1 00:00:00,000 –> 00:00:06,640 You’re listening to a sermon by Pastor Collin Smith of Open the Bible. 2 00:00:06,640 –> 00:00:15,120 To contact us call us at 1-877-OPEN-365 or visit our website openthebible.org. 3 00:00:15,120 –> 00:00:17,719 Let’s get to the message. 4 00:00:17,719 –> 00:00:19,780 Here is Pastor Collin Welcome back everyone. 5 00:00:19,780 –> 00:00:25,959 Well please open your Bible at this marvelous chapter that has been read to us, Ruth and 6 00:00:25,959 –> 00:00:27,400 chapter 2. 7 00:00:28,059 –> 00:00:35,279 We’ve been following the story of Naomi who endured a triple bereavement, losing her husband 8 00:00:35,279 –> 00:00:43,240 and then both of her sons during a 10 year stay in the country of Moab. 9 00:00:43,240 –> 00:00:50,639 And we saw that through this great loss Naomi was a marvelous example of faith. 10 00:00:51,000 –> 00:00:55,639 We saw last time that she confessed faith in God Almighty. 11 00:00:55,639 –> 00:01:00,520 God is sovereign even over the worst things of life. 12 00:01:00,520 –> 00:01:02,299 And she also believed that God is good. 13 00:01:02,299 –> 00:01:07,860 He is the Lord, that is he has made a covenant with his people and Naomi was one of them. 14 00:01:07,860 –> 00:01:16,839 So she dared to believe that God was for her even when it seemed that God was against her. 15 00:01:17,540 –> 00:01:22,580 Naomi could not have known at the end of chapter one how God would weave her life her loves 16 00:01:22,580 –> 00:01:27,839 and her losses into his hidden plan to bring blessing to the world. 17 00:01:27,839 –> 00:01:33,080 When she arrived in Bethlehem after these 10 years in Moab all she could say was that 18 00:01:33,080 –> 00:01:37,059 her experience what she had gone through had been bitter. 19 00:01:37,059 –> 00:01:45,739 But as the story unfolds we are going to see how God’s hidden hand was at work in Naomi’s life. 20 00:01:46,360 –> 00:01:51,480 Then beside Naomi we have also met Ruth her daughter-in-law. 21 00:01:51,480 –> 00:01:59,680 Ruth was born and raised in Moab but she came as we have seen to faith in the Living God. 22 00:01:59,680 –> 00:02:05,279 She had also endured great sorrow in the loss of her husband early in life. 23 00:02:05,279 –> 00:02:15,639 They had no children and so she was left alone and in the Old Testament continuing the family 24 00:02:15,639 –> 00:02:19,320 line was always of great importance. 25 00:02:19,320 –> 00:02:25,559 God had given a promise to Abraham and the lines of the family that extended from him, 26 00:02:25,559 –> 00:02:31,899 each of them was therefore important as a family line that inherited the promise of 27 00:02:31,899 –> 00:02:32,899 God. 28 00:02:32,899 –> 00:02:39,240 It was important that every family line should be continued and so if a young woman died 29 00:02:39,240 –> 00:02:46,759 without children, the expectation was that another eligible man in the family, perhaps 30 00:02:46,759 –> 00:02:54,199 a brother or another male relative would marry the widow and then raise children to continue 31 00:02:54,199 –> 00:02:58,000 the extended family line. 32 00:02:58,000 –> 00:03:05,720 But of course Naomi had no other son who could become Ruth’s husband, and Naomi was very 33 00:03:05,800 –> 00:03:09,479 candid with Ruth about this problem. 34 00:03:09,520 –> 00:03:14,279 We saw that when she came to the crossroads and there was that moving conversation with 35 00:03:14,279 –> 00:03:21,979 her two daughters-in-law, she’s saying to Ruth in effect, now, you married my son, but 36 00:03:21,979 –> 00:03:26,839 he’s gone now, and I don’t have any others. 37 00:03:26,839 –> 00:03:32,740 And what I want for you Ruth is that you will find another husband, and frankly your best 38 00:03:32,860 –> 00:03:37,479 chance of doing that is to go home to your own people. 39 00:03:37,479 –> 00:03:47,639 What Naomi was doing there, kindly, was releasing Ruth from any further obligation to her family 40 00:03:47,639 –> 00:03:49,160 line. 41 00:03:49,160 –> 00:03:54,240 She’s saying in effect, now look, you’ve been a good wife to my son and you have been 42 00:03:54,240 –> 00:03:57,940 a marvelous daughter-in-law to me. 43 00:03:58,300 –> 00:04:00,660 But you have done more than enough already. 44 00:04:00,660 –> 00:04:03,839 The time now has come for you to think about yourself. 45 00:04:03,839 –> 00:04:12,279 Go home, live under the blessing of God, and find rest in the home of a new husband. 46 00:04:12,279 –> 00:04:17,339 Do you remember the story that Ruth refused to return home? 47 00:04:17,339 –> 00:04:22,619 In an astonishing act of loving commitment, she said to Naomi, no, where you go, I will 48 00:04:22,619 –> 00:04:23,779 go. 49 00:04:23,899 –> 00:04:25,940 Where you live, I will live. 50 00:04:25,940 –> 00:04:33,179 Your God will be my God and nothing but death will ever separate me from you. 51 00:04:33,179 –> 00:04:35,859 So we’ve met Naomi, and we’ve met Ruth. 52 00:04:35,859 –> 00:04:42,059 And now, as we come to chapter 2 of this beautiful story, we’re introduced to the third main 53 00:04:42,059 –> 00:04:43,059 character. 54 00:04:43,059 –> 00:04:44,559 Verse 1. 55 00:04:44,559 –> 00:04:53,320 Now, Naomi had a relative of her husband’s, a worthy man of the clan of Elimelech whose 56 00:04:53,359 –> 00:04:57,600 name was Boaz. 57 00:04:57,600 –> 00:05:03,359 Now the fact that Boaz belonged to Naomi’s extended family is mentioned not once but 58 00:05:03,359 –> 00:05:04,420 twice. 59 00:05:04,420 –> 00:05:06,839 You see it again in verse 3. 60 00:05:06,839 –> 00:05:11,440 The narrator of the story doesn’t want us to miss it, so when Ruth came to the part 61 00:05:11,440 –> 00:05:18,279 of the field that belonged to Boaz, verse 3, who was of the clan of Elimelech. 62 00:05:18,279 –> 00:05:19,279 Twice we’re told this. 63 00:05:19,279 –> 00:05:26,179 In other words, we are being let in early on a secret. 64 00:05:26,179 –> 00:05:31,959 We are being told by the narrator of the story something that at this point, Ruth herself 65 00:05:31,959 –> 00:05:34,220 does not know. 66 00:05:34,220 –> 00:05:38,660 There is another relative. 67 00:05:38,660 –> 00:05:41,179 He is a worthy man. 68 00:05:41,179 –> 00:05:43,920 He is a man of good character. 69 00:05:43,920 –> 00:05:46,920 As we’ll see he’s a man of great wealth. 