All right, morning, church. Today's reading comes from Ruth chapter 4.
Feel free to follow along in your Bibles, bulletin, or the screen behind me.
Starting in verse 1, we read,
Now Boaz had gone up to the gates and sat down there.
Behold, the Redeemer, of whom Boaz had spoken, came by.
So Boaz said, Turn aside, friend, sit down here.
And he turned aside and sat down.
And he took ten men of the elders of the city and said,
Sit down here.
So they sat down.
Then he said to the Redeemer,
Naomi, who has come back from the country of Moab,
is selling the parcel of land that belonged to our relative El-O-Metlech.
So I thought I would tell you of it and say,
Buy it in the presence of those sitting here
and in the presence of the elders of my people.
If you will redeem it, redeem it.
But if you will not, tell me that I may know,
for there is no one besides you to redeem it,
and I come after you.
And he said, I will redeem it.
Then Boaz said,
The day you buy the field from the hand of Naomi,
you also acquire Ruth the Moabite,
the widow of the dead,
in order to perpetuate the name of the dead in his inheritance.
Then the Redeemer said,
I cannot redeem it for myself,
lest I impair my own inheritance.
Take my right of redemption yourself,
for I cannot redeem it.
Now this was the custom in former times in Israel
concerning redeeming and exchanging.
To confirm a transaction,
the one drew off his sandal and gave it to the other.
And this was the manner of attesting in Israel.
So when the Redeemer said to Boaz,
Buy it for yourself,
he drew off his sandal.
Then Boaz said to the elders and all the people,
You are witnesses this day,
that I have bought from the hand of Naomi
all that belonged to Elimelech
and all that belonged to Kilion and to Malon.
Also Ruth the Moabite,
the widow of Malon,
I have bought to be my wife,
to perpetuate the name of the dead in his inheritance,
that the name of the dead may not be cut off
from among his brothers
and from the gates of his native place.
You are witnesses this day.
Then all the people who are at the gates
and the elders said,
We are witnesses.
May the Lord make the women
who is coming into your house
like Rachel and Leah,
who together built up the house of Israel.
May you act worthily in Ephrathah
and be renowned in Bethlehem.
May your house be like the house of Perez,
whom Tamar bore to Judah
because of the offspring
that the Lord will give you by this young woman.
So Boaz took Ruth
and she became his wife.
And he went into her
and the Lord gave her conception
and she bore a son.
Then the woman said to Naomi,
Blessed be the Lord
who has not left you this day
without a redeemer.
And may his name be renowned in Israel.
He shall be to you a restorer of life
and a nourisher of your old age
for your daughter-in-law who loves you,
who is more to you than seven sons,
has given birth to him.
Then Naomi took the child,
laid him on her lap,
and became his nurse.
And the women of the neighborhood
gave him a name saying,
A son has been born to Naomi.
They named him Obed.
He was the father of Jesse,
the father of David.
Now these are the generations of Perez.
Perez fathered Hezron.
Hezron fathered Ram.
Ram fathered Aminadab.
Aminadab fathered Nashon.
Nashon fathered Salmon.
Salmon fathered Boaz.
Boaz fathered Obed.
Obed fathered Jesse.
And Jesse fathered David.
This is the word of God.
Thank you, Jaya.
Good morning on this crisp marathon morning.
Good morning to five people.
In honor of the marathon,
we're going to have a marathon sermon.
So we'll end around 4 or 5 p.m.
That's okay.
Just kidding.
My name is Oscar.
If you don't know me,
welcome to Watermark Family.
Welcome to our guests.
Let me pray for us as we dive into God's word this morning.
Father God,
Lord Jesus,
Holy Spirit,
may your name be lifted up
as we consider your word this morning.
Soften our hearts, Lord,
as we take in, Lord,
what you want to say to us.
I pray for myself, Lord.
I pray for humility,
but also conviction.
And I pray, God,
that all of us here would
see the beauty of Christ
and would embrace our great Redeemer this morning
as we consider your word.
