There Is A Redeemer
Ruth 3:1-18
Chad H. Ballard
Introduction
Today we are going to continue our look at the book of Ruth, GOD’S LOVE STORY FOR US. As we have discussed for the past two weeks, this book of Ruth is an exact parallel to the love affair that should exist between Jesus Christ and us.
Let’s review what we’ve learned:
In Chapter 1, Naomi and her husband and sons move from Bethlehem to Moab because of the famine in the land. Yet Naomi’s husband dies. Her sons marry, but 10 years later, they too die. Naomi sets out to go back to Bethlehem, and one of her daughter’s-in-law, Ruth, insists on coming with her.
The application for us is that we can’t run from God’s conviction, and that we must come to the end of ourselves, to find the beginning of God.
In Chapter 2, we see that upon returning to Bethlehem, Ruth begins to glean grain to sustain them. It turns out that she gleans in Boaz’s field, who falls in love with Ruth, and is very accommodating to her needs.
The application for us is that every one of us is invited to come and find blessing under the wing of God. He loves us and even if we have ran from Him for a very long time, He desires for us to take refuge in His caring and compassionate hands.
Now according to 2:23, Ruth continued to glean in Boaz’s field through both the barley and wheat harvests. During these couple of months, it was becoming more and more apparent that Boaz and Ruth like each other.
Now you need to understand that Naomi has already told Ruth that Boaz is her kinsman redeemer. Now before we go on into the story, I want to explain exactly how the idea of a kinsman-redeemer works.
You’ll remember that God had assigned each family of each tribe a section of the Promised Land to inhabit. Now this land was very important to God and the Israelites. So to make sure that it stayed in the family, the kinsman-redeemer law was instituted.
If a man died and left land and a widow who had bore no sons, his nearest kinsman would be given the opportunity to buy his land and to marry his widow and have sons to carry on the deceased’s name. If he wouldn’t, then the next closest kin could redeem and so on.
But now here was the catch. The kinsman-redeemer couldn’t make the decision to redeem. He had to be asked by the widow to redeem her husbands land.
I. Naomi’s Suggestion
A. Read vv. 1-5. Naomi wants to know what Ruth is waiting for!
1. When she asks “shall I not seek security for you,” I believe what she is implying to Ruth is “am I going to have to ask him for you?”
2. And in v. 2 she says, “is he not our relative?” Naomi is saying to Ruth, “what’s the hold up?”
B. Remember that it is Ruth who must claim Boaz, not the other way around.
C. Now notice that Naomi tells Ruth that Boaz is at the threshing floor. That is significant.
1. Many times we think of the threshing floor as a place of work, and it was. But when the people went to the threshing floor it was a time of feasting and thanking God for an abundant harvest. They would sing psalms praising God for the harvest.
2. You see, Naomi knew that Boaz would be in a good mood at the threshing floor, and so it would be a good time for Ruth to go and claim Boaz as her redeemer.
II. The Night at the Threshing Floor (Read vv.6-13)
A. Now understand that there is nothing suggestive is happening here. For Ruth to uncover Boaz’s feet and lie on them was a request for marriage.
1. Remember that the widow must request to be redeemed. So Ruth had to propose to Boaz.
2. This is what Naomi had instructed Ruth to do in v.4.
B. When Boaz rolled over, he realized that there was a woman on his feet.
1. Many translations record Ruth’s words in v9 as; “spread the corner of your garment over me, since you are a close relative.”
2. But remember in chapter 2, verse 12 where Boaz said to Ruth, “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.”
3. Well the same word that is translated wings in 2:12 is translated corner of your garment in 3:9.
4. Ruth is asking Boaz to shelter her under his wing; to redeem her. What a beautiful gesture of love this is!
III. The Next Morning at Home (vv.14-18)
A. Boaz didn’t want anyone to know that Ruth had been to the threshing floor. Nothing had happened that was improper, but since when do the facts matter to gossipers?
B. Boaz gives Ruth six measures of grain to give to Naomi. It was customary for him to send a gift to Naomi especially after the good advice she had given Ruth, right?
