Sermon Central
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Look What God Has Done! – Ruth, Part 4 Series
Contributed by T.j. Conwell on Oct 31, 2022 (message contributor)
Summary: Even in tough times, God is STILL accomplishing His plan to bring redemption to those He loves! Naomi learns that through who Ruth has found, and in that we get the honor of seeing God walk with His people, just like He promises to walk with, and provide, for us!
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“Look what God has done!” – Ruth, Part 4
Ruth Sermon Series, Part 4
Ruth 2:18-23
Introduction
- So far, we’ve seen a very interesting story develop in Ruth
-- We know there was a great famine and so Elimelek has moved his family
-- While they were in Moab, 3 out of 4 people in this family have died
- Ruth makes three promises to Naomi:
1. Where you go, I will go and where you stay, I will stay (Life commitment)
2. Your people will be my people; your God will be my God (Public profession)
3. Where you die, I will die, and there I will be buried (Promise to be faithful)
- So, back in Bethlehem, Ruth ventures out to find work and comes across Boaz
-- Boaz is a land owner, but is ALSO a relative of Elimelek (see God’s provision)
- Boaz’s response to Ruth, in simplest terms, is one of grace and mercy
1. I’ve heard about what you did for your mother-in-law
2. I applaud you leaving homeland to come here
3. Come and join in with us, find protection and safety with me
- Boaz’s prayer for her is that she would be protected & blessed by God
-- APP: His prayer is for the same God she has committed to honor will bless her
-- EXP: May God fulfill her life so much that it will satisfy her completely
- From this, we saw a tremendous encouragement on showing grace to others:
-- Could you and I welcome in and show grace to a stranger like this?
-- Instead of piling on, Boaz becomes a comforter, a mercy giver
-- Hebrew “chesed” (or hesed); completely undeserved kindness or love
-- EXP: Very similar to what God has done for us through Jesus Christ
- Let’s see where this story takes us today to encourage our hearts
- Read Ruth 2:18-23 / Pray
Point 1 – Ruth’s efforts are shown to Naomi
- Taking the barley she harvested, she heads home to see Naomi
-- Remember, she has harvested an ephah worth (or about 6 US gallons)
-- This will certainly provide them plenty to eat for next few months
- But something else has happened that has Naomi’s attention
-- Not only has she gathered all this barley; she has a “go bag” (roasted grain)
-- Why? Because she has a protector, a provider, someone to help her!
- Naturally, Naomi has three outbursts of joy for her (v19)
-- 1) “Where did you gather (Hebrew: laqat; glean) all this grain today?”
-- 2) “Where did you work (Hebrew: asah; make (implies effort spent)?”
-- 3) “Blessed (Hebrew: barak; to bless) be the one who helped you!”
- But when Ruth reveals this man’s name as Boaz – this is spectacular!
-- EXP: For Naomi, this is the best news she has heard (probably) in months!!
- Her outburst are spontaneous and quite revealing of her heart (v20)
-- God (Hebrew: Yahweh) bless him (Boaz) for what he’s done
-- His kindness being shown honors us & your dead husband (re: Naomi’s son)
-- Hebrew “checed” (or hesed or chesed); kindness or goodness
- REPHRASE: God is still taking care of you and I – truly, He hasn’t forgotten us!
-- Meaning: God is STILL at work and God is still taking care of ME!
- For Naomi, this is where her heart changes – this is where she sees God’s grace
-- APP: This is her revelation moment that God is still in charge!
- TR: Even with this realization, there’s even MORE good news for them!
Point 2 – Look at who and what God has provided!
- Naomi’s final exclamation of who Boaz is … in a word …. JOYOUS! (v20)
-- That man is our relative of ours! Hebrew: qarob; near or relation
-- The meaning of this confession cannot be understated …
-- EXCITED: He is family … he can take care of us!
-- The phrase she uses is (NLT) “family redeemer” (KJV “next kinsman”)
-- This man is our “kinsman-redeemer” or … in Hebrew, “gaal” (Verb, to redeem)
-- Remember back when Naomi was convinced that God was mad at her?
- GET: Sometimes when God shows up, we ought to do a little shouting!
- We see this same word used in the promise God gave Moses:
-- Exodus 6:6, “Therefore, say to the people of Israel: ‘I am the Lord. I will free you from your oppression and will rescue you from your slavery in Egypt. I will redeem you with a powerful arm and great acts of judgment.”
- Likewise, it is what Moses repeats back to God to declare His goodness:
-- Exodus 15:13, “With your unfailing love you lead the people you have redeemed. In your might, you guide them to your sacred home.”
