Sermons – Grace Evangelical Free Church // Wyoming, MN

Romans 12:3-8 For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned. 4 For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, 5 so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. 6 Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith; 7 if service, in our serving; the one who teaches, in his teaching; 8 the one who exhorts, in his exhortation; the one who contributes, in generosity; the one who leads, with zeal; the one who does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness.

INTRODUCTION

The title for this sermon came from a line in Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s book Life Together. Reflecting on passages like Romans 12:3-8 he wrote, “In a Christian community everything depends upon whether each individual is an indispensable link in a chain.” The picture he was trying to paint is something like a crane hoisting up a beam, held by a chain. If any link in the chain is faulty the entire beam will inevitably fall, possibly destructively and dangerously. So it is, by God’s design, with the church. God has given us a commission, and in order to accomplish it everyone must properly perform their God-given function or use their God-given gifts to that common end. If we do not, we cannot fulfill the purpose which God has given us. If we do, we demonstrate the power of the gospel to the unbelieving world.

To help you all see all of that in the text and to help you understand how to put it into practice I mean to name that which the passage assumes (the commission this passage directs us on how to fulfill), I mean to name the various aspects of our role in fulfilling God’s charge to the Church, I mean to help you see your individual and indispensable role in all of this, and I mean to name two specific applications (one for Mother’s Day and one for my upcoming Sabbatical).

Would you pray with me, then, that the text and our application of it would be clear? Would you join me in praying that the Spirit would be pleased to convict and inspire us to obey all that God calls us to in this passage? And would you go with me before God asking him to strengthen the moms at Grace and Grace during our time away?

GOD’S COMMISSION

Apart from its larger context this passage might be a bit confusing. Imagine if I said to you all something like,

“Now I want you guys to work together. You need each other. You each have certain gifts and abilities that you need to put into practice. Make sure not to think your gifts are more or less than they really are, but use them to the best of your abilities.”

On one hand, that all sounds fairly reasonable and sensible. On the other hand, something critical is clearly missing. Have you figured out what it is? It’s missing the end or goal. Work together toward what end? You need each other for what purpose? Put your gifts and abilities into practice as well as possible to what goal?

And so it is in our passage for this morning. What does Paul expect his readers to accomplish by heeding his charges? To what end does he expect them to be humble, perform their functions, and use their gifts?

Implied in this text is the Great Commission. That is, in light of the gospel that Jesus accomplished and Paul explained in the first 11 chapters of Romans, God left his people with a specific commission—a specific charge for Christians in light of the new life he purchased for us by the blood of his Son. We find it in Matthew 28:18-20, “And Jesus came and said to them, ‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations,

Romans 12:1-2 I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. 2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

INTRODUCTION

In one form or another the most common question I’m asked is, “What is God’s will for my life?”. It comes in marriage questions, parenting questions, conflict questions, career questions, sin questions, ministry questions, money questions, work questions, moving questions, etc. But again, the main question is: what would God have me do in this situation.

Overall, that’s led me to two main observations: 1) I’m exceedingly thankful that that’s the main question being asked. It is remarkably encouraging to know that our church is filled with people who genuinely want to know the will of God for their lives; and 2) It’s not very often that I encounter people who have any real measure of confidence in explaining God’s will or in discovering what it is for their situation.

For that reason, I want to share with you a bit about the will of God from Romans 12:1-2 this morning. That is, with the Apostle Paul as our guide, I want to help you all answer a few questions: 1) Who is it that truly wants to know God’s will? 2) What is the nature of God’s will? 3) How can I know God’s will for my life?

To understand what Romans 12:1-2 has to say about those questions, though, we first need to grasp its context.

Romans 1-11 presents the clearest and fullest picture of the gospel (good news) of Jesus Christ in existence. Of it Martin Luther wrote, “[Romans] is really the chief part of the New Testament and the very purest Gospel” (Luther, Commentary on Romans, xiii).

