Romance By Redemption

Introduction

Text - Ruth 4.9-13

Ruth 4:9–13 NKJV

9 And Boaz said to the elders and all the people, “You are witnesses this day that I have bought all that was Elimelech’s, and all that was Chilion’s and Mahlon’s, from the hand of Naomi. 10 Moreover, Ruth the Moabitess, the widow of Mahlon, I have acquired as my wife, to perpetuate the name of the dead through his inheritance, that the name of the dead may not be cut off from among his brethren and from his position at the gate. You are witnesses this day.” 11 And all the people who were at the gate, and the elders, said, “We are witnesses. The Lord make the woman who is coming to your house like Rachel and Leah, the two who built the house of Israel; and may you prosper in Ephrathah and be famous in Bethlehem. 12 May your house be like the house of Perez, whom Tamar bore to Judah, because of the offspring which the Lord will give you from this young woman.” 13 So Boaz took Ruth and she became his wife; and when he went in to her, the Lord gave her conception, and she bore a son.

Title - Romance In Redemption

Background

On Romance

the world views man and woman relationship to be romantic

romantic means relationship that is exciting, adventurous, chivalric, etc.

many love relationships in the Bible did not begin in romance

Adam and Eve

Isaac and Rebekah

Joseph and Mary

Romance developed as the commit themselves in their marriage

Boaz and Ruth’s is probably the most beautiful love story in the Bible

there was no romance

their marriage came as a necessity

but it was God-ordained

The Boaz and Ruth love story

a family in debt

a widow without children

a young widow without future

A Decisive Choice

Ruth had to make a hard choice

Ruth 1:11–15 NKJV

11 But Naomi said, “Turn back, my daughters; why will you go with me? Are there still sons in my womb, that they may be your husbands? 12 Turn back, my daughters, go—for I am too old to have a husband. If I should say I have hope, if I should have a husband tonight and should also bear sons, 13 would you wait for them till they were grown? Would you restrain yourselves from having husbands? No, my daughters; for it grieves me very much for your sakes that the hand of the Lord has gone out against me!” 14 Then they lifted up their voices and wept again; and Orpah kissed her mother-in-law, but Ruth clung to her. 15 And she said, “Look, your sister-in-law has gone back to her people and to her gods; return after your sister-in-law.”

Returning home to their mothers meant they can be married again to other men since they were still young

Naomi was old and had no more children

Returning home meant returning to their old lifestyle, including their beliefs

it was possible that they had embraced Naomi’s faith when they married her sons

Ruth chose to stay with Naomi

Ruth 1:16–17 NKJV

16 But Ruth said: “Entreat me not to leave you, Or to turn back from following after you; For wherever you go, I will go; And wherever you lodge, I will lodge; Your people shall be my people, And your God, my God. 17 Where you die, I will die, And there will I be buried. The Lord do so to me, and more also, If anything but death parts you and me.”

Ruth’s choice was sacrificial

it meant embracing Naomi’s people

it meant embracing her God

it meant living and dying with her

Ruth chose Naomi’s needs over her own needs

Ruth’s choice brought her into the care of a living and merciful God!

Ruth 2:11–12 NKJV

11 And Boaz answered and said to her, “It has been fully reported to me, all that you have done for your mother-in-law since the death of your husband, and how you have left your father and your mother and the land of your birth, and have come to a people whom you did not know before. 12 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.”

Ruth chose to stay in one field.

she did not take advantage of their poverty and went begging around

she did not take advantage of her still being young and went after men

WHAT’S THE POINT?

The right choice is not always the easiest way out of a situation, and the easiest way is not always the right choice.

Orpah chose the easiest way out - it separated her from the true God

Proverbs 14:12 NKJV

12 There is a way that seems right to a man, But its end is the way of death.

The right choice is always sacrificial, and a sacrificial act is always rewarded.

this is what we see in the next part of the story

A Divine Providence

Ruth gleans at Boaz’s field

Ruth 2:2–5 NKJV

2 So Ruth the Moabitess said to Naomi, “Please let me go to the field, and glean heads of grain after him in whose sight I may find favor.” And she said to her, “Go, my daughter.” 3 Then she left, and went and gleaned in the field after the reapers. And she happened to come to the part of the field belonging to Boaz, who was of the family of Elimelech. 4 Now behold, Boaz came from Bethlehem, and said to the reapers, “The Lord be with you!” And they answered him, “The Lord bless you!” 5 Then Boaz said to his servant who was in charge of the reapers, “Whose young woman is this?”

Ruth finds favor in Boaz’s eyes

Ruth 2:7–9 NKJV

7 And she said, ‘Please let me glean and gather after the reapers among the sheaves.’ So she came and has continued from morning until now, though she rested a little in the house.” 8 Then Boaz said to Ruth, “You will listen, my daughter, will you not? Do not go to glean in another field, nor go from here, but stay close by my young women. 9 Let your eyes be on the field which they reap, and go after them. Have I not commanded the young men not to touch you? And when you are thirsty, go to the vessels and drink from what the young men have drawn.”

he invites her at mealtime

Ruth 2:14 NKJV

14 Now Boaz said to her at mealtime, “Come here, and eat of the bread, and dip your piece of bread in the vinegar.” So she sat beside the reapers, and he passed parched grain to her; and she ate and was satisfied, and kept some back.

he allowed her to glean among the sheaves

Ruth 2:15–16 NKJV

15 And when she rose up to glean, Boaz commanded his young men, saying, “Let her glean even among the sheaves, and do not reproach her. 16 Also let grain from the bundles fall purposely for her; leave it that she may glean, and do not rebuke her.”

