God's Way is Always God's Will (Ruth 4)

Los Angeles Times - by SANDY BANKS NOV. 19, 2019 - When Grace Heals: Why Do Humans Turn to Religion in the Face of Tragedy? Gospel Churches in Santa Clarita Offer the Hope of the Gospel in a Hurting Community.

The story is an attempt by a secular journalist to explain from their worldview why people go to churches during times of crisis. But what happened is amazing.

NOV. 19, 2019

The massive vigil at Santa Clarita’s Central Park on Sunday night had the fervor of a church revival and the trappings of a pep rally. There were tears and cheers, prayers to heal the community and promises to never forget.

In the five days since two Saugus High students were shot to death and three wounded by a gun-wielding schoolmate, Santa Clarita’s schools may have been closed but its churches were open and busy.

Churches, cathedrals and synagogues became impromptu gathering spots for heartsick residents. They offered more than spiritual guidance; they ministered to practical needs.

The church was where frightened young witnesses waited after the shooting until police officers could interview them; where mental health counselors were available within hours of the tragedy; where a trauma expert met with hundreds of grieving families to answer two central questions: How do you return to normal? What do we do with so much pain?

ADVERTISINGinRead invented by Teads

I was struck, watching coverage of the shooting’s aftermath last week, by how many Saugus students referenced “God” and “prayer” in their interviews. It didn’t come off like a “thoughts and prayers” cliché; more like a spontaneous expression of confidence in God.

Over the next few days, faith-based values fueled a wave of good works in the community.

The Cancer Diet: Food Tips Before and During Cancer Care

By Sutter Health

How do you return to normal? What do we do with so much pain?

The right foods can help reduce your risk and keep your body strong. Here are nutrition tips from Sutter’s cancer care teams.

Over the next few days, faith-based values fueled a wave of good works in the community.

Charity was embodied by the daily “meal trains” arranged by neighbors of families whose children were shot. So many people volunteered, families won’t have to worry about meals for months.

Generosity was reflected in the flood of donations in the collection box — which Grace Baptist will share with the mother of the boy who shot the students, then killed himself. “His mom is certainly a victim in this,” pastor David Hegg told my colleague Harriet Ryan. “She’s lost a son.”

That’s what happens when grace, not anger, is your fuel.

I felt that at the vigil in a way I never expected, when a stranger sidled over to me, wrapped her arm around my shoulders and pulled me close. I must have looked forlorn, standing there alone, wiping tears from my cheeks as I was taking notes.

When grace is your fuel

Even in pain and tragedy, God is there. Even in difficulty, God is at work. No matter how difficult the situation, God’s grace, the love of our savior Jesus, the comfort of the Holy Spirit, is always available

Even in pain, God is

() - let’s read:

- She let her widowed daughter in law go out into the world without protection. But God protected her.

- She convinced her daughter to try and seduce a godly man. But God had a better way.

- They saw what looked like an impossible obstacle to God’s will. But God was in control.

But God had a plan. But God protected her. But God had a better way. But God is in control.

- She let her widowed daughter in law go out into the world without protection. But God protected her.

- She convinced her daughter to try and seduce a godly man. But God had a better way.

- They saw what looked like an impossible obstacle to God’s will. But God is in control.