70 00:05:46,920 –> 00:05:53,760 He’s certainly older than Ruth, but he is definitely single. 71 00:05:53,760 –> 00:05:58,920 And the writer of the story really puts all of us in the very happy position of knowing 72 00:05:58,920 –> 00:06:02,899 more than either Ruth or Naomi did at this point in the story. 73 00:06:02,899 –> 00:06:07,000 And of course, it doesn’t take too much imagination for us to work out then where 74 00:06:07,000 –> 00:06:09,920 the story is going. 75 00:06:09,920 –> 00:06:14,059 So the theme of the message today is Hope. 76 00:06:14,059 –> 00:06:15,380 That’s our title today. 77 00:06:15,380 –> 00:06:21,700 After all of the grief, and sorrow, and loss of chapter 1, there are new horizons of hope 78 00:06:21,700 –> 00:06:26,640 that are opening up for Naomi and for Ruth. 79 00:06:26,640 –> 00:06:32,399 Now at the beginning of the chapter, it’s clear that these women are in great need. 80 00:06:32,399 –> 00:06:39,739 Remember when they returned to Bethlehem, Naomi said, I went away full, the Lord has 81 00:06:39,739 –> 00:06:43,160 brought me back empty. 82 00:06:43,359 –> 00:06:51,739 And yes, Naomi had a field, but remember, it had not been cultivated for 10 years. 83 00:06:51,739 –> 00:06:56,679 Now you can imagine the kind of state that this field was in after being neglected for 84 00:06:56,679 –> 00:06:58,600 so long. 85 00:06:58,600 –> 00:07:04,200 And also they arrived back at harvest time, which meant that it would be a full calendar 86 00:07:04,200 –> 00:07:11,160 year before they would be able to derive any income from that cultivated land. 87 00:07:11,160 –> 00:07:16,779 So the first need when they arrived back empty, these two women arrived back empty in Bethlehem, 88 00:07:16,779 –> 00:07:20,660 their first need was to put bread on the table. 89 00:07:20,660 –> 00:07:24,720 And I want you to notice that Ruth took the initiative, verse two. 90 00:07:24,720 –> 00:07:31,339 And Ruth the Moabite said to Naomi, let me go to the field and glean among the ears of 91 00:07:31,339 –> 00:07:37,440 grain, after him in whose sight I shall find favor. 92 00:07:38,200 –> 00:07:46,040 Now, God had given laws to his people that were specifically designed to give help to 93 00:07:46,040 –> 00:07:47,040 the poor. 94 00:07:47,040 –> 00:07:53,959 They’ve been described as the kindly laws of the Old Testament. 95 00:07:53,959 –> 00:07:59,220 And one of them was this provision in regards to gleaning, it’s in Leviticus and chapter 96 00:07:59,220 –> 00:08:02,140 19 and verses 9 and 10. 97 00:08:02,140 –> 00:08:07,459 When you reap the harvest of your land you shall not reap your field right up to its 98 00:08:07,459 –> 00:08:08,459 edge. 99 00:08:08,459 –> 00:08:13,720 Neither shall you gather the gleanings after your harvest and you shall not strip your 100 00:08:13,720 –> 00:08:15,079 vineyard bare. 101 00:08:15,079 –> 00:08:19,220 Neither shall you gather the fallen grapes of your vineyard. 102 00:08:19,220 –> 00:08:23,679 You shall leave them for the poor and the sojourner. 103 00:08:23,679 –> 00:08:27,179 I am the Lord your God. 104 00:08:28,100 –> 00:08:35,119 So notice here there are two specific instructions with regards harvesting a field. 105 00:08:35,119 –> 00:08:41,000 First, you shall not reap your field right up to its edge. 106 00:08:41,000 –> 00:08:47,539 In other words, when you go in to harvest your grain, leave a border at the edge of 107 00:08:47,539 –> 00:08:55,299 your field so that those who are in need can come and gather the grain that is there. 108 00:08:55,400 –> 00:09:02,219 Then the second command here is, neither shall you gather the gleanings after your harvest. 109 00:09:02,219 –> 00:09:08,119 So you see, when the reapers went over with the sickle, and they’re cutting the stalks 110 00:09:08,119 –> 00:09:13,960 of grain, there would be some of the grain of course, that would be falling to the ground. 111 00:09:13,960 –> 00:09:20,320 And in this law, the Lord says, now don’t go over the field a second time to pick up 112 00:09:20,320 –> 00:09:22,380 the grain that is falling to the ground. 113 00:09:22,440 –> 00:09:28,900 You just leave it there so that it can be picked up by those who are in need. 114 00:09:28,900 –> 00:09:33,940 And that is why in verse 2, Ruth says, let me go to the field and glean among the ears 115 00:09:33,940 –> 00:09:40,119 of grain after him in whose sight I shall find favor. 116 00:09:40,119 –> 00:09:44,080 In other words, she’s saying, I need to find some reapers who will honor this law, and 117 00:09:44,080 –> 00:09:50,760 then I’ll just go behind them, and I’ll pick up what they have left behind. 118 00:09:50,840 –> 00:09:57,640 Now this beautiful story that we’re looking at today unfolds in four scenes. 119 00:09:57,640 –> 00:09:59,960 The first is the welcome. 120 00:09:59,960 –> 00:10:02,340 The second, the blessing. 121 00:10:02,340 –> 00:10:04,580 The third is the meal. 122 00:10:04,580 –> 00:10:07,820 And the fourth is the provision. 123 00:10:07,820 –> 00:10:13,840 And in all of these, we are being pointed very clearly and wonderfully to our Lord and 124 00:10:13,840 –> 00:10:16,140 Savior, Jesus Christ. 125 00:10:16,140 –> 00:10:19,900 First, then, the welcome, verse 3. 126 00:10:19,979 –> 00:10:29,299 So she set out and went and gleaned in the field after the reapers and she happened to 127 00:10:29,299 –> 00:10:38,440 come to the part of the field belonging to Boaz, who was of the clan of Elimelech. 128 00:10:38,440 –> 00:10:44,919 Now, of course it seems that all of this is happening by chance, but we’ve already been 129 00:10:44,919 –> 00:10:47,919 brought into the secret. 130 00:10:47,919 –> 00:10:52,440 Ruth did not know when she arrived in this field that it belonged to an eligible member 131 00:10:52,440 –> 00:10:55,099 of her deceased husband’s family. 132 00:10:55,099 –> 00:10:56,179 But we do know that. 133 00:10:56,179 –> 00:10:57,460 We are able to read ahead. 134 00:10:57,460 –> 00:10:58,979 We know what’s coming. 135 00:10:58,979 –> 00:11:00,340 Verse 4. 136 00:11:00,340 –> 00:11:05,299 And behold, Boaz came from Bethlehem and he said to 137 00:11:05,299 –> 00:11:09,200 the reapers, The Lord be with you and they answered 138 00:11:09,200 –> 00:11:11,659 The Lord bless you. 139 00:11:12,479 –> 00:11:21,760 Now, Boaz here is a marvelous example of a really good employer. 