BY RICK RAILSTON
July 28, 2012
The Book of Ruth is not often referred to or talked about, but the Book of Ruth is a love story between an older man, a more experienced man, and a young woman who was born in a foreign country, an alien country. For those of you who remember the story, it ends happily in a marriage and then the offspring of that marriage result in Jesus Christ.
So, you have to ask the questions, which I often do when I read a book:
.Is this just an account to prove Christ's lineage?
.Is it just a feel-good story about a difficult time and then a happy ending in marriage?
.Or is there something more to it that God wants us to learn from?
.Are there parallels with our condition today?
.And are there things that we can learn from this book, this story?
So, we're going to be focusing on the Book of Ruth today. If you have a ribbon or a marker, you might want to put it there because we'll be always coming back to Ruth. But let's go there to get the context. Still by way of introduction, let's go to the context of the story and we'll begin in Ruth 1 and verse 1. I know this may be a reminder, but we can all use reminding from time to time because we forget over time the details of the story. Ruth 1 verse 1:
Ruth 1:1. Now it came to pass in the days when the judges ruled, that there was a famine in the land. (KJV)
We'll just stop here at the first half of verse 1. So this is at the Time of the Judges and this is at the time of a famine (Ruth 1:1). Now this could be the famine during the Midianite oppression that's recorded in Judges chapter 6. If that is the case, this would date the Book of Ruth in the middle of the twelfth century BC. And it is Jewish tradition where they list Judges and Ruth as one book, because they accept the fact that Ruth occurred during the Time of the Judges. So, in effect, it could be just another chapter in the Book of Judges.
So, there is a famine in the land. It is during the Days of the Judges. Going on in the second part of verse 1:
Ruth 1:1b. And a certain man of Bethlehem-Judah went to sojourn in the country of Moab, (KJV)
So he moved fro Bethlehem to Moab.
Ruth 1:1 continued. …he, and his wife, and his two sons.
2) And the name of the man was Elimelech, and the name of his wife Naomi, and the name of his two sons Mahlon and Chilion, Ephrathites [from] Bethlehem-Judah. And they came into the country of Moab, [they] continued there.
3) And Elimelech Naomi's husband died; and [of course,] she was [then] left [as a widow with] two sons. (KJV)
Verse 4, those sons, after the death of their father, took wives of the Moabites. I'm sure the father would probably not have allowed that if he were alive, but now that he's dead they made that decision.
Ruth 1:4b. …the name of the one was Orpah, and the name of the other [was] Ruth: and they dwelled there about ten years.
5) And Mahlon and Chilion died also both of them; and the woman was left of her two sons and [of] her husband. (KJV)
So she now had just her daughters-in-law and herself.
Ruth 1:6. Then she arose with her daughters in law, that she might return from the country of Moab: for she had heard in the country of Moab how that the [Eternal] had visited his people [in Israel] in giving them bread.
7) Wherefore she went forth out of the place where she was, and her two daughters in law with her; and they went on the way to return unto the land of Judah.
8) And Naomi said unto her two daughters in law, Go, return each to her mother's house: [and may] the Lord deal kindly with you, as [you] have dealt with the dead [meaning her husband and her two sons], and with me. (KJV)
So, this indicates that both of the women Orpah and Ruth were both good wives and good daughters-in–law. Verse 9:
Ruth 1:9. The Lord grant you that [you] may find rest, each of you in the house of her husband. (KJV)
Meaning, when you get married, if you stay here in Moab and marry.
Ruth 1:9b. Then she kissed them; and they lifted up their voice, and wept.
10) And they said unto her, Surely we will return with [you] unto [your] people. (KJV)
Now, this is highly unusual—two Moabite women not wanting to stay in Moab and to find men from Moab to ultimately be their husbands. They want to return to Judah with Naomi. Verse 11:
Ruth 1:11. And Naomi said, [No.] Turn again, my daughters: why will [you] go with me? Are there yet any more sons in my womb, that they may be your husbands?
12) Turn again, my daughters, go your way; for I am too old to have a husband. If I should say, I have hope, if I should have a husband also to night, and should also bear sons; (KJV)
She's saying, "Look, if I had a husband right now and got pregnant right now, would you wait for these two sons until they were grown and they could marry you?" (beginning of verse 13).
Ruth 1:13.b. Would [you] stay for them from having husbands? [No], my daughters; (KJV)
"It doesn't make any sense," she's saying.
Ruth 1:13 continued. …for it [grieves] me much for your sakes that the … Lord is gone out against me. (KJV)
Now, she was feeling depressed. She was feeling as though somehow God had abandoned her or God was allowing conditions to come against her. Verse 14, "The two women:"
Ruth 1:14. …lifted up their voice, [they] wept again: and Orpah kissed her mother in law; but Ruth [clung to] her. (KJV)
Orpah went back, but Ruth would not leave her mother-in-law. And, because of Ruth's love and her loyalty and her devotion, the story begins.
So, what we're going to show in the sermon or at least investigate are Lessons that We Can Learn from the Life of Ruth, And the parallels between what happened back then and what is happening to God's people today. We're going to talk about five of those. First:
I. Ruth was from a country which was Israel's enemy.
Now, keep your marker here and let's go to Genesis 19 and see the origin of the Moabites. And we're going to see how they were the enemy of Israel. Now in Genesis 19, we're breaking into the context. This is after Sodom and Gomorrah were destroyed. We'll start in verse 30, Genesis 19:30.
Genesis 19:30. And Lot went up out of Zoar, and dwelt in the mountain, and his two daughters with him; for he feared to dwell in Zoar: and he dwelt in a cave, he and his two daughters.
