WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:14.019 It's good to be with you again if you'd like to turn in your Bibles to Ruth and chapter 3. 00:00:15.419 --> 00:00:17.559 And we're going to read that together shortly. 00:00:19.859 --> 00:00:28.039 And if you've been following with us, we left last week in a more hopeful situation than we did on weeks 1 and 2. 00:00:28.039 --> 00:00:33.019 We had Ruth and Naomi, and they are full of food. 00:00:33.859 --> 00:00:37.240 They have a cupboard which is stocked up for the winter. 00:00:37.539 --> 00:00:39.859 They have received goodness from the harvest. 00:00:40.320 --> 00:00:47.159 And they also had this idea that the person who had blessed them was a man named Boaz, and he was their kinsman-redeemer. 00:00:47.280 --> 00:00:51.340 And we left it as all good stories and all good episodes on a cliffhanger. 00:00:51.340 --> 00:00:55.060 And the question, what would happen to Naomi? 00:00:55.200 --> 00:00:56.120 What would happen to Ruth? 00:00:56.119 --> 00:00:58.320 And would Boaz play a part? 00:00:59.559 --> 00:01:04.620 And we know from the Old Testament that the background to this is obviously that Ruth is a foreigner. 00:01:04.799 --> 00:01:06.039 She is outside of Israel. 00:01:06.379 --> 00:01:07.239 She's also a widow. 00:01:07.379 --> 00:01:08.079 Naomi's a widow. 00:01:08.219 --> 00:01:08.900 They're destitute. 00:01:09.079 --> 00:01:10.959 They're without meals in their life. 00:01:11.019 --> 00:01:13.219 And that means that they're going to have a hard time. 00:01:13.280 --> 00:01:13.900 They're going to struggle. 00:01:13.900 --> 00:01:18.900 But we also know that the law has made provision for the widows and the foreigner. 00:01:18.900 --> 00:01:39.540 And also that the law of the Leverite marriage, you know, so that if a person was to die, a male was to die, and there was another male in that family line who could come and marry the widow so that they could then have offspring and then live out, as it were, the family line of the dead brother. 00:01:39.540 --> 00:01:42.780 And that that was something that should be done. 00:01:42.780 --> 00:01:49.280 And there was an obligation within the community that that would happen so that they wouldn't lose out on the inheritance that God gave them. 00:01:49.280 --> 00:01:55.180 And we also have the background then of this guardian redeemer that we talked about a little. 00:01:55.340 --> 00:02:14.599 And that basically in the law basically said that if someone in your family ran into hard times, had to sell themselves into slavery, or they had some sort of trouble, that your family then was obligated, this guardian redeemer was obligated to come and to rescue you, to pay your debt, to buy you back out of slavery. 00:02:14.599 --> 00:02:20.120 But in essence, to redeem you from the hard times of which you have fallen. 00:02:20.280 --> 00:02:23.939 And that is the background that we find here then in chapter three. 00:02:24.579 --> 00:02:30.439 We also find in chapter three the sound of wedding bells or the potential wedding bells. 00:02:30.439 --> 00:02:41.419 And I know that a lot of you ladies, I'll not say all ladies, maybe some men, that once there's a sort of a hint of a wedding, that you sort of really get into some sort of frenzy, overdrive. 00:02:41.419 --> 00:02:45.559 And, you know, you really get active and kicked into gear. 00:02:46.039 --> 00:02:50.739 I know that personally it happened to me. 00:02:50.859 --> 00:02:52.419 I was sort of ganged up upon. 00:02:53.699 --> 00:03:01.219 We had sort of talked with Claire and the potential, you know, what about getting married? 00:03:01.359 --> 00:03:06.539 She says, well, you know, you have to go and ask my dad if, you know, that's going to happen, which is all well and good. 00:03:06.539 --> 00:03:12.979 And so I did that and, you know, our dad and Billy, he was there watching Match of the Day lying on the floor. 00:03:13.159 --> 00:03:20.680 And I threw the question out, you know, what if, you know, maybe perhaps in the future, you know, I might ask, you know, Claire, your daughter, to marry me. 00:03:20.759 --> 00:03:23.099 You know, how would you respond to that? 00:03:23.159 --> 00:03:26.340 And I think if the floor could have dropped down, he would have fallen through it. 00:03:26.639 --> 00:03:30.939 He wasn't really ready for such a question at 11 o'clock on a Saturday night. 00:03:30.939 --> 00:03:32.300 And nor was I, to be truthful. 00:03:33.079 --> 00:03:40.060 And so he said, well, you know, he sort of seemed a bit shaken and said, well, you know, that would be okay. 00:03:40.840 --> 00:03:42.819 So I got in the car and went home. 00:03:43.180 --> 00:03:50.259 Got up the next morning, which is Sunday, went to church, came back from church and thought, well, you know, I better ring Claire and see how things are going. 00:03:50.259 --> 00:03:57.500 And, you know, maybe think about going to buy a ring or finding some fancy way, you know, you could sort of surprise her and propose. 00:03:58.120 --> 00:03:59.680 And I said, you know, hi, Claire, how's it going? 00:03:59.680 --> 00:04:03.140 And then she told me that her mum and dad had had a conversation. 00:04:03.580 --> 00:04:04.900 They had planned a trip to London. 00:04:05.120 --> 00:04:10.200 They were heading to London in about three weeks to buy material for the wedding dress that her mum was going to make. 00:04:12.599 --> 00:04:13.300 True bill. 00:04:13.879 --> 00:04:16.199 So that was my proposal. 00:04:16.600 --> 00:04:18.960 I asked her dad and they organized the whole thing. 00:04:18.959 --> 00:04:27.239 So I can relate a little bit to the idea of Naomi behind the scenes saying, I know what I'm going to do. 00:04:27.279 --> 00:04:29.799 I'm going to get these two pair together. 00:04:30.079 --> 00:04:33.339 So let's read together chapter three. 00:04:33.339 --> 00:04:48.459 One day, Ruth's mother-in-law, Naomi, said to her, my daughter, I must find a home for you where you will be provided for. 00:04:49.120 --> 00:04:52.759 Now, Boaz, whose woman you have worked, is a relative of ours. 00:04:52.819 --> 00:04:56.419 And tonight she will be winnowing barley on the threshing floor. 00:04:56.420 --> 00:05:00.560 Wash, put on perfume and get dressed in your best clothes. 00:05:00.939 --> 00:05:02.580 Then go down to the threshing floor. 00:05:02.780 --> 00:05:06.180 But don't let him know that you're there until he's finished eating and drinking. 00:05:06.819 --> 00:05:09.340 When he lies down, note the place where he is lying. 00:05:09.520 --> 00:05:11.819 Then go uncover his feet and lie down. 00:05:12.280 --> 00:05:13.680 And he will tell you what to do. 00:05:14.819 --> 00:05:16.860 I will do whatever you say, Ruth answered. 