WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:04.459 A reading this evening is taken from the Old Testament. 00:00:04.679 --> 00:00:07.419 We're in the book of Ruth, Ruth chapter 4. 00:00:07.520 --> 00:00:09.120 ! We're going to read the whole of that chapter. 00:00:09.900 --> 00:00:14.220 I think on the larger pew Bibles, it's page 224. 00:00:14.339 --> 00:00:18.420 Someone pointed out to me some of the new Bibles we have. 00:00:18.480 --> 00:00:22.940 It's not page 224, but I'm sure you'll be able to find it. 00:00:22.940 --> 00:00:23.859 Well, hopefully. 00:00:24.620 --> 00:00:26.719 Ruth chapter 4, reading from verse 1, 00:00:27.100 --> 00:00:29.679 and we read to the end of the chapter at verse 22. 00:00:30.739 --> 00:00:34.179 Let's hear and read together in God's Word. 00:00:36.460 --> 00:00:40.960 Now, Boaz had gone up to the gate and sat down there. 00:00:41.659 --> 00:00:46.620 And behold, the Redeemer, of whom Boaz had spoken, came by. 00:00:47.219 --> 00:00:50.859 So Boaz said, Turn aside, friend. Sit down here. 00:00:51.200 --> 00:00:53.359 And he turned aside and sat down. 00:00:54.079 --> 00:00:56.879 And he took ten men of the elders of the city and said, 00:00:56.879 --> 00:00:59.560 Sit down here. So they sat down. 00:01:00.000 --> 00:01:01.799 Then he said to the Redeemer, 00:01:02.460 --> 00:01:05.859 Naomi, who has come back from the country of Moab, 00:01:06.140 --> 00:01:10.239 is selling the parcel of land that belonged to our relative, Elimelech. 00:01:10.960 --> 00:01:13.280 So I thought I would tell you of it and say, 00:01:13.620 --> 00:01:16.280 Buy it in the presence of those sitting here 00:01:16.280 --> 00:01:18.900 and in the presence of the elders of my people. 00:01:19.599 --> 00:01:22.500 If you will redeem it, redeem it. 00:01:22.500 --> 00:01:25.239 But if you will not, tell me that I may know. 00:01:25.540 --> 00:01:28.019 For there is no one besides you to redeem it, 00:01:28.079 --> 00:01:29.579 and I come after you. 00:01:31.359 --> 00:01:33.700 And he said, I will redeem it. 00:01:34.560 --> 00:01:35.640 Then Boaz said, 00:01:35.960 --> 00:01:39.000 The day you buy the field from the hand of Naomi, 00:01:39.240 --> 00:01:42.000 you also acquire Ruth, the Moabite, 00:01:42.420 --> 00:01:43.460 the widow of the dead, 00:01:43.640 --> 00:01:46.659 in order to perpetuate the name of the dead 00:01:46.659 --> 00:01:47.740 in his inheritance. 00:01:47.739 --> 00:01:50.819 Then the Redeemer said, 00:01:51.459 --> 00:01:53.719 I cannot redeem it for myself, 00:01:53.859 --> 00:01:55.560 lest I impair my own inheritance. 00:01:56.039 --> 00:01:57.739 Take my right of redemption yourself, 00:01:58.659 --> 00:02:00.219 for I cannot redeem it. 00:02:02.000 --> 00:02:05.679 Now this was the custom in former times in Israel 00:02:05.679 --> 00:02:08.120 concerning redeeming and exchanging. 00:02:08.599 --> 00:02:10.000 To confirm a transaction, 00:02:10.740 --> 00:02:12.599 the one drew off his sandal 00:02:12.599 --> 00:02:14.379 and gave it to the other. 00:02:14.379 --> 00:02:17.299 And this was the manner of attesting in Israel. 00:02:18.019 --> 00:02:19.719 So when the Redeemer said to Boaz, 00:02:19.859 --> 00:02:21.219 Buy it for yourself, 00:02:21.419 --> 00:02:23.039 he drew off his sandal. 00:02:24.000 --> 00:02:26.460 Then Boaz said to the elders and all the people, 00:02:27.060 --> 00:02:28.500 You are witnesses this day 00:02:28.500 --> 00:02:30.939 that I have bought from the hand of Naomi 00:02:30.939 --> 00:02:33.099 all that belong to Elimelech 00:02:33.099 --> 00:02:36.139 and all that belong to Kilion and to Malon. 00:02:37.019 --> 00:02:38.639 Also Ruth, the Moabite, 00:02:38.819 --> 00:02:39.780 the widow of Malon, 00:02:39.960 --> 00:02:42.060 I have bought to be my wife, 00:02:42.060 --> 00:02:44.620 to perpetuate the name of the dead 00:02:44.620 --> 00:02:45.740 in his inheritance, 00:02:46.180 --> 00:02:48.640 that the name of the dead may not be cut off 00:02:48.640 --> 00:02:49.979 from among his brothers 00:02:49.979 --> 00:02:52.580 and from the gate of his native place. 00:02:52.840 --> 00:02:55.319 You are witnesses this day. 00:02:56.659 --> 00:02:58.699 Then all the people who were at the gate 00:02:58.699 --> 00:02:59.759 and the elders said, 00:03:00.300 --> 00:03:01.620 We are witnesses. 00:03:02.500 --> 00:03:03.819 May the Lord make the woman 00:03:03.819 --> 00:03:05.900 who is coming into your house, 00:03:06.460 --> 00:03:08.159 like Rachel and Leah, 00:03:08.580 --> 00:03:10.699 who together built up the house of Israel. 00:03:10.699 --> 00:03:13.159 May you act worthily, 00:03:13.659 --> 00:03:15.179 worthily in Ephrathah 00:03:15.179 --> 00:03:17.500 and be renowned in Bethlehem. 00:03:17.859 --> 00:03:20.419 And may your house be like the house of Perez, 00:03:20.719 --> 00:03:22.359 whom Tamar bore to Judah 00:03:22.359 --> 00:03:23.699 because of the offspring 00:03:23.699 --> 00:03:25.039 that the Lord will give you 00:03:25.039 --> 00:03:26.239 by this young woman. 00:03:28.159 --> 00:03:29.419 So Boaz took Ruth 00:03:29.419 --> 00:03:31.500 and she became his wife. 00:03:32.280 --> 00:03:33.620 And he went into her 00:03:33.620 --> 00:03:35.639 and the Lord gave her conception 00:03:35.639 --> 00:03:37.280 and she bore a son. 00:03:37.280 --> 00:03:40.180 Then the woman said to Naomi, 00:03:40.439 --> 00:03:41.979 Blessed be the Lord, 00:03:42.500 --> 00:03:44.159 who has not left you this day 00:03:44.159 --> 00:03:45.120 without a redeemer. 00:03:45.879 --> 00:03:49.099 And may his name be renowned in Israel. 00:03:50.000 --> 00:03:52.979 He shall be to you a restorer of life 00:03:52.979 --> 00:03:55.759 and a nourisher of your old age. 00:03:56.560 --> 00:03:57.819 For your daughter-in-law, 00:03:58.080 --> 00:03:58.879 who loves you, 00:03:59.560 --> 00:04:02.420 who is more to you than seven sons, 00:04:02.960 --> 00:04:04.800 has given birth to him. 00:04:04.800 --> 00:04:07.880 Then Naomi took the child 00:04:07.880 --> 00:04:09.900 and laid him on her lap 00:04:09.900 --> 00:04:11.020 and became his nurse. 00:04:11.880 --> 00:04:13.300 And the women of the neighborhood 00:04:13.300 --> 00:04:14.980 gave him a name saying, 00:04:15.219 --> 00:04:17.220 A son has been born to Naomi. 00:04:17.879 --> 00:04:19.660 They named him Obed. 00:04:20.360 --> 00:04:21.920 He was the father of Jesse, 00:04:22.519 --> 00:04:24.259 the father of David. 00:04:25.259 --> 00:04:28.680 Now these are the generations of Perez. 00:04:29.560 --> 00:04:31.680 Perez fathered Hezron, 00:04:31.680 --> 00:04:34.019 Hezron fathered Ram, 00:04:34.620 --> 00:04:36.459 Ram fathered Aminadab, 00:04:37.000 --> 00:04:38.819 Aminadab fathered Nashon, 00:04:39.459 --> 00:04:40.860 Nashon fathered Salmon, 00:04:41.560 --> 00:04:43.060 Salmon fathered Boaz, 00:04:43.879 --> 00:04:46.120 Boaz fathered Obed, 00:04:46.920 --> 00:04:48.960 Obed fathered Jesse, 00:04:50.160 --> 00:04:52.800 and Jesse fathered David. 00:04:53.259 --> 00:04:56.220 This is the word of God. 00:04:56.220 --> 00:04:59.720 Well, I'm Chris, 00:04:59.940 --> 00:05:02.320 and we are in the last of our short series 00:05:02.320 --> 00:05:04.120 on the book of Ruth. 00:05:04.680 --> 00:05:05.580 And you'll remember, 00:05:06.200 --> 00:05:09.080 we have covered Naomi, 00:05:09.320 --> 00:05:10.260 the story of Naomi, 00:05:10.360 --> 00:05:11.620 where she left the land 00:05:11.620 --> 00:05:13.680 that God had promised to his people 00:05:13.680 --> 00:05:15.340 with her husband and her two sons. 00:05:15.720 --> 00:05:16.860 And they traveled east, 00:05:16.960 --> 00:05:18.180 away from Bethlehem. 00:05:18.620 --> 00:05:21.280 And they traveled into the land of Moab. 00:05:21.580 --> 00:05:22.840 And they were there for 10 years. 00:05:22.839 --> 00:05:23.859 And in that time, 00:05:24.279 --> 00:05:28.239 both Naomi's husband and her sons died. 00:05:28.779 --> 00:05:29.839 And she was left destitute 00:05:30.419 --> 00:05:33.179 in a strange land among a strange people. 00:05:34.079 --> 00:05:36.879 And this becomes then the tension 00:05:36.879 --> 00:05:38.019 for the book of Ruth. 00:05:38.120 --> 00:05:39.039 It's called Ruth. 00:05:39.579 --> 00:05:41.159 But really we're focused on Naomi. 