WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:18.760 Do you want to be remembered? I think all of us really want to be remembered. Have you ever feared going to a school reunion or maybe visiting your neighborhood and realizing maybe the neighborhood where you grew up and realizing that there's no one there who remembers you? 00:00:18.760 --> 00:00:43.400 Or conversely, have you ever had someone come up to you on the street and call you by name and you just can't remember them? Even when they give you their name, you still can't remember them. We especially seem to want to be remembered after our deaths. We place heavy stone grave markers with names and dates engraved to remember and to be remembered. 00:00:43.399 --> 00:00:57.820 A few years ago, my wife and I visited the North Hamptonshire villages of Upper and Lower Boddington. Now, if you've never heard of them, don't be surprised. It's only a small cluster of houses in each. But it was not far from Banbury. 00:00:57.820 --> 00:01:12.780 My great-grandfather, John Edmonds, had been born there. And the church records show that the records of births and deaths and marriages show that my family had been there from at least the mid-1700s. 00:01:12.780 --> 00:01:35.780 Yet when we got to the churchyard, there was only one stone that we could find with the name Edmonds on it. And that was a World War II memorial in the churchyard that commemorated a distant cousin who had died in World War II. All the other stones had been wiped clean by the wind, by the rain, and by time. 00:01:35.780 --> 00:01:57.560 And just yesterday, we were in Portsmouth, and we stopped by the Royal Garrison Church. In the yard there, there were many similar stones, all wiped clean. And there was one stone that we passed that said, sacred to the memory of. And that was all it said. The name, the dates, they were all gone. 00:01:57.560 --> 00:02:13.740 Yet everyone wants to be remembered. Many of us think we're important enough to actually be remembered. I once worked with such a man, one who loved to drop names. The names of the generals and other important people that he knew. 00:02:13.740 --> 00:02:35.360 And one day, I was given the task of acting as a host for some very important visitors to our building. My boss was going to be traveling. He wasn't going to be there that day. But a couple of days earlier, he looked at the guest list. He said, Oh, I know him. And I know him. I know him. Please give my regards to each of them. 00:02:35.360 --> 00:02:47.300 So during the course of their visit, I would go up to each of those that he had mentioned. And I said, Colonel so-and-so sends his regards. And they would look at me kind of blankly and say, Who? 00:02:50.440 --> 00:02:54.400 It wasn't so much, Who did he know? But who knew him? 00:02:54.400 --> 00:03:00.680 How many times in the scriptures do we read of the importance of remembering? 00:03:02.120 --> 00:03:08.879 God set the rainbow in the sky as a reminder of his covenantal promise never again to destroy the earth with a flood. 00:03:09.920 --> 00:03:18.960 He established Passover as a day of remembrance that the Lord delivered Israel from slavery in Egypt. 00:03:18.960 --> 00:03:23.680 And of course, the Lord suffered this due in remembrance of me. 00:03:24.219 --> 00:03:30.480 Over and over again, we're commanded to remember the Lord, to remember his day, to remember his deliverance. 00:03:31.659 --> 00:03:33.939 And to remember the wonderful works that he has done. 00:03:35.219 --> 00:03:47.740 As we saw last week, one of the reasons for a brother marrying his brother's widow is to raise up a son in the man's name so that the man's name might not be blotted out from the land of Israel so that he might be remembered. 