So we give this time to you.
We dedicate this time to you
in the precious name of Christ.
Amen.
So what comes to mind
when you think of the word
Redeemer?
Parking redemption
at IFC
or Pacific Place?
You spend money
in order to get
free parking in return?
The Shawshank
redemption?
Everyone's like,
what's that?
That tells me how old you are.
You're all very young.
The 90s movie
starring Tim Robbins
as Andy Dufresne,
a man framed for murder
and convicted
to a life sentence.
Over 20 years,
Andy digs a tunnel
out of his prison cell
and brings about
his own redemption.
redemption.
The Bible says
that we too
are in need
of redemption
except
we aren't
innocent.
We're actually
guilty.
But we don't need
to effectuate
our own redemption.
Indeed,
we can't.
Someone outside
ourselves
has already
redeemed us
at great cost
to himself
and his name
is Jesus Christ.
Now,
if you've
missed
our
sermon series
on Ruth
thus far,
here's a quick summary
of what's happened.
There's a famine
in Bethlehem
and this man
Elimelech,
he moves his family
to a hostile
neighboring country
called Moab
in search of food.
But in Moab,
disaster strikes.
Elimelech dies
and after marrying
Moabite woman,
his two sons
die as well
and his wife,
Naomi,
is left with
her daughter-in-law,
Ruth.
But God provides
hope.
These two widows,
they return to
Bethlehem
and there,
Ruth meets
Boaz
during the harvest
season
who showers her
with great
kindness.
And we learn
that Boaz
is a so-called
kinsman redeemer,
a near relative
of Naomi's
dead husband,
Elimelech,
and hence
could possibly
redeem
or save
Naomi
and Ruth.
Ruth then
approaches
Boaz
in the dead
of night
and makes
her plea,
redeem me.
Boaz
responds
and honors
her request
and promises
to redeem
her,
but it's
complicated.
Boaz
must first
ask a nearer
redeemer
who has the
right of
redemption,
the first right
of redemption.
And so today
we conclude
our study
of the book
of Ruth
in chapter
four
and we'll
look at
three points
today.
Redemption
takes sacrifice,
redemption
is transformative
and redemption
is for
the broken.
Redemption
takes sacrifice.
So Boaz
looking to
make good
on his promise
to Ruth,
he heads up
to the city
gates
where legal
transactions
were often
conducted
in a sort
of public
square.
And there
Boaz
sees the
other
redeemer
whose name
is not
mentioned
in the
narrative.
The literal
translation
is Mr.
So-and-so.
Seeing Mr.
So-and-so,
Boaz
lays out
part of
the deal
to him
in verses
three and
four.
Boaz
tells him,
our relative
Naomi,
she's back
from Moab
and she's
selling her
land.
If you
want it,
it's yours.
But if not,
let me know
because I'm
next in
line.
During those
days in
Israel,
God granted
land to
the different
families of
his people.
And if you
fell on hard
times and
you had to
sell your
land to
survive,
your nearest
relative,
a kinsman
redeemer,
could buy
it back.
this mechanism
was put in
place so
that land
stayed within
each family
throughout
generations.
In the
case of
Naomi,
we could
infer that
the land
that she
was selling
wasn't very
valuable to
her.
We know
she was
poor and
possibly the
land wasn't
very valuable
because it
had a big
mortgage on
it.
But Naomi
needed the
money and
selling the
land would
get her
the money.
And in
comes Mr.
So-and-so,
seeing a
desperate
widow,
seeing a
good deal,
and he
says,
done,
I'll
redeem it.
But Boaz
has an
ace up
his sleeve.
In
verse 5,
he tells
so-and-so
that if
you want
the land,
it's a
package
deal.
If you
want the
land,
you've
got to
marry
Ruth as
well.
But Mr.
So-and-so
cannot pull
the trigger,
for the
price was
too costly.
Why is
that?
