#4 (THE "BOOK OF RUTH"
SERIES)
"RUTH REJOICING!"
TEXT: Ruth
4:1-22
INTRO: What do you
do when you have done all you can do and all that is left now is to wait on God
to see what will happen? YOU
PRAY and WAIT! In a society
that always believes there is something we should be doing we must learn that
there is a time to trust God in prayer and believe and sometimes this is all we
can do – and then just wait in faith!
When we do pray, we must believe in our
hearts that God will intervene; this is the only way to have peace while waiting
for a miracle! This is exactly
where Ruth found herself at this point, she had practiced love, prayed a great
deal, done everything she could, and now she waited and
believed!
Some people pray, but don't really believe! These should G0
together!
ILLUS: HERB MILLER
WROTE IN “CONNECTING WITH GOD” A STORY ABOUT A CHURCH IN A SMALL TOWN
THAT HAD CALLED ITS ENTIRE PEOPLE TOGETHER TO PRAY AGAINST A NEW NIGHTCLUB THAT
HAD OPENED THERE. THAT NIGHT DURING
THE PRAYER MEETING A LIGHTNING BOLT STRUCK THE NIGHTCLUB AND BURNED IT
DOWN. THE OWNER OF THE NIGHTCLUB
HEARD ABOUT THE PRAYER MEETING AND TOOK THE CHURCH TO COURT TO SUE THEM CLAIMING
THEY WERE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE LOSS AND THE FIRE! THE CHURCH DENIED ANY RESPONSIBILITY
HOWEVER. DURING THE HEARING IN
COURT, BOTH SIDES PLEADED THEIR CASE, THE OWNER BLAMING THE CHRISTIANS AND THEIR
PRAYERS, AND THE CHURCH DENYING RESPONSIBILITY. THE JUDGE FINALLY SPOKE AND SAID THIS:
“IT SEEMS WHEREVER THE GUILT MAY LIE THE
NIGHTCLUB OWNER BELIEVES IN PRAYER WHILE THE CHURCH DOESN'T!” -- Source
Unknown
Ruth believed God and was waiting … the
Lord will not disappoint her or Naomi whom she had ministered to so
faithfully.
PROP.
SENT: The Bible teaches us that faithfulness
and faith brings us to rejoicing! God sees and hears the prayers of an effectual
righteous man/woman, and He answers!
I. WAITING FOR THE MIRACLE! 4:1-4
A. Trust! 4:1-4a
1. Ruth is at home with Naomi just
waiting for the miracle they had hoped and prayed for, there was nothing more
to do at this point!
a. When we have reached the limit of
what we can do, God is faithful to His faithful
servants!
b. Ruth could relax knowing she had
done all she could and that God can do what she can’t
do!
c. Naomi’s confidence was also shown
in her statement to Ruth, "Wait my daughter, until you find out what happens. For the man will not rest until the
matter is settled today." 3:18
2. Boaz is also trusting God, but he
is also clever in how he presents his case:
a. He does things by the book,
according to all the laws of the land in his day!
b. His respect for authority will be
honored by the Lord.
c. He takes no shortcuts to get what
he wants; he desires to do every thing right!
3. While Ruth had trusted in God she
also had nudged Boaz toward what she was praying for, her actions were
consistent with her prayers!
a. Sometimes we need a good
nudge!
b. Commitment requires at times a
little nudge, but not compromise!
ILLUS: ONCE THERE
WAS A GREAT KINGDOM, AND THE KING HAD A BEAUTIFUL DAUGHTER WHOM EVERY MAN IN THE
KINGDOM WANTED TO MARRY. THE KING
DIDN'T THINK ANY OF THE SUITORS WERE GOOD ENOUGH, SO HE DEVISED A TEST THAT HE
BELIEVED WOULD MAKE IT IMPOSSIBLE FOR ANY MAN TO GET HIS DAUGHTER'S HAND IN
MARRIAGE. THE TEST WOULD INVOLVE
HAVING TO SWIM ACROSS A POND FILLED WITH HUNGRY ALLIGATORS. ALL THE MEN WERE CALLED OUT AND THE
CHALLENGE GIVEN, NO ONE MOVED FOR A SECOND, THEN SUDDENLY THERE WAS A SPLASH AND
EVERYONE WATCHED AS A YOUNG MAN SWAM FEVERISHLY VEERING ALL OVER THE PLACE
TRYING TO AVOID THE ALLIGATORS! ONE
ALLIGATOR SNAPPED AT HIS HAND JUST MISSING IT, ANOTHER WENT FOR HIS LEG, AND
AGAIN AS HE SWAM FEVERISHLY FOR THE OTHER SIDE HE JUST MISSED GETTING HIS LEG
BIT OFF. ANOTHER CAME AT HIS HEAD
AND JUST MISSED. FINALLY, EXHAUSTED
BUT UNINJURED HE EMERGED FROM THE OTHER SIDE. THE KING RAN OVER TO HIM AND PRAISED THE
YOUNG MAN'S COURAGE AND FAITH AND SAID TO HIM, "SUCH A BRAVE MAN, TO YOU GOES
THE HAND OF MY DAUGHTER AND HALF MY KINGDOM!" THE MAN ANSWERED, "THAT'S FINE AND GOOD,
BUT FIRST I HAVE A QUESTION, WHO PUSHED ME IN!?" STANDING ON THE SHORE LINE WHERE HE HAD
STARTED FROM STOOD A SMILING PRINCESS!
