DOCSLIB.ORG

Epiphany Ruth 4: 13-17 Dear Friends in Christ Jesus

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Epiphany Ruth 4: 13-17 Dear Friends in Christ Jesus January 2 & 3, 2021 – Epiphany Ruth 4: 13-17 Dear friends in Christ Jesus: Abraham pleaded with the Lord to spare the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah where his nephew Lot lived. But, sadly, there weren’t even ten believers in those cities, the number of believers Abraham had negotiated with God as the point where God would spare the cities. So God rained burning sulfur on the cities to destroy them. But God did spare Lot and his daughters and would have spared Lot’s wife too had she trusted in him and not turned back to see her home destroyed. Lot, now a widower, got drunk with his daughters’ help in their plot to get sons and he slept with each of his daughters on two consecutive nights. The oldest daughter gave birth to a son and gave him the name Moab. Moab, by the way, means “From Dad.” And the Moabites, the nation founded by Moab, always carried the reminder of their incestuous origins in their name. And though Moab was a cousin to Jacob, renamed Israel, the two nations were constantly at odds with one another. Fast forward roughly 600 years from the birth of Moab. Moses had led the Israelites out of Egypt and was moving in toward the promised land. But Moab refused to help her cousin nation against the Canaanites. Instead, Balak, the king of Moab, tried to hire a prophet named Balaam to curse the nation. Fast forward another century and Moab finally had the upper hand. Fat King Eglon attacked Israel and took control of God’s chosen people subjecting them to his rule for 18 years until a hero named Ehud assassinated him in his palace. But the Israelites weren’t done with the Moabites just yet. It was shortly after Eglon’s rule that a famine sent God’s people to look for food wherever they could find it. And some had to go to the last place they would ever want to go: to Moab. That’s where a Jewish couple found Moabite women to marry their sons. But in a tragic loss, all three men, father and both sons passed away. Naomi, the mother, now childless, went back home. But she didn’t go alone. Her Moabite daughter-in-law went with her. And her name was Ruth. Now, I give you all this background to remind you what the Israelites thought of the Moabites. The two cousin nations, who should have served God together, were enemies, constantly at war with one another, subjecting each other to forced labor, or enticing each other away from God and into sin. But it was a Moabite—not an Israelite—that God chose to be the great grandmother of King of David, and the ancestress of a greater King—Jesus. A Moabite was chosen to be in the ancestral line of the Savior. Our text for this Epiphany celebration is from Ruth 4:13-17: Then Boaz took Ruth, and she became his wife, and he went to her. The LORD enabled her to conceive, and she bore a son. Then the women said to Naomi: Blessed is the LORD, who has not left you without a redeemer today. May his name be proclaimed in Israel! He will restore your life and care for you in your old age, because your daughter-in-law, who loves you, has given birth to him. She is better for you than seven sons! Then Naomi took the boy and put him on her lap, and she became his caregiver. The neighboring women named him, saying, “A son is born to Naomi!” and they named him Obed. He became the father of Jesse, the father of David. The Moabites were Gentile enemies of the Israelites. They were pagans who worshiped false gods and tried to lead Israel to do the same. And God gave the Israelites a serious warning urging them to never marry a pagan Moabite. For if they did, they would surely be drawn into such pagan worship. A good Israelite would spit on the ground at the mention of a Moabite. And yet, two Jewish men did marry Moabite women. Then another Jewish man, Boaz, a respected businessman and leader went out of his way to marry, Ruth, a Moabite woman. And he did so at great personal cost—risking his reputation, wealth and land, which would stay in the family of Ruth’s deceased husband. But God approved of the match. God demonstrated his approval in the last chapter of this short book of the Bible that many consider to be a wonderful love story. We’re told that God blessed Ruth who may have been barren before. “The Lord enabled her to conceive, and she bore a son.” Ruth (and Naomi) finally had the happy family they had always dreamed of. But of course, the book of Ruth is more than a romance novel set in the middle of the Bible for a little lighter read. It’s the story of how God took an outsider, a Moabite woman, and brought her into God’s family. It’s the story of how God kept his promise to send a Savior for the Jews and for the Gentiles; for the Israelites and for the Moabites. And what’s more, God made Ruth an ancestor of that Savior. The verses following our text list the genealogy of Jesus ending in David. As it was probably written during the monarchy, there were no other names to add at the time. But Matthew keeps going in his genealogy in chapter 1 of his Gospel. And Matthew records the names of 5 women in his inspired genealogy of Jesus: Including 1) another case of incest, with Tamar who had Perez by her father-in-law, Judah, 2) a prostitute, with Rahab who hid the spies and who was the mother of Boaz, 3) a Moabite woman, named Ruth, the mother of Obed, 4) a mistress turned widow then wife, with Bathsheba, the mother of Solomon, and finally, 5) an unwed mother, the Virgin Mary, the mother of Jesus. (Okay, so this last one is unique, I know. But what would others have thought of her?) Why does Matthew highlight these women in a culture where women were almost second-class citizens? Why would he remind his Jewish audience of all of these scandals of their ancestors? Why would the Holy Spirit inspire him to air all this dirty laundry for all to read throughout the millennia? Because the Holy Spirit, speaking through Matthew, wants to show who the Savior is: The Son of God who became man to save outcasts, to save Gentiles, to save scandalous sinners from their sin, from death, from hell. What comfort that brings to us. We are Gentiles. Like the Moabites, we would be outcasts to the Jews. But worse still, we are sinners. And like the Moabites and the Israelites that would make us outcasts to God. And that’s what we once were—separated from him because of our sin, because of our selfishness, cut off from a relationship with him and from his heaven. But that’s the case no more. The Savior was born from the line of Abraham and from a Moabite woman to be the Redeemer. Let’s talk about that term. The redeemer, sometimes called kinsman redeemer, was a family member who would buy you out of the trouble you found yourself in. For a widow, he would buy the property of her deceased husband to ensure that the land would stay in that family. He would buy a relative out of slavery. His job was to be the hero to rescue a family member in need. Of course, he had to be related, had to have the means to help a relative out, had to have the desire to help his relative out, and had to be free himself. This is what Jesus has done for us as our Kinsman Redeemer. Even though he wasn’t our kinsman and we weren’t a part of his family, though we were worse enemies to God than Moabites were to Israelites, yet, he still chose to be our Redeemer. He chose to become one of us so that we could be related. He was himself free from the curse of sin and death because he was sinless and perfect in keeping every one of God’s commands. He was the only one able to pay for our debt as the God-man. And thank God that he was willing to suffer and die for us. It means that he redeemed us no matter what our past sins. Just look at the list of names in Matthew 1 again: an incestuous woman, a prostitute, a Moabite, a mistress. God brought them all into his family. He forgave them all of all of their sin. He can do the same for you. He has done the same for you. God’s grace isn’t just for Jews. It’s for Gentiles too. It isn’t just for “good people” like the Magi from the East who went to great lengths to learn more about their Savior. It it’s for sinners too, who have neglected the Word, who have lived selfish lives, who have great and shameful sins in their past. God’s grace isn’t just for a few. It’s for all. That means it’s for me. It’s for you. And so each of us can confess with confidence: “He has redeemed me, a lost and condemned creature, purchased and won me from all sins, from death and from the power of the devil, not with gold or silver, but with his holy, precious blood and with his innocent suffering and death.” And the proof of all of this, the proof of his grace—of your sins forgiven, of your peace with God—is in his resurrection.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • “Redemption of the Past, Present, and Future” Ruth 4 (Part 2) October 18, 2020 Faith Presbyterian Church – Morning Service Pastor Nicoletti
    “Redemption of the Past, Present, and Future” Ruth 4 (Part 2) October 18, 2020 Faith Presbyterian Church – Morning Service Pastor Nicoletti We have our sixth and final sermon on the Book of Ruth this morning, as we look once more at chapter four. Let’s review once more what we’ve covered so far. In Ruth chapter one, Naomi left the Promised Land with her husband Elimelech and their two sons Mahlon and Chilion, traveling to Moab during a famine. In Moab, Naomi’s husband and two sons all died, leaving Naomi with her two daughters-in-law: Orpah and Ruth. When Naomi decided to return to Bethlehem, Ruth insisted on coming with her, pledging herself to Naomi and to the Lord – to Yahweh, the God of Israel. In chapter two, in order to feed herself and Naomi, Ruth goes out to glean – to harvest from the edges and remains of the fields of landowners in Bethlehem. In God’s providence Ruth comes to the field of Boaz, who treats her with great kindness and grace. Boaz, we then learn, is a close enough relative to Elimelech to serve as a possible kinsman- redeemer of Elimelech’s household. If Ruth chose to marry the next-in-line kinsman-redeemer of Elimelech, then her husband would not only be her husband, but her husband could redeem Naomi’s land and household. Ruth’s first son would then be considered a part of the household of Ruth’s first husband, and would be an heir of Naomi and continuation of Naomi’s household.