31) And the firstborn said unto the younger, Our father is old, and there is not a man in the earth to come in unto us after the manner of all the earth: (KJV)
Now, remember Lot's wife had died. So, it was just the three of them in this cave. "There is no man to marry us," they're saying. Verse 32:
Genesis 19:32. Come, let us make our father drink wine, and we will lie with him, that we may preserve seed of our father.
33) And they made their father drink wine that night: and the firstborn went in, and lay with her father; (KJV)
This is an unfortunate product of their previous environment. They lived in Sodom and Gomorrah. They, unfortunately, learned from Sodom and Gomorrah. And so, this was their solution to a problem.
Genesis 19:33b. …and [Lot] perceived not when she lay down, nor when she arose. (KJV)
He was too drunk. Verse 34:
Genesis 19:34. And it came to pass on [the next day] the morrow, that the firstborn said unto the younger, Behold, I lay[last night with my father]: let us make him drink wine this night also; [you go] in, [you] with him, that we may preserve seed of our father. (KJV)
And so in verse 35, they did the same thing the next night.
Genesis 19:35b. …the younger arose, and lay with him; and he [didn't perceive] when she [came in or when she left].
36) Thus were both the daughters of Lot with child by their father.
37) And the firstborn [bore] a son, and called his name Moab: the same is the father of the Moabites unto this day. (KJV)
That's how this all started.
Now, let's go to 1 Samuel 14 and we'll see that the Moabites were the enemies of Israel and the enemies of Saul. 1 Samuel 14, we'll just read the beginning of verse 47. And this tells us that "Saul took the kingdom over Israel." He was now the king and it tells us that:
1 Samuel 14:47. …[he] fought against all his enemies on every side, (KJV)
Who is the first one listed? Moab! (1 Samuel 14:47, the beginning of the verse.) Moab became one of the enemies of Israel. We can see here that sin complicates things. Sin multiplies. Sin creates problem after problem down through decades and generations.
So, this First Point is that Ruth was from a country that was an enemy of Israel.
Now, similarly for us today before our calling, we were part of those who were enemies of Christ. {This is a] similar situation. Let's go to Philippians 3 and we'll read verses 17 through 19. Before we were called, we were enemies of Christ. Just like Moab was an enemy of Israel. Philippians 3 verse 17, [this is a] very familiar Scripture. Paul is saying:
Philippians 3:17. Brethren, be followers together of me, and [he says,] mark them [or take note of those] which walk so as [you] have us for an [example].
18) [He says,] (For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that [these are the enemies of Christ] enemies of the cross of Christ: (KJV)
And we were exactly in the same boat. We were among those who were enemies of Christ. We were just going the way of the world. Satan had his ring in our nose and was dragging us around. Verse 19:
Philippians 3:19. Whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things.) (KJV)
We were all there. We were the enemies of Christ. And we were all that way before our calling. All of us were.
Now why? Why is that? Why were we enemies of Christ? We know the Scripture, Romans 8:7. We don't need to turn there. What does it say:
Romans 8:7. …the carnal mind is [the enemy of God] is enmity against God: [hostile toward God, hates God's way]… (KJV)
And we were all there.
Romans 8:7b. …it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. (KJV)
[We've] all been there.
So, like with Ruth (the Moabites and Israel), they were enemies. We were, too, before God called us. And, as with Ruth, we were part of a country (The United States, Canada, whatever country it might be around the world), those of you who will listen or watch the DVD. All of us were part of a country that's the enemy of God. There is no country on the face of this earth anymore that is a friend of God.
It is a joke when we look at our coinage where we read "In God We Trust." This country doesn't trust in God anymore. This country trusts money. It trusts power. But it doesn't trust God. So, in that sense, we're just like the Moabites, from a country that is the enemy of God. So, there is a great parallel here in this First Point in Ruth coming out a country that is an enemy of God and God calling us out of a country, out of a mindset that is an enemy of Jesus Christ. That's the First Point.
The Second is that:
II. Ruth followed Naomi wherever she went and obeyed Naomi.
Ruth followed her wherever she went and obeyed her. One of the most beautiful passages in the Bible—let's go back to Ruth chapter 1 now, verses 16 and 17—just beautiful two verses! "And Ruth said," she's talking to her mother-in-law who is going back to Israel. She's clinging to her as we just read. The other daughter-in-law had already left.
Ruth 1:16. And Ruth said, Intreat me not to leave [you], or to return from following after [you]: for [where you go], I will go; and where [you lodge], I will lodge: [your] people shall be my people, and [your] God my God:
17) Where [you die], will I die, and there will I be buried: the Lord. do so to me, and more also, if [anything] but death [parts between you] and me. (KJV)
That's a wonderful statement of loyalty and dedication. And, it is obvious that she had come to trust the God of Israel. Now, we'll see later more of her obedience in chapter 3.
But the beautiful thing about this is that someday all people are going to have this attitude. All over the world, they're going to have this attitude. And, we, as God's people, hopefully as spirit beings at that time, will visit these people and they will say the same thing. "Wherever you show me, I'll go. Your God will be my God." What a beautiful two verses!
So, this was Ruth's attitude toward Naomi and toward the God of Israel. Now, similarly—think about this—similarly we should follow Christ wherever He goes. We should have that same attitude toward Jesus Christ and toward God the Father that "I will be obedient to you. Wherever You lead me, that is where I will go."
Remember—we won't turn there—but in Matthew chapter 4, Christ was walking by the Sea of Galilee and He saw Peter and Andrew. What did He say? Remember they were casting their nets? They were fishermen. They were out working. And what did Christ say? He said, "Follow Me and I will make you fishers of men." What did they do? Did they argue? "Oh, we can't do that. We've got to pull in our nets." They just dropped their nets and they followed Jesus Christ. What an attitude—a tremendous attitude!
