Returning to the heart of God (Ruth 3:1-18) Studies in Ruth #4 Find God at the End of Hope

Introduction The Vignette Three very different people find the heart of God

Naomi the wheeler-dealer seeks God’s deliverance Naomi hatches a plan (Ruth 3:1-6)

3 One day Ruth’s mother-in-law Naomi said to her, “My daughter, I must find a home for you, where you will be well provided for. 2 Now Boaz, with whose women you have worked, is a relative of ours. Tonight he will be winnowing barley on the threshing floor. 3 Wash, put on perfume, and get dressed in your best clothes.

Then go down to the threshing floor, but don’t let him know you are there until he has finished eating and drinking. 4 When he lies down, note the place where he is lying. Then go and uncover his feet and lie down. He will tell you what to do.”

5 “I will do whatever you say,” Ruth answered 5 “I will do whatever you say,” Ruth answered. 6 So she went down to the threshing floor and did everything her mother-in-law told her to do.

Naomi the wheeler-dealer seeks God’s deliverance Make sure you look good Make sure you smell good Make sure he is happy and not hangry Make sure he is sleeping alone Uncover his feet and lie down

Naomi the wheeler-dealer seeks God’s deliverance The human desire for physical intimacy is from the Lord. Blessed tension of desire and restraint

Good intentions | Good objectives | Questionable advice on what to do Good intentions | Good objectives | Questionable advice on what to do. High risk.

When we are at the end of hope, we have enough sense to seek God’s deliverance but not enough sense to do everything right. Because we are so desperate for deliverance, we are willing to bend the rules.

Naomi has enough sense to know the limits of her wheeling-dealing Naomi has enough sense to know the limits of her wheeling-dealing. She asks Ruth to do these things, but stops at full enticement: “He will tell you what to do.”

The right covenantal love leads to romantic love The right covenantal love leads to romantic love. Marriage based on romantic love leads to divorce unless the couple transforms that romantic love into a covenantal love.

Covenantal love in marriage is redemptive and truly loving Covenantal love in marriage is redemptive and truly loving. Mere romantic love in marriage is ultimately selfish.

Ruth the single-hearted seeks God’s deliverance Ruth carries out the sanctified version of Naomi’s plan (Ruth 3:7-9)

7 When Boaz had finished eating and drinking and was in good spirits, he went over to lie down at the far end of the grain pile. Ruth approached quietly, uncovered his feet and lay down. 8 In the middle of the night something startled the man; he turned—and there was a woman lying at his feet!

9 “Who are you. ” he asked. “I am your servant Ruth,” she said 9 “Who are you?” he asked. “I am your servant Ruth,” she said. “Spread the corner of your garment over me, since you are a guardian- redeemer of our family.”

Ruth the single-hearted seeks God’s deliverance Uncovering feet Ruth laid at his feet, not side “Spread the corner of your garment” found only in Ezekiel 16.

Ezekiel 16 8 “‘Later I passed by, and when I looked at you and saw that you were old enough for love, I spread the corner of my garment over you and covered your naked body. I gave you my solemn oath and entered into a covenant with you, declares the Sovereign Lord, and you became mine.

Ruth the single-hearted seeks God’s deliverance Ruth makes clear she is not asking for physical intimacy. She was asking for covenant-protection in marriage.

Ruth the single-hearted seeks God’s deliverance There are times in our life when we need to filter the bad advice from the good. Even when it comes from our spiritual mentor. Scripture is our guide.

Boaz the righteous becomes the agent of God’s deliverance Boaz clarifies the plan of redemption (Ruth 3:10-13)

10 “The Lord bless you, my daughter,” he replied 10 “The Lord bless you, my daughter,” he replied. “This kindness is greater than that which you showed earlier: You have not run after the younger men, whether rich or poor. 11 And now, my daughter, don’t be afraid. I will do for you all you ask. All the people of my town know that you are a woman of noble character. 

12 Although it is true that I am a guardian-redeemer of our family, there is another who is more closely related than I. 13 Stay here for the night, and in the morning if he wants to do his duty as your guardian- redeemer, good; let him redeem you. But if he is not willing, as surely as the Lord lives I will do it. Lie here until morning.”

Boaz the righteous becomes the agent of God’s deliverance This kindness is greater than that which you showed earlier. All the people of my town know that you are a woman of noble character.”

Boaz the righteous becomes the agent of God’s deliverance Girls destroy themselves in desperation for a husband. Guys think it is a manly to behave like an animal in heat.

Boaz the righteous becomes the agent of God’s deliverance “12 Although it is true that I am a guardian-redeemer of our family, there is another who is more closely related than I.”

Boaz the righteous becomes the agent of God’s deliverance “13 Stay here for the night, and in the morning if he wants to do his duty as your guardian-redeemer, good; let him redeem you. But if he is not willing, as surely as the Lord lives I will do it.”

Boaz the righteous becomes the agent of God’s deliverance Young man, show your love by waiting. Even if the woman is available, YOU set your boundaries.

Boaz the righteous becomes the agent of God’s deliverance The foreshadow of Christ and his bride (Ruth 3:14-18)

14 So she lay at his feet until morning, but got up before anyone could be recognized; and he said, “No one must know that a woman came to the threshing floor.” 15 He also said, “Bring me the shawl you are wearing and hold it out.” When she did so, he poured into it six measures of barley and placed the bundle on her. Then he went back to town.

16 When Ruth came to her mother-in- law, Naomi asked, “How did it go, my daughter?” Then she told her everything Boaz had done for her 17 and added, “He gave me these six measures of barley, saying, ‘Don’t go back to your mother-in-law empty-handed.’” 18 Then Naomi said, “Wait, my daughter, until you find out what happens. For the man will not rest until the matter is settled today.”

Boaz the righteous becomes the agent of God’s deliverance Covenantal love is redemptive. Ruth continues to lay at his feet Boaz protects her reputation Boaz affirms Ruth’s value Naomi again rightly discerns Boaz’s character, and knows that from here on, they can only wait.

Conclusion Who are you like? Naomi, Ruth or Boaz?

Ezekiel 16 8 “‘Later I passed by, and when I looked at you and saw that you were old enough for love, I spread the corner of my garment over you and covered your naked body. I gave you my solemn oath and entered into a covenant with you, declares the Sovereign Lord, and you became mine.

Ephesians 5 25 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her 26 to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, 27 and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless. 

Our salvation is more than the forgiveness of sin … We are forgiven so we can have an unhindered relationship with God.

The redemption of Ruth comes through her covenantal relationship with Boaz. Our redemption from sin comes through our covenantal relationship with God