    [Show full text]
  • December 6 2009
    SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSONS Commentary by Michael Sigler December 6, 2009 The Lineage of David Ruth 4:13-17 & Matthew 1:1-6 Key verse: “The women of the neighborhood gave him a name, saying, ‘A son has been born to Naomi.’ They named him Obed; he became the father of Jesse, the father of David” (Ruth 4:17). What parts of the Bible do you skip over? Most people rarely read the genealogies—“so-and-so begat so-and-so who begat so-and-so.” Granted, these passages might not offer the most exciting reading. But with just a little study, the genealogies of the Bible offer great spiritual treasures! This week’s lesson dips into the genealogy of Christ as presented in Matthew’s Gospel. The lesson also looks back to two ancient women of faith whose lives play an integral part in God’s great plan for humanity—Naomi and Ruth. Their story as told in the Book of Ruth is one of the most beautiful stories in the Bible. The story focuses on Naomi first, a Hebrew woman whose family has lost everything because of a famine. Trying to find a way to survive, Naomi, her husband and their two sons move to the nearby country of Moab. There the two sons find wives. But before long, bad times are back. Naomi’s husband and both of her sons die, leaving her with few prospects for support. Hearing that the famine in Judah has ended, Naomi decides to go home. The second part of the story focuses on Naomi’s daughter-in-law, Ruth.
    [Show full text]
  • RUTH Chapters 3, 4 This Is Already Our Last Study of Ruth. While This
    RUTH Chapters 3, 4 This is already our last study of Ruth. While this book is very short, it gives us much insight into many important questions about life, such as where God is, in difficult times, and why sometimes He waits so long before He acts. Also, it is through two faithful women, that we learn so much about God’s workings in the believers’ lives. Naomi and Ruth, both teach us how to be patient and hopeful, in hard times. Throughout the tragedies of losing their husbands and being reduced to poverty, they did not believe that God had forsaken them. They often spoke of Him so reverently. Right in the midst of their ordeal, when Naomi told Ruth that it would be better for her to stay in Moab because she had nothing to offer her, she pronounced these words: The LORD deal kindly … (Ruth1:8), "The LORD grant that you may find rest (Ruth1:9). She was not mad at God for her situation. Ruth responded in like manner and said: Where you die, I will die, And there will I be buried. The LORD do so to me, and more also, If anything but death parts you and me." (Ruth 1:17) These women knew their God well, and when the time was right, He responded to their faith. When He replied, He acted in wonderful ways and with great blessings. We have seen that when Ruth went out to find food, the Scriptures said: And she happened to come to the part of the field belonging to Boaz,(Ruth 2:3).
    [Show full text]
  • Verse: Ruth 4:1-22
    Verse: Ruth 4:1-22 Note to the Teacher: I have included additional verses that might help answer questions of the fourth chapter's cultural proceedings. Next week we will begin reading the Parables of Jesus from the Gospel of Matthew. Big Idea of the Lesson: God is the active mover of redemption when He is both seen and unseen. The redemption story in Ruth is fully realized and offered to all in the Jubilee brought by Christ Jesus. Key Verses: Deuteronomy 25:5-10 Leviticus 25:10-13, 23-25 Luke 4:18-21 Key Words: In verse 1, the use of “friend” is an inadequate translation. A better equivalency is “So and So,” which is a statement that the kinsman does not respond as a proper redeemer, making him not worth remembering or recording. Names matter in the Old Testament; he has no name. Jubilee – This word does not appear in the text, but it lives in the story's background. Jubilee was supposed to be observed every 50th year (after 7 cycles of 7 years). A ram's horn would be blown to demark the year, slaves would be freed, debt cleared, land returned to the ancestorial family, and the people of God, animals, and land would rest for the entire year. Jubilee is a reminder and statement of who owns the land, people, and possessions; God is the owner. All that Israel had was a gift from God. It is not the year of Jubilee in Ruth. So Boaz must work as Kinsman-Redeemer per Levitical law because, without his intervention, Naomi's land and her and Ruth's freedom will be lost until the Jubilee year.