00:03:48.960 --> 00:03:52.560 Remember, remembrance is certainly one of the themes of the book of Ruth. 00:03:54.680 --> 00:04:03.900 But Naomi and Elimelech had fled from Israel to Moab to escape a famine, not remembering God's promises and his provisions. 00:04:05.460 --> 00:04:06.480 Elimelech died. 00:04:07.260 --> 00:04:08.580 His two married sons died. 00:04:09.719 --> 00:04:15.159 Naomi returned to Bethlehem with Ruth, one of her daughters-in-law, a Moabite, an outsider. 00:04:15.159 --> 00:04:25.060 And as you recall, Ruth dedicated herself to Naomi, to Naomi's people, to Naomi's land, and to Naomi's God. 00:04:26.680 --> 00:04:29.659 And Ruth went out to the fields to glean at harvest time. 00:04:30.219 --> 00:04:35.159 And God miraculously led Ruth to the field of Boaz, who took her under his wing. 00:04:35.160 --> 00:04:45.380 And last week, we saw Ruth approach Boaz in his role as redeemer, to buy back, to redeem the land, to provide Ruth with a husband. 00:04:47.160 --> 00:04:56.260 And Boaz calls her worthy, a woman of integrity, and tells her that while he is not the nearest kinsman, he would certainly see the matter settled. 00:04:57.360 --> 00:05:00.100 And as chapter 3 came to an end, we were sitting on the edge of our seats. 00:05:00.100 --> 00:05:02.200 What will Boaz do? 00:05:02.980 --> 00:05:04.140 What will happen to Ruth? 00:05:05.700 --> 00:05:07.820 Boaz has promised to settle the matter, but how? 00:05:09.100 --> 00:05:10.500 We've gotten to know Boaz. 00:05:10.580 --> 00:05:11.420 We've gotten to know Ruth. 00:05:11.560 --> 00:05:12.480 We've seen their character. 00:05:12.920 --> 00:05:14.140 But what will happen next? 00:05:15.780 --> 00:05:17.980 Will we see Ruth married off to someone else? 00:05:19.480 --> 00:05:20.700 How will this be resolved? 00:05:20.760 --> 00:05:22.879 And how will Ruth and Boaz be remembered? 00:05:24.640 --> 00:05:28.620 Well, as we move into chapter 4, then, we see Boaz at the gate of the city. 00:05:30.100 --> 00:05:30.980 He's watching. 00:05:31.500 --> 00:05:32.080 He's waiting. 00:05:33.100 --> 00:05:34.920 Everyone comes by the gate at some point. 00:05:35.540 --> 00:05:39.180 But almost immediately, it seems, this nearer kinsman comes into view. 00:05:39.780 --> 00:05:43.460 The redeemer that Boaz had mentioned to Ruth the night before. 00:05:44.540 --> 00:05:45.640 And Boaz calls to him. 00:05:46.780 --> 00:05:49.780 Turn aside, Poloni al-Mani, and have a seat. 00:05:51.180 --> 00:05:52.120 Poloni al-Mani. 00:05:52.439 --> 00:05:54.560 You won't find that in your translations. 00:05:55.520 --> 00:05:56.240 But that's the Hebrew. 00:05:56.240 --> 00:05:59.699 And your translation probably says, turn aside, friend. 00:06:00.759 --> 00:06:05.600 Or if you have an older translation, like the King James, it might say, oh, such a one. 00:06:06.139 --> 00:06:06.800 Turn aside. 00:06:07.939 --> 00:06:09.500 The translation is challenging here. 00:06:09.939 --> 00:06:11.120 It's clearly not a name. 00:06:12.060 --> 00:06:14.639 And it might actually be translated, a certain someone. 00:06:15.840 --> 00:06:18.220 A paraphrase could say, just the man I'm looking for. 00:06:18.220 --> 00:06:23.040 One modern translation just calls him Mr. So-and-so. 00:06:25.220 --> 00:06:26.660 But Boaz certainly knew him. 00:06:27.520 --> 00:06:29.020 And it was likely a friendly greeting. 00:06:30.080 --> 00:06:32.420 But it is interesting that his name isn't mentioned. 