Turn with me, if you will, to
Ruth chapter 2. Ruth chapter 2. Last time I preached
here, we looked at the first chapter of this book. but it's been three months ago.
So I'm going to remind us briefly of what happened in chapter one.
There was a man by the name of Elimelech, and he had sold his
possession and moved into the land of Moab with his wife Naomi
and their two sons in a time of famine in the land of Judah. And while they were there in
the land of Moab, Naomi's two sons married some Moabitish women. One of them got married to Ruth,
and the other got married to a woman by the name of Orpha.
Well, in the land of Moab, it came to pass that Elimelech and
his two sons died, leaving Naomi, Ruth, and Orpha to themselves. So here they are, three widows
in the land of Moab. And while they were there, Naomi
heard in the land of Moab how the Lord had visited his people
in giving them bread. So she set off to return to Judah. And so she's determined to go
back to Judah, so she gets her whatever she had left, and she
packs up and heads back. And Ruth goes with her, and Oroph
turns back. So Naomi and Ruth come into the
land of Judah empty, and that's basically where the first chapter
ends. And so they return into Judah,
and Naomi, when she comes back, Naomi tells the people of Bethlehem
not to call her Naomi anymore. In fact, if you want to look
at this in chapter one, Verse 19, So they too went until they
came to Bethlehem. And it came to pass, when they
were come to Bethlehem, that all the city was moved about
them. And they said, Is this Naomi? And she said unto them,
Call me not Naomi, call me Mara. For the Almighty hath dealt very
bitterly with me. I went out full, and the Lord
hath brought me home again empty. We see a picture of the fall
looking at Naomi, don't we? Is this Naomi? Is this the same Naomi? Her change
was so dramatic that it was hard to recognize her. She went out
young and married with two sons, rich and full of joy, and comes
back a widow No sons, poor and bitter. Is this Naomi? Do you do you recognize her?
Is this Naomi? And we see Adam before and after
the fall. We could ask that same thing.
Is this Adam? Is this Adam who was created
in the image of God? What happened to man? Where did his understanding go?
Tried to hide from God? Lost the knowledge of God? Tried
to blame God? He said, the woman who thou gave
is to be with me. She's the one that gave me the
fruit. Is this Adam that was created
in the image of God? What happened to man? Wherefore,
as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin,
and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned. Sin entered into this world,
and when Adam begat children, we read, he begat a son after
his image. No longer the image of God, a
marred, corrupt image. So I think we see a picture of
the fall and Naomi's return and the reaction from the people
of Bethlehem. So anyway, Naomi and Ruth return
to Judah, and that's where chapter one ends. And as I was preparing
the message from the second chapter, the words of Naomi in verse 19
really caught my attention. You see, So they had just gotten
back, and they were dirt poor. And so Ruth tells Naomi that
she was going to go out and see if somebody would let her glean
in their field. This is Ruth's plan. She tells
Naomi, I'm going to go out and see if somebody will let me glean. Do you know what it is to glean? I've never worked on a farm or
harvested anything, so the concept of reaping and gleaning is somewhat
foreign to me. Especially what it would have
been like in those days, right? But I have seen men clear a field
with machetes. See, the house that I grew up
in in Mexico, on either side had two fields. And those fields,
as they would grow up, and the bushes and thorns and everything,
every once in a while, men would come by and offer to clear that
field for pay. So we would always let them do
that. It was hard work. But they would
basically lean down, and with one hand, they'd grab ahold of
those bushes. And with the other hand, they'd chop at it with
the machete. And so they would bundle that
up. But there would always be some
straggler branches that were left behind, always some twigs
that were on the field. Well, that's kind of like what
reaping would have been in those days in Israel. The reapers are
going by and they're reaping the field. There's some straggler
branches that would fall and be left behind. And they were
to leave those behind for the poor people so that the poor
and the widows in Israel could go by and glean, that is to pick
up those leftovers, right? So that's what Ruth is set out
to do. She's going to follow behind
a reaper and pick up some of these leftovers. Now, I don't
know how much a person could expect to gather in one day's
worth of gleaning. I don't know what the typical
amount would have been. But notice what Naomi says here,
beginning in verse 18. And she took it up, that is Ruth,
took up what she had gleaned and went in into the city. And
her mother-in-law saw what she had gleaned. Naomi sees what
Ruth gleaned in a day. And she brought forth and gave
to her that she had reserved after she was sufficed. And her
mother-in-law said unto her, where hast thou gleaned today? Where have you been, Ruth? Where were you gleaning? She
was shocked. I didn't try to say it like Naomi
said it. Where have you been, Ruth? Here
she comes back with way more than Naomi had expected. Probably
more than what Ruth had expected. It was shocking. Went out empty and came back
with more than enough to spare. Went out empty and came back
with more than enough to spare. How did this happen? How did
this happen? One reason, Boaz. Boaz. The man's name with whom
I rot today is Boaz. What a beautiful picture of the
Lord. Naomi was amazed, ultimately,
over some extra crops that Ruth was able to pick up that day.