00:05:17.540 --> 00:05:22.439 So she went down to the threshing floor and did everything her mother-in-law told her to do. 00:05:22.439 --> 00:05:32.219 When Boaz had finished eating and drinking and was in good spirits, he went over to lie down at the far end of the grain pile. 00:05:32.939 --> 00:05:36.040 Ruth approached quietly, uncovered his feet and lay down. 00:05:36.899 --> 00:05:41.519 In the middle of the night, something startled the man and he turned and there was a woman lying at his feet. 00:05:41.879 --> 00:05:43.139 Who are you? he asked. 00:05:43.980 --> 00:05:46.019 I am your servant, Ruth, she said. 00:05:46.420 --> 00:05:51.459 Spread the corner of your garment over me since you are a guardian redeemer of our family. 00:05:51.459 --> 00:05:54.519 The Lord bless you, my daughter, he replied. 00:05:54.639 --> 00:05:58.419 This is kindness greater than that which you showed earlier. 00:05:59.019 --> 00:06:02.279 You have not run after the younger men, whether rich or poor. 00:06:02.979 --> 00:06:04.740 And now, my daughter, don't be afraid. 00:06:04.839 --> 00:06:06.359 I will do for you all you ask. 00:06:06.939 --> 00:06:11.159 All the people of my own town know that you are a woman of noble character. 00:06:12.099 --> 00:06:15.120 Although it is true that I am a guardian redeemer of our family, 00:06:15.299 --> 00:06:18.099 there is another who is more closely related than I. 00:06:18.100 --> 00:06:24.780 Stay here for the night and in the morning, if he wants to do his duty as your guardian redeemer. 00:06:25.620 --> 00:06:27.080 Good, let him redeem you. 00:06:27.480 --> 00:06:31.520 But if he is not willing, as surely as the Lord lives, I will do it. 00:06:32.080 --> 00:06:33.660 Lie here until morning. 00:06:34.520 --> 00:06:38.660 So she lay at his feet until morning, got up before anyone could be recognized, 00:06:38.660 --> 00:06:43.560 and he said, No one must know that a woman came to the threshing floor. 00:06:44.300 --> 00:06:48.040 He also said, Bring me the shawl you are wearing and hold it out. 00:06:48.820 --> 00:06:53.500 And when he did so, he poured it into six measures of barley and placed the bundles on her. 00:06:53.880 --> 00:06:55.400 And then he went back to town. 00:06:56.900 --> 00:07:01.100 When Ruth came to her mother-in-law, Naomi asked, How did it go, my daughter? 00:07:01.100 --> 00:07:05.060 Then she told her everything Boaz had done for her and added, 00:07:05.420 --> 00:07:10.120 He gave me these six measures of barley, saying, Don't go back to your mother-in-law empty-handed. 00:07:10.660 --> 00:07:15.000 Then Naomi said, Wait, my daughter, until you find out what happens, 00:07:15.320 --> 00:07:19.420 for the man will not rest until the matter is settled today. 00:07:22.360 --> 00:07:22.879 Amen. 00:07:22.879 --> 00:07:23.020 Amen. 00:07:23.019 --> 00:07:32.099 It raises lots of questions in your mind, I'm quite sure. 00:07:32.199 --> 00:07:33.199 There's a lot of lying down. 00:07:33.339 --> 00:07:35.299 There's a lot of uncovering of things. 00:07:35.659 --> 00:07:38.839 And we'll get to that later. 00:07:38.959 --> 00:07:43.379 But I would like to just take a moment and think about the idea of marriage. 00:07:43.379 --> 00:07:54.680 Because the story might, I suppose, make you think of some things other than what's actually in the text. 00:07:54.779 --> 00:07:58.199 Because in our culture, we have some different views of marriage. 00:07:59.060 --> 00:08:04.439 Bruno Mars, he says this, It's a beautiful night and we're looking for something dumb to do. 00:08:04.719 --> 00:08:06.939 Hey, baby, I think I want to marry you. 00:08:08.219 --> 00:08:11.219 Is it the look in your eyes or is it this dancing juice? 00:08:11.220 --> 00:08:12.580 Who cares, baby? 00:08:12.840 --> 00:08:14.280 I think I want to marry you. 00:08:15.320 --> 00:08:17.180 And it goes on and on. 00:08:18.060 --> 00:08:19.260 And then he says this, 00:08:20.220 --> 00:08:26.760 If we make a mistake, if we wake up and you want to break up, that's cool. 00:08:28.140 --> 00:08:29.160 No, I won't blame you. 00:08:30.140 --> 00:08:31.100 It was fun, girl. 00:08:32.139 --> 00:08:36.660 This idea that somehow marriage is just some sort of like temporary happening. 00:08:37.420 --> 00:08:41.060 Somehow the marriage is something that we can just do just for a bit of crack. 00:08:41.700 --> 00:08:42.500 That's what's out there. 00:08:42.580 --> 00:08:43.340 That's what's in the culture. 00:08:43.460 --> 00:08:47.980 And if that's what you think, well, I have to say, please don't get married. 00:08:49.139 --> 00:08:50.320 Please, please don't get married. 00:08:50.399 --> 00:08:52.840 Marriage is something very, very different. 00:08:53.000 --> 00:08:58.540 And marriage here and the type of marriage as proposed here is also very, very different. 00:08:59.200 --> 00:09:01.160 We also have this other view of marriage. 00:09:01.159 --> 00:09:05.919 Adam Sandler, he says that I want to make you smile whenever you're sad. 00:09:06.019 --> 00:09:08.639 I want to carry you around when your arthritis is bad. 00:09:08.980 --> 00:09:11.679 Because all I want to do is to grow old with you. 00:09:12.740 --> 00:09:14.980 I'll get you medicine when your tummy aches. 00:09:15.159 --> 00:09:17.719 I'll build you a fire if the furnace breaks. 00:09:18.159 --> 00:09:20.819 Oh, it could be so nice growing old with you. 00:09:20.820 --> 00:09:22.400 Because I'll miss you. 00:09:22.540 --> 00:09:23.360 I'll kiss you. 00:09:24.300 --> 00:09:26.340 And I'll give you my coat when you're cold. 00:09:27.060 --> 00:09:27.800 I need you. 00:09:27.920 --> 00:09:28.660 I'll feed you. 00:09:28.940 --> 00:09:31.340 And I'll even let you have the remote control. 00:09:31.740 --> 00:09:32.680 Now, what love is that? 00:09:33.640 --> 00:09:35.720 So let me do the dishes in our sink. 00:09:35.720 --> 00:09:39.000 And I'll put you to bed when you've had too much to drink. 00:09:39.480 --> 00:09:41.460 Oh, I could be the man who grows old with you. 00:09:42.139 --> 00:09:48.560 Adam Sandler, in his comedic way, he's a little bit closer in the sense that marriage is permanent. 00:09:48.840 --> 00:09:53.100 Marriage is about not just now, but forever. 00:09:54.480 --> 00:09:59.259 But it's just a little bit more than just spending life with someone who you like. 00:09:59.720 --> 00:10:02.920 If marriage is that, please, again, don't get married. 00:10:02.919 --> 00:10:05.379 Marriage is something a lot more. 00:10:05.479 --> 00:10:18.299 Biblical marriage is something a lot more between a man and a woman that they can give each other to each other and share life together in faith for as long as they live. 00:10:18.399 --> 00:10:19.519 Marriage is something different. 00:10:20.039 --> 00:10:25.339 And I think that's something that, as Christians, we should actually be using as a witness in today's culture. 00:10:26.000 --> 00:10:29.079 The wonderfulness and the beauty of marriage. 