00:06:33.180 --> 00:06:34.000 It's not recorded. 00:06:34.380 --> 00:06:35.340 It's not remembered. 00:06:36.640 --> 00:06:39.100 And so this unnamed redeemer comes over and sits down. 00:06:39.780 --> 00:06:42.560 He likely had no idea of the reason for this meeting. 00:06:42.560 --> 00:06:45.459 And then Boaz collects ten more men. 00:06:45.800 --> 00:06:46.600 Elders of the city. 00:06:47.839 --> 00:06:48.839 A sort of jury. 00:06:50.300 --> 00:06:52.579 Witnesses to the discussion that was about to take place. 00:06:53.519 --> 00:06:57.840 You have to wonder what was running through this redeemer's mind as he sees this group gathering. 00:07:00.199 --> 00:07:02.560 But also, you wonder what was in Boaz's mind. 00:07:03.259 --> 00:07:05.279 Had he spent the night thinking about this conversation? 00:07:06.120 --> 00:07:09.540 Had he planned it carefully, hoping for a particular outcome? 00:07:09.540 --> 00:07:13.879 Again, the text doesn't give us an answer. 00:07:14.860 --> 00:07:18.020 But Boaz certainly considered Ruth to be a very worthy woman. 00:07:18.180 --> 00:07:18.920 An excellent woman. 00:07:19.720 --> 00:07:21.400 And he would see the matter settled. 00:07:22.860 --> 00:07:27.240 So, with a full set of witnesses and probably a crowd forming around to listen, 00:07:28.060 --> 00:07:29.100 Boaz makes an announcement. 00:07:29.980 --> 00:07:33.180 Naomi, who has come back from the land, from the country of Moab, 00:07:33.660 --> 00:07:38.500 is selling a parcel of land that belonged to our relative Elimelech. 00:07:38.500 --> 00:07:40.860 Naomi, the widow, needs money. 00:07:41.819 --> 00:07:44.839 She can't afford to hold on to that land that had been her husband's. 00:07:45.500 --> 00:07:49.699 Now, land is valuable, especially in Bethlehem, known for its wheat and its barley. 00:07:51.079 --> 00:07:53.480 And the fields can provide income for many years. 00:07:54.000 --> 00:07:55.279 But Naomi must sell it. 00:07:55.860 --> 00:07:57.040 She can't work it herself. 00:07:58.240 --> 00:07:59.740 She can't afford to hire anyone. 00:08:00.399 --> 00:08:01.500 She has no husbands. 00:08:01.980 --> 00:08:02.899 She has no sons. 00:08:02.899 --> 00:08:06.659 So, Boaz tells us, the near kinsman, redeemer, 00:08:07.000 --> 00:08:08.799 I thought I would tell you about it. 00:08:09.279 --> 00:08:11.019 Buy it in the presence of those sitting here, 00:08:11.479 --> 00:08:13.199 in the presence of the elders of my people. 00:08:13.859 --> 00:08:16.259 And if you will redeem it, then redeem it. 00:08:17.079 --> 00:08:18.579 But if you will not, let me know. 00:08:19.259 --> 00:08:20.859 There's no one else besides you. 00:08:20.860 --> 00:08:22.740 And I'm next in line. 00:08:25.139 --> 00:08:27.860 As the nearest kinsman redeemer, you have first rights. 00:08:28.620 --> 00:08:30.560 And you have an obligation to redeem this land. 00:08:31.240 --> 00:08:33.060 Give her a fair price in front of these witnesses. 00:08:33.940 --> 00:08:35.720 But let's keep the land in the family. 00:08:38.200 --> 00:08:41.139 And Boaz admits that he, too, has an interest in buying the land. 00:08:41.259 --> 00:08:42.500 If you won't redeem it, I will. 00:08:42.500 --> 00:08:45.240 But such an offer. 00:08:46.279 --> 00:08:51.559 A valuable piece of land in exchange for taking care of Omalek's widow for a few years. 00:08:52.460 --> 00:08:54.220 I mean, she's too old to have any more children. 00:08:55.159 --> 00:08:56.919 And once she dies, the land would be his. 00:08:57.779 --> 00:08:59.100 To add to his own inheritance. 