THE DAY THE DEVIL TOOK OFF HIS SHOE
Ruth 4:7-8
INTRODUCTION
A. HUMOR
1. A man, down on his luck, went into a church which catered to the "uppity". Spotting the man's dirty clothes the pastor, worried about the churches image, went to the man and asked him if he needed help. The man said, "I was praying and the Lord told me to come here."
The pastor suggested that the man go pray some more and possibly he might get a different answer. The next Sunday the man returned. The deacon asked, "Did you get a different answer?"
The man replied, "Yes I did. I told the Lord that they don't want me in that church and the Lord said, 'Don't worry about it son - I've been trying to get into that church for years and haven't made it yet."
2. An old pastor made it a common practice to visit the church school once a week. He walked into the 4th grade class, where the children were studying the states, and asked them how many states could they name. They came up with about 40 names. He jokingly told them that in his day, students knew the names of ALL the states. One lad raised his hand and said, "Yeah, but in those days there were only 13 states."
3. A debt-overwhelmed man, hopelessly poring over a pile of bills, suddenly shouted “I’d give a thousand dollars to anyone who would do my worrying for me!” “You’re on,” said his wife. “Where is the thousand?” “That is your first worry,” he replied.
B. TEXT
“(Now in earlier times in Israel, for the redemption and transfer of property to become final, one party took off his sandal and gave it to the other. This was the method of legalizing transactions in Israel.) So the kinsman-redeemer said to Boaz, "Buy it yourself." And he removed his sandal.” Ruth 4:7-8.
C. THESIS
We’re going to look at the story behind this quote, the symbolic nature of the people involved in it and the brilliant light it casts upon our powerful liberty in Jesus Christ.
I. THE STORY OF THE BOOK OF RUTH
A. MISFORTUNE STRIKES A FAMILY
1. Famine in Judah.
2. Jewish family decided to move to Moab; Elimelech & Naomi, and two sons, Mahlon & Kilion.
3. Both sons grew up and married Moabite women, Orpah and Ruth. Then, possibly because of some pandemic, Naomi’s husband and both sons died, leaving only the daughters-in-law.
4. After a time of mourning, Naomi decided to go back to her home town of Bethlehem. She attempted to dissuade her daughters in law from coming with her, but Ruth said, “Where you go, I will go; where you live, I will live; your people will be my people, and your God my God.” And so Ruth went with Naomi back to Israel.
B. LAND STAYED IN THE FAMILY
1. There was still a piece of land in Judah owned by Naomi, it was her husband’s inheritance when the land was divided up by Joshua. When a man died in Israel without an heir, the closest male relative by Law was allowed first choice to buy or “redeem” the property.
2. If the man who died left a widow young enough for childbearing, the kinsman redeeming the land also had to marry the widow and procreate one child for the deceased man, that his name not disappear from the registry of Israel. This is what happened to Ruth, the widow of Mahlon.
3. “If brothers are living together and one of them dies without a son, his widow must not marry outside the family. Her husband's brother shall take her and marry her and fulfill the duty of a brother-in-law to her. The first son she bears shall carry on the name of the dead brother so that his name will not be blotted out from Israel” Deut. 25:5-6.
“If one of your countrymen becomes poor and sells some of his property, his nearest relative is to come and redeem what his countryman has sold” Lev. 25:25.
C. BOAZ, THE KINSMAN-REDEEMER
1. Boaz wanted to redeem/claim the land of Mahlon and add it to his inheritance, but even more he wanted to marry Ruth. The Problem? There was a Kinsman-Redeemer who was closer in the family tree to Mahlon than Boaz was; this man had the prior right and had to give it up for Boaz to claim it.
2. What made the Jewish readers of this story excited was something you might not know; that the child that Boaz and Ruth ultimately bore was Oded, the grandfather of David who was chosen by God as the ancestor of Christ! And Christ is the ultimate Kinsman-Redeemer, of which Boaz is a type!