00:10:29.080 --> 00:10:36.460 And it's something that we should live like Christian marriage and live it out there. 00:10:36.580 --> 00:10:39.100 Because it's different than what the culture thinks. 00:10:39.320 --> 00:10:40.540 And it is a witness. 00:10:42.340 --> 00:10:44.860 We're also going to see this morning a few questions. 00:10:47.540 --> 00:10:49.420 Maybe you haven't thought about these questions. 00:10:49.540 --> 00:10:52.100 If you're not a Christian, I doubt that they crossed your mind. 00:10:52.100 --> 00:10:55.360 But this text, I think, answers some of these questions. 00:10:55.519 --> 00:10:57.860 The question is, why should God accept you? 00:10:59.320 --> 00:11:01.600 And if so, how can you actually approach God? 00:11:03.120 --> 00:11:06.420 You say, Gary, how did you get from that, from a whole wedding? 00:11:07.700 --> 00:11:10.379 But those are the questions I think this text can answer. 00:11:12.320 --> 00:11:14.100 Why should God accept us? 00:11:14.740 --> 00:11:18.220 Or on what grounds or on what basis can we be accepted by God? 00:11:18.220 --> 00:11:23.720 And so let's go to the text with those two questions in our mind. 00:11:24.060 --> 00:11:29.100 And we come across, first of all, in our first verses, we come across Naomi, the matchmaker. 00:11:29.560 --> 00:11:30.700 Naomi has a plan. 00:11:31.180 --> 00:11:33.180 Naomi has some ideas. 00:11:33.560 --> 00:11:34.340 She has a blueprint. 00:11:35.540 --> 00:11:42.460 And, yes, we can learn these few things. 00:11:42.460 --> 00:11:46.519 We can learn that human plans can weave into God's plans. 00:11:46.519 --> 00:11:48.120 Naomi has a plan. 00:11:48.639 --> 00:11:50.419 But God has a greater plan. 00:11:52.279 --> 00:11:54.639 They have a need for a lasting solution. 00:11:55.000 --> 00:11:56.639 So in chapter 2, it was okay. 00:11:56.819 --> 00:11:58.399 They had a full stocked-up cupboard. 00:11:58.659 --> 00:12:02.240 It had been to the local Tesco's, in this case, Boaz's field. 00:12:02.399 --> 00:12:04.019 And they were able to stock up in green. 00:12:05.659 --> 00:12:10.600 But what we learn here is that faith is intentional and it requires action. 00:12:10.600 --> 00:12:19.720 If you're the sort of Christian person that's going to sit around and knit or, you know, and just think, you know, it's all in God's hands. 00:12:19.800 --> 00:12:20.519 It'll all be done. 00:12:20.899 --> 00:12:22.100 And I don't have to do anything. 00:12:22.540 --> 00:12:23.720 The world will be saved. 00:12:24.019 --> 00:12:25.060 People will come to Christ. 00:12:25.279 --> 00:12:27.379 And we can sit reading our book with our feet up. 00:12:28.580 --> 00:12:35.060 This, I believe, tells us that, no, faith requires some sort of action and movement from ourselves. 00:12:35.059 --> 00:12:38.219 So let's look at those few verses. 00:12:40.579 --> 00:12:47.799 And so here we have, one day Ruth's mother-in-law Naomi said to her, my daughter, I must find you a home. 00:12:49.559 --> 00:12:53.359 So she wants to find security for Ruth and she has hatched a plan. 00:12:53.360 --> 00:12:59.300 So we want to go through the details of that plan and see why I think that it's actually a pretty bad idea. 00:13:00.399 --> 00:13:01.700 It's fraught with difficulties. 00:13:02.019 --> 00:13:07.399 And if it fails, the whole project of Ruth and Naomi in Israel is gone. 00:13:08.139 --> 00:13:11.500 I mean, this is really, I don't gamble, but it's kind of that idea. 00:13:11.600 --> 00:13:15.419 You know, you've got the red and the black and you bet everything on the wee wheel that spins around. 00:13:15.480 --> 00:13:17.980 And you say, I'm putting all my money on the red. 00:13:18.440 --> 00:13:21.440 And, you know, if it doesn't fall on the red, you're in big trouble. 00:13:21.440 --> 00:13:23.660 And so that's what they're doing. 00:13:23.780 --> 00:13:26.680 They're saying, right, we need something to happen. 00:13:26.980 --> 00:13:28.880 And Naomi's determined to make it happen. 00:13:29.920 --> 00:13:32.720 And so she gives Ruth a number of things that she has to do. 00:13:33.120 --> 00:13:36.500 She has to wash and she has to put on her best clothes. 00:13:37.980 --> 00:13:39.420 I think that's quite a good idea. 00:13:39.500 --> 00:13:44.720 If you're going to go and meet someone and talk to them, I would encourage you to please wash and please dress nicely. 00:13:45.200 --> 00:13:46.300 It's a good dating tip. 00:13:46.760 --> 00:13:48.780 There's not much out of this that you can get for dating. 00:13:48.779 --> 00:13:51.799 But these two things, I think, are universal and always used. 00:13:52.199 --> 00:13:54.419 Please wash and put on nice clothes. 00:13:56.000 --> 00:14:02.199 And so the details are we have to go to the threshing floor, but she has to stay out of sight. 00:14:03.379 --> 00:14:08.699 It's going to be at dark and it's going to be after Boaz has had a hard day's work. 00:14:08.799 --> 00:14:11.000 So we have to let him eat and let him drink. 00:14:12.039 --> 00:14:13.500 And don't let him know that you're there. 00:14:14.360 --> 00:14:14.819 Watch him. 00:14:15.079 --> 00:14:16.139 See where he lies down. 00:14:16.139 --> 00:14:19.039 Note where he's laying down because it's going to be dark. 00:14:19.740 --> 00:14:21.080 And then go and uncover his feet. 00:14:22.259 --> 00:14:23.620 Quite strange behavior. 00:14:24.019 --> 00:14:25.100 Then lie down yourself. 00:14:25.939 --> 00:14:27.439 And then wait for him to tell you what to do. 00:14:27.960 --> 00:14:29.080 So that's Naomi's plan. 00:14:30.100 --> 00:14:30.539 Flawless. 00:14:31.139 --> 00:14:33.600 It's, you know, what could go wrong? 00:14:34.279 --> 00:14:37.819 Well, the objective is so that Ruth can get a husband. 00:14:39.059 --> 00:14:41.659 And Ruth can get Boaz as her husband. 00:14:41.879 --> 00:14:43.240 And that she can get Boaz alone. 00:14:43.240 --> 00:14:49.899 She wants to make clear that Ruth is available and that she's willing to be Boaz's husband. 00:14:52.000 --> 00:14:54.440 And it's so that Ruth will be secure and looked after. 00:14:55.139 --> 00:14:57.340 And so this was Ruth's original intent. 00:14:57.500 --> 00:15:04.279 And if you go back to chapter one, she wanted Orpah and Ruth to go back to Moab so that they could have this kind of security. 00:15:04.659 --> 00:15:06.139 The security of a husband. 00:15:06.139 --> 00:15:10.580 And so this is Naomi's love and desire for Ruth. 00:15:12.059 --> 00:15:13.240 But here are the problems. 00:15:14.059 --> 00:15:16.779 If you don't see them in the text, I'm going to spell them out for you. 00:15:17.559 --> 00:15:17.860 Okay. 00:15:18.799 --> 00:15:20.120 The barn is full of men. 00:15:21.059 --> 00:15:22.480 So it's not just Boaz. 00:15:22.720 --> 00:15:23.819 There's lots of guys working. 