WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:01.199 Let's take our seats. 00:00:02.020 --> 00:00:05.799 If you can turn back to Ruth chapter 2, page 222, the Black Church Bible. 00:00:05.799 --> 00:00:06.679 Black Church Bibles. 00:00:11.339 --> 00:00:14.239 Once upon a time, there was a king who had three sons. 00:00:17.839 --> 00:00:18.960 Now, what do you know? 00:00:19.920 --> 00:00:22.060 With that information, what do you now know? 00:00:27.240 --> 00:00:33.679 There's a good chance that one of the sons is a waster, some kind, destructive, do crazy stuff. 00:00:33.679 --> 00:00:37.700 Probably one of the sons is a bit of a non-event. 00:00:37.899 --> 00:00:38.820 He doesn't really feature. 00:00:40.039 --> 00:00:40.479 Maybe. 00:00:41.299 --> 00:00:46.880 What you know for sure is this, that the youngest son is going to do something heroic in the story, 00:00:46.960 --> 00:00:49.219 and he's going to marry the girl. 00:00:51.200 --> 00:00:52.600 You know that's the way it goes. 00:00:52.719 --> 00:00:54.519 Once upon a time, there was a king with three sons. 00:00:54.600 --> 00:00:56.200 That's where the story will end. 00:00:56.260 --> 00:00:58.219 You've seen it countless times. 00:00:58.219 --> 00:01:03.700 We don't know from that one line exactly how we're going to get to that conclusion, 00:01:03.820 --> 00:01:06.159 but we know that that is the conclusion that we're headed to. 00:01:06.260 --> 00:01:07.599 That is how stories work. 00:01:08.159 --> 00:01:13.039 And the difference between a good story and a bad story is the journey between those points. 00:01:14.420 --> 00:01:17.599 There's something of that going on in Ruth chapter 2 this morning. 00:01:18.859 --> 00:01:21.480 If you were here a couple of weeks ago, we left Naomi and Ruth. 00:01:21.480 --> 00:01:28.480 Ruth, they had just arrived back in Bethlehem from Moab, and Naomi is full of bitterness. 00:01:31.140 --> 00:01:32.340 Naomi means pleasant. 00:01:32.460 --> 00:01:33.420 Her name means pleasant. 00:01:33.540 --> 00:01:35.480 The women say to her, is this Naomi? 00:01:35.719 --> 00:01:37.000 She'd been gone for ten years. 00:01:37.079 --> 00:01:37.560 Is that her? 00:01:37.620 --> 00:01:38.159 Is she back? 00:01:38.600 --> 00:01:39.840 She said, don't call me pleasant. 00:01:40.000 --> 00:01:44.400 Call me bitter, because the Lord has made my life very bitter. 00:01:45.540 --> 00:01:50.480 Ruth, on the other hand, is resolutely committed to her mother-in-law, to her mother-in-law's God, 00:01:50.480 --> 00:01:52.280 and to her people. 00:01:53.040 --> 00:01:57.460 And there was, at the end of chapter 1, a bit of a crack in the dark clouds, in the very last verse, 00:01:57.719 --> 00:01:59.740 with the mention of a barley harvest. 00:01:59.980 --> 00:02:04.120 They arrived back in Bethlehem just as the barley harvest was beginning. 00:02:04.719 --> 00:02:08.719 God is bringing bread back to Bethlehem, the house of bread. 00:02:09.439 --> 00:02:13.080 But the women at the beginning, at the end of chapter 1, beginning of chapter 2, 00:02:13.140 --> 00:02:14.620 the women are still in a bad way. 00:02:14.620 --> 00:02:17.500 However, chapter 2, verse 1, 00:02:17.900 --> 00:02:27.500 Now, Naomi had a relative of her husband's, a worthy man of the clan of Elimelech, whose name was Boaz. 00:02:28.599 --> 00:02:30.280 Where did that come from in the story? 00:02:30.640 --> 00:02:34.560 Well, as soon as we read it, we realize here is our hero. 00:02:36.259 --> 00:02:38.319 Boaz is going to be the focus of this chapter. 00:02:38.319 --> 00:02:46.919 He's mentioned at least ten times in the chapter that the spotlight is being turned from the situation that Ruth and Naomi are in to this man, 00:02:47.099 --> 00:02:50.159 because he's going to be central to the story as it goes forward. 00:02:50.739 --> 00:02:54.359 And we're told in that first verse that he is a relative of Naomi's husband. 00:02:54.919 --> 00:03:00.459 Very significant, because he is qualified to take on leveret marriage, what the law required. 00:03:00.539 --> 00:03:01.840 We'll talk about that a little bit later. 00:03:02.240 --> 00:03:03.840 We're told he's a man of worth. 00:03:03.840 --> 00:03:11.539 That word worthy man, it has connotations of wealth and of might and of heroism. 00:03:12.340 --> 00:03:15.300 His name, Boaz, it means strength. 00:03:15.860 --> 00:03:17.939 Wealth, might, heroism, strength. 00:03:18.140 --> 00:03:21.319 In contrast to what we had in chapter 1 with Elimelech, 00:03:22.039 --> 00:03:25.920 who showed himself to be weak by heading off and not trusting God, 00:03:26.439 --> 00:03:31.039 and Elimelech's sons, Melon and Kilion, which mean sickly and whinging. 00:03:31.039 --> 00:03:33.840 So here we have this great contrast. 