00:05:41.379 --> 00:05:43.859 What's going to happen to Naomi? 00:05:44.359 --> 00:05:46.039 And you remember over the last few weeks, 00:05:46.419 --> 00:05:49.759 despite her loving daughter-in-law, 00:05:50.099 --> 00:05:50.339 Ruth, 00:05:50.479 --> 00:05:51.559 coming back with her, 00:05:51.560 --> 00:05:52.980 leaving everything that she knew, 00:05:53.300 --> 00:05:53.899 her land, 00:05:53.980 --> 00:05:54.439 her people, 00:05:54.579 --> 00:05:55.160 her family, 00:05:55.300 --> 00:05:55.839 her gods, 00:05:56.180 --> 00:05:57.519 to come back with Naomi. 00:05:57.780 --> 00:05:59.899 When Naomi arrived back in Bethlehem, 00:05:59.959 --> 00:06:00.480 she said, 00:06:01.139 --> 00:06:02.839 I'm bitter and I'm empty. 00:06:04.519 --> 00:06:07.300 But as we went through the book, 00:06:07.439 --> 00:06:09.660 we saw that by using Boaz 00:06:09.660 --> 00:06:11.079 and by using Ruth, 00:06:11.620 --> 00:06:15.120 God starts to fill up empty Naomi. 00:06:15.720 --> 00:06:18.600 She first of all receives food. 00:06:18.600 --> 00:06:20.700 There was a famine in Bethlehem. 00:06:20.800 --> 00:06:21.800 That's why we had to leave. 00:06:22.140 --> 00:06:23.620 And she now has grain. 00:06:23.800 --> 00:06:25.860 She's got provision day to day. 00:06:26.360 --> 00:06:27.740 And as we left chapter three, 00:06:27.820 --> 00:06:29.520 we saw that she was moving towards 00:06:29.520 --> 00:06:31.040 another kind of seed, 00:06:31.439 --> 00:06:32.000 an offspring. 00:06:32.660 --> 00:06:33.200 But tonight, 00:06:33.320 --> 00:06:33.960 what we're going to see, 00:06:35.439 --> 00:06:37.540 that while Naomi's emptiness 00:06:37.540 --> 00:06:39.040 is being reversed, 00:06:40.160 --> 00:06:42.980 God will continue to fulfill Naomi 00:06:42.980 --> 00:06:45.080 through Ruth and Boaz. 00:06:45.079 --> 00:06:46.479 But amazingly, 00:06:47.419 --> 00:06:50.159 by blessing this poor widow 00:06:50.159 --> 00:06:51.459 in Bethlehem, 00:06:52.219 --> 00:06:55.539 God is working his plan 00:06:55.539 --> 00:06:57.919 to redeem the whole world. 00:06:59.180 --> 00:07:00.939 We're going to see how God cares 00:07:00.939 --> 00:07:02.759 so deeply for his people 00:07:02.759 --> 00:07:04.740 in spite of their lostness, 00:07:05.000 --> 00:07:05.639 their loneliness, 00:07:06.199 --> 00:07:07.099 their suffering, 00:07:07.639 --> 00:07:08.299 their poverty. 00:07:09.000 --> 00:07:10.979 No matter how rudderless 00:07:10.979 --> 00:07:12.339 your life feels right now, 00:07:12.339 --> 00:07:15.519 no matter how heavy the weight feels 00:07:15.519 --> 00:07:16.739 that you've carried into church 00:07:16.739 --> 00:07:17.339 with you tonight, 00:07:18.159 --> 00:07:19.619 no matter how random 00:07:19.619 --> 00:07:21.359 or inconsequential you feel 00:07:21.359 --> 00:07:22.500 like your life is 00:07:22.500 --> 00:07:24.339 compared to other people around you, 00:07:25.599 --> 00:07:27.019 know that the God of Naomi, 00:07:27.399 --> 00:07:29.099 the God of Boaz and Ruth, 00:07:29.939 --> 00:07:31.639 is the God who takes every strand 00:07:31.639 --> 00:07:33.419 of every story of his people 00:07:33.419 --> 00:07:34.859 and he weaves them 00:07:34.859 --> 00:07:37.239 all together for good. 00:07:38.639 --> 00:07:40.620 Ruth feels like a book. 00:07:40.620 --> 00:07:41.819 When you read it at first, 00:07:41.879 --> 00:07:42.560 it feels like a book 00:07:42.560 --> 00:07:43.560 about ordinary people 00:07:43.560 --> 00:07:45.139 doing ordinary things. 00:07:45.340 --> 00:07:46.720 So we've got a widow 00:07:46.720 --> 00:07:48.459 who kind of travels home 00:07:48.459 --> 00:07:50.620 looking for food and security. 00:07:51.240 --> 00:07:52.459 We've got a young girl 00:07:52.459 --> 00:07:53.660 who moves to a new town 00:07:53.660 --> 00:07:55.340 and meets this older guy. 00:07:56.360 --> 00:07:57.220 We've got love 00:07:57.220 --> 00:07:58.139 and we've got marriage. 00:07:59.500 --> 00:08:00.480 But when you slow down 00:08:00.480 --> 00:08:01.620 and when we consider 00:08:01.620 --> 00:08:05.660 that God's hand is at work 00:08:05.660 --> 00:08:07.079 in every turn, 00:08:07.240 --> 00:08:07.620 every moment, 00:08:07.620 --> 00:08:09.899 every step of this journey, 00:08:10.600 --> 00:08:12.319 we realize that Ruth 00:08:12.319 --> 00:08:14.360 is actually the extraordinary story 00:08:14.360 --> 00:08:16.459 of God at work in the ordinary. 00:08:17.600 --> 00:08:19.199 So we've got three sections tonight 00:08:19.199 --> 00:08:20.879 in our quite long chapter 00:08:20.879 --> 00:08:22.180 that we're going to work through together. 00:08:23.060 --> 00:08:24.860 All which might seem ordinary 00:08:24.860 --> 00:08:26.000 at first glance, 00:08:26.399 --> 00:08:27.840 but when we look at them carefully, 00:08:27.840 --> 00:08:30.500 we see that they're all anything but. 00:08:31.000 --> 00:08:32.960 So three parts 00:08:32.960 --> 00:08:33.980 and the first part 00:08:33.980 --> 00:08:36.580 is no ordinary land deal. 00:08:37.440 --> 00:08:38.740 So the end of chapter three, 00:08:38.800 --> 00:08:40.019 where we left off last week, 00:08:40.120 --> 00:08:41.860 we were left on a bit of a cliffhanger. 00:08:42.840 --> 00:08:45.639 Now Ruth had gone into the threshing floor 00:08:45.639 --> 00:08:46.900 and she'd met with Boaz 00:08:46.900 --> 00:08:48.019 and she had, 00:08:48.340 --> 00:08:49.900 in a very unorthodox manner, 00:08:50.360 --> 00:08:51.379 proposed to him. 00:08:51.820 --> 00:08:52.860 And Boaz has said, 00:08:52.960 --> 00:08:54.660 yes, I'll marry you. 00:08:55.320 --> 00:08:56.560 I'll be your redeemer. 00:08:57.100 --> 00:08:58.360 The Hebrew word goel. 00:08:58.519 --> 00:08:59.740 I'll be your kinsman redeemer. 00:08:59.879 --> 00:09:00.519 I'll be the one 00:09:00.519 --> 00:09:01.759 who will look after you 00:09:01.759 --> 00:09:02.720 and not just you, 00:09:03.100 --> 00:09:04.340 but also your mother-in-law, 00:09:04.559 --> 00:09:05.799 Naomi, as well. 00:09:06.200 --> 00:09:06.460 But. 00:09:07.639 --> 00:09:08.460 And these are the words 00:09:08.460 --> 00:09:11.039 that no one ever wants to hear. 00:09:11.439 --> 00:09:12.500 There's someone else. 00:09:13.120 --> 00:09:14.399 There's a closer relative 00:09:14.399 --> 00:09:16.759 and he has the legal right 00:09:16.759 --> 00:09:18.580 to redeem Naomi's land 00:09:18.580 --> 00:09:19.379 before I do. 00:09:21.019 --> 00:09:23.620 It's not a romantic scene 00:09:23.620 --> 00:09:24.460 in that sense, 00:09:24.779 --> 00:09:27.139 but it's a custom of the time. 00:09:28.039 --> 00:09:29.439 Leviticus 25 tells us 00:09:29.439 --> 00:09:31.299 about this situation 00:09:31.299 --> 00:09:33.059 there's a, 00:09:33.459 --> 00:09:35.639 it speaks about a kinsman redeemer, 00:09:35.839 --> 00:09:37.799 a goel in Hebrew. 00:09:38.219 --> 00:09:39.059 And if an Israelite 00:09:39.059 --> 00:09:40.459 becomes so destitute 00:09:40.459 --> 00:09:42.039 that they have to sell their land 00:09:42.039 --> 00:09:43.500 or they have to sell themselves 00:09:43.500 --> 00:09:44.599 into slavery 00:09:44.599 --> 00:09:45.819 to work off their debt, 00:09:46.679 --> 00:09:48.539 it falls on a close relative 00:09:48.539 --> 00:09:49.539 to, 00:09:49.740 --> 00:09:50.500 they're obligated 00:09:50.500 --> 00:09:51.979 to pay to redeem them 00:09:51.979 --> 00:09:52.939 if they can. 00:09:53.579 --> 00:09:55.059 So this is what's happening here. 00:09:55.699 --> 00:09:57.099 And at the end of chapter three, 00:09:57.159 --> 00:09:58.159 Naomi says to Ruth, 00:09:58.639 --> 00:09:59.059 listen, 00:09:59.199 --> 00:10:00.419 Boaz will do exactly 00:10:00.419 --> 00:10:01.939 what he says he will do. 00:10:02.159 --> 00:10:02.679 This is a guy 00:10:02.679 --> 00:10:03.699 who gets things done. 00:10:03.959 --> 00:10:04.500 He's going to do it 00:10:04.500 --> 00:10:05.360 the same day, 00:10:05.519 --> 00:10:05.959 in fact, 00:10:06.159 --> 00:10:06.860 is what she said. 00:10:07.959 --> 00:10:09.600 And so when we join chapter four, 00:10:09.740 --> 00:10:11.059 the first verses of chapter four, 00:10:11.279 --> 00:10:12.299 this is the same day 00:10:12.299 --> 00:10:13.620 and Boaz has gone 00:10:13.620 --> 00:10:14.679 to the city gate. 00:10:16.219 --> 00:10:17.219 And the city gate 00:10:17.219 --> 00:10:17.919 is the place 00:10:17.919 --> 00:10:19.779 where everyone would pass by. 00:10:20.219 --> 00:10:21.059 Everyone would be traveling 00:10:21.059 --> 00:10:22.259 in and out this one gate. 00:10:22.500 --> 00:10:23.480 And so it became the place 00:10:23.480 --> 00:10:25.139 where meetings took place 00:10:25.139 --> 00:10:25.759 and decisions 00:10:25.759 --> 00:10:26.940 for the community 00:10:26.940 --> 00:10:28.019 were made. 00:10:28.899 --> 00:10:29.700 And Boaz is looking 00:10:29.700 --> 00:10:30.379 for someone. 