    [Show full text]
  • Information for Small Group Leaders Going Deep
    Ruth INFORMATION FOR SMALL GROUP LEADERS GOING DEEP: Author and Title The book is named for its main character, Ruth, a Moabite widow who married the Bethlehemite Boaz. She became an ancestor of King David (4:17, 22) and thus an ancestor of the Messiah (Matt. 1:1, 5–6). The author of Ruth is never named in the Bible. According to rabbinic tradition (Babylonian Talmud, Baba Bathra14a–15b), Samuel is the author. This is unlikely, however, since Samuel died before David actually became king, and Ruth 4:17–22 implies that David’s kingship was an established fact at the time of writing. Date The mention of David (4:17) and his genealogy (4:18–22) places the writing after David’s accession to the throne (2 Samuel 2) in c. 1010 B.C. The narrator’s explanation of a custom once current “in former times in Israel” (Ruth 4:7) distances him from the story’s events, which occurred “in the days when the judges ruled” (1:1). Therefore, the book could have been written any time after 1010 B.C. by an author using accurate oral or written material as historical sources. 1 Theme This book highlights how God’s people experience his sovereignty, wisdom, and covenant kindness. These often come disguised in hard circumstances and are mediated through the kindness of others. Purpose, Occasion, and Background Given the book of Ruth’s interest in all Israel (4:7, 11), it may have been written in hopes that the 12 tribes, which divided into two nations c.
    [Show full text]
  • Ruth 4 Resources
    Ruth 4 Resources For Ruth Resources part 2/2 (Devotionals) click here. RUTH: GOD PROVIDES A KINSMAN-REDEEMER Ruth 1 Ruth 2 Ruth 3 Ruth 4 Ruth's Choice Ruth's Service Ruth's Claim Ruth's Marriage Naomi and Ruth Ruth and Naomi and Boaz Boaz and Ruth Mutual Grief Mutual Pursuit Mutual Love Ruth's Decision: Ruth's Devotion: Ruth's Request: Ruth's Reward: Return with Naomi Provide for Naomi Redemption by Boaz Relative of Messiah Ruth Ruth and Naomi and Boaz Death of Ruth Cares Boaz Cares God Blesses Naomi's Family for Naomi for Ruth with New Birth Grief Loneliness Companionship Rejoicing Location: Location: Location: Location: Plains Fields Threshing floor Little town of Moab of Bethlehem of Bethlehem of Bethlehem Time Lapsed: About 30 Years See Timeline Setting: Ru 1:1 Now it came about in the days when the judges governed Jdg 21:25 In those days there was no king in Israel; everyone did what was right in his own eyes. PAUL APPLE Ruth Commentary ART - RUTH 4 Ruth 4 pictures Ruth Pictures Clip Art Clip Art Clip Art KAY ARTHUR Ruth Kinsman Redeemer - Lesson 1 of the inductive Bible Study Kinsman Redeemer, Part 1 (from lectures on the Revelation) Kinsman Redeemer, Part 2 (from lectures on the Revelation) See Multiple Ruth Resources ALBERT BARNES Ruth 4 KAY ARTHUR Ruth: Kinsman Redeemer, Part 1; Part 2 Lecture 2 - Belonging to a Kinsman-Redeemer Lecture 3 - A Blood Avenger BRENT AVANTS Ruth - God in the Lives of Ordinary People HERMAN BAAR Ruth and Boaz EVAN BALTZ Ruth Notes 62 page Pdf ALBERT BARNES Ruth 4 ALISTAIR BEGG Ruth Sermon Series - God of the Ordinary - see list of sermons at bottom of page BRIAN BELL Ruth 4 Commentary J.
