PREPARING THE LINEAGE OF THE GREATEST KING.

 

Ruth 4:1-18

A little boy named Tom carried his new boat to the edge of the river. He carefully placed it in the water and slowly let out the string. How smoothly the boat sailed! Tom sat in the warm sunshine, admiring the little boat that he had built. Suddenly a strong current caught the boat. Tom tried to pull it back to shore, but the string broke. The little boat raced downstream.

Tom ran along the sandy shore as fast as he could. But his little boat soon slipped out of sight. All afternoon he searched for the boat. Finally, when it was too dark to look any longer, Tom sadly went home.

A few days later, on the way home from school, Tom spotted a boat just like his in a store window. When he got closer, he could see—sure enough—it was his!

Tom hurried to the store manager: “Sir, that’s my boat in your window! I made it!”

“Sorry, son, but someone else brought it in this morning. If you want it, you’ll have to buy it for one dollar.”

Tom ran home and counted all his money. Exactly one dollar! When he reached the store, he rushed to the counter. “Here’s the money for my boat.” As he left the store, Tom hugged his boat and said, “Now you’re twice mine. First, I made you and now I bought you.”

 

That’s what it means to

be redeemed!

 

The word redemption means to ‘set free’ it gives the idea of a ‘ransom’ ........a ransom is the price paid to redeem someone from bondage or captivity. The term was used specifically in reference to the purchase of a slave’s freedom. The application of this term in reference to the gospel is that we are “redeemed,” this makes our prior condition was one of slavery. God has purchased our freedom, and we are no longer in bondage to sin or to the Old Testament law. As Paul wrote, “Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us—for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree” Gal 3:13. Jesus became that curse for us...........because we were in bondage to sin. Jesus said, “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many." Mark 10:45

 

What did Jesus mean by this?

What did He redeem us from?

 

Jesus came to deliver us from the bondage of sin and hell bound slavery as Paul penned these words of what it means to be redeemed. “What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? Certainly not! How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it? Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. For if we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection, knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin. For he who has died has been freed from sin. Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him, knowing that Christ, having been raised from the dead, dies no more. Death no longer has dominion over Him. For the death that He died, He died to sin once for all; but the life that He lives, He lives to God. Likewise you also, reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord. Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body, that you should obey it in its lusts. And do not present your members as instruments of unrighteousness to sin, but present yourselves to God as being alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God. For sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are not under law but under grace. What then? Shall we sin because we are not under law but under grace? Certainly not! Do you not know that to whom you present yourselves slaves to obey, you are that one's slaves whom you obey, whether of sin leading to death, or of obedience leading to righteousness? But God be thanked that though you were slaves of sin, yet you obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine to which you were delivered. And having been set free from sin, you became slaves of righteousness. I speak in human terms because of the weakness of your flesh. For just as you presented your members as slaves of uncleanness, and of lawlessness leading to more lawlessness, so now present your members as slaves of righteousness for holiness. For when you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness. What fruit did you have then in the things of which you are now ashamed? For the end of those things is death. But now having been set free from sin, and having become slaves of God, you have your fruit to holiness, and the end, everlasting life. For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Rom 6:1-23

 

We have been delivered, from sin and the guilt of sin. We have been delivered from the bondage of Satan’s ruling power in our lives. But as Paul said “What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? Certainly not! We do not use this as an excuse to habitual sin, and though we are no longer in bondage to sin, our sanctification still needs daily repentance. That’s why it’s vital we identify our sin because when we sin we are sinning not under bondage. but under our own free will.

 

The Bible says God’s redeemed children are….