Well,
according to
Jewish law,
if so-and-so
and Ruth
married,
and if
their first
child was
a son,
that child
would not
be so-and-so's
son.
That child
would be
Malon's
son,
Ruth's
dead
husband's
son,
who would
carry on
the family
name and
lineage of
Malon to
perpetuate the
name of the
dead in
his inheritance.
And this
would have
two potentially
very costly
implications for
Mr.
So-and-so.
First,
all the
yield,
all the
grain produced
on that
land that
he bought
from Naomi,
that would
go to
Malon's
son,
not to
his own
children.
There would
be a sign
in front of
the land
in perpetuity
that would
say,
this is
Malon's
family land.
And second,
Malon's
son would
also have
the right
to the
other
assets
of
so-and-so.
Meaning,
if so-and-so,
there's a lot
of so-and-so,
sorry,
so-and-so,
so-and-so.
If so-and-so
had other
children,
those kids
would have
to share
their
inheritance
with
Malon's
son.
Hence,
Mr.
so-and-so
says,
I can't
redeem it,
lest I
impair
my own
inheritance.
It's like
when I have
one hamburger
left in the
fridge,
it's one
meal for
me,
but if I
gotta share
it with
my three
kids,
it's not
enough.
Of course,
I'd always
share it with
my kids,
I'm just
joking.
Except if
that's
Bones and
Blades
burgers,
Alan knows,
I would
never share
that.
Marrying
Ruth was
too costly
for so-and-so,
and so he
waves his
right and
symbolically
takes off
his sandal,
which is like
a handshake
to seal a
deal.
And Boaz
proudly announces
that he has
bought the
land from
Naomi,
and Ruth
would be
his wife.
Mr.
So-and-so
wouldn't do
it,
but Boaz
did.
Because in
any sacrifice,
there must
be both
ability
and
willingness.
So-and-so
had the
ability,
he was a
nearer
redeemer,
he was
wealthy,
but he
didn't have
the
willingness.
Because it
was a
voluntary
decision.
Boaz
also had
the
ability,
he was
also a
nearer
redeemer,
he was
also
wealthy,
but he
also had
the
willingness.
See,
from afar,
Boaz,
he heard
of Ruth's
loyalty to
Naomi.
He heard
of Ruth's
loyalty to
Naomi,
he saw
her faith
in action
in his
own fields,
and his
fondness for
Ruth grew
from admiration
to appreciation
to respect
and ultimately
to love.
he fell
in love
with Ruth
and love
drove his
willingness
to take
the hit,
to take a
pound of
flesh out
of himself,
to sacrifice
for Ruth
and by
extension to
sacrifice for
Naomi.
Because
redemption
takes sacrifice
and sacrifice
takes both
ability and
willingness.
And how
much more
was our
redemption
and the
forgiveness
of our
sins
costly
for Jesus.
Only
Jesus had
the ability
to suffer
on the
cross for
the redemption
of the world
because he
was God
and because
he was
perfect.
But Jesus
also had
the willingness
as well.
He
willingly
went to
the cross
to endure
unspeakable
suffering
because he
loves you.
But unlike
Boaz,
Jesus didn't
just give a
part of
himself,
he gave
all of
himself.
And unlike
Boaz,
Jesus didn't
fall in love
with you.
He has
known you
and he's
loved you
since the
foundation of
the world.
Redemption
takes sacrifice.
Second,
redemption
is transformative.
And once
redeemed,
Naomi and
Ruth were
never the
same again.
This story
soon ends
so we don't
get to see
too much
into the
new lives
of Ruth
and Naomi
but what
we do
see is
a profound
transformation
in their
identity
and in
their heart
sentiment
after
their
redemption.
Look at
Ruth.
If we
skip forward
a bit to
verse 13
we read
Boaz
took
Ruth
and
she
became
his
wife
and
he
went
into
her
and
the
Lord
gave
her
conception
and
she
bore
a
son.
Think
about it.
What a
180 degree
turn
for Ruth.
In chapter
one she
was a poor
Moabite
widow
with no
heir.
