RUTH
WHO AM I?
By Rev. Dr. Jerry Schmoyer jerry@schmoyer.net
http://india.christiantrainingonline.org/
INTRODUCTION
Sometimes its hard to believe that Jesus loves us
We sin, fail, disappoint him, disappoint ourselves
We want to be loved, accepted, successful
We want to please God but often think we don’t
But when we see how God feels about us we see things differently
BOOK OF RUTH shows this:
I. Ruth of Moab (1:1-5)
A. Events occurred “when the judges ruled” (1:1)
B. Famine in the area of Bethlehem (1:1)
C. Migration to Moab (1:1)
1. Elimelech and his wife, Naomi (1:2)
2. They had two sons, Mahlon and Chilion
3. They were Ephrathites of Bethlehem-judah
D. Elimelech died in Moab (1:3)
E. After the death of Elimelech, his two sons married Moabite women (1:4)
1. One of the sons married Orpah (1:4)
2. The other son married Ruth (1:4) This violated God’s lawDeuteronomy 7:3-8, 23:3, and Ezra 9:2
3. After 10 years Mahlon and Chilion died (1:5)
4. Naomi was without husband or sons (1:5)
II. Devotion of Ruth to Naomi (1:6 to 2:23)
A. Naomi decides to return to Bethlehem-judah (1:7)
1. Both Orpah and Ruth accompany Naomi part of the way (1:7)
2. Naomi urges her daughters-in-law to remain in Moab (1:8-13)
3. Orpah tearfully remains in Moab (1:14)
4. Ruth refuses to leave Naomi (1:14-18)
Ruth 1:16, “Don’t urge me to leave you or to turn back from you. Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God.”
Naomi a NOBODY – Gentile widow woman!
B. They arrive at Bethlehem (1:19)
1. Women of Bethlehem surprised to see Naomi so sad and desolate
2. Naomi asks them to call her “Mara,” instead of Naomi (1:20)
3. Naomi blames Jehovah for her plight (1:21)
4. Naomi and Ruth arrive in Bethlehem at harvest time (1:22)
C. Ruth’s care for Naomi (2:1-23)
1. Boaz, a powerful, wealthy kinsman of Elimelech (2:1)
2. Ruth ask Naomi to permit to glean the harvest fields (2:2)
3. Ruth gleaned in the field of Boaz (2:3)
4. Boaz observes and meets Ruth (2:4-7)
5. Boaz provides for Ruth (2:8-23)
III. Ruth’s Devotion to Naomi is Rewarded (3:1-18- 4:22)
A. Naomi advises Ruth on how best to remind Boaz of his duty (3:1-9)
REDEEM: buy back (slave, toy sail boat)
Land sold to another, not in Naomi’s family
Relative could buy it back, have children to keep it
1. Ruth follows Naomi’s instructions (3:6-8) Deuteronomy 25:5 Boaz was to take Ruth as next of Kin for his wife
2. Boaz discovers Ruth at his feet (3:9)
B. Boaz desires to become Ruth’s husband (3:10-18)
1. There was a problem (3:12)
2. Gift to Ruth and Naomi (3:15)
3. Ruth returns to Naomi with good news and a gift (3:16-17)
4. Naomi correctly surmises that Boaz will act quickly (3:18)
C. Boaz marries Ruth (4:1-22)
1. Boaz secures from a nearer relative the right of redemption (4:1-12)
2. Boaz and Ruth marry (4:13)
3. Obed is born to Ruth and Boaz (4:14-17)
4. Brief genealogy showing David was descended from Ruth and Boaz (4:18-22) Matthew 1:5
KINSMEN-REDEEMER
Kinsman – near relative
Redeemer – one who redeems, buys back
Leviticus 25:47-48 “‘If an alien or a temporary resident among you becomes rich and one of your countrymen becomes poor and sells himself to the alien living among you or to a member of the alien’s clan, he retains the right of redemption after he has sold himself. One of his relatives may redeem him:
REDEEM: buy back, from slavery
Toy boat lost, bought back
US from sin!
Kinsman-redeemer picture of JESUS
QUALIFICATIONS
1. MUST BE A NEAR RELATIVE
BOAZ was 2:1,3,20; 3:12
JESUS was, human like us
Philippians 2:5-8 Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: 6 Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, 7 but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. 8 And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death — even death on a cross!
Jesus human: eat, sleep, hurt, cry, laugh like us
2. MUST BE FREE HIMSELF
BOAZ didn’t have to buy self out, not in debt
JESUS free from sin, curse, bondage, totally free to give self
Hebrews 4:15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are — yet was without sin.
Jesus only one sinless ever
3. MUST BE WILLING TO REDEEM
BOAZ was 2:8; 3:11
JESUS was willing
John 10:18 No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again.
Baptism, Jesus step forward to follow path of Messiah
Palm Sunday volunteered
Washed disciples feet – came to serve others, not be served
4. MUST BE ABLE, HAVE THE REQUIRED PRICE
BOAZ had resources to do it 2:1
JESUS able to also
Had the price required – innocent perfect blood
Cross – Jesus able to go as our substitute
1 Peter 1:18-19 For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your forefathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect.
5. MUST PAY THE REQUIRED PRICE
BOAZ paid the price
JESUS paid price on cross
Galatians 3:13 Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written: “Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree.”
RUTH A nobody who became somebody because Boaz redeemed
She benefitted from it all, Boaz paid the price
He benefitted in gaining love and family from her
WE are nobodies who became somebody because Jesus redeem
We benefitted from it all, Boaz paid the price
We are guilty, He provides innocence
We are shamed, He provides honor
We are fearful, He provides power
Jesus benefitted in gaining us as friends, loved ones
-YOU are His benefit, blessing – reason he did it
WHO AM I?
Lies: I’m not worth anything to God
I’m not good enough
I’ve sinned too much
No one cares about me
I HAVE WORTH BECAUSE GOD LOVES ME
Sometimes our vision of who we are is clouded by our past exp.
Lies others have told us
Or other hurts we may have lived through …
But what does God say?
You are born again
1 Peter 1:23 For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God.
You are a child of God
John 1:12 Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God—
You are saved by grace through faith
Ephesians 2:8-9 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith — and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast.
You are tenderly loved by God
Jeremiah 31:3 “I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with loving-kindness.
You are a new creation in Christ
2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!
You have peace with God
Romans 5:1 Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,
You are chosen by God
John 15:16 You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you
You are not condemned by God
Romans 8:1 Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus,
The Holy Spirit lives in you
1 Corinthians 3:16 Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit lives in you?
You have access to God’s wisdom
James 1:5 If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.
You are helped by God
Hebrews 4:16 Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.
You are completely forgiven
Colossians 1:13-14 In Him we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.
You are Christ’s friend
John 15:15 “I have called you friends.”
You are a member of Christ’s body
1 Corinthians 12:27 Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.
You have been rescued by God
Colossians 1:13 For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves,
You are made complete in Christ
Colossians 2:10 and you have been given fullness in Christ, who is the head over every power and authority.
You have the mind of Christ
1 Corinthians 2:16 We have the mind of Christ.
God is not finished with you yet
Philippians 1:6 being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.
You can approach God with confidence
Ephesians 3:12 In him and through faith in him we may approach God with freedom and confidence.
You do not need to be afraid of the future
2 Timothy 1:7 For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline.
Who am I?
I am HIS!
PRAY