Redeeming Ruth: Promised Provision - Sunday 10/7/18

The marriage covenant entered into by one man and one woman illustrates the faithful commitment and love of Christ (the groom) displayed to the body of believers that form his church (the bride).

The cooperation and intimacy between a husband and wife resulting in children that are nurtured in childhood, given guidance in their adolescence, and maturing into adulthood to create families of their own provides illustration of the mission and purpose of the church in fulfilling the great commission in cooperation with the Holy Spirit.

The Church, in response to these illustrations provided by the marriage covenant, should have a high view of marriage. Its members desiring to display these illustrations to those outside of the church by example, and guarding against ideas that contradict God’s good design such as; infidelity, divorce, cohabitation, fornication, and homosexuality.

As members of the church we should seek to mutually encourage one another to reject these inferior relationships and embrace God’s superior, perfect institution of marriage as an act of obedience, trust and worship to the glory of God.

Naomi desires that Ruth find fulfilment through God’s design of marriage.

Ruth 3:2–5 ESV

Is not Boaz our relative, with whose young women you were? See, he is winnowing barley tonight at the threshing floor. 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. 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.” And she replied, “All that you say I will do.”

What did we just read?

Doesn’t Naomi’s plan sound a little sketchy....risque?

Get dolled up, let him drink and lay down, go to him and do whatever he tells you…bad advice (Amen Parents?)

Varying opinions on what is going on here...

It is innocent - Naomi knows they will behave righteously

It is intentionally seductive - Ruth is fortunate that Boaz doesn’t take advantage of her.

Either way, there are sexual overtones…Naomi might have just given some bad advice, the Bible is honest…it doesn’t hide peoples imperfections.

Let’s Look at Naomi’s Plan

Naomi suggests making advances to Boaz

Distant Relative, Older, Single, Responsible, Reputable

But so far, has not made any moves towards Ruth

Go to the winnowing floor

End of harvest, almost a party/celebration

Men would get together in a barn with a breeze blowing through the open door.

They would use a “winnowing fork” to toss the grain into the air…the heavy grain falls, the wind blows away the chaff (husks, unusable)

They would hang out, eat, drink, sleep…really a time to see the profits from your labor.

Wash and anoint yourself....put on your cloak

This is not Ruth just getting ready for a date

David does something similar in 2 Samuel 12:20

2 Samuel 12:20 ESV

Then David arose from the earth and washed and anointed himself and changed his clothes. And he went into the house of the Lord and worshiped. He then went to his own house. And when he asked, they set food before him, and he ate.

This washing, anointing and changing clothes was a symbol that your time of mourning the dead was over.

Naomi is saying it is time to move on, it is time to turn the page on that chapter of your life and look to the future

Let Boaz know you are ready, that you are available.

Not primarily sexually seductive “put on something a little more comfortable”

It would be letting Boaz know…I’m ready for a new relationship

Wait, Find Him and Uncover His Feet

Tension here, similar to what happened to Lot

Think back to Lot in Sodom and Gomorah

The city is destroyed

His wife is turned to salt

Daughters panicked because their family line would end...

Get dad drunk and sleep with him…both get pregnant

This is how the Moabites started

Ruth was a Moabite

Was Naomi telling Ruth to do the same thing here?

Get Boaz to get drunk and take advantage of him?

Manipulating Boaz in order to keep the family line alive?

This really a risky move

There would be a lot of people at this party

Men counting their money…celebrating

Often women, hired for sexual favors with new money.

You can feel the tension

Was Naomi asking Ruth to become a prostitute?

Was Ruth going to seduce Boaz to sin?

Would she be caught in the act?

Ruth 3:6–13 ESV

So she went down to the threshing floor and did just as her mother-in-law had commanded her. 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. At midnight the man was startled and turned over, and behold, a woman lay at his feet! He said, “Who are you?” And she answered, “I am Ruth, your servant. Spread your wings over your servant, for you are a redeemer.” 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. 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. And now it is true that I am a redeemer. Yet there is a redeemer nearer than I. Remain tonight, and in the morning, if he will redeem you, good; let him do it. But if he is not willing to redeem you, then, as the Lord lives, I will redeem you. Lie down until the morning.”

Ruth follows Naomi’s Plan

She goes in, lies down and Boaz is startled

Reminds me of when a child comes and stands at your beside...

Boaz —> Who are you....how much did I drink????

I am Ruth…your servant

Different word than when they met in the field

2:13 she uses the word for “slave”

Here she uses the word “concubine or maiden”

“Boaz, I’m available” (in case you didn't know)

Spread your wings over your servant

Boaz had prayed God bless Ruth earlier using the same words

Ruth is saying, Boaz…will you be the answer to your own prayer for me?

In your own life, are there things you would like to see changed, new ideas, ways to serve others?