00:15:24.559 --> 00:15:26.379 So there's not just Boaz there. 00:15:26.379 --> 00:15:30.639 Moabites are known for their immorality. 00:15:30.840 --> 00:15:41.179 If you go back into the Old Testament, as we've looked at before, the actual Moabite family came from an incestuous relationship between Lot's daughter and Lot. 00:15:41.379 --> 00:15:43.519 And that's how the Moabites are here. 00:15:43.519 --> 00:15:48.240 And then you go a little bit forward into the Book of Numbers. 00:15:48.639 --> 00:15:55.740 And the Moabite daughters, they seduce all the Israelite males and they cause them to sin and worship idols. 00:15:56.259 --> 00:16:01.699 So Moabites don't have a great track record when it comes to late night encounters, let's say. 00:16:01.700 --> 00:16:07.420 Also, when we read in Hosea, I can't just recall the reference. 00:16:07.540 --> 00:16:08.340 I didn't note it down. 00:16:09.000 --> 00:16:16.320 But God basically criticizes Israel for when they go to the threshing floors that prostitutes would frequent there. 00:16:16.620 --> 00:16:23.220 And so it's a place where at the end of the harvest time there might be a wee bit of the idea of a party spirit. 00:16:23.580 --> 00:16:29.800 And certain ladies who would like to frequent those sort of happenings would come along. 00:16:29.799 --> 00:16:36.319 And so the potential for this to go really, really, really sideways and wrong is quite high. 00:16:36.399 --> 00:16:39.179 And I think you need to sort of clue into that. 00:16:40.719 --> 00:16:42.939 So she could be mistaken as a prostitute. 00:16:44.059 --> 00:16:46.279 And then at the bottom of it, Boaz could say no. 00:16:49.979 --> 00:16:51.919 And so the plan would end. 00:16:53.399 --> 00:16:55.939 And Naomi doesn't really seem to have a plan B. 00:16:57.439 --> 00:16:58.679 But she is intentional. 00:16:59.799 --> 00:17:04.119 And it does tell us that faith is intentional. 00:17:05.379 --> 00:17:10.440 Thinking about our faith and about plans that we might make, C.T. Studd, he said this. 00:17:11.299 --> 00:17:12.740 Nail the colors to the mast. 00:17:13.500 --> 00:17:14.879 That's the right thing to do. 00:17:15.000 --> 00:17:17.079 And therefore, that is what we must do. 00:17:17.379 --> 00:17:18.079 And do it now. 00:17:18.879 --> 00:17:19.519 What colors? 00:17:19.819 --> 00:17:20.899 The colors of Christ. 00:17:21.240 --> 00:17:22.539 The work he has given us to do. 00:17:22.639 --> 00:17:25.220 The evangelization of all the un-evangelized. 00:17:25.220 --> 00:17:29.600 Christ wants not nibblers of the possible, but grabbers of the impossible. 00:17:29.599 --> 00:17:36.159 By faith in the omnipotence, fidelity, and wisdom of the almighty Savior, who gave the command, 00:17:36.160 --> 00:17:38.860 Is there a wall in our path? 00:17:39.140 --> 00:17:40.660 By God, we will leap over it. 00:17:41.040 --> 00:17:43.279 And there are lions and scorpions on our way. 00:17:43.700 --> 00:17:45.259 Will we trample them under our feet? 00:17:45.600 --> 00:17:49.200 Does a mountain bar our progress, saying, Be thou cast into the sea? 00:17:49.519 --> 00:17:51.640 We will march on, soldiers of Jesus. 00:17:51.940 --> 00:17:52.700 Never surrender. 00:17:53.640 --> 00:17:55.640 Nail the colors to the mast. 00:17:55.640 --> 00:17:59.660 C.T. Studd is saying, Faith has action. 00:18:00.080 --> 00:18:03.280 Naomi understood it, and she put a plan of action in place. 00:18:04.700 --> 00:18:08.040 And for that, I would be happy. 00:18:08.220 --> 00:18:10.500 But the plan doesn't seem to be that foolproof. 00:18:11.480 --> 00:18:14.160 It seems to be one that could go wrong at any moment. 00:18:15.180 --> 00:18:16.040 What if she's seen? 00:18:16.320 --> 00:18:19.320 What if someone mistakes her for a prostitute? 00:18:19.320 --> 00:18:23.420 What if Boaz decides that he doesn't want to get married? 00:18:23.420 --> 00:18:25.779 And he doesn't want to fulfill his obligation? 00:18:27.380 --> 00:18:29.539 And so we come to the event itself. 00:18:29.800 --> 00:18:31.660 We come to the proposal. 00:18:32.960 --> 00:18:39.039 And again, we note that Ruth's response to all of this is that she's going to do it in faithful obedience. 00:18:39.240 --> 00:18:41.259 I will do whatever you say. 00:18:42.039 --> 00:18:43.660 That's not a wonderful answer. 00:18:44.200 --> 00:18:46.940 A plan that looks like it could go sideways at any point. 00:18:47.460 --> 00:18:51.560 And Ruth's saying, I'll do it to the letter. 00:18:51.559 --> 00:18:55.200 So Ruth is also willing to risk everything. 00:18:58.359 --> 00:19:01.799 And so we have a number of requests here. 00:19:04.299 --> 00:19:07.899 And it tells us a little bit about faith in the proposal. 00:19:09.480 --> 00:19:11.419 So what do we have here in the proposal? 00:19:12.000 --> 00:19:12.779 In verse 7. 00:19:12.779 --> 00:19:21.819 By the way, if you're wondering how you want to propose to a man, because, you know, that's kind of what's going on here. 00:19:21.940 --> 00:19:24.960 Apparently, WikiHow has nine things that you can do. 00:19:25.379 --> 00:19:25.839 WikiHow. 00:19:26.099 --> 00:19:26.960 You know, so if you're wondering. 00:19:27.339 --> 00:19:30.339 I wouldn't advise that you take WikiHow's advice, but apparently it's there. 00:19:30.339 --> 00:19:36.539 But this is Ruth's proposal story. 00:19:36.699 --> 00:19:45.579 This is how she is going to say to Boaz that she would like to be his wife and that she would have him as her husband. 00:19:48.000 --> 00:19:52.579 It's also interesting to note that the word lie in this whole chapter is used eight times. 00:19:52.579 --> 00:20:00.019 And that has to be the worst advice to give anybody in terms of any kind of relationship. 00:20:00.639 --> 00:20:03.659 In fact, it's the thing that we want to tell people not to do. 00:20:04.679 --> 00:20:09.099 And so if you're here and you're listening and you're thinking, oh, great, this is a great idea of how to get a man. 00:20:10.039 --> 00:20:14.559 Well, I would say to you, you can only use this story if you meet all the credentials. 00:20:14.559 --> 00:20:16.659 One, you're a Moabite. 00:20:17.079 --> 00:20:18.440 Two, you're a widow. 00:20:19.179 --> 00:20:21.740 And you have married into an Israeli family. 00:20:22.279 --> 00:20:23.859 And you find yourself in Israel. 00:20:24.179 --> 00:20:26.639 And you also have someone who is a guardian redeemer. 00:20:27.139 --> 00:20:30.940 So you get the idea that this is not a plan of how to get a man. 00:20:32.059 --> 00:20:34.299 Just in case you thought that it was. 00:20:36.179 --> 00:20:40.299 But we come to the first part here in that faith is vulnerable. 00:20:40.500 --> 00:20:44.460 In her request, Ruth is exposed. 00:20:44.559 --> 00:20:52.960 When Boaz had finished eating and drinking and was in good spirits, he went over to lie down at the far end of the grain pile. 00:20:53.159 --> 00:20:54.359 And Ruth approached quietly. 