Christ also talked to a man who wanted to have eternal life. He asked "What do I have to do?" Christ said, "Keep the Commandments." He said, "I've done these from my youth up." Christ said, "There is one more thing you need to do. You need to sell everything you have and come and follow me." What did that man say? He walked away sorrowful because he was very wealthy.
So, these men (Peter and Andrew), yes, they didn't have much, but they had nets. They had boats. They had a livelihood. Christ said, "Follow Me." They dropped their nets and they followed Jesus Christ.
Look at John chapter 10 and verse 27. Ruth had this same attitude toward Naomi. And we need to have the same attitude toward following the Father and the Son. John 10:27. Christ is again portraying Himself as the Great Shepherd, the True Shepherd, the One Shepherd and we are His sheep. John 10:27, Christ said:
John 10:27. My sheep hear my voice, [He said,] I know them, and they follow me: (KJV)
Peter and Andrew heard His voice. No questions asked, they followed Him.
God speaks to us now through His Word. When we see something in His Word, we need to follow just like Stuart brought in the sermonette. We need to have that meek attitude, that very humble attitude that when we see something in God's Word, that's what we need to be doing.
Look at John 12 and verse 26. Christ said, "If you want to serve Me, here is what you have to do." John 12 verse 26, He says:
John 12:26. If any man serve me, (KJV)
What do we have to do?
John 12:26b. ….let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be: (KJV)
Wherever Christ is, we're just tagging along. We're following His lead.
John 12:26 continued. …if any man serve me, him will my Father honor. (KJV)
So, as Ruth set the example of following Naomi—even leaving her own country, leaving her own family, leaving her own relatives—we should be willing to do the same thing. When Christ and God the Father called us, just drop everything and follow. Now we're decades down the road most of us. And we can't lose that same attitude. We can't loose that same desire to follow Christ wherever He leads us.
Now in Matthew 20, the apostles were altogether, and two of them (the Sons of Thunder) had a request. Let's go to Matthew 20. We'll begin in verse 17. They had a right attitude, but they were asking for something that Christ could not give them at that time. I think you know the story, Matthew 20 verse 17:
Matthew 20:17. And Jesus going up to Jerusalem took the twelve disciples apart in the way, and said unto them,
18) Behold, we go up to Jerusalem; and the Son of man shall be betrayed unto the chief priests and unto the scribes, and they shall condemn him to death,
19) And shall deliver him to the Gentiles to mock, and to scourge, and to crucify him: and the third day he shall rise again.
20) Then came to him… (KJV)
Just not long after He said that.
Matthew 20:10. Then came to him… the mother of Zebedee's children with her sons [The three of then together.], worshipping him [Christ], and desiring a certain thing [from] him. (KJV)
They had a petition. They had a request. Verse 21:
Matthew 20:21. And he said unto her, What [do you desire? What do you want?] She [said] unto him, Grant that these my two sons may sit, one on [Your] right hand, and the other on [Your] left, in [Your] kingdom.
22) But Jesus answered and said, [You don't understand] what [you're asking]. Are [you] able to drink of the cup that I shall drink of, (KJV)
He just told them now He was going to be scourged and crucified and mocked and all of that. He says, "Are you able to drink that cup?"
Matthew 20:22b. …and to be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with? (KJV)
What He's asking, "Are you able to follow Me no matter what? Are you able to follow Me through anything, even unto death?"
Matthew 20:22 continued. They say unto him, (KJV)
Notice their attitude! The two young men said:
Matthew 20:22 continued. We are able. (KJV)
Just like Peter and Andrew threw down the nets, they [The Sons of Thunder] said, "We are able to do this. We will do this. We will follow you."
Matthew 20:23. And [Christ said] unto them, [You] shall drink indeed of my cup, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with: (KJV)
They were both martyred, just as Christ was martyred.
So, the point is that we must be willing to follow Jesus Christ wherever He leads us just as Ruth followed Naomi in wherever she led her. Because remember Ruth had never been to Israel, never been to Judah, never been to Bethlehem. Didn't know what it was like. Never met the people. Never left her own little area where she grew up in. And, yet, she was willing to drop everything and follow Naomi.
What Christ is saying—He said it to the two young men (the Sons of Thunder)—He said, "If you follow Me, you're going to be led into difficulty. You might even be led to death." We need to have the same attitude that they had and that Ruth had that we're willing to following Christ no matter what. No matter what the future is, we will follow Jesus Christ. And, in that sense, Ruth set an admirable example of following Naomi.
Now, the Third Point—and this is one we're going to dwell on a little longer because it is more appropriate today than ever before—is that:
III. God moved behind the scenes to bless Ruth, to bless Naomi, but they didn't realize it at the time.
God was moving the pieces on the chessboard in ways that they could not see, could not understand. Things looked very bleak for Naomi for a while. Yet, God was maneuvering things behind the scenes in ways that they couldn't see. And that is very appropriate for us today.
Now, let's understand that Naomi felt abandoned. We just read in chapter 1 where she said, "God has left me" in essence. Let's go back there and pick up the story in verse 19. We'll read through verse 21, Ruth chapter 1. So, Ruth has appealed to Naomi. Now, they're both going back to Bethlehem into Israel.
Ruth 1:19. So they two went until they came to Bethlehem. And it came to pass, when they were come to Bethlehem, that all the city was moved about them, and they said, Is this Naomi? (KJV)
Apparently Naomi's husband, Elimelech, was very well-known. The city would not have come out and welcome her back and ask how she was doing if they didn't know her husband and didn't think highly of her husband. Verse 20:
Ruth 1:20. And she said unto them, [Don't call] me Naomi, call me Mara: (KJV)
The Hebrew meaning for mara is bitter. And she was bitter. She lost two sons. She lost her husband. Yes, she has one daughter-in-law with her and she is trudging back to Bethlehem to an uncertain future. She said, "This is what you call me is 'Bitter.'"