00:10:30.500 --> 00:10:31.200 He's looking for this 00:10:31.200 --> 00:10:32.580 closer relative. 00:10:33.820 --> 00:10:34.899 And wouldn't you know it, 00:10:35.019 --> 00:10:35.720 he just happens 00:10:35.720 --> 00:10:36.899 to walk by. 00:10:37.659 --> 00:10:38.340 In our Bibles, 00:10:38.480 --> 00:10:39.240 it says that Boaz 00:10:39.240 --> 00:10:40.139 calls him friend. 00:10:40.259 --> 00:10:40.560 He says, 00:10:40.860 --> 00:10:41.300 hey friend, 00:10:41.379 --> 00:10:42.200 but that's not really 00:10:42.200 --> 00:10:43.440 what he calls him 00:10:43.440 --> 00:10:44.180 at all. 00:10:44.720 --> 00:10:45.779 The Hebrew is 00:10:45.779 --> 00:10:47.080 peloni almoni, 00:10:47.220 --> 00:10:48.100 which I think sounds funny 00:10:48.100 --> 00:10:49.320 in my Inverness accent, 00:10:49.620 --> 00:10:51.940 which means something 00:10:51.940 --> 00:10:53.340 like someone, someone. 00:10:54.360 --> 00:10:55.220 Maybe we should read it 00:10:55.220 --> 00:10:56.920 as so-and-so 00:10:56.920 --> 00:10:58.260 or such-and-such. 00:10:58.700 --> 00:10:59.300 In our house, 00:10:59.340 --> 00:11:00.140 we used to read 00:11:00.140 --> 00:11:02.660 the Enid Blyton book series, 00:11:02.740 --> 00:11:03.540 The Far Away Tree. 00:11:03.720 --> 00:11:04.460 And there's a character 00:11:04.460 --> 00:11:05.020 in that called 00:11:05.020 --> 00:11:05.880 Mr. What's-His-Name. 00:11:06.280 --> 00:11:07.120 So in my mind, 00:11:07.260 --> 00:11:08.540 Boaz is saying, 00:11:09.020 --> 00:11:09.720 what's your name? 00:11:10.200 --> 00:11:10.640 Come here, 00:11:11.240 --> 00:11:11.780 sit down. 00:11:12.440 --> 00:11:13.340 I need to talk to you 00:11:13.340 --> 00:11:13.880 about something. 00:11:14.880 --> 00:11:15.500 And he does. 00:11:16.420 --> 00:11:17.660 And Boaz also calls 00:11:17.660 --> 00:11:18.780 10 of the elders 00:11:18.780 --> 00:11:19.680 of the city together. 00:11:20.500 --> 00:11:21.860 And he makes them sit down. 00:11:21.940 --> 00:11:22.960 He asks them to sit down, 00:11:23.100 --> 00:11:23.860 giving us a glimpse, 00:11:23.940 --> 00:11:24.240 I think, 00:11:24.279 --> 00:11:25.620 of Boaz's stature 00:11:25.620 --> 00:11:26.360 in the community. 00:11:26.480 --> 00:11:27.039 People listen 00:11:27.039 --> 00:11:28.379 when Boaz speaks. 00:11:30.440 --> 00:11:31.300 And Boaz 00:11:31.300 --> 00:11:33.720 is bringing these guys together. 00:11:33.800 --> 00:11:34.379 But what's he really doing? 00:11:34.419 --> 00:11:35.600 What's Boaz doing here? 00:11:35.779 --> 00:11:36.399 So he's kind of, 00:11:36.519 --> 00:11:37.300 he's called 00:11:37.300 --> 00:11:38.340 a defendant 00:11:38.340 --> 00:11:40.139 and then he's got himself 00:11:40.139 --> 00:11:41.240 a panel of witnesses. 00:11:41.240 --> 00:11:42.100 He's creating 00:11:42.100 --> 00:11:43.180 a court case 00:11:43.180 --> 00:11:44.480 for us to follow. 00:11:46.879 --> 00:11:47.740 Leviticus tells us 00:11:47.740 --> 00:11:48.960 that there was strict laws 00:11:48.960 --> 00:11:50.379 about land ownership 00:11:50.379 --> 00:11:51.240 because the land 00:11:51.240 --> 00:11:52.679 ultimately belongs 00:11:52.679 --> 00:11:53.860 to God. 00:11:54.659 --> 00:11:55.559 And Boaz says 00:11:55.559 --> 00:11:56.659 to what's his name, 00:11:56.919 --> 00:11:58.080 you have got first right 00:11:58.080 --> 00:11:59.179 to buy this. 00:11:59.779 --> 00:12:00.379 The land's yours 00:12:00.379 --> 00:12:01.139 if you want it. 00:12:01.340 --> 00:12:02.379 But if you don't want it, 00:12:02.460 --> 00:12:02.939 let me know 00:12:02.939 --> 00:12:04.360 and I'll redeem it. 00:12:05.639 --> 00:12:06.379 And of course, 00:12:06.419 --> 00:12:07.080 the man jumps 00:12:07.080 --> 00:12:07.600 at the chance 00:12:07.600 --> 00:12:08.340 to have more land. 00:12:08.460 --> 00:12:08.820 He says, 00:12:08.899 --> 00:12:09.639 yes, absolutely. 00:12:09.720 --> 00:12:10.539 I'll redeem the land. 00:12:10.679 --> 00:12:11.179 That's fine. 00:12:11.220 --> 00:12:11.939 No problem at all. 00:12:12.919 --> 00:12:14.000 He thinks to himself, 00:12:14.220 --> 00:12:15.279 I would imagine, 00:12:15.620 --> 00:12:15.779 well, 00:12:15.820 --> 00:12:16.639 I'll redeem the land. 00:12:16.639 --> 00:12:17.620 I'll have to pay for that. 00:12:17.740 --> 00:12:18.860 But when I redeem the land, 00:12:19.659 --> 00:12:21.919 I'll get Naomi as well. 00:12:22.580 --> 00:12:23.879 But once I've cared 00:12:23.879 --> 00:12:24.379 for Naomi 00:12:24.379 --> 00:12:25.439 and once Naomi dies, 00:12:25.919 --> 00:12:26.480 the land's going 00:12:26.480 --> 00:12:27.679 to become my inheritance. 00:12:27.919 --> 00:12:28.360 The land's going 00:12:28.360 --> 00:12:30.220 to benefit my family. 00:12:30.799 --> 00:12:31.620 My sons are going 00:12:31.620 --> 00:12:32.319 to get this land. 00:12:34.019 --> 00:12:34.620 I don't know 00:12:34.620 --> 00:12:35.120 if you've ever 00:12:35.120 --> 00:12:37.340 bought a new build house. 00:12:37.620 --> 00:12:38.439 Maybe sometimes 00:12:38.439 --> 00:12:39.919 you go and look 00:12:39.919 --> 00:12:40.439 at the show home 00:12:40.439 --> 00:12:40.799 and they say, 00:12:40.879 --> 00:12:41.299 and by the way, 00:12:41.340 --> 00:12:42.039 we'll throw in 00:12:42.039 --> 00:12:43.319 free flooring 00:12:43.320 --> 00:12:44.200 or we'll give you 00:12:44.200 --> 00:12:45.879 turf for your garden 00:12:45.879 --> 00:12:47.379 too as a little bonus. 00:12:47.900 --> 00:12:48.060 Well, 00:12:48.180 --> 00:12:49.420 Boaz hits Mr. 00:12:49.480 --> 00:12:50.020 What's His Name 00:12:50.020 --> 00:12:50.580 not so much 00:12:50.580 --> 00:12:51.220 with a bonus 00:12:51.220 --> 00:12:52.720 but with a catch. 00:12:52.960 --> 00:12:53.580 And he says, 00:12:53.740 --> 00:12:55.080 if you buy the field, 00:12:55.360 --> 00:12:56.700 you get Ruth as well. 00:12:58.379 --> 00:12:58.540 Now, 00:12:58.560 --> 00:12:59.840 this is a reference 00:12:59.840 --> 00:13:01.980 to leverage marriage, 00:13:02.420 --> 00:13:03.300 another provision 00:13:03.300 --> 00:13:04.280 that God has built 00:13:04.280 --> 00:13:06.460 in to Israelite society 00:13:06.460 --> 00:13:07.660 to protect land 00:13:07.660 --> 00:13:09.380 and to protect people. 00:13:10.080 --> 00:13:11.900 In Deuteronomy chapter 25, 00:13:12.000 --> 00:13:12.300 it says, 00:13:12.299 --> 00:13:13.500 if a man dies 00:13:13.500 --> 00:13:14.919 without any children, 00:13:15.539 --> 00:13:16.779 his brother 00:13:16.779 --> 00:13:19.240 is to marry his widow 00:13:19.240 --> 00:13:21.000 and the firstborn child 00:13:21.000 --> 00:13:21.839 will be raised 00:13:21.839 --> 00:13:23.339 as if it is the son 00:13:23.339 --> 00:13:25.679 of the man who's died. 00:13:26.039 --> 00:13:26.639 And that's a way 00:13:26.639 --> 00:13:28.019 of preserving the name, 00:13:28.439 --> 00:13:29.439 preserving the land 00:13:29.439 --> 00:13:30.500 through family lines. 00:13:31.899 --> 00:13:32.399 When Mr. 00:13:32.439 --> 00:13:32.919 What's His Name 00:13:32.919 --> 00:13:34.639 hears about Ruth, 00:13:35.219 --> 00:13:36.459 he loses his appetite 00:13:36.459 --> 00:13:38.179 for the deal completely. 00:13:39.339 --> 00:13:40.240 It's true that Ruth 00:13:40.240 --> 00:13:41.039 was a Moabite. 00:13:41.279 --> 00:13:42.199 She's an outsider. 00:13:42.299 --> 00:13:43.519 And she's from a land 00:13:43.519 --> 00:13:45.199 that are Israel's enemies. 