1 00:00:00,000 –> 00:00:07,060 You are listening to a sermon from Pastor Colin Smith of Open the Bible. 2 00:00:07,060 –> 00:00:16,520 To contact us, call us at 1-877-OPEN-365 or visit our website, openthebible.org. 3 00:00:16,520 –> 00:00:17,540 Lets get to the message. 4 00:00:17,540 –> 00:00:18,860 Here is Pastor Colin. 5 00:00:18,860 –> 00:00:23,799 Well we are returning this morning to our series on Ruth. 6 00:00:24,400 –> 00:00:32,840 This beautiful story of the lives, the loves, and the losses of three ordinary people. 7 00:00:32,840 –> 00:00:38,119 We have met Naomi who endured great sorrow and great loss. 8 00:00:38,119 –> 00:00:44,680 She had moved with her husband and her two sons to Moab because there was a famine in 9 00:00:44,680 –> 00:00:45,680 Bethlehem. 10 00:00:45,680 –> 00:00:48,119 She had stayed there 10 years. 11 00:00:48,119 –> 00:00:52,680 And during that time she had suffered a triple bereavement. 12 00:00:53,520 –> 00:01:00,520 First she had lost her husband Elimalek, then she had lost her two married sons, Malon and 13 00:01:00,880 –> 00:01:03,000 Chileon. 14 00:01:03,000 –> 00:01:09,500 And then we met Naomi’s daughter-in-law Ruth, a Moabites who had come to faith in 15 00:01:09,500 –> 00:01:11,599 the living God. 16 00:01:11,599 –> 00:01:15,599 And she also, of course, had endured a triple bereavement. 17 00:01:15,599 –> 00:01:22,599 She had lost her husband, she had lost her father-in-law, and she had lost her brother-in-law. 18 00:01:22,879 –> 00:01:29,959 When Naomi returned to Bethlehem, we saw earlier in the story that Ruth made an astonishing 19 00:01:29,959 –> 00:01:33,760 commitment of faith and of love. 20 00:01:33,760 –> 00:01:37,639 She said to Naomi, Where you go, I will go. 21 00:01:37,639 –> 00:01:44,639 Where you live, I will live and your God will be my God. 22 00:01:45,680 –> 00:01:49,540 And then we were introduced to the third character, Boaz. 23 00:01:49,779 –> 00:01:54,779 Boaz was a relative of Naomi’s deceased husband, Elimelech. 24 00:01:55,800 –> 00:02:01,379 He was a man of some means and it seems clear, as we’ll see from the story today, that he 25 00:02:01,379 –> 00:02:05,639 was in midlife or older. 26 00:02:05,639 –> 00:02:12,759 When Naomi and Ruth came back to Bethlehem, Ruth went to glean in the fields during the 27 00:02:12,759 –> 00:02:14,800 barley harvest. 28 00:02:14,800 –> 00:02:20,119 GLEANERS would follow the harvesters and basically pick up the small amounts of grain 29 00:02:20,119 –> 00:02:23,059 that they’d left behind. 30 00:02:23,059 –> 00:02:30,720 And it just so happend, that word is in chapter 2 and verse 3, that the field in which Ruth 31 00:02:30,720 –> 00:02:36,240 chose to glean belonged to this man, Boaz. 32 00:02:36,240 –> 00:02:42,100 Now why should we be interested at all in this ancient love story? 33 00:02:42,100 –> 00:02:47,619 What does this have to do with all of us here today? 34 00:02:47,619 –> 00:02:52,899 And we’ve been seeing that this is a story for us because it’s not only a story about 35 00:02:52,899 –> 00:02:58,179 three ordinary people, it is a story about our Extraordinary God. 36 00:02:58,179 –> 00:03:06,419 And what we learn from it at its heart is that our Extraordinary God, weaves our lives 37 00:03:06,500 –> 00:03:15,300 and our losses into His hidden plan to bring blessing to the world. 38 00:03:15,300 –> 00:03:21,380 That’s what the book of Ruth is all about, God is able to work through your life, 39 00:03:22,660 –> 00:03:29,300 God is able to work through your love, God is even able to work through your losses 40 00:03:30,339 –> 00:03:34,899 in order to bring blessing to you and to others. 41 00:03:35,619 –> 00:03:41,699 Now we take up the story then today in chapter 3 and verse 1 where we read that then 42 00:03:42,740 –> 00:03:48,380 Naomi, her mother-in-law, said to her, that is Ruth, my daughter, 43 00:03:48,380 –> 00:03:55,259 Should I not seek rest for you that it may be well with you? 44 00:03:56,100 –> 00:04:04,339 Now Naomi was an older woman and Ruth had made this extraordinary commitment of love and loyalty 45 00:04:04,339 –> 00:04:11,059 to support her, to care for her. Where you go, where you live, I will live. Where you die, 46 00:04:11,059 –> 00:04:16,179 I will die. But here’s the point. What would happen to Ruth when Naomi was gone? 47 00:04:18,100 –> 00:04:24,179 And I want you to see here that Naomi gives to us a marvelous snapshot of love 48 00:04:24,179 –> 00:04:30,100 in action. Notice that love appreciates what others have done 49 00:04:31,059 –> 00:04:36,739 and seeks to do good for them. We want to grow in faith, hope and love. 50 00:04:37,940 –> 00:04:42,899 And here’s a snapshot of what it looks like to grow in love right here. There’s actually a 51 00:04:42,899 –> 00:04:49,459 remarkable change that’s taken place in Naomi at the end of Chapter 1, not surprisingly, 52 00:04:49,459 –> 00:04:55,220 after a triple bereavement, her thoughts were all about herself and all about her loss. That was 53 00:04:55,540 –> 00:05:00,899 consuming her mind and her heart. She’d gone through this bitter experience and 54 00:05:00,899 –> 00:05:09,859 it really had taken its toll. But God’s provision for Naomi through Ruth and through Boaz 55 00:05:10,820 –> 00:05:15,859 had given her a new sense of hope. It had given her a new sense of purpose. 56 00:05:15,859 –> 00:05:19,940 There’s a reason why I’m still here. 57 00:05:21,059 –> 00:05:28,980 And God has something for me to do. And notice that our focus now is not so much on herself, 58 00:05:28,980 –> 00:05:37,140 but on what she can do for Ruth. Now remember, in Old Testament times particularly seniority 59 00:05:37,140 –> 00:05:42,739 really carried an awful lot of weight and Naomi could easily have said, well you know, 60 00:05:42,739 –> 00:05:49,859 it’s the job of the younger to look after us older ones. It’s Ruth’s calling to meet my needs. 61 00:05:49,859 –> 00:05:59,059 Now what’s Ruth gonna do for me? But you see by God’s grace, this older woman has come to a better 62 00:05:59,059 –> 00:06:08,980 place. Naomi is not asking in Chapter 3 in verse 1, what can Ruth do for me? She is asking what 63 00:06:08,980 –> 00:06:16,820 can I do for Ruth who has loved me so well? How can I make her life better? 