00:03:34.419 --> 00:03:35.819 Strength has been risen up. 00:03:36.159 --> 00:03:37.120 A worthy man. 00:03:37.199 --> 00:03:40.259 Here is a man who is both strong and suitable. 00:03:41.299 --> 00:03:43.019 And we see his character in action. 00:03:43.120 --> 00:03:43.639 Verse 4. 00:03:44.019 --> 00:03:44.500 You see that? 00:03:44.579 --> 00:03:46.799 When he greets his workers, he said to the reapers, 00:03:47.239 --> 00:03:48.239 The Lord be with you. 00:03:48.759 --> 00:03:50.959 And they answered, The Lord bless you. 00:03:51.919 --> 00:03:55.099 The CEO arrives at the factory and he says to the workplace, 00:03:55.500 --> 00:03:57.239 Morning all, God be with you. 00:03:57.240 --> 00:04:01.200 He blesses his workers as he greets them. 00:04:01.620 --> 00:04:03.600 And how do we know that he's not just a hypocrite? 00:04:04.719 --> 00:04:07.080 Somebody who would take that kind of thing on their lips. 00:04:07.200 --> 00:04:12.100 You know, I remember working in a previous life, I worked for a Christian boss, 00:04:12.480 --> 00:04:16.939 and one of his critics, somebody else that was in the business that criticized him, 00:04:17.259 --> 00:04:18.379 said, Oh, you work for him. 00:04:18.579 --> 00:04:19.319 He's a Christian. 00:04:19.660 --> 00:04:20.819 You always know a Christian. 00:04:21.079 --> 00:04:23.240 One hand on their Bible, one hand in your pocket. 00:04:23.240 --> 00:04:25.879 They thought he was a hypocrite. 00:04:25.939 --> 00:04:28.920 He wasn't, but that was just the way this person characterized him. 00:04:29.060 --> 00:04:31.040 How do we know that Boaz is not like that? 00:04:31.740 --> 00:04:33.939 Well, because of the way that his workers respond. 00:04:34.420 --> 00:04:34.860 They didn't. 00:04:34.920 --> 00:04:36.439 He said, The Lord be with you. 00:04:36.540 --> 00:04:39.519 They didn't say, Blow it out your ear with all this talk about God. 00:04:39.600 --> 00:04:41.220 You treat us like dirt, you hypocrite. 00:04:41.480 --> 00:04:43.540 No, they reply in kind. 00:04:44.379 --> 00:04:45.420 The Lord bless you. 00:04:45.420 --> 00:04:53.720 We're supposed to see in Boaz, this man described as worthy in verse 1 as a faithful Israelite. 00:04:54.420 --> 00:04:59.960 He is a godly man in contrast to his relative Elimelech. 00:05:00.720 --> 00:05:05.300 So, we're pretty sure at this point in the story that this man is going to put things right. 00:05:05.379 --> 00:05:09.740 We don't know how he's going to do it yet, and there is still quite a way to go in chapters 3 and 4. 00:05:09.740 --> 00:05:18.500 But this impressive man, appearing as it were out of nowhere, chapter 2, verse 1, he is our hope of a happy ending. 00:05:20.939 --> 00:05:28.220 Now, with that said, before we look more closely at Boaz, we need to see that while he has appeared out of nowhere in the story, 00:05:29.180 --> 00:05:33.199 our author wants us to see that God's hand is behind it all. 00:05:33.819 --> 00:05:35.939 God is orchestrating the whole thing. 00:05:36.040 --> 00:05:38.400 You see, on the surface, we're just told about what happened. 00:05:38.399 --> 00:05:42.739 So, Ruth knows that if she and Naomi will eat, she needs to work. 00:05:43.719 --> 00:05:48.419 And the one way that the poor were provided for in these times was through something called gleaning laws. 00:05:48.839 --> 00:05:51.579 This was where landowners would leave some of the crops. 00:05:51.739 --> 00:06:00.000 When they went through and reaped the crops, they would leave some in their field for the poor to come along and pick and eat for themselves. 00:06:00.120 --> 00:06:02.979 It's there in Leviticus 19 and Leviticus 23. 00:06:02.980 --> 00:06:11.180 And it's also picked up in Deuteronomy where there's a connection made to God providing for His people in their history. 00:06:11.540 --> 00:06:17.020 So, just as Israel had once been destitute in Egypt and God had provided for them, 00:06:17.460 --> 00:06:22.500 so they, through these gleaning laws, are to imitate that grace and provide for others. 00:06:22.759 --> 00:06:24.439 It is a form of social care. 00:06:24.439 --> 00:06:30.839 The haves are to provide for the have-nots because they were once have-nots themselves. 00:06:32.079 --> 00:06:33.959 So, verse 2, Ruth says, 00:06:34.759 --> 00:06:40.680 Here, Naomi, right, I'm going to go out and glean some sheaves so that we can eat. 00:06:41.040 --> 00:06:42.879 Actually, she's probably not Northern Irish. 00:06:43.040 --> 00:06:44.620 She wouldn't start her sentence with here. 00:06:45.040 --> 00:06:47.339 But she says, I'll go and glean. 00:06:47.339 --> 00:06:50.519 And Naomi replies. 