Ruth’s Journey of Faith
Advent 2024 • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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· 6 viewsLead Pastor Wes Terry preaches on the second week of Advent and the “Bethlehem Candle” out of Jesus’ genealogy in Matthew 1 and the story of Ruth from the Old Testament. This sermon is part of the series “The Mothers of Jesus” and was preached on December 8th, 2024.
Notes
Transcript
INTRODUCTION:
INTRODUCTION:
If you would open your Bibles to Matthew 1 we’re going to continue our series through the Mother’s of Jesus.
We’re exploring the individual themes of Advent through the individual women mentioned in Jesus’ genealogy.
We said that a genealogy was important in the ancient world because it was a type of CV or resume for the person under consideration.
The genealogy of Jesus is framed around two giants in Israel’s history: Abraham and David.
Both men received unique covenants from God that advanced his redemptive purpose in miraculous and history-defining ways.
These covenants anticipated the Lord Jesus Christ and were uniquely fulfilled along with the New Covenant through his life, death, resurrection and ascension.
Given the magnitude and glory of Jesus as an individual, it makes the inclusion of certain women in his genealogy all the more significant.
Last week we explored how Tamar and Rehab illustrate Advent hope. This week we’re going to examine the third mother of Jesus: a Moabite named Ruth.
1 An account of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the Son of David, the Son of Abraham:
2 Abraham fathered Isaac,
Isaac fathered Jacob,
Jacob fathered Judah and his brothers,
3 Judah fathered Perez and Zerah by Tamar,
Perez fathered Hezron,
Hezron fathered Aram,
4 Aram fathered Amminadab,
Amminadab fathered Nahshon,
Nahshon fathered Salmon,
5 Salmon fathered Boaz by Rahab,
Boaz fathered Obed by Ruth,
Obed fathered Jesse,
6 and Jesse fathered King David.
David fathered Solomon by Uriah’s wife,
As you can see from verses 5 and 6 the lineage of king David depended on two specific women - both outsiders in terms of being Jewish.
Each woman made specific decisions that positioned them to experience the redeeming grace of God.
As we said last week, the gift of Advent is universally offered but exclusively enjoyed by those willing to receive it.
The Bethlehem Candle
The Bethlehem Candle
This week we’re looking at the second woman, Ruth. We’re going to examine Ruth’s life through the second candle of Advent which represents “faith” or “love.”
Different traditions assign different names to the second week of Advent.
But every tradition agrees that it symbolizes the journey Mary and Joseph took to Bethlehem. It’s named the “Bethlehem Candle” for that reason.
The Bethlehem Candle represents the journey of “faith” and what it unlocks for those willing to travel.
The story of Ruth powerfully illustrates this truth because she - like Mary - made her journey to Bethlehem through faith and love for another.
That journey of faith unlocked many great rewards that put Ruth in a position to experience the grace of God.
For those of you unfamiliar with Ruth’s story it’s found in the Old Testament book of Ruth (no surprise!)
It’s one of my favorite books in the Old Testament because it’s so beautifully written and organized. Unfortunately, we don’t have time to read every verse so I’ll summarize as we go.
UNLOCKING THE GIFT OF FAITH
UNLOCKING THE GIFT OF FAITH
The book of Ruth was written during the “time of the Judges” (Ruth 1:1)
This was a time when there was “no king in Israel and everyone did what was right in their own eyes.” (Judges 21:25)
This season was marked by repeated cycles of disobedience, discipline, repentance and deliverance.
Different judges facilitated different parts of the cycle.
Israel would abandon their dedication to God and engage in idolatry of various sorts. This invited God’s discipline which motivated Israel’s repentance.
Ruth opens with God’s discipline coming in the form of a famine. (Ruth 1:1)
This famine forced Elimelech to move his family away from Bethlehem (house of bread) to Moab (descendants of Lot & his daughters.)
Moving “out” of the promised land caused a bad thing to get even worse. (Ruth 1:2-4)
Elimelech died leaving his wife Naomi a widow.