64 00:06:17,940 –> 00:06:25,299 My daughter, should I not seek rest for you? That it may be well with you. 65 00:06:27,459 –> 00:06:34,100 Now love appreciates then what others have done for us, and therefore seeks to do good for them. 66 00:06:34,339 –> 00:06:38,420 So who has brought blessing into your life? Just think about that 67 00:06:40,019 –> 00:06:44,660 and ask yourself rather than saying what more can they do for me, 68 00:06:45,859 –> 00:06:52,260 how can I bring blessing to them? Who supports and helps and encourages you? 69 00:06:53,299 –> 00:06:57,220 Well, now how can you help and support and encourage them? 70 00:06:58,179 –> 00:07:06,820 Who has been a true friend to you? How can you then be a true friend to them? 71 00:07:08,339 –> 00:07:11,940 And then think about what the Lord Jesus Christ has done for you 72 00:07:12,899 –> 00:07:19,220 and then ask with all the good that he has done for you, what are you prepared to do for him? 73 00:07:19,220 –> 00:07:24,739 Naomi is a marvelous example of love because she appreciates what Ruth has 74 00:07:24,739 –> 00:07:30,179 done for her and wants now to do good for Ruth. And then I want you to notice as we 75 00:07:30,179 –> 00:07:36,339 think about what it means to grow in love that love wants others to enjoy gifts that we have 76 00:07:36,339 –> 00:07:44,179 not received. Think about this, what Naomi wants when she says should I not seek rest for you, 77 00:07:44,179 –> 00:07:51,220 very clearly what she wants here is that Ruth will find another husband. Well very obviously 78 00:07:51,220 –> 00:07:58,500 that’s a gift that Naomi herself did not receive. God did not give Naomi another husband. 79 00:08:00,420 –> 00:08:04,739 And of course the temptation in that situation would be to say well I’ve not had that gift, 80 00:08:04,739 –> 00:08:13,299 why should she? But you see that’s not love. Naomi wants for Ruth what she herself 81 00:08:13,299 –> 00:08:22,179 was not given. There’s not a hint of envy here. None of this why should she enjoy what I was 82 00:08:22,179 –> 00:08:29,940 denied. None of this why should she have an easier life when I’ve had it so hard. 83 00:08:32,179 –> 00:08:37,859 Love rejoices with those who rejoice. And love wants others to enjoy gifts that we 84 00:08:37,859 –> 00:08:47,460 have not received. It’s beautiful. And then notice this, that love moves a loved one in the direction 85 00:08:47,460 –> 00:08:54,099 of rest. Notice that marriage, because that’s what’s being spoken about here, is described 86 00:08:54,099 –> 00:09:04,580 very beautifully as rest. My daughter, should I not seek rest for you that it may be well 87 00:09:04,580 –> 00:09:14,500 with you. So marriage very simply is a good gift from God, in which one man and one woman 88 00:09:14,500 –> 00:09:21,700 are brought together in a lasting union of love and mutual support in which they find 89 00:09:23,140 –> 00:09:31,940 rest. That’s beautiful. That is the purpose of God, rest. God’s purpose in marriage 90 00:09:32,659 –> 00:09:39,299 is that it should have a settling effect on the lives of both of the people who come into it. 91 00:09:40,340 –> 00:09:45,460 That it should bring a greater peace. That it should bring a greater stability. 92 00:09:46,340 –> 00:09:53,859 That it should have a calming kind of an effect on all of our inner restlessness. And Naomi says, 93 00:09:53,859 –> 00:10:00,820 this is what I want for you, Ruth. I want you to find someone with whom you will find 94 00:10:00,820 –> 00:10:07,700 rest. I want this that it may be well with you. Now here’s the very obvious question for all of 95 00:10:07,700 –> 00:10:15,700 us who are called to marriage. If God’s purpose in marriage is that we will find rest, 96 00:10:17,380 –> 00:10:23,380 then all of us who are married must surely ask this question. How can I make this marriage 97 00:10:24,340 –> 00:10:30,900 a place of greater rest for the spouse that God has trusted to me? 98 00:10:33,140 –> 00:10:39,140 So, do you see, here is a marvelous, beautiful, snapshot of love. 99 00:10:40,580 –> 00:10:45,619 Love appreciates what others have done for us and therefore tries to do good for them. 100 00:10:47,059 –> 00:10:52,340 Love wants others to enjoy gifts, even gifts that we ourselves did not receive. 101 00:10:54,099 –> 00:11:00,260 And love moves a loved one in the direction of rest. 102 00:11:02,580 –> 00:11:06,979 Now, Naomi wants Ruth to find a husband. 103 00:11:08,020 –> 00:11:12,099 And she’s pretty sure that she has worked out who that husband should be. 104 00:11:13,380 –> 00:11:16,659 She has picked up on Boaz’s kindness to Ruth. 105 00:11:17,700 –> 00:11:22,419 Remember, in chapter 2 in verse 11, before he met Ruth, 106 00:11:22,500 –> 00:11:25,299 he’d already heard about her loving, 107 00:11:25,299 –> 00:11:29,460 extraordinary commitment of loyalty to her mother-in-law. 108 00:11:29,460 –> 00:11:30,979 And he was intrigued 109 00:11:30,979 –> 00:11:34,979 just to meet this remarkable woman about whom he had heard so much. 110 00:11:34,979 –> 00:11:36,979 And it was quite clear from chapter two 111 00:11:36,979 –> 00:11:41,460 that really, from the moment they met, there was a connection between them. 112 00:11:41,460 –> 00:11:45,780 Boaz, we saw last time, had invited Ruth to lunch. 113 00:11:45,780 –> 00:11:48,260 He’d made sure that she had plenty 114 00:11:48,260 –> 00:11:50,580 to show for her day’s work when she went home, 115 00:11:50,580 –> 00:11:55,299 gave her a whole Ifa of barley which was about 30 pounds in weight. 116 00:11:55,940 –> 00:11:58,020 And when Naomi… can you picture this? 117 00:11:58,020 –> 00:12:00,260 Ruth comes home with… she’s been gleaming 118 00:12:00,260 –> 00:12:04,340 and she comes back with 30 pounds worth of barley! 119 00:12:04,340 –> 00:12:06,900 And Naomi’s eyes must have been wide! 120 00:12:06,900 –> 00:12:10,020 And my goodness, someone’s really helped you! 121 00:12:12,099 –> 00:12:15,140 And indeed she says, chapter two in verse 19, 122 00:12:15,140 –> 00:12:18,659 blessed be the man who took notice of you. 123 00:12:18,820 –> 00:12:22,099 And someone noticed you and helped you big time! 124 00:12:23,299 –> 00:12:26,340 No other gleaner comes back with an Ifa of barley! 125 00:12:27,700 –> 00:12:29,859 And you remember that Ruth told her, 126 00:12:29,859 –> 00:12:35,780 it was the name of the man with whom I worked today is Boaz, 127 00:12:35,780 –> 00:12:40,979 and it did not take Naomi long to work out the possibilities. 128 00:12:40,979 –> 00:12:43,539 She says now, you just keep going back to Boaz field, 129 00:12:43,539 –> 00:12:44,739 you don’t go anywhere else! 130 00:12:45,299 –> 00:12:46,820 And that’s what Ruth did! 131 00:12:46,900 –> 00:12:50,179 And that’s the end of chapter two, if you just glance back to it. 132 00:12:50,179 –> 00:12:53,780 She kept close to the young women of Boaz, 133 00:12:54,500 –> 00:13:00,020 gleaning until the end of the barley and the wheat harvest! 