II. THE TRADITIONS SURROUNDING THE SHOE
A. LOOSE SHOE: SYMBOL OF DISGRACE
1. On Sunday, Dec. 14, 2008, US President George W Bush was pelted with the shoes of Iraqi journalist Muntazer al-Zaidi of Al-Baghdadia television. As Mr. Bush was speaking, Mr. Zaidi rose abruptly from about 12 feet away, reared his right arm and fired a shoe at the president’s head while shouting in Arabic: “This is a gift from the Iraqis; this is the farewell kiss, you dog!” So what’s the significance of this, other than the obvious dislike of having people try to hit you with a shoe? There are two elements that make the shoe, and hitting someone with a shoe, a particularly significant statement in Middle Eastern culture.
a. Assault with a shoe carries symbolic value in terms of Old Testament tradition. For instance, Psalms 60:10 (“Moab is my washpot, over Edom will I cast out my shoe…”) reveals that assault with a shoe is a traditional defamatory gesture for one’s enemies (Moab and Edom were both enemies of Judah).
b. In more cultural terms, the shoe is representative of the foot, the lowest part of the human body. It is a sign of respect in Arab culture (and, many other cultures) that one does not show the sole of one’s foot or shoe to another. To do so can be taken as a sign that you consider that person of being beneath you. This is analogous to the practice in many cultures of leaving your shoes outside before entering a home or religious/sacred place. It was a public disgrace to declare that someone is beneath you, that they are only worthy of the soles of your shoes.
2. This disgrace was portrayed when a man wouldn’t fulfill his duty; “Then shall his brother's wife come unto him in the presence of the elders, and loose his shoe from off his foot, and spit in his face, and shall answer and say, So shall it be done unto that man that will not build up his brother's house. And his name shall be called in Israel, ‘The house of him that hath his shoe loosed.’” Deuteronomy 25:9-10.
B. IN RUTH: SURRENDER OF POSSESSION
1. Unger says, “The custom itself, which existed among the Indians and ancient Germans, arose from the fact that the fixed property was taken possession of by treading upon the soil; and hence taking off the shoe and handing it to another was a symbol of the transfer of possession or right of ownership.”
2. An example of this is seen by God’s directions to Abraham, “The LORD said to Abram after Lot had parted from him, "Lift up your eyes from where you are and look north and south, east and west. All the land that you see I will give to you and your offspring forever. Go, walk through the length and breadth of the land, for I am giving it to you" Gen. 13:14-15, 17.
3. A free translation of verse seven says, “He who sold land, or surrendered his right to act as a kinsman in buying land, let it be known by the symbolical act of taking off his shoe, and handing it to his friend, that he freely gave up his right to walk upon the soil, in favor of the person who had acquired the possession.”[Pulpit, 4:62]
4. So when the closer kinsman-redeemer took off his shoe and handed it to Boaz, he gave up all rights and claims forever to the land of Mahlon and to Ruth. No court would ever reverse his decision that day; the land and the bride were now Boaz’s!
III. WHEN THE DEVIL LOST HIS SHOE
A. THE THREE KEY PLAYERS SYMBOLIC
1. Ruth the Moabitess represents the world, in spiritual poverty, as Paul said; “Remember that at that time you were separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world” (Eph. 2:12). We were slaves, “sold as a slave to sin” (Rom. 7:14) for “everyone who sins is a slave to sin” (Jn. 8:34). We needed a Redeemer so the Holy Spirit pointed us to the greatest son of Boaz, Jesus Christ.
2. But there was someone who had a prior right to this world and to us. God originally gave us dominion over our lives and over the whole earth(Gen. 1:26), but we sinned (Gen. 3:6) and submitted ourselves to sin and to Satan who gained control/right/jurisdiction over us. We were sold in sin and were slaves of sin. As the Apostle John said, “The whole world is under the control of the evil one” (1 Jn. 5:19).
3. The devil could put his foot on us any time he got ready. If he wanted us to fight, we would fight. If he wanted us to cuss, we would cuss. If he wanted us to get angry, we’d get angry. We were pawns in his great game of destruction.