His two sons, Mahlon & Chilion, married Moabite women: Orpah and Ruth.
After ten years they also died leaving all three women widowed and destitute.
Bitter Unbelief
Bitter Unbelief
Life became so unbearable for Naomi that she changes her name from Naomi (pleasant) to Mara (bitter). (Ruth 1:20)
20 “Don’t call me Naomi. Call me Mara,” she answered, “for the Almighty has made me very bitter.
It’s a compelling picture of what suffering produces in even the sweetest heart.
Suffering can unlock bitterness to sour the sweetest heart.
The unbelief that began in the heart of Elimelech inflicted suffering on his entire family. A warning of what abandoning your relationship with God can do to those around you.
We never see Naomi lose her faith in the LORD. But she does begin to think that God is punishing her and had set himself against her. (Ruth 1:21)
Naomi hears that things were getting better in Bethlehem and decides to go back. Orpah and Ruth follow her on the journey. (Ruth 1:6-7)
On the way, Naomi pleads with Ruth and Orpah to go back to their biological mothers, find new husbands and return to their former life.
She says, “my life is much too bitter for you to share, because the LORD’s hand has turned against me.” (Ruth 1:13)
This might be lost on us but in that culture to be widowed at that age without any sons to provide and protect - your life was basically over.
The quality of life she was about to enjoy would be unbearable in Moab and only a little bit better in Bethlehem where she had a support system to step in.
It wouldn’t have been much better for Ruth and Orpah. Both widowed Moabites at a young age they would’ve been a prime target for sexual abuse and mistreatment.
There was a steep prejudice against Moabites. There was also a cultural rot that had made sexual perversion, crime and physical violence all the more prevalent in the land of Judah.
Determination to Silence the Unknown
Determination to Silence the Unknown
Unsurprisingly, Orpah kisses Naomi and takes her advice.
Ruth, however, clings to Naomi and refuses to go back.
16 But Ruth replied:
Don’t plead with me to abandon you
or to return and not follow you.
For wherever you go, I will go,
and wherever you live, I will live;
your people will be my people,
and your God will be my God.
17 Where you die, I will die,
and there I will be buried.
May the Lord punish me,
and do so severely,
if anything but death separates you and me.
What you see at the end of chapter one is this contrast between Ruth’s incredible faith and Naomi’s struggle with bitterness.
The bitterness of suffering had hardened Naomi’s heart. She looked at her future and saw struggle and hardship that she dared not inflict on these two women she loved.
Ruth, on the other hand was so influenced by Naomi’s love and kindness that she had come to believe in Naomi’s God for herself.
Notice that she invokes the covenant name of God (LORD) and swears allegiance to Naomi in his name.
This is a confession of faith on Ruth’s part that enables her to see the same future through a different set of eyes.
Naomi’s response says it all in verse 18.
18 When Naomi saw that Ruth was determined to go with her, she stopped talking to her.
I’m not sure if Naomi’s silence was one of stonewalling or unloving anger.
It’s just as likely Naomi realized that there were no words that could change Ruth’s mind. Why waste energy on rock that can’t be moved?
In either case we see the power of faith and what it unlocks in the human heart.
Faith unlocks determination to silence unknown fears.
Determination is future-focused energy towards an outcome that might not be.
A vision of what can be drives you to continually push against what isn’t until it is.
From Naomi’s perspective there were strong and compelling reasons why Ruth & Orpah should’ve stayed behind.
But Ruth didn’t see her future through the eyes of bitterness or fear. She saw them through the lens of faith.
Faith=Sight | Friendship=Strength
Faith=Sight | Friendship=Strength
Faith will give you eyes to see what bitterness and unbelief hide from view.
It’s why it’s so important to fan the flame of faith so it can unlock the same determination in you.
Faith enabled Jesus to stay obedient to the Father’s plans. Because of Jesus’ work, his Spirit can do the same in us.