00:06:50.779 --> 00:06:52.459 She says, Sure, that's a great idea. 00:06:52.719 --> 00:06:53.279 Probably not. 00:06:53.379 --> 00:06:54.759 She says, Good, off you go. 00:06:55.759 --> 00:07:01.199 But the way things unfold is deliberately presented as a series of coincidences. 00:07:01.799 --> 00:07:03.179 That's what the author is doing. 00:07:03.559 --> 00:07:06.459 He's playing with us as we read here to make a point. 00:07:06.459 --> 00:07:07.039 Verse 3, 00:07:07.040 --> 00:07:16.980 She happened to come to the part of the field belonging to Boaz. 00:07:17.420 --> 00:07:22.780 She happened to, literally that word is, she chanced by chance. 00:07:23.680 --> 00:07:29.800 It's like saying, and as luck would have it, she stumbled into Boaz's field. 00:07:30.600 --> 00:07:34.379 The field of the relative of Naomi's, if you remember. 00:07:34.379 --> 00:07:36.140 The one who is worthy. 00:07:37.040 --> 00:07:38.960 And then verse 4, can you see it begins, 00:07:39.400 --> 00:07:41.900 Behold, another way of saying, 00:07:42.520 --> 00:07:46.200 Ah, and look, well, well, well. 00:07:47.360 --> 00:07:51.660 Wasn't Boaz just coming in from Bethlehem at that point? 00:07:52.120 --> 00:07:53.040 Can you see verse 4? 00:07:53.100 --> 00:07:57.280 And behold, Boaz came from Bethlehem, and he said to his reapers. 00:08:00.400 --> 00:08:06.240 And isn't it just such a stroke of luck that he looked left instead of right 00:08:06.240 --> 00:08:09.340 and noticed Ruth among those that were gleaning? 00:08:09.980 --> 00:08:11.720 What a stroke of luck. 00:08:11.980 --> 00:08:13.819 That's the way we could read the story. 00:08:14.400 --> 00:08:16.800 But of course, the author is playing with us. 00:08:16.840 --> 00:08:18.139 There's no luck at all, is there? 00:08:18.500 --> 00:08:20.319 There's no such thing as a coincidence. 00:08:20.540 --> 00:08:25.939 There's no such thing as luck would have it in God's world. 00:08:26.699 --> 00:08:30.000 He is orchestrating every move. 00:08:30.000 --> 00:08:37.080 He is getting our women who are in need into the orbit of this man who will care for them. 00:08:38.360 --> 00:08:41.259 God decides every step. 00:08:41.919 --> 00:08:45.360 We saw last time he brought Naomi back to Bethlehem. 00:08:45.779 --> 00:08:47.919 He left Orpah in Moab. 00:08:48.919 --> 00:08:51.980 Ruth, he brought her back as well. 00:08:52.320 --> 00:08:54.299 He brought Ruth to himself. 00:08:54.299 --> 00:08:58.959 He brought bread back to the house of bread. 00:08:59.259 --> 00:09:02.959 He superintends all of the details. 00:09:03.439 --> 00:09:06.219 And here he brings Ruth into the field of Boaz. 00:09:06.439 --> 00:09:11.179 He has Boaz notice her, and he has Boaz take her into his care. 00:09:12.759 --> 00:09:18.019 God is sovereign over every square inch. 00:09:18.019 --> 00:09:24.740 Nothing, nothing is outside his control. 00:09:25.259 --> 00:09:32.879 When the dice are rolled in the casinos in Vegas, God chooses the numbers that come up. 00:09:34.199 --> 00:09:37.559 He chooses which stocks rise and which fall. 00:09:37.980 --> 00:09:42.039 He determines who gets made redundant and who keeps their job. 00:09:42.199 --> 00:09:47.759 If you are here this morning from another country, you are here because God has brought you here. 00:09:49.019 --> 00:09:52.419 A week on to push this right out to the corners. 00:09:52.559 --> 00:09:57.960 A week on from Charlie Kirk's memorial, he even determines where the assassin's bullet lands. 00:09:58.620 --> 00:10:02.579 There are no accidents in God's world. 00:10:02.879 --> 00:10:08.779 He is in complete control of the joys and the sorrows, of the ups and the downs. 00:10:10.199 --> 00:10:13.019 Now, Naomi made the choice to return to Bethlehem. 00:10:13.860 --> 00:10:16.519 Orpah made her choice to stay in Moab. 00:10:16.519 --> 00:10:23.159 Ruth chose to trust the God of the covenant and to come to Bethlehem with Naomi. 00:10:23.600 --> 00:10:28.120 Boaz made the choice to choose to look this way and not that way. 00:10:28.899 --> 00:10:31.000 The wicked choose their wickedness. 00:10:32.179 --> 00:10:34.879 We have agency in our lives. 00:10:34.939 --> 00:10:42.539 Of course we do, but none of that, none of those decisions are incompatible with God's sovereign control over it all. 00:10:42.539 --> 00:10:52.599 The book of Ruth, Ruth chapter 2, is a portrait of the sovereignty of God. 00:10:52.600 --> 00:10:56.700 So he's brought all this together. 00:10:57.360 --> 00:11:00.379 But this chapter, as I said, the spotlight is on this man, Boaz. 00:11:00.779 --> 00:11:01.879 So let's look at him. 00:11:02.480 --> 00:11:05.040 He is portrayed in three very particular ways. 00:11:05.159 --> 00:11:07.980 First of all, he shows himself as a protector. 00:11:09.120 --> 00:11:10.740 Point number one, he is a protector. 