There is an old Scottish proverb that says, “The devil’s boots don’t creak.” The devil and his minions never announce their arrival, they sneak in on those who are over-confident and prideful.
In fact, as the great preacher Cotton Mather said, “That there is a devil is a thing doubted by none but such as are under the influence of the devil.”
In Mark 4 Jesus and the apostles have just crossed the Sea of Galiliee in a little boat. A storm had suddenly come upon them and the apostles almost drowned. But Jesus, who had been asleep, spoke to the water and the wind and they became instantly calm. Jesus had shown the boys that He had power over the natural world. Now Jesus was going to show them that He had power over the supernatural world, as well.
1 They came to the other side of the sea, into the country of the Gerasenes.
2 When He got out of the boat, immediately a man from the tombs with an unclean spirit met Him,
3 and he had his dwelling among the tombs. And no one was able to bind him anymore, even with a chain;
4 because he had often been bound with shackles and chains, and the chains had been torn apart by him and the shackles broken in pieces, and no one was strong enough to subdue him.
5 Constantly, night and day, he was screaming among the tombs and in the mountains, and gashing himself with stones.
6 Seeing Jesus from a distance, he ran up and bowed down before Him;
7 and shouting with a loud voice, he said, “What business do we have with each other, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I implore You by God, do not torment me!”
8 For He had been saying to him, “Come out of the man, you unclean spirit!”
9 And He was asking him, “What is your name?” And he said to Him, “My name is Legion; for we are many.”
10 And he began to implore Him earnestly not to send them out of the country.
11 Now there was a large herd of swine feeding nearby on the mountain.
12 The demons implored Him, saying, “Send us into the swine so that we may enter them.”
13 Jesus gave them permission. And coming out, the unclean spirits entered the swine; and the herd rushed down the steep bank into the sea, about two thousand of them; and they were drowned in the sea.
14 Their herdsmen ran away and reported it in the city and in the country. And the people came to see what it was that had happened.
15 They came to Jesus and observed the man who had been demon-possessed sitting down, clothed and in his right mind, the very man who had had the “legion”; and they became frightened.
16 Those who had seen it described to them how it had happened to the demon-possessed man, and all about the swine.
17 And they began to implore Him to leave their region.
18 As He was getting into the boat, the man who had been demon-possessed was imploring Him that he might accompany Him.
19 And He did not let him, but He said to him, “Go home to your people and report to them what great things the Lord has done for you, and how He had mercy on you.”
20 And he went away and began to proclaim in Decapolis what great things Jesus had done for him; and everyone was amazed.
Matthew’s Gospel (8:28) tells us that there were two demon possessed men. Mark records the response of the one that wished to follow Jesus. The eighth chapter of Luke’s Gospel also records this event.
Let’s look at four aspects of this day:
1. WHAT THE DEVIL DID WITH THE MAN (vv. 1-3a, 5)
The Bible tells us that Satan and his demons have one goal and purpose regarding each of us. The Bible says in 1 Peter 5:8, “Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.”
What is that purpose? To devour, to destroy, to kill us!
What did the devil do with the man? He gave him…
A. A Living Death
He had a dead religion--This man was possessed. Demon possession involves false religion, namely the occult. The Bible teaches that false doctrines and religions are originated by demons. 1 Timothy 4:1 says, “But the Spirit explicitly says that in later times some will fall away from the faith, paying attention to deceitful spirits and doctrines of demons,” and 1 Corinthians 10:19-20 says, “What do I mean then? That a thing sacrificed to idols is anything, or that an idol is anything? No, but I say that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to demons and not to God; and I do not want you to become sharers in demons.”
He had dead dreams—The devil had robbed the man of his future on earth and eternity in heaven. There was nothing but misery in this man’s future dreams and plans.
He had a dead hope—As bad as having death in your present religion and destruction in your future are, the worst part of this “living death” was having a dead hope. There was nothing this man could do to escape the clutches of this evil. No matter how hard he fought, he was powerless.
B. A Lonely Dwelling
He Left Family and Friends Behind.
He Lived in a Cemetery by Night.
He Longed for an end— A salesman traveling down a country road saw a pig with a wooden leg standing in a pen. He had to know why this pig had a wooden peg leg. So he stopped and asked the farmer. The farmer said, “That pig saved my life! I got pinned under my overturned tractor. It was on fire. That pig saw me about to be burned alive and ran over, grabbed me by the collar and dragged me to safety.”