Imagine the unknown future Mary and Joseph were facing as they made their journey to Bethlehem?
Imagine the suffering they endured and the faith against temptation towards bitterness and unbelief!
They overcame that negativity because of the power of faith and what it unlocks in the human heart.
We also see the value of friendship and community when it comes to faith. Ruth’s faith was believing for Naomi when she couldn’t do so for herself.
Faith will give you eyes to see and friendships give you strength.
When life is full of suffering and you’re fighting fear and unbelief, you need to surround yourself with people who help when faith gets weak.
That’s why we are so adamant about getting people into small groups.
It’s why we’ve been spending time and energy in creating a spiritual growth campaign for January.
The first 8 weeks of the new year are going to address 6 of the most common fears and anxieties that people face today.
We will face our fears in the face of God, highlighting six core truths about God from the Psalms that, when you BELIEVE them, extinguish fear from the human heart.
Might God be calling you to step up and lead a group in your home (even if it’s just for family and a few friends?) Don’t live life in isolation and don’t let others you love do the same.
The Christian faith is a community project. We need each other to overcome suffering in life.
Provision for Unmet Needs
Provision for Unmet Needs
You can imagine how their journey might’ve looked. The determination of Ruth’s faith softening Naomi’s bitterness.
When they arrive in Bethlehem, the whole town was excited to see them. (Ruth 1:19)
Naomi quickly changes the mood by explaining what happened in Moab. (Ruth 1:20-21)
Fortunately for Ruth and Naomi the barley harvest had just started. (Ruth 1:22)
Ruth petitions Naomi to gather grain from one of the fields. (Ruth 2:1-2)
2 Ruth the Moabitess asked Naomi, “Will you let me go into the fields and gather fallen grain behind someone with whom I find favor?”
Naomi answered her, “Go ahead, my daughter.”
The permission granted to Ruth was granted under a custom called “gleaning.” It was established in Law to care for aliens, widows and orphans. (Lev 19:9-10; Deut 24:19-21)
The edges of a field were not to be harvested and discarded sheaves were to be left on the ground.
This would enable poor and needy families to put food on their table throughout the harvest.
Ruth was so diligent in gleaning that Boaz was motivated to learn more about her. (Ruth 2:5-7)
The more he learned the more favor he poured out. (Ruth 2:8-13)
Eventually the two enjoyed a meal together. (Ruth 2:14)
After dinner Boaz instructed his servants to give Ruth even greater access to the grain so she would have more than enough. (Ruth 2:15-16)
Ruth’s experience illustrates a second truth about faith and what it unlocks in our life.
Faith unlocks God’s provision to satisfy our unmet needs.
17 So Ruth gathered grain in the field until evening. She beat out what she had gathered, and it was about twenty-six quarts of barley. 18 She picked up the grain and went into the town, where her mother-in-law saw what she had gleaned. She brought out what she had left over from her meal and gave it to her.
More than Sufficient
More than Sufficient
Barley was a staple grain, less expensive than wheat and was used to make bread or porridge. Typically gleaners would get enough for 1 to 2 days of food.
An ephah (26 quarts) would’ve been far above average. We’re talking 25-30 pounds of barley that might’ve lasted 2 weeks instead of 2 days.
Boaz and his servants showed incredible generosity and God provided for Ruth and Naomi beyond their expectations.
God’s provision is more than sufficient to meet our needs.
19 Her mother-in-law said to her, “Where did you gather barley today, and where did you work? May the Lord bless the man who noticed you.”
Ruth told her mother-in-law whom she had worked with and said, “The name of the man I worked with today is Boaz.”
20 Then Naomi said to her daughter-in-law, “May the Lord bless him because he has not abandoned his kindness to the living or the dead.” Naomi continued, “The man is a close relative. He is one of our family redeemers.”
The phrase “family redeemer” (Go’el) at the end of Ruth 2:20 is central to understanding what happens in the rest of the story.