C. And finally we see Naomi encouraging Ruth to wait patiently for Boaz to work things out. She was sure that Boaz wouldn’t rest until the matter was settled.
So, what lessons can we learn from this chapter…
I. When God gives us hope, he expects a reaction.
A. Verses 1-5 are actually the turning point of the whole book of Ruth. Naomi had hopes that Boaz and Ruth would marry, so she prodded Ruth to move ahead and claim him.
B. Now that is not to say that we can force the hand of God to do what we would like. God is not a Genie!
C. But God causes things to happen in a way so as to reveal to us where He is at work.
D. Let me put it like this: If you are learning to surf, you can learn how to choose the right equipment, how to use it properly, how to catch a wave and ride it as long as possible, and how to get off the wave without wiping out.
1. But you will never see a course that teaches “How to Build A Wave”. Surfing is the art of riding the waves that God has built. If there aren’t any waves, you don’t surf that day.
2. The problem is too many church folks have the “How Can I Build A Wave” mentality. You see, we need to stop trying to make things happen on our own, and start looking for the waves that God has created.
3. I’m as guilty as anyone else, but let me tell you from experience that when you stop trying to build a wave and ask God where His waves are, you will see amazing things happen in your lives.
4. Henry Blackaby has said, “Find where God is working and join Him there.”
E. I must share with you that two weeks ago I had gotten very discouraged. I can’t explain it, but pastors think that revival has to be breaking out everyday or else they are failing.
1. But I realized that I was trying to build a wave and so I asked God to show me where He was working so that I could join Him there.
2. The next morning an excitement began to build around the youth and the DiscipleNow that I never expected. God is at work and we must join Him where He is working.
F. This is a time for action at Providence Baptist Church. It’s time to hope again…it’s time to dream again…and it’s time to serve again.
II. Sometimes, all we can do is wait on God.
A. Ruth came home to tell Naomi about everything that happened. And Naomi gave some advice that we all hate to hear when we are anxious about something: WAIT.
B. It’s here that I want to start building waves usually. One of the most difficult parts of faith is when no more action can be taken and we wait patiently for God to work out His will.
C. Sometimes life doesn’t go the way we would hope. I think about those who are old and sick and have no one to care for them. Life just doesn’t seem fair sometimes, does it?
D. Wouldn’t it have been nice if Boaz had been the very next of kin and Ruth would not have had to wait to see if he would get to redeem her? But it doesn’t always work the way we would like.
E. The important thing for us to take from this is that all we can ever do is place our lives in God’s hands and trust Him.
III. We must CLAIM our Kinsman-Redeemer.
A. Boaz as a kinsman-redeemer to Ruth is a beautiful illustration of how Jesus Christ is our kinsman-redeemer. Jesus Christ fulfills all of the requirements to be our kinsman-redeemer.
1. He was related to us by blood: Jesus said in Matthew 26:28, “For this is My blood of the new covenant which is shed for many for the remission of sin.”
2. He was able to pay the price: 1 Peter 1:18-19 says, “You were not redeemed with perishable things like silver or gold from you futile way of life inherited from your forefathers, but with precious blood, as a lamb unblemished and spotless, the blood of Christ.”
3. He was willing to redeem: “The Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve and to give His life a ransom for many.” Matt 20:28
Conclusion
Have you been to the threshing floor?
Have you claimed Jesus as your redeemer? To reach out and claim Jesus is more than just having your name on a church roll.
It requires an active faith, not a faith that sits on the sidelines and nods. We must have a faith that will go and claim Jesus as our Kinsman-Redeemer. A faith that will pursue a closer relationship with Jesus everyday!
Yes, Jesus chose you by giving His life for you, but you can’t be redeemed until you claim Him as your redeemer.
Romans 10:10 says, “For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.”
There may be one here today who has heard the Gospel and knows and believes that Jesus died for their sins but just has never confessed unto salvation.
So allow me to be Naomi for a minute:
· “Shall I not seek security for you.” “Am I going to have to ask Him for you.” I’d love to, but I can’t. You have to.
· “Is He not our relative?” “Do you not understand that He is our kinsman-redeemer?”
· It’s time to for you to come to the threshing floor! It’s time to accept Jesus as your Savior.
