The Life of Faith

Good morning, everyone.

Good morning.

We're going to read from Ruth, Chapter 3.

Ruth 3 · chapter mention

Then Naomi, her mother-in-law, said to her,

My daughter, should I not seek rest for you, that it may be well with you?

Is not Boaz our relative, with whose young women you were?

See, he is winnowing barley tonight at the threshing floor.

Wash, therefore, and anoint yourself, and put on your cloak

and go down to the threshing floor,

but do not make yourself known to the man

until he has finished eating and drinking.

But when he lies down, observe the place where he lies.

Then go and uncover his feet and lie down,

and he will tell you what to do.

And she replied, All that you say I will do.

So she went down to the threshing floor

and did just as her mother-in-law had commanded her.

And when Boaz had eaten and drunk,

and his heart was merry,

he went to lie down at the end of the heap of grain.

Then she came softly and uncovered his feet and lay down.

At midnight, the man was startled and turned over,

and behold, a woman lay at his feet.

He said, Who are you?

And she answered, I am Ruth, your servant.

Spread your wings over your servant,

for you are a redeemer.

And he said, May you be blessed by the Lord, my daughter.

You have made this last kindness greater than the first,

in that you have not gone after young men,

whether poor or rich.

And now, my daughter, do not fear.

I will do for you all that you ask,

for all my fellow townsmen know that you are a worthy woman.

And now it is true that I am a redeemer,

yet there is a redeemer nearer than I.

Remain tonight, and in the morning,

if he will redeem you, good, let him do it.

But if he is not willing to redeem you,

then, as the Lord lives, I will redeem you.

Lie down until the morning.

So she lay at his feet until the morning,

but arose before one could recognise another.

And he said, Let it not be known

that the woman came to the threshing floor.

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.

And when she came to her mother-in-law,

she said, How did you fare, my daughter?

Then she told her all about the man had done for her,

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.

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.

All right, good morning, everyone.

Thank you, Rob.

My name is Dave.

I'm one of the pastors at the church here.

Well, the story of Ruth is a feel-good story, isn't it?

It's nothing like the horror stories in the book of Judges.

In Ruth, no character does anything evil towards other people,

but instead we see Boaz shine with his kindness

and Ruth with her loyalty to Naomi.

It does start with tragedy, but with each step,

our anticipation grows for a satisfying, happy ending.

It's got the appeal of a rags-to-riches story.

Ruth is empty with nothing and no hope,

but she rises up until she is full,

and not just full with food, as we'll see next week.

And here in Chapter 3...

Oh, Dave.

Here in Chapter 3, with Cinderella in our heads

and all the rom-coms that we've been binge-watching in lockdown,

we sense a bit of a love story going on.

Boaz and Ruth seem to have a deep admiration

for each other's faithfulness to the Lord.

This is a feel-good story.

Ruth is amazing.

But it offers us so much more.

A barrier we have to unlocking all the riches of this story

is that it assumes what God's ancient people, Israel,

understood in their bones since birth.

As Israelites, they knew they were the descendants of Abraham,

whom God promised to you and your offspring,

I will give this land.

I will be your God.

Whoever blesses you, I will bless.

Whoever curses you, I will curse.

They were God's chosen and special people,

inheriting God's promises.

They were the ones whom God redeemed out of slavery in Egypt,

becoming God's treasured possession,

living with God in the land.

And here comes the scandal that's at the heart of this story.

Their neighbours, the Moabites,

they are the descendants of Moab,

a son born out of incest,

we hear in Genesis chapter 19.

Genesis 19 · chapter mention

Talk about skeletons in your family history.

And the scandal gets worse.

In Deuteronomy 23, the Lord commands his people,

no Moabite may enter the assembly of the Lord,

even to the 10th generation.

None of them may enter the assembly of the Lord forever,

because they did not meet you with bread and with water on the way

when you came out of Egypt.

And the other reason given is that Moab tried to curse Israel.

You shall not seek their peace,

all their prosperity,

all your days,

forever.

Do you see the scandal of Ruth,

the Moabite,

coming to the land of Israel,

hoping to find rest,

a home,

God's community,

a family,

a future,

belonging to God

and the blessings of his presence.

This Moabite

has zero right

to the promises

of the descendants of Abraham.

She has zero right

to be near to God

in the land.

She has zero right

to expect to belong

to his people.

And she has every reason

to expect

the curse of God.

no peace,

no prosperity,

no rest forever.

Do you feel the scandal

at the heart of the story of Ruth?

What's going to happen?

What will happen

if Ruth draws near

to this God

and his people?

