Ruth And Boaz (Part 1)

Thanks for tuning in to No Compromise Radio with pastor and author, Dr. Mike Abendroth. Today on No Compromise Radio, we'll be hearing Pastor Mike open the Word of God in a recent message he preached at Bethlehem Bible Church in West Boylston, Massachusetts.

Now let's join Pastor Mike in progress as he preaches through the scriptures, verse by verse, with No Compromise.

Ruth as a Christian Book and the Genealogy of the Messiah

Well, I know you are a reading congregation and how you love to read all kinds of books. I wanted to inform you that there's a new book out, fairly new. It's called the 100 Minute Bible for time-starved Christians.

Publishers say it's ideal for those who do not have time to read the original. It's been called a slimmed-down page-turner at 20 ,000 total words. Aim for those who do not have time to go through the whole book.

The abridged version picks out stories of the life of Jesus and records the growth of Christianity, written in a style to encourage readers to keep turning the pages without resorting to any gimmicks.

I found it most interesting when the author, Mr. Hinton, who spent 18 months on the work, said that he believed he had included all the really essential parts, and if I was a betting man, I would bet the house that Ruth wasn't included.

To the reader's impoverishment for certain. Before we open our Bibles to Ruth, let's turn to Matthew chapter 1, and I want to remind you as we go through the book of Ruth this morning, that Ruth is a Christian book.

Ruth isn't a Hebrew book for Old Covenant people only. It is a Christian book. It is in the Christian canon, that is to say, as Jesus on the road to Emmaus, Jesus in John chapter 5, talked about the Old Testament bearing witness to himself.

We have been blessed as we've sat underneath the book of Ruth. I just say to myself every week as I think about the drama of redemption, what's going to happen next? What will the next thing be? An exciting, wonderful series.

And ultimately, I want you to know that the book of Ruth finds its end, the trajectory is pointing through David to the ultimate David. We come from the problem of chapter 1 in Ruth, where there's a barren womb, a barren land, barren crops.

How can David come from this group? Where will the Messiah come from? And Matthew chapter 1, verse 1, the book of the genealogy, the book of the beginnings, the origins, the birth record, you know, the Jews were very, very detailed in their genealogies especially for a king, someone important.

The genealogy of Jesus the Messiah, the son of David, yes, Jesus has the legal right to be David's heir. The son of Abraham, yes, that Abraham who God made the covenant with, Israel is the chosen people and everyone would be blessed through that line.

Abraham was the father of Isaac, Isaac, the father of Jacob and Jacob, the father of Judah and his brothers and Judah, the father of Perez and Zerah by Tamar and Perez by the father of Hezron and Hezron, the father of Ram and Ram, the father of Ammedad and Ammedad, the father of Nashon, Nashon, the father of Salmon, Salmon, the father of Boaz by Rahab and Boaz, the father of Obed by Ruth and Obed, the father of Jesse and Jesse, the father of David, the king.

There's a trajectory and that trajectory goes past Moab, past what's going on in chapter 1 to the king David. So let's turn our Bibles to Ruth chapter 2 this morning as we see the conversation between Boaz and Ruth.

Boaz as a Kind Redeemer Who Protects and Provides

Now, when I was younger, we'd watch TV, black and white TV. TVs were about that wide back in those days, right? And there would be a song to go along. We would watch Romper Room together or some Mr. Rogers neighborhood and they'd sing a song and there'd be lyrics at the bottom and you knew the lyrics to sing when the, what was bouncing ball and here in Ruth, you keep your eye on the ball.

More specifically, you keep your eye on Boaz because Boaz is going to answer this question in Ruth. What's a redeemer look like? I know God is powerful in his redemption. Israel is stuck in Egypt, mountain on that side, mountain on that side, Pharaoh's army on that side and God rescues and redeems Egypt through the Red Sea.

He's powerful. But is he kind? What does he look like on a personal level? Nationally, I get it and Boaz comes into the picture and you begin to see regularly and often Boaz is a kind redeemer and if he's personally like this, how much greater will the Messiah, Jesus, the ultimate redeemer be?

Chapter 1 in Ruth is basically the problem. Got all these issues that are happening and everybody's doing what's right in their own eyes including Israel and God chastens them and there's no crops and our little family flees to Moab.

