The Hope of Redemption

Genesis 19:33–38 NASB95

So they made their father drink wine that night, and the firstborn went in and lay with her father; and he did not know when she lay down or when she arose. On the following day, the firstborn said to the younger, “Behold, I lay last night with my father; let us make him drink wine tonight also; then you go in and lie with him, that we may preserve our family through our father.” So they made their father drink wine that night also, and the younger arose and lay with him; and he did not know when she lay down or when she arose. Thus both the daughters of Lot were with child by their father. The firstborn bore a son, and called his name Moab; he is the father of the Moabites to this day. As for the younger, she also bore a son, and called his name Ben-ammi; he is the father of the sons of Ammon to this day.

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The Moabites worshipped Chemosh, a deity who is mentioned frequently in the OT.

There is also good evidence to suggest that Molech was routinely propitiated by human sacrifices.

Numbers 25:1 NASB95

While Israel remained at Shittim, the people began to play the harlot with the daughters of Moab.

Why do you suppose that Scripture refers to God loving the poor, the needy, and the humble so often?

It is not because there is some intrinsic value in being poor, or needy. The poor hate God just as much as the rich do.

A very dangerous trend is making its way into evangelical churches these days. It is taking the gospel of Christ and turning it into a social gospel by elevating social issues to a place of prominence and shifting the mission of the church in such a way as to place more emphasis on things like feeding the poor, fighting for equality, and changing social structures than it does on preaching the message of repentance.

The picture of Ruth and Boaz is indeed a picture of God redeeming the poor and the needy.

But let’s be clear: being poor does not make one less sinful or more virtuous any more than being rich or privileged makes one more sinful and less virtuous.

The point of God’s care for the poor is to emphasize God cares for the helpless. God rescues those who cannot rescue themselves. Paul says it like this:

Rome 5 6

Romans 5:6 NASB95

For while we were still helpless, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly.

To be a stranger or an alien is to be an outsider. You are NOT to be trusted.

Ephesians 2:19 NASB95

So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints, and are of God’s household,

Does not this language itself reveal a little about the negative status that strangers and aliens held?

What are some characteristics of God’s love?

Eternal; sacrificial; unconditional; giving; patient; faithful.

God’s Perfect Love is Steadfast

The Hebrew and Aramaic Lexicon of the Old Testament II חֶסֶד

1. joint obligation between relatives, friends, host and guest, master and servant;

• closeness, solidarity, loyalty:

Ruth 1:6–9 NASB95

Then she arose with her daughters-in-law that she might return from the land of Moab, for she had heard in the land of Moab that the Lord had visited His people in giving them food. So she departed from the place where she was, and her two daughters-in-law with her; and they went on the way to return to the land of Judah. And Naomi said to her two daughters-in-law, “Go, return each of you to her mother’s house. May the Lord deal kindly with you as you have dealt with the dead and with me. “May the Lord grant that you may find rest, each in the house of her husband.” Then she kissed them, and they lifted up their voices and wept.

Why is it the case that we tend to do the following?

Ignore God when things are going great?

Blame God when life is difficult?

Ruth 1:16–17 NASB95

But Ruth said, “Do not urge me to leave you or turn back 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. “Where you die, I will die, and there I will be buried. Thus may the Lord do to me, and worse, if anything but death parts you and me.”

1 John 4:8 NASB95

The one who does not love does not know God, for God is love.

How have you

1 John 4:7 NASB95

Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God.

What are some ways modern Christians misunderstand this attribute of God?

Here is another example of tension we encounter between God’s plan and God’s commandment.

Elimelech’s sons violated the law when they took Moabite women as wives. Yet, their action, while sinful, was perfectly aligned with God’s blueprint.

God’s Perfect Love is Gracious

Ruth 2:2–3 NASB95

And Ruth the Moabitess said to Naomi, “Please let me go to the field and glean among the ears of grain after one in whose sight I may find favor.” And she said to her, “Go, my daughter.” So she departed and went and gleaned in the field after the reapers; and she happened to come to the portion of the field belonging to Boaz, who was of the family of Elimelech.