Ruth 1:20b. …for the Almighty [has] dealt very bitterly with me.
21) I went out full, (KJV)
"I had wealth. I had a husband. I had two sons."
Ruth 1:21. I went out full, and the Lord has brought me home again empty: why then [call] me Naomi, seeing the Lord [has] testified against me, and the Almighty [has] afflicted me? (KJV)
She was at a very low point in her life, a very low point. And, as we say, she didn't see light at the end of that tunnel. But the fact is God was already working behind the scenes setting things in motion to bless both of these woman, Naomi and Ruth.
Let's spend some time and look at the steps God was taking behind the scenes to achieve the outcome that He wanted.
A. God brings Ruth in contact with a near relative or a near kinsman who happens to be very wealthy.
His name is Boaz. God engineered that. Look at chapter 2, the first two verses.
Ruth 2:1. And Naomi had a kinsman [a relative] of her husband's, a mighty man of wealth, of the family of Elimelech; (KJV)
Of the same family as her husband, her dead husband.
Ruth 2:1b. …and his name was Boaz. (KJV)
Now, Clarke, Adam Clarke, in his Commentary speculated that Boaz at that time was one of the judges of Israel. Can't prove it, but there is tradition behind that that he was.
Verse 2:
Ruth 2:2. And Ruth the Moabitess said unto Naomi, Let me now go to the field, and glean ears of corn after him… (KJV)
Not necessarily "him" meaning Boaz, but after the keeper of the field or the man that supervised that particular field.
Ruth 2:2. …in whose sight I shall find grace. And she said unto her, Go, my daughter. (KJV)
So, what is happening now is God is maneuvering things so that she goes to a field that belongs to Boaz. Boaz is a near relative. He is very wealthy. God is doing things behind the scenes. She thought she was just going down to the field to glean some grain.
B. God gives her favor in the eyes of Boaz.
You have to ask, "Why? How is it feasible that a Moabitess, an enemy of Israel, is going to go down and trudge around and glean grain in the field and the man that owns not only that field, but many other fields who also happens to live in [Bethlehem] would even notice her or take note of her?"
Verse 3:
Ruth 2:3. And she went, and came, and gleaned in the field after the reapers: and her [chance] was to light on a part of the field belonging unto Boaz, who was of the kindred of Elimelech (a relative).
4) And behold, Boaz came from Bethlehem, and said unto the reapers, (KJV)
He obviously had a home there.
Ruth 2:4b. The Lord be with you. (KJV)
He's saying this to his employees.
Ruth 2:4 continued. And they answered him, The Lord bless [you]. (KJV)
So, it's obvious that Boaz cared about his workers and they cared for him. This tells us something about his character.
Verse 5:
Ruth 2:5. Then said Boaz unto his servant that was set over the reapers, [Who is this young lady? Who is this young] damsel [The King James says.]? (KJV)
God caused Boaz to notice her. That would be extraordinary because she was a Moabitess. Why would he pay attention to her?
Ruth 2:6. And the servant that was set over the reapers answered and said, It is the Moabitish [woman] that came back with Naomi out of the country of Moab:
7) And she said [to me, his servant], I pray you, let me glean and gather after the reapers among the sheaves: so she came, and [she's] continued even from the morning until now, that she tarried a little [bit] in the house. (KJV)
In other words, this also told Boaz something. Ruth wasn't asking for a handout. She wasn't coming saying, "Give me money. I'm a poor woman." No, she's saying, "Just let me work. Just let me put in day after day after day's labor." So, she went right to work, worked all day, and this is what it has come to. So that tells Boaz that this is a woman of character—not afraid to work.
Verse 8:
Ruth 2:8. Then Boaz said unto Ruth, (KJV)
Now, why did that happen? Why would Boaz go talk to Ruth? Again, that's almost unheard of, but God is behind the scenes, putting thoughts and emotions and ideas into people's minds.
Ruth 2:8. Then Boaz said to Ruth [he says, Hear you] not, my daughter? Go not to glean in another field, neither go from [here], (KJV)
Now, obviously, Boaz has an interest. "I don't want you going somewhere else. I want you to stay right here under my reapers and under my gaze, under my sight." He says:
Ruth 2:8b. …but abide here fast by my maidens:
9) Let [your] eyes be on the field that they do reap, and go after them: have I not charged the young men that they shall not touch [you]? (KJV)
So, he's already putting himself in a position of protecting her and taking care of her.
Ruth 2:9b. …and when [you are thirsty], go unto the vessels, and drink of that which the young men have drawn. (KJV)
So Boaz's actions show not only that he has an interest in her, but that he has character. He's looking after this young woman. He's making sure that she is not molested or abused in any way.
Verse 10:
Ruth 2:10. Then she fell on her face, and bowed herself to the ground, and said unto him, Why have I found grace in [your] eyes, that [you should] take knowledge of me [that you should even talk to me, be aware that I am in your field], seeing I am a stranger? (KJV)
"And not only a stranger, but from a country that's an enemy of Israel!" And the answer, of course, is God gave her favor in Boaz's eyes. God is maneuvering behind the scenes to work out His will for the two women and for Israel.
Verse 11:
Ruth 2:11. And Boaz answered and said unto her, It [has been] fully showed me, all that [you have] done unto [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] nativity, and [are] come unto a people which [you know] not heretofore. (KJV)
God made sure that Boaz knew of her story and knew of her character. He made sure of that. Again, working behind the scenes.
Verse 12, Boaz says:
Ruth 2:12. The Lord recompense [your] work [give you a reward for the work that you're doing], and a full reward be given [you]of the [Eternal] God of Israel, under whose wings [you are] come to trust. (KJV)
So, he had heard the story. And he is saying, "I admire the fact that you came from Moab to come under the wings of God Almighty and are trusting in God Almighty." He was very impressed by that as anybody would be.