Ruth 4 ESV

1 Now Boaz had gone up to the gate and sat down there. And behold, the redeemer, of whom Boaz had spoken, came by. So Boaz said, “Turn aside, friend; sit down here.” And he turned aside and sat down. 2 And he took ten men of the elders of the city and said, “Sit down here.” So they sat down. 3 Then he said to the redeemer, “Naomi, who has come back from the country of Moab, is selling the parcel of land that belonged to our relative Elimelech. 4 So I thought I would tell you of it and say, ‘Buy it in the presence of those sitting here and in the presence of the elders of my people.’ If you will redeem it, redeem it. But if you will not, tell me, that I may know, for there is no one besides you to redeem it, and I come after you.” And he said, “I will redeem it.” 5 Then Boaz said, “The day you buy the field from the hand of Naomi, you also acquire Ruth the Moabite, the widow of the dead, in order to perpetuate the name of the dead in his inheritance.” 6 Then the redeemer said, “I cannot redeem it for myself, lest I impair my own inheritance. Take my right of redemption yourself, for I cannot redeem it.” 7 Now this was the custom in former times in Israel concerning redeeming and exchanging: to confirm a transaction, the one drew off his sandal and gave it to the other, and this was the manner of attesting in Israel. 8 So when the redeemer said to Boaz, “Buy it for yourself,” he drew off his sandal. 9 Then Boaz said to the elders and all the people, “You are witnesses this day that I have bought from the hand of Naomi all that belonged to Elimelech and all that belonged to Chilion and to Mahlon. 10 Also Ruth the Moabite, the widow of Mahlon, I have bought to be my wife, to perpetuate the name of the dead in his inheritance, that the name of the dead may not be cut off from among his brothers and from the gate of his native place. You are witnesses this day.” 11 Then all the people who were at the gate and the elders said, “We are witnesses. May the Lord make the woman, who is coming into your house, like Rachel and Leah, who together built up the house of Israel. May you act worthily in Ephrathah and be renowned in Bethlehem, 12 and may your house be like the house of Perez, whom Tamar bore to Judah, because of the offspring that the Lord will give you by this young woman.” 13 So Boaz took Ruth, and she became his wife. And he went in to her, and the Lord gave her conception, and she bore a son. 14 Then the women said to Naomi, “Blessed be the Lord, who has not left you this day without a redeemer, and may his name be renowned in Israel! 15 He shall be to you a restorer of life and a nourisher of your old age, for your daughter-in-law who loves you, who is more to you than seven sons, has given birth to him.” 16 Then Naomi took the child and laid him on her lap and became his nurse. 17 And the women of the neighborhood gave him a name, saying, “A son has been born to Naomi.” They named him Obed. He was the father of Jesse, the father of David. 18 Now these are the generations of Perez: Perez fathered Hezron, 19 Hezron fathered Ram, Ram fathered Amminadab, 20 Amminadab fathered Nahshon, Nahshon fathered Salmon, 21 Salmon fathered Boaz, Boaz fathered Obed, 22 Obed fathered Jesse, and Jesse fathered David.

- They left before God answered . She came back bitter. But God had a plan.

- She let her widowed daughter in law go out into the world without protection. But God protected her.

- She convinced her daughter in law to try and seduce a godly man. But God had a better way.

- They saw what looked like an impossible obstacle to God’s will. But God was in control.

But God had a plan. But God protected her. But God had a better way. But God was in control.

(1) Boaz the hero is a lot like ___________ our hero. (3:18-4:1)

(1) Boaz the hero is a lot like Jesus our hero. (3:18-4:1)

Ruth 3:18–4:1 ESV

18 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.” 1 Now Boaz had gone up to the gate and sat down there. And behold, the redeemer, of whom Boaz had spoken, came by. So Boaz said, “Turn aside, friend; sit down here.” And he turned aside and sat down.

When you do God’s will God’s way you can go with confidence. Boaz went quickly and dealt directly.

When you do God’s will God’s way you can go with confidence. Boaz went quickly and dealt directly.

Jesus taught with authority, Jesus forgave sin, Jesus acted with godly determination

(2) Boaz was willing do what the ____ __ ___ ________ (4:2-10)

(2) Boaz was willing do what the word of God commanded (4:2-10)

Ruth 4:2–10 ESV

2 And he took ten men of the elders of the city and said, “Sit down here.” So they sat down. 3 Then he said to the redeemer, “Naomi, who has come back from the country of Moab, is selling the parcel of land that belonged to our relative Elimelech. 4 So I thought I would tell you of it and say, ‘Buy it in the presence of those sitting here and in the presence of the elders of my people.’ If you will redeem it, redeem it. But if you will not, tell me, that I may know, for there is no one besides you to redeem it, and I come after you.” And he said, “I will redeem it.” 5 Then Boaz said, “The day you buy the field from the hand of Naomi, you also acquire Ruth the Moabite, the widow of the dead, in order to perpetuate the name of the dead in his inheritance.” 6 Then the redeemer said, “I cannot redeem it for myself, lest I impair my own inheritance. Take my right of redemption yourself, for I cannot redeem it.” 7 Now this was the custom in former times in Israel concerning redeeming and exchanging: to confirm a transaction, the one drew off his sandal and gave it to the other, and this was the manner of attesting in Israel. 8 So when the redeemer said to Boaz, “Buy it for yourself,” he drew off his sandal. 9 Then Boaz said to the elders and all the people, “You are witnesses this day that I have bought from the hand of Naomi all that belonged to Elimelech and all that belonged to Chilion and to Mahlon. 10 Also Ruth the Moabite, the widow of Mahlon, I have bought to be my wife, to perpetuate the name of the dead in his inheritance, that the name of the dead may not be cut off from among his brothers and from the gate of his native place. You are witnesses this day.”

In we see Boaz and another relative discuss what it means to be the kinsmen redeemer. Naomi and Ruth are both widowed and impoverished. Boaz wants to help but he is not the nearest relative.