Romans 1-11 tells us of the mind of the Trinity before the foundation of the world. Specifically, it describes the creation of the world, the fall of mankind, the anger of God ignited by sin, the history of God’s redemption culminating in the substitute and sacrificial suffering, death, and resurrection of his only son, Jesus, and the means by which mankind may gain access to the work of Jesus (faith as a gift of God), all on the way to the Apostle’s description of the new heavens and the new earth wherein the faithful receive the fullness of the blessing of God: unbroken, eternal, loving fellowship with the triune God and all the saints of all time.

Along with all of that Romans 1-11 speaks of the fact that this salvation is open to all (Jew and gentile) and that all who receive it are received as sons and daughters of God, brothers and sisters with Jesus, and therein co-heirs with Jesus to all the blessings of God.

The entire order of salvation is taught in these eleven chapters. All of the doctrines of grace are taught in them as well. They truly are a masterpiece of doctrine and theology.

Rightly understood, we’re left wondering what all of this means for real life. That is, given the truthfulness of everything contained in 1-11, what should life look like for those who receive it in faith? Our passage for this morning, 12:1-2, serves in many ways as the transition (that’s what the “therefore” is there for) from the doctrine of the gospel to the implications of the gospel. That is, beginning with chapter 12 Paul focuses on how those who receive the good news ought to live in light of the good news. Again, chapters 12-16 focus on the will of God for those who have placed their faith in Jesus.

With that in the way of context and introduction, let’s consider what 12:1-2 has to say about our three questions.

WHO TRULY WANTS TO KNOW THE WILL OF GOD?

Who truly cares about the will of God?

Romans 12:1-2 I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. 2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

INTRODUCTION

In one form or another the most common question I’m asked is, “What is God’s will for my life?”. It comes in marriage questions, parenting questions, conflict questions, career questions, sin questions, ministry questions, money questions, work questions, moving questions, etc. But again, the main question is: what would God have me do in this situation.

Overall, that’s led me to two main observations: 1) I’m exceedingly thankful that that’s the main question being asked. It is remarkably encouraging to know that our church is filled with people who genuinely want to know the will of God for their lives; and 2) It’s not very often that I encounter people who have any real measure of confidence in explaining God’s will or in discovering what it is for their situation.

For that reason, I want to share with you a bit about the will of God from Romans 12:1-2 this morning. That is, with the Apostle Paul as our guide, I want to help you all answer a few questions: 1) Who is it that truly wants to know God’s will? 2) What is the nature of God’s will? 3) How can I know God’s will for my life?

To understand what Romans 12:1-2 has to say about those questions, though, we first need to grasp its context.

Romans 1-11 presents the clearest and fullest picture of the gospel (good news) of Jesus Christ in existence. Of it Martin Luther wrote, “[Romans] is really the chief part of the New Testament and the very purest Gospel” (Luther, Commentary on Romans, xiii).

Romans 1-11 tells us of the mind of the Trinity before the foundation of the world. Specifically, it describes the creation of the world, the fall of mankind, the anger of God ignited by sin, the history of God’s redemption culminating in the substitute and sacrificial suffering, death, and resurrection of his only son, Jesus, and the means by which mankind may gain access to the work of Jesus (faith as a gift of God), all on the way to the Apostle’s description of the new heavens and the new earth wherein the faithful receive the fullness of the blessing of God: unbroken, eternal, loving fellowship with the triune God and all the saints of all time.

Along with all of that Romans 1-11 speaks of the fact that this salvation is open to all (Jew and gentile) and that all who receive it are received as sons and daughters of God, brothers and sisters with Jesus, and therein co-heirs with Jesus to all the blessings of God.

The entire order of salvation is taught in these eleven chapters. All of the doctrines of grace are taught in them as well. They truly are a masterpiece of doctrine and theology.