134 00:13:00,020 –> 00:13:05,299 So now we’ve come to the end of the barley harvest. 135 00:13:06,020 –> 00:13:08,580 Now there are three things that I want us to notice 136 00:13:08,580 –> 00:13:11,059 in the passage that’s before us today. 137 00:13:11,059 –> 00:13:13,059 First Naomi’s counsel! 138 00:13:13,059 –> 00:13:14,820 Second Ruth’s initiative! 139 00:13:14,820 –> 00:13:18,260 And third Boaz resolve! 140 00:13:18,260 –> 00:13:20,380 First then Naomi’s counsel, 141 00:13:20,380 –> 00:13:21,619 verse two to four is, 142 00:13:21,619 –> 00:13:26,820 Now Boaz our relative with whose young women you were! 143 00:13:26,820 –> 00:13:28,739 See he is winnowing barley tonight 144 00:13:28,739 –> 00:13:30,340 on the threshing floor. 145 00:13:30,340 –> 00:13:32,260 Wash therefore and anoint yourself 146 00:13:32,260 –> 00:13:33,700 and put on your cloak 147 00:13:33,700 –> 00:13:36,099 and go on down to the threshing floor, 148 00:13:36,099 –> 00:13:38,020 but do not make yourself known to the man 149 00:13:38,020 –> 00:13:39,859 until he is finished eating and drinking, 150 00:13:39,859 –> 00:13:41,380 but when he lies down, 151 00:13:42,099 –> 00:13:44,500 observe the place where he lies, 152 00:13:44,500 –> 00:13:48,340 then go and uncover his feet and lie down 153 00:13:48,340 –> 00:13:50,979 and he will tell you what to do. 154 00:13:52,340 –> 00:13:54,099 Naomi tells her daughter-in-law 155 00:13:54,099 –> 00:13:56,340 to make herself as attractive as possible, 156 00:13:57,539 –> 00:13:59,059 to sneak up on a man 157 00:13:59,059 –> 00:14:00,820 who has already shown interest in her 158 00:14:01,700 –> 00:14:03,219 when he is on his own 159 00:14:03,219 –> 00:14:04,419 in the middle of the night 160 00:14:04,419 –> 00:14:06,659 and lie down at his feet. 161 00:14:08,260 –> 00:14:09,619 It is not surprising 162 00:14:10,340 –> 00:14:11,940 that Naomi has come in 163 00:14:11,940 –> 00:14:14,099 for some harsh criticism 164 00:14:14,820 –> 00:14:15,700 for her plan. 165 00:14:16,979 –> 00:14:18,739 Is Naomi suggesting 166 00:14:18,739 –> 00:14:21,539 that Ruth should seduce Boaz 167 00:14:21,539 –> 00:14:23,700 so he would feel that he had to marry her? 168 00:14:25,380 –> 00:14:28,419 Did she not realize the terrible danger 169 00:14:28,419 –> 00:14:30,179 that she was putting Ruth in 170 00:14:30,179 –> 00:14:32,179 by sending her alone at night 171 00:14:32,179 –> 00:14:33,299 to the threshing floor? 172 00:14:35,539 –> 00:14:37,539 Is she guilty of trying to 173 00:14:37,539 –> 00:14:39,380 nudge the hand of God 174 00:14:41,059 –> 00:14:42,820 when she should have waited 175 00:14:42,820 –> 00:14:44,500 for God to work out 176 00:14:44,500 –> 00:14:48,179 his own perfect plan and purpose? 177 00:14:50,099 –> 00:14:52,900 While Karan and I have enjoyed 178 00:14:52,900 –> 00:14:55,700 watching a TV program called Alone, 179 00:14:55,700 –> 00:14:57,299 which some of you may also have seen 180 00:14:57,299 –> 00:14:58,020 and enjoyed, 181 00:14:58,580 –> 00:15:00,260 volunteers endure 182 00:15:00,260 –> 00:15:02,500 extreme weather conditions, 183 00:15:03,059 –> 00:15:04,260 forage for food, 184 00:15:04,260 –> 00:15:06,099 protect themselves against attack 185 00:15:06,099 –> 00:15:07,859 from wild animals 186 00:15:07,859 –> 00:15:09,460 to see who can survive 187 00:15:09,460 –> 00:15:11,700 the longest in some remote corner 188 00:15:11,700 –> 00:15:12,679 of the planet. 189 00:15:12,919 –> 00:15:15,400 And at the beginning of every episode, 190 00:15:15,400 –> 00:15:16,919 you see this warning, 191 00:15:16,919 –> 00:15:20,039 do not try this yourself. 192 00:15:22,599 –> 00:15:23,719 Now that warning 193 00:15:24,760 –> 00:15:27,000 should be attached 194 00:15:27,000 –> 00:15:28,039 to any study 195 00:15:28,840 –> 00:15:30,919 of Ruth chapter three. 196 00:15:32,599 –> 00:15:33,960 Do not try 197 00:15:34,840 –> 00:15:36,520 what Naomi proposed 198 00:15:36,520 –> 00:15:37,640 and what Ruth did 199 00:15:38,280 –> 00:15:38,919 yourself. 200 00:15:39,719 –> 00:15:41,000 It would not be wise 201 00:15:41,880 –> 00:15:44,280 for a young woman to steal into the house 202 00:15:44,280 –> 00:15:45,640 of a man she hopes to marry 203 00:15:45,640 –> 00:15:46,760 and lie down at his feet 204 00:15:46,760 –> 00:15:47,640 while he is sleeping. 205 00:15:48,599 –> 00:15:50,119 And if someone were to do this 206 00:15:50,119 –> 00:15:51,479 it would be quite wrong 207 00:15:51,479 –> 00:15:52,919 to claim scripture 208 00:15:52,919 –> 00:15:54,760 as your reason for what you did. 209 00:15:56,599 –> 00:16:00,440 This is not an example to follow, 210 00:16:00,440 –> 00:16:00,940 Why? 211 00:16:02,200 –> 00:16:03,320 Well, at least one reason, 212 00:16:04,280 –> 00:16:05,320 there are not many men 213 00:16:05,320 –> 00:16:06,679 who would have the self control 214 00:16:06,679 –> 00:16:07,479 that Boaz did. 215 00:16:09,479 –> 00:16:11,719 But having given the 216 00:16:11,719 –> 00:16:13,400 do not try this yourself 217 00:16:13,400 –> 00:16:13,900 warning, 218 00:16:15,479 –> 00:16:17,320 i want us to see that 219 00:16:17,320 –> 00:16:18,760 Naomi’s counsel 220 00:16:18,760 –> 00:16:20,039 is a beautiful 221 00:16:20,039 –> 00:16:22,200 expression of faith 222 00:16:23,000 –> 00:16:25,080 and hope and love. 223 00:16:26,200 –> 00:16:27,880 Boaz had clearly shown 224 00:16:27,880 –> 00:16:29,000 interest in Ruth, 225 00:16:30,119 –> 00:16:31,320 but he had done nothing 226 00:16:31,320 –> 00:16:32,919 to move the relationship forward. 227 00:16:34,440 –> 00:16:35,960 And there may be a hint 228 00:16:36,599 –> 00:16:37,880 as to why this was 229 00:16:37,880 –> 00:16:38,919 in verse 10, 230 00:16:38,919 –> 00:16:39,960 where Boaz says, 231 00:16:40,679 –> 00:16:42,039 ”may you be blessed 232 00:16:42,039 –> 00:16:42,919 by the lord, 233 00:16:44,039 –> 00:16:44,840 my daughter.” 