Verse 13:
Ruth 2:13. Then she said, Let me find favour in thy sight, my lord; for that [you have] comforted me, and for that [you have] spoken friendly unto [your] handmaid, though I be not like unto one of [your] handmaids. (KJV)
Meaning, "I am a foreigner. I am a Moabitess. I'm not like one of your handmaids." She's grateful for the fact that she is finding favor and she is thanking him. Again, that shows her humility and her meekness and her character.
Verse 14:
Ruth 2:14. And Boaz said unto her, At mealtime come [here, and eat of the bread, and dip [your] morsel in the vinegar. And she sat beside the reapers: and [one of the reapers passed] her parched corn, and she [ate], and [she] was [filled], and [she] left. (KJV)
God is working behind the scenes to give her favor in the eyes of Boaz.
A Third, Point C is:
C. God inspired Naomi with a plan.
God put it in her mind to have a plan that would fulfill God's will and take care of the two women. Chapter 3 verse 1:
Ruth 3:1. Then Naomi her mother in law said unto her, My daughter, shall I not seek rest for [you], that it may be well with [you]? (KJV)
She says, "Sure I am. I'm going to seek your welfare and your benefit."
Ruth 3:2. And now is not Boaz of our kindred [one of our relatives], with whose maidens [you were]? Behold, he [winnows] barley to night in the threshing floor.
3) Wash … therefore… (KJV)
"Get clean." She's been out in the fields all day. Naomi says:
Ruth 3:3. Wash [yourself], anoint [yourself], put [clean clothes on, suitable clothes, not working clothes] put [your] raiment upon you, and get down to the floor: but make not [yourself] known unto the man, until he [has finished] eating and drinking.
4) And it shall be, when he [lies] down, that [you shall] mark the place where he shall lie, and [you shall] go in, and uncover his feet, and lay [yourself] down; and he will tell [you] what [you should] do. (KJV)
Now she wasn't familiar with this custom. Naomi is. And we'll get into the details in just a second. She is giving her instruction, "Uncover his feet." To a Moabitess this probably sounds a little strange. And "Go down and lay down at his feet." And she's saying, "Boaz is going to tell you what to do next.
And then Ruth said unto her in verse 5:
Ruth 3:5b. All that [you say] unto me I will do. (KJV)
[This is] getting back to the Second Point of her being obedient. She, in many cases, didn't have a clue of the customs in ancient Israel and she just obeyed her mother-in-law.
So, the Third Area, Point C, is that:
C. God inspired Naomi with a plan.
The Fourth, D, is that:
D. God inspired Boaz to seek Ruth as his wife. God put the thought, the desire to seek her as his wife and to have children by her ultimately.
Look at chapter 3 verse 6.
Ruth 3:6. And she went down unto the floor [threshing floor], and … according to all that her mother in law [bid] her to do, she did. (KJV)
Ruth was totally obedient.
Ruth 3:7. And when Boaz had eaten and [drunken], and his heart was merry [He was happy at the end of a long day of work.], he went to lie down at the end of the heap of corn: and she came softly, and uncovered his feet, (KJV)
Basically when a woman does that, she is basically saying, "I want to be part of you." You are taking his robe, his skirt up and exposing his feet. She is saying symbolically, "I want to be part of you." And then "she laid down at his feet."
Ruth 3:8. And it came to pass at midnight, that the man [the King James says that he] was afraid, (KJV)
That's not really a good translation. The New King James "he was startled."
I've had a personal experience with that. Dorothy and I were in a hotel once in Winthrop, Washington. And we went to bed in a motel in Winthrop. And it was dark and cool. We had the windows open. And all of a sudden I felt something at my feet. And I was started too. I jumped up out of bed. It turned out a cat had slipped in through the window and it was chilly outside. It curled up at my feet. And once it touched my feet, boy I came out of the bed like a shot!
I'm sure Boaz was feeling the same the way. He felt something at his feet, didn't know what it was. The latter part of verse 8 now. He was startled.
Ruth 3:8b. …and turned himself: and, behold, a woman lay at his feet. (KJV)
And, of course, it's dark. They don't have electricity. There's no lamp at his feet or any thing.
Ruth 3:9. And he said, Who [are you]? And she answered, I am Ruth [your] handmaid: spread therefore [your] skirt over [your] handmaid; [because you are] a near kinsman. (KJV)
The New King James says,:
Ruth 3:9b. Take your maidservant under your wing, for you are a close relative." (NKJ)
What she is saying now is "I have uncovered your skirt. I'm saying symbolically 'I want to be a part of you.'" And she is saying, "Take your skirt and put it over me," because she is hoping he wants to be part of her.
Jamieson, Fausset and Brown says:
She had already drawn part of the mantle over her; and she asked him now to do it, that the act might become his own.
Meaning: of Boaz's volition, saying "I want to be part of you as you have just said you want to be part of me."
Going on now with Jamieson, Fausset and Brown:
To spread a skirt over one is, in the East, a symbolical action denoting protection. To this day in many parts of the East to say of any one that be put his skirt over a woman is synonymous with saying that he married her; and at all the marriages of the modern Jews … one part of the ceremony is for the bridegroom to put a silken or cotton cloak around his bride….
Saying "You're now part of me. You're under my protection."
Now going on in verse 10:
Ruth 3:10. And he [Boaz] said, Blessed be [you] of the Lord, my daughter: for [you have showed] more kindness in the latter end than at the beginning, (KJV)
What he is saying is "In the beginning you showed great kindness to Naomi. And you followed her into this area of the world" (leaving her family and coming with Naomi). "You showed great kindness to her." And he says, "Now, you're showing great kindness to me. You are asking me to be part of you and I want to be part of you too."
