2020-11-08 Ruth 3
Notes
Transcript
1 Then Naomi her mother-in-law said to her, “My daughter, shall I not seek security for you, that it may be well with you?
2 “Now is not Boaz our kinsman, with whose maids you were? Behold, he winnows barley at the threshing floor tonight.
3 “Wash yourself therefore, and anoint yourself and put on your best clothes, and go down to the threshing floor; but do not make yourself known to the man until he has finished eating and drinking.
4 “It shall be when he lies down, that you shall notice the place where he lies, and you shall go and uncover his feet and lie down; then he will tell you what you shall do.”
5 She said to her, “All that you say I will do.”
I. Ruth was not defined by the sins of her ancestors.
I. Ruth was not defined by the sins of her ancestors.
6 So she went down to the threshing floor and did according to all that her mother-in-law had commanded her.
7 When Boaz had eaten and drunk and his heart was merry, he went to lie down at the end of the heap of grain; and she came secretly, and uncovered his feet and lay down.
8 It happened in the middle of the night that the man was startled and bent forward; and behold, a woman was lying at his feet.
9 He said, “Who are you?” And she answered, “I am Ruth your maid. So spread your covering over your maid, for you are a close relative.”
The story of Ruth is of how a Moabite became an Israelite.
The story of Ruth is of how a Moabite became an Israelite.
30 Lot went up from Zoar, and stayed in the mountains, and his two daughters with him; for he was afraid to stay in Zoar; and he stayed in a cave, he and his two daughters.
31 Then the firstborn said to the younger, “Our father is old, and there is not a man on earth to come in to us after the manner of the earth.
32 “Come, let us make our father drink wine, and let us lie with him that we may preserve our family through our father.”
33 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.
37 The firstborn bore a son, and called his name Moab; he is the father of the Moabites to this day.
1 Then Naomi her mother-in-law said to her, “My daughter, shall I not seek security for you, that it may be well with you?
2 “Now is not Boaz our kinsman, with whose maids you were? Behold, he winnows barley at the threshing floor tonight.
3 “Wash yourself therefore, and anoint yourself and put on your best clothes, and go down to the threshing floor; but do not make yourself known to the man until he has finished eating and drinking.
4 “It shall be when he lies down, that you shall notice the place where he lies, and you shall go and uncover his feet and lie down; then he will tell you what you shall do.”
Illus: The Bible is not a book that should be understood by the inspirational Instagrams of one verse here or there.
Scripture is the whole story from Genesis to Revelation. Ruth is no exception.
Read on its own it is a cute story of how two unlikely people fall in love with some cultural things you may not understand.
In reality it is a much more important book. It is a book which gives a living picture of faith and an explanation of how those who are foreigners are brought into God’s family.
The third chapter of Ruth parallels the birth of the Moabite nation. It shows how Ruth was faced with the same choices as Lot’s daughter, but instead acted righteously.
This theme in ruth is a major theme throughout scripture.
The bible teaches that we are born into sin and strangers to the household of God.
On top of that, when given the chance to do right and follow God, our hearts and lives repeat the foolish deeds which brought death to us.
Without redemption, the step of faith accepting the forgiveness, life, and purchase of Christ on the cross we are destined to follow in the broken footsteps of which cursed us and daily brings death to us.
16 Therefore from now on we recognize no one according to the flesh; even though we have known Christ according to the flesh, yet now we know Him in this way no longer.
17 Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.
Ruth sought more than a quick fix.
Ruth sought more than a quick fix.
6 So she went down to the threshing floor and did according to all that her mother-in-law had commanded her.
7 When Boaz had eaten and drunk and his heart was merry, he went to lie down at the end of the heap of grain; and she came secretly, and uncovered his feet and lay down.
8 It happened in the middle of the night that the man was startled and bent forward; and behold, a woman was lying at his feet.
9 He said, “Who are you?” And she answered, “I am Ruth your maid. So spread your covering over your maid, for you are a close relative.”
Illus: Follow the scene with me. This is a scene that has played out more than once in scripture. The security of women in the broken biblical times was through the babies they produced.
Think for a moment about how the nation of Israel was born. Two women took turns getting their husband drunk so that they or their servants could sleep with them and produce heirs.
Ruth as a widow without children was in a truly hopeless place.
She found Boaz in a compromised place. He was tired, loose and alone. There is a moment in this text where she could have seduced Boaz, become pregnant with his child and through deception forced his hand.
That was the quick fix.
Every day we are faced with this same choice. There is following God and there is what would work in the moment.
God does not simply call us to allow the ends justify the means. Instead we are called to integrity in every part of our lives.
The book of Ruth serves to parallel so many Old Testament acounts. So many of the stories out of the Old Testament present a picture of pragmatic sin. People allowing the end to justify their sinful means.
The difference Ruth gives is 1. She does not succumb to the pragmatic sin, and 2. She was a Moabite who did not follow in her ancestors footsteps.
13 It was told to Tamar, “Behold, your father-in-law is going up to Timnah to shear his sheep.”
14 So she removed her widow’s garments and covered herself with a veil, and wrapped herself, and sat in the gateway of Enaim, which is on the road to Timnah; for she saw that Shelah had grown up, and she had not been given to him as a wife.
15 When Judah saw her, he thought she was a harlot, for she had covered her face.
16 So he turned aside to her by the road, and said, “Here now, let me come in to you”; for he did not know that she was his daughter-in-law. And she said, “What will you give me, that you may come in to me?”
17 He said, therefore, “I will send you a young goat from the flock.” She said, moreover, “Will you give a pledge until you send it?”
18 He said, “What pledge shall I give you?” And she said, “Your seal and your cord, and your staff that is in your hand.” So he gave them to her and went in to her, and she conceived by him.