-- Source
Unknown
4. Ruth was waiting expectantly, so
was Naomi, and so was Boaz!
a. Boaz was trusting God would honor
his doing things the right way!
b. Boaz does find the closer “kinsman-redeemer” and makes the offer for him
to redeem first – this was the right thing!
5. Boaz mentions only the land
though.
a. Perhaps since this was a legal
arrangement that would involve the payment of money Ruth is not mentioned since
she was not technically for sale!
b. She could only be "acquired" and not
bought!
6. The sale of the land would allow
for income for Naomi who was poor, but property sold was suppose to stay in the
family if possible, so eventually on the year of Jubilee (every 50 years) all
land reverted back to the original owners anyway.
7. The stage was set and everyone was
trusting God!
B.
Tragedy!?
4:4b
1. For a second, things look
bad!
a. The other redeemer says he is
willing to purchase the land!
b. This would mean Boaz is out of the
picture!
2. This is the "death of a vision"
principle!
a. It may at first appear that even
God had failed to come through!
b. This is often a test of our faith –
the vision seems to die, then what will we do, will our faith still
endure!?
3. So often this happens with us when
we pray and believe, even when we have done all the right things it sometimes
looks like failure and no answer, or at least not the one we had prayed
for!
a. Would Boaz give up and walk
away!?
b. What do we do in such
circumstances!?
II. WATCHING THE MIRACLE! 4:5-12
A.
Turnaround! 4:5-10
1. Just when it all seemed lost Boaz
brings up another important issue along with the land: Ruth!
a. Not only would the man have to pay
for the land but he would have to take Ruth as his wife and raise up a son with
her to give the land back to her son’s family some day as well as financially
taking care of her and Naomi the mother in law!
b. This put a whole new dimension to
the decision … buying the land was one thing, but getting two women and having
to have kids to inherit the land he just bought – that was another whole
issue!
(1. This would mean not only buying the land
but someday giving it up to a son that would not technically be his, thus he
would be paying for something he couldn't keep later.
(2. Also, for many years this would mean a
financial responsibility to Ruth, Naomi and the new heir that would not have
even carry his name!
2. There was no option in doing
all this if he bought the
land, the whole thing came as a package!
3. While the land looked good to him
all he saw in Ruth was the loss of dollar signs!
a. He did not see Ruth as desirable or
valuable; she was only a liability to him!
b. He only lived to gain for himself,
how different Boaz saw things!
ILLUS: A GEM
DEALER WAS STROLLING DOWN THE AISLES AT THE TUCSON GEM AND MINERAL SHOW WHEN HE
NOTICED A BLUE-VIOLET STONE THE SIZE AND SHAPE OF A POTATO. HE LOOKED IT OVER, THEN, AS CALMLY AS
POSSIBLE ASKED THE VENDOR, "YOU WANT $15 FOR THIS?" THE SELLER REALIZING THE ROCK WASN'T AS
PRETTY AS OTHERS IN THE BIN LOWERED THE PRICE TO $10. THE MAN TOOK IT. THE STONE HAS SINCE BEEN CERTIFIED AS A
1,095 CARAT NATURAL STAR SAPPHIRE, ABOUT 800 CARATS LARGER THAN THE LARGEST
STONE OF ITS KIND! IT WAS APPRAISED
AT $2.28 MILLION!! IT TOOK A LOVER
OF STONES TO RECOGNIZE THE SAPPHIRE'S WORTH, THE OTHER GUY ONLY SAW AN UGLY DULL
STONE! -- Source
Unknown
4. Boaz knew the value of Ruth, to him
she would not be a financial drain but a blessing!
5. As Boaz watched, the miracle came
around! What he almost lost he now
finds, simply because he and his faith persevered!
6. Just when things seemed to be lost
God broke through and answered!
B.