And Samuel writes this book so you realize King David can sit on the throne but there's lots of perilous journeys that happen. There's a little bit of hope in chapter 1 verse 22 saying, so Naomi returned with her Ruth the Moabitess, her daughter-in-law, who returned from the land of Moab and they came to Bethlehem, the house of bread, at the beginning of barley harvest.

Just at the end of April most likely, the barley, the wheat, perfect time to return. And now strong Boaz meets Ruth. Good review, let's just remember these verses, verse 1, now, Naomi had a relative of her husband's, a worthy man of the clan of Elimelech whose name was Boaz and Ruth the Moabite said to Naomi, remember she didn't know what was going on in verse 1, that's the narrator, let me go to the field and glean among the ears of grain after him and whose side I shall find favor.

And she said, go my daughter. And so the suspense that the writer is creating is visible. Here this godly lady Ruth, she doesn't have to go do this but she says, I will go and remember they had big fields back in those days and they would divide up the fields and one guy would own this part, another person would own this, another would own this but it's one big field.

I think I better go out and get something to eat, basic necessities, let's hope I find somebody who's kind. Verse 3, so she set out and went and gleaned in the field after the reapers. Remember God's compassion towards Israel, don't cut corners, no, do cut corners.

We tell our people not to cut corners at work, cut corners so poor people can go to the corner of the field and get some grain. And by the way, if you're picking up something that you've harvested and you hold onto it and one slips down, don't pick it up, let somebody come along and glean it and pick it up.

She must have been taught this by Naomi and Moab, she knows to go out and it says in verse 3, remember, and it happened, she happened by chance, she chanced, by chance is the literal Hebrew, it's very ironic, it's hyperbole.

She just by dumb luck happened to come to the part of the field belonging to Boaz, who was of the clan of Elimelech. And behold, Boaz came from Bethlehem and said to the reapers, by the way, the first thing that someone says in scripture is often very, very important.

What's the first thing that he says? It's going to tell us something significantly about the person. The Lord Yahweh be with you. Hi, bye, how are you? God bless you, it's a contraction, goodbye, God be with you.

No, this isn't a cheap platitude, this isn't some kind of greeting, hello, nice to meet you, Yahweh be with you. Then Boaz said to his young man who was in charge of the reapers, whose young woman is this?

And the servant who was in charge of the reapers answered, she's a young Moabite woman who came back with Naomi from the country of Moab. She said, she knew she didn't deserve it or she wasn't allowed, she wasn't an Israelite, she asked nicely, please let me glean, let me pick up the scraps and gather among the sheaves after the reapers, let me collect these bottles and get a nickel each for them and just try to earn some money.

So she came and she continued from early in the morning until now, except for a short break. And now we come to our passage this morning and you're going to see the kind Boaz, the kindly taking care of her, kindly protecting her, keep your eye on Boaz.

And Boaz said to Ruth, kind of the icebreaker here, now listen my daughter, most commentators think he was much older than she was. He was really old, probably in his early fifties, but he's older. Now listen my daughter and you can sense the terms of endearment, do not go glean in another field, don't pick up the leftovers in another field or leave this one, but keep close to my young women.

This direct statement breaks the ice and he's trying to protect her. Here's the big field, lots of different owners and wouldn't it be easy to say just down on that point there, the surf's breaking a little bit nicer.

The grass is a little bit greener and regularly people would be in one section and they would say you know what, they're not dropping enough, they're not cutting the corners like they should, let's go to another one and Boaz is saying don't go down there, don't go over there, you're going to be tempted to do that.

Don't wander over, keep close, you notice the text, but keep close to my young women. That's the same word used in chapter 1 verse 14 of Ruth clinging to Naomi. That's husbands and wives glued together, clinging to one another.

Why should you stay next to these young ladies? Because it's the days of the judges and everyone does what was right in their own eyes and you're a young woman without any protection, you better be careful.

Verse 9, let your eyes be on the field that they are reaping and go after them, stick with them. Have I not charged the young men of my part of the field not to touch you and some have written, rightfully so, this is the first sexual harassment law.

What do you mean? I've charged the young men not to touch you. Naga in Hebrew, to touch, to strike, to harass, to molest. Here are these young ladies out there, they have no protection. You've got a bunch of rough men and guys.

Clearly Boaz means, stay close to the people, my people are going to get raped. I've told my young men not to. Remember in 1 Corinthians chapter 7, it's not good for a man to touch a woman. This is not like they're going to come up and say, excuse me Naomi, that's not that kind of touch.