00:13:46.259 --> 00:13:47.199 And Boaz kind of 00:13:47.199 --> 00:13:47.819 makes that clear. 00:13:47.899 --> 00:13:48.179 He says, 00:13:48.240 --> 00:13:49.079 Ruth the Moabite. 00:13:50.139 --> 00:13:50.979 But it seems like 00:13:50.979 --> 00:13:52.259 the man's more concerned 00:13:52.259 --> 00:13:54.439 about paying for something 00:13:54.439 --> 00:13:55.679 that he's not going 00:13:55.679 --> 00:13:56.819 to fully benefit from. 00:13:58.479 --> 00:13:59.539 Perhaps he thought that, 00:14:00.079 --> 00:14:00.179 well, 00:14:00.240 --> 00:14:01.479 Naomi will come with the land, 00:14:01.539 --> 00:14:02.399 but she's an old lady. 00:14:02.620 --> 00:14:03.219 She's not going to have 00:14:03.219 --> 00:14:03.919 another son. 00:14:04.459 --> 00:14:05.159 The land's eventually 00:14:05.159 --> 00:14:05.839 going to be mine. 00:14:06.620 --> 00:14:07.359 But Ruth, 00:14:07.519 --> 00:14:07.620 well, 00:14:07.679 --> 00:14:08.299 she's young. 00:14:08.959 --> 00:14:09.879 She might have a child 00:14:09.879 --> 00:14:10.700 and then the land 00:14:10.700 --> 00:14:12.620 will go to that man, 00:14:13.240 --> 00:14:14.139 not to me, 00:14:14.299 --> 00:14:15.159 not to my offspring. 00:14:16.659 --> 00:14:17.120 There's something 00:14:17.120 --> 00:14:18.100 at stake for me here. 00:14:19.439 --> 00:14:20.399 And what we see 00:14:20.399 --> 00:14:20.860 with Mr. 00:14:20.919 --> 00:14:21.480 What's His Name 00:14:21.480 --> 00:14:23.279 is a complete contrast 00:14:23.279 --> 00:14:25.159 to what we see 00:14:25.159 --> 00:14:25.939 from Boaz. 00:14:28.460 --> 00:14:28.860 Mr. 00:14:28.939 --> 00:14:29.399 What's His Name, 00:14:29.439 --> 00:14:30.100 the other redeemer, 00:14:30.220 --> 00:14:31.519 he's got the money 00:14:31.519 --> 00:14:32.100 to redeem 00:14:32.100 --> 00:14:34.960 Naomi and Ruth. 00:14:34.960 --> 00:14:35.700 He's already said 00:14:35.700 --> 00:14:36.519 that he would purchase 00:14:36.519 --> 00:14:37.060 the land. 00:14:38.480 --> 00:14:40.120 But he's not wanting 00:14:40.120 --> 00:14:40.820 to fulfill 00:14:40.820 --> 00:14:43.200 the duty 00:14:43.200 --> 00:14:44.920 of a kinsman redeemer. 00:14:45.040 --> 00:14:45.500 He doesn't want 00:14:45.500 --> 00:14:46.540 to give a son 00:14:46.540 --> 00:14:47.519 who is then going 00:14:47.519 --> 00:14:48.600 to take that inheritance 00:14:48.600 --> 00:14:49.700 away from him. 00:14:51.120 --> 00:14:52.379 Ruth would be 00:14:52.379 --> 00:14:53.460 the heir of her husband. 00:14:53.580 --> 00:14:54.240 Ruth's son would be 00:14:54.240 --> 00:14:55.320 the heir of her husband. 00:14:56.680 --> 00:14:57.780 And Mr. 00:14:57.840 --> 00:14:58.320 What's His Name 00:14:58.320 --> 00:14:59.040 is happy to help 00:14:59.040 --> 00:14:59.519 to a point. 00:14:59.639 --> 00:15:00.440 He's happy to help 00:15:00.440 --> 00:15:01.840 right up until the point 00:15:01.840 --> 00:15:02.320 where it's going 00:15:02.320 --> 00:15:03.240 to cost him something. 00:15:03.240 --> 00:15:05.720 Just a few verses 00:15:05.720 --> 00:15:07.279 down in the story, 00:15:07.360 --> 00:15:08.000 we see reference 00:15:08.000 --> 00:15:09.759 to Judah and Tamar. 00:15:10.100 --> 00:15:11.720 And this is another episode 00:15:11.720 --> 00:15:13.100 that happened previously 00:15:13.100 --> 00:15:15.000 involving Leveret marriage 00:15:15.000 --> 00:15:16.320 or what was supposed 00:15:16.320 --> 00:15:17.379 to be Leveret marriage. 00:15:17.720 --> 00:15:18.659 But it's one of the most 00:15:18.659 --> 00:15:19.700 scandalous 00:15:19.700 --> 00:15:21.399 and cruel episodes 00:15:21.399 --> 00:15:22.659 in the whole 00:15:22.659 --> 00:15:23.480 of the Old Testament. 00:15:24.419 --> 00:15:25.779 And both these episodes, 00:15:25.980 --> 00:15:26.180 Mr. 00:15:26.240 --> 00:15:26.940 What's His Name 00:15:26.940 --> 00:15:28.600 and Judah 00:15:28.600 --> 00:15:29.440 and Tamar, 00:15:29.799 --> 00:15:31.159 they make Boaz's 00:15:31.159 --> 00:15:32.200 sacrificial, 00:15:32.779 --> 00:15:33.220 redeemer, 00:15:33.240 --> 00:15:33.860 redeemership, 00:15:34.279 --> 00:15:35.320 shine even brighter 00:15:35.320 --> 00:15:36.460 in the darkness. 00:15:37.680 --> 00:15:38.580 Boaz willingly 00:15:38.580 --> 00:15:40.139 bore the cost 00:15:40.139 --> 00:15:40.980 of redeeming 00:15:40.980 --> 00:15:42.799 Naomi and Ruth. 00:15:43.639 --> 00:15:44.220 He was happy 00:15:44.220 --> 00:15:44.879 to sacrifice 00:15:44.879 --> 00:15:45.720 his own position. 00:15:47.379 --> 00:15:48.700 Boaz doesn't act 00:15:48.700 --> 00:15:49.440 out of ambition 00:15:49.440 --> 00:15:50.480 in any way, 00:15:51.240 --> 00:15:52.019 but out of 00:15:52.019 --> 00:15:53.120 chesed love, 00:15:53.259 --> 00:15:54.440 that faithful, 00:15:54.860 --> 00:15:55.779 steadfast love 00:15:55.779 --> 00:15:56.360 that we've spoken 00:15:56.360 --> 00:15:56.799 about throughout 00:15:56.799 --> 00:15:57.360 the series 00:15:57.360 --> 00:15:59.259 that people show 00:15:59.259 --> 00:16:00.000 towards one another 00:16:00.000 --> 00:16:00.700 in this book, 00:16:00.700 --> 00:16:03.140 often called kindness 00:16:03.140 --> 00:16:04.060 in the ESV 00:16:04.060 --> 00:16:05.920 and which God shows 00:16:05.920 --> 00:16:06.840 towards His people. 00:16:08.440 --> 00:16:09.400 In the book of Ruth, 00:16:09.480 --> 00:16:10.060 we've mentioned this 00:16:10.060 --> 00:16:10.620 before as well, 00:16:10.700 --> 00:16:11.360 people's names 00:16:11.360 --> 00:16:12.040 are significant. 00:16:13.040 --> 00:16:13.740 I think it's 00:16:13.740 --> 00:16:14.759 therefore significant 00:16:14.759 --> 00:16:15.759 that Mr. 00:16:15.860 --> 00:16:16.360 So-and-so, 00:16:16.480 --> 00:16:16.720 Mr. 00:16:16.720 --> 00:16:17.820 What's His Name 00:16:17.820 --> 00:16:19.900 isn't given a name. 00:16:21.060 --> 00:16:22.100 His self-serving 00:16:22.100 --> 00:16:23.440 behavior means 00:16:23.440 --> 00:16:24.180 he's not going 00:16:24.179 --> 00:16:24.859 to be remembered 00:16:24.859 --> 00:16:27.899 as opposed to Boaz 00:16:27.899 --> 00:16:30.159 because his name 00:16:30.159 --> 00:16:31.199 is going to be remembered 00:16:31.199 --> 00:16:32.379 as part of the most 00:16:32.379 --> 00:16:33.079 important family 00:16:33.079 --> 00:16:33.879 that there's ever been. 00:16:35.379 --> 00:16:36.120 But as well 00:16:36.120 --> 00:16:37.639 as not leaving a name, 00:16:38.439 --> 00:16:38.699 Mr. 00:16:38.759 --> 00:16:39.259 What's His Name, 00:16:39.319 --> 00:16:39.559 I think, 00:16:39.679 --> 00:16:40.539 stands as a warning 00:16:40.539 --> 00:16:41.379 to us. 00:16:42.620 --> 00:16:43.399 He clings 00:16:43.399 --> 00:16:44.539 to what he has, 00:16:44.579 --> 00:16:45.779 his material possessions. 00:16:46.879 --> 00:16:47.879 They're more important 00:16:47.879 --> 00:16:48.359 to him 00:16:48.359 --> 00:16:49.740 than serving other people, 00:16:50.319 --> 00:16:50.779 than caring 00:16:50.779 --> 00:16:51.859 for the poor, 00:16:51.860 --> 00:16:53.240 or the afflicted, 00:16:53.560 --> 00:16:54.300 the dying cast, 00:16:54.360 --> 00:16:55.180 even though these people 00:16:55.180 --> 00:16:55.620 are members 00:16:55.620 --> 00:16:56.419 of his own family. 00:16:58.600 --> 00:16:59.460 What's your version, 00:16:59.720 --> 00:17:00.100 I wonder, 00:17:00.800 --> 00:17:01.620 of the Kingsman 00:17:01.620 --> 00:17:02.639 Redeemer's refusal 00:17:02.639 --> 00:17:03.659 tonight? 00:17:05.420 --> 00:17:06.240 Where are you willing 00:17:06.240 --> 00:17:07.039 to show generosity 00:17:07.039 --> 00:17:08.059 up to a point? 00:17:09.160 --> 00:17:09.960 Show generosity 00:17:09.960 --> 00:17:10.819 right up until 00:17:10.819 --> 00:17:11.799 it costs you 00:17:11.799 --> 00:17:12.559 something. 00:17:14.220 --> 00:17:14.700 Are you willing 00:17:14.700 --> 00:17:15.360 to care 00:17:15.360 --> 00:17:16.700 and serve 00:17:16.700 --> 00:17:18.099 and even love 00:17:18.099 --> 00:17:18.920 other people 00:17:18.920 --> 00:17:20.599 as long as it 00:17:20.599 --> 00:17:21.440 doesn't impinge 00:17:21.440 --> 00:17:22.799 on your own comfort 00:17:22.799 --> 00:17:24.860 or your time 00:17:24.860 --> 00:17:26.180 or your convenience? 