That's what was amazing to her. My hope this morning is that
God would open our eyes and our hearts to worship in amazement
and in awe of what the Lord Jesus Christ has done for his people.
Empty to full. Empty to full. So let's look
at this chapter. I have five things I want to
bring out this morning. The first one is Boaz as a picture
of Christ the Redeemer. Boaz as a picture of Christ the
Redeemer. Look at Ruth chapter 2, verse
1. And Naomi had a kinsman of her
husband's, a mighty man of wealth, of the family of Elimelech, and
his name was Boaz. Naomi had a kinsman. Boaz was
near kin to Naomi. Why does that matter? Well, because
that gave him the right to redeem her. Boaz being kin gave him
the right to redeem her. Remember, when God gave Israel
the land, he gave them certain laws, and one of these laws was
about the selling of land. You can find that in Leviticus
chapter 25. Every family was given a possession of that land,
a portion of the land, and if someone was to fall into poverty,
they could sell that land, but they weren't allowed to sell
it forever. The buyer had to return that land under one of
the following three conditions. First, the year of jubilee was
reached, and the year of jubilee the lands were to be returned
unto the family who had sold it. Number two, if that person
who had fallen into poverty and had to sell it because of need,
by God's good providence, if they had been able to regain
their wealth, they were allowed to go back And the buyer had
to sell the land back to them. The third condition was a kin. And it had to be a near kin could
buy back that land for the person who had had to sell it. So Boaz
was kin to Naomi. And that gave him the right to
redeem. Now, Naomi and Ruth, it was out
of the question for them to be able to redeem this on their
own, right? Clearly, they had nothing. They're out going to
glean. There's not a chance that they're going to be able to redeem
this on their own, just like we are incapable of redeeming
ourselves. That's the point. It's just as
it would have been foolish to believe, well, they might be
able to turn this around and redeem themselves. That wasn't
going to happen. Their only hope was to have a
kinsman redeemer. This is the same for us. We can't
redeem ourselves. Our only hope is a kinsman. So
the Lord Jesus Christ is the kinsman redeemer for his people. For verily he took not on him
the nature of angels. Think about that. This is what
we read in Hebrews. For verily he took not on him
the nature of angels. There's no redeemer for angels,
but he took on him the seed of Abraham. Come with me to Galatians
chapter four. I'm thankful for the book of
Ruth because just reading the law in Leviticus 25, we would
have never seen this picture, would we, of the kinsman redeemer.