234 00:16:44,840 –> 00:16:46,119 That’s how he addresses Ruth. 235 00:16:47,799 –> 00:16:48,760 So the fact that 236 00:16:50,200 –> 00:16:51,320 Boaz addresses Ruth as 237 00:16:52,599 –> 00:16:53,239 daughter, 238 00:16:53,239 –> 00:16:54,760 indicates there was a very 239 00:16:54,760 –> 00:16:55,960 substantial 240 00:16:55,960 –> 00:16:57,159 difference in age. 241 00:16:58,679 –> 00:16:59,880 Boaz was much 242 00:16:59,880 –> 00:17:00,840 older than Ruth, 243 00:17:02,280 –> 00:17:03,239 and you see that is why 244 00:17:03,239 –> 00:17:04,599 he says in verse 10, 245 00:17:04,599 –> 00:17:05,400 ”may you be blessed 246 00:17:05,400 –> 00:17:06,680 by the lord, my daughter, 247 00:17:06,680 –> 00:17:07,719 you have made this last 248 00:17:07,719 –> 00:17:08,520 kindness greater 249 00:17:08,520 –> 00:17:09,800 than the first in that 250 00:17:09,800 –> 00:17:11,160 you have not gone 251 00:17:11,160 –> 00:17:12,680 after young men, 252 00:17:14,359 –> 00:17:15,880 whether poor or rich.” 253 00:17:17,640 –> 00:17:18,839 The natural thing 254 00:17:18,839 –> 00:17:19,880 for Ruth to have done, 255 00:17:19,880 –> 00:17:20,359 of course, 256 00:17:20,359 –> 00:17:21,400 would have been to go 257 00:17:21,400 –> 00:17:22,760 after someone of her 258 00:17:22,760 –> 00:17:23,560 own age. 259 00:17:25,400 –> 00:17:26,520 And if Boaz 260 00:17:26,520 –> 00:17:28,599 had any romantic 261 00:17:28,599 –> 00:17:30,199 thoughts in regards 262 00:17:30,199 –> 00:17:31,400 to Ruth, 263 00:17:31,400 –> 00:17:32,199 he would have been 264 00:17:32,199 –> 00:17:33,160 very quick to put 265 00:17:33,160 –> 00:17:34,439 these out of his mind. 266 00:17:34,760 –> 00:17:36,119 ”Why would a young 267 00:17:36,119 –> 00:17:37,319 woman like Ruth 268 00:17:37,319 –> 00:17:39,079 have any interest 269 00:17:39,079 –> 00:17:40,119 in an aging 270 00:17:40,119 –> 00:17:40,920 man like me?” 271 00:17:43,640 –> 00:17:44,760 So, you see when 272 00:17:44,760 –> 00:17:45,560 Ruth came home 273 00:17:45,560 –> 00:17:46,359 from the fields 274 00:17:46,359 –> 00:17:47,239 day after day 275 00:17:47,239 –> 00:17:48,599 during the Barley Harvest, 276 00:17:48,599 –> 00:17:50,920 Naomi would ask her, 277 00:17:51,959 –> 00:17:53,400 ”Did you see Boaz today?” 278 00:17:56,040 –> 00:17:57,079 ”Oh yes I had lunch 279 00:17:57,079 –> 00:17:57,959 with him and the others.” 280 00:18:00,839 –> 00:18:01,719 ”Did he say 281 00:18:01,719 –> 00:18:03,000 anything to you today?” 282 00:18:05,160 –> 00:18:08,280 ”No, nothing unusual.” 283 00:18:10,839 –> 00:18:11,640 And now it’s the end 284 00:18:11,640 –> 00:18:12,680 of the Barley Harvest 285 00:18:15,319 –> 00:18:16,680 and Naomi is thinking 286 00:18:18,119 –> 00:18:18,920 he is never going to 287 00:18:18,920 –> 00:18:19,640 have the courage 288 00:18:19,640 –> 00:18:20,280 to ask her. 289 00:18:22,359 –> 00:18:23,160 Well we all know 290 00:18:23,160 –> 00:18:24,760 how the story should end, 291 00:18:26,119 –> 00:18:27,239 but time has passed 292 00:18:28,680 –> 00:18:29,719 nothing has happened 293 00:18:31,400 –> 00:18:32,359 until Naomi came 294 00:18:32,359 –> 00:18:33,079 to the rescue. 295 00:18:34,760 –> 00:18:36,599 The Barley Harvest is over 296 00:18:36,599 –> 00:18:37,560 and Naomi reckons 297 00:18:37,560 –> 00:18:38,359 it’s now or never 298 00:18:39,239 –> 00:18:40,839 and so she encourages Ruth 299 00:18:40,839 –> 00:18:42,280 to take a risky 300 00:18:42,280 –> 00:18:43,640 initiative of faith. 301 00:18:43,640 –> 00:18:44,680 What she’s saying to her 302 00:18:44,680 –> 00:18:45,640 is basically this 303 00:18:45,640 –> 00:18:47,400 ”Put away your morning clothes 304 00:18:49,079 –> 00:18:50,280 and dress yourself 305 00:18:50,280 –> 00:18:51,319 as if for a wedding 306 00:18:51,319 –> 00:18:52,439 because that’s what’s ahead 307 00:18:52,439 –> 00:18:52,939 of you” 308 00:18:54,439 –> 00:18:55,640 That’s Naomi’s counsel. 309 00:18:57,079 –> 00:18:57,719 Now let’s look at 310 00:18:57,719 –> 00:18:58,680 Ruth’s initiative 311 00:18:58,680 –> 00:18:59,719 Verse 6 312 00:18:59,719 –> 00:19:00,599 So she went to 313 00:19:00,599 –> 00:19:02,040 the threshing floor 314 00:19:02,040 –> 00:19:03,160 and did just as 315 00:19:03,160 –> 00:19:04,280 her mother-in-law 316 00:19:04,280 –> 00:19:05,959 had commanded her. 317 00:19:06,599 –> 00:19:07,560 The threshing floor 318 00:19:07,560 –> 00:19:08,839 now the threshing floor 319 00:19:08,839 –> 00:19:09,640 is very simply 320 00:19:09,640 –> 00:19:13,160 an elevated area of land 321 00:19:13,160 –> 00:19:14,520 like a kind of platform 322 00:19:14,520 –> 00:19:15,319 they’d look for a 323 00:19:15,319 –> 00:19:17,640 raised area of land 324 00:19:17,640 –> 00:19:18,280 and then there would 325 00:19:18,280 –> 00:19:19,640 be a ring of stones 326 00:19:19,640 –> 00:19:20,760 that would be placed 327 00:19:20,760 –> 00:19:21,479 around that 328 00:19:21,479 –> 00:19:23,719 quite substantial area 329 00:19:24,280 –> 00:19:27,000 and then the harvested sheaves 330 00:19:27,000 –> 00:19:28,040 would be brought 331 00:19:28,040 –> 00:19:29,319 to this platform 332 00:19:29,319 –> 00:19:30,359 this threshing floor 333 00:19:30,359 –> 00:19:32,520 this raised area of land 334 00:19:32,520 –> 00:19:33,239 and they would be 335 00:19:33,239 –> 00:19:35,319 spread out in that area 336 00:19:35,319 –> 00:19:37,160 probably up to about a foot deep 337 00:19:37,800 –> 00:19:39,880 and then a wooden sled 338 00:19:39,880 –> 00:19:41,479 with iron fragments 339 00:19:41,479 –> 00:19:42,199 on the bottom 340 00:19:42,199 –> 00:19:43,400 would be driven 341 00:19:43,400 –> 00:19:44,920 over the sheaves 342 00:19:44,920 –> 00:19:46,359 until the grain 343 00:19:46,359 –> 00:19:48,599 was separated from the chaff 344 00:19:48,599 –> 00:19:50,520 and from the stalks 345 00:19:51,479 –> 00:19:52,760 then in the evening 346 00:19:52,760 –> 00:19:54,359 when the wind would blow 347 00:19:54,359 –> 00:19:57,160 up from the sea 348 00:19:57,160 –> 00:19:57,959 the farmer would take 349 00:19:57,959 –> 00:19:58,839 a pitchfork 350 00:19:59,719 –> 00:20:00,520 and he would 351 00:20:01,079 –> 00:20:01,959 throw what was 352 00:20:01,959 –> 00:20:03,000 lying on the floor 353 00:20:03,000 –> 00:20:04,839 repeatedly up in the air 354 00:20:05,479 –> 00:20:06,599 and the wind would 355 00:20:06,599 –> 00:20:08,599 simply blow away the chaff 356 00:20:08,599 –> 00:20:09,640 and then leave the 357 00:20:10,199 –> 00:20:10,680 barley 358 00:20:11,560 –> 00:20:13,560 lying separated out 359 00:20:13,560 –> 00:20:14,599 winnowed 360 00:20:14,599 –> 00:20:16,520 on the floor 361 00:20:17,880 –> 00:20:19,800 and when the winnowing 362 00:20:19,800 –> 00:20:20,439 was done 363 00:20:21,400 –> 00:20:22,359 the farmer 364 00:20:22,359 –> 00:20:23,880 or someone who was 365 00:20:24,439 –> 00:20:25,880 on his team 366 00:20:26,760 –> 00:20:27,479 would spend the 367 00:20:27,479 –> 00:20:28,599 night beside the grain 368 00:20:28,599 –> 