Going on:
Ruth 3:10b. …inasmuch as [you followed] not young men, (KJV)
Now this implies that he was older. Some commentaries say that he was eighty years old at this time. Now she had to be at least in her twenties because they married young in those days and she's a widow now. So she had to be at least in her twenties or thirties. Maybe he wasn't eighty. Maybe he was fifty or sixty. We don't know. Someday we'll find out. We do know that he was older than she was.
And he is saying, "You didn't follow young men. You could have followed young men rich or [poor], but you didn't." He said, "You came after me."
Verse 11:
Ruth 3:11. And now, my daughter, [Don't be afraid] not; I will do to [you] all that [you require]: for all the city of my people [does] know that [you are] a virtuous woman.
12) And now it is true that I am [your] near kinsman [or your near relative]: (KJV)
The near kinsman had two duties in a situation like this. The first one is that he had the duty of redeeming family property that was lost or about to be lost. And we're going to see in chapter 4 verse 3 that Naomi was going to sell some of Elimelech's property (her dead husband's property) in order to finance her living. And this tradition, this Commandment, is found in Leviticus 25. So, the near kinsman could have the responsibility of redeeming the property that was about to be lost or could be lost. The second responsibility is that he was obligated to marry the widow of a deceased near relative to raise up children in that deceased man's name. That's found in Deuteronomy 25. So, he had two responsibilities; one with the property, but one also with regard to the widow, to raise up children in the dead husband's name.
Now, going on at the latter part of verse 12, there is a problem. And this presents another opportunity for God to move behind the scenes. Verse 12, latter part:
Ruth 3:12b. …howbeit [Boaz says,] there is a [relative] nearer than [me].
13) [He says, "Wait] this night, and it shall be in the morning, that if he will perform unto [you] the part of a kinsman, well [so be it]; let him do the kinsman's part: (KJV)
And, obviously, Boaz's heart was sinking even at the thought of that.
Ruth 3:13b. …but if he will not do the part of a kinsman to [you], then I will do the part of a kinsman to [you], as the Lord [lives; I will do it, he says]: lie down until the morning. (KJV)
Now you can believe both of them didn't sleep that night. She's lying at the foot, at his feet. And he's there awake and they're both thinking of the possibilities. This could work out really well because she was attracted to him and he was attracted to her. Or this unknown near kinsman could come in and blow the whole thing up. Then, she would be with him. So, I'm sure they spent most of the night thinking of all the possibilities.
So, that leads us to the Fifth Point, Point E, which is:
E. God steps in and prevents this nearer kinsman from claiming Ruth.
Now, let's start with chapter 4, verse 1. In the first part of verse 1, it says:
Ruth 4:1. Then went Boaz up to the gate, (KJV)
Now, in those days, the city gate was where public affairs were carried out. Business transactions occurred at the city gate. Especially the administration of justice occurred at the city gate. There were plenty of witnesses. The men of renown, so to speak, congregated at the gate to discuss business, to discuss matters of justice. So, Boaz went to the gate where the men were.
The latter part of verse 1:
Ruth 4:1b. [He] sat him down there: and, behold, the kinsman of whom Boaz [spoke] came by; unto whom he said, [The King James says,] Ho, such a one! [Oh, it's you! Come sit down,] turn aside, sit down here. And he turned aside, and sat down.
2) And [then Boaz] took ten men of the elders of the city, and said, Sit down here. And they sat down. (KJV)
So, something was coming up. There was a matter of judgment that he needed witnesses and needed their approval.
Verse 3:
Ruth 4:3. And he said unto the kinsman, Naomi, that is come again out of the country of Moab, [sells] a parcel of land, which was our brother Elimelech's: (KJV)
She had to do it to finance her living, but now that property could be purchased by somebody outside the family and that is not a good deal. So, it's up to the near kinsman to step in.
Verse 4:
Ruth 4:4. And I thought to [advise you], saying, Buy it before the inhabitants, and before 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 none to redeem it beside [you]; and I am after [you (I'm in the pecking order after you)]. And he said, I will redeem it. (KJV)
Oh boy. Here's a problem.
Ruth 4:5. Then said Boaz, What day [you buy] the field of the hand of Naomi, [you] must buy it also of Ruth the Moabitess, the wife of the dead [Her husband was dead.], [And you need] to raise up the name of the dead upon [this] inheritance. (KJV)
In other words, you would have to take her as a wife and you would have to bring forth children in the man's name.
Verse 6:
Ruth 4:6. And the kinsman said, I [can't] redeem it for myself, lest I mar [my] own inheritance: redeem [you] my right to [yourself]; for I [can't do] it. (KJV)
Now it's obvious that this near relative wanted the field. He really wanted that field, but he did not want the additional expense of providing for a wife. And he didn't want to risk the possibility of after buying the field and then marrying Ruth and if they had a son by that marriage, then that field that he bought and paid for would go to the son. He didn't want to risk that either. Now, it could be that this guy had his plate full. We don't know. Or it could be that he was very selfish and was just looking after his own interests.
So, in verse 7:
Ruth 4:7. Now this was the manner in former time in Israel concerning [the] redeeming and concerning changing, for to confirm all things; a man plucked off his shoe, and gave it to his [neighbor]: and this was a testimony in Israel. (KJV)
This was a symbolic act of handing over that responsibility from one man to another man. Now Clarke says of this—it's interesting:
The law of such a case is given at large in Deut. 25:5-9. It was simply this: If a brother, who had married a wife, died without children, the eldest brother was to take the widow, and raise up a family to the brother deceased; and he had a right to redeem the inheritance…. But if the person who had the right of redemption would not take the woman, she was to pull off his shoe and spit in his face; and he was ever after considered … a disgraced man.
That's what it says in Deuteronomy. Now, that didn't happen. And Clarke goes on to say:
In the present case the shoe only is taken off,
No spitting in the face.