00:20:54.960 --> 00:20:57.240 She uncovered his feet and she lay down. 00:20:58.179 --> 00:20:59.200 Who thinks she was sleeping? 00:20:59.839 --> 00:21:00.759 I certainly don't. 00:21:02.099 --> 00:21:03.379 Someone discovers her. 00:21:04.720 --> 00:21:07.240 You know, what are they going to think? 00:21:08.740 --> 00:21:13.759 If she's lying down at the wrong person's feet, what's he going to think when he wakes up? 00:21:14.559 --> 00:21:19.039 And so Ruth is exposed and she's vulnerable. 00:21:20.639 --> 00:21:23.019 And she's banking on Boaz's character. 00:21:23.159 --> 00:21:27.200 The person who we met in chapter 2 who was described as a man of noble character. 00:21:27.740 --> 00:21:29.259 She's banking on that character. 00:21:29.419 --> 00:21:33.960 She's banking that Boaz is going to react with dignity. 00:21:33.960 --> 00:21:34.799 With dignity. 00:21:35.039 --> 00:21:35.660 With love. 00:21:35.740 --> 00:21:36.400 With respect. 00:21:39.940 --> 00:21:43.079 But that's really the position that we should be in when we come to God. 00:21:43.140 --> 00:21:44.920 That we should be in that position. 00:21:45.079 --> 00:21:47.460 That we should come and that we would come to Jesus' feet. 00:21:47.600 --> 00:21:49.500 And that we would be vulnerable. 00:21:49.700 --> 00:21:52.740 That we're saying, I don't have any other option. 00:21:53.240 --> 00:21:54.460 I don't have a plan B. 00:21:54.559 --> 00:21:55.980 Naomi didn't have a plan B. 00:21:55.980 --> 00:22:00.900 We're here and we're waiting on the mercy of our Redeemer. 00:22:06.539 --> 00:22:07.620 In verse 9. 00:22:11.339 --> 00:22:12.559 The end of verse 8. 00:22:13.339 --> 00:22:13.720 Sorry. 00:22:14.180 --> 00:22:16.200 In the middle of the night something startled the man. 00:22:17.140 --> 00:22:19.259 And he turned and he found a woman lying at his feet. 00:22:19.259 --> 00:22:23.799 I'm not quite sure why she uncovered his feet. 00:22:23.940 --> 00:22:26.279 A lot of the commentators aren't quite sure either. 00:22:26.599 --> 00:22:30.119 But I'm quite sure that in the cold night air, maybe that was the thing that startled him. 00:22:30.660 --> 00:22:32.220 He suddenly realized that his feet were cold. 00:22:32.740 --> 00:22:36.420 And he turns around and he gasps and thinks, who's there? 00:22:37.400 --> 00:22:38.339 Who are you, my daughter? 00:22:38.859 --> 00:22:43.619 It's a question that we'll hear again in a little bit of time. 00:22:44.480 --> 00:22:45.299 Who are you? 00:22:45.720 --> 00:22:46.799 What are you doing here? 00:22:47.440 --> 00:22:48.299 What do you want? 00:22:49.259 --> 00:22:55.640 And so it's at this point that we see that faith is also intimate. 00:22:56.200 --> 00:22:58.960 It's a point between two people. 00:22:59.099 --> 00:23:01.379 It's a request between two individuals. 00:23:02.240 --> 00:23:06.480 And at this point it's a request from Ruth to Boaz. 00:23:07.619 --> 00:23:14.700 But what we have to really remember here is that Naomi's instructions ended with, 00:23:15.299 --> 00:23:18.799 and whenever you get there, whatever Boaz tells you to do, you do that. 00:23:19.259 --> 00:23:25.799 So at this point, this is kind of ripping up the script and Ruth's off on her own. 00:23:26.539 --> 00:23:28.379 She's decided that she has her own plan. 00:23:28.859 --> 00:23:30.299 She's decided to go off script. 00:23:30.720 --> 00:23:32.299 And so she doesn't stay quiet. 00:23:32.379 --> 00:23:34.220 She decides to say something very powerful. 00:23:34.379 --> 00:23:37.720 She says, I am your servant Ruth, she said. 00:23:37.720 --> 00:23:42.440 Spread the corner of your garment over me since you're the guardian redeemer of our family. 00:23:43.640 --> 00:23:44.860 And you think, what does that mean? 00:23:44.859 --> 00:23:51.159 And it has all of the idea that we could read into it in our Western thought, 00:23:51.299 --> 00:23:58.319 that he's asking her to come and basically they would lie down and they would be intimate together. 00:23:58.419 --> 00:23:59.959 Is that what she's saying? 00:23:59.960 --> 00:24:07.940 And on one level that is what she's saying, but she's not necessarily saying to do that right now. 00:24:08.019 --> 00:24:12.180 What she's actually saying is, I want to be your wife. 00:24:12.460 --> 00:24:17.120 And you, as the guardian redeemer, it's your responsibility to marry me. 00:24:17.240 --> 00:24:19.319 So it's a wedding proposal. 00:24:20.900 --> 00:24:22.400 Imagine how shocked he is. 00:24:22.440 --> 00:24:22.940 He's groggy. 00:24:23.019 --> 00:24:25.740 He's waking up at night, finds a woman on his feet, and she says this. 00:24:25.740 --> 00:24:33.019 I have to understand the, I suppose, the weight of this. 00:24:34.220 --> 00:24:40.839 She isn't just saying, you know, like the two silly songs, you know, let's have a bit of crack. 00:24:40.980 --> 00:24:42.019 You've drank a bit of wine. 00:24:42.420 --> 00:24:44.079 You know, let's get married. 00:24:44.140 --> 00:24:47.180 And if it doesn't work out tomorrow, we can, you know, we can break it off and that's okay. 00:24:47.579 --> 00:24:49.980 And she's not just saying, can I grow old with you? 00:24:51.420 --> 00:24:55.279 She's saying, I want you to take me to yourself. 00:24:55.279 --> 00:24:56.980 I'm willing to be your wife. 00:24:58.680 --> 00:25:06.960 But you must be willing, not only to take me on, but you must be willing to pay off all of Naomi's debt. 00:25:07.460 --> 00:25:09.839 You must be willing to redeem all of her property. 00:25:10.500 --> 00:25:12.339 Look after my mother-in-law. 00:25:12.859 --> 00:25:19.279 And if you have a son, that son is actually going to be the heir of Elimelech and not your heir. 00:25:20.440 --> 00:25:24.319 So what she's asking is a huge question. 00:25:24.319 --> 00:25:27.579 It's an awful lot more than, will you marry me? 00:25:27.720 --> 00:25:29.299 Hey, let's have a bit of crack. 00:25:30.000 --> 00:25:30.939 It's a big thing. 00:25:32.179 --> 00:25:35.379 And Boaz's response is wonderful. 00:25:35.380 --> 00:25:41.340 And we can see then that faith is based on the promises of God. 00:25:41.340 --> 00:25:53.080 Ruth is calling Boaz basically to fulfill covenant commitment, covenant promises, to stand up and be the guardian redeemer that the scriptures call for. 00:25:53.079 --> 00:25:58.980 And so he said, the Lord bless you, my daughter, he replied. 00:25:59.359 --> 00:26:02.839 This kindness is greater than that which you showed earlier. 00:26:03.379 --> 00:26:04.439 Now we have to stop there. 00:26:04.519 --> 00:26:05.759 What's he talking about? 00:26:05.859 --> 00:26:13.939 He's saying the kindness that Naomi and Ruth, that Ruth showed to Naomi in actually coming to Israel in the first place. 