00:20:29,560 I mean to protect it 369 00:20:29,560 –> 00:20:31,239 this was of great value 370 00:20:31,239 –> 00:20:32,199 this was a year’s 371 00:20:32,199 –> 00:20:33,400 investment of work 372 00:20:33,400 –> 00:20:34,280 and you didn’t want to 373 00:20:34,280 –> 00:20:35,079 leave that 374 00:20:35,079 –> 00:20:37,000 unprotected 375 00:20:37,719 –> 00:20:38,599 Now Naomi knew 376 00:20:38,599 –> 00:20:39,479 that Boaz 377 00:20:39,479 –> 00:20:40,040 would be 378 00:20:40,040 –> 00:20:41,079 guarding the grain 379 00:20:41,079 –> 00:20:42,359 that particular night 380 00:20:42,359 –> 00:20:43,160 and sure enough 381 00:20:43,160 –> 00:20:44,119 when Ruth 382 00:20:44,119 –> 00:20:45,079 went to the threshing 383 00:20:45,079 –> 00:20:45,479 floor 384 00:20:45,479 –> 00:20:46,319 she found Boaz 385 00:20:46,880 –> 00:20:48,119 sleeping at the 386 00:20:48,119 –> 00:20:49,239 end of 387 00:20:49,239 –> 00:20:50,839 the heap of grain 388 00:20:50,839 –> 00:20:51,400 verse seven 389 00:20:52,040 –> 00:20:52,680 She pulled the 390 00:20:52,680 –> 00:20:53,239 blanket 391 00:20:54,040 –> 00:20:55,239 off Boaz’s 392 00:20:55,800 –> 00:20:56,119 feet 393 00:20:57,000 –> 00:20:57,880 and she lay down 394 00:20:59,000 –> 00:20:59,260 and 395 00:20:59,900 –> 00:21:00,380 perhaps 396 00:21:00,380 –> 00:21:01,500 it was the cold 397 00:21:01,500 –> 00:21:02,380 on Boaz’s feet 398 00:21:02,380 –> 00:21:03,260 that wakened him up 399 00:21:03,260 –> 00:21:03,900 I don’t know 400 00:21:03,900 –> 00:21:04,060 but 401 00:21:04,699 –> 00:21:05,500 at midnight 402 00:21:05,500 –> 00:21:06,459 verse nine 403 00:21:06,459 –> 00:21:07,099 the man 404 00:21:07,099 –> 00:21:08,219 was startled 405 00:21:08,219 –> 00:21:08,939 and he turned 406 00:21:08,939 –> 00:21:09,339 over 407 00:21:09,339 –> 00:21:10,060 and behold 408 00:21:10,619 –> 00:21:11,260 a woman 409 00:21:11,260 –> 00:21:12,699 lay at his feet 410 00:21:14,060 –> 00:21:14,859 Who are you? 411 00:21:16,060 –> 00:21:17,180 Boaz asked 412 00:21:18,300 –> 00:21:19,020 verse nine 413 00:21:19,900 –> 00:21:20,619 I am Ruth 414 00:21:20,619 –> 00:21:21,420 your servant 415 00:21:22,939 –> 00:21:23,579 Spread your 416 00:21:23,579 –> 00:21:24,140 wings 417 00:21:24,140 –> 00:21:25,260 over your servant 418 00:21:26,540 –> 00:21:27,739 For you are 419 00:21:27,900 –> 00:21:28,219 a 420 00:21:29,180 –> 00:21:29,739 Redeemer 421 00:21:31,660 –> 00:21:32,459 Now if you want 422 00:21:32,459 –> 00:21:33,180 what she said 423 00:21:33,180 –> 00:21:34,060 in plain English 424 00:21:34,060 –> 00:21:35,260 Ruth said to Boaz 425 00:21:36,300 –> 00:21:36,859 marry me 426 00:21:38,380 –> 00:21:39,020 marry me 427 00:21:39,020 –> 00:21:40,140 This is a proposal 428 00:21:40,939 –> 00:21:41,660 of marriage 429 00:21:42,540 –> 00:21:43,020 and there is 430 00:21:43,020 –> 00:21:43,579 something 431 00:21:43,579 –> 00:21:44,859 very beautiful 432 00:21:44,859 –> 00:21:46,140 in the way that 433 00:21:46,140 –> 00:21:47,500 Ruth framed 434 00:21:47,500 –> 00:21:48,060 this 435 00:21:48,060 –> 00:21:48,699 proposal 436 00:21:49,260 –> 00:21:49,979 you may remember 437 00:21:49,979 –> 00:21:50,699 in chapter 2 438 00:21:50,699 –> 00:21:51,500 and verse 12 439 00:21:51,500 –> 00:21:52,380 that the first time 440 00:21:52,380 –> 00:21:53,260 Boaz met Ruth 441 00:21:53,260 –> 00:21:54,380 he said to her 442 00:21:54,380 –> 00:21:54,780 the Lord 443 00:21:54,780 –> 00:21:55,420 repay you 444 00:21:55,420 –> 00:21:56,219 for what you have done 445 00:21:56,219 –> 00:21:57,099 and a full reward 446 00:21:57,260 –> 00:21:57,900 be given to you 447 00:21:57,900 –> 00:21:58,380 by the Lord 448 00:21:58,380 –> 00:21:59,660 the God of Israel 449 00:21:59,660 –> 00:22:01,579 under whose wings 450 00:22:03,180 –> 00:22:03,900 you have come 451 00:22:03,900 –> 00:22:04,859 to take refuge 452 00:22:05,979 –> 00:22:06,859 that was the first thing 453 00:22:06,859 –> 00:22:08,619 that Boaz ever said to Ruth 454 00:22:08,619 –> 00:22:09,739 she’d never forgotten it 455 00:22:10,939 –> 00:22:11,739 and when she came 456 00:22:11,739 –> 00:22:12,780 to make her proposal 457 00:22:12,780 –> 00:22:13,900 she used precisely 458 00:22:13,900 –> 00:22:15,099 the same language 459 00:22:15,099 –> 00:22:16,619 spread your wings 460 00:22:16,619 –> 00:22:17,819 she says to him 461 00:22:17,819 –> 00:22:19,020 over your servant 462 00:22:19,020 –> 00:22:19,579 for you 463 00:22:19,579 –> 00:22:20,079 are 464 00:22:20,619 –> 00:22:21,260 a Redeemer 465 00:22:21,260 –> 00:22:21,500 you see 466 00:22:21,500 –> 00:22:22,939 what Ruth is saying Boaz 467 00:22:24,380 –> 00:22:25,339 the first time 468 00:22:25,339 –> 00:22:26,140 we ever met 469 00:22:27,900 –> 00:22:28,939 you prayed 470 00:22:30,219 –> 00:22:31,420 that I would find rest 471 00:22:31,420 –> 00:22:32,060 under the wings 472 00:22:32,060 –> 00:22:33,020 of Almighty God 473 00:22:34,540 –> 00:22:35,979 what I’m asking you tonight 474 00:22:36,859 –> 00:22:37,660 is that you become 475 00:22:37,660 –> 00:22:38,219 the answer 476 00:22:38,219 –> 00:22:39,420 to what you prayed for me 477 00:22:40,459 –> 00:22:41,819 take me under your wings 478 00:22:42,780 –> 00:22:43,660 I want you to be 479 00:22:43,660 –> 00:22:44,619 the means by which 480 00:22:44,619 –> 00:22:45,579 I experience 481 00:22:45,579 –> 00:22:47,180 the blessing of being 482 00:22:47,819 –> 00:22:48,219 under 483 00:22:48,780 –> 00:22:49,500 the wings 484 00:22:50,619 –> 00:22:51,180 of God 485 00:22:53,260 –> 00:22:54,060 So there’s 486 00:22:54,859 –> 00:22:55,420 Naomi’s 487 00:22:56,380 –> 00:22:56,939 counsel 488 00:22:58,060 –> 00:22:58,859 there’s Ruth’s 489 00:22:59,739 –> 00:23:00,380 initiative 490 00:23:01,819 –> 00:23:02,459 and then there’s 491 00:23:02,459 –> 00:23:03,819 Boaz’s resolve 492 00:23:04,540 –> 00:23:06,060 and Boaz had no hesitation 493 00:23:06,060 –> 00:23:06,780 whatsoever 494 00:23:06,780 –> 00:23:08,459 in accepting Ruth’s proposal 495 00:23:08,459 –> 00:23:09,900 in fact, he absolutely 496 00:23:09,900 –> 00:23:12,140 jumped at the opportunity 497 00:23:12,859 –> 00:23:14,140 and we saw earlier 498 00:23:14,140 –> 00:23:14,939 what we can learn 499 00:23:14,939 –> 00:23:15,739 from Naomi’s 500 00:23:15,739 –> 00:23:16,859 example of love 501 00:23:16,859 –> 00:23:18,219 there’s actually more 502 00:23:18,219 –> 00:23:19,739 here for us to learn 503 00:23:19,739 –> 00:23:21,020 from Boaz’s 504 00:23:21,020 –> 00:23:22,699 example of love 505 00:23:23,260 –> 00:23:24,540 in