140 00:11:21,760 –> 00:11:27,400 He takes an active interest in what is being done by those who work for him. 141 00:11:27,400 –> 00:11:31,940 Here’s a business owner who does more than sit in an office. 142 00:11:31,940 –> 00:11:34,799 He comes out into the field. 143 00:11:34,799 –> 00:11:36,919 He’s a believing man. 144 00:11:37,000 –> 00:11:43,500 He prays for God’s blessing to be on those who work for him. 145 00:11:43,500 –> 00:11:47,659 Now, let’s just make this very obvious application. 146 00:11:47,659 –> 00:11:51,679 Some of us here this morning are business owners. 147 00:11:51,679 –> 00:11:59,539 You’re blessed to be the means of providing the way in which others earn their living. 148 00:11:59,539 –> 00:12:04,460 Do you pray for those you employ? 149 00:12:04,500 –> 00:12:09,979 Do you take an active interest in their work? 150 00:12:09,979 –> 00:12:13,840 And many more of us here are team leaders. 151 00:12:13,840 –> 00:12:19,700 You have 2 or 3 or 5, or maybe even 10 people who report to you. 152 00:12:19,700 –> 00:12:21,659 You do their annual review. 153 00:12:21,659 –> 00:12:24,559 But let me ask you this question then. 154 00:12:24,559 –> 00:12:32,619 Do you pray for those who on a daily basis report to you? 155 00:12:32,619 –> 00:12:36,739 Pray for God’s blessing on those who work for you 156 00:12:36,739 –> 00:12:40,179 and those who report to you. 157 00:12:40,179 –> 00:12:43,320 Seek God’s blessing on them. 158 00:12:43,320 –> 00:12:47,419 Make it your aim that you will be a means by which 159 00:12:47,419 –> 00:12:49,820 God’s blessing comes into their lives, 160 00:12:49,820 –> 00:12:53,780 that they are blessed by God because they work for you. 161 00:12:53,780 –> 00:12:56,400 This is what Boaz does here. 162 00:12:56,400 –> 00:13:00,460 And notice that as he expresses the goodwill towards his workers, 163 00:13:00,460 –> 00:13:03,679 it is returned in their goodwill towards him. 164 00:13:03,679 –> 00:13:06,239 He says, the Lord be with you’ and they answer, 165 00:13:06,239 –> 00:13:08,520 the Lord bless you. 166 00:13:08,520 –> 00:13:11,599 And then verse 5. 167 00:13:11,599 –> 00:13:17,359 Boaz said to his young man who was in charge of the reapers. 168 00:13:17,359 –> 00:13:20,880 Whose young woman is this? 169 00:13:20,880 –> 00:13:22,799 Now you can’t miss this. 170 00:13:22,799 –> 00:13:28,119 Ruth has got Boaz’s attention. 171 00:13:28,239 –> 00:13:31,700 And the servant in charge of the reapers tells him, 172 00:13:31,700 –> 00:13:34,179 she is the Moabite who came back with Naomi, 173 00:13:34,179 –> 00:13:36,179 and she asked to glean behind us. 174 00:13:36,179 –> 00:13:41,400 And she’s been working at this all day. 175 00:13:41,400 –> 00:13:49,760 And then Boaz gives to Ruth the warmest possible welcome. 176 00:13:49,760 –> 00:13:51,719 He says three things. 177 00:13:51,719 –> 00:13:55,799 The first is stay here, verse 8. 178 00:13:55,799 –> 00:13:58,700 And Boaz said to Ruth, now listen, my daughter, 179 00:13:58,700 –> 00:14:02,099 do not go to glean in another field or leave this one, 180 00:14:02,099 –> 00:14:06,820 but keep close to my young women. 181 00:14:06,820 –> 00:14:08,979 A less generous owner would have said, 182 00:14:08,979 –> 00:14:10,799 well, you know, you can glean here today, 183 00:14:10,799 –> 00:14:14,640 but, you know, go to someone else’s field tomorrow. 184 00:14:14,640 –> 00:14:17,140 We’ll have done our bit. 185 00:14:17,140 –> 00:14:19,440 Not Boaz. 186 00:14:19,440 –> 00:14:21,940 You stay here. 187 00:14:21,940 –> 00:14:24,419 I want you to be here. 188 00:14:24,419 –> 00:14:29,719 You remain with my people here, 189 00:14:29,719 –> 00:14:32,400 and you will be blessed. 190 00:14:32,400 –> 00:14:35,619 Then he says you’ll be safe here, verse 9. 191 00:14:35,619 –> 00:14:39,080 Have I not charged the young men not to touch you? 192 00:14:39,080 –> 00:14:42,659 Now these fields could be dangerous places, 193 00:14:42,659 –> 00:14:46,119 but Ruth would be safe in the fields of Boaz. 194 00:14:46,119 –> 00:14:51,559 He says stay here because you’ll be safe here. 195 00:14:51,599 –> 00:14:54,900 And then he says you’ll find help here, verse 9. 196 00:14:54,900 –> 00:14:58,099 When you are thirsty, go to the vessels 197 00:14:58,099 –> 00:15:02,200 and drink what the young men have drawn. 198 00:15:02,200 –> 00:15:04,099 So he welcomes Ruth 199 00:15:04,099 –> 00:15:09,960 and goes way beyond anything that the law required. 200 00:15:09,960 –> 00:15:11,859 And of course, in all of this, 201 00:15:11,859 –> 00:15:16,140 Boaz points us very wonderfully to our Lord Jesus Christ, 202 00:15:16,140 –> 00:15:20,919 the Lord Jesus Christ will welcome you. 203 00:15:20,940 –> 00:15:25,479 Whoever you are, whatever your background, 204 00:15:25,479 –> 00:15:30,979 whatever you are from, the Lord Jesus Christ said, 205 00:15:30,979 –> 00:15:37,440 Whoever comes to me, I will never cast out. 206 00:15:37,440 –> 00:15:42,280 If you will come to him, He will welcome you, 207 00:15:42,280 –> 00:15:44,880 He will guard you, 208 00:15:44,880 –> 00:15:49,460 and He will satisfy the thirst of your soul. 209 00:15:50,299 –> 00:15:52,440 That’s the welcome. 210 00:15:52,440 –> 00:15:55,200 Second, I want you to see the blessing. 211 00:15:55,200 –> 00:15:56,859 He says, verse 12, 212 00:15:56,859 –> 00:16:00,359 the Lord repay you for what you have done 213 00:16:00,359 –> 00:16:05,659 and a full reward be given to you by the Lord. 214 00:16:05,659 –> 00:16:10,179 Now Boaz had heard about Ruth’s extraordinary, 215 00:16:10,179 –> 00:16:14,179 loving, self-sacrificing commitment to her mother-in-law. 216 00:16:14,179 –> 00:16:15,200 He says in verse 11, 217 00:16:15,200 –> 00:16:17,039 all that you have done for your mother-in-law 218 00:16:17,159 –> 00:16:18,359 since the death of your husband 219 00:16:18,359 –> 00:16:20,080 has been fully told to me. 220 00:16:20,080 –> 00:16:22,760 Bethlehem’s a little town, word gets around fast, 221 00:16:22,760 –> 00:16:24,880 and Boaz has heard. 222 00:16:24,880 –> 00:16:27,039 And he is a man of good character. 223 00:16:28,080 –> 00:16:31,119 And so he is deeply impressed 224 00:16:31,119 –> 00:16:33,440 by what he has heard about Ruth. 225 00:16:34,479 –> 00:16:38,520 And very simply, he wants her kindness to be rewarded. 