The salesman replied, “That doesn’t explain why the pig has a wooden leg.”
To which the farmer replied, “Sure it does, that pig’s too good to eat all at once!”
The devil was driving the man to cut himself with stones and bleed. The devil was eating him one bite at time.
C. A Legion of Demons
He was controlled by them—A legion was the largest unit in the Roman military. It contained anywhere from 3,000 to 6,000 soldiers. This man was possessed by as many as 6,000 demons!
He was condemned with them—Demons are angels who sided and fell with Satan in his rebellion against God (Rev. 12:4). Jude 6 says, “And angels who did not keep their own domain, but abandoned their proper abode, He has kept in eternal bonds under darkness for the judgment of the great day.” The demons were afraid Jesus would cast them into the Abyss, or Hell. They know ultimately that is where they will spend eternity. The devil wants as much company as possible in Hell.
2. WHAT THE PEOPLE DID WITH THE MAN (vv. 3b-4)
We have seen what the devil did to the man. What did the people do to him? They…
A. Chained Up the Man
The man NEEDED FREEDOM, but he RECEIVED FETTERS!
B. Cast Out the Man
They NEEDED TO REACH the man, but instead they REJECTED THE MAN.
3. WHAT JESUS DID WITH THE MAN (vv. 6-17)
We have seen what the devil and the people did with the man. Now let’s see what Jesus did with the man. He…
A. Cast Out the Spirits
Satan will turn a man into a pig because, to Satan, a pig is as good as a man. The demons drove the pigs to destruction. This is a reminder to us what Satan will do to people.
B. Cleansed the Sinner
Do you remember Jimmy Swaggart? Of course you do. He was the Assembly of God/Word of Faith preacher who was caught in immorality with a woman that wasn’t his wife. These Word of Faith preachers like Swaggart, Frederick K. Price, Benny Hinn, etc. on TV sound good. But they are serving up false doctrine right and left. They are warming up in their microwave oven left over false teachings from the Gnostics of Persia that predate Christ’s birth in Bethlehem.
In the ancient Gnostic view, a good god rules the spiritual world and a bad god rules the physical world. In their view, everything that is wrong is the fault of the bad god. Every pain, trial and suffering is the fault of the bad god.
Jimmy Swaggart had been banned from preaching by the Assembly of God Church for a year. He defied the order and assured the public that he was free of moral defect. He said he called Oral Roberts who cast the demons out of him over the phone. Oral Roberts confirmed Swaggart's report, insisting the demons had their claws deeply embedded in Swaggart’s flesh. Now that those rascals were gone, Swaggart could get on with preparing the way for Christ’s return. This sounds a lot like comedian Flip Wilson’s famous quip, “The devil made me do it.”
Do you catch the problem? For these metaphysical evangelists, even personal sins can be attributed to the bad god, since he is, after all, sovereign over this earthly realm. When this heresy was revived during the Reformation, John Calvin said, “They made the devil almost the equal of God.” This teaching replaces the problem of sin with the problem of Satan. To them, the problem is facing Satan, not facing their own sin and rebelliousness. “I’m not the problem—the devil is!”
Don’t make this mistake too! Like us, this man’s greatest problem was his sin, not Satan.
Jesus cast out the demons and cleaned up his sin. Sin was going to take the man to hell, not Satan.
C. Clothed the Saint
Luke 8:27 tells that this man ran around naked and hadn’t worn clothes in a long time. Now he is seated (calm), in his right mind (freed from sin and Satan), and clothed at the feet of Jesus! He also has new spiritual clothing. Revelation 7 pictures the saints in heaven wearing robes of white. Why are they white? Because they have been “washed by the blood of the Lamb.”
4. WHAT THE MAN DID WITH JESUS (vv. 18-20)
We have seen what the devil, the people and Jesus did with the man. Finally, let’s see what the man did with Jesus. He…
A. Begged to Follow Jesus
He Loved Jesus—He wanted to be with Jesus.
He Was Loyal to Jesus—He wanted to go where Jesus went.
He Listened to Jesus—When Jesus told him to go back home, the man obeyed.
B. Became the First Missionary
The man had a new Master!
The man who was REJECTED by the people was now REACHING the people!
George Scott, a one-legged school teacher from Scotland came to J. Hudson Taylor to offer himself for service in China. "With only one leg, why do you think of going as a missionary?" asked Taylor.
"I do not see those with two legs going," replied Scott. He was accepted.