 

THE PROPERTY OF GOD “I have redeemed you; I have called you by your name; you are Mine” Isa 43:1

 

THE FIRST FRUITS TO GOD “these were redeemed from among men, being first fruits to God” Rev 14:4

 

A SPECIAL PEOPLE TO GOD “He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people....” Titus 2:14

 

COMMITTED TO GOD “into Your hands I commit my spirit; You have redeemed me...” Ps 31:5

 

We have been redeemed from… 

The bondage of the Law. Gal 4:5

The curse of the Law. Gal 3:13

The Power of sin. Rom 6:18

The power over the grave and death. Psalm 49:15

All our iniquity. Psalm 130:8

All our evil deeds. Gen 48:16

This present evil world system. Gal 1:4

All our enemies. Psalm 106:10-11

From Hells destruction. 2 Thess 1:9

 

Jesus said, "I tell you the truth, a time is coming and has now come when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live!" John 5:25. This is where the Spirit effectually works in the soul with an inward, supernatural, secret power to awaken the sinner to His grace. The Gospel power awakens the conscience, breaks the heart, convinces the judgment, opens the eye of the soul, and pours a new and an alarming sound upon my once deaf ears.

This alarming sound… 

Makes the scales fall from the eyes.

The veil is torn from the mind.

The deep fountains of evil in the heart are broken up.

 

Through this redemption the sinner sees himself/herself as… 

Lost and undone.

Without pardon.

Without a righteousness.

Without acceptance.

Without a God.

Without a Savior.

Without a hope!

 

The Gospel produces this question in our hearts. "What shall I do to be saved?" is his cry! "I am a wretch undone! I look within me… all is dark and vile. I look around me… everything seems but the image of my woe. I look above me…. I see only an angry God. Every direction I look, is Hell, and if God were to send me there right now, He would just and right to do so." But, blessed be God, no poor soul that ever uttered such language, prompted by such feelings ever died in despair! The Spirit who begins the good work, who effectually carries it on, will complete it. As Jesus said, “Come unto Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” 

Matt 11:28

 

In His redemption Jesus is saying… 

Look unto Me, and be saved!

Are you lost? I can save you!

Are you guilty? I can cleanse you!

Are you poor? I can enrich you!

Are you sunk low? I can raise you!

Are you naked? I can clothe you!

That’s what it means to be redeemed, “Now you’re twice mine. First, I made you and now I bought you.” We come to the closing part of this wonderful letter and we see that same redeeming grace that is promised to you and I today. In the case for Ruth and Naomi, Elimelech’s property has been sold at the time of the famine and along with his two sons’ inheritance. Naomi is unable ever to reclaim what was originally owned by her husband because she is a poor widow. Ruth cannot claim her husband’s land either for she is a poor widow from a foreign land of Moab. That’s why in God’s divine providence He brings these two women to a man who is capable and willing to redeem their land and Ruth as his wife. But something has gotten in the way of this plan that Naomi had Ruth, there is a closer relative then Boaz Possibly a brother to Elimelech or a cousin, whichever it is, he is a closer kinsman then Boaz

Boaz a man of his words as Naomi said at the end of chapter (3:18) seeks out this relative. Look what he does in the opening verses of chapter 4:1-4. He wants to do it right! The gates are a place where they handle their business in ancient times. (Deut 21:19; Deut 25:7) In Deut 16:18 we read this, “You shall appoint judges and officers in all your gates, which the LORD your God gives you, according to your tribes, and they shall judge the people with just judgment.” Job 29:7 it says, "When I went out to the gate by the city, When I took my seat in the open square. The gate was a very important place to discuss matters such as this one. This would also explain why the elders of the city were present. Important business needed to be discussed like you would see in a judicial court house. Witnesses to document the transactions between two parties. Having witnesses were important according to Deut 17:6 and Deut 19:15 for examples. Boaz explains to this closer relative according to Levitical Law he was obligated first to redeem the land.

 

Look at the relatives answer in (v4) “I will redeem it” The relative thinking that’s all she wants...I can do that; but Boaz continues on to say there’s more. look at (v5) The closer relatives tune begins to change, he begins to back pedal because now there is a woman involved; not just a woman but a Moabite. (v6) The nearer kinsman says “I cannot redeem it” Could it have been because He was already married. Could it have been that he rather be single and only cared about material gain. Could it have been that he wanted to keep himself pure by not marrying an outcast who is despised by many Jews and forbidden according to Mosaic Law. This is the part of the letter I love because God’s providential plan and gospel thread is all over this. The nearer kinsman gives up, or relinquishes, his rights to Ruth and the land; and offers them to Boaz to redeem. Isn’t that amazing! I’m sure Boaz knew this was going to happen, but he knew this had to be done properly in order to redeem the land and Ruth. Look what he does in (v8-10) he follows the customs of the land and accepts the sandals of the other kinsman for this transaction. Boaz says to the court of elders “I have bought all that was Elimelech’s”

 

Boaz performed the promise he made to Ruth that night at the threshing floor: 

Boaz was able to pay the redeeming price.