226 00:16:39,799 –> 00:16:43,179 The kindness such as you have shown to your mother-in-law 227 00:16:43,179 –> 00:16:46,159 deserves a rich reward. 228 00:16:46,200 –> 00:16:49,359 And so Boaz himself is extending himself 229 00:16:49,359 –> 00:16:50,960 in showing kindness to Ruth. 230 00:16:50,960 –> 00:16:55,400 And his prayer is that God will do the same. 231 00:16:55,400 –> 00:16:59,919 The Lord repay you for what you have done. 232 00:17:01,419 –> 00:17:06,119 Now, this brings us to a very important Bible principle, 233 00:17:06,119 –> 00:17:11,119 which is this, that God often deals with us 234 00:17:12,079 –> 00:17:16,180 in a way that reflects how we have dealt with others. 235 00:17:16,180 –> 00:17:21,180 God often deals with us in a way that reflects 236 00:17:22,780 –> 00:17:25,540 how we have dealt with others. 237 00:17:25,540 –> 00:17:30,319 King David observed this principle in Psalm 18, 238 00:17:30,319 –> 00:17:34,660 where he said, with the merciful, 239 00:17:34,660 –> 00:17:36,400 you show yourself merciful. 240 00:17:37,099 –> 00:17:41,579 With the blameless, you show yourself blameless. 241 00:17:42,640 –> 00:17:46,839 With the purified, you show yourself pure. 242 00:17:48,140 –> 00:17:53,140 And with the crooked, you make yourself seem torturous. 243 00:17:54,959 –> 00:17:56,560 Now, you see what David’s doing here? 244 00:17:56,560 –> 00:17:59,780 He’s observing how God acts. 245 00:17:59,780 –> 00:18:01,520 And you see it in the stories of the Bible, 246 00:18:01,520 –> 00:18:04,199 the story of Jacob and all of his twisted path, 247 00:18:05,040 –> 00:18:07,640 twisted person, twisted path. 248 00:18:09,160 –> 00:18:12,119 He’s seen how God deals with his people. 249 00:18:13,119 –> 00:18:15,439 God often deals with his people in a way 250 00:18:15,439 –> 00:18:18,239 that reflects how we have dealt with others. 251 00:18:19,520 –> 00:18:21,839 And of course, you find the same very clearly 252 00:18:21,839 –> 00:18:24,680 in the teaching of the Lord Jesus in the New Testament. 253 00:18:24,680 –> 00:18:29,339 Jesus said, with the judgment you pronounce, 254 00:18:31,000 –> 00:18:32,760 you will be judged. 255 00:18:34,420 –> 00:18:37,400 And with the measure you use, 256 00:18:38,479 –> 00:18:40,099 it will be measured to you. 257 00:18:42,319 –> 00:18:46,599 Forgive, and you will be forgiven. 258 00:18:48,680 –> 00:18:53,060 Give, and it will be given to you. 259 00:18:54,199 –> 00:18:56,880 Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, 260 00:18:56,880 –> 00:18:59,760 running over, will be put into your lap. 261 00:19:02,239 –> 00:19:03,359 Now you see the point here, 262 00:19:03,359 –> 00:19:07,439 Ruth has been unusually kind to Naomi, 263 00:19:08,579 –> 00:19:11,880 and now God is blessing Ruth with unusual kindness 264 00:19:11,880 –> 00:19:14,400 that comes into her life through Boaz, 265 00:19:14,400 –> 00:19:16,400 and this is what Boaz is praying for, 266 00:19:16,400 –> 00:19:20,439 may the Lord deal with you as you have dealt with Naomi. 267 00:19:20,439 –> 00:19:23,459 May you be shown unusual kindness and favor, 268 00:19:23,459 –> 00:19:28,339 may you be richly rewarded in regards to what you have done. 269 00:19:29,319 –> 00:19:33,900 Now, of course, rewards do not always follow virtue 270 00:19:33,900 –> 00:19:37,520 in this world, some rewards God gives now, 271 00:19:37,520 –> 00:19:41,199 and others, He withholds until later. 272 00:19:41,199 –> 00:19:43,060 So if you find yourself at this point saying, 273 00:19:43,060 –> 00:19:44,739 well, now wait a minute, I do not think 274 00:19:44,739 –> 00:19:46,939 that I have received at all in a way 275 00:19:46,939 –> 00:19:48,619 that reflects what I have given. 276 00:19:48,619 –> 00:19:51,540 Well, if that’s the case, I just say to you, don’t worry. 277 00:19:52,540 –> 00:19:57,000 Jesus said, not even a cup of cold water 278 00:19:57,359 –> 00:20:01,500 will go without its reward if it’s given in my name. 279 00:20:02,939 –> 00:20:07,760 Your Father in heaven sees what you do in secret 280 00:20:09,040 –> 00:20:13,959 and He will reward you openly. 281 00:20:16,119 –> 00:20:18,719 And Boaz prays that something of that 282 00:20:18,719 –> 00:20:23,479 will be very clearly evident in Ruth’s life right now. 283 00:20:24,459 –> 00:20:27,579 The Lord repay you for what you have done. 284 00:20:28,599 –> 00:20:31,040 And a full reward be given to you 285 00:20:31,040 –> 00:20:33,160 by the Lord the God of Israel. 286 00:20:33,160 –> 00:20:35,000 And then I want you to notice the next phrase, 287 00:20:35,000 –> 00:20:38,319 which is why, why should there be good 288 00:20:38,319 –> 00:20:41,640 that comes into the life of Ruth here 289 00:20:42,819 –> 00:20:47,819 under whose wings you have come to take refuge? 290 00:20:48,599 –> 00:20:51,160 It’s one of the most beautiful pictures 291 00:20:51,199 –> 00:20:54,439 of our relationship with the Lord and all of the Bible. 292 00:20:54,439 –> 00:20:57,180 The picture here of course is of a hen 293 00:20:57,180 –> 00:21:01,300 with newly born little fluffy chicks 294 00:21:01,300 –> 00:21:05,140 and they’re running around in the farmyard 295 00:21:05,140 –> 00:21:09,520 and then some danger comes and the hen clucks. 296 00:21:09,520 –> 00:21:13,640 And when the hen clucks, the chicks all run towards her 297 00:21:13,640 –> 00:21:18,640 and she lifts her wings and the chicks run to her side 298 00:21:18,780 –> 00:21:21,099 and then the wings come down. 299 00:21:21,859 –> 00:21:25,979 And the chicks are hidden from view. 300 00:21:25,979 –> 00:21:27,839 Now you see, Boaz is saying to Ruth, 301 00:21:27,839 –> 00:21:32,280 this is exactly how it is with God and with you. 302 00:21:32,280 –> 00:21:33,540 Like one of these little chicks, 303 00:21:33,540 –> 00:21:36,300 you have come to him for refuge. 304 00:21:36,300 –> 00:21:40,380 You’ve said to Naomi, your God will be my God 305 00:21:40,380 –> 00:21:42,300 and now what has happened is that 306 00:21:42,300 –> 00:21:46,180 his wings have come down over you. 307 00:21:46,180 –> 00:21:48,979 Isn’t that a beautiful picture 308 00:21:48,979 –> 00:21:53,300 of what it means to be a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ. 309 00:21:53,300 –> 00:21:55,719 You run to God for refuge. 