The reason Ruth and Naomi are gleaning somebody else’s field instead of their own is because Elimelech sold their land when he moved the family to Moab.
Sovereignly Strategic
Sovereignly Strategic
There was a provision in the Law for helping families that lost their land due to financial hardship or death.
A kinsman-redeemer (adult male relative) bore the responsibility to redeem the situation by marrying the widow, purchasing the land/slave or avenging the victim. (Lev 25:25-28; Lev 25:47-49; Num 35:19-21)
We’ve already seen this dynamic in Genesis with Levirate Marriage and the story of Tamar. (Deut 25:5-10)
At the end of chapter two, Naomi identifies Boaz as a potential kinsmen redeemer.
Boaz had the legal and familial standing to redeem their situation which involved property AND their family lineage.
So you can see how Ruth’s happening upon Boaz’ field and receiving such favor from Boaz’ as person was a sovereign gift of God’s mercy and grace.
That’s why they praise God and bless Boaz for the gift. (Ruth 2:20)
It reveals that God’s provision is not only sufficient to meet our needs but is often sovereignly strategic towards some greater end.
Courage to Seize
Courage to Seize
When Naomi finds out that it was Boaz’s field that Ruth received all the barley and that he had demonstrated such favor and kindness, her heart begins to change.
Her bitter heart begins to soften and she begins to see that maybe God actually not against her but working things together for her good!
In chapter three we see Naomi encourage Ruth to seize the opportunity that God had put in her lap.
1 Ruth’s mother-in-law Naomi said to her, “My daughter, shouldn’t I find rest for you, so that you will be taken care of? 2 Now isn’t Boaz our relative? Haven’t you been working with his female servants? This evening he will be winnowing barley on the threshing floor. 3 Wash, put on perfumed oil, and wear your best clothes. Go down to the threshing floor, but don’t let the man know you are there until he has finished eating and drinking. 4 When he lies down, notice the place where he’s lying, go in and uncover his feet, and lie down. Then he will explain to you what you should do.”
5 So Ruth said to her, “I will do everything you say.”
When Naomi tells Ruth to wash, put on perfumed oil and wear her best clothes she’s essentially saying, “Put yourself on the market, girl!”
Take those widow clothes off and put on your party pants. If we want God to do what it seems like he’s doing then we need to take initiative on our end as well!
As Darrell Scott likes to say, “You’ve got the give the Holy Spirit something he can work with.”
Many people assume faith is about “letting go and letting God.”
To a degree, that’s true. Faith requires our total surrender and complete submission.
But faith isn’t about waiting to act or refusing initiative. Faith is courageously seizing what God has put in your lap.
Faith unlocks courage to seize unique opportunities.
That’s what Ruth is doing in this moment. She does everything that Naomi tells her to do.
The threshing floor would’ve been a large, public, wide-open space. Many people would’ve been there and Boaz would’ve been present to keep an eye on his product.
So Ruth waits for him to eat, drink and put himself to bed. Then she uncovers his feet and lays down beside him.
Submission & Courage
Submission & Courage
This wasn’t some weird sexual advance as some might imagine. It was rather a culturally appropriate way to demonstrate submission and sincerity.
Boaz wakes up about midnight - as most old men do - but as he turns over he sees Ruth right beside him!
It’s dark so he can’t see her face but she informs him of her identity and explains her reason for being there. Ruth 3:9
9 So he asked, “Who are you?”
“I am Ruth, your servant,” she replied. “Take me under your wing, for you are a family redeemer.”
It’s easy to miss what’s happening because it’s foreign to our culture but she’s essentially asking Boaz, “you cool if we get married?”
It seems forward and bold but she’s actually being submissive and humble in how she goes about it.
And that’s how Christian faith always demonstrates itself. It’s marked by courageous humility or humble confidence.