Rightly understood, we’re left wondering what all of this means for real life. That is, given the truthfulness of everything contained in 1-11, what should life look like for those who receive it in faith? Our passage for this morning, 12:1-2, serves in many ways as the transition (that’s what the “therefore” is there for) from the doctrine of the gospel to the implications of the gospel. That is, beginning with chapter 12 Paul focuses on how those who receive the good news ought to live in light of the good news. Again, chapters 12-16 focus on the will of God for those who have placed their faith in Jesus.

With that in the way of context and introduction, let’s consider what 12:1-2 has to say about our three questions.

WHO TRULY WANTS TO KNOW THE WILL OF GOD?

Who truly cares about the will of God?

Ruth 4:18-22 Now these are the generations of Perez: Perez fathered Hezron, 19 Hezron fathered Ram, Ram fathered Amminadab, 20 Amminadab fathered Nahshon, Nahshon fathered Salmon, 21 Salmon fathered Boaz, Boaz fathered Obed, 22 Obed fathered Jesse, and Jesse fathered David.

INTRODUCTION

After a couple of months in this remarkable book, this will be the final sermon on Ruth. Unexpectedly, Ruth has jumped to the top of the books of the bible that God has most used to shape my thinking and change my heart. To help you understand why (in the hope that it will jump to the top of your list too), after  briefly considering the concluding genealogy, I mean to share with you a handful of lessons that Ruth has taught or reinforced in me in life-giving and life-changing ways. Let’s pray that God would use this final sermon in Ruth to continue transform us by the renewing of our minds.

THE GENEALOGY

There are just a few interesting things about this genealogy to which I’d like to draw your attention.

* It’s almost identical to the one found in 1 Chronicles 2:5-15; confirming its validity and demonstrating that the events of Ruth are truly historical. Ruth is not a fairy tale or a parable. It records God’s work in the real lives of real people in real places.

* It has exactly 10 names on it. No one knows why, but everyone agrees that it is somehow significant.

* It names Boaz rather than Elimelech or Mahlon even though the story itself makes a big deal about Boaz continuing on the line of his relatives.

* It begins with Perez. This is especially strange in that typically the man at the beginning was meant to validate the man at the end (or vice versa). Both Perez’s father, Judah, and his grandfather, Jacob, would have been better for this. The commentators I read offered several possible explanations for this (including the inexplicable need to limit it to ten names), but all admitted they didn’t really understand.

* It ends with David. Even though this is the first time David is mentioned in Ruth, it suggests that (at least) part of the point of the story was to explain God’s hand in David’s rule.

* As I noted a few sermons ago, the real glory of the genealogy is found in Matthew 1 where it continues on through Obed, Jesse, and David all the way to Jesus Christ. That suggests that the ultimate purpose of Ruth is not to get us to David but to Jesus. He is the true glory and point of this story!

That’s about it. It seems that in simplest terms the author’s main point in including the genealogy was simply to set the story in its proper historical context for the people of God at some point after David was king and God’s main point was to tell one more chapter in the story of the coming of his Son.

With that then, in the way of a wrap up and a reminder, let’s consider a few lessons on the winding path of glory.

LESSONS ON THE WINDING PATH OF GLORY FROM RUTH

One quick note of introduction: I purposely waited until finishing the sermon to look back at my first sermon on Ruth. In that sermon I offered what I believed to be then (and still do now) the three main themes in Ruth. I wanted to compare that list to this one. That was themes (the author’s main points of emphasis) and this is lessons (things I encourage you to take away from the book), but I expected there to be some overlap. Indeed there was. Here, then, are the 9 main lessons I’m encouraging you to take from Ruth:

*

Sin has consequences. It was likely Israel’s sin that led to the famine in Israel (1:1). It was a sin for Elimelech to lead his family out of Israel to pagan Moab where he and his sons died (1:3, 5). Insodoing Elimelech left his wife and daughters-in-law alone, vulnerable, and empty (1:5, 21). It appears that both Ruth and her sister Orpah were una...