I'm thankful that we have the book of Ruth. This relationship
as kinsmen is so important. It's so important. Look at Galatians chapter 4,
beginning in verse 4. But when the fullness of the
time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman." Made
of a woman. The Lord Jesus Christ is God
and he is man. The God of man. Now, we rightly
focus a lot on the deity of Christ. We rightly focus a lot on the
deity of Christ. He is Lord He is equal with God. He is God. In the beginning was
the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God and
the Word was made flesh. And so we rightly focus a lot
on the deity of the Lord Jesus Christ. But his humanity, his
humanity is real. It's real, and made in all respects
like unto the rest of mankind, yet without sin. In all aspects made like the
rest of mankind, yet without sin. And we read in Colossians,
in Christ dwelleth all the fullness of the Godhead bodily, wherefore
in all things it behooved him to be made like unto his brethren. It's impossible to explain. It's
impossible to explain. But the necessity, the necessity
of His incarnation is here, if you see. But when the fullness
of the time was come, God sent forth His Son, made of a woman,
made under the law. You see the order? Made of a
woman, So he could be made under the law. Why? Because we're under
the law. Right? Made of a woman, made under the
law, because we are made under the law. Verse 5, to redeem them
that were under the law. The necessity of the incarnation
of the Lord Jesus Christ to redeem them that were under the law.
Boaz had the right to redeem by this law, right? He had the
right to redeem. Well, God sent forth his son
to be made of a woman for the purpose of redeeming his people.
Now, he doesn't just have the right. This was his purpose in
coming into this world to redeem his people, to redeem his sheep
who were under the curse of the law. If you look over a page
in Galatians chapter three, Galatians chapter 3 verse 13,
Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made
a curse for us. For it is written, cursed is
everyone that hangeth on a tree. So we see first of all that Boaz
was near Ken to Naomi and therefore had the right to redeem the Lord
Jesus Christ. This was his purpose. This was
his business. He said, I must be about my father's
business. What business? Redeeming his
people. Redeeming his people. Now, we
read that Boaz was a mighty man of wealth, right? Boaz was a
mighty man of wealth. So that means that Boaz had the
means to redeem. He had the means. Ruth and Naomi
could be redeemed with money. The land had a certain price. Boaz was a rich man. He could
use that money to buy back the land. The redemption price was
money. But what about a soul? What about a soul? Our Lord said,
What shall it profit a man if he shall gain the whole world
and lose his own soul? If gaining the whole world is
nothing in comparison to the soul, then what does it take
to redeem a sinner? What does it take? We read in
1 Peter 1 verse 18, for as much as ye know that you are not redeemed
with corruptible things as silver and gold from your vain conversation,
received by tradition from your fathers, but with the precious
blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot."
That's the redemption price. It took the shedding of his own
precious blood. his own precious of Christ to
redeem his people. His one sacrifice was enough
to put away the sins of all his people. Turn with me to Hebrews
chapter 10. We read this at the start of
the service. The means to redeem. Hebrews chapter 10, verse 11. And every priest standeth daily
ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices. This is
talking about the Old Testament, right? The types and pictures
that the priests were sacrificing daily, time after time after
time again. Why? Because they couldn't put
away one sin. And on this topic, there's nothing
that we can do to put away one sin. Not anything you could do
to put away one of your sins. There's not anything I can do
to put away one of my sins. These ceremonies that were given
by God, they weren't enough to put away. They couldn't put away
one sin. which can never take away sins.
But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins forever,
sat down on the right hand of God, from henceforth expecting
till his enemies be made his footstool, for by one offering
he hath perfected forever them that are sanctified." Boaz had
the means to redeem. He was a mighty man of wealth.