In my mind,

it seems like

entering

the lion cage

at a zoo

and hoping

to be welcomed in.

chapter 3,

it's not

a Cinderella story.

It's more scandalous

than that.

And I think

it raises this question.

How does the Lord

respond

to the unworthy

person

who approaches

him

to find rest?

how does the Lord

respond?

You should be very

interested in the answer

to this question

because we have a lot

in common with Ruth.

Listen to what

God says about

each one of us

who aren't Jewish

in Ephesians

Ephesians 2:12

chapter 2,

verse 12.

Remember

that you were

at that time

separated from

Christ,

alienated

from the

commonwealth

of Israel

and strangers

to the

covenants

of promise,

having no hope

and without

God

in the world.

And just a few

verses earlier,

we're told

that because

of the way

each of us

has lived,

we deserve

God's wrath.

I remember

this time

when I was

a young boy

and I had

done something

I knew my

parents would

be angry at

and they

found out

about it.

And I was

really afraid

to leave

my bedroom

to go to

the kitchen

for breakfast

with my

family.

Would they

be angry?

Would they

be disappointed?

Would they

look at me

and talk to

me with

affection

ever again?

And so I

hid in my

bedroom for

quite a while.

Even though

we're told

to come to

God no matter

what we've

done,

I think we

can feel

like that

little boy

hiding in

his room.

maybe there's

a moral

failure in

your past

that is

big in

your mind

and you

just don't

think God

could forgive

that sin.

Maybe it's

just a general

sense that

no one could

love you.

So it's too

hard to believe

that God

loves you.

Maybe you've

just learnt

bit by bit

growing up

in this harsh

world that

you're

better off

if you

never

ever

let your

guard down.

Whatever the

case, if we

are to find

rest, we

need to know

the answer

to Ruth's

question.

How does

the Lord

respond to

the unworthy

person who

approaches him

to find rest

in his

presence?

So let's

watch Ruth

closely to

find out.

The focus

in chapter

two was

on Boaz,

his identity

and kindness

as the

redeemer.

And chapter

three focuses

on Ruth and

her daring

approach of

Boaz.

So far,

Ruth and

Naomi have

been provided

protection and

food security,

but what

happens to

them as the

harvest comes

to an end.

In verses

one to six,

the scene

opens with

Naomi instructing

Ruth with a

daring, even

scandalous scheme,

and we're told

the goal is

the goal.

My daughter,

should I not

seek rest for

you that it

may be well

with you?

She could

have told her

to pursue a

young Israelite,

perhaps a rich

one with good

standing in the

community.

But Naomi

wants Ruth to

have an even

deeper rest

by being

obedient to

God's word

and seeking

out a

family, a

kinsman

redeemer.

You see,

God's law

provided a way

back for those

cut off from

his presence.

So if a

husband dies

without having

an heir,

it was the

obligation of

his surviving

brother to

purchase the

land and

marry the

widow.

And the

firstborn son

carried on the

name of the

dead husband,

continuing his

family name in

the land.

But our

question still

remains, does

this promise of

redemption and

rest apply to

this Moabite?

Naomi wants

rest for

Ruth and

Ruth wants a

baby boy to

carry on the

name of

Naomi's

family.

But the

way to

seek redemption

is going to

be really

risky.

Naomi tells

Ruth, go

tonight to

the threshing

floor where

they get the

grain out of

the harvest.

in Hosea

Hosea 9:1

9 verse

1, it

appears that

threshing

floors could

have prostitutes

and drunken

revelry.

Boaz,

however, we

know he

fears the

Lord, so we

expect his

threshing

floor to be

different.

But still,

for Ruth to

be asked to

go to the

threshing

floor at

night, if

she is seen

by anyone,

her intentions

will be

instantly

suspected.

If she

had any

good reputation

as a

Moabite, it

would be

lost forever.

And then

the plan is

wash and

put perfume

on and

your best

cloak.

This is a

picture of

a bride

preparing

herself.

What Ruth

wants from

Boaz will

be obvious,

getting

straight to

the point.

And then

watch where

Boaz lays

down to

sleep and

then go

uncover his

legs and

lay with

him.

That picture

in the

children's

story just

captured the

awkwardness and

wrongness of

that scene.

Is this a

plan to

seduce Boaz?

A plan to

force him to

marry Ruth?

to lay

down is

repeated so

many times in

this chapter.

It is used

in the

Bible as

an idiom

for

intercourse.

But what

we're going to

see is that

despite the

sexual

possibilities,

nothing

immoral

occurs,

quite the

opposite.

Seduction is

not the

plan here.