What made this just saved and former demoniac the best man to go back to his village as a missionary? His willingness to go!
Let’s be like the man…
Let Jesus cleanse and clothe us.
Take Jesus to our neighborhood.
Sunday, January 31, 2010
Sunday, January 24, 2010
God’s Test of a Church’s Faithfulness (James 2:1-7)
Many centuries ago, a medieval theologian named John Scotus was visiting Rome, and was escorted by the Pope into the Vatican’s treasuries. Pointing to all the money and assets, the Pope said, “No longer does the church have to say, ‘Silver and gold have I none.”
Scotus quickly replied, “That’s true, but also no longer can we say, ‘In the name of Jesus Christ…rise up and walk’.”
In 2,000 years, the church has moved from the catacombs to cathedrals, from prison cells to worship centers, from upper rooms to arenas.
These days, celebrities accept awards with diamond crosses dangling from their necks, and drug-enhanced athletes give thanks to Jesus for the ability to hit a ball.
We’ve come a long way, but have we come in the right direction? Is it possible that in our efforts to pack our pews and build our buildings, we have misunderstood the kingdom of God completely?
In James 2:1-7, Brother James deals with an issue that was as contemptible in the 1st century as it is common in the 21st century.
[James 2:1-7]
1 My brethren, do not hold your faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ with an attitude of personal favoritism.
2 For if a man comes into your assembly with a gold ring and dressed in fine clothes, and there also comes in a poor man in dirty clothes,
3 and you pay special attention to the one who is wearing the fine clothes, and say, “You sit here in a good place,” and you say to the poor man, “You stand over there, or sit down by my footstool,”
4 have you not made distinctions among yourselves, and become judges with evil motives?
5 Listen, my beloved brethren: did not God choose the poor of this world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom which He promised to those who love Him?
6 But you have dishonored the poor man. Is it not the rich who oppress you and personally drag you into court?
7 Do they not blaspheme the fair name by which you have been called?
James warns the people of God NOT to live out their faith while practicing a sinful favoritism toward society’s elite. He says in verse 1, “My brethren, do not hold your faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ with an attitude of personal favoritism.”
This text calls for us to see if our pride and prejudices might be blinding us to the kingdom of God at the very doors of our church.
Let’s look at this passage together, and follow Brother James as he points us to some failures that may be realities in our church, or in our lives. First of all, notice that James describes for us:
1. A Timeless Scenario
Beginning in verse 2, James sets up a hypothetical situation that does not require all that much imagination to connect it to reality.
The setting is what James calls in verse 2, “your assembly.” This is what amounts to a typical Sunday morning service.
On this particular Sunday, two very different visitors attend the service. Based on the contrast between them, they are greeted and treated very differently by the people of the church.
Church should be the one place where everybody is somebody; but as James’ story reveals, and as is all too often the case, the church can be as segmented and segregated as the sin-sick world around it.
Notice a couple of things about this scene that James describes for us. First of all, notice:
A. Three Actors
Look beginning in verse 2. James says, “For if a man comes into your assembly with a gold ring and dressed in fine clothes…”
The first actor in this story is Mr. Goldfinger. The original language actually describes him as a “gold-fingered man.” His gold rings were his status symbol in the first-century.
If this story were told today, perhaps the man would step out of a chrome-covered SUV, and walk in wearing a three-piece tailored suit, while checking his Rolex to see if he was on time.
Look again at the text, and notice a second actor in this story. Continuing in verse 2, James says, “…and there also comes in a poor man in dirty clothes.”
This man walked up to the church from off the street, and his clothes look as if he had slept in them, and smell as bad as they look.
These are the two visitors, but there is one more actor – the greeter who meets them at the door. Notice verse 3. It says, “and you pay special attention to the one who is wearing the fine clothes, and say, ‘You sit here in a good place,’ and you say to the poor man, ‘You stand over there, or sit down by my footstool.’”
This socially-savvy, seeker-friendly usher leads the man in the suit to a comfortable and prominent seat, while he tells the poor man to stand in the back, or else sit on the floor.
These are the actors described in this scenario. My prayer is that we would not see ourselves playing out this scene in our own church.
Notice not only the three actors described in this scene, but notice also:
B. Their Actions
You don’t have to know Greek or understand systematic theology in order to see what is going on this scenario that James describes for us.
This scene is an illustration of the conduct that James condemns in the first verse. It is the sin of showing partiality and favoritism toward a particular group or person.