00:08:59.220 --> 00:08:59.960 His own fortune. 00:09:00.519 --> 00:09:01.519 To pass on to his children. 00:09:02.500 --> 00:09:03.879 He quickly does the calculations. 00:09:04.399 --> 00:09:06.360 How much can an old woman really eat? 00:09:07.240 --> 00:09:08.820 And how much room would she take up? 00:09:09.559 --> 00:09:11.980 A little inconvenience for a couple of years. 00:09:12.500 --> 00:09:14.639 In exchange for a valuable piece of land. 00:09:15.500 --> 00:09:16.759 Sure, I'll redeem it. 00:09:18.000 --> 00:09:19.980 Then Boaz lets the other shoe drop. 00:09:21.100 --> 00:09:26.419 The day you buy the field from the hand of Naomi, you must also acquire Ruth the Moabite. 00:09:27.139 --> 00:09:28.139 The widow of the dead. 00:09:28.500 --> 00:09:31.779 In order to perpetuate the name of the dead in his inheritance. 00:09:33.200 --> 00:09:38.039 It was almost as if Mr. So-and-so had been oblivious to what was going on with Ruth and Naomi. 00:09:39.039 --> 00:09:40.840 He might have not been paying attention. 00:09:42.500 --> 00:09:46.200 He certainly was not as interested in Ruth as Boaz had been. 00:09:47.000 --> 00:09:48.940 And suddenly the calculation had changed. 00:09:49.799 --> 00:09:50.720 Ruth was still young. 00:09:51.340 --> 00:09:53.519 An additional mouth to feed for many more years. 00:09:54.379 --> 00:09:57.120 But even more importantly, he would have to marry her. 00:09:58.179 --> 00:09:59.480 Another wife, presumably. 00:10:00.679 --> 00:10:02.220 Now there would be conflict there, certainly. 00:10:02.220 --> 00:10:05.040 A foreigner living in his house. 00:10:06.000 --> 00:10:07.240 A potential son. 00:10:07.560 --> 00:10:11.379 One who would be the heir, not to his land, but to a limelight. 00:10:12.420 --> 00:10:14.940 The land would not be added to his own estate. 00:10:15.540 --> 00:10:17.740 But to the estate of that potential son of Ruth. 00:10:18.580 --> 00:10:20.399 He would have all the responsibilities. 00:10:21.160 --> 00:10:22.420 But none of the benefits. 00:10:22.419 --> 00:10:25.279 And he quickly changed his answer. 00:10:26.319 --> 00:10:31.479 Now Deuteronomy 25 anticipates a brother who refuses to raise up a son in his brother's name. 00:10:32.299 --> 00:10:34.860 Starting with verse 7 of Deuteronomy 25 we read, 00:10:34.860 --> 00:10:41.600 And if the man does not wish to take his brother's wife, then his brother's wife shall go up to the gate to the elders. 00:10:42.320 --> 00:10:46.840 And say, my husband's brother refuses to perpetuate his brother's name in Israel. 00:10:47.580 --> 00:10:50.720 He will not perform the duty of a husband's brother to me. 00:10:51.560 --> 00:10:54.879 Then the elders of the city shall call to him and speak to him. 00:10:54.879 --> 00:11:05.220 And if he persists, saying, I do not wish to take her, then his brother's wife shall go up to him in the presence of the elders and pull his sandal off his foot and spit it in his face. 00:11:06.320 --> 00:11:12.159 And she shall answer and say, so shall it be done to the man who does not build up his brother's house. 00:11:12.939 --> 00:11:18.340 And the name of his house shall be called in Israel, the house of him who had his sandal pulled off. 00:11:20.240 --> 00:11:22.080 Yet this doesn't seem to be the case here. 00:11:22.919 --> 00:11:24.419 After all, this is not a brother. 00:11:25.840 --> 00:11:27.439 The man is a near kinsman, certainly. 00:11:27.899 --> 00:11:29.039 A redeemer, absolutely. 00:11:29.700 --> 00:11:30.720 But not a brother. 00:11:31.539 --> 00:11:33.899 Of course, one might always ask, who is my brother? 