“Responding means Submitting to God” – Ruth, Part 5
Ruth Sermon Series, Part 5
Ruth 3:1-9
Cookout today, ALL invited … you got to eat!!
Introduction
- So, let’s sum up the first four sermons very quickly with three ideas:
- “Sometimes when you abandon God, your life has disastrous consequences; but God is STILL faithful … even when we aren’t!”
- The focus of the book is NOT the budding relationship with Boaz and Ruth
-- Nor is it Naomi trying to find a future or a life for her and Ruth
- The focus of this series is this fact: “Even in tough times, God is STILL accomplishing His plan to take care of those He loves!”
-- I firmly believe if we keep this at the forefront, this book will click for us
- Cards on the table: Discipleship is a life-long journey
-- One of the key opportunities we have is the ability to show grace to one another
-- This book is one example of what grace can do for a life that is in chaos
- Let’s see where this story takes us today …
- Read Ruth 3:1-9 / Pray
Point 1 – Naomi begins to plan for the future
- RE: Ruth was invited by Boaz to work the entire harvest season
-- So, we find ourselves two months later when the season is about over
-- And now, Naomi has a situation developing which she knows needs action
- It is not a creepy issue, nor anything consisting of perverted intentions
-- It is simply a matter of necessity that Naomi sees for Ruth (let’s unpack …)
- In v1, we see Naomi thinking about the future
• “My daughter” – still a term of endearment and meant in love/honor
• “It’s time that I find” – “I” … again she sees herself as a caregiver
• “So that you will be provided for” – Naomi knows she won’t live forever
- In essence, “Ruth, it is time to look ahead and see how you can live.”
-- RE: Ruth has promised and committed to stay with Naomi until death
- Boaz, Naomi continues, is a kinsman of ours (able to redeem, last week) (v2)
-- AND Boaz is capable of providing a future for you to survive
- Sooooooo … Naomi encourages her to do four specific things (v3):
1) Be attractive: Take a bath, put on some perfume, and dress up
-- The time of mourning hubby is passed, and it is now time for you to have a life
-- Note: Perhaps it is b/c of this that Boaz never really pursued her
-- APP: Out of respect, maybe he knew she was in mourning, so he never engaged
-- But it is time for Ruth to present herself as one who is “on the market” again
2) Be attentive: Pay attention to where Boaz rests for the evening
-- Boaz, being the boss, would not have slept where servants did (v4)
-- When the workday is over, he will have dinner and then go to rest somewhere
-- Naomi says, pay attention to where he lays down so you can be by him
3) Be assertive: Go and uncover his feet and lie down by him
-- Naomi is asking Ruth to take a tremendous leap of faith here
-- “Go uncover this man’s feet and then wait for further instructions”
- Ruth was being told to approach him in humility, as a servant
-- Go and present yourself as a servant, humble yourself before Boaz
-- NOTE: This is not a sexual advance, but one of great humility / honor
4) Be available: Boaz will tell you what to do
-- Be ready to receive further instructions and be receptive to listen/respond
-- APP: It’s an incredible act of loyalty to pause and wait for instructions
-- In this, Ruth is to present herself as someone who available …
- TR: So, why are these four things important us to see? Because …
Point 2 – Life is a not about trusting in what you know!
- Take a look at Ruth’s response to this woman that she loves and trusts (v5)
-- Naomi, I will do whatever you say because I trust you
-- REMEMBER: Ruth 1:16-17, “But Ruth replied, “Don’t ask me to leave you and turn back. Wherever you go, I will go; wherever you live, I will live. Your people will be my people, and your God will be my God. Wherever you die, I will die, and there I will be buried. (don’t miss this commitment) May the Lord punish me severely if I allow anything but death to separate us!”
- IMP: This reminder is so very critical; discipleship challenge from Sermon #1
-- Do we commit to God like this?
-- Are willing to obey and trust in God because He knows our future?
- APP: This is really where the rubber meets the road for us, isn’t it?
-- When we receive godly instructions, do we commit to follow like this?
-- Ruth, in total submission, tells Naomi “I will do whatever you say”
- But, why? Why does she do this? B/C she knew Naomi has her best interests
-- She would not lead her astray, perhaps in her heart she knew it was right
-- But notice there is no delay in her responding or engaging on this
- I am certain that Ruth could’ve come up with any excuse to avoid this
-- “I’m tired”, “I don’t feel like it”, “This isn’t for me”, “I don’t want too”
-- Or my favorite: “You’re not the boss of me!”
- Ruth sees Naomi’s love and trust and says, “I will do everything …”
-- APP: When God’s conviction draws us to move like this, do we respond?