Ruth 4:18-22 Now these are the generations of Perez: Perez fathered Hezron, 19 Hezron fathered Ram, Ram fathered Amminadab, 20 Amminadab fathered Nahshon, Nahshon fathered Salmon, 21 Salmon fathered Boaz, Boaz fathered Obed, 22 Obed fathered Jesse, and Jesse fathered David.

INTRODUCTION

After a couple of months in this remarkable book, this will be the final sermon on Ruth. Unexpectedly, Ruth has jumped to the top of the books of the bible that God has most used to shape my thinking and change my heart. To help you understand why (in the hope that it will jump to the top of your list too), after  briefly considering the concluding genealogy, I mean to share with you a handful of lessons that Ruth has taught or reinforced in me in life-giving and life-changing ways. Let’s pray that God would use this final sermon in Ruth to continue transform us by the renewing of our minds.

THE GENEALOGY

There are just a few interesting things about this genealogy to which I’d like to draw your attention.

* It’s almost identical to the one found in 1 Chronicles 2:5-15; confirming its validity and demonstrating that the events of Ruth are truly historical. Ruth is not a fairy tale or a parable. It records God’s work in the real lives of real people in real places.

* It has exactly 10 names on it. No one knows why, but everyone agrees that it is somehow significant.

* It names Boaz rather than Elimelech or Mahlon even though the story itself makes a big deal about Boaz continuing on the line of his relatives.

* It begins with Perez. This is especially strange in that typically the man at the beginning was meant to validate the man at the end (or vice versa). Both Perez’s father, Judah, and his grandfather, Jacob, would have been better for this. The commentators I read offered several possible explanations for this (including the inexplicable need to limit it to ten names), but all admitted they didn’t really understand.

* It ends with David. Even though this is the first time David is mentioned in Ruth, it suggests that (at least) part of the point of the story was to explain God’s hand in David’s rule.

* As I noted a few sermons ago, the real glory of the genealogy is found in Matthew 1 where it continues on through Obed, Jesse, and David all the way to Jesus Christ. That suggests that the ultimate purpose of Ruth is not to get us to David but to Jesus. He is the true glory and point of this story!

That’s about it. It seems that in simplest terms the author’s main point in including the genealogy was simply to set the story in its proper historical context for the people of God at some point after David was king and God’s main point was to tell one more chapter in the story of the coming of his Son.

With that then, in the way of a wrap up and a reminder, let’s consider a few lessons on the winding path of glory.

LESSONS ON THE WINDING PATH OF GLORY FROM RUTH

One quick note of introduction: I purposely waited until finishing the sermon to look back at my first sermon on Ruth. In that sermon I offered what I believed to be then (and still do now) the three main themes in Ruth. I wanted to compare that list to this one. That was themes (the author’s main points of emphasis) and this is lessons (things I encourage you to take away from the book), but I expected there to be some overlap. Indeed there was. Here, then, are the 9 main lessons I’m encouraging you to take from Ruth:

*

Sin has consequences. It was likely Israel’s sin that led to the famine in Israel (1:1). It was a sin for Elimelech to lead his family out of Israel to pagan Moab where he and his sons died (1:3, 5). Insodoing Elimelech left his wife and daughters-in-law alone, vulnerable, and empty (1:5, 21). It appears that both Ruth and her sister Orpah were una...

Ruth 4:13-17 So Boaz took Ruth, and she became his wife. And he went in to her, and the LORD gave her conception, and she bore a son. 14 Then the women said to Naomi, “Blessed be the LORD, who has not left you this day without a redeemer, and may his name be renowned in Israel! 15 He shall be to you a restorer of life and a nourisher of your old age, for your daughter-in-law who loves you, who is more to you than seven sons, has given birth to him.” 16 Then Naomi took the child and laid him on her lap and became his nurse. 17 And the women of the neighborhood gave him a name, saying, “A son has been born to Naomi.” They named him Obed. He was the father of Jesse, the father of David.