00:26:13.940 --> 00:26:16.580 And he goes on to explain why. 00:26:20.720 --> 00:26:24.299 And he's saying, you have not run after the younger men, whether rich or poor. 00:26:25.380 --> 00:26:26.920 And now, my daughter, don't be afraid. 00:26:27.000 --> 00:26:29.200 I will do for you all that you ask. 00:26:30.840 --> 00:26:31.279 Wonderful. 00:26:31.680 --> 00:26:33.600 He's saying, yeah, I'll do it. 00:26:33.799 --> 00:26:35.039 I'll be your guardian redeemer. 00:26:35.039 --> 00:26:38.420 And it's amazing. 00:26:38.740 --> 00:26:42.220 Because Ruth, you're not bound by the law like I am. 00:26:42.980 --> 00:26:47.200 You're not bound by the idea of someone coming to be a guardian redeemer. 00:26:47.740 --> 00:26:51.259 And actually, you were free to marry whoever you wanted. 00:26:51.980 --> 00:26:54.059 You were free to run after someone younger. 00:26:54.480 --> 00:26:59.440 The idea, obviously, of Boaz as an older man, probably less of a catch. 00:26:59.619 --> 00:27:00.879 He is wealthy. 00:27:01.920 --> 00:27:03.960 But she could have chosen anyone. 00:27:03.960 --> 00:27:08.279 She could have looked to marry someone of her liking. 00:27:08.819 --> 00:27:12.860 But she's decided that in her fact that she's committed herself to Naomi, 00:27:13.160 --> 00:27:16.259 she's committed herself to Yahweh, the God of Israel, 00:27:16.620 --> 00:27:19.840 that she's binding herself to this covenant promise. 00:27:19.980 --> 00:27:26.340 And she's willing to be that person through which Boaz can redeem Elimelech's family. 00:27:27.480 --> 00:27:28.480 It's beautiful. 00:27:28.480 --> 00:27:35.360 So you've not run after the younger men, whether rich or poor. 00:27:35.539 --> 00:27:37.059 And now, my daughter, don't be afraid. 00:27:37.180 --> 00:27:38.740 I will do for you all that you ask. 00:27:38.819 --> 00:27:42.519 All the people throughout town know that you're a woman of noble character. 00:27:43.420 --> 00:27:46.799 And this word of noble character, it's very, very interesting. 00:27:46.799 --> 00:27:53.059 It's the same word, only obviously applied to Naomi, that was applied to Boaz, 00:27:53.319 --> 00:27:56.399 that he was a man of standing character that we saw last week. 00:27:57.680 --> 00:28:02.899 And so the narrator is basically telling us that the perfect match met the perfect match. 00:28:03.579 --> 00:28:06.859 The woman of noble character met the man of noble character. 00:28:06.859 --> 00:28:08.539 And how are they going to get together? 00:28:09.339 --> 00:28:14.359 And he goes on further and he uses the term, all the people in the town, in the NIV. 00:28:14.519 --> 00:28:19.599 But what it actually says in the Hebrew, it doesn't really come across that well, literally for us, 00:28:19.799 --> 00:28:21.099 is all the people at the gate. 00:28:21.919 --> 00:28:25.299 And the gate at the time, as we'll find later on, 00:28:25.339 --> 00:28:30.740 it's where Boaz goes to discuss the legal matters of this little proposal, 00:28:31.279 --> 00:28:32.979 is where all of the judgments were made. 00:28:33.059 --> 00:28:35.359 It's where all of the wisdom was within the town. 00:28:35.359 --> 00:28:39.299 You see that in the book of Proverbs also. 00:28:39.740 --> 00:28:42.119 And so he's saying the people at the gate of Bethlehem, 00:28:42.740 --> 00:28:46.099 the rulers of this little town, they all know. 00:28:46.619 --> 00:28:49.719 They all know that you're a woman of noble character. 00:28:50.479 --> 00:28:52.899 They all know who you are. 00:28:53.819 --> 00:28:54.619 And isn't that wonderful? 00:28:55.459 --> 00:29:03.459 Ruth, the Moabite, and her reputation is such that everybody thinks that she's a woman of noble character. 00:29:05.359 --> 00:29:10.240 And we see that, that we have faith is effective. 00:29:13.119 --> 00:29:16.699 Because Boaz is going to obey the law. 00:29:17.579 --> 00:29:20.759 And they've had faith that Boaz is going to act in this way. 00:29:21.419 --> 00:29:23.099 And so that's what happens. 00:29:23.099 --> 00:29:29.539 But it wouldn't be a good story if there wasn't a snag, if there wasn't a problem. 00:29:30.719 --> 00:29:32.599 And so Boaz raises an issue. 00:29:36.719 --> 00:29:38.359 And so we find that in verse 12. 00:29:38.480 --> 00:29:38.699 He says, 00:29:38.700 --> 00:29:59.400 So we have a problem. 00:29:59.400 --> 00:30:03.080 One, Ruth is still at the threshing floor. 00:30:04.040 --> 00:30:04.880 It's still nighttime. 00:30:05.680 --> 00:30:10.160 And there's another person who could actually be the guardian redeemer. 00:30:10.340 --> 00:30:14.180 And if you like, he has to have the right to pass. 00:30:14.540 --> 00:30:16.300 He has to have the right to say no. 00:30:16.299 --> 00:30:22.460 And if he gets wind that Ruth is down at the threshing floor the night before, 00:30:22.579 --> 00:30:25.220 that's not really going to go well when they have a discussion. 00:30:26.000 --> 00:30:34.740 So he needs to be able to answer the question without being influenced by the idea that Ruth has already concocted something with Boaz. 00:30:34.740 --> 00:30:38.859 Or even worse, has actually had some sort of intimate dealings with Boaz. 00:30:38.859 --> 00:30:45.819 And so it's not safe for Ruth to travel back into Bethlehem. 00:30:46.719 --> 00:30:50.279 And so he says, right, stay here until morning. 00:30:50.679 --> 00:30:53.699 And so we go and the plot thickens. 00:30:54.240 --> 00:30:55.979 So she lies at his feet until morning. 00:30:56.139 --> 00:30:58.279 But they get up before anybody else is awake. 00:30:59.159 --> 00:31:01.679 So remember, this place is full of other people. 00:31:05.299 --> 00:31:07.959 And so before anybody else could be recognized, 00:31:07.960 --> 00:31:12.059 and he's saying to himself that no one must know that Ruth was here. 00:31:12.120 --> 00:31:14.940 No one must know that there was a woman here at the threshing floor. 00:31:17.360 --> 00:31:19.059 It's interesting that it's all men. 00:31:19.660 --> 00:31:20.500 And Boaz is there. 00:31:20.500 --> 00:31:22.220 Boaz was the owner. 00:31:22.519 --> 00:31:25.840 He could have left his workers to, you know, leave him to it. 00:31:25.860 --> 00:31:26.980 He didn't need to be there. 00:31:27.860 --> 00:31:33.539 And some of the commentators actually think that the reason Boaz is there is to stop any hanky-panky going on. 00:31:33.539 --> 00:31:40.399 He's there to prevent any kind of youthful workers actually taking advantage of being away from the town, 00:31:40.500 --> 00:31:41.639 being away from supervision. 00:31:41.640 --> 00:31:44.560 And so here he is. 00:31:44.740 --> 00:31:51.040 And now he's caught up in what could be a scandal if word gets out and people get the wrong idea. 00:31:52.540 --> 00:31:57.140 And there is, in the text, it's quite clear that when he says, lie there until morning, 00:31:57.800 --> 00:32:04.660 there are words in the Old Testament that make it clear that that could be the type of lying that a husband and wife do. 00:32:04.660 --> 00:32:08.140 But this is quite clearly lodge here for tonight. 