00:11:34.779 --> 00:11:36.820 But that's a topic for another sermon. 00:11:38.039 --> 00:11:41.179 Instead, Ruth 4.7 gives us a different explanation. 00:11:41.939 --> 00:11:42.720 Because it says, 00:11:42.960 --> 00:11:47.679 Now this was the custom in former times in Israel, concerning redeeming and exchanging. 00:11:48.519 --> 00:11:52.279 To confirm a transaction, the one drew off his sandal and gave it to the other. 00:11:52.279 --> 00:11:54.980 And this was the manner of attesting in Israel. 00:11:56.360 --> 00:11:58.419 It was a way of finalizing a land deal. 00:11:59.819 --> 00:12:05.419 Now it's been suggested that this custom may have been related to the promise in Joshua 1.3, 00:12:05.419 --> 00:12:07.000 where God says, 00:12:07.439 --> 00:12:12.740 Every place that the sole of your foot shall tread upon, I have given you, just as I promised Moses. 00:12:14.639 --> 00:12:17.079 And the two explanations may even be somewhat related. 00:12:17.599 --> 00:12:21.379 But the text really seems to focus more on the custom than on the law. 00:12:21.379 --> 00:12:27.820 And apparently, by the time the book of Ruth was actually written, the custom was no longer a common one. 00:12:29.360 --> 00:12:32.879 Because as we see in the text here, it had to be explained to the readers. 00:12:34.320 --> 00:12:36.759 Regardless, though, the near kinsman refused to marry Ruth. 00:12:37.460 --> 00:12:41.159 He refused to take on the responsibility of raising a son for her. 00:12:42.340 --> 00:12:44.580 So Boaz settled the matter, just as he had promised. 00:12:45.679 --> 00:12:46.860 He would redeem Ruth. 00:12:46.860 --> 00:12:49.980 Starting with verse 9, it says, 00:12:50.080 --> 00:12:52.019 Then Boaz said to the elders and all the people, 00:12:52.419 --> 00:12:57.159 You are witnesses this day that I have bought from the land of Naomi all that belong to Elimelech, 00:12:57.680 --> 00:12:59.940 and all that belong to Kilion and Malon. 00:13:01.100 --> 00:13:05.220 Also, Ruth the Moabite, the widow of Malon, I have bought to be my wife, 00:13:05.659 --> 00:13:08.560 to perpetuate the name of the dead in his inheritance, 00:13:09.100 --> 00:13:12.879 that the name of the dead might not be cut off from among his brothers 00:13:12.879 --> 00:13:15.580 and from the gate of his native place. 00:13:15.580 --> 00:13:17.280 You are witnesses this day. 00:13:18.980 --> 00:13:22.720 Boaz took full responsibility for Naomi and for Ruth, 00:13:23.080 --> 00:13:26.360 a lifelong commitment and an expensive one. 00:13:27.780 --> 00:13:30.139 And he did that without shying away from the cost. 00:13:32.720 --> 00:13:36.100 It's interesting, this part of chapter 4 is clearly focused, though, 00:13:36.480 --> 00:13:37.840 on perpetuating the name, 00:13:38.940 --> 00:13:41.780 that the name of the dead might not be cut out of the land. 00:13:41.779 --> 00:13:46.779 It's interesting, the book of Ruth is a book of ironies, 00:13:47.159 --> 00:13:49.259 as we said some weeks ago, 00:13:49.779 --> 00:13:51.000 a book of contrasts. 00:13:51.199 --> 00:13:53.319 Naomi went away full and returned empty. 00:13:54.399 --> 00:13:57.539 Orpah returned to her family and her land and her gods, 00:13:58.139 --> 00:14:00.639 while Ruth abandoned all of that for Naomi, 00:14:01.319 --> 00:14:02.360 for Naomi's people, 00:14:03.120 --> 00:14:04.139 for Naomi's land, 00:14:04.819 --> 00:14:05.740 for Naomi's God. 00:14:05.740 --> 00:14:09.080 Ruth goes out into the fields destitute, 00:14:09.460 --> 00:14:11.180 hoping for a few handfuls of grain, 00:14:11.919 --> 00:14:15.320 to return home with a bag full of barley. 