So why

the secrecy

at night?

Perhaps it's

to give

Boaz no

pressure to

agree to

marry Ruth.

He can

reject Ruth

while saving

face in the

community.

And perhaps

it's also to

cause no

scandal because

there is

another

redeemer.

But this

plan is very

direct.

Ruth will

be wanting

from Boaz

marriage,

but it's

very risky.

Ruth has

to go all

in with

Boaz,

which

highlights

Ruth's

incredible

faith.

We're told

she did

just as

her mother

in law

had

commanded

her.

Ruth is

forsaking

any other

hope of

security in

this life

and pinning

all her

future on

Boaz and

ultimately on

the Lord.

In

verse 6

to 15,

we go to

the threshing

floor.

Ruth is

hiding in

the dark,

waiting for

Boaz to

go to

bed.

She is

putting

herself at

great risk

of the

young male

workers

there,

risking being

caught or

much worse.

She is

letting go

of all

other

securities

she could

have.

After

Boaz

finishes

eating and

drinking,

he goes

by himself

away from

the workers

to the

far side

of the

heap of

grain.

Ruth softly

approaches

him.

She

uncovers

his legs

and lay

down at

his feet.

This scene

is so

intimate.

To uncover

his feet

and legs,

to lay

with him

in secret

in the

dark.

It is

just Boaz

and Ruth

here.

She has

placed herself

in such

an incredibly

vulnerable

position.

When it

got cold

at midnight,

Boaz

wakes up

and he

is utter

shock.

He

notices a

woman lying

with him.

What is

he going

to do?

It

appears

that Boaz

does not

permit women

at his

threshing

floor.

Will he

abide by

his own

rules?

Will he

take

advantage

of her

vulnerability?

If he's

overtaken

with desire

as the

boss,

he could

get away

with it.

Or if

he's

concerned

with his

own

honour,

he might

sound an

alarm and

drive her

out and

put it

a shame

in a

way that

would stick

to her

name

forever.

But he

has the

presence of

mind to

find out

what's

going on.

And this

begins the

whispered and

intimate

conversation.

Who are

you?

Boaz

asked.

In

chapter

two,

bowing at

his feet,

she humbled

herself,

claiming she

wasn't even

worthy to

be called

his servant

because she

was a

Moabite.

But her

reply here

is an

amazing

expression

of faith

in her

redeemer.

I am

Ruth,

your

servant.

Spread

your wings

over your

servant,

for you are

a redeemer.

wings means

the corner

of your

garment,

what they

use for

their

blanket.

Spread

your

blanket

over me.

Bring

me into

the warmth

of your

intimacy,

under your

protection,

providing me

security and

a future

for me

and Naomi's

family.

Boaz,

you should

marry me.

How

presumptuous

does this

sound coming

from a

Moabite?

She is

well aware

she has

come from

the enemies

of God's

people,

but she

knows God's

law that

promises the

nearest brother

will redeem

a childless

widow,

bringing her

under his

care,

under his

wings.

She's

saying to

Boaz,

Boaz,

remember that

day in the

field when

you prayed

that the

Lord would

be kind

to me

because I

have come

to take

refuge under

the wings

of the

Lord?

Boaz,

come good

on your

word.

Become the

living expression

of the

Lord spreading

his wings

over me.

So what

will this

redeemer do

with this

unworthy

Moabite?

Will he

take advantage

of her,

quietly turn

her away,

or publicly

put her

to shame?

May you

be blessed

by the

Lord,

my daughter.

He blesses,

he doesn't

curse.

he praises

her faithful,

loving kindness,

the Hebrew

word hesed,

that wonderful

character trait

of the Lord

himself.

Is she

being kind

to an older

Boaz for not

chasing after

younger men?

No doubt

Boaz and

Ruth have a

deep respect

for each

other's

faithfulness and

kindness,

which makes

them so

suitable for

marriage.

the greater

love story

is between

Ruth and

Naomi,

between Ruth

and the

Lord.

Ruth is

seeking

redemption for

herself and

Naomi's family.

And by doing

this, she's

being faithful to

what the Lord

says to do.

and her

all-in

faith,

her

vulnerable

faith

is fully

rewarded.

Do not

fear.

Without

hesitation,

he promises,

I will do

all that you

ask.

Even as a

Moabite,

she is

known in

Bethlehem

as being

a worthy

woman.

She is

a picture

of the

covenant

loyalty that

the Lord

longed for

his rebellious

Israelites to

have towards

him.

But Boaz

also redeems

her the

right way.

He doesn't

take any

shortcuts.

He doesn't

do it

illegitimately.