00:32:08.940 --> 00:32:12.259 Just let's get some kip and then we'll sort this out tomorrow. 00:32:13.580 --> 00:32:19.620 So they get up and so that he, you know, lets Naomi know that he means what he says. 00:32:19.800 --> 00:32:22.820 He's saying, don't go back empty-handed to your mother. 00:32:24.460 --> 00:32:29.940 And so he gives her some grain and off she goes back to Naomi. 00:32:29.940 --> 00:32:38.279 And just there in verse 11, and now my daughter, don't be afraid, I will do all you ask. 00:32:39.779 --> 00:32:44.960 Because all the people of the town know that you are a woman of noble character. 00:32:46.840 --> 00:32:52.180 But in the background of all of this, we see something else. 00:32:52.320 --> 00:32:55.680 There's a word that's used quite commonly throughout the Old Testament, 00:32:55.680 --> 00:32:59.980 and it's used here in terms of acts of kindness or loving kindness. 00:33:00.180 --> 00:33:04.640 It's the word hesed, which is actually the word for covenantal love or covenantal grace. 00:33:05.820 --> 00:33:10.380 And in English, it's very hard to describe this word because it has such a broad, 00:33:10.759 --> 00:33:14.100 if you like, would you talk semantic range or a broad range of meaning. 00:33:14.600 --> 00:33:19.960 So there's no one English word that can actually express the richness of this word. 00:33:19.960 --> 00:33:25.279 But it's the basis of this, why Boaz is doing what he's doing. 00:33:25.380 --> 00:33:27.000 It's because of his hesed. 00:33:27.360 --> 00:33:30.160 It's because of his love for Naomi and Ruth. 00:33:30.220 --> 00:33:33.120 It's because of his love for the law. 00:33:33.460 --> 00:33:37.799 It's because of his commitment to God that he wants to do this. 00:33:37.860 --> 00:33:40.660 It's because of Ruth's love for Naomi. 00:33:41.920 --> 00:33:45.940 You see, Naomi's concern was only that Ruth get married. 00:33:45.940 --> 00:33:51.420 Ruth's concern for Naomi is that Boaz would redeem the family. 00:33:52.640 --> 00:33:57.860 It's important that you see that, that Ruth is, she's adding her little bit in. 00:33:57.960 --> 00:34:00.680 She wants to make sure that Naomi gets involved too, 00:34:00.779 --> 00:34:03.299 that it's not just Boaz taking her as wife, 00:34:03.480 --> 00:34:07.000 but Boaz is going to do more than that. 00:34:07.000 --> 00:34:14.300 And it's important to know that God does everything for us based on his love, 00:34:14.579 --> 00:34:17.019 based on his commitment to us, 00:34:17.139 --> 00:34:21.840 based on what he has said that he will do in his word. 00:34:22.300 --> 00:34:26.880 It's because of his commitment, because of his loving kindness. 00:34:28.300 --> 00:34:32.000 If you want to, if you like a little example of what do I mean by love? 00:34:32.079 --> 00:34:32.920 How is it different? 00:34:33.119 --> 00:34:36.800 Dale Ralph Davis describes this word hesed as love with superglue. 00:34:37.000 --> 00:34:40.300 It's committed love. 00:34:41.000 --> 00:34:46.000 It's love that is, is there and isn't going to go away. 00:34:48.739 --> 00:34:52.820 And so we bring things to a close. 00:34:55.699 --> 00:34:58.599 Okay, we really do because the PowerPoint is gone. 00:34:59.559 --> 00:35:01.800 Can, can someone rescue the PowerPoint? 00:35:01.800 --> 00:35:07.480 Thank you, Rob. 00:35:08.760 --> 00:35:11.300 And we basically come to the report. 00:35:11.420 --> 00:35:12.360 We come to the feedback. 00:35:14.400 --> 00:35:18.340 And we look there, just look down into verse 16. 00:35:18.340 --> 00:35:23.900 And when Ruth came back to her mother-in-law, Naomi asked. 00:35:24.519 --> 00:35:25.559 And she has a question. 00:35:25.700 --> 00:35:27.740 She says, how does it go, my daughter? 00:35:27.739 --> 00:35:34.519 How does it go? 00:35:34.519 --> 00:35:34.539 How does it go? 00:35:39.819 --> 00:35:44.179 Well, actually, literally what the text says there, if we look at it, 00:35:44.419 --> 00:35:46.559 it actually doesn't say, how does it go, my daughter? 00:35:46.619 --> 00:35:47.699 That's kind of the meaning. 00:35:48.159 --> 00:35:49.519 The NIV is correct in that. 00:35:49.519 --> 00:35:56.500 But actually it says the same thing that Boaz said to her when she startled him and woke up. 00:35:56.820 --> 00:35:59.259 It actually says, who are you, my daughter? 00:36:01.639 --> 00:36:05.059 Has anything changed, Ruth, in your circumstances? 00:36:06.079 --> 00:36:07.199 Did the plan work? 00:36:08.280 --> 00:36:09.840 Are you now Mrs. Boaz? 00:36:09.840 --> 00:36:12.780 It's a question of identity. 00:36:12.960 --> 00:36:14.240 She's saying, how did it go? 00:36:14.300 --> 00:36:15.900 But really what she's saying is, tell me, 00:36:16.720 --> 00:36:20.860 is he going to be our guardian redeemer? 00:36:21.380 --> 00:36:23.120 Is he going to take you as his wife? 00:36:24.620 --> 00:36:29.840 And so then, Ruth, obviously, she launches into all of what's gone on the previous night. 00:36:32.519 --> 00:36:34.180 So she tells her, verse 15, 00:36:34.180 --> 00:36:37.539 He also said to me, bring the shawl that you were wearing and hold it out. 00:36:37.539 --> 00:36:42.259 And when she did, he poured in six measures of barley and placed the bundle on her. 00:36:42.619 --> 00:36:43.739 And then he went back to town. 00:36:47.500 --> 00:36:48.559 So she gets back. 00:36:48.759 --> 00:36:51.699 She tells her everything and says, look, and she's brought all this food. 00:36:59.099 --> 00:37:02.420 But this verse 18, this tells us something else about our faith. 00:37:02.820 --> 00:37:04.820 It tells us that faith is patient. 00:37:04.820 --> 00:37:08.660 And that sometimes that faith has to wait. 00:37:10.600 --> 00:37:15.900 Then Naomi said, wait, my daughter, until you find out what happens. 00:37:16.120 --> 00:37:19.180 For the man will not rest until the matter is settled today. 00:37:22.380 --> 00:37:24.820 So she says, don't worry. 00:37:25.720 --> 00:37:26.940 We're just going to wait it out. 00:37:27.539 --> 00:37:31.640 And before midnight tonight, before the sun goes down tonight, 00:37:31.639 --> 00:37:32.980 we're going to have our answer. 00:37:35.779 --> 00:37:37.940 Sadly, to find out what happens, 00:37:38.359 --> 00:37:39.980 you're going to have to wait two whole weeks. 00:37:42.000 --> 00:37:43.440 Because next week we're not here. 00:37:44.079 --> 00:37:45.379 Next week I'm definitely not here. 00:37:45.500 --> 00:37:47.359 But, you know, you have the joint service. 00:37:48.420 --> 00:37:49.799 But it tells us something. 00:37:49.920 --> 00:37:51.119 It tells us that faith waits. 00:37:54.420 --> 00:37:56.559 Faith trusts in the character of God. 00:37:56.699 --> 00:37:58.699 Faith trusts in the promises of God. 00:37:58.699 --> 00:38:00.719 But in faith waits for our Redeemer. 