00:17:28.200 --> 00:17:29.380 Or like Boaz, 00:17:29.480 --> 00:17:30.180 do you go looking 00:17:30.180 --> 00:17:30.779 for ways 00:17:30.779 --> 00:17:31.880 to bless other people 00:17:31.880 --> 00:17:33.600 even when you 00:17:33.600 --> 00:17:34.380 already know 00:17:34.380 --> 00:17:35.860 it's going to cost you? 00:17:37.200 --> 00:17:38.400 Because the gospel, 00:17:39.059 --> 00:17:39.600 the good news 00:17:39.600 --> 00:17:40.539 that Jesus came 00:17:40.539 --> 00:17:41.900 is the announcement 00:17:41.900 --> 00:17:43.400 that in Jesus 00:17:43.400 --> 00:17:44.980 someone's stepped 00:17:44.980 --> 00:17:46.140 forward for you 00:17:46.140 --> 00:17:47.860 when nobody else 00:17:47.860 --> 00:17:49.039 could or would. 00:17:49.039 --> 00:17:52.299 Boaz's commitment 00:17:52.299 --> 00:17:53.180 is a picture 00:17:53.180 --> 00:17:54.319 of Jesus' 00:17:54.539 --> 00:17:54.799 commitment 00:17:54.799 --> 00:17:55.779 to his own people. 00:17:58.079 --> 00:17:58.659 So Mr. 00:17:58.700 --> 00:17:59.119 What's-His-Name, 00:17:59.180 --> 00:18:00.240 he takes off his sandal, 00:18:00.319 --> 00:18:01.099 which is the custom, 00:18:01.899 --> 00:18:03.000 and he says to Boaz, 00:18:03.319 --> 00:18:04.460 the land and the Moabite, 00:18:04.559 --> 00:18:05.299 they're all yours, 00:18:05.359 --> 00:18:05.940 you can have them. 00:18:06.779 --> 00:18:07.460 And Boaz calls 00:18:07.460 --> 00:18:08.039 the elders 00:18:08.039 --> 00:18:09.519 and all the people 00:18:09.519 --> 00:18:09.859 who are there 00:18:09.859 --> 00:18:10.200 and he says, 00:18:10.240 --> 00:18:10.859 you're my witnesses. 00:18:10.859 --> 00:18:13.539 And not just of the deal, 00:18:14.459 --> 00:18:15.199 not just that this 00:18:15.199 --> 00:18:15.799 is an agreement, 00:18:16.319 --> 00:18:17.879 but also to the purpose 00:18:17.879 --> 00:18:18.839 of the agreement. 00:18:19.500 --> 00:18:20.159 He says, 00:18:20.740 --> 00:18:21.839 to redeem the land 00:18:21.839 --> 00:18:22.699 and to continue 00:18:22.699 --> 00:18:23.899 the name of the men 00:18:23.899 --> 00:18:25.139 who had died. 00:18:27.119 --> 00:18:27.979 And then the witnesses 00:18:27.979 --> 00:18:28.839 pray a blessing 00:18:28.839 --> 00:18:29.519 on the now 00:18:29.519 --> 00:18:32.379 formally engaged 00:18:32.379 --> 00:18:33.099 couple, 00:18:33.719 --> 00:18:35.000 Ruth and Boaz. 00:18:35.599 --> 00:18:36.199 They say, 00:18:36.199 --> 00:18:36.799 may the Lord 00:18:36.799 --> 00:18:37.359 make the woman 00:18:37.359 --> 00:18:38.719 come into your house 00:18:38.720 --> 00:18:40.319 like Rachel and Leah. 00:18:41.380 --> 00:18:42.059 And we see 00:18:42.059 --> 00:18:43.039 two things here, 00:18:43.160 --> 00:18:43.660 I think, 00:18:43.779 --> 00:18:44.819 with Rachel and Leah. 00:18:45.420 --> 00:18:47.000 So Ruth the Moabite 00:18:47.000 --> 00:18:48.440 is coming into 00:18:48.440 --> 00:18:49.440 Boaz's house. 00:18:49.559 --> 00:18:50.620 This is an outsider, 00:18:51.240 --> 00:18:51.740 somebody from 00:18:51.740 --> 00:18:52.740 a strange land, 00:18:53.200 --> 00:18:53.940 but who's shown 00:18:53.940 --> 00:18:55.579 faithfulness to Israel's God, 00:18:56.299 --> 00:18:57.259 the true God. 00:18:57.759 --> 00:18:58.680 And now she's becoming 00:18:58.680 --> 00:18:59.259 a member 00:18:59.259 --> 00:19:00.920 of the covenant family. 00:19:01.200 --> 00:19:01.819 She's entering 00:19:01.819 --> 00:19:02.900 Boaz's household. 00:19:02.900 --> 00:19:03.940 But secondly, 00:19:05.160 --> 00:19:05.680 the people pray 00:19:05.680 --> 00:19:06.839 that she'd be blessed 00:19:06.839 --> 00:19:07.779 like Rachel 00:19:07.779 --> 00:19:09.000 and Leah 00:19:09.000 --> 00:19:09.920 because these 00:19:09.920 --> 00:19:10.539 are the women 00:19:10.539 --> 00:19:11.339 who are responsible 00:19:11.339 --> 00:19:14.019 for giving Jacob 00:19:14.019 --> 00:19:16.200 his 12 sons. 00:19:16.460 --> 00:19:16.720 Jacob, 00:19:16.899 --> 00:19:17.639 who was later 00:19:17.639 --> 00:19:18.379 called Israel, 00:19:18.899 --> 00:19:19.899 his 12 sons, 00:19:20.559 --> 00:19:21.759 the 12 tribes 00:19:21.759 --> 00:19:22.460 of Israel. 00:19:23.139 --> 00:19:23.899 And the story 00:19:23.899 --> 00:19:24.559 of these two women 00:19:24.559 --> 00:19:25.420 all revolves 00:19:25.420 --> 00:19:26.579 around fertility, 00:19:26.920 --> 00:19:27.799 about having children, 00:19:28.160 --> 00:19:29.180 providing children. 00:19:29.180 --> 00:19:29.819 And they do that 00:19:29.819 --> 00:19:31.039 in different ways 00:19:31.039 --> 00:19:31.940 if you've read the story. 00:19:33.079 --> 00:19:34.240 And then we understand 00:19:34.240 --> 00:19:34.859 that this prayer 00:19:34.859 --> 00:19:35.420 is needed 00:19:35.420 --> 00:19:37.320 because Ruth 00:19:37.320 --> 00:19:38.100 was married 00:19:38.100 --> 00:19:39.480 back in Moab. 00:19:40.000 --> 00:19:40.680 We're not sure 00:19:40.680 --> 00:19:41.620 how long she was married 00:19:41.620 --> 00:19:42.019 for, 00:19:42.200 --> 00:19:42.800 but we know 00:19:42.800 --> 00:19:43.460 that she was married 00:19:43.460 --> 00:19:43.940 and they lived 00:19:43.940 --> 00:19:44.279 in Moab 00:19:44.279 --> 00:19:45.300 for 10 years. 00:19:47.880 --> 00:19:48.279 Women, 00:19:48.820 --> 00:19:49.500 children 00:19:49.500 --> 00:19:51.160 are incredibly important 00:19:51.160 --> 00:19:52.500 in this society, 00:19:52.640 --> 00:19:53.360 having children. 00:19:53.500 --> 00:19:54.100 A husband and wife 00:19:54.100 --> 00:19:55.019 are likely to start 00:19:55.019 --> 00:19:55.500 having children 00:19:55.500 --> 00:19:56.600 as quickly as possible. 00:19:57.480 --> 00:19:58.220 But Ruth 00:19:58.220 --> 00:19:59.240 and Malon, 00:19:59.360 --> 00:19:59.779 her husband, 00:19:59.980 --> 00:20:00.800 they had no children. 00:20:00.799 --> 00:20:02.480 So prayer 00:20:02.480 --> 00:20:03.759 is really needed here 00:20:03.759 --> 00:20:05.619 because the suspense 00:20:05.619 --> 00:20:07.460 is even higher 00:20:07.460 --> 00:20:08.839 than at the threshing floor 00:20:08.839 --> 00:20:09.579 in the night 00:20:09.579 --> 00:20:10.799 when Ruth came 00:20:10.799 --> 00:20:12.000 and proposed to Boaz. 00:20:12.740 --> 00:20:13.940 It's even higher 00:20:13.940 --> 00:20:14.859 the suspense now 00:20:14.859 --> 00:20:16.680 than when the Redeemer, 00:20:17.099 --> 00:20:18.000 Boaz asked the Redeemer, 00:20:18.119 --> 00:20:18.819 will you redeem 00:20:18.819 --> 00:20:20.200 the land in Naomi? 00:20:21.480 --> 00:20:22.960 Is there going to be 00:20:22.960 --> 00:20:24.180 a child? 00:20:25.180 --> 00:20:26.859 There's an air of suspense. 00:20:26.859 --> 00:20:30.119 So we see that 00:20:30.119 --> 00:20:30.839 this is no ordinary 00:20:30.839 --> 00:20:32.459 land transaction. 00:20:32.719 --> 00:20:33.439 And now we're going to see 00:20:33.439 --> 00:20:35.099 that there is a child, 00:20:35.539 --> 00:20:36.279 but this child 00:20:36.279 --> 00:20:37.779 is no ordinary child. 00:20:38.939 --> 00:20:39.719 We see this 00:20:39.719 --> 00:20:41.919 in verses 13 to 17. 00:20:42.479 --> 00:20:43.119 From the end 00:20:43.119 --> 00:20:44.099 of chapter 3 00:20:44.099 --> 00:20:46.000 until over halfway 00:20:46.000 --> 00:20:46.979 through chapter 4 00:20:46.979 --> 00:20:49.379 is one day of time. 00:20:50.039 --> 00:20:50.779 But now, 00:20:51.000 --> 00:20:51.619 the timeline, 00:20:51.819 --> 00:20:52.579 it speeds up 00:20:52.579 --> 00:20:53.639 really significantly. 00:20:54.059 --> 00:20:55.219 So in verse 13, 00:20:55.219 --> 00:20:56.240 we experience 00:20:56.240 --> 00:20:57.220 what must be 00:20:57.220 --> 00:20:57.960 the best part 00:20:57.960 --> 00:20:58.940 of at least a year 00:20:58.940 --> 00:21:00.400 from Boaz and Ruth 00:21:00.400 --> 00:21:00.940 getting married 00:21:00.940 --> 00:21:02.519 until a baby arriving 00:21:02.519 --> 00:21:03.880 in one verse. 00:21:04.819 --> 00:21:06.099 So there's all this tension 00:21:06.099 --> 00:21:07.039 when the people prayed 00:21:07.039 --> 00:21:07.980 that Ruth 00:21:07.980 --> 00:21:09.160 would get pregnant. 