She was
destitute
and hungry
with no
one to
protect
her
and now
she is
a wife
of this
worthy
and God
fearing
man
Boaz
who
would
permanently
protect
her
and
provide
for her.
But
there's
more.
God
intervened
as he's
been doing
this entire
book
and he
gave her
conception.
God
blessed
Ruth
with a
son
Obed
to
sustain
her
and
carry
on
her
family
line.
Ruth
has
truly
found
rest.
Her
identity
changed.
Her
purpose
changed.
Her
life
changed.
No
more
gleaning
in
fields.
I
imagine
where
there
was
despair
there
is
now
hope
where
there
was
barrenness
now
there's
new
life.
Ruth
used
to
be
an
outcast
now
she's
an
honored
member
of
the
people
of
God.
Redemption
was
transformative
for
Ruth.
And
arguably
redemption
was even
more
transformative
for
Naomi.
In
verses
14
and
15
the
neighboring
woman
they
praise
God
for
his
goodness
and
they
pray
blessings
over
Naomi.
Blessed
be the
Lord
who has
not
left
you
this
day
without
a
redeemer.
May
his
name
be
renowned
in
Israel.
He
shall
be to
you
a
restorer
!
And
a
nourisher
of
your
old
age.
Picture
Naomi
sitting
in a
comfortable
chair
in her
living room
doting
on her
newborn
grandson
heart
revitalized
full of
joy.
What a
far cry
from
chapter
one
where
after
facing
so
much
pain
and
suffering
she
said
don't
call me
Naomi
which
means
pleasant
call me
Mara
which
means
bitter.
Her
bitterness
has
turned
to
joy.
The
tragic
death
of her
husband
and
sons
has
been
replaced
by
new
life
in
her
grandson
Obed
the
despair
she
felt
having
no one
to
care
for
her.
Now
look
at
Naomi
her
grandson
Obed
her
personal
redeemer
will
restore
her
life
and
care
for
her
in
her
old
age.
Her
emptiness
has
turned
into
wholeness.
Her
shame
into
honor.
Because
redemption
is
transformative.
Redemption
was
transformative
for
Ruth
and
Naomi
and
for
those
of
us
here
today
who
are
followers
of
Jesus
our
redemption
Our
salvation
through
the
cross
is
also
transformative
for
us.
For
one
our
identity
has
changed.
We
are
no
longer
spiritual
orphans
who
are
now
part
of
God's
family
but
has
your
actual
life
been
transformed?
Have
others
around
you
see
God
change
you?
Are
you
more
humble?
Are
you
more
patient?
Are
you
more
Christ-like
than
before?
If
not,
is it
because
you have
not yet
encountered
God's
redeeming
grace?
God
I
think
for
many
of
us
much
of
the
way
we
become
transformed
is to
day
to
day
give
up
that
which
we
treasure
more
than
Christ.
Let
me
repeat
that.
I
think
much
of
the
way
we
become
transformed
is
by
day
by
day
minute
by
minute
hour
by
hour
step
by
step
to
give
up
that
which
we
treasure
!
more
than
Christ
so
that
our
hearts
have
room
to
love
him
wholeheartedly.
For
me
that
was
my
career
in
finance.
I
left
the
institutional
investment
business
about
18
months
ago
but
the
five
years
leading
up
to
before
I
left
were
just
really
difficult.
I
was
always
stressed
out.
I
was
mentally
working
24-7.
My
performance
was
not
good.