    [Show full text]
  • Character Study: Ruth Part 4 – Ruth’S Great Reward Ruth 4
    Character Study: Ruth Part 4 – Ruth’s Great Reward Ruth 4 What’s happening? Boaz informed Ruth’s closest relative of his right to buy Naomi’s land and marry Ruth. The relative was unable to do both, so he abandoned his rights to Boaz. (4:1-8) Boaz gladly filled the role of a kinsman-redeemer. All the people who were present, along with the elders of the city, acted as witnesses and requested God’s blessing on the marriage. (4:9-12) Ruth bore a son, Obed, who was not only a blessing to Ruth, but was also a blessing to her mother-in-law, Naomi. (4:13-16) Obed would eventually have a son, named Jesse, and Jesse would be the father of King David. Thus, Ruth would be the great-grandmother of King David, Israel’s greatest king! (4:17-22) What’s God doing? Despite the difficult times and apparent setbacks that Ruth experienced, we see in the end that God was working out a plan for her life which resulted in some truly amazing things! Because of Ruth’s obedience, she was able to experience God’s great hand of blessing on her life. Ruth became the great-grandmother of King David, placing her in the family line of Jesus Christ! What’s to learn? Ruth and Naomi finally understood how God was working in their lives by looking at the “big picture.” We must not forget the “big picture” when we look to see what God is doing in our lives as well.
    [Show full text]
  • David and the Matriarch in the Book of Ruth
    David and the matriarch in the Book of Ruth J.A. Loader Dept, of Old Testament University of South Africa PRETORIA Abstract In this paper il is argued that the motif of the matriarch is not only present in the Book o f Ruth, hut that it also fulfils an important role. Several motifs and clusters o f motifs established in the patriarchal narratives, especially that o f the protection o f the matriarch, are shown to he used in such a way that Ruth is portrayed as a typical matriarch. Since a matriarch is a matriarch by virtue of the importance o f her offspring, the David motif in 4:17 is by no means secondary, but an inherent part o f the narrative itself. This in turn has implications for the theological basis of the Davidic dynasty: Since the motif o f the matriarch in this way becomes part o f the royal theme, its meaning is determined by the overarching theme of solidarity and love, viz. that the royal house is founded not on 'pure' descent, hut on solidarity and love. 1. The problem o f the ‘long genealogy’ Does David feature in the story of Ruth? This question is mooted by the scho­ larly discussion of the problems presented by the last six verses of the Book of Ruth. Here we find a list of David’s immediate ancestors (4; 17) and a genealogy which duplicates 1 Chronicles 2:5, 9-15. Wliether or not the Ruth narrative addresses the lineage of King David, is not detennined merely by the relationship of the genealogy of David (4:18-22) to the rest of the book.
    [Show full text]
  • Sermon Outline
    SERMON OUTLINE SERMON TITLE: Redeeming Love SERMON REFERENCE: Ruth 4 LWF SERMON NUMBER: #2091 We are grateful for the opportunity to provide this outline produced from a sermon preached by Adrian Rogers while serving as pastor of Bellevue Baptist Church in Memphis, Tennessee. This outline is intended for your personal, non-commercial use. In order to ensure our ability to be good stewards of Adrian Rogers’ messages, Love Worth Finding has reserved all rights to this content. Except for your personal, non-commercial use and except for brief quotations in printed reviews, no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means —electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, or any other— without the prior permission of the publisher. Copyright ©2019 Love Worth Finding Ministries, Inc. PO Box 38300 | Memphis TN 38183-0300 | (901) 382-7900 lwf.org REDEEMING LOVE | RUTH 4 | #2091 1) INTRODUCTION a) The book of Ruth has a happy ending. i) It didn’t start happily. ii) It began with a funeral, but it ends with a wedding. iii) It began with a famine, but it ends with fullness. iv) It began with weeping; but in this fourth and final chapter, joy has come. (1) Psalm 30:5 b) Remember that Ruth is a picture of us - the church, the bride of Christ. Boaz is a picture of the Lord Jesus Christ, our kinsman redeemer. i) Ruth was a Moabitess, and Boaz was an Israelite. ii) Ruth was a stranger from a hateful nation that had a curse upon it.