310 00:21:55,719 –> 00:21:58,000 You look to him for help 311 00:21:58,000 –> 00:21:59,979 and he covers you 312 00:22:01,479 –> 00:22:02,839 with his wings. 313 00:22:05,020 –> 00:22:07,719 And I’ve been struck by this that 314 00:22:07,719 –> 00:22:11,719 King David, who I can say because we’ve already mentioned it 315 00:22:11,719 –> 00:22:13,119 right at the beginning of the story 316 00:22:13,119 –> 00:22:15,040 and we are letting on the secret 317 00:22:15,040 –> 00:22:17,000 as to how it’s all going to end. 318 00:22:17,000 –> 00:22:20,439 King David, who we’re told at the end of the story 319 00:22:20,439 –> 00:22:25,439 was the great grandson of Boaz and of Ruth, 320 00:22:26,400 –> 00:22:30,959 he would thereby have known and loved the story 321 00:22:30,959 –> 00:22:34,199 of his own great grandmother and his own great grandfather. 322 00:22:34,199 –> 00:22:35,579 They got together in the field 323 00:22:35,579 –> 00:22:38,119 and all that came and followed from that. 324 00:22:39,040 –> 00:22:43,119 And he must have drawn great comfort and strength 325 00:22:43,119 –> 00:22:46,680 from the words of his great grandfather, Boaz 326 00:22:46,760 –> 00:22:49,319 about taking refuge under the wings of God, 327 00:22:49,319 –> 00:22:50,579 because if you read the Psalms, 328 00:22:50,579 –> 00:22:52,959 what you find is David just keeps repeating 329 00:22:52,959 –> 00:22:54,719 what his great grandfather said. 330 00:22:55,959 –> 00:23:00,280 Psalm 17, keep me as the apple of your eye. 331 00:23:00,280 –> 00:23:03,300 Hide me in the shadow of your wings. 332 00:23:04,380 –> 00:23:09,380 Psalm 36, how precious is your steadfast love, O God. 333 00:23:09,380 –> 00:23:11,560 The children of mankind take refuge 334 00:23:11,560 –> 00:23:14,680 in the shadow of your wings. 335 00:23:14,680 –> 00:23:18,599 Psalm 57, be merciful to me O God, be merciful to me, 336 00:23:18,599 –> 00:23:21,739 for in you my soul takes refuge. 337 00:23:21,739 –> 00:23:25,540 In the shadow of your wings I take refuge. 338 00:23:25,540 –> 00:23:27,160 It’s almost like brackets, 339 00:23:28,300 –> 00:23:31,400 just as my great grandfather said to my great grandmother 340 00:23:31,400 –> 00:23:33,739 when they met that first time in the field. 341 00:23:33,739 –> 00:23:34,579 It’s beautiful. 342 00:23:35,479 –> 00:23:39,880 Psalm 63, you have been my help 343 00:23:39,880 –> 00:23:42,680 and in the shadow of your wings I will sing for joy. 344 00:23:42,680 –> 00:23:44,000 You know what’s so striking to me 345 00:23:44,219 –> 00:23:47,880 about this, David writing this three generations later 346 00:23:47,880 –> 00:23:51,040 after his great grandfather said it to his great grandmother. 347 00:23:53,199 –> 00:23:57,520 The faithfulness of Ruth and the kindness of Boaz 348 00:23:59,119 –> 00:24:03,839 are still bearing fruit in the life of their great-grandson 349 00:24:03,839 –> 00:24:07,180 years after their own lives have ended. 350 00:24:09,939 –> 00:24:13,479 Never underestimate what God can do 351 00:24:14,420 –> 00:24:18,680 through your example of loving and loyal faithfulness 352 00:24:18,680 –> 00:24:20,439 even beyond your own lifetime. 353 00:24:22,239 –> 00:24:26,180 Never underestimate what God can bring 354 00:24:27,219 –> 00:24:31,660 through your kindness your words of blessing 355 00:24:32,739 –> 00:24:36,300 in the life of a person in great need. 356 00:24:37,699 –> 00:24:40,020 Boaz says to Ruth, may God’s blessing be upon you 357 00:24:40,020 –> 00:24:43,300 because you have taken refuge under his wings. 358 00:24:44,939 –> 00:24:48,959 And if you take refuge under the wings 359 00:24:48,959 –> 00:24:53,959 of the Lord Jesus Christ, you too will be blessed. 360 00:24:57,079 –> 00:25:00,199 The welcome, the blessing. 361 00:25:02,280 –> 00:25:04,959 And then thirdly the meal. 362 00:25:04,959 –> 00:25:07,420 Look at verse 14. 363 00:25:07,420 –> 00:25:11,400 And at mealtime, Boaz said to her 364 00:25:11,400 –> 00:25:13,540 come here and eat some bread 365 00:25:13,540 –> 00:25:16,060 and dip your morsel in the wine. 366 00:25:17,099 –> 00:25:19,459 So she sat beside the reapers 367 00:25:19,459 –> 00:25:23,660 and he passed to her roasted grain 368 00:25:23,660 –> 00:25:26,660 and she ate until she was satisfied 369 00:25:26,660 –> 00:25:29,599 and she had some leftover. 370 00:25:31,239 –> 00:25:34,020 Now the whole Bible is one story as you know 371 00:25:34,020 –> 00:25:36,579 so very well that consistently points 372 00:25:36,579 –> 00:25:38,540 to our Lord Jesus Christ 373 00:25:38,599 –> 00:25:42,920 and Boaz points very clearly to the Lord Jesus Christ. 374 00:25:42,920 –> 00:25:44,979 I wonder if you noticed in verse 20 375 00:25:44,979 –> 00:25:48,880 Naomi describes Him as one of our Redeemers 376 00:25:49,760 –> 00:25:52,900 and of course, Jesus is the Redeemer 377 00:25:52,900 –> 00:25:57,520 who welcomes us and who blesses us 378 00:25:57,520 –> 00:26:02,520 and Jesus is the Redeemer who invites us to His table. 379 00:26:02,760 –> 00:26:07,760 Now notice how this scene of the lunch in the field 380 00:26:07,959 –> 00:26:10,319 points us forward to the Lord Jesus Christ. 381 00:26:10,319 –> 00:26:15,280 First Boaz sits down for lunch with His reapers. 382 00:26:18,199 –> 00:26:20,719 Do you know the greatest blessing 383 00:26:20,719 –> 00:26:23,280 of serving the Lord Jesus Christ 384 00:26:24,219 –> 00:26:26,400 is that there is a special fellowship, 385 00:26:26,400 –> 00:26:29,520 a special communion with the Lord Jesus Christ 386 00:26:29,520 –> 00:26:31,920 that is enjoyed by those who serve Him. 387 00:26:31,920 –> 00:26:32,920 Those who serve Him. 388 00:26:34,839 –> 00:26:38,319 Jesus used this image of reapers to describe us. 389 00:26:38,319 –> 00:26:39,959 You remember, the harvest is plentiful, 390 00:26:39,959 –> 00:26:41,280 the laborers are few, 391 00:26:41,280 –> 00:26:43,520 pray that the Lord will send out laborers 392 00:26:43,520 –> 00:26:44,880 into the harvest. 