But
one
thing
I
did
during
those
last
years
was
I
get
up
in
the
morning
and
I
grab
my
Bible
and
my
cup
of
coffee
I
go
to
my
roof
and
at
720
AM
I
would
pray
I
pray
this
prayer
God
you
know
that
work
is
tough
you
know
I'm
not
doing
well
I'm
struggling
but
if
you're
calling
me
to
stay
here
I
will
if
you're
calling
me
to
give
it
up
and
leave
this
industry
help
me
to
do
that
because
it's
tough
and
it's
scary
and
over
time
God
showed
me
that
my
career
was
an
idol
I
was
adoring
the
benefits
and
the
prestige
of
my
career
my
work
more
than
him
and
over
time
God
tore
that
idol
down
and
he
took
away
my
work
but
he
has
replaced
my
love
for
my
career
with
more
love
for
him
and
I
know
that
may
sound
simplistic
but
I
am
just
sharing
with
you
exactly
what
I've
experienced
there
is
now
so
much
more
room
in
my
heart
to
worship
and
adore
my
Lord
now
I'm
not
saying
that
all
of
us
should
quit
our
jobs
okay
we
don't
want
everyone
in
water
to be
unemployed
but
what
matters
is
our
heart
surrender
and
so
what
is
it
for
you
consider
this
week
when
you
wake
up
before
looking
at the
news
or
Instagram
get
your
Bible
find
a
quiet
space
grab
your
journal
and
write
down
and
pray
this
prayer
God
is there
something
in my
life
that I
treasure
more
than
you
please
help
me to
recognize
what it
is
and to
surrender
that
to
you
for
I
long
to
experience
the
joy
and
intimacy
of
Jesus
more
deeply
amen
what
consumes
your
thought
life
what
do
you
talk
about
whenever
you
meet
up
with
your
friends
what
keeps
you
awake
at
night
is
this
something
you're
idolizing
and
worshiping
above
God
and
if
God's
spirit
reveals
something
to
you
don't
ignore
him
take
action
cut
it
down
make
room
for
Jesus
and
like
Ruth
who
walked
away
from
Moab
where
she
where
there
may
have
been
pleasure
and
temporary
happiness
but
no
God
we
too
are
called
to
walk
away
from
the
things
of
the
world
that
we
so
that
we
can
embrace
our
redeemer
and
understand
that
we
too
like
Ruth
and
Naomi
have
a new
identity
a new
purpose
a new
outlook
on life
a
transformed
life
to
worship
Jesus
to
enjoy
him
to
let
others
know
about
him
redemption
is
transformative
redemption
is for
the
broken
going
back
a little
bit
to
verses
11
and
12
after
Boaz
proclaims
that he
has
taken
Ruth
to be
his
wife
the
people
at
the
city
gate
they
speak
to
very
intriguing
blessings
or prophecies
over
Ruth
and
Boaz
the
first
is
may
the
Lord
make
the
woman
i.e.
Ruth
who
is
coming
into
your
house
like
Rachel
and
Leah
who
together
built
up
the
house
of
Israel
if
you
know
the
story
of
Rachel
and
Leah
they
were
the
two
wives
of
Jacob
back
in
the
book
of
Genesis
but
the
house
of
Jacob
was
messy
in
the
first
case
Jacob
hated
Leah
and
he
only
loved
Rachel
and
both
Leah
and
Rachel
were
highly
insecure
Leah
never
felt
loved
by
her
husband
and
Rachel
was
she
felt
shame
because
she
wasn't
able
to
have
children
and
what
mattered
most
back
in
those
days
for
a
woman
was
to
bear
children
to
carry
on
the
family
line
to
win
the
approval
of
their
husband
and
their
security
but
God
ultimately
showed
kindness
to
both
Rachel
and
Leah
and
between
them
they had
12
sons
12
tribes
of
Israel
and
a
daughter
and
yet
they
came
from
this
very
complicated
and
messy
family
but
wait
it
gets
messier
the
third
prophecy
or the
third
blessing
speaks
to the
future
family
of
Ruth
and
Boaz
which
says
may
your
house
be
like
the
house
of
Perez
whom
Tamar
bore
to
Judah
because
of the
offspring
that the
Lord
will give
you by
this
young
woman
one of
Jacob's
12
sons
was
Judah
grew up
he had
a son
of his
own
his
firstborn
son