And you can see the narrator is making sure that we understand that the line of David can't be tampered with. As Abraham had Sarah thrown to the wolves of Abimelech, but God protecting and overriding so Abimelech wouldn't sleep with Sarah.

And you just see this Redeemer protecting and providing. Don't wander off where I can't protect you, I can protect you here. Verse 9, but it's more than that, it's not just protection, it's provision.

How great is this kind Redeemer. How personally he takes care of people, individual people, foreign people. And when you're thirsty, verse 9, go to the vessels and drink what the men have drawn. Now when we're thirsty, we just go over to the New England bubbler and we just drink, don't we?

Those are the two most interesting things when I moved here almost 18 years ago. Longest four decades of your life, right? People said the bubblers right down the hall, pretty interesting. Now I'm in California and I say, where's the bubbler?

And the other thing I noticed since it's apropos today, everybody got saved at the Super Bowl. I'd meet a young person, they're 17 years old, are you right with God? How'd you come to faith in Christ Jesus?

Yes, pastor, I got saved at the Super Bowl. One after another after another. And I thought, the building doesn't look too rich, but I think the people are. They're all saved at the Super Bowl. One day they're going to invite me to the Super Bowl too.

Maybe I'll rededicate my life to Christ. Of course, they meant the Word of Life Super Bowl. They didn't mean the real Super Bowl. For us, it's not that big a deal. When you're thirsty, you go to the bubbler.

It's a hot scorching sun and you've got clay jars and you've got goat material filled with water. Whenever you want to go have a drink, go get a drink. And look at what happens. Drink what the young men have drawn.

Hey, the pecking order doesn't work that way. Foreigners draw for the Israelites, pecking order one. Pecking order two. Sorry, ladies, it's the Near East. Thousands of years ago, the women draw for the men.

You can just see Boaz. I'm going to protect you. I'm going to watch over you. Food, water, everything, I'll do it. And then you back up a little bit and you say, Look at how God is sovereignly, providentially orchestrating everything because we need David and we need the Messiah.

Expect a miracle. No miracles in Ruth. No signs, no wonders, no floating axe heads. But expect providence because we're moving along providentially. You can have whatever you want. Have a drink any time you want.

What kindness the Redeemer gives. Verse 10. And she fell on her face, bowing to the ground and said to him, Why have I found favor in your eyes that you should take notice of me since I'm a foreigner?

I'm a woman. I'm a poor woman. I'm a poor widowed woman. I'm a poor widowed woman who's a foreigner. Why would you show any kindness to me? This isn't right. And it kind of goes against our sensibilities.

But she was very thankful. And if you want to show your thankfulness, you get down on your knees and say, Thank you. Overwhelming gratitude expressed with this kind of posture. Seems like an exaggeration to us, but no.

She gets down on her knees and she says, Thank you. And listen up, congregation, don't miss it. You're treating me like family. Don't forget the Redeemer who's closer. Redemption in the family line. You're like family to me.

Why have I found favor? She's dumbstruck. There's surprise in the Hebrew language. That you would even notice me? To give me favor? Single me out? The young men, if not directed, they would single me out for something else.

But you single me out for favor and protection and water and food. It's one thing to have a powerful Redeemer who can rescue nations. It's another thing to say, this man loves me. Verse 11, but Boaz answered.

This is interesting. All that you have done for your mother-in-law since the death of your husband has been fully told to me. Here's what he says. Everything that happened in chapter 1 has been told to me.

What you've done in chapter 1, I know about. And how you left your father and your mother and your native land and the false gods and came to a people that you did not know before. I know all about who God is and when God saves people, how then those people say no to their false gods and yes to the living God.

I've heard all about you. God's been compassionate to you. You've been compassionate to Naomi. I've heard it through the Bethlehem grapevine. Before I thought, who sang that song? I think Marvin Gaye sang it.

And Clear, Clearance, Clear, Clearance, John Fogarty. Okay. If you don't write things in your notes. I could say Abimadad, but I can't say Creedence Clearwater Revival. I heard about all your kindness.

I don't know what you look like, but I know what you did. I mean, you can get the feel, can't you? If someone was an abortion doctor and gets saved and now they're praying for the unborn, somebody important, you'd say, wow, what's going on here?

And here, though no doctor, she used to worship a false god where you would basically have to give your babies over to them to be burned. And now worshiping Yahweh. I've heard about you. And it wasn't just a profession of faith, the way you've loved your mother-in-law.