00:21:09.660 --> 00:21:10.200 And then we get 00:21:10.200 --> 00:21:11.359 an idea of the significance 00:21:11.359 --> 00:21:11.960 of the fact 00:21:11.960 --> 00:21:13.160 that Ruth is pregnant, 00:21:13.240 --> 00:21:13.700 I think, 00:21:14.220 --> 00:21:15.120 from the language 00:21:15.120 --> 00:21:15.700 that's used 00:21:15.700 --> 00:21:16.799 in verse 13. 00:21:17.200 --> 00:21:17.960 Because it says, 00:21:18.359 --> 00:21:20.519 the Lord gave her conception. 00:21:20.940 --> 00:21:21.519 And of course, 00:21:21.700 --> 00:21:22.359 the Lord gives 00:21:22.359 --> 00:21:23.920 every conception. 00:21:23.920 --> 00:21:25.519 He is the one 00:21:25.519 --> 00:21:26.800 who makes all things 00:21:26.800 --> 00:21:27.660 work together. 00:21:28.420 --> 00:21:29.320 But this is only 00:21:29.320 --> 00:21:30.440 the second time 00:21:30.440 --> 00:21:30.860 in the whole 00:21:30.860 --> 00:21:31.779 of the book of Ruth 00:21:31.779 --> 00:21:32.880 that God 00:21:32.880 --> 00:21:34.019 has been 00:21:34.019 --> 00:21:35.140 implicated directly 00:21:35.140 --> 00:21:35.900 in the action 00:21:35.900 --> 00:21:37.320 as the subject 00:21:37.320 --> 00:21:38.120 of the verb. 00:21:38.779 --> 00:21:40.019 This is a God-given 00:21:40.019 --> 00:21:40.860 child. 00:21:42.320 --> 00:21:42.779 And then I think 00:21:42.779 --> 00:21:43.539 it's really interesting 00:21:43.539 --> 00:21:45.580 that Ruth 00:21:45.580 --> 00:21:46.180 and Naomi 00:21:46.180 --> 00:21:47.100 have just been married, 00:21:47.200 --> 00:21:48.480 they've just had a child, 00:21:48.480 --> 00:21:51.220 and the focus 00:21:51.220 --> 00:21:52.360 immediately pivots 00:21:52.360 --> 00:21:53.120 away from them 00:21:53.120 --> 00:21:55.120 and back to Naomi. 00:21:55.339 --> 00:21:56.180 In verse 14, 00:21:56.259 --> 00:21:56.860 the women say, 00:21:57.299 --> 00:21:58.240 blessed be the Lord 00:21:58.240 --> 00:21:59.259 who's not left you 00:21:59.259 --> 00:22:00.400 without a goel, 00:22:00.480 --> 00:22:01.220 without a redeemer. 00:22:02.400 --> 00:22:03.360 But who is the redeemer? 00:22:04.000 --> 00:22:04.799 Because it's not 00:22:04.799 --> 00:22:06.140 talking about Boaz anymore. 00:22:06.880 --> 00:22:07.460 It's talking about 00:22:07.460 --> 00:22:08.039 the baby 00:22:08.039 --> 00:22:09.460 that's on her lap. 00:22:10.900 --> 00:22:11.660 He's the one 00:22:11.660 --> 00:22:12.360 who's going to provide 00:22:12.360 --> 00:22:13.299 for Naomi 00:22:13.299 --> 00:22:14.039 in her old age. 00:22:14.220 --> 00:22:15.000 He's the one 00:22:15.000 --> 00:22:15.940 who's going to continue 00:22:15.940 --> 00:22:17.539 the family line. 00:22:18.539 --> 00:22:19.399 The neighborhood women 00:22:19.399 --> 00:22:20.500 say in verse 17, 00:22:20.960 --> 00:22:22.180 a son has been born 00:22:22.180 --> 00:22:23.200 to Naomi. 00:22:24.279 --> 00:22:25.299 Well, he's been born 00:22:25.299 --> 00:22:25.879 to Ruth, 00:22:26.799 --> 00:22:28.319 but this is Naomi's son. 00:22:28.819 --> 00:22:29.420 And they say 00:22:29.420 --> 00:22:30.799 in verse 15, 00:22:31.180 --> 00:22:32.220 he'll be a restorer 00:22:32.220 --> 00:22:34.000 of life to you. 00:22:35.480 --> 00:22:36.059 You see, 00:22:36.099 --> 00:22:36.980 in having a son, 00:22:37.619 --> 00:22:38.359 Boaz and Ruth 00:22:38.359 --> 00:22:39.359 haven't so much 00:22:39.359 --> 00:22:40.659 started a family, 00:22:41.720 --> 00:22:42.759 they've rescued one. 00:22:44.200 --> 00:22:45.859 The child is Ruth's, 00:22:46.819 --> 00:22:47.519 but he's the heir 00:22:47.519 --> 00:22:49.519 to the Elimelech family 00:22:49.519 --> 00:22:50.220 inheritance. 00:22:51.039 --> 00:22:52.000 And he's the one 00:22:52.000 --> 00:22:53.000 who's going to carry forward 00:22:53.000 --> 00:22:53.839 this family name. 00:22:54.599 --> 00:22:55.680 It looked like this family 00:22:55.680 --> 00:22:56.440 was about to die. 00:22:56.940 --> 00:22:58.019 We were at the end 00:22:58.019 --> 00:22:58.539 of the line. 00:22:59.619 --> 00:23:01.039 But through this child, 00:23:01.940 --> 00:23:02.879 the family line's 00:23:02.879 --> 00:23:03.920 been resuscitated. 00:23:05.920 --> 00:23:06.359 Naomi, 00:23:06.599 --> 00:23:07.480 the one who wandered 00:23:07.480 --> 00:23:08.440 away from the Lord, 00:23:09.079 --> 00:23:10.460 from the land 00:23:10.460 --> 00:23:11.139 that God promised 00:23:11.139 --> 00:23:11.660 to his people, 00:23:11.660 --> 00:23:14.540 and came back 00:23:14.540 --> 00:23:16.240 claiming to be empty, 00:23:17.240 --> 00:23:18.440 now has her hands full. 00:23:19.300 --> 00:23:20.100 And she's got 00:23:20.100 --> 00:23:21.279 the two kinds of seeds 00:23:21.279 --> 00:23:22.940 that are so important 00:23:22.940 --> 00:23:23.880 in the Old Testament. 00:23:24.279 --> 00:23:25.120 She's got grain, 00:23:25.259 --> 00:23:26.040 which meant food, 00:23:26.620 --> 00:23:27.840 but she's also got offspring. 00:23:29.279 --> 00:23:29.880 And now, 00:23:30.580 --> 00:23:31.140 through Boaz 00:23:31.140 --> 00:23:32.560 and Ruth, 00:23:33.240 --> 00:23:35.840 God has filled Naomi up. 00:23:35.839 --> 00:23:38.159 And notice as well, 00:23:38.579 --> 00:23:39.279 that it's not Ruth 00:23:39.279 --> 00:23:39.740 and Boaz, 00:23:39.799 --> 00:23:40.459 the parents, 00:23:40.679 --> 00:23:41.639 who name the child. 00:23:41.699 --> 00:23:42.839 It's not even his grandmother 00:23:42.839 --> 00:23:43.980 who gives him a name. 00:23:44.599 --> 00:23:45.179 It's the women 00:23:45.179 --> 00:23:45.799 of the neighborhood. 00:23:46.459 --> 00:23:47.839 And they call him Obed, 00:23:48.500 --> 00:23:49.899 which means servant. 00:23:51.059 --> 00:23:52.099 He's going to be the one 00:23:52.099 --> 00:23:53.259 who serves Naomi 00:23:53.259 --> 00:23:54.699 in her old age. 00:23:56.199 --> 00:23:57.220 But he's also 00:23:57.220 --> 00:23:58.299 going to play 00:23:58.299 --> 00:23:59.419 another role, 00:23:59.939 --> 00:24:00.639 an even more 00:24:00.639 --> 00:24:01.579 significant role. 00:24:01.579 --> 00:24:03.339 You see, 00:24:03.559 --> 00:24:05.220 in Ruth's story, 00:24:06.099 --> 00:24:06.899 Ruth's story 00:24:06.899 --> 00:24:08.279 is Naomi's redemption. 00:24:09.519 --> 00:24:10.480 God answered 00:24:10.480 --> 00:24:12.419 Naomi's prayer 00:24:12.419 --> 00:24:13.079 in grief 00:24:13.079 --> 00:24:14.539 with much more 00:24:14.539 --> 00:24:15.339 than she asked for. 00:24:15.460 --> 00:24:16.399 She wanted to go 00:24:16.399 --> 00:24:17.419 back to Bethlehem, 00:24:17.500 --> 00:24:18.240 back to her hometown. 00:24:19.079 --> 00:24:20.079 She just wanted to be 00:24:20.079 --> 00:24:21.299 among the people 00:24:21.299 --> 00:24:21.960 that she knew. 00:24:22.659 --> 00:24:23.519 But she received 00:24:23.519 --> 00:24:24.119 a grandson. 00:24:27.220 --> 00:24:28.319 Maybe there's 00:24:28.319 --> 00:24:28.779 some of us here 00:24:28.779 --> 00:24:29.740 who feel like Naomi 00:24:29.740 --> 00:24:31.039 in chapter one. 00:24:31.579 --> 00:24:32.559 We feel like 00:24:32.559 --> 00:24:33.279 we've been traveling 00:24:33.279 --> 00:24:34.399 for a long time. 00:24:34.679 --> 00:24:35.179 We feel like 00:24:35.179 --> 00:24:35.960 we have lost 00:24:35.960 --> 00:24:36.960 everything that we had. 00:24:37.019 --> 00:24:37.819 We feel empty 00:24:37.819 --> 00:24:39.399 and lonely and afraid. 00:24:41.359 --> 00:24:42.419 But this story 00:24:42.419 --> 00:24:43.419 reminds us 00:24:43.419 --> 00:24:45.500 that God is at work 00:24:45.500 --> 00:24:46.399 constantly 00:24:46.399 --> 00:24:47.519 in people's lives, 00:24:48.299 --> 00:24:49.480 even in the pain, 00:24:49.899 --> 00:24:50.639 in the suffering, 00:24:50.759 --> 00:24:51.299 in the loneliness. 