action 506 00:23:24,540 –> 00:23:25,979 I want to draw your attention 507 00:23:25,979 –> 00:23:27,020 to three things 508 00:23:27,099 –> 00:23:28,300 in regards to 509 00:23:28,300 –> 00:23:29,260 what we learn about 510 00:23:29,260 –> 00:23:30,459 love from Boaz 511 00:23:31,180 –> 00:23:31,819 and the first thing 512 00:23:31,819 –> 00:23:32,859 very obviously 513 00:23:32,859 –> 00:23:35,180 is that love waits 514 00:23:36,619 –> 00:23:37,420 love waits 515 00:23:39,099 –> 00:23:40,699 she lay at his feet 516 00:23:40,699 –> 00:23:41,900 until morning 517 00:23:43,420 –> 00:23:44,780 what an extraordinary 518 00:23:46,140 –> 00:23:47,660 test this was 519 00:23:47,660 –> 00:23:48,459 of Boaz 520 00:23:49,819 –> 00:23:50,780 character 521 00:23:51,260 –> 00:23:51,900 godliness 522 00:23:52,939 –> 00:23:53,819 and integrity 523 00:23:53,819 –> 00:23:54,780 can you imagine this 524 00:23:54,780 –> 00:23:55,660 he woke up 525 00:23:55,660 –> 00:23:56,859 in the middle of the night 526 00:23:57,979 –> 00:23:59,500 and found the woman 527 00:23:59,500 –> 00:24:01,099 to whom he had been drawn 528 00:24:02,780 –> 00:24:03,739 lying at his feet 529 00:24:06,060 –> 00:24:06,560 now 530 00:24:07,180 –> 00:24:08,619 if this was the movies 531 00:24:11,420 –> 00:24:11,979 we all know 532 00:24:11,979 –> 00:24:13,339 that they would have become 533 00:24:13,339 –> 00:24:14,459 one that night 534 00:24:14,459 –> 00:24:15,979 under the light of the stars 535 00:24:18,859 –> 00:24:19,339 but that 536 00:24:19,339 –> 00:24:20,140 didn’t happen 537 00:24:21,420 –> 00:24:22,219 it’s extraordinary 538 00:24:22,219 –> 00:24:24,219 really, isn’t it? 539 00:24:25,420 –> 00:24:26,540 it didn’t happen 540 00:24:26,540 –> 00:24:27,420 Ruth 541 00:24:27,420 –> 00:24:28,540 verse 14 542 00:24:28,540 –> 00:24:30,459 lay at his feet 543 00:24:30,459 –> 00:24:31,579 until morning 544 00:24:31,579 –> 00:24:32,380 she didn’t move 545 00:24:33,339 –> 00:24:34,140 just at his feet 546 00:24:35,420 –> 00:24:36,380 never moved from there 547 00:24:38,300 –> 00:24:39,260 Boaz didn’t move either 548 00:24:41,260 –> 00:24:42,540 now why 549 00:24:43,739 –> 00:24:45,900 did Boaz not say to Ruth 550 00:24:47,660 –> 00:24:48,699 I love you 551 00:24:49,979 –> 00:24:51,099 and you love me 552 00:24:52,459 –> 00:24:54,140 and this is the most perfect night 553 00:24:55,099 –> 00:24:56,219 and we are alone 554 00:24:56,219 –> 00:24:58,300 under the stars together 555 00:24:58,300 –> 00:25:00,699 let’s become man and wife 556 00:25:00,699 –> 00:25:02,780 in the eyes of God right now 557 00:25:03,579 –> 00:25:04,780 why did he not say that 558 00:25:07,180 –> 00:25:07,979 because 559 00:25:09,979 –> 00:25:12,540 God has given sexual union 560 00:25:12,540 –> 00:25:14,939 as a gift to be enjoyed 561 00:25:14,939 –> 00:25:17,979 exclusively within marriage 562 00:25:19,579 –> 00:25:21,900 and marriage is more 563 00:25:21,900 –> 00:25:23,500 than a private relationship 564 00:25:23,500 –> 00:25:24,859 of love between two people 565 00:25:26,859 –> 00:25:30,300 marriage is a relationship of love 566 00:25:31,020 –> 00:25:33,739 wrapped in the strength of law 567 00:25:34,380 –> 00:25:35,260 that’s what it is 568 00:25:35,260 –> 00:25:36,699 that’s how God has given it to us 569 00:25:36,699 –> 00:25:38,219 we’ll see more about this next week 570 00:25:38,939 –> 00:25:41,180 marriage is a relationship of love 571 00:25:42,140 –> 00:25:45,339 wrapped in the strength of the law 572 00:25:46,459 –> 00:25:47,979 and Ruth and Boaz 573 00:25:47,979 –> 00:25:49,500 very wonderfully here 574 00:25:50,219 –> 00:25:52,699 model a love that waits 575 00:25:52,699 –> 00:25:54,140 they want their love 576 00:25:54,140 –> 00:25:55,739 to be blessed by God 577 00:25:57,180 –> 00:25:59,979 and because they want their love 578 00:25:59,979 –> 00:26:01,819 to be blessed by God 579 00:26:01,819 –> 00:26:05,260 they are committed to obeying God’s law 580 00:26:06,780 –> 00:26:07,420 that’s the first thing 581 00:26:07,420 –> 00:26:08,939 we learn about love from Boaz here 582 00:26:08,939 –> 00:26:09,739 that love waits 583 00:26:11,579 –> 00:26:13,099 then secondly love commits 584 00:26:14,140 –> 00:26:15,579 notice what he says verse 11 585 00:26:15,579 –> 00:26:17,339 and now my daughter do not fear 586 00:26:17,339 –> 00:26:19,979 I will do all that you ask 587 00:26:20,219 –> 00:26:22,060 … 588 00:26:22,060 –> 00:26:23,339 what a joy that must have been 589 00:26:23,339 –> 00:26:24,699 to Ruth to hear these words 590 00:26:26,459 –> 00:26:27,739 now we’re going to see next time 591 00:26:27,739 –> 00:26:28,939 that there was a problem 592 00:26:28,939 –> 00:26:31,660 to overcome before Ruth and Boaz 593 00:26:31,660 –> 00:26:32,859 could be married 594 00:26:32,859 –> 00:26:35,260 but what I want us to notice today 595 00:26:35,260 –> 00:26:37,900 is that Boaz is ready to commit 596 00:26:39,099 –> 00:26:42,619 I will do for you all that you ask 597 00:26:44,939 –> 00:26:47,099 Now Boaz had clearly 598 00:26:47,660 –> 00:26:49,260 early in chapter two 599 00:26:49,260 –> 00:26:51,660 indicated in several ways 600 00:26:51,660 –> 00:26:53,579 his interest in Ruth 601 00:26:53,579 –> 00:26:57,739 he had awakened her interest in him 602 00:26:57,739 –> 00:27:01,260 and now he has no hesitation 603 00:27:01,260 –> 00:27:04,140 in committing himself to her 604 00:27:05,020 –> 00:27:06,459 and you see that’s one of the things 605 00:27:06,459 –> 00:27:07,260 that love does 606 00:27:07,260 –> 00:27:08,219 love commits 607 00:27:10,219 –> 00:27:13,099 Self-interest wants to keep 608 00:27:13,099 –> 00:27:14,380 all our options open 609 00:27:17,420 –> 00:27:18,459 but love commits 610 00:27:19,819 –> 00:27:22,300 knowing that joy and blessing 611 00:27:23,260 –> 00:27:24,380 will follow 612 00:27:25,420 –> 00:27:25,979 And then very 613 00:27:25,979 –> 00:27:27,739 obviously from this story here 614 00:27:28,300 –> 00:27:30,060 we see from the example of Boa 615 00:27:30,060 –> 00:27:31,180 that love gives 616 00:27:31,900 –> 00:27:32,859 verse 15 617 00:27:32,859 –> 00:27:34,060 and he said bring 618 00:27:34,060 –> 00:27:35,260 the garment you were wearing 619 00:27:35,260 –> 00:27:36,300 and hold it out 620 00:27:36,300 –> 00:27:37,020 so she held it 621 00:27:37,020 –> 00:27:38,060 and he measured out 622 00:27:38,060 –> 00:27:39,979 six measures of barley 623 00:27:40,780 –> 00:27:41,500 and put it on her 624 00:27:41,500 –> 00:27:42,780 and she went back into the city 625 00:27:42,780 –> 