Boaz responds as you might imagine. Ruth 3:10-13
10 Then he said, “May the Lord bless you, my daughter. You have shown more kindness now than before, because you have not pursued younger men, whether rich or poor. 11 Now don’t be afraid, my daughter. I will do for you whatever you say, since all the people in my town know that you are a woman of noble character. 12 Yes, it is true that I am a family redeemer, but there is a redeemer closer than I am. 13 Stay here tonight, and in the morning, if he wants to redeem you, that’s good. Let him redeem you. But if he doesn’t want to redeem you, as the Lord lives, I will. Now lie down until morning.”
The fact that Boaz commits to redeeming Ruth had to be a great relief. But he also indicates there’s a younger man - closer in line - and that technically speaking he had the first right to redemption.
So in one way he comforts Ruth in saying “as the LORD lives, you’ll be redeemed.”
But in another way he’s asking her to wait in submissive faith while the Lord works out all the details.
And that’s something we need to remember when we seize opportunities from the LORD.
Sometimes in his provision his requires us to wait with a spirit of submission.
Redemption Applied
Redemption Applied
Ruth waited there the entire night. She gets up before dark so that nobody would know about her visit.
Before she leaves Boaz gives her six measures of barley to take back home to Naomi.
In this way, Boaz gives Ruth a sign or pledge of his commitment even though they had to wait while he worked out the details.
16 She went to her mother-in-law, Naomi, who asked her, “What happened, my daughter?”
Then Ruth told her everything the man had done for her. 17 She said, “He gave me these six measures of barley, because he said, ‘Don’t go back to your mother-in-law empty-handed.’ ”
18 Naomi said, “My daughter, wait until you find out how things go, for he won’t rest unless he resolves this today.”
Naomi receives the barley as a sure sign of Boaz’s commitment. She encourages Ruth that it won’t be long before she has an answer.
So not only did Ruth have to wait with a spirit of submission. Boaz also left her to wait with a sure sign of his commitment.
So it is with us.
During Advent, our Lord encourages us to wait on him with a submissive spirit.
But we also wait on him with a sign of assurance (surety). It’s a sign that give surety of his commitment to us.
That sign for Ruth was six measures of barley.
That sign for us was the life, death and history-altering resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.
True faith enables us to wait while God works out the details and delivers on his promise.
Love to Save the Stranger
Love to Save the Stranger
Ruth’s story closes in chapter four resolving all of this tension.
Boaz had gone to the city gate (where business was done), gathered a quorum of elders and negotiated with the other kinsmen. (Ruth 4:1-2)
He informs the guy about Naomi’s land and the death of her husband and two sons.
He says, “if you want to redeem it, do it. But if you do not want to redeem it, tell me so that I will know, because there isn’t anyone other than you to redeem it, and I am next after you.” (Ruth 4:4)
Ruth 4:4–5 (CSB)
“I want to redeem it,” he answered.
5 Then Boaz said, “On the day you buy the field from Naomi, you will acquire Ruth the Moabitess, the wife of the deceased man, to perpetuate the man’s name on his property.”
As soon as the other guy finds out there’s a commitment to carry on his family line in addition to buying back the land, he balks.
He says, “if I do that it’s going to mess up my own inheritance. I’m not willing to pay that price. Take my right of redemption because I can’t do it.” (Ruth 4:6)
The other problem is Ruth was a Moabitess. The people of Moab were looked upon with scorn as sinful and unholy.
I mean unholy in the technical sense in that they were not “set apart” as God’s special people like Israel and the people in Judah.
He hands Boaz his sandal (legally signing away his right) and Boaz announces his intention to purchase the land and redeem Ruth as the kinsmen.
9 Boaz said to the elders and all the people, “You are witnesses today that I am buying from Naomi everything that belonged to Elimelech, Chilion, and Mahlon. 10 I have also acquired Ruth the Moabitess, Mahlon’s widow, as my wife, to perpetuate the deceased man’s name on his property, so that his name will not disappear among his relatives or from the gate of his hometown. You are witnesses today.”