I know about this. You're part of the community. It's almost like, why wouldn't I love you? You're part of the covenant community worshiping Yahweh. And it's interesting, if you look at the verse, verse 11, but Boaz answered her, it can mean he raised his voice a little.

Not with stern anger, but he raised his voice loud enough saying, I will fellowship with you. I will associate with you. I'm not afraid to say this about you, the Moabitess. I'll identify with this foreign woman.

All this language sounds eerily familiar to Genesis chapter 12, doesn't it? And the Lord said to Abram, go forth from your country and from your relatives and from your father's house to a land which I will show you.

Leave it all for Yahweh. And friends, as we celebrate communion this morning, what rings in my ears, I'm sorry, I was going to go further than this in this passage and finish verse 13, but I cannot. Look back at verse 10.

Why have I found favor in your eyes that you should take notice of me since I'm a foreigner? Have you ever asked that of the Lord? Why do you notice me? Why did you save me? Why did you give me favor?

Why did you notice me? That language, why did I find favor, is of a servant or a submissive one asking someone in authority. Why would you have favor on me? Why would you sovereignly do something for me?

You can do it if you want to or not do it if you don't want to, but you did it. Why? Why do you show good pleasure to me? And if I were to ask you to come up and take the microphone and say, the reason why God showed me good pleasure is because I'm more intelligent than other people.

Would you say that? Would you come get the microphone and say, we'll have a little testimony. Why did God save you? Why did God show you favor in Christ Jesus? Well, I'm more righteous than my neighbors.

Would you say that? You could shoot out of here pretty fast. I recognize my need of Christ more than other people did. Would you say that? Well, I was baptized, of course. That's why God showed me favor.

I came up with my own repentance. I came up with my own faith. I was a member. I did lots of works. Friends, if you're a Christian, what is the reason why? Why did God save you? Fill in the blank. The reason God saved me is, and what's the answer?

The purpose of my salvation is what? Now, when I go to the beach, it's fun to think about the beach this time of year, isn't it? There's just nothing like sitting at the beach. See some waves out there, kids running around laughing, drinking a cup of coffee.

Coffee at the beach, it just goes together, doesn't it? Peach coffee, nice and bitter. Couple extra shots of espresso. All kinds of activity, and you hear something out of the corner of your ear, and there's this biplane, and behind the biplane is this huge banner.

I mean huge. And it comes over and then back, and it's drink Red Bull. Monster drinks or something, right? I don't know, eat Doritos. This huge publicity program. And you're like, yeah, come to think of it, I should have a monster drink.

Why did God save you? And the answer isn't ultimately because He doesn't want me to go to hell, although that's true. The answer isn't ultimately because I did anything, because I didn't. Turn your Bibles to Ephesians 2, verse 7, and let me show you the answer.

And the answer is God has a spiritual, righteous, holy publicity program that goes throughout the ages that says God has favor on people because He's a kind redeemer. The eternal banner, Jesus saves sinners throughout all eternity.

You say to yourself, Boaz is a sneak peek of the ultimate redeemer. This is amazing. Standing face to face with God. How? Why? Now when you go to Ephesians 2, you often say this. If I were to say, what's your favorite verse in Ephesians 2?

Most of you would say what? By grace, been saved. He front loads the word grace. It's not I've been saved by grace, but front loaded by grace I've been saved. Awesome verse. Maybe you say chapter 2, verse 10.

God creates good works. He prepares them ahead of time that I might what? Walk in them. Awesome. How about Ephesians 2, verse 4? But God, rich in what? Mercy. I love those verses. And some of you, if you're a Gentile, maybe you even think Ephesians 2, verse 11 is the best.

Don't forget you're a Gentile. But we often forget of Ephesians 2, verse 7. Let me read it. So that in the coming ages, age after age after age after age, why does God save anybody that He might show, demonstrate, make conspicuous, to show forth the immeasurable riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.

No Compromise Radio with Pastor Mike Abendroth is a production of Bethlehem Bible Church in West Boylston, Massachusetts. Bethlehem Bible Church is a Bible teaching church firmly committed to unleashing the life transforming power of God's word through verse by verse exposition of the sacred text.

Please, come and join us. Our service times are Sunday morning at 8 .30 and 11 a .m. and Sunday evenings at 6 p .m. We're located on Route 110 in West Boylston, Massachusetts. You can check us out online at bbchurch .org or by phone at 508 -835 -3400.

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