393 00:26:44,880 –> 00:26:47,579 Like Boaz and his reapers, 394 00:26:47,579 –> 00:26:51,060 the Lord Jesus Christ sits down with those 395 00:26:51,060 –> 00:26:52,040 who serve Him. 396 00:26:53,180 –> 00:26:55,459 That ought to be a description of each and every one of us. 397 00:26:55,459 –> 00:26:57,959 If you’re a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ, 398 00:26:57,959 –> 00:27:01,640 He calls you to serve Him. 399 00:27:01,660 –> 00:27:06,660 And the greatest joy in serving Christ 400 00:27:06,979 –> 00:27:10,699 is the communion we have with Him 401 00:27:10,699 –> 00:27:13,939 in the course of doing what He calls us to do. 402 00:27:15,339 –> 00:27:17,300 And I want you to notice that it was Boaz 403 00:27:17,300 –> 00:27:20,140 who invited Ruth to the table, 404 00:27:20,140 –> 00:27:22,380 along with the reapers, 405 00:27:22,380 –> 00:27:27,380 just as Jesus invites us to His table. 406 00:27:27,599 –> 00:27:29,719 This is an open invitation. 407 00:27:29,719 –> 00:27:30,579 Remember, at this point, 408 00:27:31,180 –> 00:27:33,939 Ruth is not one of the servants of Boaz. 409 00:27:33,939 –> 00:27:36,319 She’s not employed by him, she didn’t work for him. 410 00:27:36,319 –> 00:27:38,920 She simply has happened to come into the field. 411 00:27:39,900 –> 00:27:44,020 But Boaz invites her to the table. 412 00:27:44,020 –> 00:27:48,219 There is an open invitation to the Lord’s table here 413 00:27:48,219 –> 00:27:49,859 for all who are hungry, 414 00:27:50,819 –> 00:27:53,060 for all who will come, 415 00:27:53,060 –> 00:27:56,020 for all who will look to the Lord Jesus Christ 416 00:27:56,020 –> 00:27:57,459 for help and for hope, 417 00:27:57,459 –> 00:28:01,060 for all who are ready to receive from his hand. 418 00:28:01,060 –> 00:28:02,380 The Lord Jesus Christ says, 419 00:28:02,380 –> 00:28:05,459 you come, you come, 420 00:28:05,459 –> 00:28:07,079 what I have done is for you 421 00:28:07,079 –> 00:28:09,160 and you are to come and to receive. 422 00:28:10,739 –> 00:28:13,979 And the noticed that when people come to his table, 423 00:28:13,979 –> 00:28:16,979 Boaz is the one who feeds them. 424 00:28:16,979 –> 00:28:19,859 Ruth sat, verse 14, beside the reapers 425 00:28:19,859 –> 00:28:24,859 and he, Boaz, passed to her roasted grain. 426 00:28:25,380 –> 00:28:29,420 And as we come to the Lord, 427 00:28:29,420 –> 00:28:33,540 Christ is the one who feeds us at his own table. 428 00:28:34,500 –> 00:28:37,160 Draw near to him by faith 429 00:28:37,160 –> 00:28:39,119 and you will find that he himself 430 00:28:39,119 –> 00:28:40,859 is the one who nourishes you. 431 00:28:40,859 –> 00:28:44,780 He will feed you, he will sustain you. 432 00:28:44,780 –> 00:28:48,959 And then notice that when Ruth came to the table, 433 00:28:48,959 –> 00:28:51,180 we’re told here that she ate 434 00:28:51,180 –> 00:28:54,300 and she was satisfied. 435 00:28:55,219 –> 00:28:57,680 She ate until she was satisfied 436 00:28:57,680 –> 00:29:00,479 and she had some left over. 437 00:29:01,400 –> 00:29:02,959 Well, no one who’s read the gospels 438 00:29:02,959 –> 00:29:05,319 and know the story of Jesus could read that 439 00:29:05,319 –> 00:29:07,880 without immediately thinking about the story 440 00:29:07,880 –> 00:29:10,400 of Jesus feeding the 5000. 441 00:29:10,400 –> 00:29:12,199 And do you remember Mark records at the end 442 00:29:12,199 –> 00:29:14,479 of that story that they all ate 443 00:29:14,479 –> 00:29:17,000 and were satisfied and what was left 444 00:29:17,000 –> 00:29:20,160 over filled 12 baskets as they picked up 445 00:29:20,160 –> 00:29:22,619 the broken pieces. 446 00:29:23,459 –> 00:29:27,979 So here is Ruth and she eats until she is satisfied, 447 00:29:27,979 –> 00:29:29,660 but there’s still more left over. 448 00:29:30,599 –> 00:29:32,719 And you know what she does with it? 449 00:29:33,660 –> 00:29:35,319 She takes it home to Naomi. 450 00:29:36,420 –> 00:29:39,579 Verse 18, she also brought out and gave her, 451 00:29:39,579 –> 00:29:43,140 that is Naomi, what food she had left over 452 00:29:43,140 –> 00:29:45,780 after being satisfied. 453 00:29:45,780 –> 00:29:49,660 Listen, when the Lord Jesus Christ feeds you, 454 00:29:50,660 –> 00:29:53,699 you will be satisfied and you will have enough left over 455 00:29:53,699 –> 00:29:55,239 to give to someone else. 456 00:29:56,180 –> 00:29:58,339 Is that a great prayer for us is we gather under the word 457 00:29:58,339 –> 00:30:00,699 and then we’re shortly gonna gather around the table. 458 00:30:00,699 –> 00:30:03,060 Lord strengthen me in soul, 459 00:30:03,060 –> 00:30:05,579 satisfy me in my inner being 460 00:30:05,579 –> 00:30:07,719 and send me out of here with something 461 00:30:07,719 –> 00:30:09,660 that I can take and share with others. 462 00:30:09,660 –> 00:30:11,979 That’s his purpose when we gather around this table 463 00:30:11,979 –> 00:30:13,319 and underneath his word. 464 00:30:13,319 –> 00:30:18,319 The welcome, Jesus will welcome you. 465 00:30:19,579 –> 00:30:23,239 The blessing you will find blessing 466 00:30:23,239 –> 00:30:25,300 from his hand. 467 00:30:26,459 –> 00:30:29,199 The meal Jesus will feed you 468 00:30:29,199 –> 00:30:30,560 Jesus will nourish you 469 00:30:30,560 –> 00:30:32,680 Jesus will sustain you 470 00:30:32,680 –> 00:30:36,839 for whatever lies ahead in your journey. 471 00:30:36,839 –> 00:30:39,459 And lastly the provision. 472 00:30:39,459 –> 00:30:41,520 Jesus will provide for you, 473 00:30:42,180 –> 00:30:44,140 look at verse 15. 474 00:30:44,140 –> 00:30:47,439 And she rows, it’s as after lunch to glean, 475 00:30:48,359 –> 00:30:50,640 and Boaz instructed his young men saying, 476 00:30:50,640 –> 00:30:53,660 let her glean even among the sheaves 477 00:30:53,660 –> 00:30:55,959 and do not reproach her. 478 00:30:55,959 –> 00:31:00,699 And also pool out some from the bundles for her 479 00:31:00,699 –> 00:31:03,099 and leave it for her to glean 480 00:31:03,099 –> 00:31:05,959 and do not rebuke her. 481 00:31:07,079 –> 00:31:09,260 Now Ruth throughout the morning 482 00:31:09,260 –> 00:31:11,060 had been following the Reapers 483 00:31:11,060 –> 00:31:16,060 and picking up the scraps that they had left behind. 