DOCSLIB.ORG

1 “True Wisdom in Gain & Loss” Ruth 4 (Part 1) October 11, 2020 Faith

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
1 “True Wisdom in Gain & Loss” Ruth 4 (Part 1) October 11, 2020 Faith “True Wisdom in Gain & Loss” Ruth 4 (Part 1) October 11, 2020 Faith Presbyterian Church – Morning Service Pastor Nicoletti We will consider the Book of Ruth two more times together – this morning and next Lord’s Day. Both times we will be looking at chapter four. To re-cap the story up to this point: In Ruth chapter one, Elimelech and Naomi left the Promised Land with their two sons Mahlon and Chilion, to travel to Moab during a famine. Elimelech and his sons died, leaving behind Naomi and the widows of her sons: Orpah and Ruth. When Naomi returns to Bethlehem, Ruth comes with her, pledging herself both to Naomi and to the Lord – to Yahweh, the God of Israel. In chapter two, Ruth and Naomi are living together, and Ruth goes out to glean – to harvest from the edges and remains of the fields of landowners. By God’s providence Ruth comes to the field of Boaz, who treats her with extraordinary and personal grace. Boaz, it turns out, is a close relative to Elimelech, and was therefore a possible redeemer of Elimelech’s household. While Ruth was free to marry whomever she pleased, as she sought a husband, she also wanted to serve Naomi. According to the Law of Moses, if she married a kinsman-redeemer – a goel in Hebrew – that kinsman-redeemer would not only be Ruth’s second husband, but their first son would be considered part of the household of Ruth’s first husband and an heir of Naomi. This would ensure that Naomi was provided for, and that the family inheritance of Naomi and Elimelech stayed in their family line. Other children would be considered part of the second husband’s household. We spoke at more length last Lord’s Day about how this role worked, but in short, it was a provision available to widows in a time and place where there were not many resources for widows. Ruth approaches Boaz in chapter three and asks him to enter this kind of kinsman-redeemer marriage with her. Boaz was not legally compelled to agree, but he still responds with enthusiastic desire to help Ruth and Naomi, and to marry Ruth in this way. But there is a problem. Boaz, we suddenly learn, is not the next-in-line kinsman-redeemer. So Boaz says to Ruth that if she wants to pursue a kinsman-redeemer marriage, then that man must be approached first. Boaz agrees to approach this other, closer kinsman-redeemer, and if that man declines to fulfill the role, then Boaz will be next in line in the order of succession, and he will enter into a kinsman-redeemer marriage with Ruth and provide for them in this way. And so, as we come to chapter four, we need to remember that some level of resolution for Ruth and Naomi has already been reached. Ruth has chosen to pursue a kinsman-redeemer marriage. Boaz has said that if the closer relative will not do it, then he will. And so, either way, Naomi and Ruth will be redeemed. The question is: who will be the one to marry Ruth and redeem them? [Lusk, 70] At this point we are all rooting for Boaz – and it seems clear that Ruth and Naomi are as well. 1 With all that in mind, we turn to Ruth chapter four. Please do listen carefully, for this is God’s word for us this morning. 4:1 Now Boaz had gone up to the gate and sat down there. And behold, the redeemer, of whom Boaz had spoken, came by. So Boaz said, “Turn aside, friend; sit down here.” And he turned aside and sat down. 2 And he took ten men of the elders of the city and said, “Sit down here.” So they sat down. 3 Then he said to the redeemer, “Naomi, who has come back from the country of Moab, is selling the parcel of land that belonged to our relative Elimelech. 4 So I thought I would tell you of it and say, ‘Buy it in the presence of those sitting here and in the presence of the elders of my people.’ If you will redeem it, redeem it. But if you will not, tell me, that I may know, for there is no one besides you to redeem it, and I come after you.” And he said, “I will redeem it.” 5 Then Boaz said, “The day you buy the field from the hand of Naomi, you also acquire Ruth the Moabite, the widow of the dead, in order to perpetuate the name of the dead in his inheritance.” 6 Then the redeemer said, “I cannot redeem it for myself, lest I impair my own inheritance. Take my right of redemption yourself, for I cannot redeem it.” 7 Now this was the custom in former times in Israel concerning redeeming and exchanging: to confirm a transaction, the one drew off his sandal and gave it to the other, and this was the manner of attesting in Israel. 8 So when the redeemer said to Boaz, “Buy it for yourself,” he drew off his sandal. 9 Then Boaz said to the elders and all the people, “You are witnesses this day that I have bought from the hand of Naomi all that belonged to Elimelech and all that belonged to Chilion and to Mahlon. 10 Also Ruth the Moabite, the widow of Mahlon, I have bought [“acquired” is probably a better translation [See NASB, NIV, Block, 202, 211]] to be my wife, to perpetuate the name of the dead in his inheritance, that the name of the dead may not be cut off from among his brothers and from the gate of his native place. You are witnesses this day.” 11 Then all the people who were at the gate and the elders said, “We are witnesses. May the LORD [may Yahweh] make the woman, who is coming into your house, like Rachel and Leah, who together built up the house of Israel. May you act worthily in Ephrathah and be renowned in Bethlehem, 12 and may your house be like the house of Perez, whom Tamar bore to Judah, because of the offspring that Yahweh will give you by this young woman.” 13 So Boaz took Ruth, and she became his wife. And he went in to her, and Yahweh gave her conception, and she bore a son. 14 Then the women said to Naomi, “Blessed be Yahweh, 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. This is the word of the Lord. (Thanks be to God.) “All people are like grass, and all their glory is like the flowers of the field; the grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of the Lord endures forever.” [1 Peter 1:24-25] 2 Let’s pray … Lord, you are our hiding place and our shield, we hope in your word. Help us to turn from all false ways, and keep instead the commandments of you, our God. Uphold us according to your promise, that we may live, and let us not be put to shame in our hope. Hold us up, that we may be safe and have regard for your statutes continually. For we know we will one day stand before you and give an account, and so, with that in mind, help us now to attend to your word. Grant this in Jesus’s name. Amen. [Based on Psalm 119:114-117, 120] INTRODUCTION: Our passage this morning begins by telling us, in verse one, “that Boaz had gone up to the gate.” And it’s important that we recognize what is going on here, because it frames the episode that then plays out. The gate was so much the place of official business in the ancient world, that the phrase “go up to the gate” meant to “go to court.” [Block, 204]. Boaz is not just gathering some men for a discussion – he is calling the town’s court into session. One commentator explains – he writes: “In early Iron Age Palestine, town gates were complex structures with lookout towers at the outside and a series of rooms where defenders of the town would be stationed on either side of the gateway. But these gateways also served a secondary purpose, as a gathering place for the citizens of the town. This was the center of public life and the place where official administrative business was conducted.” [Block, 204] By coming to the gate, sitting down, and asking others to sit with him as he does, Boaz is formally beginning a legal proceeding in the town courthouse. [Block, 205] Once Boaz, the other man, and ten of the elders are present, the court is in session, and the case will play out.
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]
  • 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.
    [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]