-- Consider for a moment – this is solid advice to have a future, but …
-- Ruth has to respond – she has to obey – she has to step forward … do we?
- TR: So let’s talk about what’s about to happen …
Point 3 – Ruth willingly submits to Boaz
- Set the scene:
-- The grain would have been harvested, threshed, and ready for transport
-- However, this transport would not have happened until morning
-- And so Boaz, as the boss, stayed with the grain (prob to prevent thievery, etc.)
- After the work, and the meal, and a few beverages, it would be time for sleep
-- Boaz definitely would have had his fill (owner) and is now ready for rest (v7)
- The bible tells us that Ruth approached quietly to not disturb him (v8)
-- Hebrew: bo; to come in
-- Hebrew: lat; secrecy; mystery
-- This phrasing implies stealth-like … think “ninja” here … in secrecy
- It is not likely that she went to sleep (nervous, scared, etc.)
-- But she waits by his side and then about midnight, Boaz is suddenly startled
-- It is reasonable to think maybe the room was cold - so he reached for blanket
- Anyone ever have pets sleeping in bed and you go to grab the covers?
-- Sometimes, we become VERY awake because we are startled (same thing)
- So Boaz, started, asks the logical question (v9)
-- Literally, in Hebrew: mi attah; “Who are you?”
- What she responds with is critical for us today and it’s really key
-- “I am your servant, Ruth.”
-- If we remember, Ruth has already placed herself as his servant
-- Ruth 2:13, “I hope I continue to please you, sir,” she replied. “You have comforted me by speaking so kindly to me, even though I am not one of your workers.”
- In the Hebrew, she uses the word “amah” means “handmaid”
-- She responds by saying I am “your female servant”; I belong to you
- If you remember, she identified herself as a worker initially (Ch 2)
-- Now, she has changed her response to something entirely different
- Physically, she has placed herself at his feet to wait for his instruction
-- NOTE: Again, don’t let the devil take your mind off to a lewd place
-- This has nothing to do with sex, but everything to do with honor & respect
- Here is the point of today …
- Then, she does something extraordinary
-- Re-read verse 9: “I am your servant Ruth,” she replied. “Spread the corner of your covering over me, for you are my family redeemer.”
- Earlier Ruth sought protection under Boaz (as an employer) for sustenance
-- Now she is making a bold move to say that she is looking to him for redemption
-- She submits herself to him as one willing to be under his wing, forever
-- This beautiful confession is one that we must have for Jesus as well
- “Lord, I am yours … my life is yours … please protect me and help me …”
- She submits to him much like God claims Israel for Himself in Ezekiel
-- Ezekiel 16:8, “And when I passed by again, I saw that you were old enough for love. So I wrapped my cloak around you to cover your nakedness and declared my marriage vows. I made a covenant with you, says the Sovereign Lord, and you became mine.” (Take this apart with some Hebrew words ….)
-- Hebrew: paras; to spread out
-- Hebrew: kanaph; wing; or extremity
-- Hebrew: kasah; to cover
-- Hebrew: ervah; your nakedness
- Ruth then brings to Boaz the covenant of God without mincing words
-- She says, “I am yours, if you will have me (ask: “stretch out corner of garment”)
- And how does Boaz respond? “The Lord bless you, my daughter.”
-- IMP: This is a real invocation of grace to her; an acceptance of her and her life
- TRANS: So, why is this blessing so important?
-- What do we need to see from what these two have just said to one another?
- Ruth says in v9 that since you are a kinsman-redeemer, you can redeem me
-- Ruth is implying her understanding of the word “gaal”; Boaz CAN save her!!
-- RE: Hebrew: gaal means “to be redeemed”
- Boaz, being an honorable and God-fearing man, fully accepts this offer
-- Ruth’s words have brought him honor, and reminded him of his duty / honor
- TR: So, why does this story need to be explored & even revered to us today?
Big Idea
- Today: When you are given direction to move and follow God, are you willing to step out and trust even though you have NO IDEA where the future will lead?
- Bigger: Are we willing to give up our preferences and wants to follow Jesus?
-- CHALL: Or are we still trying to be God’s consultant?
- This is exactly what Ruth had to do …
1. She had no idea what Naomi was leading her into
2. Nor, did she know how Boaz might react to this sudden engagement
- Are we that willing to follow when prompted by God’s Holy Spirit?
- Do we see where we need to trust in Him, and respond to Him more?
- We’ll pick this up in two weeks …
- Pray for:
• Grace to obey when God calls
• Willingness to move when He directs
• Ability to know the difference between our wants and His calling