00:14:17.039 --> 00:14:19.480 Ruth comes to Bethlehem, a foreigner, 00:14:20.080 --> 00:14:20.820 an outcast, 00:14:21.299 --> 00:14:22.419 but is declared worthy. 00:14:24.460 --> 00:14:25.279 And then we meet 00:14:25.279 --> 00:14:26.919 this near kinsman redeemer, 00:14:27.299 --> 00:14:29.860 a man who considers his own interests, 00:14:30.340 --> 00:14:31.680 his own financial well-being, 00:14:31.679 --> 00:14:36.739 over any responsibilities to perpetuate the name of his kinsman. 00:14:37.399 --> 00:14:39.979 A man doing what was right in his own eyes. 00:14:42.000 --> 00:14:43.159 But who is this man? 00:14:45.899 --> 00:14:47.359 We don't know. 00:14:48.819 --> 00:14:50.719 We don't even know his name. 00:14:51.519 --> 00:14:52.239 A certain someone, 00:14:52.739 --> 00:14:53.679 a Mr. So-and-so, 00:14:54.579 --> 00:14:57.719 a man whose responsibility it was to raise up a son 00:14:57.720 --> 00:15:00.080 so that Elimelech's name 00:15:00.080 --> 00:15:01.620 and Malon's name 00:15:01.620 --> 00:15:02.540 would not be forgotten. 00:15:03.279 --> 00:15:04.300 Yet his name 00:15:04.300 --> 00:15:06.540 is the one that is forgotten in history. 00:15:07.680 --> 00:15:08.440 As we look back, 00:15:08.519 --> 00:15:09.120 even Orpah, 00:15:09.660 --> 00:15:10.840 Naomi's other daughter-in-law, 00:15:10.940 --> 00:15:12.720 the one who left and returned to Moab, 00:15:13.100 --> 00:15:14.100 is mentioned by name. 00:15:14.899 --> 00:15:15.860 But this man, 00:15:16.139 --> 00:15:18.240 who was so careful to protect his own estate, 00:15:19.100 --> 00:15:20.300 his own fortunes, 00:15:20.960 --> 00:15:22.580 his name is intentionally deleted 00:15:22.580 --> 00:15:24.220 from the annals of history. 00:15:24.220 --> 00:15:28.600 So Naomi, 00:15:28.899 --> 00:15:29.519 the Israelite, 00:15:29.580 --> 00:15:30.399 had left Bethlehem, 00:15:30.480 --> 00:15:31.160 the house of bread, 00:15:31.759 --> 00:15:33.420 to seek provision in a foreign land, 00:15:33.899 --> 00:15:35.060 a land away from God. 00:15:35.440 --> 00:15:36.220 She went out full. 00:15:36.600 --> 00:15:37.759 She came back in empty. 00:15:38.440 --> 00:15:39.060 No husband, 00:15:39.399 --> 00:15:39.920 no sons, 00:15:40.800 --> 00:15:42.139 a foreign daughter-in-law in tow. 00:15:43.259 --> 00:15:44.019 We have Ruth, 00:15:44.480 --> 00:15:45.220 the Moabitess, 00:15:46.220 --> 00:15:48.340 from a race despised by Israel, 00:15:49.259 --> 00:15:50.600 a race cursed by God, 00:15:50.600 --> 00:15:52.860 an outsider with no claim 00:15:52.860 --> 00:15:54.759 to the grace and mercy of God. 00:15:55.720 --> 00:15:56.120 Ruth, 00:15:56.180 --> 00:15:57.139 who left her own people, 00:15:57.680 --> 00:15:58.379 her own land, 00:15:58.639 --> 00:15:59.300 her own family, 00:15:59.399 --> 00:16:00.080 and her own gods, 00:16:00.639 --> 00:16:02.200 and followed Naomi to Bethlehem, 00:16:02.659 --> 00:16:03.899 to the promised land, 00:16:04.440 --> 00:16:05.639 to the land of God's covenant, 00:16:06.180 --> 00:16:08.279 to embrace Naomi's people as her own, 00:16:09.019 --> 00:16:11.159 to adopt Naomi's land as her own, 00:16:11.899 --> 00:16:14.060 and to seek Naomi's God as her God. 00:16:16.279 --> 00:16:16.720 Ruth, 00:16:16.800 --> 00:16:18.399 who went out to the fields destitute 00:16:18.399 --> 00:16:20.419 and came back in full. 00:16:22.720 --> 00:16:24.980 Let's return briefly to Proverbs 31 00:16:24.980 --> 00:16:26.159 that we discussed last week. 00:16:26.799 --> 00:16:28.220 The description of the worthy woman, 00:16:28.899 --> 00:16:29.799 the excellent woman, 00:16:30.399 --> 00:16:31.340 the virtuous woman, 00:16:31.459 --> 00:16:33.240 the woman whose value is above rubies 00:16:33.240 --> 00:16:34.759 and above jewels. 