It just might be that God has alerted you to something, an area where He is not waiting for someone else to serve…but inviting you to serve.

“That family is really on hard times”....let’s pray God would send someone to help them.

“Our community is really under oppression and bondage from addiction”....let’s pray God will provide someone to work with them

Could it be that you are that someone?

Boaz then responds to Ruth

He is amazed at her kindness

Kindness here is “hesed”…an multi faceted word

Love / Compassion

Loyal / Faithful

Gracious / Merciful

The first time we see this word is when God passes before Moses, and reveals His name....it is a kindness that originates with God

Ruth has shown kindness to Naomi in being a loyal companion

Now she is showing kindness to Boaz in seeking marriage to an older man in order that he too might find rest…fulfillment.

Boaz doesn’t take advantage of the situation, but responds in truth.

Boaz could have acted here in a dishonorable way, but instead He acts in a way that is honoring to the God He serves.

I could just focus on the fact that Boaz didn’t make empty promises here for sex…but there is a principle here that is bigger than that.

There are times when people will come to us; times when they are vulnerable, when they are struggling, when they are in need

How do we respond to them as Christians?

Do we spread gossip, do we manipulate, do we purposely point them in the wrong direction or take advantage of them in their time of need?

Do we love them, do we seek their good, do we listen and respond in a way that seeks to see God glorified in our lives?

Boaz doesn’t make empty promises

Yes, I am a redeemer, but there is a redeemer nearer than me.

There is a “hiccup” in our love story

There is someone else who would have the first rights of redeeming this family and their land.

Boaz assures Ruth that she will be taken care of, either by this other redeemer, or personally.

Ruth 3:14–18 ESV

So she lay at his feet until the morning, but arose before one could recognize another. And he said, “Let it not be known that the woman came to the threshing floor.” And he said, “Bring the garment you are wearing and hold it out.” So she held it, and he measured out six measures of barley and put it on her. Then she went into the city. And when she came to her mother-in-law, she said, “How did you fare, my daughter?” Then she told her all that the man had done for her, saying, “These six measures of barley he gave to me, for he said to me, ‘You must not go back empty-handed to your mother-in-law.’ ” She replied, “Wait, my daughter, until you learn how the matter turns out, for the man will not rest but will settle the matter today.”

Boaz sends Ruth away with a picture of promised provision

Boaz tells Ruth, she must not go back empty-handed

Remember when Naomi first comes back, she says she has returned empty…without anything, no family, no land, no hope

But now, picture this: Ruth holding out her cloak in front of her, Boaz filling it with several gallons of barley…of seed. She pulls it up, struggling with its weight.....she looks “pregnant”

Ruth returns to update Naomi

She tells Naomi what all has happened

Naomi responds, He will not rest until it is settled

Boaz will not forget about Ruth’s need

Boaz will not be lazy in His pursuit/action

We see again this idea of the “hesed” of God; loyalty, faithfulness, compassion

Naomi asks Ruth an interesting question

How did you fare....

Hebrew this is more like....”Whose are you?”

That’s the question of this book…identity

Is she a Moabite

Does she belong to Israel

Is she a slave or a bride

Is she hopeless or will she be rescued

This is the big question of life....

Where is my identity

Where is the identity of my spouse, my children, my friends?

Are we hopeless, are we empty or are we redeemed, have we been rescued?

Have we experienced first hand the “hesed” of God?

“The Lord, the Lord, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness, maintaining love to thousands, and forgiving wickedness, rebellion and sin” (Ex. 34:6-7)

Are we displaying this God and this love to others?

In our words…our worship, our boasting, the sharing of our story

By our deeds…living a life that serves others, that seeks to bless and benefit those around us?

Do we demonstrate

His Patience

His Faithfulness

His Forgiveness

His Mercy

His Compassion

Do we share his promised provision?

Of His Salvation

Of His Rest

Of His Kingdom

We end here with Boaz saying “this matter”, “my responsibility” will be done, I will not rest, I will see that it is done.

We all have busy lives, many of us balance:

Careers, Marriage, Kids, Hobbies, Sports, School..overwhelming

We use those as excuses NOT to be involved in discipleship, in using our gifts, time, resources to serve others.

Maybe we need to rest a little less…focus on finding some way we can use what we are blessed with to bless others.

Maybe we need to reevaluate our priorities…cut something out to make time to be able to serve..

Maybe spending more time with neighbors, friends in order to disciple them.

Maybe coming early to help setup church service

Maybe leading a bible study group, teaching a class, starting a small group

I know we are busy…each month, each week, each day, my prayer is that God will show me how to best use my time to serve my family, my friends, my church…for His glory.

I don’t say that to boast, brag…but to say there are days I drop the ball.

There are times when I fail, when I get lazy, when I become selfish or even frustrated.

But I still find the MOST fulfilment when I am serving others and even sacrificing at times… for God’s glory. He is worthy.

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