got
married
but then
soon
died
and left
his wife
Tamar
a widow
with no
children
so according
to Jewish
law
the brother
of the
deceased
was to
marry
the widow
to carry
on
the family
line
and so
Judah
promised
Tamar
his
daughter
in law
that
when
Judah's
third
son
was
of age
he would
marry
Tamar
but
Judah
never
kept
his
promises
and
through
a series
of
stomach
churning
events
Judah
ends up
sleeping
with
Tamar
gets
pregnant
and
gives
birth
to
Perez
may
your
house
be
like
the
house
of
Perez
this
is
the
blessing
over
Ruth
and
Boaz
Perez
who
was
birthed
through
the
immorality
of
Judah
and
his
daughter
in
law
Tamar
what
a
messed
up
family
the
family
squabbles
the
insecurities
the
bad
decisions
the
immorality
the
sin
why
would
you
ever
say
this
blessing
over
a
newly
engaged
couple
and
yet
God
had a
wonderful
plan
to
redeem
all
of
these
people
Leah
and
Rachel
would
become
the
dual
matrix
of
the
nation
of
Israel
God's
people
God
redeemed
Judah
and
Tamar
their
son
Perez
was a
forefather
of
King
David
and
Jesus
Christ
himself
look
at
Naomi
she
was
bitter
and
angry
at
God
she
was
full
of
despair
she
was
destitute
and
yet
Naomi
continued
to
believe
that
the
sovereign
God
was
in
control
and
God
in
his
kindness
brought
her
Ruth
and
through
Ruth
her
redemption
and
of
course
Ruth
look
what
honor
God
bestows
upon
her
in
verses
14
and
15
as
the
woman
in
Naomi's
neighborhood
they
gather
around
to
celebrate
her
transformation
and
the
birth
of her
grandson
they
offer
a final
prophecy
or a
final
blessing
that
her
grandson
Obed
shall
be a
restorer
of life
and a
nourisher
of her
old age
well how
can they be so
confident
in saying
this
well because
of Obed's
worthy
mother
Ruth
for your
daughter-in-law
who loves
you
who is more
to you than
seven sons
has given
birth to
him
Ruth
the
Moabite
outcast
the
poor
widow
downcast
in soul
and spirit
weary
and tired
from life
and travel
beaten up
and broken
down
and now
redeemed
and in a
time where
one son
was worth
more than
gold
and seven
sons
was worth
more than
gold
and bitcoin
together
Ruth is
better
than seven
sons
redemption
is for
the
broken
redemption
is for
the
lowly
redemption
is for
the
messed
up
and
sinful
but do
you see
yourself
as broken
if you
think you
have it
all
together
you'll
never
experience
Jesus
let me
repeat
that
if you
think you
have it
all
together
you
will
never
experience
Jesus
he'll
seem
boring
and
irrelevant
to
you
as
you
try
to
make
life
work
on
your
own
if
you're
here
today
and
you're
not
yet
a
Christian
to
receive
the
redemption
of
Jesus
you
don't
have
to
be
a
better
person
or
to
do
good
to
fix
yourself
one
of my
good
friends
years
ago
I
asked
him
to
come
to
church
and
his
response
to
me
was
give
me
some
time
I
gotta
fix
myself
that's
not
true
at
all
to
embrace
the
redemption
of
Jesus
we
don't
have
to
fix
ourselves
but
we
do
have
to
humble
ourselves
and
to
acknowledge
that
we're
broken
and in
need
of
a
savior
but
it
doesn't
matter
what
shame
you
carry
it
doesn't
matter
if
you've
committed
a
thousand
atrocities
because
the
cost
of
your
redemption
has
already
been
paid
at
an
unthinkable
cost
by
Jesus
Christ
on
the
cross
embrace
your
redeemer
and
for
those
of
us
here
who
are
Christians
followers
of
Jesus
Christ
the
day
we
became
a
Christian
we
said
this
prayer
Jesus
I'm
a
broken
sinner
I
desperately
need
you
to
redeem
me
but
today
we
still
sin
and
we
still
embrace
our
redeemer
with
the
same
prayer
Jesus
today
I
need
you
I've
sinned
I've
lied
to
someone
I
love
I'm
still
prideful
I
pray
these
prayers
myself
recently
and
like