00:24:53.179 --> 00:24:54.119 The things that we 00:24:54.119 --> 00:24:55.199 sometimes have to go through 00:24:55.199 --> 00:24:55.679 that we wish 00:24:55.679 --> 00:24:56.279 that we didn't. 00:24:57.619 --> 00:24:58.559 One of the dangers 00:24:58.559 --> 00:25:00.079 when we look at 00:25:00.079 --> 00:25:01.419 Ruth like this, 00:25:01.420 --> 00:25:02.080 for us, 00:25:02.420 --> 00:25:04.120 is that we look at 00:25:04.120 --> 00:25:05.340 the way that Naomi 00:25:05.340 --> 00:25:06.640 has been restored 00:25:06.640 --> 00:25:07.860 materially, 00:25:07.860 --> 00:25:09.140 and we think, 00:25:09.300 --> 00:25:10.539 if we keep our faith 00:25:10.539 --> 00:25:11.200 in God, 00:25:11.300 --> 00:25:11.960 then everything 00:25:11.960 --> 00:25:12.700 I've ever lost, 00:25:12.740 --> 00:25:13.200 I'm going to get 00:25:13.200 --> 00:25:13.960 that back. 00:25:14.660 --> 00:25:15.600 Whether that's 00:25:15.600 --> 00:25:17.000 your home, 00:25:17.320 --> 00:25:19.360 or your job, 00:25:19.580 --> 00:25:20.940 or your fortune, 00:25:20.940 --> 00:25:23.080 or even a person. 00:25:23.800 --> 00:25:24.880 But that's not 00:25:24.880 --> 00:25:26.140 what the book of Ruth 00:25:26.140 --> 00:25:26.940 is about. 00:25:27.700 --> 00:25:29.840 God's not a repairman. 00:25:31.200 --> 00:25:32.259 He's a creator 00:25:32.259 --> 00:25:33.259 and a restorer 00:25:33.259 --> 00:25:34.700 and an artist. 00:25:36.000 --> 00:25:36.600 One of the 00:25:36.600 --> 00:25:38.080 persistent patterns 00:25:38.080 --> 00:25:38.580 in Scripture 00:25:38.580 --> 00:25:40.120 is that God 00:25:40.120 --> 00:25:41.160 answers prayer 00:25:41.160 --> 00:25:42.200 at a register 00:25:42.200 --> 00:25:43.480 that's much higher 00:25:43.480 --> 00:25:44.840 than the prayer 00:25:44.840 --> 00:25:45.640 itself. 00:25:47.019 --> 00:25:47.640 Naomi prayed 00:25:47.640 --> 00:25:48.120 that Ruth would 00:25:48.120 --> 00:25:48.880 find rest, 00:25:49.600 --> 00:25:50.240 and what she ended 00:25:50.240 --> 00:25:50.980 up getting 00:25:50.980 --> 00:25:52.759 was a covenant line 00:25:52.759 --> 00:25:53.840 that would lead 00:25:53.839 --> 00:25:55.299 to Israel's king. 00:25:56.939 --> 00:25:57.759 This book 00:25:57.759 --> 00:25:58.359 is about God's 00:25:58.359 --> 00:25:58.939 covenant love, 00:25:59.419 --> 00:26:00.179 and how it's shown 00:26:00.179 --> 00:26:00.740 to people 00:26:00.740 --> 00:26:02.379 that extends 00:26:02.379 --> 00:26:04.159 beyond individuals, 00:26:06.019 --> 00:26:08.539 to the whole 00:26:08.539 --> 00:26:09.000 of Israel, 00:26:09.740 --> 00:26:10.459 and to the whole 00:26:10.459 --> 00:26:10.839 world. 00:26:12.179 --> 00:26:12.740 So we're going 00:26:12.740 --> 00:26:13.579 to live by faith. 00:26:14.199 --> 00:26:15.240 We live by faith 00:26:15.240 --> 00:26:15.679 in the God 00:26:15.679 --> 00:26:16.480 who keeps his promise, 00:26:16.599 --> 00:26:17.379 and who ultimately 00:26:17.379 --> 00:26:19.339 is going to bring 00:26:19.339 --> 00:26:20.199 restoration that 00:26:20.199 --> 00:26:21.480 far exceeds 00:26:21.480 --> 00:26:22.699 anything that we 00:26:22.699 --> 00:26:23.259 could have asked 00:26:23.259 --> 00:26:23.539 for. 00:26:25.339 --> 00:26:25.579 Okay. 00:26:26.619 --> 00:26:27.099 Thirdly, 00:26:27.339 --> 00:26:27.720 briefly, 00:26:28.539 --> 00:26:29.480 no ordinary 00:26:29.480 --> 00:26:30.299 ending. 00:26:31.519 --> 00:26:32.420 So I read 00:26:32.420 --> 00:26:33.200 as I was 00:26:33.200 --> 00:26:34.259 looking at this 00:26:34.259 --> 00:26:34.799 passage that 00:26:34.799 --> 00:26:35.460 some people 00:26:35.460 --> 00:26:36.180 used to argue 00:26:36.180 --> 00:26:36.720 that this 00:26:36.720 --> 00:26:37.660 genealogy that 00:26:37.660 --> 00:26:38.299 stuck on the 00:26:38.299 --> 00:26:39.519 end of Ruth 00:26:39.519 --> 00:26:40.079 was a later 00:26:40.079 --> 00:26:40.579 addition, 00:26:40.980 --> 00:26:41.299 and it's kind 00:26:41.299 --> 00:26:42.160 of to strengthen 00:26:42.160 --> 00:26:43.599 the link between 00:26:43.599 --> 00:26:44.519 the story of Ruth 00:26:44.519 --> 00:26:45.079 and the coming 00:26:45.079 --> 00:26:45.700 King David, 00:26:45.819 --> 00:26:46.740 but I mean, 00:26:46.759 --> 00:26:47.559 I don't think so. 00:26:48.119 --> 00:26:48.799 Notice that at 00:26:48.799 --> 00:26:49.180 the beginning 00:26:49.180 --> 00:26:49.940 and the end 00:26:49.940 --> 00:26:50.379 of Ruth, 00:26:50.859 --> 00:26:51.839 there's a 00:26:51.839 --> 00:26:52.299 parallel, 00:26:52.299 --> 00:26:53.579 the first 00:26:53.579 --> 00:26:54.119 five verses 00:26:54.119 --> 00:26:54.579 and the last 00:26:54.579 --> 00:26:54.940 five verses, 00:26:55.019 --> 00:26:55.460 they parallel 00:26:55.460 --> 00:26:55.960 each other. 00:26:56.139 --> 00:26:56.700 So we begin 00:26:56.700 --> 00:26:57.680 with 10 years 00:26:57.680 --> 00:26:58.299 in exile, 00:26:58.299 --> 00:26:59.319 and then we 00:26:59.319 --> 00:27:00.399 end with 10 00:27:00.399 --> 00:27:02.059 generations of 00:27:02.059 --> 00:27:02.579 the tribe of 00:27:02.579 --> 00:27:02.980 Judah that 00:27:02.980 --> 00:27:04.099 culminate in 00:27:04.099 --> 00:27:04.519 David. 00:27:06.159 --> 00:27:06.980 At the start 00:27:06.980 --> 00:27:07.180 of this 00:27:07.180 --> 00:27:07.680 preaching series, 00:27:07.720 --> 00:27:08.220 I said that 00:27:08.220 --> 00:27:09.700 the book of 00:27:09.700 --> 00:27:10.879 Ruth is named 00:27:10.879 --> 00:27:11.460 after Ruth, 00:27:11.519 --> 00:27:12.180 but it's actually 00:27:12.180 --> 00:27:13.559 about Naomi, 00:27:13.980 --> 00:27:14.480 Naomi being 00:27:14.480 --> 00:27:15.180 emptied and Naomi 00:27:15.180 --> 00:27:15.960 being filled up. 00:27:16.440 --> 00:27:17.799 But this genealogy, 00:27:17.859 --> 00:27:18.619 it reminds us that 00:27:18.619 --> 00:27:19.819 whoever the main 00:27:19.819 --> 00:27:20.539 human character 00:27:20.539 --> 00:27:21.959 is in this 00:27:21.959 --> 00:27:22.379 story, 00:27:23.419 --> 00:27:23.959 whoever the 00:27:23.959 --> 00:27:24.199 name, 00:27:24.479 --> 00:27:25.219 the book is 00:27:25.219 --> 00:27:25.919 named after, 00:27:27.239 --> 00:27:28.299 the story is 00:27:28.299 --> 00:27:28.919 about God. 00:27:30.039 --> 00:27:31.419 It's about his 00:27:31.419 --> 00:27:32.579 steadfast love, 00:27:32.739 --> 00:27:34.639 this never-ending, 00:27:35.139 --> 00:27:36.159 pursuing love that 00:27:36.159 --> 00:27:37.739 God shows towards 00:27:37.739 --> 00:27:38.279 his people. 00:27:40.599 --> 00:27:41.719 But it also shows 00:27:41.719 --> 00:27:42.399 us something else. 00:27:42.400 --> 00:27:45.480 this genealogy, 00:27:45.640 --> 00:27:46.060 which features 00:27:46.060 --> 00:27:47.380 Perez, who was 00:27:47.380 --> 00:27:48.480 born to Tamar, 00:27:48.540 --> 00:27:49.180 the Canaanite, 00:27:49.900 --> 00:27:50.920 Salmon, who was, 00:27:51.080 --> 00:27:52.220 that's Boaz's dad, 00:27:52.340 --> 00:27:53.500 who's born to 00:27:53.500 --> 00:27:55.019 Rahab, who was a 00:27:55.019 --> 00:27:56.040 Canaanite prostitute, 00:27:56.720 --> 00:27:57.580 and Obed, who's 00:27:57.580 --> 00:27:58.680 born to the 00:27:58.680 --> 00:27:59.580 Moabite Ruth. 00:28:00.160 --> 00:28:00.780 It reminds us that 00:28:00.780 --> 00:28:01.960 God's steadfast love 00:28:01.960 --> 00:28:03.220 isn't just for his 00:28:03.220 --> 00:28:04.120 people Israel, it 00:28:04.120 --> 00:28:04.780 extends to 00:28:04.780 --> 00:28:06.580 outsiders, and 00:28:06.580 --> 00:28:07.220 reminds us that it 00:28:07.220 --> 00:28:08.280 extends across the 00:28:08.280 --> 00:28:09.000 whole world. 00:28:09.980 --> 00:28:11.580 So this genealogy is 00:28:11.579 --> 00:28:12.639 not a tag-on at the 00:28:12.639 --> 00:28:14.139 end of a story, this 00:28:14.139 --> 00:28:14.759 is a covenant 00:28:14.759 --> 00:28:15.299 record. 00:28:16.399 --> 00:28:17.699 It shows us God's 00:28:17.699 --> 00:28:19.179 guiding hand at 00:28:19.179 --> 00:28:21.179 work across all 00:28:21.179 --> 00:28:23.019 people, all times, 00:28:23.119 --> 00:28:24.079 for all of history, 00:28:24.619 --> 00:28:26.099 even when we can't 00:28:26.099 --> 00:28:26.460 see it. 00:28:27.619 --> 00:28:28.699 And it shows us that 00:28:28.699 --> 00:28:30.559 God is desperately 00:28:30.559 --> 00:28:32.179 committed to his 00:28:32.179 --> 00:28:33.419 people across 00:28:33.419 --> 00:28:34.939 geography, across 00:28:34.939 --> 00:28:37.159 race, across time. 00:28:38.859 --> 00:28:39.879 The story of God's 00:28:39.879 --> 00:28:40.599 redemption in Ruth 00:28:40.599 --> 00:28:42.419 has always been much 00:28:42.419 --> 00:28:44.859 wider than Naomi, or 00:28:44.859 --> 00:28:46.659 Ruth, or Boaz, or 00:28:46.659 --> 00:28:48.019 we thought. 