00:16:35.679 --> 00:16:37.519 As we look closely at the proverb, 00:16:38.019 --> 00:16:39.399 we see that this was an oracle 00:16:39.399 --> 00:16:41.240 given to the king by his own mother. 00:16:43.079 --> 00:16:45.279 We see a description of an ideal wife, 00:16:46.039 --> 00:16:47.139 a royal wife, 00:16:47.139 --> 00:16:49.120 a wife suitable for a king. 00:16:50.840 --> 00:16:52.960 From verses 10 to verse 29, 00:16:53.679 --> 00:16:55.399 we see that she is industrious, 00:16:55.460 --> 00:16:56.159 she is hardworking, 00:16:56.299 --> 00:16:57.000 she is astute, 00:16:57.659 --> 00:17:00.220 but she is not praised for those things. 00:17:01.799 --> 00:17:03.600 She is praised because she loves 00:17:03.600 --> 00:17:05.099 and obeys the Lord. 00:17:05.879 --> 00:17:06.420 In parallel, 00:17:07.000 --> 00:17:07.920 we see Ruth, 00:17:08.519 --> 00:17:09.200 industrious, 00:17:09.599 --> 00:17:10.259 hardworking, 00:17:10.920 --> 00:17:11.819 wise and astute, 00:17:11.819 --> 00:17:14.599 and a woman who trusts in the Lord. 00:17:15.419 --> 00:17:16.240 Proverbs 3, 00:17:16.639 --> 00:17:17.579 5 and 6 says, 00:17:17.679 --> 00:17:19.139 Trust in the Lord with all your heart 00:17:19.139 --> 00:17:21.200 and lean not on your own understanding. 00:17:21.579 --> 00:17:22.399 In all your ways, 00:17:22.500 --> 00:17:23.139 acknowledge Him 00:17:23.139 --> 00:17:24.339 and He will direct your path. 00:17:25.700 --> 00:17:27.339 He certainly directed Ruth's path. 00:17:29.939 --> 00:17:32.579 Proverbs 31 only mentions her husband once. 00:17:34.460 --> 00:17:35.619 Verse 23 says, 00:17:35.700 --> 00:17:37.000 Her husband is known at the gates 00:17:37.000 --> 00:17:39.700 when he sits among the elders of the land. 00:17:40.599 --> 00:17:42.359 A man of note in the city. 00:17:43.119 --> 00:17:44.460 A man recognized as a leader. 00:17:44.680 --> 00:17:45.380 A wise man 00:17:45.380 --> 00:17:46.920 who sits among the elders. 00:17:47.980 --> 00:17:49.099 A royal man. 00:17:50.759 --> 00:17:52.099 Now we compare this with Boaz. 00:17:52.720 --> 00:17:53.539 A worthy man. 00:17:53.660 --> 00:17:54.400 A man of integrity. 00:17:55.079 --> 00:17:55.980 A man of position. 00:17:57.140 --> 00:17:58.740 A man recognized at the gates. 00:17:59.480 --> 00:18:00.140 An insider. 00:18:00.140 --> 00:18:02.660 A man who cares for a stranger. 00:18:03.780 --> 00:18:06.060 A man who cares for this particular stranger. 00:18:06.820 --> 00:18:08.180 Not because of who she is 00:18:08.180 --> 00:18:11.080 or because of what she brings. 00:18:11.180 --> 00:18:11.600 For indeed, 00:18:11.940 --> 00:18:12.800 she brings nothing. 00:18:13.900 --> 00:18:15.400 But because of who he is. 00:18:17.259 --> 00:18:18.259 Boaz loves Ruth 00:18:18.259 --> 00:18:20.000 and sacrifices for her. 00:18:21.680 --> 00:18:24.500 A man worthy of a worthy woman. 00:18:26.540 --> 00:18:26.780 You see, 00:18:26.880 --> 00:18:28.220 Boaz was under no obligation 00:18:28.220 --> 00:18:29.100 to assist Ruth. 00:18:30.140 --> 00:18:31.240 He was under no obligation 00:18:31.240 --> 00:18:31.800 to marry her. 00:18:33.460 --> 00:18:35.259 He risked his own reputation 00:18:35.259 --> 00:18:35.980 as a matter of fact 00:18:35.980 --> 00:18:36.920 marrying a Moabite. 00:18:39.280 --> 00:18:40.820 And surely there were many needy women 00:18:40.820 --> 00:18:42.340 in Bethlehem 00:18:42.340 --> 00:18:43.060 that he could have helped. 