… probably because the circumstances of the man were such as to render it improper for him to redeem the ground and take Ruth to his wife; and because of this reasonable excuse, the contemptuous part of the ceremony [was] omitted.
Meaning: the spitting in the face. So, the shoe was the only thing that was involved.
Verse 8:
Ruth 4:8. Therefore the kinsman said unto Boaz, Buy it for [you]. So he drew off his shoe.
9) And Boaz said unto the elders, and unto 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, of the hand of Naomi.
10) Moreover Ruth the Moabitess, the wife of Mahlon, have I purchased to be my wife, to raise up the name of the dead upon his inheritance, that the name of the dead be not cut off from among his brethren, and from the gate of this place: [you] are witnesses this day. (KJV)
So, God, you see, from the start brought Ruth and brought Boaz together, gave her favor in his eyes. He saw her character by her deeds. And [God] planted the thought in Naomi's mind of this coming together and then going to the near kinsman and changing that man's mind, giving Boaz favor in his eyes so that he didn't buy the field and didn't take Ruth. And God was doing this all the time when Ruth didn't have a clue. Naomi didn't have a clue, but God was doing all this.
The symbolism of that, the story of that, is particularly appropriate today because God moves behind the scenes in the lives of His children to this very day doing exactly the same thing. All of us have seen God move in our lives, the lives of our Brothers and Sisters in the Church to work out His will, to bring a good result at the end of the day.
I'm reminding of when I first came in the Church in the mid-sixties. I was an officer in the Air Force. And I applied to get out and I just knew—I had absolute faith. You're just young and new in the Church. When I applied to get out, it was a righteous thing to do as a conscientious objector. I just knew God would cause the application to be approved. So, I submitted it, all the documentation and all of that. I waited. I don't know. I think it was ninety days or something like that. And it came back and it was disapproved.
I was kind of like Naomi. I said, "God, you're bringing me to nothing here. I'm trying to do a righteous thing. What's going on?" And we whine and we cry and we don't see the big picture.
The Air Force rules at the time were once you're refused, you had to wait six months in order to re-apply. And it was obvious, an old Master-Sergeant in the Personnel Division came to me and he handed me a slip of paper after this. He's says, "It's obvious the brass wants you out of here." And he handed me orders to go to Okinawa. I was a problem to the Air Force. You don't have an officer getting out as a conscientious objector. So, it created a problem. So, for the base commander, the best solution was to get me to another base before I could reapply. So, send me to Okinawa.
And so, I went through everything, getting packed and all of that. The Master-Sergeant came with kind of a grin on his face and gave me another piece of paper about two weeks later. (I was within a couple of weeks of leaving.) And he said, "Read this." And I looked at it and the orders were cancelled. And I said, "What's the reason?" And he said, "I don't know. No reason given."
So, then a couple of weeks later, he called me and he said, "You've got new orders." And this was to be transferred to Germany. So, oh boy! Here we go again. I get packed up and ready to go Germany. I don't know. It was ten days before I was to leave. He calls me and says, "Guess what?" And I said, "Tell me." And he said, "Cancelled again. The orders are cancelled again." And he says, "I've never seen this." This has never happened before. Once you have your orders cut, nothing intervenes with the Air Forces' decision and momentum, he said, "but now this is twice."
So, you heave a sigh of relief hoping you can wait to get to the six months so you can reapply. And I'm thanking God. I've gone from "God is against me" to "God is the greatest God." You're bouncing back and forth.
So, a couple of weeks later. He says, "You've got some new orders. You had better come over and look at them." So, I did and this time it was to Greenland. And I thought, "You get up on that icecap, you will never come back! They'll put you in jail for decades when they get through with you."
So, I packed up, ready to go to Greenland. And this Master Sergeant called me again and he said, "You're not going to believe this." He said, "I've never seen this in my twenty-five years in the Air Force. It's been cancelled again."
And it was only a week or ten days later that the six months had come up and so I could reapply. I reapplied and got out.
But I felt like Naomi. I felt like God was frowning on me and I'm trying to do what He wants me to do and somehow He was frowning on me. But, at the end of the day, God was moving all the chess pieces. He was working His will. I never had to leave that base. I applied a second time and was approved. But during that time, you can think that God has deserted you or left you or whatever and all the time, just like with Boaz and Ruth, He is maneuvering behind the scenes to do His will. That's the Third Point.
The Fourth Point is that:
IV. This story ends in a marriage.
That's the beauty of the story. Look at chapter 4 verse 13.
Ruth 4: 13. So Boaz took Ruth, and she was his wife: (KJV)
What a wonderful ending!
Ruth 4:13b. …and when he went in unto her, the Lord gave her conception, (KJV)
Now, why is this there? Maybe because he was an older man and it would be unlikely at his age. We don't know, but the fact is that it says that "God gave her conception," which tells us that this part of God's long-range plan for her and for Boaz.
Ruth 4:13 continued. …and she [bore] a son. (KJV)
Not a daughter, but a son.
Ruth 4:14. And the women said unto Naomi, Blessed be the[Eternal], which [has] not left [you] this day without a kinsman, that his name may be famous in Israel. (KJV)
Little known how famous!
Ruth 4:15. And he shall be unto [you] a restorer of [your] life, and a nourisher of [your] old age: for [your] daughter in law, which [loves you], which is better to [you] than seven sons, [has borne a son]. (KJV)
What a blessing!
So, an older, more experienced man, who is an Israelite, married a woman from an alien country who was a Gentile. [This is] a highly unusual story. And the fruit of God calling Ruth and Boaz together in a physical marriage ultimately resulted in Jesus Christ. Look at chapter 4 verse 20.