The Lord Jesus Christ, he has the means to redeem his people. He shed his precious blood. He
shed his precious blood. He has redeemed his people. Past
tense, I should have said, he has redeemed his people. Now,
turn back with me to Ruth chapter 2. So that's the first thing,
Boaz as a type of Christ, the Redeemer. And the second thing we see is
the providence of God. So, verse number 2, And Ruth
the Moabite said to Naomi, Let me now go to the field and glean
ears of corn, after him in whose side I shall find grace. And
she said unto her, Go, my daughter. And she went out, and came, and
gleaned in the field after the reapers. And her hap was to light
on the part of the field belonging unto Boaz, who was of the kindred
of Elimelech." Her hap. I love that word. It happened
to be that she ended up gleaning in Boaz's field. Now, things
happen because God has ordained them. Things happen because God
has ordained. She didn't know. She didn't know. She was just going out to glean
in some fields. But she was exactly where God
had led her to be. She was exactly where God had
led her to be. And God's people in this world
are not where they are by accident. They're not where they are by,
no, God has ordained all things, and in his time, He will bring
them to Christ, just like Ruth was brought to Boaz. God is bringing
and will continue to bring His people to Christ. And they're
going to hear the Word of God, and they're going to believe
His people are coming. Our Lord said, all that the Father
giveth to me shall come to me, and him that cometh to me I will
in no wise cast out. In Romans 8, 28, we read this
morning in Sunday school, and we know that all things work
together for good to them that love God, to them who are called
according to His purpose. How do we know that all things
work together for good to them that love God? Because they're
not just happening. God is working them. God is working
them. Think about all the things that
had to happen to bring Ruth to this point. Think about all the
things that had to happen. First of all, a famine. A famine
in the land of Bethlehem that caused Elimelech and Naomi and
their family to move. A marriage between Ruth and one
of Naomi's sons. The death of Elimelech and his
two sons. Naomi to hear from some messenger
that there was bread in Judah. for Ruth to leave everything
behind and follow Naomi? God did all this. God did all
of this to bring Ruth to Boaz. God's not going to lose one of
his sheep, and he can use whatever means to bring his people to
Christ. And he does, clearly, a famine. He's going to do whatever needs
be to bring His people to Christ. I love that. I love that. The God of the Bible is a sovereign
God who works out His purpose. He's ordained all things for
the glory of His Son and for the good of His people. And,
you know, this, he can use, this is his earth. He can do whatever
he needs to do to bring his people. So we see the providence of God. The third thing is this. When Ruth is brought to Boaz,
when she's brought to Boaz, she doesn't have anything to offer
him. She doesn't have anything to offer him. Let's look at this,
verses 3-9. And she went and came and gleaned
in the field after the reapers, and her hat was to light on a
part of the field belonging unto Boaz, who was the kindred of
Elimelech. And behold, Boaz came from Bethlehem
and said unto the reapers, the Lord be with you.' And they answered
him, The Lord bless thee. Then said Boaz unto his servant
that was set over the reapers, Whose damsel is this? And the
servant that was set over the reapers answered and said, It
is the Moabitish damsel that came back with Naomi out of the
country of Moab. And she said, I pray you, let
me glean and gather after the reapers among the sheaves. So
she came and hath continued, even from the morning until now,
that she tarried a little while in the house. Then said Boaz
unto Ruth, hearest thou not my daughter? Go not to glean in
another field, neither go from hence, but abide here fast by
my maidens. Let thine eyes be on the field
that they do reap, and go thou after them. Have I not charged
the young men that they shall not touch thee? And when thou
art athirst, go unto the vessels and drink of that which the young
men have drawn." Only an impoverished person needed
to glean. Only an impoverished person.
Ruth was in need. She was a poor widow. No food
to eat. That's why she goes out to glean.
The field is Boaz's. The field is Boaz's, and he doesn't
need Ruth. He doesn't need Ruth. Oh, but Ruth needs Boaz. Ruth
needs Boaz. False religion has got this all
backwards, don't they? They say things like, won't you
let Jesus do this or let Jesus into your life as if the Lord
needed anything from us? The beggar is Ruth, not Boaz. The beggar's Ruth, not Boaz.
We need him. The question is not what will
you do for Jesus? The question is what will the
Lord Jesus Christ do with me and with you? I can't pay for my sins. I can't
produce a righteousness that God will accept. I don't have
anything to recommend myself unto God. Ruth, she didn't have
anything to offer Boaz. She didn't have anything. All
I can do is plead for mercy. Let me glean. Just let me glean. God, have mercy on me, the sinner. Lord, if thou wilt, thou can
make me whole. Lord, save me or I perish. Don't give me what I deserve.