Stop for a second:

In Old Testament times there was also the practice of yibbum (Hebrew) or levirate marriage (latin for husband's brother). The oldest brother would take responsibility for his brother's widow. If he refused the widow would take off one of his sandals in a ceremony called halitzah ().

Deuteronomy 25:5-10

). Then there was the kinsmen redeemer of

Who will look after me in my old age? Where will I live? What will happen if my health is failing? In Bible times these were genuine questions. There were no government programs, no pension plans. What you had was often all that you had. In the Book of Acts we read about the distribution of bread. Each morning it was both the Jewish and the Christian custom to receive donations from households and then distribute these to the poor and widowed. In Old Testament times there was also the practice of yibbum (Hebrew) or levirate marriage (latin for husband's brother). The oldest brother would take responsibility for his brother's widow. If he refused the widow would take off one of his sandals and spit in his face in a ceremony called halitzah (). Then there was the kinsmen redeemer of where the nearest relative would purchase the land of an impoverished Israelite or redeem a relative from debt bondage.

What happens here is a kind of cultural combination of these practices. There’s a widow, there’s land to redeem, neither Boaz or the other man are brothers of Naomi or Ruth.

). Then there was the kinsmen redeemer of

). Then there was the kinsmen redeemer of

Then there was the kinsmen redeemer of where the nearest relative would purchase the land of an impoverished Israelite or redeem a relative from debt bondage.

Leviticus 25:25-54

In we see Boaz and another relative discuss what it means to be the kinsmen redeemer. Naomi and Ruth are both widowed and impoverished. Boaz wants to help but he is not the nearest relative.

where the nearest relative would purchase the land of an impoverished Israelite or redeem a relative from debt bondage.

where the nearest relative would purchase the land of an impoverished Israelite or redeem a relative from debt bondage.

The Expositor’s Bible Commentary, Volume 3: Deuteronomy, Joshua, Judges, Ruth, 1 & 2 Samuel A. A Kinsman’s Refusal to Redeem Naomi’s Land (4:1–6)

Furthermore, this case differs from the levirate law on several counts: (1) here a more distant relative than a brother was expected to marry the widow; (2) the kinsman removed his own shoe instead of the rejected widow doing it; and (3) apparently no disgrace was involved, as the significance of removing the shoe here was to seal a legal transaction.

Boaz probably hoped to discourage the kinsman from buying the land by reminding him that the purchase of the land obligated the kinsman to marry Ruth, though he gave the kinsman every opportunity to do just that.

(3) God’s __________ and God’s __________ permeate even the darkest of times (4:11-22)

(3) God’s sovereignty and God’s grace permeate even the darkest of times (4:11-22)

Ruth 4:11–22 ESV

11 Then all the people who were at the gate and the elders said, “We are witnesses. May the Lord make the woman, who is coming into your house, like Rachel and Leah, who together built up the house of Israel. May you act worthily in Ephrathah and be renowned in Bethlehem, 12 and may your house be like the house of Perez, whom Tamar bore to Judah, because of the offspring that the Lord will give you by this young woman.” 13 So Boaz took Ruth, and she became his wife. And he went in to her, and the Lord gave her conception, and she bore a son. 14 Then the women said to Naomi, “Blessed be the Lord, who has not left you this day without a redeemer, and may his name be renowned in Israel! 15 He shall be to you a restorer of life and a nourisher of your old age, for your daughter-in-law who loves you, who is more to you than seven sons, has given birth to him.” 16 Then Naomi took the child and laid him on her lap and became his nurse. 17 And the women of the neighborhood gave him a name, saying, “A son has been born to Naomi.” They named him Obed. He was the father of Jesse, the father of David. 18 Now these are the generations of Perez: Perez fathered Hezron, 19 Hezron fathered Ram, Ram fathered Amminadab, 20 Amminadab fathered Nahshon, Nahshon fathered Salmon, 21 Salmon fathered Boaz, Boaz fathered Obed, 22 Obed fathered Jesse, and Jesse fathered David.

There’s a lot of Old Testament history and imagery here. There’s a lot of God;s sovereignty and God;s grace during not the most spiritual of times here.

Rachel and Leah - battling sisters who were the mothers of the tribes of Israel

Tamar and Judah bore Perez

Naomi had tried to do everything her way instead of God’s ()

The wife of Salmon was Rahab the prostitute from Jericho ()

But look at who was the great grand son of Boaz

And notice the mention in verse 11 of this little insignificant town called Bethlehem

What happens in is a wonderful mix of human love and God's sovereignty. It's also a picture of Christian compassion and of the what it means when we refer to Jesus as "our" redeemer.

Don’t be discouraged. Don’t give up. Jesus is in control. Jesus is the sovereign redeemer.