00:11:10.740 --> 00:11:18.980 Going to glean in a context like this, as a Gentile woman, as Ruth is, would make her very vulnerable. 00:11:19.759 --> 00:11:20.899 Naomi recognizes this. 00:11:20.960 --> 00:11:22.720 Did you notice that detail in verse 22? 00:11:23.200 --> 00:11:27.919 When she says, stick around with those people because if you're in another field, you might get assaulted. 00:11:28.500 --> 00:11:32.879 I think we might assume that it was commonplace for a woman in her position to have been assaulted. 00:11:33.299 --> 00:11:37.940 An outsider, a foreigner coming in, she could easily have been assaulted by the men that were there, 00:11:37.940 --> 00:11:40.140 and probably nobody would have batted an eyelid. 00:11:41.420 --> 00:11:43.160 But look at how Boaz treats her. 00:11:44.000 --> 00:11:44.840 Look at verse 8. 00:11:46.340 --> 00:11:47.820 Now, listen, my daughter. 00:11:49.200 --> 00:11:55.500 Do not go to glean in another field or leave this one, but keep close to my young women. 00:11:56.400 --> 00:12:00.060 Let your eyes be on the field that they are reaping, and go after them. 00:12:00.840 --> 00:12:03.600 Have I not charged the young men not to touch you? 00:12:03.600 --> 00:12:08.040 And when you are thirsty, go to the vessels and drink what the young men have drawn. 00:12:11.060 --> 00:12:12.420 Boaz is a man of worth. 00:12:12.519 --> 00:12:13.240 He is powerful. 00:12:14.000 --> 00:12:14.980 He is successful. 00:12:15.960 --> 00:12:17.060 He is influential. 00:12:17.980 --> 00:12:22.980 He uses all of that power and influence and authority to protect this needy woman. 00:12:23.960 --> 00:12:26.659 He uses his power for good. 00:12:26.659 --> 00:12:32.240 That's surprising, isn't it, when you think about the world that we live in. 00:12:33.620 --> 00:12:39.559 A very rich and powerful man uses his status for what do we expect to follow? 00:12:40.559 --> 00:12:47.339 A very powerful and rich and influential man uses his authority and his status for corruption. 00:12:48.399 --> 00:12:50.319 Peter Mandelson was in the news recently. 00:12:51.339 --> 00:12:51.899 Exploitation. 00:12:51.899 --> 00:12:54.039 He was in the news because of Jeffrey Epstein. 00:12:54.039 --> 00:12:54.539 Abuse. 00:12:55.959 --> 00:12:56.559 Abuse. 00:12:57.659 --> 00:13:04.179 Think of Hugh Edwards and his profile in the BBC and all of that, and yet that is how he used his influence. 00:13:05.059 --> 00:13:06.259 That's what we expect. 00:13:06.379 --> 00:13:08.679 Corruption, exploitation, abuse. 00:13:08.839 --> 00:13:09.559 Not Boaz. 00:13:10.839 --> 00:13:14.539 Boaz uses his power and his authority to protect. 00:13:15.639 --> 00:13:18.819 So first, he shows himself as a protector. 00:13:18.959 --> 00:13:20.959 Secondly, he shows himself as a provider. 00:13:22.099 --> 00:13:23.539 Point number two, a provider. 00:13:23.539 --> 00:13:25.279 We see this the whole way through the passage. 00:13:25.419 --> 00:13:30.299 It's really the kind of the main chunk of what's going on here. 00:13:30.839 --> 00:13:34.079 He has already made provision in allowing Ruth to glean in the first place. 00:13:34.139 --> 00:13:37.919 In verse 9, he's giving her water to sustain her in the heat of the day. 00:13:38.500 --> 00:13:40.679 That is generous provision in and of itself. 00:13:40.759 --> 00:13:41.740 But look at verse 14. 00:13:41.819 --> 00:13:42.679 He goes next level. 00:13:42.679 --> 00:14:01.059 Boaz gives Ruth a meal. 00:14:01.059 --> 00:14:03.779 And not just a few scraps from the great man's table. 00:14:04.099 --> 00:14:06.339 She ate until she was full. 00:14:06.919 --> 00:14:08.019 She even had leftovers. 00:14:08.759 --> 00:14:12.299 She was given a doggy bag to take away with her when she went home. 00:14:12.759 --> 00:14:14.659 And then if that wasn't enough, look at verse 15. 00:14:14.659 --> 00:14:19.519 When she goes back to glean, he ensures that his men then make it even easier for her. 00:14:19.919 --> 00:14:21.279 Let her glean among the sheaves. 00:14:22.039 --> 00:14:23.620 The stuff that's already been bundled up. 00:14:24.219 --> 00:14:29.799 Also pull some of those out from the bundles and leave it for her to glean and do not rebuke her. 00:14:29.799 --> 00:14:35.719 He's saying, go ahead of her and just put good stuff in her way so that she can pick it up as she goes. 00:14:35.799 --> 00:14:37.539 Make it as easy for her as possible. 00:14:38.059 --> 00:14:38.879 And she goes back. 00:14:39.279 --> 00:14:40.719 She beats it all out. 00:14:40.879 --> 00:14:45.959 And she's got this incredible amount of stuff to take with her in order to go and make bread. 00:14:46.299 --> 00:14:48.259 It is grace upon grace. 