INTRODUCTION

Welcome to Grace Church. More importantly, welcome to Easter/Resurrection Sunday! Each of us may have come here for different reasons, but one thing we all have in common is this: This morning we have all been given a remarkable gift of God. By the very nature of our being here we have been given a chance that many have never had; the chance to hear and celebrate to the climax of the greatest story ever told.

The general purpose of our church and the specific point of this morning is to declare and call everyone to respond to the good news that Jesus Christ died in our place and then rose from the dead. We’ve already heard, read, and sung about that glory. And now, from Ruth 4:13-17, we’ll have another chance to encounter and embrace to that great news.

In this passage the townspeople praised God for the birth of Obed, Boaz and Ruth’s son. They collectively rejoiced in the fact that he was a type of redeemer, they collectively prayed that he would be of great renown, and they collectively declared that he would be a restorer and a nourisher. Little did they know that from him would come King David and from King David would come King Jesus-the Great Redeemer, Restorer, and Nourisher of greatest renown. Let’s pray, then, that God would awaken us to celebrate all that He offers to us in Christ, the greater Obed.

THE STORY CONTINUES

If you’re just joining us we’ve been working our way through the OT book of Ruth for the past while. It is the story of the winding road of glory for two women (mother and daughter-in-law) who both tragically lost their husbands. The mother-in-law, Naomi, was a Jew from Bethlehem. The daughter-in-law, Ruth, was a Moabite. After many years in Moab (while there was a famine in Israel) the two women made their way back to Israel in the hopes of finding help in their time of need.

The women made it safely back to Bethlehem; Ruth full of hope in light of her recent conversion (to Yahweh from the pagan gods of Moab) and Naomi full of bitterness in light of her interpretation of God’s hand in her hardship.

Under the kind providence of God, almost immediately after returning to Bethlehem, a godly man named Boaz took the women under his wing. He provided the women with food and protection. Eventually he promised to redeem Naomi’s family land and marry Ruth in order to carry on the family line of Elimelech (Naomi’s husband). In order to keep his promise, however, he needed to convince another man, a closer relative, not to purchase the land and marry the woman. By God’s grace he was able to do so.

Thus, with the legal hurdles taken care of, and with the blessing of the town’s elders, we come to 4:13. In that passage we find that “Boaz took Ruth, and she became his wife.” What we’d continued to hope for, but not quite allow ourselves to expect, finally came to pass. Boaz married Ruth and as a result she and Naomi were once again in a place of safety, provision, and care.

But there’s more. God not only granted that the two be married, he also blessed them with a child, “And he [Boaz] went in to her [Ruth],

Ruth 4:13-17 So Boaz took Ruth, and she became his wife. And he went in to her, and the LORD gave her conception, and she bore a son. 14 Then the women said to Naomi, “Blessed be the LORD, who has not left you this day without a redeemer, and may his name be renowned in Israel! 15 He shall be to you a restorer of life and a nourisher of your old age, for your daughter-in-law who loves you, who is more to you than seven sons, has given birth to him.” 16 Then Naomi took the child and laid him on her lap and became his nurse. 17 And the women of the neighborhood gave him a name, saying, “A son has been born to Naomi.” They named him Obed. He was the father of Jesse, the father of David.

INTRODUCTION

Welcome to Grace Church. More importantly, welcome to Easter/Resurrection Sunday! Each of us may have come here for different reasons, but one thing we all have in common is this: This morning we have all been given a remarkable gift of God. By the very nature of our being here we have been given a chance that many have never had; the chance to hear and celebrate to the climax of the greatest story ever told.

The general purpose of our church and the specific point of this morning is to declare and call everyone to respond to the good news that Jesus Christ died in our place and then rose from the dead. We’ve already heard, read, and sung about that glory. And now, from Ruth 4:13-17, we’ll have another chance to encounter and embrace to that great news.