484 00:31:16,099 –> 00:31:19,760 But after the meal, Boaz says to his Reapers, 485 00:31:19,760 –> 00:31:21,579 now here’s what I want you to do 486 00:31:21,579 –> 00:31:23,880 as you’re reaping and then you’re gathering 487 00:31:23,880 –> 00:31:27,219 these stalks of grain into bundles, 488 00:31:27,219 –> 00:31:30,780 I want you to pull out some fistfuls from the bundles 489 00:31:30,780 –> 00:31:34,219 and just drop them behind you for her to pick up. 490 00:31:34,219 –> 00:31:36,079 It’s beautiful really is. 491 00:31:36,979 –> 00:31:39,199 And so in the afternoon as Ruth coming along, 492 00:31:39,199 –> 00:31:41,060 I mean no doubt to her absolute amazement, 493 00:31:41,060 –> 00:31:43,959 here she is, right in front of her on the ground 494 00:31:43,959 –> 00:31:46,099 pre-cut stalks of grain, 495 00:31:47,439 –> 00:31:51,099 and they’re just lying there waiting to be picked up. 496 00:31:52,439 –> 00:31:56,040 So of course when the day’s work was done, 497 00:31:56,040 –> 00:31:57,319 well Ruth returned home. 498 00:31:57,319 –> 00:31:58,640 And verse 17 tells us, 499 00:31:58,640 –> 00:32:03,119 she returned home with an etha of barley. 500 00:32:03,119 –> 00:32:08,119 Now that is about 30 pounds in weight. 501 00:32:09,319 –> 00:32:11,839 Now a gleaner in a full day’s work 502 00:32:11,839 –> 00:32:14,359 would normally hope to have picked up enough grain 503 00:32:14,359 –> 00:32:18099 off the ground to make a loaf or two of bread. 504 00:32:18,099 –> 00:32:21,880 Ruth comes home with 30 pounds of flour. 505 00:32:23,079 –> 00:32:26,020 I mean, she would hardly have been able to carry this home. 506 00:32:27,339 –> 00:32:31,660 And when Naomi sees her come back, 507 00:32:31,660 –> 00:32:33,119 she hardly knows what to say. 508 00:32:33,119 –> 00:32:35,900 I mean Naomi had said, you know, 509 00:32:35,900 –> 00:32:37,979 that she went out full 510 00:32:37,979 –> 00:32:39,979 and the Lord had brought her back empty. 511 00:32:39,979 –> 00:32:43,099 Well, on this day, Ruth went out absolutely empty 512 00:32:43,099 –> 00:32:44,839 and the Lord brought her back full. 513 00:32:45,839 –> 00:32:49,619 And Naomi says to Ruth, well, verse 19, 514 00:32:49,619 –> 00:32:51,719 where did you glean today? 515 00:32:53,219 –> 00:32:55,800 I mean, someone’s been helping you big time. 516 00:32:55,800 –> 00:32:59,099 Verse 19, blessed be the man who took notice of you. 517 00:33:00,599 –> 00:33:01,859 And then Ruth tells her, 518 00:33:03,000 –> 00:33:05,180 the man’s name with whom I worked today 519 00:33:05,180 –> 00:33:08,520 is, dramatic moment, roll up the drums, 520 00:33:08,520 –> 00:33:10,300 and then she says it to Naomi, 521 00:33:11,560 –> 00:33:12,400 Boaz, 522 00:33:13,839 –> 00:33:18,160 and immediately Naomi recognizes 523 00:33:18,160 –> 00:33:19,880 the hidden hand of God 524 00:33:20,880 –> 00:33:21,939 in this blessing. 525 00:33:23,160 –> 00:33:26,819 May he be blessed, that is, may Boaz be blessed 526 00:33:26,819 –> 00:33:30,439 by the Lord whose kindness 527 00:33:30,439 –> 00:33:32,619 has not forsaken the living and the dead. 528 00:33:32,619 –> 00:33:34,439 You see what she’s recognizing? 529 00:33:34,439 –> 00:33:36,400 This is the kindness of God, 530 00:33:37,479 –> 00:33:39,520 and I am seeing the kindness 531 00:33:39,520 –> 00:33:41,839 of the hidden hand of God 532 00:33:41,839 –> 00:33:46,839 in the kindness that Boaz has shown to you. 533 00:33:48,099 –> 00:33:50,119 Here is a wonderful principle 534 00:33:50,119 –> 00:33:51,979 at the heart of this story. 535 00:33:52,900 –> 00:33:57,040 God works through means. 536 00:33:58,439 –> 00:34:02,079 So God’s welcome to the stranger 537 00:34:03,079 –> 00:34:07,180 is seen and felt by the welcome of His people. 538 00:34:07,180 –> 00:34:10,899 That is why we must welcome every person 539 00:34:10,899 –> 00:34:14,439 in the warmest way that we possibly can, 540 00:34:14,439 –> 00:34:16,100 and especially the stranger. 541 00:34:17,520 –> 00:34:19,659 God’s kindness is seen 542 00:34:19,659 –> 00:34:22,899 through the kindness of His people. 543 00:34:23,979 –> 00:34:26,560 That is why we must show kindness 544 00:34:26,560 –> 00:34:30,540 to one another and never speak an unkind word. 545 00:34:33,080 –> 00:34:37,040 God’s provision is received 546 00:34:37,040 –> 00:34:39,479 through the provision of His people. 547 00:34:40,560 –> 00:34:42,919 That is why where there is need, 548 00:34:42,919 –> 00:34:44,979 we must seek to do all that we can 549 00:34:46,340 –> 00:34:49,860 to be a means of alleviating that need. 550 00:34:50,919 –> 00:34:55,919 So, do you see this is a marvelous story of hope? 551 00:34:57,399 –> 00:35:00,560 And there’s bound to be some in the congregation today, 552 00:35:00,600 –> 00:35:03,320 perhaps you came here and just in your mind 553 00:35:03,320 –> 00:35:07,659 and in your heart you were thinking, I feel so hopeless. 554 00:35:09,699 –> 00:35:11,120 Let me in these last moments, then, 555 00:35:11,120 –> 00:35:13,199 just point you directly from the story 556 00:35:13,199 –> 00:35:18,199 to three ways to pursue hope and to find it. 557 00:35:18,360 –> 00:35:22,780 The first is simply this, do all that you can. 558 00:35:22,780 –> 00:35:24,479 You feel hopeless, you feel like 559 00:35:24,479 –> 00:35:26,320 I’m in a desperate situation, 560 00:35:26,320 –> 00:35:27,860 this is the first principle, 561 00:35:27,860 –> 00:35:30,040 biblical principle from the story. 562 00:35:30,080 –> 00:35:32,260 You must do all that you can. 563 00:35:32,260 –> 00:35:34,320 Ruth took responsibility. 564 00:35:35,739 –> 00:35:37,080 Let me go into the field. 565 00:35:38,239 –> 00:35:39,820 She took the initiative. 566 00:35:40,760 –> 00:35:43,040 She worked hard throughout the morning 567 00:35:43,040 –> 00:35:44,459 and throughout the afternoon. 568 00:35:44,459 –> 00:35:46,239 This was a long day’s hard work, 569 00:35:46,239 –> 00:35:48,179 but she took the initiative and she worked hard. 570 00:35:48,179 –> 00:35:49,979 She did everything that she could. 571 00:35:51,399 –> 00:35:54,439 She cultivated good relationships. 572 00:35:55,320 –> 00:35:58,040 She asked the servant if she could 573 00:35:58,260 –> 00:36:00,179 She wasn’t presumptuous. 574 00:36:01,199 –> 00:36:04,060 She showed great respect for Boaz. 575 00:36:04,060 –> 00:36:06,679 She was not resentful to him for his wealth. 576 00:36:07,739 –> 00:36:11,439 She was grateful for the help that she received. 577 00:36:12,439 –> 00:36:16,159 Here’s the principle, stated in New Testament terms. 578 00:36:16,159 –> 00:36:20,860 Work out your own salvation in fear and trembling, 579 00:36:20,860 –> 00:36:23,919 for it is God who works in you. 580 00:36:23,919 –> 00:36:25,719 You see the principle? 