But as

we'll see

next week,

he does it

in public

with

witnesses.

He

redeems

her

properly.

The

problem

is there's

a closer

relative,

but there's

no guarantee

that this

other man

will give

her rest.

So Boaz

makes this

wonderful,

assuring

promise as

she awaits

the outcome.

As the

Lord lives,

I will

redeem you.

With this

promise,

her heart

can be at

rest.

And then

Boaz

protects her

honour by

doing

absolutely

nothing

inappropriate,

protecting her

from any

outside danger

in the

night,

letting her

sleep until

the morning,

and then

protecting her

honour by

sending her

home in the

early hours of

the morning.

But she

doesn't return

empty.

the

redeemer

gives a

generous

pledge that

he will

fully

come good

on his

promise.

Ruth's

daring

faith in

this

redeemer is

fully

rewarded.

No longer

cut off from

God and

his people,

but having

her redeemer

spread his

garment over

her,

making her

his own.

And in

the final

scene,

Ruth returns

to Naomi.

She literally

asks Ruth,

who are

you,

my daughter?

Her identity

might have

changed overnight

and it

has.

Ruth reports

the good

news and

shows her

the pledge

of the

abundant

grain,

a foretaste

of the

complete

filling to

come.

And the

chapter ends

with the

redeemer

himself,

not

resting

until he

fulfills his

promise.

And as

they wait,

their faith

rests in

the power

and in

the character

of the

redeemer to

do what he

has promised.

Isn't

this a

wonderful

story?

Here we

have this

Moabite,

an enemy

of God's

people,

expressing

the faith

God has

always

desired

from his

people.

The

Lord said

of Israel

in Ezekiel

Ezekiel 16:8

16 verse

8,

I spread

the corner

of my

garment

over you

and covered

your nakedness.

I made

my vow

to you

and entered

into a

covenant

with you,

declares

the Lord

God,

and you

became

mine.

But Israel

repeatedly

chased

after other

gods and

other things

to give

them rest.

But Ruth

goes to

the Lord

to find

rest.

the story

of Ruth

and Boaz

gives us

such a

warm

picture

of what

it means

for us

today to

have faith

in Christ,

our Redeemer,

and to

find rest

in him.

True

faith

is daring.

Faith

forsakes

all other

things that

offer you

security in

this life.

faith

is personal

and intimate

between you

and your

Redeemer.

Faith

comes to

Christ

completely

vulnerable

before him.

And yet

faith

expectantly

calls on

Christ,

come good

on your

promise.

Forgive

me,

bring me

into your

permanent

covenant

care.

faith

and faith

waits for

your

Redeemer

to fully

make you

his own,

a future

with him,

an inheritance

in the new

heavens and

earth.

Going back

to Ephesians

Ephesians 2 · chapter mention

chapter 2,

remember

that you

were at

that time

separated

from Christ,

alienated,

from the

commonwealth

of Israel

and strangers

to the

covenants

of promise,

having no

hope

and without

God

in the

world.

But now,

but now,

in Christ

Jesus,

you who

were once

far off

have been

brought

near

by the

blood of

Christ.

It is

our

Redeemer's

blood

shed for

us

that should

give you

every

confidence

to come

close to

him in

faith.

how does

the Lord

respond to

the unworthy

person who

approaches him

for rest?

Like

Boaz,

Christ will

never turn

you away.

He will

not put you

to shame.

He will

never use

or mistreat

you,

but he

will spread

the corner

of his

garment

over you

and make

you his

very own.

So what

are you

waiting for?

Would you

pray with me

as we

finish?

Oh,

dear Lord,

we know

slightly,

just a little

bit,

of how

unworthy

we are

to come

near to

you.

Forgive us

for thinking

that we

have any

merit in

ourself

that deserves

your blessing,

but how

we thank

you that

you call

us to

come,

how we

thank you

that you

assure us

that your

character is

good and

that you

will be

gracious to

us when

we come,

that you

will not

turn us

away,

that you

will bring

us into

covenant

relationship

and protection

and blessing,

a sure

future with

you forever.

Lord,

we don't

deserve this.

Help us

trust your

goodness.

Lord,

I pray for

each one of

us,

wherever we're

at,

please give

us confidence

in your

goodness

goodness,

that makes

us able

to come

to you,

be vulnerable

with you

and fully

give ourselves

into your

hands.

We praise

you,

Christ,

for the

blood you

shed for

us,

so that you

might spread

your garment

over us

and make us

yours.

Make us

thankful,

God.

Give us

this faith

that we need.

Give us

this rest.

In Jesus'

name,

Amen.