the kind of community I want to be a part of! And if I’m honest, I think it’s the one you are actually looking for, too.
We don't want to just be a group that meets here on a Sunday morning and (maybe) goes to a Lifegroup during the week. We want more than that. We want to be a part of the kind of community that is slowly but surely turning our city upside down in the name of Jesus.
And we don't do it through giant programs or spectacular events. We do it in these ordinary moments of grace. We do it in these seemingly mundane gestures of Hesed.
The Challenge
So this week, my challenge to you is simple. Don't try to save the world. Just look for one opportunity to let God answer a prayer through you.
Look for the person in your path who is "exposed." And instead of just wishing them well... offer them a wing. Offer them a seat. Offer them a meal. Offer them your protection.
Because here is the uncomfortable truth I want you to wrestle with as you leave: Is it possible that the 'unanswered prayer' of someone in your life... is actually just your un-opened hand?
You have been protected by the Ultimate Boaz. His kindness is too good to keep to yourself. Let’s open our hands.
Let’s pray.
