Love and Redemption (The Story of Ruth)

Introduction:

Text:

Date: July 14, 2019

Faith Community Bible Church

Introduction:

What is the greatest love story that you’ve ever heard? What does it include? What's the outcome of it?

(Talk about the Titanic movie)

The greatest love story that I’ve ever heard is one where and innocent man, God His own life for someone that was guilty. Share the Gospel…..

Many people have a will experience redemption, because of the Love of Christ.

Thinking through what redemption really is, you wrap your mind around the fact that redemption is wrapped in God’s love for His people. God loves us so much that He was willing to redeem a people that constantly pushed him away at every turn. All throughout the bible we see remnants of God’s love wrapped in His redemption. WIthout Love, there is no redemption.

ESV

6 For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. 7 For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die— 8 but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. 9 Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God. 10 For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life. 11 More than that, we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.

ESV

For God so loved the world that He gave his only Son that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have everlasting life.

Without love, there’s no redemption.

A great story of love and redemption is found in the book of Ruth. The Biblical book of Ruth is a love story. Its plot is hopeful and sweet. Most people read Ruth and tenderly exclaim, aw.

Ruth is a cameo story of love, devotion, and redemption set in the dark context of the days of the judges. It tells the story of a Moabite woman who forsakes her pagan heritage in order to cling to the people and the God of Israel. Because of her faithfulness in a time of national unfaithfulness, God rewards her by giving her a new husband (Boaz), a son (Obed), and a privileged position in the lineage of Christ (as the great-grandmother of David).

Ruth had married one of Naomi’s sons, but when all of the men of the family died, the two women found themselves alone. Naomi decided to return home to Bethlehem. In a moving demonstration of loyalty, Ruth insisted on staying with Naomi, even though it meant becoming a stranger in someone else’s land. Yet Ruth declared, “Your people shall be my people, and your God, my God” (1:16).

After arriving in Bethlehem, Ruth began gleaning in the fields because she had no other source of support. She needed a deliverer, a savior—but what did she have to offer? Ruth did not know that the field where she worked belonged to a wealthy man named Boaz, who noticed her hard at work. He approached and graciously offered her a safe haven on his property, complete with all the food and water she desired.

When Ruth expressed her gratitude, Boaz responded, “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” (2:12). Boaz could not have known that he was about to become a living representation of God’s salvation as Ruth’s kinsman redeemer. The two eventually married and all the townspeople rejoiced with them in God’s provision.

The story of Ruth teaches us many things, especially the value of trusting God in our circumstances. But her story also pictures God’s redemptive love for us in Jesus Christ.

As we think about redemption in light of the book of Ruth, there are a few things that we can learn from this story that will apply to our lives:

Jesus our Redeemer Recognizes You:

CSB

Boaz went to the gate of the town and sat down there. Soon the family redeemer Boaz had spoken about came by. Boaz said, “Come over here and sit down.” So he went over and sat down. 2 Then Boaz took ten men of the town’s elders and said, “Sit here.” And they sat down. 3 He said to the redeemer, “Naomi, who has returned from the territory of Moab, is selling the portion of the field that belonged to our brother Elimelech. 4 I thought I should inform you: Buy it back in the presence of those seated here and in the presence of the elders of my people. If you want to redeem it, do it. But if you do not want to redeem it, tell me so that I will know, because there isn’t anyone other than you to redeem it, and I am next after you.”

“I want to redeem it,” he answered.

5 Then Boaz said, “On the day you buy the field from Naomi, you will acquire Ruth the Moabitess, the wife of the deceased man, to perpetuate the man’s name on his property.”,j

6 The redeemer replied, “I can’t redeem it myself, or I will ruin my own inheritance. Take my right of redemption, because I can’t redeem it.”

7 At an earlier period in Israel, a man removed his sandal and gave it to the other party in order to make any matter legally binding concerning the right of redemption or the exchange of property. This was the method of legally binding a transaction in Israel.

8 So the redeemer removed his sandal and said to Boaz, “Buy back the property yourself.”

Like the first relative, others may not see your value. The first relative carefully considered the proposition and realized Ruth and Naomi were just too weighty. Too needy. He realized that it would ruin his inheritance. Others may do the same with you. They may see you as an encumbrance rather than an asset. Oh sure, at first you appear to be advantageous, but they retreat once they learn of your humanity. In their eyes, you’re a liability. Suddenly you aren’t so useful to them anymore. (God notices you because he knows what’s on the inside of you) (toothpaste illustration)

We are his Workmanship. He notices us.

Perhaps you have too many setbacks and they have enough of their own. Or they’re not prepared to deal with all your stuff. Either way, from their perspective you’re a commodity and the price is too high.

He notices you. He saw past my messy problems and weights. He does the same with you, Friend. He sees past your issues, the problems you bring to the table. His piercing gaze sees your true value, the assets of your inner being. Like Boaz, Jesus sees you differently. Boaz looked past Ruth and Naomi’s potentially problematic situation and saw Ruth’s resilience and humility. He sees the value and desires them for himself. Jesus does the same. His penetrating eyes see past your surface issues to your heart and mind. The exterior is irrelevant to Him; He wants to know if you are receptive. He’s searching for an extended spiritual antenna. Your baggage is beside the point. Do you have a criminal record? No problem, Jesus says. Are you a dog-tired mom with too many clamoring hands to satisfy? Jesus wants you on His team. Do you have way too many failures on your record to ever offer anybody anything ever again? Jesus beckons you.