B. THE COMING OF OUR REDEEMER
1. But thank God it didn’t end that way! Thank God there IS a Kinsman Redeemer who cares about us, Jesus Christ the Righteous! He wasn’t content to leave us in the clutches of the enemy, or let us be ground in the devil’s mortar. He came to rescue us!
2. Just like Boaz had to induce the other kinsman redeemer to relinquish his right, Jesus also had to coerce the enemy into giving up his claim.
3. First he died on the cross for our sins. But there was still one battle to be waged. Acts 2:24-34 tells how he descended into hell. Death’s chilly grip took hold of him. He yielded to it and was taken into the belly of hell. There, as the devil and demons began to mock and rejoice in their victory, like Samson before the Philistines, He snapped the cords of death asunder. As at the Transfiguration, unlimited power and light infused him. Like David defeating Goliath, he overthrew sin, hell, and death!
4. Col. 2:15 says, “And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.” The Message says, “God brought you alive—right along with Christ! Think of it! All sins forgiven, the slate wiped clean, that old arrest warrant canceled and nailed to Christ's cross. He stripped all the spiritual tyrants in the universe of their sham authority at the Cross and marched them naked through the streets.”
5. When Jesus redeemed us, the devil had to take off his shoe – had to relinquish his right over us. We’ve been redeemed! We’re free!
C. OUR NEW STATUS
1. But that’s not all! Eph. 4:4-6 tells us, “But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus.” Rom. 16:20 adds, “The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet.”
2. Why is this important Pastor? Because many of us still have the slave mentality. We’ve come out of Egypt, but not entered our rightful place as Sons. We are Risen with Him, New Creatures, Joint Heirs. In Him, we are Masters over His enemies and no longer their slaves. We are Overcomers. We reign with Him. We can say to demons, “In the Name of Jesus, Come out!” and they must obey. Think of your enemies as beneath your feet. This ought to fill you with faith & confidence. Sons and Daughters, take your rightful place!
D. THINGS THAT OUGHT TO BE UNDER OUR FEET
1. Worry and Fear should be beneath your feet. “My God shall supply all your needs by His riches in Christ Jesus.”
2. Temptations are under your feet. 1 Cor. 10:13.
3. Unforgiveness can no longer hold dominion over you!
4. Financial troubles, family salvation, relationship troubles…
5. Sickness is under your feet. Isaiah 53:4-5.
CONCLUSION
A. ILLUSTRATION: CHOSEN THOUGH WE’RE A MESS
1. Perhaps you’ve heard of Watchman Nee. Watchman Nee became a Christian in mainland China in 1920 at the age of seventeen and began writing in the same year. Throughout the nearly thirty years of his ministry, Watchman Nee was a unique gift from the Lord to the church. Though imprisoned for his faith in 1952 and remaining there until his death in 1972; his words have become an abundant source of encouragement to Christians throughout the world. And so they are for us today.
2. Nee once told of a new convert who came to see him in deep distress. "No matter how much I pray, no matter how hard I try, I simply cannot seem to be faithful to my Lord. I think I’m losing my salvation."
3. Nee said, "Do you see this dog here? He is my dog. He is house-trained; he never makes a mess; he is obedient; he is a pure delight to me. Out in the kitchen I have a son, a baby son. He makes a mess, he throws his food around, he fouls his clothes, he is a total mess. But who is going to inherit my estate? Not my dog; my son is my heir. And you are Jesus Christ’s heir because it is for you that He died." We are Christ’s heirs, not through our perfection but by means of His love and His grace.
B. ALTAR CALL
1. Robert Schuller’s Daughter lost a leg because of a horrible skying accident. She learned to walk all over again. After she returned home from the hospital, Schuller plucked a rose from his rose garden and began to play "He loves me and he loves me not" with his daughter. Schuller had planned to end with "he loves me." However, before he could finished, his daughter grabbed a rose and said "This is to my Heavenly Father, ’He loves me, He loves me, He loves me.....’"
2. That’s the way God loves you. Why don’t you respond to His love this morning.
3. Call for salvation & prayer.