Testimony 4:11-12
1. Notice the testimony given here by
the witnesses, they all concur that this is God's blessing and they affirm the
decision by Boaz to take not only the land but Ruth as
well!
a. Their statement here about Ruth
being blessed like Rachael and Leah puts Ruth fully into the house of Israel
now; no longer will she be called the "Moabitess!"
b. This indicated her full acceptance
with the Jews, by both faith and action she belonged to God’s
people!
c. “Perez” mentioned here was a descendant of
Boaz's (see I Ch. 2:5,18,50 ff.) He was considered the progenitor of the
Bethlehemites! And we all know who
was later born in Bethlehem! “…May you have standing in Ephrathah and be
famous in Bethlehem.” 4:11b
2. Their testimony would seal the
blessing of God in the minds of all the people!
a. The miracle is witnessed by all,
and testified to by all!
b. For years to come this would give
special meaning to Ruth and her children in that town!
c. The deeds of faith come to fruition
and bless others as well!
ILLUS: FEW PEOPLE
KNOW THE STORY OF GEORGE MCCLUSKEY.
WHEN HE STARTED HIS FAMILY HE DECIDED TO INVEST ONE HOUR A DAY IN PRAYER,
BECAUSE HE WANTED HIS KIDS TO FOLLOW CHRIST. AFTER A TIME HE EXPANDED HIS PRAYERS TO
INCLUDE HIS GRANDCHILDREN AND GREAT GRANDCHILDREN. EVERY DAY BETWEEN 11 A.M. AND NOON, HE
PRAYED FOR THE NEXT 3 GENERATIONS.
AS THE YEARS WENT BY HIS 2 DAUGHTERS COMMITTED THEIR LIVES TO CHRIST AND
MARRIED MEN WHO WENT INTO FULL TIME MINISTRY. THE 2 COUPLES PRODUCED 4 GIRLS AND ONE
BOY. EACH OF THE GIRLS MARRIED
MINISTERS TOO, AND THE BOY BECAME A PASTOR. THE FIRST TWO CHILDREN BORN TO THIS
GENERATION WERE BOTH BOYS. UPON
GRADUATION FROM HIGH SCHOOL THE TWO COUSINS CHOSE THE SAME COLLEGE AND BECAME
ROOMMATES DURING THEIR SOPHOMORE YEAR, ONE BOY DECIDED TO GO INTO THE MINISTRY,
BUT THE OTHER DIDN'T ... HE DID FEEL PRESSURE BUT HE INSTEAD CHOSE TO PURSUE HIS
INTEREST IN PSYCHOLOGY ... HE EARNED HIS DOCTORATE AND WROTE MANY BOOKS THAT
BECAME BEST SELLERS. HE STARTED A
RADIO PROGRAM HEARD ON MORE THAN A 1,000 STATIONS EACH DAY. THE MAN'S NAME, JAMES DOBSON! DID THE PRAYERS OF A MAN 3 GENERATIONS
AGO PAY OFF!? WE HAVE ALL WATCHED
THE MIRACLE! -- Source
Unknown
3. There would be many people telling
this story for generations to come, they all have been witnesses of answered
prayer for Naomi, Ruth and Boaz!
4. When
there is a real miracle you don't have to just confess it ... you will notice it
and see it, and so will everyone else!
III. WONDER OVER THE MIRACLE 4:13-22
A.
Triumph!
4:13-15
1. Now the rejoicing
part!
a. Everyone is happy; God has blessed
Boaz, Ruth, and Naomi!
b. And from this offspring will come a
blessing to the Nation of Israel in a great king named David, and eventually a
blessing to the entire world through Jesus!
2. They all shared in the rejoicing
for they all shared in doing what was right and having faith in
God!
3. This is the great triumph of faith,
which others get to join in the triumph with us!!
ILLUS: AT THE END
OF WW II THE DOCUMENTS OF SURRENDER TOOK PLACE ON THE USS MISSOURI. IT WAS TO BE SIGNED BY THE JAPANESE
REPRESENTATIVES AND THOSE DESIGNATED FROM THE ALLIES. GENERAL DOUGLAS MACARTHUR WAS THE LAST
TO SIGN ON BEHALF OF THE UNITED STATES, BUT WHEN HE SIGNED IT HE WROTE ONLY
"DOUGLAS." THEN HE PASSED THE PEN
TO GENERAL WAINWRIGHT WHO SIGNED AN ADDITIONAL "MAC" RIGHT AFTER THE NAME OF
"DOUGLAS." MACARTHUR THEN PASSED
THE PEN TO GENERAL PERCIVAL WHO SIGNED THE FINAL PART, "ARTHUR" TO THE "MAC"
PART. THIS UNUSUAL ACT WAS
MACARTHUR'S WAY OF HONORING TWO OF HIS COLLEAGUES WHO HAD SUFFERED SEVERE
PERSECUTI0N IN JAPANESE PRISON CAMPS.
THEY HAD PERSISTED IN BATTLE AND ALTHOUGH THEY DIDN'T PUT THEIR OWN NAME
ON THE DOCUMENT, MACARTHUR WANTED THESE MEN TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS MOMENT OF
TRIUMPH! THEIR FAITH HAD BEEN
REWARDED THOUGH THEY USED HIS NAME!