00:14:50.519 --> 00:14:54.879 But more than that, the provision goes even deeper than just the basic stuff in and of itself. 00:14:54.879 --> 00:15:00.279 Because in opening up his table, what is Boaz doing but bringing Ruth into his family? 00:15:01.600 --> 00:15:07.500 And not only her, but also the fact that when we get to verse 18, Ruth goes back to Naomi and she says, 00:15:07.840 --> 00:15:10.259 here's the stuff that I have for us. 00:15:10.799 --> 00:15:14.299 Boaz knows that he's also providing for Naomi as well. 00:15:16.399 --> 00:15:22.259 Now, Boaz didn't need to do any of this, actually. 00:15:22.259 --> 00:15:28.740 So, gleaning laws were commanded by God's Word, but there was no civil penalty attached to them. 00:15:29.220 --> 00:15:32.139 So, there would have been no punishment for not doing this. 00:15:33.059 --> 00:15:36.439 This is an expression of straight-up godliness. 00:15:37.899 --> 00:15:41.179 See, basic provision would have been deemed to be kind. 00:15:42.939 --> 00:15:50.799 And if Boaz wanted, as some people do, the philanthropic sector is full of people doing their bit for the poor. 00:15:50.799 --> 00:15:55.500 That's great, but lots of it is so that people will see you doing your bit for the poor. 00:15:55.679 --> 00:15:59.259 If Boaz had wanted to do that, well, he could have done that. 00:15:59.859 --> 00:16:01.179 He could have given her a few bits. 00:16:02.099 --> 00:16:04.819 He could have let her glean in the field. 00:16:05.519 --> 00:16:07.539 But he doesn't just provide, does he? 00:16:07.939 --> 00:16:09.879 He says, eat your fill. 00:16:10.439 --> 00:16:11.620 Take all of this. 00:16:12.000 --> 00:16:12.799 Come to my table. 00:16:13.139 --> 00:16:14.099 Join my family. 00:16:14.100 --> 00:16:16.860 It is abundant, generous provision. 00:16:20.279 --> 00:16:22.480 What is it that makes him able to do this? 00:16:23.159 --> 00:16:24.920 Where does this come from? 00:16:25.860 --> 00:16:28.580 Using your authority to serve and to bless others. 00:16:28.700 --> 00:16:29.600 Where does that come from? 00:16:29.800 --> 00:16:32.759 It comes at root from humility. 00:16:32.759 --> 00:16:45.819 You see, at root, Boaz, despite all of his greatness, all of his worthiness, all of his power and authority, he is a humble man who puts others before himself. 00:16:47.580 --> 00:16:52.939 And in that sense, he is a model for all of us how to use any authority that the Lord has given us. 00:16:52.940 --> 00:17:07.420 Whether it is as a husband or a parent or a boss or a civil role that you might have, where you have authority over others, he is a model for us to use that authority as an opportunity to serve. 00:17:08.660 --> 00:17:17.240 It is an opportunity for you to serve those that are under your authority and not just to serve them, but to do so with huge generosity. 00:17:18.480 --> 00:17:21.059 Clothe your service with generosity. 00:17:21.059 --> 00:17:27.839 Whether it is with your time or kindness or provision of some kind or another. 00:17:28.819 --> 00:17:32.279 Ask yourself, could you be a more generous boss? 00:17:33.019 --> 00:17:34.740 Could you be a more generous parent? 00:17:35.099 --> 00:17:38.480 And I am not talking simply about buying more stuff for your children. 00:17:38.779 --> 00:17:44.679 Actually, to be generous is to be a blessing to people in a way that they will feel that generosity. 00:17:45.000 --> 00:17:49.879 So, if that is giving somebody a pay rise in the workplace, that might be something that they need. 00:17:51.059 --> 00:17:59.399 But for lots of us, we could be more generous parents, not by giving more to our children in terms of material things, but giving them more of ourselves. 00:18:00.200 --> 00:18:01.240 More of our time. 00:18:02.319 --> 00:18:03.220 Being more present. 00:18:04.319 --> 00:18:08.679 That is a way to be generous to those in our home who are under our authority. 00:18:08.680 --> 00:18:27.600 Generous people are humble people because they see that they are there to serve and to make other people's lives better than their own. 00:18:27.599 --> 00:18:30.399 So, let's try and grow in generosity. 00:18:30.579 --> 00:18:34.079 But the way that we do that is by getting ourselves out of the way. 00:18:34.319 --> 00:18:38.539 By praying that God would help us to cultivate a heart for others. 00:18:40.419 --> 00:18:44.439 And do you see, Boaz here is especially pointing us in the direction of the poor. 00:18:44.440 --> 00:18:51.160 Don't forget that Ruth is a penniless outcast who's in desperate need. 00:18:51.920 --> 00:18:53.480 And she doesn't come asking for a handout. 00:18:53.680 --> 00:18:58.000 Verse 7, she asked if she could follow the regular reapers and pick up what they left. 00:18:58.779 --> 00:19:03.240 Can I just come and work in this field and take whatever is there? 