00:27:44,300 now six measures of barley 626 00:27:44,300 –> 00:27:46,060 this is even more than an Ifa 627 00:27:46,060 –> 00:27:47,420 this would have been about 628 00:27:47,420 –> 00:27:49,020 80 pounds in weight 629 00:27:49,020 –> 00:27:49,979 I mean how she managed 630 00:27:49,979 –> 00:27:51,339 to get that back home 631 00:27:51,339 –> 00:27:53,260 I can scarcely imagine 632 00:27:53,260 –> 00:27:55,020 but she went back to Naomi 633 00:27:55,020 –> 00:27:57,099 absolutely loaded with grain 634 00:27:58,459 –> 00:27:59,979 and the size of the gift 635 00:27:59,979 –> 00:28:02,219 of course was an indication to Naomi 636 00:28:03,180 –> 00:28:04,540 not only of Boaz 637 00:28:04,540 –> 00:28:06,060 commitment to Ruth 638 00:28:06,060 –> 00:28:07,260 but of the blessing 639 00:28:07,260 –> 00:28:08,380 that he was going to bring 640 00:28:08,380 –> 00:28:09,500 into the lives of both 641 00:28:09,500 –> 00:28:10,300 of these women 642 00:28:10,300 –> 00:28:10,780 in the days 643 00:28:10,780 –> 00:28:13,579 in the years that lay ahead 644 00:28:13,579 –> 00:28:14,699 sheer generosity 645 00:28:15,660 –> 00:28:17,420 What’s it mean to grow in love? 646 00:28:17,420 –> 00:28:21,339 love waits 647 00:28:21,339 –> 00:28:21,979 love commits 648 00:28:24,140 –> 00:28:24,939 love gives 649 00:28:27,020 –> 00:28:27,979 Now we’ve seen 650 00:28:27,979 –> 00:28:29,020 what we can learn 651 00:28:29,020 –> 00:28:29,900 about love 652 00:28:30,939 –> 00:28:33,099 from the examples of Naomi 653 00:28:34,140 –> 00:28:36,140 and the example of Boaz 654 00:28:37,020 –> 00:28:39,260 I want in these last 655 00:28:39,260 –> 00:28:40,540 minutes this morning 656 00:28:40,540 –> 00:28:41,900 for us to see 657 00:28:41,900 –> 00:28:44,060 what we can learn about faith 658 00:28:44,859 –> 00:28:47,579 from the example of Ruth 659 00:28:48,540 –> 00:28:49,660 next week God willing 660 00:28:49,660 –> 00:28:50,699 we’re going to see 661 00:28:50,699 –> 00:28:51,979 in more detail 662 00:28:52,619 –> 00:28:55,099 that what Boaz did for Ruth 663 00:28:55,099 –> 00:28:58,540 gives us a marvelous picture 664 00:28:58,540 –> 00:28:59,260 of what the Lord 665 00:28:59,260 –> 00:29:00,939 Jesus Christ does for us 666 00:29:01,979 –> 00:29:03,500 what Boaz does for Ruth 667 00:29:03,500 –> 00:29:04,380 points us to what 668 00:29:04,380 –> 00:29:05,500 Jesus does for us 669 00:29:06,619 –> 00:29:07,739 but you see if you flip that 670 00:29:07,739 –> 00:29:09,099 around and turn it on its head 671 00:29:09,099 –> 00:29:10,140 it’s also true 672 00:29:10,780 –> 00:29:11,040 that 673 00:29:11,739 –> 00:29:13,099 what Ruth did 674 00:29:13,099 –> 00:29:13,900 in taking in 675 00:29:13,900 –> 00:29:15,500 initiative of faith 676 00:29:15,500 –> 00:29:16,699 in going to Boaz 677 00:29:17,260 –> 00:29:18,619 is a marvelous picture 678 00:29:18,619 –> 00:29:20,140 of how we then 679 00:29:20,140 –> 00:29:21,099 should come to 680 00:29:21,660 –> 00:29:23,420 the Lord Jesus Christ 681 00:29:24,300 –> 00:29:26,540 Ruth took a risky 682 00:29:27,099 –> 00:29:29,260 initiative of faith 683 00:29:30,619 –> 00:29:32,219 she went to Boaz 684 00:29:32,219 –> 00:29:33,180 and asked 685 00:29:34,699 –> 00:29:36,219 and because she asked 686 00:29:37,900 –> 00:29:38,859 she received 687 00:29:39,739 –> 00:29:40,619 and that is why 688 00:29:40,619 –> 00:29:41,819 I chose the title 689 00:29:41,819 –> 00:29:42,219 Faith 690 00:29:42,859 –> 00:29:44,140 for this message 691 00:29:45,020 –> 00:29:46,140 what then would 692 00:29:46,140 –> 00:29:47,819 an initiative of faith 693 00:29:49,260 –> 00:29:50,300 look like for you 694 00:29:51,500 –> 00:29:52,060 or for me? 695 00:29:53,500 –> 00:29:55,260 these observations in closing 696 00:29:56,540 –> 00:29:58,540 faith seeks Christ 697 00:30:00,459 –> 00:30:01,420 and is blessed 698 00:30:02,219 –> 00:30:03,979 faith always involves a choice 699 00:30:05,099 –> 00:30:06,300 it involves moving 700 00:30:06,300 –> 00:30:07,900 in a particular direction 701 00:30:09,420 –> 00:30:10,459 it involves saying no 702 00:30:10,459 –> 00:30:11,260 to some things 703 00:30:11,339 –> 00:30:13,020 in order to say yes to others 704 00:30:14,699 –> 00:30:17,020 notice verse 10 of chapter three 705 00:30:17,020 –> 00:30:17,739 Boaz said 706 00:30:17,739 –> 00:30:19,420 may you be blessed by the lord my daughter 707 00:30:19,420 –> 00:30:21,660 you’ve made this last kindness greater than the first 708 00:30:21,660 –> 00:30:22,619 in that you have 709 00:30:23,260 –> 00:30:25,739 not gone after young men 710 00:30:25,739 –> 00:30:27,420 whether poor or rich 711 00:30:29,739 –> 00:30:32,219 Ruth could clearly have chosen 712 00:30:32,219 –> 00:30:33,099 a different life 713 00:30:33,900 –> 00:30:34,939 with a younger man 714 00:30:36,699 –> 00:30:39,099 there is always a different life 715 00:30:39,099 –> 00:30:40,380 that you could choose 716 00:30:40,459 –> 00:30:41,739 always 717 00:30:44,060 –> 00:30:45,180 but we’re going to see next week 718 00:30:45,180 –> 00:30:47,500 that in proposing this marriage to Boaz 719 00:30:48,219 –> 00:30:51,099 Ruth was motivated by obeying the law of God 720 00:30:53,660 –> 00:30:55,739 there are many choices 721 00:30:55,739 –> 00:30:56,540 that you could make 722 00:30:58,459 –> 00:31:00,060 there are many different lives 723 00:31:00,060 –> 00:31:00,859 that you could live 724 00:31:02,859 –> 00:31:05,579 but if you will seek after Christ 725 00:31:05,579 –> 00:31:07,339 you will be blessed 726 00:31:07,339 –> 00:31:07,839 period 727 00:31:08,479 –> 00:31:08,880 and that’s what Faith does 728 00:31:12,319 –> 00:31:14,160 of all the choices that are there 729 00:31:15,920 –> 00:31:18,079 Faith says I’m going after Jesus Christ 730 00:31:18,079 –> 00:31:18,959 because I’m convinced 731 00:31:18,959 –> 00:31:20,560 that blessing will be found in him 732 00:31:22,079 –> 00:31:22,719 that’s faith 733 00:31:24,640 –> 00:31:29,119 second, faith asks Christ and receives 734 00:31:29,119 –> 00:31:30,719 notice chapter 3 in verse 11 735 00:31:30,719 –> 00:31:31,920 now my daughter do not fear 736 00:31:31,920 –> 00:31:35,439 I will do all that you ask 737 00:31:35,439 –> 00:31:36,800 that’s the key point here 738 00:31:38,079 –> 00:31:43,119 Boaz was clearly ready to give 739 00:31:43,119 –> 00:31:44,239 no question about that 740 00:31:44,239 –> 00:31:45,760 it was immediate his response 741 00:31:47,920 –> 00:31:49,439 but Ruth did not receive 742 00:31:49,439 –> 00:31:50,479 until she asked 743 00:31:52,239 –> 