00:18:44.259 --> 00:18:45.780 And there were many eligible women 00:18:45.780 --> 00:18:46.759 in Bethlehem 00:18:46.759 --> 00:18:47.500 that he could have married. 00:18:48.420 --> 00:18:49.460 But he chose Ruth. 00:18:51.180 --> 00:18:52.360 Boaz, the insider, 00:18:53.220 --> 00:18:54.600 risked becoming an outsider. 00:18:55.700 --> 00:18:56.700 He risked the ire, 00:18:56.820 --> 00:18:58.180 the rejection of his own community 00:18:58.180 --> 00:19:00.200 to bring this outsider 00:19:00.200 --> 00:19:02.360 into that community. 00:19:03.299 --> 00:19:04.759 Into that covenant community. 00:19:07.400 --> 00:19:08.340 Does this sound like 00:19:08.340 --> 00:19:09.360 any other story we know? 00:19:11.560 --> 00:19:13.200 We spoke earlier in the series 00:19:13.200 --> 00:19:14.320 about shadows, 00:19:14.500 --> 00:19:15.100 about types, 00:19:15.500 --> 00:19:16.660 of how the stories 00:19:16.660 --> 00:19:17.360 in the Old Testament 00:19:17.360 --> 00:19:18.539 often point forward 00:19:18.539 --> 00:19:19.340 to give us hints 00:19:19.340 --> 00:19:21.019 of what God's going to do 00:19:21.019 --> 00:19:21.680 in history. 00:19:21.680 --> 00:19:23.960 For indeed, 00:19:24.080 --> 00:19:25.060 all of us are outsiders 00:19:25.060 --> 00:19:26.220 to God. 00:19:27.220 --> 00:19:28.360 All of us are descendants 00:19:28.360 --> 00:19:29.400 of Adam 00:19:29.400 --> 00:19:31.779 who first broke God's law. 00:19:32.700 --> 00:19:33.279 We have nothing 00:19:33.279 --> 00:19:34.120 to commend ourselves. 00:19:34.880 --> 00:19:35.140 Indeed, 00:19:35.259 --> 00:19:35.900 we are cursed 00:19:35.900 --> 00:19:36.840 for our rebellion 00:19:36.840 --> 00:19:37.960 against God. 00:19:38.799 --> 00:19:39.340 Yet God, 00:19:39.400 --> 00:19:39.860 in the person 00:19:39.860 --> 00:19:40.759 of Jesus Christ, 00:19:41.080 --> 00:19:41.640 the ultimate 00:19:41.640 --> 00:19:42.860 perfect insider, 00:19:43.860 --> 00:19:45.180 became the ultimate 00:19:45.180 --> 00:19:45.720 outsider. 00:19:45.720 --> 00:19:48.120 He became cursed. 00:19:48.880 --> 00:19:49.480 For cursed 00:19:49.480 --> 00:19:50.420 is anyone 00:19:50.420 --> 00:19:51.539 hanged on a tree. 00:19:52.839 --> 00:19:53.400 Yet He died 00:19:53.400 --> 00:19:53.980 on the cross 00:19:53.980 --> 00:19:55.200 for us 00:19:55.200 --> 00:19:56.380 that we might 00:19:56.380 --> 00:19:57.140 become insiders. 00:19:58.319 --> 00:19:59.640 2 Corinthians 5.21 00:19:59.640 --> 00:20:00.039 says, 00:20:00.339 --> 00:20:01.120 For our sake 00:20:01.120 --> 00:20:02.519 He made Him 00:20:02.519 --> 00:20:03.799 to become sin 00:20:03.799 --> 00:20:05.259 who knew no sin 00:20:05.259 --> 00:20:07.079 so that in Him 00:20:07.079 --> 00:20:08.420 we might become 00:20:08.420 --> 00:20:08.900 the righteousness 00:20:08.900 --> 00:20:09.500 of God. 00:20:10.740 --> 00:20:11.460 The perfectly 00:20:11.460 --> 00:20:12.400 righteous God 00:20:12.400 --> 00:20:13.960 sent His own 00:20:13.960 --> 00:20:14.299 Son, 00:20:14.299 --> 00:20:15.480 His own 00:20:15.480 --> 00:20:15.940 eternal 00:20:15.940 --> 00:20:16.960 sinless Son, 00:20:17.099 --> 00:20:17.720 Jesus Christ, 00:20:18.180 --> 00:20:19.099 to take on human 00:20:19.099 --> 00:20:20.200 flesh and to die 00:20:20.200 --> 00:20:21.559 to be our 00:20:21.559 --> 00:20:21.940 Redeemer. 00:20:23.079 --> 00:20:23.720 And as a result, 00:20:24.460 --> 00:20:25.099 our names 00:20:25.099 --> 00:20:25.819 can be written 00:20:25.819 --> 00:20:26.419 in the Lamb's 00:20:26.419 --> 00:20:26.940 Book of Life. 00:20:28.059 --> 00:20:28.779 Let us pray.