00:19:03.279 --> 00:19:04.940 I'm going to trust the Lord that He'll provide. 00:19:05.140 --> 00:19:09.580 Like the foreign woman in Matthew 15, she'll take the crumbs that fall from the master's table. 00:19:09.579 --> 00:19:12.000 In that sense, she is to be highly commended. 00:19:12.539 --> 00:19:13.819 But she is destitute. 00:19:16.519 --> 00:19:21.579 I know it's hard in a context where the welfare state has confused how we think about caring for the poor. 00:19:21.779 --> 00:19:30.500 But that doesn't remove our responsibility to this kind of personal, generous care for those who the Lord brings into our fields. 00:19:31.779 --> 00:19:35.259 I see loads of this going on in our church and it's hugely encouraging. 00:19:35.559 --> 00:19:36.659 People opening their home. 00:19:36.660 --> 00:19:40.060 You get people around your dining table. 00:19:41.019 --> 00:19:45.240 I know many of you are quietly giving money to help people here and there. 00:19:45.600 --> 00:19:47.460 Providing transport for those who need it. 00:19:47.540 --> 00:19:53.480 Help with filling in forms in order that people can access what they're entitled to through the state. 00:19:53.580 --> 00:19:54.300 On it goes. 00:19:54.920 --> 00:20:02.580 But let's not think that because the state keeps helping itself to more of our taxes in order to fund a broken benefit system, 00:20:02.860 --> 00:20:03.900 that we're helping the poor. 00:20:03.900 --> 00:20:10.759 Let me ask you, do you have poor people in your life in a meaningful way? 00:20:15.120 --> 00:20:20.280 You see on the notices this morning, the Winter Night Shelter is being run again this year. 00:20:20.360 --> 00:20:22.540 The Winter Night Shelter is a great place to start. 00:20:23.300 --> 00:20:27.019 Actually, face-to-face, personal care of people who are in need. 00:20:27.019 --> 00:20:29.440 We should be pursuing that. 00:20:32.240 --> 00:20:36.240 Boaz shows himself as a protector, as a provider. 00:20:37.119 --> 00:20:42.000 But we should see he also then, thirdly, plays the role of a priest king. 00:20:43.279 --> 00:20:45.539 You might miss this, but it's an important point. 00:20:45.660 --> 00:20:46.559 Look again at the table. 00:20:46.660 --> 00:20:47.319 Verse 14. 00:20:47.319 --> 00:20:53.019 Come here and eat some bread and dip your morsel in the wine. 00:20:54.039 --> 00:20:56.879 The significance of the elements of this meal should not be missed. 00:20:57.000 --> 00:20:58.019 Bread and wine. 00:20:58.119 --> 00:21:00.819 Now our minds immediately go to the Lord's Supper. 00:21:00.899 --> 00:21:04.980 But before we even get to the Lord's Supper, there is an important connection to see. 00:21:06.439 --> 00:21:07.639 Did you notice verse 11? 00:21:07.759 --> 00:21:11.439 Boaz has already described Ruth in a way that sounds familiar. 00:21:11.440 --> 00:21:14.940 She has been described in Abrahamic terms. 00:21:15.580 --> 00:21:20.779 I've heard how you left your father and mother and your native land and came to a people that you did not know before. 00:21:22.600 --> 00:21:26.740 Like Abraham, she left the land of her parents and went to the land of promise. 00:21:27.539 --> 00:21:36.600 And in this meal, there is an allusion to the meal that Melchizedek, the priest king, served Abraham in Genesis 14, 18. 00:21:36.599 --> 00:21:41.639 So what we're supposed to see here is that Ruth is a new Sarah. 00:21:42.859 --> 00:21:43.219 Do you remember? 00:21:43.359 --> 00:21:47.819 She said in chapter 1 she wanted to be buried in the land like Sarah had said. 00:21:47.879 --> 00:21:52.899 And so here she is carrying on Abraham's role in the story as a new Sarah. 00:21:53.219 --> 00:22:01.299 And in that sense, we're supposed to see Boaz as a priest king figure like Melchizedek serving Ruth in this way. 00:22:01.299 --> 00:22:08.039 It is in this capacity as priest king that he protects her and provides for her. 00:22:08.619 --> 00:22:13.579 And this will also inform how he carries out his role, verse 20, as a redeemer. 00:22:13.799 --> 00:22:14.759 We'll come to that later. 00:22:16.319 --> 00:22:23.940 So our author is shining a spotlight onto this man who is a protector, a provider, and a priest king. 00:22:24.960 --> 00:22:26.339 He's doing all of this. 00:22:26.419 --> 00:22:26.879 Do you remember? 00:22:27.119 --> 00:22:29.779 Do you remember in the chaos of the days when the judges ruled? 