how
God
redeemed
all
these
broken
people
Rachel
Leah
Judah
Tamar
Ruth
and
Naomi
he
loves
to
welcome
the
broken
into
his
loving
arms
and
Jesus
invites
all
of
us
today
come
to
me
he's
saying
take
refuge
under
my
wings
today
believe
in
me
trust
me
follow
me
I
will
show
you
kindness
and
goodness
but
most
importantly
I
will
redeem
you
I
have
redeemed
you
by
my
own
hand
and
with
my
own
blood
poured
out
for
you
on
the
cross
closing
in
closing
this
is a
longer
than
normal
close
so
be
patient
God's
bigger
plan
if the
book of
Ruth
were to
end
here
with a
picture
of
Ruth
and
Boaz
happily
married
a
picture
of
Naomi
sitting
by
the
fireplace
kissing
her
baby
grandson
our
hearts
will
be
full
no
God
is
good
in
the
midst
of
despair
and
death
and
tragedy
God
provided
God
showed
incredible
faithfulness
and
he
showed
kindness
and he
redeemed
Ruth
and
Naomi
but
God
has
an
even
bigger
plan
when
we
started
this
sermon
series
a month
or so
ago
we
said
that
Ruth
is
a love
story
it's
a love
story
between
Ruth
and
Boaz
it's
a love
story
between
Ruth
and
Naomi
but
even
more
so
it's
a love
story
between
God
and
humanity
in
this
little
story
of
Ruth
we
see
God
working
behind
the
scenes
using
the
faithfulness
of
both
Ruth
and
Boaz
to
bring
about
a
redeemer
Obed
to
Naomi
and
then
in
verse
17
we
learn
that
Obed
would
become
the
father
of
Jesse
the
father
of
David
not
David
Beckham
not
David
Bowie
King
David
the
David
and
Goliath
King
David
King
David
the
greatest
king
in
the
Old
Testament
that
David
and
remember
Ruth
was
set
during
the
time
of
the
judges
where
Israel
had
no
king
and
everyone
did
what
was
right
in
his
own
eyes
crime
and
lawlessness
were
rampant
in
Israel
in
part
because
there
was
no
king
to
lead
God's
people
but
three
generations
later
God
brought
up
King
David
who
would
unite
protect
and
lead
God's
people
God
again
intervening
through
his
faithful
workers
Ruth
and
Boaz
to
bring
King
David
to
be
Israel's
redeemer
but
even
more
than
this
in
the
New
Testament
in
the
book
of
Matthew
at
the
start
we
read
what
is
called
the
genealogy
of
Jesus
chapter
one
Jesus
Christ
son
of
David
son
of
Abraham
the
father
of
Isaac
the
father
of
Jacob
the
father
of
Judah
remember
Judah
the
irresponsible
father-in-law
he's in
here
down to
Boaz
the father
of
Obed
by Ruth
and
Obed
the father
of
Jesse
and
Jesse
the father
of
David
the
king
further
down
more
we
read
Joseph
the
husband
of
Mary
of
whom
Jesus
was
born
who
was
called
Christ
God
intervening
again
as
Ruth
and
Boaz
went
about
their
day-to-day
life
being
faithful
loving
others
showing
kindness
God
weaved
them
in
into
the
lineage
of
the
great
king
the
great
redeemer
Jesus
Christ
Ruth
and
Boaz
ordinary
people
doing
extraordinary
things
for
God
used
by
God
and
so
as we
end
this
sermon
series
on
Ruth
and
we
think
about
our
own
lives
as
Christians
take
heart
God
has
an
amazing
purpose
for
you
in
his
big
plan
like
Ruth
and
Boaz
we're
never
going
to
see
the
full
picture
the
outlook
will
always
be
a bit
foggy
and yet
we can
trust
that we
serve
a
big
God
whose
plans
and
purposes
are
so
much
greater
than
we
could
ever
imagine
our
calling
is
to
faithfully
serve
him
and
what
is
that
big
plan
redemption
for
all
people
God's
heart
is
that
no
one
not
one
single
person
is
left
to
fend
for
themselves
no
one
is
to
be
excluded
from
the
gates
of
heaven
God's
heart
is
that
all
people
would
embrace
their
redeemer
Jesus
that
is
why
Christ
was
born
into
the
world
to
live
perfectly
to
die
unfairly
to
hang
on
that
cross
to
take
upon
himself
the
suffering
of
the
world
why
!
