Sermon Tone Analysis

Naomi was concerned about Ruth's future.

(NKJV)

(NKJV)

And Naomi said to her two daughters-in-law, “Go, return each to her mother’s house.

The Lord deal kindly with you, as you have dealt with the dead and with me.

The Lord grant that you may find rest, each in the house of her husband.”

(NKJV)

So she kissed them, and they lifted up their voices and wept.

The fact that Boaz was a relative is important.

So she kissed them, and they lifted up their voices and wept.

a.

The fact that Boaz was a relative is important.

Kinsman Redeemer

(NKJV)

(NKJV)

(NKJV)

‘If one of your brethren becomes poor, and has sold some of his possession, and if his redeeming relative comes to redeem it, then he may redeem what his brother sold.

‘The land shall not be sold permanently, for the land is Mine; for you are strangers and sojourners with Me.

And in all the land of your possession you shall grant redemption of the land.

What is our duty as relatives?

‘If one of your brethren becomes poor, and has sold some of his possession, and if his redeeming relative comes to redeem it, then he may redeem what his brother sold.

a.ii.

What is our duty as relatives?

What are our duties as family?

Social Security with my grandfather.

Taking care of my mother-in-law.

Purchase a house with enough land that I can help my family if they need it.

Get yourself ready for a date girl.

Naomi told Ruth to clean herself up, find out where Boaz was going to sleep, then go lie down at his feet and do what he says.

OK, we can see Naomi telling Ruth to make herself look good to go see Boaz.

What is this "lay down at his feet" stuff?

It was common practice to bow down, even to lie on the ground, to honor someone.

By lying at his feet, Ruth was submitting to his authority.

By covering herself with his cloak she was looking for his protection.

First, Naomi did not want Ruth to be seen so people wouldn't get the wrong idea.

Ruth was to lie at Boaz's feet like a servant.

Naomi trusted that Boaz would treat Ruth with care and respect, so she told Ruth to do whatever Boaz says.

Simple obedience.

Ruth, not being an Israelite, probably didn't fully understand the importance of the kinsman redeemer.

Ruth trusted that Naomi would look out for what was best for her.

We need to trust God the way Ruth trusted Naomi.

We probably don't understand everything that's going on.

We may think what God asks is strange, maybe even scary.

We need to trust and obey, even when it doesn't make sense.

Surprise!

Have you ever awakened to a surprise?

Boaz wakes up and here's this young lady at his feet.

If this were to happen in this day and age his mind may have come up with some "interesting" idea of what was going on.

Ruth announces that she is Boaz's servant.

This is a common phrase when meeting someone in authority over you.

Ruth asks Boaz to take care of her.

Literally, cover her.

(NKJV)

(NKJV)

“When I passed by you again and looked upon you, indeed your time was the time of love; so I spread My wing over you and covered your nakedness.

Yes, I swore an oath to you and entered into a covenant with you, and you became Mine,” says the Lord God.

Ruth asks this because Boaz is a close relative.

c.

Ruth asks this because Boaz is a close relative.

This is not just asking Boaz to redeem her mother-in-laws land & father a child for Mahlon.

Remember, it was the duty of a brother to raise up an heir.

Ruth is asking Boaz take care of her, to protect her and by extension Naomi.

Ruth didn't go after the good-looking guy, or the young and eligible guy.

Ruth was a young lady, apparently much younger than Boaz.

a. Ruth followed the rules of Israel, looking for a man who could redeem the name of her dead husband.

Would it be surprising for her to look for someone her own age to marry?

Ruth followed the rules of Israel, looking for a man who could redeem the name of her dead husband.

This further shows Ruth's honor and kindness to Naomi by following the rules of her adopted people.

b.

This further shows Ruth's honor and kindness to Naomi by following the rules of her adopted people.

(NKJV)

(NKJV)

(NKJV)

And Boaz answered and said to her, “It has been fully reported to me, all that you have done for your mother-in-law since the death of your husband, and how you have left your father and your mother and the land of your birth, and have come to a people whom you did not know before.

The Lord repay your work, and a full reward be given you by the Lord God of Israel, under whose wings you have come for refuge.”

And Boaz answered and said to her, “It has been fully reported to me, all that you have done for your mother-in-law since the death of your husband, and how you have left your father and your mother and the land of your birth, and have come to a people whom you did not know before.

The Lord repay your work, and a full reward be given you by the Lord God of Israel, under whose wings you have come for refuge.”

Boaz tells Ruth that he will do what she asks.

However, there's someone who has first dibs on Ruth and her land.

Boaz will follow the rules and give him the chance he deserves.

Do we trust God enough to follow His rules, even when there’s a chance it won’t work out the way we want?

If he declines, Boaz will redeem her.

Notice, the focus is taking care of Ruth and Naomi, not Boaz finding a wife.

Following the rules is important, even if it may interfere with what you desire.

The ends do not justify the means.

Boaz want's to protect Ruth's reputation.

Not to put up a false front, but to have the reputation match her character.

(NKJV)

(NKJV)

Test all things; hold fast what is good.

Abstain from every form (appearance) of evil.

Do we strive to maintain the reputation of others or just our own?

Boaz is not going to send Ruth home empty handed.

When I was a child, you never showed up at someone's house without bringing food.

"ephahs" is italics, meaning it is not in the original text.

An ephah is about a bushel of grain.

Do you think she held six bushels of grain in her shawl?

It took her a whole day to glean an ephah of barley

(NKJV)

So she gleaned in the field until evening, and beat out what she had gleaned, and it was about an ephah of barley.