00:28:51.319 --> 00:28:53.879 Whenever, whatever 00:28:53.879 --> 00:28:56.480 your background, however 00:28:56.480 --> 00:28:57.399 many times you've been 00:28:57.399 --> 00:28:58.740 to church, however well 00:28:58.740 --> 00:28:59.519 you know your Bible, 00:29:00.019 --> 00:29:01.480 wherever you come from 00:29:01.480 --> 00:29:03.980 in the world, these are 00:29:03.980 --> 00:29:05.639 not restrictions on 00:29:05.639 --> 00:29:06.799 receiving God's 00:29:06.799 --> 00:29:07.199 blessing. 00:29:07.200 --> 00:29:09.420 all we have to do is 00:29:09.420 --> 00:29:09.960 come to him. 00:29:11.779 --> 00:29:13.160 Tonight we read about 00:29:13.160 --> 00:29:14.660 Elamela's ancestors, 00:29:15.279 --> 00:29:17.059 Jacob and Rachel and 00:29:17.059 --> 00:29:17.319 Leah. 00:29:18.440 --> 00:29:20.640 But the real story, the 00:29:20.640 --> 00:29:21.680 story that Ruth is a 00:29:21.680 --> 00:29:23.640 part of, started way 00:29:23.640 --> 00:29:24.539 before them. 00:29:25.840 --> 00:29:27.299 God called Jacob's 00:29:27.299 --> 00:29:28.940 grandfather, Abraham, 00:29:29.340 --> 00:29:30.240 and he said to him, 00:29:30.799 --> 00:29:31.740 leave your land, leave 00:29:31.740 --> 00:29:33.680 your family, leave your 00:29:33.680 --> 00:29:35.019 people, leave the 00:29:35.019 --> 00:29:36.920 gods, and go to a 00:29:36.920 --> 00:29:37.740 place that you don't 00:29:37.740 --> 00:29:39.360 know, just like Ruth 00:29:39.360 --> 00:29:39.620 did. 00:29:40.779 --> 00:29:42.060 And God told Abraham he 00:29:42.060 --> 00:29:42.600 was going to make him 00:29:42.600 --> 00:29:44.220 the father of many 00:29:44.220 --> 00:29:44.580 nations. 00:29:44.680 --> 00:29:45.420 He was going to bless 00:29:45.420 --> 00:29:47.220 him greatly with land 00:29:47.220 --> 00:29:47.860 and with offspring. 00:29:49.360 --> 00:29:50.660 And like Ruth in 00:29:50.660 --> 00:29:51.820 chapter one, Abraham 00:29:51.820 --> 00:29:53.660 believed God and he 00:29:53.660 --> 00:29:53.980 went. 00:29:55.100 --> 00:29:56.620 But even before Abraham, 00:29:57.460 --> 00:29:58.460 at the very beginning, 00:29:58.860 --> 00:29:59.840 when Adam and Eve, they 00:29:59.839 --> 00:30:01.639 disobeyed God in the 00:30:01.639 --> 00:30:04.000 garden and they fell 00:30:04.000 --> 00:30:05.000 and sin came into the 00:30:05.000 --> 00:30:05.859 world, but God made 00:30:05.859 --> 00:30:06.539 them a promise. 00:30:06.659 --> 00:30:07.980 And he said, there's 00:30:07.980 --> 00:30:09.519 going to be a seed, a 00:30:09.519 --> 00:30:11.139 son who's going to 00:30:11.139 --> 00:30:12.579 redeem you from the 00:30:12.579 --> 00:30:13.019 curse. 00:30:15.099 --> 00:30:15.779 You see, the book of 00:30:15.779 --> 00:30:17.379 Ruth is a story about 00:30:17.379 --> 00:30:18.819 individuals being blessed 00:30:18.819 --> 00:30:19.279 by God. 00:30:20.220 --> 00:30:21.579 But that story is part 00:30:21.579 --> 00:30:23.199 of a much bigger, 00:30:23.720 --> 00:30:25.579 broader family story 00:30:25.579 --> 00:30:26.899 through which God 00:30:26.899 --> 00:30:27.599 blesses the whole 00:30:27.599 --> 00:30:27.959 world. 00:30:27.960 --> 00:30:29.819 That's why it was so 00:30:29.819 --> 00:30:31.680 precarious when Elamela's 00:30:31.680 --> 00:30:33.079 family line was nearly 00:30:33.079 --> 00:30:33.680 extinct. 00:30:35.000 --> 00:30:36.140 This is God's chosen 00:30:36.140 --> 00:30:37.460 line of salvation. 00:30:38.380 --> 00:30:39.539 But then through Naomi, 00:30:39.740 --> 00:30:40.860 through Ruth, through 00:30:40.860 --> 00:30:42.779 Boaz, through Obed, God 00:30:42.779 --> 00:30:43.860 saved that family. 00:30:45.519 --> 00:30:46.340 And now we see that this 00:30:46.340 --> 00:30:47.500 redemption runs all the 00:30:47.500 --> 00:30:49.400 way to the royal house of 00:30:49.400 --> 00:30:52.440 David and beyond David. 00:30:53.220 --> 00:30:54.680 Because we know that just 00:30:54.680 --> 00:30:57.079 like Ruth ends with the 00:30:57.079 --> 00:30:58.759 genealogy, the New 00:30:58.759 --> 00:31:00.139 Testament begins with 00:31:00.139 --> 00:31:00.439 one. 00:31:02.339 --> 00:31:04.240 Jesus Christ, the son of 00:31:04.240 --> 00:31:05.599 David, the son of 00:31:05.599 --> 00:31:05.960 Abraham. 00:31:07.019 --> 00:31:08.839 Jesus is the redeemer who 00:31:08.839 --> 00:31:09.779 stepped forward at the 00:31:09.779 --> 00:31:11.319 city gate when there was 00:31:11.319 --> 00:31:12.519 no one else to defend you. 00:31:13.579 --> 00:31:14.699 He's the one who pursued 00:31:14.699 --> 00:31:15.779 his bride, the church, 00:31:16.240 --> 00:31:18.399 even before we knew what 00:31:18.399 --> 00:31:19.039 to ask him. 00:31:20.299 --> 00:31:21.899 Jesus is the one born of a 00:31:21.899 --> 00:31:23.639 woman so that he could be 00:31:23.639 --> 00:31:24.980 born under the law so that 00:31:24.980 --> 00:31:26.279 he could redeem those who 00:31:26.279 --> 00:31:27.000 are under the law. 00:31:29.000 --> 00:31:30.299 Jesus is the son of David 00:31:30.299 --> 00:31:33.180 who arrived as an Obed, 00:31:33.779 --> 00:31:34.680 as a servant. 00:31:36.059 --> 00:31:37.940 He gave himself for his 00:31:37.940 --> 00:31:38.259 people. 00:31:39.460 --> 00:31:41.339 But he's also the true and 00:31:41.339 --> 00:31:43.200 the final king who defeated 00:31:43.200 --> 00:31:44.339 his people's greatest enemy 00:31:44.339 --> 00:31:45.940 to set them free from the 00:31:45.940 --> 00:31:46.619 bondage of sin. 00:31:47.539 --> 00:31:49.500 And who's returning to 00:31:49.500 --> 00:31:50.319 gather his people to 00:31:50.319 --> 00:31:52.160 himself and to provide a 00:31:52.160 --> 00:31:54.000 blessing that far exceeds 00:31:54.000 --> 00:31:55.500 anything that we could have 00:31:55.500 --> 00:31:55.920 asked for. 00:31:57.680 --> 00:31:58.359 So this is it. 00:31:58.400 --> 00:31:59.099 That's the book of Ruth. 00:31:59.180 --> 00:32:00.140 The book of Ruth is a book 00:32:00.140 --> 00:32:02.279 of God's steadfast love to 00:32:02.279 --> 00:32:02.839 his people. 00:32:03.740 --> 00:32:05.240 A love that remains faithful 00:32:05.240 --> 00:32:07.980 across generations, across 00:32:07.980 --> 00:32:12.440 people groups, across 00:32:12.440 --> 00:32:16.059 blessings and tragedies, but 00:32:16.059 --> 00:32:16.980 which is fulfilled in a 00:32:16.980 --> 00:32:20.019 person, a redeemer, God's 00:32:20.019 --> 00:32:21.700 son, King Jesus. 00:32:21.700 --> 00:32:21.839 King Jesus. 00:32:23.000 --> 00:32:23.740 Let's pray. 00:32:26.460 --> 00:32:28.460 Lord God, we praise you. 00:32:29.139 --> 00:32:31.319 We thank you for the book of 00:32:31.319 --> 00:32:32.680 Ruth and the reminder it is 00:32:32.680 --> 00:32:35.359 to us that your hand is at 00:32:35.359 --> 00:32:36.639 work in all things. 00:32:37.319 --> 00:32:38.779 You could providentially control 00:32:38.779 --> 00:32:39.639 things, but you're sovereign 00:32:39.639 --> 00:32:40.079 power. 00:32:40.920 --> 00:32:42.420 And Lord, because of your 00:32:42.420 --> 00:32:43.980 chesed love, your faithful, 00:32:44.160 --> 00:32:45.259 steadfast love towards your 00:32:45.259 --> 00:32:46.460 people, you sent your son, 00:32:46.460 --> 00:32:48.100 Jesus, who came willingly 00:32:48.100 --> 00:32:51.200 into the world, who lived 00:32:51.200 --> 00:32:56.299 as a servant, who died for 00:32:56.299 --> 00:32:58.180 his people, but who rose 00:32:58.180 --> 00:32:59.840 again in triumph and who is 00:32:59.840 --> 00:33:02.079 coming again, Lord, to judge 00:33:02.079 --> 00:33:04.360 the world and to take his 00:33:04.360 --> 00:33:05.140 people to himself. 00:33:05.360 --> 00:33:07.000 Lord, help us as we think 00:33:07.000 --> 00:33:08.960 about going back to the world 00:33:08.960 --> 00:33:10.120 tomorrow and to work, 00:33:10.640 --> 00:33:12.519 continue our holidays, going to 00:33:12.519 --> 00:33:13.519 school, wherever we're going. 00:33:13.920 --> 00:33:14.840 Help us, Lord, to have our 00:33:14.839 --> 00:33:15.720 eyes fixed on Jesus. 00:33:16.480 --> 00:33:17.439 And we pray these things in 00:33:17.439 --> 00:33:17.799 his name. 00:33:18.399 --> 00:33:18.679 Amen.