00:22:29.779 --> 00:22:37.639 Here is a man who is, in the context of great ungodliness, acting in a profoundly godly way. 00:22:38.000 --> 00:22:42.720 And he's doing that so that we will see in Boaz that we have a new Adam. 00:22:45.379 --> 00:22:51.119 Adam, in the beginning, was called to protect and provide and to sacrifice and intercede as a priest king for his wife. 00:22:52.259 --> 00:22:54.379 That was what he was supposed to do for Eve. 00:22:54.379 --> 00:22:59.639 But he catastrophically failed and dragged us all with him into that failure. 00:22:59.779 --> 00:23:02.399 And Elimelech followed that example. 00:23:03.220 --> 00:23:04.839 Elimelech misled his wife. 00:23:05.200 --> 00:23:09.940 He didn't protect or provide for his family, and he certainly didn't serve them as a priest king. 00:23:10.579 --> 00:23:14.420 And so, like Adam being cast out of God's presence in the garden, 00:23:14.599 --> 00:23:18.799 Elimelech and his family were cast out of God's presence in the land. 00:23:19.059 --> 00:23:22.940 Adam and Elimelech brought death. 00:23:22.940 --> 00:23:28.279 But here, Boaz stepped in, and with generous grace, he has restored what was lost. 00:23:29.440 --> 00:23:36.700 And he will, we hope, we know, he'll bring redemption to this family and to their line. 00:23:37.360 --> 00:23:39.940 We read this and we say, hooray for Boaz. 00:23:39.940 --> 00:23:47.360 But of course, as we hear this, we're looking over Boaz's shoulder. 00:23:47.960 --> 00:23:55.220 We're looking over his shoulder into the distance at someone who is there, not just a new Adam, but the second Adam. 00:23:55.880 --> 00:23:57.940 Boaz's great descendant, the Lord Jesus. 00:23:58.960 --> 00:24:01.180 Boaz is a great example of godly virtue. 00:24:01.320 --> 00:24:05.600 He is the star, or one of the stars of this lovely love story, the book of Ruth. 00:24:05.599 --> 00:24:07.219 But that is not enough for us. 00:24:07.899 --> 00:24:09.059 We need more than that. 00:24:09.579 --> 00:24:11.059 His story is in the past. 00:24:11.399 --> 00:24:16.659 We need the better Boaz to come as our protector, our provider, and our priest king, 00:24:16.740 --> 00:24:20.379 and ultimately to redeem us from our spiritual destitution. 00:24:21.419 --> 00:24:26.259 The first Adam widowed us, and he squandered everything that we had. 00:24:26.740 --> 00:24:31.139 The Lord Jesus meets us at our point of need, and he protects us from Satan and sin. 00:24:31.699 --> 00:24:32.759 He forgives us. 00:24:33.000 --> 00:24:34.339 He brings us into his family. 00:24:34.339 --> 00:24:41.839 He provides for us with abundant grace, and he welcomes us around his table to share in his presence and to nourish our souls. 00:24:42.500 --> 00:24:45.759 Every time we share the Lord's Supper, this is what is happening. 00:24:46.279 --> 00:24:51.799 Our priest king, the one who sacrifices and intercedes for us, reminds us, verse 12, can you see, 00:24:52.099 --> 00:24:57.079 if we have taken shelter under his wings, that is, if we have put our faith in the Lord Jesus, 00:24:57.319 --> 00:25:01.139 we are in his family, and we are welcome there. 00:25:01.140 --> 00:25:08.080 Despite all that we have done, despite all of our Adamic qualities, the way we have followed our first father, Adam, 00:25:09.160 --> 00:25:10.240 he covers our sin. 00:25:10.680 --> 00:25:11.700 He forgives us. 00:25:12.060 --> 00:25:13.240 He restores us. 00:25:13.480 --> 00:25:15.900 He provides generously for us in Christ. 00:25:16.160 --> 00:25:19.380 We're not just merely forgiven, but we are given Christ. 00:25:19.380 --> 00:25:26.580 And in him, we are welcome at the Father's table. 00:25:27.540 --> 00:25:35.400 Jesus is the better Boaz who showers us with grace upon grace upon grace upon grace upon grace. 00:25:35.760 --> 00:25:38.580 Have you experienced this for yourself? 00:25:39.140 --> 00:25:45.400 Have you put your faith in the Lord Jesus and experienced the forgiveness for sins that comes from him? 00:25:45.400 --> 00:25:49.259 You can tell if you've done that. 00:25:50.160 --> 00:25:51.600 You see that in the story here. 00:25:52.420 --> 00:25:58.000 Because if you have received his grace, it does something to you the way that it did for Ruth and Naomi. 00:25:58.500 --> 00:25:59.460 Two things to see. 00:25:59.600 --> 00:26:01.080 First of all, grace humbles us. 00:26:01.140 --> 00:26:01.620 Verse 10. 00:26:02.420 --> 00:26:05.680 Look at what happens to Ruth when she experiences Boaz's generosity. 00:26:05.680 --> 00:26:09.860 She fell on her face, bowing to the ground and said to him, 00:26:10.019 --> 00:26:17.100 Why have I found favor in your eyes that you should take care of notice of me since I am a foreigner? 00:26:18.200 --> 00:26:20.320 Who is the him there? 