because
he
loves
you
because
of
his
great
love
for
you
because
of
illogical
irrational
crazy
love
for
you
and
we
watermark
I don't
want to
keep
picking
this
up
I'm
not
gonna
drink
it
and
we
watermark
have
the
great
honor
and
privilege
of
continuing
the
genealogy
of
Jesus
it
doesn't
end
in
Matthew
it
continued
in
Acts
Paul
the
early
church
they
were
sons
and
daughters
of
Jesus
faithfully
bringing
the
gospel
to
a
lost
world
and
today
here
at
watermark
if
you
are
a
follower
of
Christ
you
are
a
son
or
daughter
of
Jesus
your
name
is
written
into
his
genealogy
everyone
all the
followers
of
Christ
since
his
ascension
into
heaven
our
names
are
written
into
Christ
genealogy
the
names
the
number
is
more
than
the
stars
in
the
sky
and
the
sand
on
the
seashore
and
like
Ruth
and
Naomi
whose
heart's
desire
was
to
have
a
son
to
carry
on
the
family
line
we
too
are
called
to
be
faithful
with
the
gospel
and
to
birth
spiritual
children
into
God's
family
to
continue
our
redeemer
family
line
and
so
as
we
consider
once
again
the
wonder
of
redemption
as
we
once
again
embrace
our
redeemer
Jesus
Christ
may
we
be
faithful
people
of
God
who
cling
to
Jesus
through
the
ups
and
downs
through
the
tragedies
and
the
victories
showing
kindness
and
care
to
all
and
this
year
at
Watermark
and
beyond
may
we
be
a
church
that
steps
out
into
the
unknown
into
the
uncomfortable
into
the
risky
to
share
the
great
news
of
our
great
redeemer
Jesus
Christ
to
respond
to
the
clarion
call
to
work
alongside
our
Lord
in
soul
winning
so
that
all
can
experience
our
great
redeemer
Jesus
Christ
let's
pray
Father
thank you
for your
word
thank you
for your
word
which is
inspired by
your
spirit
which is
rich
and
powerful
and
transformed
and
changes
thank you
for the
message
today
and
for
the
message
of
Ruth
Lord
of
our
great
redeemer
Christ
thank you
for his
great
love
for
us
while
we're
still
sinners
Christ
died
for
us
thank
you
for
showing
us
crazy
illogical
irrational
love
we don't
deserve
it
it's
all
your
grace
your
kindness
your
lavish
kindness
your
goodness
to
us
you
sustain
us
it's
all
your
grace
and
on
that
cross
when
you
suffered
and
gave
your
life
we
didn't
deserve
it
so
today
God
may
our
hearts
rejoice
may
our
hearts
sing
because
of
the
redemption
that
we
received
at
great
cost
to
yourself
and
help
us
to
be
people
that
respond
to
your
great
kindness
and
grace
to
us
help
us
to
be
people
who
are
faithful
in
good
and
bad
times
in
the
great
when
days
are
great
the
sun
is
shining
but
when
the
weather
is
stormy
and
we
face
tragedy
help
us
to
be
faithful
as
well
and
may
we
be
people
that
bring
redemption
that
bring
the
gospel
the
news
of
redemption
to
the
world
and
give
this
to
you
in
Jesus
name
we
pray
amen