NOW THEY ALL SHARED IN THE GLORY! -- Source
Unknown
4. Ruth's faith and diligence had
brought triumph to many, not just herself!
a. Their faith in her and her God had
allowed them all to rejoice now!
b. The whole town of Bethlehem
wondered over all this marvelous work by God on behalf of
Ruth!
c. Our faith does touch other
people's lives!
5. Ruth is praised as a woman who was worth
more than 7 sons!! A
powerful statement since 7 sons was considered God’s perfect favor; notice Job
had 7 sons as evidence of God’s favor on him. Job
1:2
a. This is quite a statement for that
time when sons were considered more valuable than
daughters!
b. 7 sons were supposed to be the most
perfect Jewish family, yet Ruth was considered even better than
this!
c. This was a long way for a Moabitess
to come!
d. She had come
all this way by faith, the same
way we get to "rejoicing!"
6. Ruth's faith restored so much for
so many!
a. It restored joy to a bitter old lady named
Naomi.
b. It restored her own
life.
c. It restored the life of
Boaz.
d. It restored hope for Israel, the great king
David comes from this union!
e. It restored an example of godliness at the
time of the judges when sin abounded even in Israel, when men "did that which
was right in their own eyes."
Boaz and Ruth demonstrated that it was possible to live righteously in a
time when so many did only what was right in their own
eyes.
f. It restored confidence that God is concerned
about His people!
7. Rejoicing was the result of 4 stages:
a. Renouncing the
past
b. Requesting
help
c. Reaping from
faithfulness
d. Rejoicing in
victory!
B.
Treasure! 4:16-22
1. The book ends the same way it
began, with the focus on Naomi!
a. Ruth becomes pregnant and gives
birth to a son who they name “Obed.”
b. Naomi becomes nursemaid for Obed,
he is raised by Naomi like a son, and in fact is called her son by the other
women in the village, somewhat unusual for that time, but she would not have
someone else care for him when he was the gift from God that restored her joy
and her husband's name in Israel!
c. Obed was to be a treasure in many
ways!
(1. He was the grandfather to David, Israel's
greatest king!
(2. He was the ancestor to Jesus, the only
Savior of the world!
d. From great crisis and loss came
renewed hope and answer to faith and faithfulness.
2. Ruth had proved herself a SERVANT
and so her son is name “OBED” … which in Hebrew means, "SERVANT!"
a. What a
treasure!
b. This begins a long line of godly
men, ultimately resulting in Jesus' birth!
3. Who could have ever guessed that a
Moabitess widow's faith and faithfulness could bless so many … and ultimately
change the whole world!
4. Have you pulled in the treasures of
God by faith!?
ILLUS: COLUMNIST
L.M. BOYD RECENTLY DESCRIBED THE GOOD FORTUNE OF A MAN NAMED JACK WURM. IN 1949 MR. WURM WAS BROKE AND JOBLESS
AND AS HE WAS WALKING ALONG THE BEACH ONE DAY IN SAN FRANCISCO HE CAME ACROSS A
BOTTLE WITH A PIECE OF PAPER IN IT.
AS HE READ THE NOTE HE DISCOVERED THAT IT WAS THE LAST WILL AND TESTAMENT
OF DAISY SINGER ALEXANDER, HEIR TO THE SINGER SEWING MACHINE FORTUNE. THE NOTE READ, "TO AVOID CONFUSION I
LEAVE MY ENTIRE ESTATE TO THE LUCKY PERSON WHO FINDS THIS BOTTLE AND TO MY
ATTORNEY, BARRY COHEN, SHARE AND SHARE ALIKE." ACCORDING TO BOYD, THE COURTS ACCEPTED
THE THEORY THAT THE HEIRESS HAD WRITTEN THE NOTE 12 YEARS EARLIER AND HAD THROWN
THE BOTTLE INTO THE THAMES RIVER IN LONDON, FROM WHERE IT HAD DRIFTED ACROSS THE
OCEANS TO THE FEET OF A PENNILESS AND JOBLESS JACK WURM. HIS CHANCE DISCOVERY NETTED HIM OVER 6
MILLION DOLLARS IN CASH AND SINGER STOCK.
WHAT IF HE HAD THROWN IT ALL AWAY NOT BELIEVING IT TO BE REAL!? BELIEVE AND REJOICE! -- Source
Unknown
5. Have you known the joy of
believing faith … and behaving faith … and thus the benefits of
faith?
CONCLUSION:
The triumph of faith is found in Ruth. She follows the 4 stages of faith and
realizes the triumph of faith, rejoicing:
(1.
Renouncing old
life.
(2.
Requesting
help.
(3.
Reaping from
service.
(4.
Rejoicing in God's
power!
To rejoice we must pass through the
other stages first, and when we do rejoicing is here to
stay!