In this passage the townspeople praised God for the birth of Obed, Boaz and Ruth’s son. They collectively rejoiced in the fact that he was a type of redeemer, they collectively prayed that he would be of great renown, and they collectively declared that he would be a restorer and a nourisher. Little did they know that from him would come King David and from King David would come King Jesus-the Great Redeemer, Restorer, and Nourisher of greatest renown. Let’s pray, then, that God would awaken us to celebrate all that He offers to us in Christ, the greater Obed.

THE STORY CONTINUES

If you’re just joining us we’ve been working our way through the OT book of Ruth for the past while. It is the story of the winding road of glory for two women (mother and daughter-in-law) who both tragically lost their husbands. The mother-in-law, Naomi, was a Jew from Bethlehem. The daughter-in-law, Ruth, was a Moabite. After many years in Moab (while there was a famine in Israel) the two women made their way back to Israel in the hopes of finding help in their time of need.

The women made it safely back to Bethlehem; Ruth full of hope in light of her recent conversion (to Yahweh from the pagan gods of Moab) and Naomi full of bitterness in light of her interpretation of God’s hand in her hardship.

Under the kind providence of God, almost immediately after returning to Bethlehem, a godly man named Boaz took the women under his wing. He provided the women with food and protection. Eventually he promised to redeem Naomi’s family land and marry Ruth in order to carry on the family line of Elimelech (Naomi’s husband). In order to keep his promise, however, he needed to convince another man, a closer relative, not to purchase the land and marry the woman. By God’s grace he was able to do so.

Thus, with the legal hurdles taken care of, and with the blessing of the town’s elders, we come to 4:13. In that passage we find that “Boaz took Ruth, and she became his wife.” What we’d continued to hope for, but not quite allow ourselves to expect, finally came to pass. Boaz married Ruth and as a result she and Naomi were once again in a place of safety, provision, and care.

But there’s more. God not only granted that the two be married, he also blessed them with a child, “And he [Boaz] went in to her [Ruth],

Ruth 4:7-12 Now this was the custom in former times in Israel concerning redeeming and exchanging: to confirm a transaction, the one drew off his sandal and gave it to the other, and this was the manner of attesting in Israel. 8 So when the redeemer said to Boaz, “Buy it for yourself,” he drew off his sandal. 9 Then Boaz said to the elders and all the people, “You are witnesses this day that I have bought from the hand of Naomi all that belonged to Elimelech and all that belonged to Chilion and to Mahlon. 10 Also Ruth the Moabite, the widow of Mahlon, I have bought to be my wife, to perpetuate the name of the dead in his inheritance, that the name of the dead may not be cut off from among his brothers and from the gate of his native place. You are witnesses this day.” 11 Then all the people who were at the gate and the elders said, “We are witnesses. May the LORD make the woman, who is coming into your house, like Rachel and Leah, who together built up the house of Israel. May you act worthily in Ephrathah and be renowned in Bethlehem, 12 and may your house be like the house of Perez, whom Tamar bore to Judah, because of the offspring that the LORD will give you by this young woman.”

Good morning. Pastor Dave got sick this week, so I’m filling in. Pray for a complete recovery for him.

If you are a visitor, welcome. I’m really glad you’re here. We’d love to have the chance to meet you and visit with you after service. I also want to invite you all to our Easter play tonight at 6pm. Our kids have worked really hard and are excited to act out the story of Christ’s life, death and resurrection.

This book is a beautiful story, so this morning I want to do my best to simply tell the story and tie it to other stories in scripture to show God’s goodness. Ruth and Boaz aren’t isolated from the rest of the biblical story. They weren’t cut and pasted randomly. Their story, like yours and mine, is thoroughly connected to the gospel story that God has revealed. When we are frustrated with circumstances, when we wonder where God is, we have to remember that God is good and is working to display his glory through our circumstances. The main point then in this text is the Glorious Goodness of God. God gives good things that draw us to worship his name.