ESV

And you were dead in the trespasses and sins 2 in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience— 3 among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body[a] and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind.[b] 4 But[c] God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, 5 even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— 6 and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 7 so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast. 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

Without Love, there is no redemption. Jesus our redeemer loves us so much that He notices us when no one else does.

2. Jesus our redeemer absorbs our burdens:

Not only does Jesus notices us, but He absorbs our burdens.

CSB

9 Boaz said to the elders and all the people, “You are witnesses today that I am buying from Naomi everything that belonged to Elimelech, Chilion, and Mahlon. 10 I have also acquired Ruth the Moabitess, Mahlon’s widow, as my wife, to perpetuate the deceased man’s name on his property, so that his name will not disappear among his relatives or from the gate of his hometown. You are witnesses today.”

11 All the people who were at the city gate, including the elders, said, “We are witnesses. May the Lord make the woman who is entering your house like Rachel and Leah, who together built the house of Israel. May you be powerful in Ephrathah and your name well known in Bethlehem. 12 May your house become like the house of Perez, the son Tamar bore to Judah, because of the offspring the Lord will give you by this young woman.”

13 Boaz took Ruth and she became his wife. He slept with her, and the Lord granted conception to her, and she gave birth to a son.

Once Boaz redeemed Ruth and Naomi, their encumbrances didn’t disappear. Without him, they were still poor widows. They still needed help. However, Boaz absorbed those problems and thus they became non-issues. You see, most people mistakenly believe once they’re saved, their baggage disappears. Not so.

CSB

22 He did not commit sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth;,ar 23 when he was insulted, he did not insult in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten but entrusted himself to the one who judges justly. 24 He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree; so that, having died to sins, we might live for righteousness. By his wounds,ay you have been healed.

Let’s be honest, we are accompanied by many problems. For example, some need constant affirmation, or are continually discontent. Or, some have poor self-images or excessive worry. These are burdens. Sure, Jesus lovingly shapes our hearts to eliminate these negative traits, but it doesn’t happen instantaneously. Renewal takes time. In these cases, Jesus absorbs your problems. He vouches for your insecurity. He takes on your jealousy and covetousness. He speaks for your negative thoughts and actions. Does He excuse them? Absolutely not. Will He douse you in fire to eliminate them? You bet He will. Does He, however, acknowledge and recognize them? Yes. He knows you are a work in progress. He willingly receives these problems if it means He has you. He’s after your heart, Friend. If it means He has to put up with your other, not-so-grand stuff, He’s tenderly prepared to do so.

Without Love, there is no redemption. Jesus our redeemer loves us so much that He takes our sins on His back.

3. Jesus our redeemer has redeems others:

The greatest love story that we can ever hear, or even embrace is the Gospel of Jesus Christ. The good news of Jesus coming to provide forgiveness of sin to all who believe. Jesus redeemed us by the blood of His cross. The story in the book of Ruth heralds this story. Boaz redeemed Ruth. Just like He noticed her, Jesus will notice us. Just as He absorbed her burdens, Jesus will absorb our burdens. Finally, we see from this story that Just as Jesus has the power to redeem us, He can redeem others.

CSB

14 The women said to Naomi, “Blessed be the Lord, who has not left you without a family redeemer today. May his name become well known in Israel. 15 He will renew your life and sustain you in your old age. Indeed, your daughter-in-law, who loves you and is better to you than seven sons, has given birth to him.” 16 Naomi took the child, placed him on her lap, and became his nanny. 17 The neighbor women said, “A son has been born to Naomi,” and they named him Obed. He was the father of Jesse, the father of David.

When Boaz redeemed Ruth, he also redeemed Ruth’s mother-in-law Naomi. Through Ruth, Naomi is cared for, valued, and included. She has a place at the table in the Household of Boaz. She is the esteemed grandmother of Boaz and Ruth’s son, Obed. She has been plucked from impoverishment to opulence. Without Ruth, Naomi probably would have wasted away. She would have returned to Bethlehem alone and without the means to change her situation. She would have remained in hardship until the end. Through Ruth, however, that all changed.

Many have said to me they don’t believe they have influenced one person for Christ. They fear once they reach Heaven they will bring no one with them. I believe otherwise. I believe each and every person, whether they’ve been homebound or completely introverted, will have been a conduit of God’s love for at least one other. We underestimate our power and persuasion. God knows how effective our words and actions can be. It's one reason, I believe, Jesus left us here after our salvation. You were chosen to be a mouthpiece, an ambassador, a channel for God’s devotion to His creation. Never doubt that.

You are Jesus’ Ruth. Once you become a believer, Jesus reaches through you to your surrounding friends and family. He puts in your mouth the words He desires for them. He communicates His unrelenting love for your peers through you. He uses your ministry to speak His adoration to their hearts. He orchestrates your words and actions to capture their spirits to His.

Without Love, there is no redemption. Jesus our redeemer loves us so much that He takes our sins on His back.

Conclusion:

Without Love, there is no redemption. The story of Ruth teaches us many things, especially the value of trusting God in our circumstances. But her story also pictures God’s redemptive love for us in Jesus Christ.

Jesus is our redeemer who:

Notices us

Absorbs our burdens

Even today he continues to redeem others.