00:31:53,520 and if she had not asked 744 00:31:53,520 –> 00:31:54,719 she would not have received 745 00:31:56,880 –> 00:31:59,119 James says in the New Testament 746 00:31:59,760 –> 00:32:02,319 you do not have 747 00:32:02,319 –> 00:32:04,959 because you do not ask 748 00:32:05,119 –> 00:32:09,119 and Jesus says ask 749 00:32:10,640 –> 00:32:12,479 and it will be given to you 750 00:32:14,319 –> 00:32:16,400 Jesus Christ has more to give 751 00:32:17,359 –> 00:32:18,479 any of us 752 00:32:18,479 –> 00:32:20,160 than any of us have yet received 753 00:32:22,560 –> 00:32:24,719 yet how easy it is for us 754 00:32:24,719 –> 00:32:27,680 as believers in the lord Jesus Christ 755 00:32:27,680 –> 00:32:29,119 to go for long stretches 756 00:32:29,119 –> 00:32:30,079 without asking him 757 00:32:30,079 –> 00:32:31,680 for anything particular at all 758 00:32:35,520 –> 00:32:37,839 what do you need from the lord Jesus Christ today 759 00:32:39,680 –> 00:32:40,719 what will you ask 760 00:32:42,959 –> 00:32:43,920 do you need strength 761 00:32:45,760 –> 00:32:46,880 do you need peace 762 00:32:49,119 –> 00:32:50,079 do you need patience 763 00:32:53,520 –> 00:32:54,719 do you need forgiveness 764 00:32:56,719 –> 00:32:59,359 do you need the ability to forgive someone else 765 00:32:59,920 –> 00:33:06,079 draw near to Christ in an initiative of faith 766 00:33:06,640 –> 00:33:08,319 that’s what the story is about today 767 00:33:09,680 –> 00:33:12,640 ask and you will receive 768 00:33:15,199 –> 00:33:18,479 and then faith submits to Christ and obeys 769 00:33:19,280 –> 00:33:20,560 you notice what Naomi says 770 00:33:21,119 –> 00:33:23,280 go and uncover his feet and lie down 771 00:33:24,079 –> 00:33:26,000 he will tell you what to do 772 00:33:26,000 –> 00:33:28,959 there’s great emphasis and this really is important 773 00:33:28,959 –> 00:33:33,359 that Ruth lay only at the feet of Boaz 774 00:33:33,359 –> 00:33:35,839 and as we saw the scripture emphasises 775 00:33:35,839 –> 00:33:36,959 she never moved there 776 00:33:37,920 –> 00:33:40,000 and that is important. 777 00:33:40,000 –> 00:33:42,640 Not only because it’s an indication of the purity 778 00:33:42,640 –> 00:33:44,400 of what took place that night 779 00:33:44,400 –> 00:33:49,119 but it’s also an indication of the submission 780 00:33:49,920 –> 00:33:53,280 that is at the very heart of asking 781 00:33:54,479 –> 00:33:57,520 you remember that it says of Mary in the New Testament 782 00:33:58,520 –> 00:34:00,319 when Martha was busy in the kitchen 783 00:34:00,319 –> 00:34:01,599 that Mary sat where 784 00:34:02,160 –> 00:34:06,000 at the feet of the Lord Jesus Christ 785 00:34:07,280 –> 00:34:09,040 and the significance of this is very obvious 786 00:34:09,040 –> 00:34:10,399 to sit at someone’s feet 787 00:34:11,600 –> 00:34:13,840 is to submit yourself to their teaching 788 00:34:13,840 –> 00:34:14,719 or their direction 789 00:34:14,719 –> 00:34:16,399 and that that’s the point here isn’t it 790 00:34:16,399 –> 00:34:17,600 go and uncover his feet 791 00:34:17,600 –> 00:34:18,639 lie down at his feet 792 00:34:18,639 –> 00:34:19,840 he will tell you what to do 793 00:34:22,320 –> 00:34:23,760 now you see we’re learning something 794 00:34:23,760 –> 00:34:25,919 very very important about faith 795 00:34:26,080 –> 00:34:27,040 and art 796 00:34:27,040 –> 00:34:28,959 not only does faith seek christ 797 00:34:28,959 –> 00:34:32,000 and not only does faith ask of christ 798 00:34:32,000 –> 00:34:35,679 but faith submits itself to christ 799 00:34:37,360 –> 00:34:38,639 he will tell you what to do 800 00:34:40,239 –> 00:34:42,080 so as you draw near to him and say 801 00:34:42,080 –> 00:34:44,239 i’m choosing to seek the blessing 802 00:34:44,239 –> 00:34:46,239 that is found in the Lord Jesus Christ 803 00:34:46,239 –> 00:34:48,959 i’m coming to ask according to my need 804 00:34:48,959 –> 00:34:51,439 then in that same faith 805 00:34:51,439 –> 00:34:53,199 you must submit yourself 806 00:34:53,199 –> 00:34:55,600 to the authority of the Lord Jesus Christ 807 00:34:55,840 –> 00:34:56,959 and do what he says 808 00:34:58,800 –> 00:34:59,679 do what he says 809 00:35:02,399 –> 00:35:04,560 and then lastly faith trusts christ 810 00:35:04,560 –> 00:35:06,560 and waits this beautiful last verse 811 00:35:06,560 –> 00:35:07,919 that we read today 812 00:35:08,560 –> 00:35:09,919 where Naomi says to Ruth 813 00:35:09,919 –> 00:35:10,719 wait my daughter 814 00:35:11,919 –> 00:35:13,840 until you learn how the matter turns out 815 00:35:15,199 –> 00:35:17,520 for the man will not rest 816 00:35:17,520 –> 00:35:19,679 but will settle the matter today 817 00:35:22,399 –> 00:35:24,080 if you will seek christ 818 00:35:25,600 –> 00:35:27,840 if you will ask of christ 819 00:35:29,280 –> 00:35:32,159 if you will submit yourself to christ 820 00:35:32,159 –> 00:35:33,120 and do what he says 821 00:35:34,800 –> 00:35:38,000 you can trust the lord jesus christ to settle 822 00:35:39,360 –> 00:35:42,959 whatever you place into his hands 823 00:35:44,560 –> 00:35:45,760 Let’s pray together, shall we? 824 00:35:47,600 –> 00:35:51,120 oh what peace we often forfeit 825 00:35:51,360 –> 00:35:57,760 what needless pains we bear 826 00:35:59,919 –> 00:36:07,360 all because we do not carry everything to god in prayer 827 00:36:10,159 –> 00:36:12,320 Father we are drawing near to you today 828 00:36:12,320 –> 00:36:19,199 so grateful for your inexpressible love towards us 829 00:36:21,120 –> 00:36:26,879 why we are so slow to seek you and ask of you and submit to you and trust you is really kind 830 00:36:26,879 –> 00:36:33,120 of beyond our own understanding but today we are moved in our hearts to draw near 831 00:36:34,320 –> 00:36:41,679 to seek your face to ask of you according to our needs to submit ourselves to you 832 00:36:41,679 –> 00:36:48,399 and to you the direction that you will give for our lives and to trust you looking expectantly to 833 00:36:48,399 –> 00:36:59,600 you in regards to all that we have committed into your hands grant that faith hope and love 834 00:37:01,120 –> 00:37:06,879 may be strengthened in each of our lives today for these things we ask 835 00:37:08,239 –> 00:37:16,000 in the name of your son jesus christ our lord amen you’ve been listening to a sermon with 836 00:37:16,000 –> 00:37:23,439 pastor colin smith of open the bible to contact us call us at one eight seven seven open 365 837 00:37:23,439 –> 00:37:31,439 or visit our website open the bible.org