581 00:36:25,719 –> 00:36:27,260 If you have come to know and believe 582 00:36:27,320 –> 00:36:30,080 that God is at work in you, 583 00:36:30,080 –> 00:36:32,479 that is the greatest possible motivation 584 00:36:32,479 –> 00:36:34,739 for you yourself to do all that you can. 585 00:36:35,939 –> 00:36:37,840 And that principle is seen very clearly 586 00:36:37,840 –> 00:36:39,040 in the story of Ruth. 587 00:36:40,699 –> 00:36:42,580 Second, if you would find hope, 588 00:36:43,520 –> 00:36:46,959 stay close to where blessing is found. 589 00:36:46,959 –> 00:36:48,719 It’s very clear in this story. 590 00:36:48,719 –> 00:36:50,679 Boaz says to Ruth, verse eight, 591 00:36:50,679 –> 00:36:53,840 do not go to another field, or leave this one, 592 00:36:53,840 –> 00:36:56,479 but keep close to my young women. 593 00:36:56,479 –> 00:36:59,399 Stay close to where blessing is found. 594 00:37:00,699 –> 00:37:02,879 Don’t go wandering all over the place. 595 00:37:03,959 –> 00:37:05,919 You find people who have some care for you, 596 00:37:05,919 –> 00:37:07,419 show some kindness towards you. 597 00:37:07,419 –> 00:37:09,020 Stay where blessing is found. 598 00:37:09,020 –> 00:37:11,479 You experience something of the blessing of God. 599 00:37:11,479 –> 00:37:12,300 Stick there. 600 00:37:12,300 –> 00:37:14,500 Don’t go wandering all over the place. 601 00:37:15,919 –> 00:37:17,139 Boaz was a wealthy man, 602 00:37:17,139 –> 00:37:18,879 but he showed great kindness to Ruth. 603 00:37:18,879 –> 00:37:21,879 He knew that other fields were fraught with danger, 604 00:37:22,780 –> 00:37:23,979 but in the kindness of God, 605 00:37:23,979 –> 00:37:26,360 she had been brought to a good place. 606 00:37:27,719 –> 00:37:29,879 Well why then would she go anywhere else? 607 00:37:31,439 –> 00:37:32,659 If you want to find hope, 608 00:37:32,659 –> 00:37:34,879 stay close to where blessing is found. 609 00:37:34,879 –> 00:37:37,780 Bad company ruins good character. 610 00:37:37,780 –> 00:37:39,300 Remember that? 611 00:37:39,300 –> 00:37:41,139 That is why the book of Proverbs 612 00:37:41,139 –> 00:37:45,520 warns against ever making friends 613 00:37:45,520 –> 00:37:48,159 with someone who has habitually angry. 614 00:37:50,100 –> 00:37:53,399 Check that out in Proverbs 22 and verse 24, 615 00:37:53,620 –> 00:37:56,679 A company you keep will shape the person you become. 616 00:37:56,679 –> 00:38:01,679 So stay close, to where blessing is found. 617 00:38:02,939 –> 00:38:04,620 And the last thing of course is, 618 00:38:04,620 –> 00:38:08,760 take refuge under the wings of God. 619 00:38:10,659 –> 00:38:12,760 You know of course that the Lord Jesus Christ 620 00:38:12,760 –> 00:38:15,540 took up these words of Boaz in the New Testament 621 00:38:15,540 –> 00:38:18,620 when he wept over Jerusalem. 622 00:38:19,540 –> 00:38:20,379 And he said, 623 00:38:20,379 –> 00:38:21,500 O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, 624 00:38:21,560 –> 00:38:24,820 how often would I have gathered your children together 625 00:38:24,820 –> 00:38:27,939 as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, 626 00:38:27,939 –> 00:38:32,739 and you were not willing? 627 00:38:32,739 –> 00:38:34,739 Four of the saddest words in the Bible. 628 00:38:34,739 –> 00:38:38,560 You were not willing. 629 00:38:40,719 –> 00:38:43,580 When you find yourself in great need, 630 00:38:45,199 –> 00:38:47,699 when you find yourself in great sorrow, 631 00:38:48,540 –> 00:38:52,639 when you undergo a great trial, 632 00:38:52,639 –> 00:38:55,199 the last thing you should ever do 633 00:38:55,199 –> 00:38:59,540 is push the Lord Jesus Christ away. 634 00:38:59,540 –> 00:39:01,379 Because it is in Him 635 00:39:01,379 –> 00:39:04,199 and it is in Him alone 636 00:39:04,199 –> 00:39:06,500 that you will find hope. 637 00:39:07,580 –> 00:39:10,560 The Lord Jesus Christ will welcome you. 638 00:39:12,000 –> 00:39:14,459 The Lord Jesus Christ will bless you. 639 00:39:15,699 –> 00:39:17,419 The Lord Jesus Christ invites you 640 00:39:17,520 –> 00:39:20,419 to come and eat at His table. 641 00:39:20,419 –> 00:39:22,659 He will feed you, nourish you, sustain you 642 00:39:22,659 –> 00:39:24,239 for whatever you have to face. 643 00:39:25,479 –> 00:39:28,120 And the Lord Jesus Christ will provide for you. 644 00:39:28,120 –> 00:39:32,659 My God will supply all that you need 645 00:39:32,659 –> 00:39:35,919 according to His riches in glory 646 00:39:35,919 –> 00:39:39,199 in Christ Jesus. 647 00:39:40,159 –> 00:39:41,899 Let’s pray together. 648 00:39:43,300 –> 00:39:45,699 Father, we thank You for these marvelous glimpses 649 00:39:45,760 –> 00:39:49,020 of our Lord Jesus Christ. 650 00:39:49,020 –> 00:39:52,020 Thank You that he welcomes us, blesses us, 651 00:39:53,360 –> 00:39:56,260 invites us even this morning to His table. 652 00:39:57,580 –> 00:40:01,879 Thank You that He is the one who provides what we need. 653 00:40:03,699 –> 00:40:06,340 And we pray, Father, that a reflection 654 00:40:07,439 –> 00:40:10,899 of the Lord Jesus Christ may be seen in us, 655 00:40:12,239 –> 00:40:15,199 that as we receive from the hand of Christ, 656 00:40:15,199 –> 00:40:19,899 we may be able to take and to serve others 657 00:40:20,959 –> 00:40:23,879 that we too might welcome, that we too might bless, 658 00:40:24,800 –> 00:40:28,239 that we too might welcome others to our table, 659 00:40:28,239 –> 00:40:30,600 that we too might be the means of Your provision 660 00:40:30,600 –> 00:40:32,100 into life’s of others. 661 00:40:33,120 –> 00:40:35,600 Make us like our Lord Jesus Christ and, 662 00:40:36,760 –> 00:40:38,840 as You have fed us through Your Word, 663 00:40:38,840 –> 00:40:41,459 continue to feed us around Your table, 664 00:40:42,399 –> 00:40:44,840 that our souls may be satisfied 665 00:40:45,840 –> 00:40:49,040 and that we may go out with that which we 666 00:40:49,040 –> 00:40:50,939 can give to others. 667 00:40:50,939 –> 00:40:54,479 Hear our prayers for these things we ask. 668 00:40:54,479 –> 00:40:57,260 In Jesus’ name, Amen. 669 00:40:58,919 –> 00:41:00,159 You’ve been listening to a sermon 670 00:41:00,159 –> 00:41:02,540 with Pastor Colin Smith of Open the Bible. 671 00:41:02,540 –> 00:41:07,540 To contact us, call us at 1-877-OPEN- 365 672 00:41:07,820 –> 00:41:11,340 or visit our website openthebible.org. 673 00:41:15,199 –> 00:41:16,159 Amen.