The God of the Bible is good both in his character and in his provision. From the first chapter of the Bible, God is portrayed as good. He is morally good and he gives good things. His creation was good. Whenever God made covenants with his people, he promised good things like children, land, and the blessing of others. James 1:17 says that every good and perfect gift is from above.

In our passage this morning we will look at a number of ways that God shows his goodness to the characters in the story, and the ways we can enjoy that same goodness.

So here’s the structure of this sermon There are two sections each containing 2 signs of God’s goodness:

* Common means of goodness: Order and Fellowship (7-10)

* Glorious blessing for the house of Boaz: Family and Salvation (v11-12)

And the point of all of these areas of goodness is to recognize God’s glory.

Background

Let’s catch up in the story from where we left off last week. The winding path of glory has turned upward and we now begin seeing all of the goodness of God. After the threshing floor encounter with Ruth in chapter 3, Boaz went to the city gate in the morning to settle the matter with the other redeemer. Remember that the city gate was where business was conducted in the sight of the elders. The other redeemer gets the first right to redeem Naomi’s field, and initially opts to redeem the field, but then Boaz introduces the additional factor of Ruth. The redeemer withdrew his offer and that opened the door for Boaz to act as redeemer for Naomi and also to inherit Ruth to perpetuate the name of the dead.

Ruth 4:7-12 Now this was the custom in former times in Israel concerning redeeming and exchanging: to confirm a transaction, the one drew off his sandal and gave it to the other, and this was the manner of attesting in Israel. 8 So when the redeemer said to Boaz, “Buy it for yourself,” he drew off his sandal. 9 Then Boaz said to the elders and all the people, “You are witnesses this day that I have bought from the hand of Naomi all that belonged to Elimelech and all that belonged to Chilion and to Mahlon. 10 Also Ruth the Moabite, the widow of Mahlon, I have bought to be my wife, to perpetuate the name of the dead in his inheritance, that the name of the dead may not be cut off from among his brothers and from the gate of his native place. You are witnesses this day.” 11 Then all the people who were at the gate and the elders said, “We are witnesses. May the LORD make the woman, who is coming into your house, like Rachel and Leah, who together built up the house of Israel. May you act worthily in Ephrathah and be renowned in Bethlehem, 12 and may your house be like the house of Perez, whom Tamar bore to Judah, because of the offspring that the LORD will give you by this young woman.”

Good morning. Pastor Dave got sick this week, so I’m filling in. Pray for a complete recovery for him.

If you are a visitor, welcome. I’m really glad you’re here. We’d love to have the chance to meet you and visit with you after service. I also want to invite you all to our Easter play tonight at 6pm. Our kids have worked really hard and are excited to act out the story of Christ’s life, death and resurrection.

This book is a beautiful story, so this morning I want to do my best to simply tell the story and tie it to other stories in scripture to show God’s goodness. Ruth and Boaz aren’t isolated from the rest of the biblical story. They weren’t cut and pasted randomly. Their story, like yours and mine, is thoroughly connected to the gospel story that God has revealed. When we are frustrated with circumstances, when we wonder where God is, we have to remember that God is good and is working to display his glory through our circumstances. The main point then in this text is the Glorious Goodness of God. God gives good things that draw us to worship his name.

The God of the Bible is good both in his character and in his provision. From the first chapter of the Bible, God is portrayed as good. He is morally good and he gives good things. His creation was good. Whenever God made covenants with his people, he promised good things like children, land, and the blessing of others. James 1:17 says that every good and perfect gift is from above.

In our passage this morning we will look at a number of ways that God shows his goodness to the characters in the story, and the ways we can enjoy that same goodness.

So here’s the structure of this sermon There are two sections each containing 2 signs of God’s goodness:

* Common means of goodness: Order and Fellowship (7-10)

* Glorious blessing for the house of Boaz: Family and Salvation (v11-12)

And the point of all of these areas of goodness is to recognize God’s glory.