Have mercy on me for Christ's sake. So we see Ruth has nothing to
offer to Boaz. But now in verses 10 and 12,
Boaz gives a reason for his kindness. Boaz gives a reason for his kindness.
Look at this in verse 10 through 12. Then she fell on her face
and bowed herself to the ground and said unto him, Why have I
found grace in thine eyes, that thou shouldest take knowledge
of me, seeing I am a stranger? And Boaz answered and said unto
her, It hath fully been shown me all that thou hast done unto
thy mother-in-law since the death of thine husband, and how thou
hast left thy father and thy mother and the land of thy nativity,
and art come unto a people which thou knewest not hitherfore. The Lord recompense thy work,
and a full reward be given thee of the Lord God of Israel, under
whose wings thou art come to trust. So Boaz gives a reason for his
kindness. You can only take a type so far. You can only take a type so far.
Boaz is just a man. And Ruth asks, why have I found
grace in thine eyes? And Boaz tells Ruth, basically
he's seen her loyalty to Naomi, her leaving her hometown, and
so on. Ultimately, Boaz's kindness is
somewhat motivated by Ruth, right? His kindness is somewhat motivated
by Ruth. But the love of God towards his
people is not so. Is not so. The love of God is
uninfluenced. The love of God is uninfluenced.
There was nothing in his people that attracted or caused it to
be so. The reason for him setting his
love upon them is simply because he would. Not because of anything
he saw in them or because they were better than others, because
he would. Turn with me to the book of Romans,
chapter 5. You know, we saw this morning
in chapter 8, our brother mentioned the immutability of God's love. Because if it was anything from
us, we're unlovable. We're unlovable. I'm thankful
that His love is immutable. And it's not because of anything
that we do or what we've done or what we could do. No, the
love of God is free because He would. But look at Romans 5,
verse 5. And hope maketh not ashamed,
because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy
Ghost which is given unto us. For when we were yet without
strength and due time, Christ died for the ungodly." That's
our description, right? For the ungodly. There's nothing
to love there. the ungodly. For scarcely for
a righteous will one die, yet peradventure for a good man some
would even dare to die. But God commendeth his love toward
us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. And while we were yet sinners,
Christ didn't die so that God would love us. God sent forth
His Son because He loved us, because He loved His people. Well, turn back to Ruth. One last thing I want us to see
here. You remember we started the message
pointing out how much Ruth brought back after one day of gleaning,
and we said it was because of Boaz, right? So let's see what
Boaz did. So after, you see, Ruth had been
gleaning And so she came back, and she was resting there. Boaz
took notice of her, asked, who is this damsel? And he's talked
to her. He's told her, don't go glean
anywhere else. Stay here and glean. Now, she's
about to get up and go out and glean again, now that she's had
her rest. Let's start reading here in verse
15. And when she was risen up to glean, so after her conversation
with Boaz, Boaz commanded his young men saying, let her glean
even among the sheaves and reproach her not and let fall also some
of the handfuls of purpose for her. Let fall some of the handfuls
of purpose for her and leave them that she may glean them
and rebuke her not. Handfuls of purpose. He ordained
his servants. When you're gleaning, just let
some extra fall behind Ruth. And don't rebuke her. Don't rebuke
her. Let her pick those up. Was Ruth
an extraordinary gleaner? Was she an extraordinary gleaner?
No. Boaz gave her the increase. Boaz gave her the increase. For
who maketh thee to differ from another? And what hast thou that
thou didst not receive? Now if thou didst receive it,
why dost thou glory as if thou hast not received it? God gets
all the glory in salvation. God gets all the glory and salvation. He purposed it and planned it.
He executed it. He calls us and brings us to
Christ. He gives us life and faith, and
He keeps us and He preserves us with these handfuls of purpose. And the Lord add His blessing
to His Word.