    [Show full text]
  • Commentary March 10-11 | Sermon Study Notes Text
    Commentary March 10-11 | Sermon Study Notes Text: Ruth 4:14-22 Context of the book / letter / Gospel: The story of redemption reaches its exciting conclusion as we learn the future of the son of Boaz and Ruth, and see the perpetuation of the Messianic line revealed by the narrator in the final verse. God’s faithfulness to His people and His undying love for them is fully revealed at the very end of the book. Main Idea of The Text: God used Ruth and Boaz to perpetuate the line of the promised Messiah, Jesus Christ. Exegetical Outline of The Text1 The Perpetuation of the Messiah I. A Joyful Filling – (Ruth 4:14-17) II. A Surprising Genealogy (Ruth 4:18-22) Verse by verse commentary: The women said to Naomi: “Praise be to the LORD, who this day has not left you without a guardian-redeemer. May he become famous throughout Israel! He will renew your life and sustain you in your old age. For your daughter-in-law, who loves you and who is better to you than seven sons, has given him birth. ”Then Naomi took the child in her arms and cared for him. 17 The women living there said, “Naomi has a son!” And they named him Obed. He was the father of Jesse, the father of David. – Ruth 4:14-17. The book of Ruth is filled to the brim with blessings for its characters and the nation of Israel. In these verses, Naomi takes center stage. She now sees the providence and faithful love—hesed—of Yahweh personified in the birth of her grandson, Obed.
    [Show full text]
  • Purchase and Redemption in Ruth 4
    Tim Bouter Purchase and Redemption in Ruth 4 “Now Boaz went up to the gate and sat down there, and behold, the close relative of whom Boaz spoke was passing by, so he said, “Turn aside, friend, sit down here.” And he turned aside and sat down. He took ten men of the elders of the city and said, “Sit down here.” So they sat down. Then he said to the closest relative, “Naomi, who has come back from the land of Moab, has to sell the piece of land which belonged to our brother Elimelech. So I thought to inform you, saying, ‘Buy it before those who are sitting here, and before the elders of my people. If you will redeem it, redeem it; but if not, tell me that I may know; for there is no one but you to redeem it, and I am after you.’ ” And he said, “I will redeem it.” Then Boaz said, “On the day you buy the field from the hand of Naomi, you must also acquire Ruth the Moabitess, the widow of the deceased, in order to raise up the name of the deceased on his inheritance.” The closest relative said, “I cannot redeem it for myself, because I would jeopardize my own inheritance. Redeem it for yourself; you may have my right of redemption, for I cannot redeem it.” Ruth 4:1-6 NASB Jewish law gave the nearest kinsman1 the right of redeeming family members and property that had been sold due to poverty, as well as avenging the blood of a family member that had been murdered.
    [Show full text]
  • The Chapters of Ruth
    Scholars Crossing An Alliterated Outline for the Chapters of the Bible A Guide to the Systematic Study of the Bible 5-2018 The Chapters of Ruth Harold Willmington Liberty University, [email protected] Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.liberty.edu/outline_chapters_bible Part of the Biblical Studies Commons, Christianity Commons, and the Religious Thought, Theology and Philosophy of Religion Commons Recommended Citation Willmington, Harold, "The Chapters of Ruth" (2018). An Alliterated Outline for the Chapters of the Bible. 7. https://digitalcommons.liberty.edu/outline_chapters_bible/7 This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the A Guide to the Systematic Study of the Bible at Scholars Crossing. It has been accepted for inclusion in An Alliterated Outline for the Chapters of the Bible by an authorized administrator of Scholars Crossing. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Ruth SECTION OUTLINE ONE (RUTH 1-4) This outline covers the life of Ruth, a Moabite widow who trusts in the God of Israel and is rewarded with a new husband and child. Ruth becomes an ancestor of King David and, eventually, of the Messiah. I. RUTH RENOUNCING (1:1-22) A. The famine (1:1-2): An Israelite family (Elimelech; his wife, Naomi; and their two sons) leave their home in Bethlehem to escape a famine and move to Moab. B. The funerals (1:3-5): Elimelech dies, and his sons marry Moabite women. Ten years later the sons die, and now Naomi and her daughters-in-law are widows. C. The farewells (1:6-15) 1.
    [Show full text]