00:26:25.380 --> 00:26:27.360 She bowed on the ground and said to him, 00:26:28.100 --> 00:26:30.460 Is it God or is it Boaz? 00:26:31.039 --> 00:26:33.840 Was it God who took notice of her or Boaz? 00:26:33.839 --> 00:26:35.379 The answer is yes. 00:26:36.500 --> 00:26:39.259 God showed his grace and favor through Boaz. 00:26:39.659 --> 00:26:43.279 Boaz is the means by which God is gracious to Ruth. 00:26:43.899 --> 00:26:49.379 Any kindness that we are shown by anyone is always ultimately from God. 00:26:49.779 --> 00:26:55.439 But this is the effect that true grace has on the heart of any true believer. 00:26:55.599 --> 00:26:56.519 It humbles us. 00:26:57.980 --> 00:27:01.059 We know that we haven't done anything to deserve this favor. 00:27:01.059 --> 00:27:04.099 We haven't earned any of his gifts. 00:27:04.159 --> 00:27:05.639 You can't earn a gift. 00:27:06.559 --> 00:27:10.599 All we can do is fall on our face with thankfulness. 00:27:11.740 --> 00:27:14.259 That is the only right response to the grace of God. 00:27:14.259 --> 00:27:26.799 Grace humbles us. 00:27:26.799 --> 00:27:29.359 But can you see it also transforms? 00:27:29.900 --> 00:27:30.700 Grace transforms. 00:27:30.859 --> 00:27:31.299 Verse 20. 00:27:31.400 --> 00:27:32.019 Look at Naomi. 00:27:33.799 --> 00:27:35.160 Naomi said to her daughter-in-law, 00:27:35.160 --> 00:27:45.720 When we left her at the end of chapter 1, she was in this cycle of bitterness. 00:27:45.720 --> 00:27:48.560 Call me Mara for the Almighty. 00:27:48.920 --> 00:27:49.779 Not Yahweh. 00:27:49.920 --> 00:27:50.800 Not the covenant name. 00:27:50.880 --> 00:27:51.660 The Almighty. 00:27:52.800 --> 00:27:59.960 The cold, fatalistic God that I think is doing this to me to make me sad. 00:28:00.519 --> 00:28:01.820 He has made me bitter. 00:28:01.819 --> 00:28:03.500 He's being unfairly harsh. 00:28:04.839 --> 00:28:05.879 Look at the change. 00:28:07.659 --> 00:28:09.759 She's seen what God has done through Boaz. 00:28:10.899 --> 00:28:13.559 What He's done for both her and for Ruth. 00:28:13.659 --> 00:28:15.679 And she speaks of the Lord's covenant kindness. 00:28:16.359 --> 00:28:17.059 His hesed. 00:28:17.059 --> 00:28:21.480 She's found joy in the Lord again. 00:28:23.039 --> 00:28:28.099 She can now see His covenant faithfulness to her in this generous provision that she has received. 00:28:28.799 --> 00:28:32.460 In many ways, in many ways, her circumstances haven't changed one bit. 00:28:33.339 --> 00:28:34.379 She's still homeless. 00:28:34.899 --> 00:28:36.200 She still doesn't have an heir. 00:28:36.200 --> 00:28:42.100 But her heart that had been hardened towards God has been softened. 00:28:43.220 --> 00:28:45.480 Her faith has been restored. 00:28:47.620 --> 00:28:51.039 In short, through God's grace, she has been transformed. 00:28:51.039 --> 00:28:56.740 And again, we need to see that that is what true grace does to the human heart. 00:28:57.960 --> 00:29:02.879 It transforms us from looking at ourselves, navel-gazing, self-obsessed, thinking life's all about me. 00:29:03.259 --> 00:29:07.420 It turns us from being people like that to people that look up and praise and glorify our God. 00:29:09.399 --> 00:29:12.960 In many ways, that is the mark of genuine faith. 00:29:12.960 --> 00:29:19.920 Your circumstances haven't changed, but you can see that God is for you. 00:29:23.640 --> 00:29:29.980 Whatever is going on, you recognize that He is worthy of your praise, and you praise Him for all that you have. 00:29:30.680 --> 00:29:32.579 You don't despise Him for what you don't have. 00:29:34.759 --> 00:29:40.980 You can experience even great loss, and you can still trust that God is gracious beyond measure. 00:29:40.980 --> 00:29:46.460 A heart that is captured by the grace of the Lord Jesus will always be changed, 00:29:46.759 --> 00:29:50.360 sometimes slowly, but always unmistakably. 00:29:50.559 --> 00:29:51.779 So, look up. 00:29:52.779 --> 00:29:53.380 Look up. 00:29:53.460 --> 00:29:54.579 See what you have in Christ. 00:29:54.680 --> 00:29:57.079 He has been so kind to you. 00:29:58.019 --> 00:30:02.299 Even in the darkest struggle that you may be going through, look up, 00:30:03.000 --> 00:30:05.599 because you can rejoice in what you have in Christ. 00:30:05.599 --> 00:30:11.359 Well, the remarkable Boaz is central to this part of the story, 00:30:11.740 --> 00:30:16.679 but he's really pointing us to the one who would come after him, 00:30:16.740 --> 00:30:19.759 and has now come, the Lord Jesus, 00:30:20.199 --> 00:30:23.799 the one who is our better protector, provider, and redeemer. 00:30:24.639 --> 00:30:27.059 The Lord Jesus has taken notice of you. 00:30:27.059 --> 00:30:32.759 The Lord Jesus' kindness has not forsaken you. 00:30:34.119 --> 00:30:39.000 And whatever you're going through, the Lord Jesus will comfort you. 00:30:40.259 --> 00:30:41.759 His love is very deep. 00:30:42.919 --> 00:30:43.819 Let's pray together.