Ruth 2:8–12 NASB95

Then Boaz said to Ruth, “Listen carefully, my daughter. Do not go to glean in another field; furthermore, do not go on from this one, but stay here with my maids. “Let your eyes be on the field which they reap, and go after them. Indeed, I have commanded the servants not to touch you. When you are thirsty, go to the water jars and drink from what the servants draw.” Then she fell on her face, bowing to the ground and said to him, “Why have I found favor in your sight that you should take notice of me, since I am a foreigner?” Boaz replied to her, “All that you have done for your mother-in-law after the death of your husband has been fully reported to me, and how you left your father and your mother and the land of your birth, and came to a people that you did not previously know. “May the Lord reward your work, and your wages be full from the Lord, the God of Israel, under whose wings you have come to seek refuge.”

Ruth did not pick up a kernel of corn that she had not be given by Boaz!

Not only is Boaz providing food for Ruth, but he is also a refuge for her against those who might take sexual liberties with her. When the boss says don’t touch, you had better not touch.

Boaz responded to Ruth with favor because of what he had been told regarding her undying commitment toward Naomi, her people, and her God. Covenant faithfulness is a key term in the Book of Ruth and in the Bible generally. It is a hard word to translate because it includes so many things: love, grace, mercy, kindness - all of the positive acts of devotion that flow out of a covenantal relationship.”

Ephesians 2:8–10 NASB95

For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.

There is no treasury chest of merits from which to draw. And you have no merit of your own. You have nothing that could possibly commend you to God.

Rather than working for God’s grace, we are a work of God’s grace.

God’s Perfect Love is Redeeming

Ruth 4:13–17 NASB95

So Boaz took Ruth, and she became his wife, and he went in to her. And the Lord enabled her to conceive, and she gave birth to a son. Then the women said to Naomi, “Blessed is the Lord who has not left you without a redeemer today, and may his name become famous in Israel. “May he also be to you a restorer of life and a sustainer of your old age; for your daughter-in-law, who loves you and is better to you than seven sons, has given birth to him.” Then Naomi took the child and laid him in her lap, and became his nurse. The neighbor women gave him a name, saying, “A son has been born to Naomi!” So they named him Obed. He is the father of Jesse, the father of David.

The father of Jesus who is the Messiah, God incarnate.

Mark 1:15 NASB95

and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.”

Euangelion: God’s good news to humans.

Mark 8:35 NASB95

“For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospel’s will save it.

Mark 8:25 NASB95

Then again He laid His hands on his eyes; and he looked intently and was restored, and began to see everything clearly.

Ruth lost her life and saved it.

Titus 2:11–15 NASB95

For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men, instructing us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly, righteously and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus, who gave Himself for us to redeem us from every lawless deed, and to purify for Himself a people for His own possession, zealous for good deeds. These things speak and exhort and reprove with all authority. Let no one disregard you.

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Psalm 130:8 NASB95

And He will redeem Israel From all his iniquities.

1 Peter 1:18–19 NASB95

knowing that you were not redeemed with perishable things like silver or gold from your futile way of life inherited from your forefathers, but with precious blood, as of a lamb unblemished and spotless, the blood of Christ.

Summary

John MacArthur provides an excellent outline of seven theological themes of the book of Ruth

Ruth the Moabitess illustrates that God’s redemptive plan extended beyond the Jews to Gentiles.

Ruth demonstrates that women are co-heirs with men of Gods salvation grace.

Ruth portrays the virtuous woman of .

Ruth describes God’s sovereign and providential care of seemingly unimportant people at apparently insignificant times which later prove to be monumentally crucial to accomplishing God’s will.

Ruth stands in the genealogy of the messianic line.

Boaz, as a type of Christ becomes Ruth’s kinsmen-redeemer.

David’s right to the throne of Israel is traced back to Judah. (Perez was the son of Judah and Tamar)