Ruth 4:20. And Amminadab begat Nahshon, and Nahshon begat Salmon, (KJV)
Now, Jewish tradition has it that Salmon was one of the two hidden by Rahab and later married her. Verse 21:
Ruth 4:21. And Salmon begat Boaz, and Boaz begat Obed,
22) And Obed begat Jesse, and Jesse begat David. (KJV)
And we know that Christ is descended from David.
So, here God was working out something far greater than just Boaz, just Ruth, just Naomi. And look at what He did. When Naomi comes up in the resurrection and Boaz and Ruth come up in the resurrection and see what God's ultimate plan was—Christ was down the line—they're going to be even more impressed at God and what He did.
So, this is all a part of God's long-range plan. And there is a lesson for us there today, too, because our story is going to end in marriage. The same will happen between us and Christ as happened between Ruth and Boaz. And we're going to marry an Eternal Being with far more experience than we have. Boaz was older and far more experienced than Ruth. The Being that we're going to marry has ultimate experience because He was there from the very beginning.
And He will marry each one of us. And each one of us is from an alien country. Each one of us was an enemy of God and Christ, just like Ruth came from a country that was an enemy to Israel. The fruit of, as we know, Boaz and Ruth's marriage resulted in Christ. And the fruit of our marriage to Jesus Christ will result in the final culmination of our being transformed into the image of Christ because we will be resurrected spirit. And we will then help other human beings to follow along that same path. So, they can become married to Jesus Christ. So, they can become spirit-beings.
So, the story ends in marriage. And that is a foreshadowing of our marriage to Jesus Christ.
The Fifth and Final Point:
V. Ruth was a Gentile and she was grafted into physical Israel through marriage.
Now remember: Moab was Israel's enemy. And, yet, Ruth became an Israelite, was engrafted into Israel through her marriage to Boaz. And she became a relative of Jesus Christ.
Now in the New Testament, that very same thing happened. The Gentiles were grafted into spiritual Israel. Let's go to Romans chapter 11 and we'll read verse 13 to get the context that Paul was talking to the Gentiles. And then, we'll read verses 16 and 17. Romans 11 beginning in verse 13, Paul is speaking. Notice who he's talking to now. Romans 11:13.
Romans 11:13. For I speak to you Gentiles, (KJV)
Ruth was a Gentile. He says:
Romans 11:13. I speak to you Gentiles, inasmuch as I am the apostle of the Gentiles, I magnify [my] office: (KJV)
Jumping down to verse 16, now Paul is establishing a principle here.
Romans 11:16. For if the firstfruit be holy, the lump is also holy: and if the root be holy, so are the branches.
17) And if some of the branches be broken off, (KJV)
He's referring to the Jews.
Romans 11:17. And if some of the branches be broken off, and [you]… (KJV)
Remember he's talking to the Gentiles (verse 13).
Romans 11:17b. …and you being a wild olive tree, [were grafted] in among them, and with them [partake] of the root and [the] fatness of the olive tree; (KJV)
He's talking about salvation. The Jews rejected Christ. Christ broke that branch off. Then what Christ did in calling the Gentiles was to graft their branch, a wild olive tree, into the root of that olive tree, the original olive tree. And they can partake of the fatness of the roots and of the trunk. And they can be part of the entire tree. That, obviously, is symbolic of salvation.
We have been grafted into the body of Christ through Christ's sacrifice. Because of our repentance, because of our baptism, because of the laying on of hands, because of the indwelling of God's holy spirit, we are grafted into the Body of Christ. Which is what? Spiritual Israel. Ruth was grafted into physical Israel through that marriage. Through our calling and, ultimately, through our marriage to Jesus Christ, we're going to be grafted into spiritual Israel.
Look at 1 Corinthians 12 and verse 27. I know we're familiar with these Scriptures. Just as a reminder, 1 Corinthians 12:27. We're told very emphatically, very clearly. No doubt.
1 Corinthians 12:27. Now [you] are the body of Christ, and members in particular. (KJV)
We have been engrafted into the Body of Christ. We were once enemies. We all belonged to a nation that is not God's.
Let's go back to Romans chapter 12 and verse 5. [This is] another statement by Paul to the Church in Rome as opposed previously to the Church in Corinth. Romans 12:5, He says:
Romans 12:5. So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another. (KJV)
So, as Ruth was grafted into physical Israel, we have been grafted into a spiritual nation, a spiritual Body through our calling, through our baptism, through the indwelling of God's spirit in us.
So, we see here now Five Lessons we can learn, Five Parallels between what happened in ancient Israel with Naomi, with Ruth and with Boaz. We can see some parallels for today.
Ruth, through her righteousness (seeking the God of Israel), through her obedience to Naomi, made herself ready to be the bride of Boaz. She had character. She showed that character. She developed that character. And it didn't happen overnight because she was a Moabitess that married an Israelite and over time she began to worship the God of Israel. That took time. And she developed character that she showed in this account.
Now, we, through the holy spirit (when we were first called we were just as much an enemy as Moab was), but over time and the indwelling of God's spirit, we began to grow in character to be more and more like Jesus Christ with the ultimate goal of marriage. Just as Ruth married Boaz, we will marry Christ.
One final Scripture in Revelation 19 and verse 7, this is one of the Scriptures that we hold on to and we look forward to.
Revelation 19:7. Let us be glad and rejoice, (KJV)
Boy should we ever!
Revelation 19:7b. …and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, (KJV)
And in order for that marriage to happen, to take place:
Revelation 19:7 continued. …his wife [has] made herself ready. (KJV)
Ruth, in that sense, made herself ready. She was obedient to Naomi. She wanted to follow the God of ancient Israel. She made herself ready. She developed character. We must do exactly the same. The lessons are so clear. There are so many great parallels between the Book of Ruth and the New Testament Church today.
So, let's all learn the lessons from the story of Ruth.
Transcribed by kb October 8, 2012