Boaz offered himself to take on the responsibilities for Naomi and Ruth.

Boaz was willing to redeem at any cost, even the cost of marrying an outcast like Ruth.

 

This is a foreshadow of what Jesus did for you and me as

He draws sinners to Himself.

 

This letter behind the scene is paving the way for the only King that God’s people need. The nation of Israel knows nothing of a king, since they are living in the times of the judges. This story is more than just God’s covenant faithfulness to help out two widows. Its throughout this letter God is preparing for them a king which leads to the Greatest King they would ever have. Boaz being the father to Obed, which led him to be the father of Jesse, which led him to be the father of David; and throughout history we come to incarnation of Jesus Christ through the line of David in the virgin birth. Which led to the Creator who created us, buying us from our sinful destruction. 

Jesus was able to pay the redeeming price for us. “knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot.” 1 Peter 1:18-19. 

Jesus offered himself on our behalf despite the circumstances. “For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time,” 1 Tim 2:5-6

  

Jesus went with joy to the cross on our behalf. “looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” Heb 12:2

 

Our redemption is precious and we should always be mindful of that wonderful gift of eternal life that we have received by His grace and mercy. Remember you may not think that God is working in your life through those dry, cold and silent days; but He is. (v13-17). That’s the sweet and bitter providence of God in the life of His children. Ruth, who was an outcast is married to a godly man named Boaz who finds God, grace and mercy and redemption. The Lord blesses them with child who continues the line of redemption in the future for you and me. Naomi who was once bitter and empty is full and blessed to be a godly grandmother for the first time. I like what John Piper said “I went away full, and the LORD has brought me back empty.” But now she is full, and the Lord has given her a son through Ruth. God is at work in the darkest times to bring about this amazing turn of events. If we would trust God implicitly, like Ruth, we would find that all our complaints against God are unwarranted. Our providences may be bitter, but God is at work for our good.....whether we can see it or not.”

 

What looks like….a simple story of personal emptiness filled and personal needs met…. turns out to be God’s way of meeting a far greater need. 

In those days there was no king in Israel! Judges 21:25 

God was using all these events to bring about His own goals that were much bigger than any of the characters involved in this story.

 

We have a Great Redeemer and

His name is King Jesus Christ

 

 

My redeemer saved me from myself for Himself...... “Now you’re twice mine. First, I made you and now I bought you.”

 

Have you been purchased from the market

by the precious Son of God?

 

Is your heart telling you today…

 

I need to be redeemed and that He would save me fully, save me freely, save me as an act of mere unmerited, undeserved grace!

 

I have found Him whom my soul loves; and I will be His through time, and throughout eternity.

 

The streets of heaven will be filled with former captives who, through no merit of their own, find themselves redeemed, forgiven, and free.

 

Slaves to sin have become saints, it is no wonder the saints of heaven are able to sing. “Then I saw in the right hand of him who was seated on the throne a scroll written within and on the back, sealed with seven seals. And I saw a mighty angel proclaiming with a loud voice, “Who is worthy to open the scroll and break its seals?” And no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll or to look into it, and I began to weep loudly because no one was found worthy to open the scroll or to look into it. And one of the elders said to me, “Weep no more; behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has conquered, so that he can open the scroll and its seven seals.” And between the throne and the four living creatures and among the elders I saw a Lamb standing, as though it had been slain, with seven horns and with seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth. And he went and took the scroll from the right hand of him who was seated on the throne. And when he had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each holding a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. And they sang a new song, saying, “Worthy are you to take the scroll and to open its seals, for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation, and you have made them a kingdom and priests to our God, and they shall reign on the earth.” Then I looked, and I heard around the throne and the living creatures and the elders the voice of many angels, numbering myriads of myriads and thousands of thousands, saying with a loud voice, “Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing!”  Rev 5:1-12             Let’s Pray