Background

Let’s catch up in the story from where we left off last week. The winding path of glory has turned upward and we now begin seeing all of the goodness of God. After the threshing floor encounter with Ruth in chapter 3, Boaz went to the city gate in the morning to settle the matter with the other redeemer. Remember that the city gate was where business was conducted in the sight of the elders. The other redeemer gets the first right to redeem Naomi’s field, and initially opts to redeem the field, but then Boaz introduces the additional factor of Ruth. The redeemer withdrew his offer and that opened the door for Boaz to act as redeemer for Naomi and also to inherit Ruth to perpetuate the name of the dead.

So she lay at his feet until the morning, but arose before one could recognize another. And he said, “Let it not be known that the woman came to the threshing floor.” 15 And he said, “Bring the garment you are wearing and hold it out.” So she held it, and he measured out six measures of barley and put it on her. Then she went into the city. 16 And when she came to her mother-in-law, she said, “How did you fare, my daughter?” Then she told her all that the man had done for her, 17 saying, “These six measures of barley he gave to me, for he said to me, ‘You must not go back empty-handed to your mother-in-law.'” 18 She replied, “Wait, my daughter, until you learn how the matter turns out, for the man will not rest but will settle the matter today.”

4:1 Now Boaz had gone up to the gate and sat down there. And behold, the redeemer, of whom Boaz had spoken, came by. So Boaz said, “Turn aside, friend; sit down here.” And he turned aside and sat down. 2 And he took ten men of the elders of the city and said, “Sit down here.” So they sat down. 3 Then he said to the redeemer, “Naomi, who has come back from the country of Moab, is selling the parcel of land that belonged to our relative Elimelech. 4 So I thought I would tell you of it and say, ‘Buy it in the presence of those sitting here and in the presence of the elders of my people.’ If you will redeem it, redeem it. But if you will not, tell me, that I may know, for there is no one besides you to redeem it, and I come after you.” And he said, “I will redeem it.” 5 Then Boaz said, “The day you buy the field from the hand of Naomi, you also acquire Ruth the Moabite, the widow of the dead, in order to perpetuate the name of the dead in his inheritance.” 6 Then the redeemer said, “I cannot redeem it for myself, lest I impair my own inheritance. Take my right of redemption yourself, for I cannot redeem it.”

INTRODUCTION

This morning we will wrap up the third chapter of Ruth and begin looking at the fourth. In this section we encounter two more scenes in this remarkable story. In the first scene (3:14-18), after spending the night on the threshing floor, Ruth and Boaz have a brief pre-dawn discussion and then Ruth returns to Naomi. In the second scene (4:1-6) Boaz begins to negotiate for Elimelech’s field and Ruth’s hand in marriage.

I hope to help you understand and appreciate the further unfolding of this drama and then draw your attention to the heart of true righteousness. The main thing I hope we all leave here with is a new (or renewed) joyful commitment to cultivating hearts of genuine godliness, godliness that doesn’t need a rule to do good for others. Let’s pray that by the power of the Holy Spirit it would be so.

THE STORY CONTINUES

Pastor Mike did a great job of navigating the tricky waters of the threshing floor scene last week. We joked about the fact that I scheduled my vacation for that week on purpose. If you weren’t here, or don’t remember, in 3:1-13, at her mother-in-law’s insistence, Ruth ended her time of mourning and presented herself before Boaz at night, effectively asking him to marry her. Although the scene involved no immorality and was entirely cast in holiness, it had the potential for serious misinterpretation. And that is why the next scene (our first scene for this morning) begins at a time early enough in the morning that darkness prevented one from recognizing another.

In 3:13 Boaz commanded Ruth to remain with him throughout the night. Having done so—likely after a fitful night of sleep—at the earliest possible time Ruth woke and prepared to leave. Understanding what it might do to her reputation and his if she was spotted leaving the threshing floor (a place known for sexual immorality),