00:38:02.739 --> 00:38:06.119 You see, just as Ruth and Naomi are waiting on Boaz, 00:38:07.019 --> 00:38:08.939 because they trusted in his character, 00:38:10.279 --> 00:38:13.179 can we trust in the character of Christ? 00:38:15.159 --> 00:38:16.919 They were able to trust the law. 00:38:17.799 --> 00:38:20.439 But we can also trust Christ's word to us. 00:38:20.440 --> 00:38:25.440 Jesus says to us, come to me all who are weary and are burdened, 00:38:26.019 --> 00:38:27.579 and I will give you rest. 00:38:28.780 --> 00:38:32.220 But we also have a period, if we accept him at his word, 00:38:32.300 --> 00:38:34.860 we have a waiting period for our redemption. 00:38:35.760 --> 00:38:37.320 We have to wait for our Redeemer, 00:38:37.440 --> 00:38:40.920 because we know that one day he will come, 00:38:40.980 --> 00:38:42.019 and there will be a resurrection, 00:38:42.300 --> 00:38:45.240 and our bodies will also be redeemed. 00:38:45.239 --> 00:38:50.099 And so as a recap, we have to realize that faith is intentional. 00:38:50.339 --> 00:38:53.019 Faith is something that we need to reach out with. 00:38:53.139 --> 00:38:54.859 We need to reach out to our Redeemer, 00:38:55.219 --> 00:38:56.679 and we need to reach out to others. 00:38:57.000 --> 00:39:01.319 We can't just have a passive faith that just sits around and doesn't do anything. 00:39:02.199 --> 00:39:04.879 We have to realize that our faith should be vulnerable, 00:39:05.039 --> 00:39:08.599 just as Ruth abandoned all other means of security and protection, 00:39:08.979 --> 00:39:10.679 and entrusted herself to Boaz, 00:39:10.679 --> 00:39:13.940 we need to entrust our lives to the Lord Jesus Christ, 00:39:14.359 --> 00:39:16.480 the very Redeemer of our souls. 00:39:16.659 --> 00:39:18.899 We have to realize that faith is intimate. 00:39:19.480 --> 00:39:21.359 It's a personal request. 00:39:21.940 --> 00:39:24.500 Although the idea that we come into the church, 00:39:25.039 --> 00:39:28.879 but we need to take faith seriously as an individual. 00:39:28.879 --> 00:39:30.579 We have to come to Christ ourselves. 00:39:30.719 --> 00:39:33.980 We can't wait for someone else to come to Christ on our behalf. 00:39:35.859 --> 00:39:38.259 And faith is based in the promises of God. 00:39:38.359 --> 00:39:40.519 We know that he will accept us, 00:39:40.679 --> 00:39:42.599 if we come to him in faith and repentance, 00:39:42.739 --> 00:39:45.259 because of what he has said to us. 00:39:46.239 --> 00:39:47.899 And we know that faith is effective, 00:39:48.159 --> 00:39:51.399 because we know that Jesus will do what he said he will do. 00:39:51.980 --> 00:39:54.859 Come, and I will give you rest. 00:39:56.119 --> 00:39:57.799 And lastly, faith is waiting. 00:39:58.379 --> 00:40:00.940 We must wait for the redemption of our bodies, 00:40:01.359 --> 00:40:04.419 and the glories of Christ's kingdom that is to come. 00:40:06.339 --> 00:40:10.139 And so we return to those two questions that we had at the beginning. 00:40:10.139 --> 00:40:12.019 Why should God accept you? 00:40:13.359 --> 00:40:18.079 Well, I hope that you aren't waiting for the answer, 00:40:18.179 --> 00:40:19.779 that you know the answer, but if you don't, 00:40:20.500 --> 00:40:22.319 it's because of Christ, our Redeemer, 00:40:22.619 --> 00:40:25.519 and it's because of his love for us and what he has done. 00:40:25.980 --> 00:40:28.019 That is why God can accept us. 00:40:28.019 --> 00:40:31.759 But how can we approach God? 00:40:31.820 --> 00:40:33.780 Well, we can only approach God through faith. 00:40:34.119 --> 00:40:36.980 Just like Ruth had faith in Boaz, 00:40:37.039 --> 00:40:38.800 we need to have faith in Christ. 00:40:40.800 --> 00:40:44.699 And it's possible because of what Christ did in his death and resurrection, 00:40:44.920 --> 00:40:48.019 that we can boldly approach God in faith. 00:40:48.019 --> 00:40:54.340 And here's what the Bible has to say about that. 00:40:55.320 --> 00:40:56.920 In Ephesians 1.7, it says, 00:40:57.059 --> 00:40:59.059 In him we have redemption through his blood, 00:40:59.440 --> 00:41:04.079 the forgiveness of sins in accordance with the riches of God's grace. 00:41:04.599 --> 00:41:07.460 And basically that's the Greek term for hesed. 00:41:07.460 --> 00:41:13.679 Just the idea, grace in the New Testament, hesed in the Old Testament. 00:41:15.619 --> 00:41:16.920 Galatians 3.13, 00:41:17.059 --> 00:41:21.019 Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us. 00:41:21.320 --> 00:41:21.860 For it is written, 00:41:22.000 --> 00:41:24.820 Cursed is everyone who hung on a pole, 00:41:24.900 --> 00:41:28.380 that Christ has taken our place so that we can know him. 00:41:29.400 --> 00:41:32.320 And this wonderful verse in Isaiah 44.22, 00:41:32.320 --> 00:41:34.059 What our Redeemer has done for us. 00:41:34.120 --> 00:41:36.539 I have swept away your offenses like a cloud, 00:41:36.920 --> 00:41:38.539 your sins like the morning mist. 00:41:39.000 --> 00:41:42.820 Return to me, for I have redeemed you. 00:41:43.400 --> 00:41:44.160 Let us pray. 00:41:46.180 --> 00:41:49.600 Heavenly Father, we thank you for the truth of your word. 00:41:49.660 --> 00:41:51.420 We thank you for this wonderful story. 00:41:51.620 --> 00:41:55.360 We thank you for the wonderful lives of Naomi and Ruth. 00:41:55.800 --> 00:41:58.760 We thank you for their tenacity, 00:41:59.019 --> 00:42:00.820 their determined nature that they had, 00:42:00.820 --> 00:42:04.780 but also their faith and trust in the God of Israel, 00:42:04.780 --> 00:42:06.360 that he would not leave them abandoned. 00:42:06.980 --> 00:42:09.100 Lord, we thank you for their faith and trust 00:42:09.100 --> 00:42:11.480 in the character of the man Boaz, 00:42:12.120 --> 00:42:15.000 and that they saw that your hand would work through him 00:42:15.000 --> 00:42:16.180 for their redemption. 00:42:16.660 --> 00:42:18.240 But Lord, we want to know, 00:42:18.580 --> 00:42:20.980 and we cling to the hope of a greater Boaz, 00:42:21.180 --> 00:42:22.380 of a greater Redeemer, 00:42:22.760 --> 00:42:26.240 one who is better than Boaz. 00:42:26.240 --> 00:42:29.039 We thank you for the Lord Jesus Christ who came, 00:42:29.039 --> 00:42:32.860 and with his own very life paid for our own redemption 00:42:32.860 --> 00:42:34.960 and the forgiveness of our sins. 00:42:35.739 --> 00:42:38.079 In Jesus' name, Amen. 00:42:41.880 --> 00:42:43.239 We're going to stand together 00:42:43.239 --> 00:42:45.599 and we're going to sing our last song. 00:42:45.599 --> 00:42:51.299 I have a glory in my Redeemer. 00:42:51.299 --> 00:42:51.599 Thank you. 00:42:51.699 --> 00:42:54.139 I have a glory in my Redeemer. 00:42:54.139 --> 00:42:58.339 I have a glory in my Redeemer.