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Ruth and the messiah Daniel Patz, Lead Pastor Grace Church, Sunday Worship Ruth 1-4 November 28, 2010
INTRODUCTION Advent series – GOD’S HIDDEN SMILE AT CHRISTMAS · God works His beautiful plan through ugly circumstances · God fulfills His good purposes by means of bad situations · God brings about His saving plan in the face of men’s wicked plans · God shines the light of His blessing in ways that look dark to us in the present God moves in a mysterious way, Hid wonders to perform. He plants His footsteps in the see and rides upon the storm. SUMMARY OF THE TEXT From the ESV Study Bible · Introduction: Naomi Bereft of Family (1:1–5) · Scene 1: Naomi Returns to Bethlehem with Ruth (1:6–22) · Scene 2: Ruth Gleans in Boaz's Field (2:1–23) · Scene 3: Ruth, at the Threshing Floor, Asks Boaz to Marry Her (3:1–18) · Scene 4: Boaz Arranges Redemption at the Gate (4:1–12) · Conclusion: Naomi Blessed with a New Family (4:13–17) · Genealogy: Extended Blessing (4:18–22) MAIN POINTS God leads us into bitter providences for redemptive purpose with the best yet to come. HIS PURPOSES WILL RIPEN FAST, UNFOLDING EVERY HOUR; THE BUD MAY HAVE A BITTER TASTE, BUT SWEET WILL BE THE FLOWER
This is seen in the birth of Jesus and in the God’s working through the ancestors of Mary and Joseph. 1. The Bud May Have a Bitter Taste – Naomi’s Tragedies Ecclesiastes 3 – Time to die, weep, lose, “Many are the afflictions of the righteous…” (Ps 34:19a) Naomi: (Ruth 1:1-5) · Famine · Leave home · Husband dies · Sons marry foreign women · Barren daughter-in-laws · Sons die · Return to a debt Bitterness and From the Lord – BITTER PROVIDENCE Ruth 1:13 ESV would you therefore wait till they were grown? Would you therefore refrain from marrying? No, my daughters, for it is exceedingly bitter to me for your sake that the hand of the LORD has gone out against me." Ruth 1:20-21 ESV She said to them, "Do not call me Naomi; call me Mara, for the Almighty has dealt very bitterly with me. (21) I went away full, and the LORD has brought me back empty. Why call me Naomi, when the LORD has testified against me and the Almighty has brought calamity upon me?" But, I before we move on: Psalms 34:17-22 ESV When the righteous cry for help, the LORD hears and delivers them out of all their troubles. (18) The LORD is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit. (19) Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the LORD delivers him out of them all…(22) The LORD redeems the life of his servants; none of those who take refuge in him will be condemned. 2. But Sweet Will Be the Flower – God’s work through Ruth and Boaz “Bless the Lord… forget not all of His benefits” (Psalm 103:2) God’s purposes are ripen fast, unfolding every hour – Ruth 2-4 · Ruth stick’s with Naomi (ch 1) · They come when it’s barley harvest (ch 1) · Boaz’s field is where Ruth “happens” to show up (as luck would have it) · Ruth wins Boaz’s favor · Ruth shows obedience and courage to Naomi’s advice · Boaz shows honor to his family · Ruth is married · Naomi’s grandson is born – Obed Psalms 146:9 ESV The LORD watches over the sojourners; he upholds the widow and the fatherless, but the way of the wicked he brings to ruin. Ecclesiastes 3:11 ESV He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also, he has put eternity into man's heart, yet so that he cannot find out what God has done from the beginning to the end. 3. The Best is Yet to Come This story is more than a feel good story with a happy ending. It points us forward in the conclusion and ending. Ruth 4:13-22 ESV So Boaz took Ruth, and she became his wife. And he went in to her, and the LORD gave her conception, and she bore a son. (14) Then the women said to Naomi, "Blessed be the LORD, who has not left you this day without a redeemer, and may his name be renowned in Israel! (15) He shall be to you a restorer of life and a nourisher of your old age, for your daughter-in-law who loves you, who is more to you than seven sons, has given birth to him." (16) Then Naomi took the child and laid him on her lap and became his nurse. (17) And the women of the neighborhood gave him a name, saying, "A son has been born to Naomi." They named him Obed. He was the father of Jesse, the father of David. (18) Now these are the generations of Perez: Perez fathered Hezron, (19) Hezron fathered Ram, Ram fathered Amminadab, (20) Amminadab fathered Nahshon, Nahshon fathered Salmon, (21) Salmon fathered Boaz, Boaz fathered Obed, (22) Obed fathered Jesse, and Jesse fathered David. When this was written, David was either the king or had been the king. God promised to bring a messiah – anointed deliverer in the line of David that would bring blessing to the entire world. As God redeemed Naomi in this story through bitter-sweet providences, He sent His son to redeem the World. CONCLUSION/APPLICATION Judge not the Lord by feeble sense, but trust Him for His grace. Proverbs 3:5-7 ESV Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. (6) In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. (7) Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD, and turn away from evil. 4 Types of People 1. Those in good times who are trusting and obeying the Lord 2. Those in hard times who are trusting and obeying the Lord 3. Those in hard times who are saved but in sin or feeling the consequences of your sin 4. Those in hard times or not who are not in covenant with this God
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