The city elders not only confirm this transaction but they also pronounce a blessing on Boaz that harkens back to everything we just studied in the book of Genesis.
11 All the people who were at the city gate, including the elders, said, “We are witnesses. May the Lord make the woman who is entering your house like Rachel and Leah, who together built the house of Israel. May you be powerful in Ephrathah and your name well known in Bethlehem. 12 May your house become like the house of Perez, the son Tamar bore to Judah, because of the offspring the Lord will give you by this young woman.”
The similarities between the story of Tamar and Ruth are very striking. Both were foreign women (unholy) and strangers to God’s covenant of grace.
Through one great act of mercy and love, both outsiders are brought into the covenant and used by God to advance his agenda.
Faith unlocks redeeming love to save unholy strangers.
Ruth was a Moabite. A stranger and foreigner to God’s covenant of grace.
But through her faith and submission she found a kinsmen redeemer who would bring her in to the covenant of grace.
The love between Ruth and Boaz produced a child named Obed. Through him, the family line of Elimelech would no longer be snuffed out!
The seed of promise (Genesis 3:15) that would crush the head of the serpent and restore the paradise we lost would continue through his family line.
Son Serve Us Though King
Son Serve Us Though King
It’s with that good news that Ruth concludes.
13 Boaz took Ruth and she became his wife. He slept with her, and the Lord granted conception to her, and she gave birth to a son. 14 The women said to Naomi, “Blessed be the Lord, who has not left you without a family redeemer today. May his name become well known in Israel. 15 He will renew your life and sustain you in your old age. Indeed, your daughter-in-law, who loves you and is better to you than seven sons, has given birth to him.” 16 Naomi took the child, placed him on her lap, and became a mother to him. 17 The neighbor women said, “A son has been born to Naomi,” and they named him Obed. He was the father of Jesse, the father of David.
Ruth’s Advent faith and love unlocked…
determination to silence unknown fears.
provision to satisfy unmet needs.
courage to seize upon opportunities.
redeeming love that save her though an unholy stranger.
The story closes with a final gift of new life through Naomi’s line. The line through which Israel’s king would come!
The name Obed is from the Hebrew Abad which means “to serve or worship.” The name Jesse means generous gift (or some say Jehovah exists)
Through both of these two Fathers comes a shepherd boy overlooked by everyone else but who became a man after God’s own heart.
That shepherd king was a boy named David. After Israel’s first king, Saul, David came to the throne. Through David God established an additional covenant of an eternal kingdom that would have no end.
David’s kingdom eventually did end through the Babylonian invasion and destruction of the Jewish temple.
But a new king would be born much later in the town of Bethlehem and the King of THAT KINGDOM would reign forever more.
Jesus is the generous gift of God who serves us though he is a King. And not just any king - but king of kings and Lord of Lords!
He is the ultimate gift unlocked by faith. Faith unlocks a promised Son who served us though a king.
Jesus told his disciples the son of man did not come to be served but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many. (Mark 10:45)
That means that Jesus is the ultimate kinsmen redeemer. He paid the purchase price to redeem us from our helpless state.
We were orphaned and without a husband. We had no hope for our future. But then God sent his only son to pay our purchase price.
When you begin to look at the story of Ruth through the lens of Jesus and his gospel. You see that every act of Ruth is ultimately pointing beyond her toward him.
It was the perfect faith of Jesus that brought him to a place of absolute and total commitment to the Father’s will.
Jesus rested in the father’s provision and Jesus acted on the Father’s initiative. When the time came for him to lay down his life he did was nobody else was willing or able to do.
We were the unholy strangers and Jesus laid down his life FOR US.
And you can receive a new family through Jesus because he was a king who was willing to serve.
He is the fulfillment of God’s promise to crush the head of the serpent and restore the promise of Eden.
Have you received him into your life by faith? Is your life marked by loving obedience as Ruth was committed to Naomi?
How might the LORD be calling you to respond in light of Ruth and her Advent faith?