WHAT’S THE POINT

Divine providence was catching up on her!

providence

the foreseeing care and guidance of God over His creation

a manifestation of divine care and direction

Providence is the work of God in which he allows and disallows things and situation to happen so that it serves His purpose

Although our choices and decisions are at the forefront of life, in the background there is Divine Providence - God who cares for us and directs things on our behalf.

that is why our choices and decisions must be done IN FAITH.

THE PURPOSE OF FAITH IS NOT TO FORCE GOD TO DO SOMETHING FOR US - BUT FAITH IS TO ENABLE TO WORK AND COOPERATE WITH GOD IN BRINGING TO PASS HIS DIVINE PLAN

THE RIGHT CHOICES WILL YOU IN LINE WITH GOD’S DIVINE PROVIDENCE

YOU WILL DISCOVER THAT GOD’S PROVIDENCE WAS ALREADY SET, AND WAITING FOR YOU.

A Kinsman Redemption

Ruth claims her right to redemption

Ruth 3:8–11 NKJV

8 Now it happened at midnight that the man was startled, and turned himself; and there, a woman was lying at his feet. 9 And he said, “Who are you?” So she answered, “I am Ruth, your maidservant. Take your maidservant under your wing, for you are a close relative.” 10 Then he said, “Blessed are you of the Lord, my daughter! For you have shown more kindness at the end than at the beginning, in that you did not go after young men, whether poor or rich. 11 And now, my daughter, do not fear. I will do for you all that you request, for all the people of my town know that you are a virtuous woman.

in a humble way, she asks for him to take her under her care and protection

Ezekiel 16:8 NKJV

8 “When I passed by you again and looked upon you, indeed your time was the time of love; so I spread My wing over you and covered your nakedness. Yes, I swore an oath to you and entered into a covenant with you, and you became Mine,” says the Lord God.

Boaz rescues Naomi and Ruth

he approaches a closer relation

Ruth 3:12–13 NKJV

12 Now it is true that I am a close relative; however, there is a relative closer than I. 13 Stay this night, and in the morning it shall be that if he will perform the duty of a close relative for you—good; let him do it. But if he does not want to perform the duty for you, then I will perform the duty for you, as the Lord lives! Lie down until morning.”

the other kinsman cannot redeem her

Ruth 4:3–6 NKJV

3 Then he said to the close relative, “Naomi, who has come back from the country of Moab, sold the piece of land which belonged to our brother Elimelech. 4 And I thought to inform you, saying, ‘Buy it back in the presence of the inhabitants and the elders of my people. If you will redeem it, redeem it; but if you will not redeem it, then tell me, that I may know; for there is no one but you to redeem it, and I am next after you.’ ” And he said, “I will redeem it.” 5 Then Boaz said, “On the day you buy the field from the hand of Naomi, you must also buy it from Ruth the Moabitess, the wife of the dead, to perpetuate the name of the dead through his inheritance.” 6 And the close relative said, “I cannot redeem it for myself, lest I ruin my own inheritance. You redeem my right of redemption for yourself, for I cannot redeem it.”

WHAT’S THE POINT?

Ruth found romance in redemption!

She sacrificed her needs - but God did not forget them!

She took care of her poor mother in-law - God took care of her!

She did the work of a son to Naomi - God gave her a man worthy of her!

Not all love stories start with “romance” - the fancy feeling that young men and women want to feel

real love stories are borne out of needs

real love stories are birthed by sacrificial acts

the greatest love story is an act of redemption!

THE CHURCH WAS PURCHASED!

Acts 20:28 NKJV

28 Therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood.

Jesus GAVE HIMSELF for the church

Ephesians 5:25–27 NKJV

25 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her, 26 that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word, 27 that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish.

Conclusion

Ruth’s story is the story of the Bride of Christ!

She is a Gentile woman who embraced the God is Israel (Naomi)

She and Israel both needed Kinsman Redeemer

She was rescued by her Boaz - Jesus Christ!

Romans 5:8 NKJV

8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

The closer kinsman was a type of Adam/man, our closest redeemer in the flesh

but he cannot redeem us - he is also in debt

Boaz is a type of Christ, our next closest redeemer - AND HE IS ABLE TO PAY OUR DEBTS

BOAZ PERFORMED A TRIPLE REDEMPTION

He redeemed the land that was sold - the whole earth

He redeemed Naomi with the land - Israel, the servant of God

He redeemed Ruth from widowhood - the Gentile Church, the Bride of Christ

WHEN REDEMPTION WORK IS FINISHED, ALL 3 WILL ENJOY THE MILLENNIAL REIGN OF CHRIST!

Ruth was the central figure of the story of redemption!

She was the reason why Naomi had to sell their land, go to Moab, and die there.

THE GENTILE CHURCH WAS THE REASON WHY GOD HAD TO ALLOW ISRAEL TO BE BLINDED AND TO GOSPEL TO BE PRCLAIMED TO THE NATIONS!

Ruth’s story is Our Story

God saw our need, and He brought us in!

Ephesians 2:11–13 NKJV

11 Therefore remember that you, once Gentiles in the flesh—who are called Uncircumcision by what is called the Circumcision made in the flesh by hands— 12 that at that time you were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. 13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.

Romans 11:32–36 NKJV

32 For God has committed them all to disobedience, that He might have mercy on all. 33 Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and His ways past finding out! 34 “For who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has become His counselor?” 35 “Or who has first given to Him And it shall be repaid to him?” 36 For of Him and through Him and to Him are all things, to whom be glory forever. Amen.

Ruth’s story began in a tragedy and ended in romance!

the Church’s love story began in the filth of sin and will culminate in a glorious romance wiht Christ for all eternity!

SONG

He Looked Beyond My Fault