19 Then she arose and departed, and removed her veil and put on her widow’s garments.
9 He said, “Who are you?” And she answered, “I am Ruth your maid. So spread your covering over your maid, for you are a close relative.”
II. Boaz was not defined by the sins of his people.
II. Boaz was not defined by the sins of his people.
10 Then he said, “May you be blessed of the Lord, my daughter. You have shown your last kindness to be better than the first by not going after young men, whether poor or rich.
11 “Now, my daughter, do not fear. I will do for you whatever you ask, for all my people in the city know that you are a woman of excellence.
12 “Now it is true I am a close relative; however, there is a relative closer than I.
13 “Remain this night, and when morning comes, if he will redeem you, good; let him redeem you. But if he does not wish to redeem you, then I will redeem you, as the Lord lives. Lie down until morning.”
14 So she lay at his feet until morning and rose before one could recognize another; and he said, “Let it not be known that the woman came to the threshing floor.”
15 Again he said, “Give me the cloak that is on you and hold it.” So she held it, and he measured six measures of barley and laid it on her. Then she went into the city.
Boaz did not follow his people into depravity, but instead chose to do what was right.
Boaz did not follow his people into depravity, but instead chose to do what was right.
10 Then he said, “May you be blessed of the Lord, my daughter. You have shown your last kindness to be better than the first by not going after young men, whether poor or rich.
11 “Now, my daughter, do not fear. I will do for you whatever you ask, for all my people in the city know that you are a woman of excellence.
12 “Now it is true I am a close relative; however, there is a relative closer than I.
13 “Remain this night, and when morning comes, if he will redeem you, good; let him redeem you. But if he does not wish to redeem you, then I will redeem you, as the Lord lives. Lie down until morning.”
Illus: Just as Boaz was in a compromised state, so Ruth put herself in that same place. Both Ruth and Boaz could have seen the moments of vulnerability and darkness as an opportunity for sin.
Boaz was faced with another temptation. As Ruth basically proposed to Boaz, Boaz could have simply said, absolutely.
Boaz was a man who knew and loved the law of God. He was a man of integrity.
Doing right is not always the easiest route. Integrity and holiness are two things you should never compromise.
Boaz knew that there was a person who had the rights of redemption first.
Instead of acting deceitfully, Boaz chose to do waht is right.
This matters today. Every day you are faced with decisions of integrity. Integrity is doing the right thing the right way even when others are not looking.
I know the logic. But others are not acting fairly or with integrity. If I act with integrity, they will have an unfair advantage.
There is no amount of power, money, or life so precious that you should ever compromise what is right.
8 Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things.
In a moment where Boaz could have taken advantage of Ruth, he chose to honor her.
In a moment where Boaz could have taken advantage of Ruth, he chose to honor her.
13 “Remain this night, and when morning comes, if he will redeem you, good; let him redeem you. But if he does not wish to redeem you, then I will redeem you, as the Lord lives. Lie down until morning.”
14 So she lay at his feet until morning and rose before one could recognize another; and he said, “Let it not be known that the woman came to the threshing floor.”
15 Again he said, “Give me the cloak that is on you and hold it.” So she held it, and he measured six measures of barley and laid it on her. Then she went into the city.
16 When she came to her mother-in-law, she said, “How did it go, my daughter?” And she told her all that the man had done for her.
17 She said, “These six measures of barley he gave to me, for he said, ‘Do not go to your mother-in-law empty-handed.’ ”
Illus: Boaz showed not only did the right thing, but he did it while honoring Ruth.
Ruth came to Boaz in vulnerability and weakness seeking his redemption and protection.
Boaz, showed the kind of man he was by how he cared for Ruth. 1. He mad her a promise. 2. He protected her character. 3. He provided for her.
Men. Take notes. That is the picture of godliness in your family.
1. Act with integrity towards your wife. Keep your word, and live in such a way she trusts you.
2. Protect her character. Every word that comes out of your mouth should be to build her up. Let her rest under the shadow of your wings.
3. Provide for her. Care for her in such a way that she knows you will care for her needs.
Here is a bonus… love and care for her family.
So much of God’s work in your life will be seen through how you treat your wife.
25 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her,
26 so that He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word,
27 that He might present to Himself the church in all her glory, having no spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that she would be holy and blameless.
III. Boaz chose integrity and faith.
III. Boaz chose integrity and faith.
11 “Now, my daughter, do not fear. I will do for you whatever you ask, for all my people in the city know that you are a woman of excellence.
12 “Now it is true I am a close relative; however, there is a relative closer than I.
13 “Remain this night, and when morning comes, if he will redeem you, good; let him redeem you. But if he does not wish to redeem you, then I will redeem you, as the Lord lives. Lie down until morning.”
Integrity is choosing to do what is right no matter the cost. Faith is trusting God no matter the consequence.
Integrity is choosing to do what is right no matter the cost. Faith is trusting God no matter the consequence.
Illus: Ruth chapter three is one of the most confusing chapters in all of scripture.
It is the story of the setup of two characters that could have mirrored every broken failure in scripture.
All of that said, in a moment when compromise would have been easy, Ruth and Boaz offer a picture of integrity and faith.
Much like Ruth and Boaz, we walk in a broken world where it is much easier to get ahead than it is to do right.
The question for you is not about power. Power is easy if you are willing to compramise. It is not about security.
Will you embrace a life of integrity? Will you embrace a life of living for God even when there is the temptation to allow the ends to justify the means?
Integrety only makes sense through faith. When you trust God, even when it may seem costly at the outset, He will see you through.
Boaz and Ruth placed their lives in God’s hands, and God took care of them.
He will do the same for you.
5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart And do not lean on your own understanding.
6 In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He will make your paths straight.