It is holding your faith in Christ, while showing personal favoritism. It is claiming that you believe Christ died for all, while only proclaiming that Christ died for all to a select group of people.
If we are not careful, this hypothetical scene will become a practical reality in our church. We will consciously or unconsciously target a certain class and kind of people.
We will witness to and welcome in only those who look like us, talk like us, dress like us, think like us, and act like us.
We will become a cookie-cutter fellowship that better resembles a club than a congregation. We will have socio-economic uniformity, but not a genuine Christian unity.
Though 2,000 years old, there is something definitely and disturbingly familiar about this scene that James paints in this text. Notice a second thing we draw from this passage.
Notice not only that we have here a timeless scenario sadly common in the church of God, but notice also secondly that what James describes is:
2. A Troubling Sin
This favoritism for a certain class or kind of person is something that goes completely against the character of our God.
In Acts 10:34, Peter said, “…God is not one to show partiality…” In Leviticus 19:15, God commanded his people to do the same. He said, “…you shall not be partial to the poor nor defer to the great, but you are to judge your neighbor fairly.”
The favoritism of the snooty usher in verse 3 is something that the Word of God soundly condemns. It is an ungodly and unholy practice.
There are two aspects of this sin that I believe James is specifically confronting in this text. Notice first of all, this sin involves:
A. A Shallow View of People
In verse 4, James asks two questions. The first is this, “have you not made distinctions among yourselves…?”
The word “distinctions” is translated from a word that literally means to create divisions. James’ question is literally, “Have you not then divided people into two categories?”
By seating the rich man, and slighting the poor man, the usher had distinguished between two people in a way that was wrong and unwarranted by the gospel.
What caused this distinction? It goes back to verse one. Notice there the phrase, “attitude of personal favoritism.”
That phrase is translated from one word that literally means “to focus on the face.” The usher had judged each of the two men by what he saw of them on the outside. He viewed them superficially rather than spiritually.
We too are tempted to size people up by what we can see of them on the outside. Their apparel and their appearance too often form our opinions of them.
Contrary to this, the Lord told Samuel, in 1 Samuel 16:7, “…God sees not as man sees, for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”
There’s a little poem that goes like this:
“Full many people go to church,
As everyone knows;
Some go to close their eyes,
And some to eye their clothes.”
Somewhere, we have got learn to stop viewing people in such a shallow manner, based on their appearance. The man with the tie may be no more spiritual than the man with the t-shirt.
This sin that is condemned by the Word of God is not only the sin of a shallow view of people, but it also involves:
B. A Selfish View of People
Look at the second rhetorical question James asks in verse 4. He asks, “…and [have you not then] become judges with evil motives?”
When we distinguish between people, based on their outward appearance, James says we become judges whose thoughts or motives are evil.
What are these evil motives? Well, based on the story James used, it must be greed.
The rich man is schmoosed while the poor man is shunned, and it must be because the rich man had money to give.
One writer commented on this passage and said, “One of the great dangers of the church is to look for people who can help us instead of looking for people we can help.”
When we are worried more about budgets than baptisms, and more about finances than faithfulness, we fall into the trap of viewing people selfishly.
I read about a poor, cleaning lady who tried to join the fashionable, up-town first church. The preacher was a little concerned about how his wealthy, influential members would feel about this meager, little woman sitting on the pew with them.
He met with the woman and told her to go home and talk to God about it, and then let him know later what God had said. The little woman never returned to the church again, and the preacher began to wonder about her.
He ran into her one day as she was scrubbing the floor of a building he entered, and he asked her why she hadn’t come back.
She told him, “I talked to God about it, just like you said, and God told me not to worry about it, that He had been trying for twenty years to get into your church too.”
It is a sin to view people shallowly and selfishly. If God is no respecter of persons, then we cannot be without disobeying Him.
There is a third thing we find in this text, and it is what I feel to be the real heart of this passage. James points us not only to a timeless scenario and a terrible sin, but we see also finally:
3. A Terrible System
Look closely at verse 5, James says, “Listen, my beloved brethren: did not God choose the poor of this world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom which He promised to those who love Him?”
Now look at the first part of verse 6. James says, “But you have dishonored the poor man.”
In verse 5, James calls for close attention, and then he explains the nature of God’s plan in this world, and the make-up of His kingdom.
Then in verse 6, he condemns the church for working in a way that is completely counter to that plan and that kingdom.
At the heart of this passage is an indictment against a church that would follow the values of a sinful culture, while forgetting the truth of what God’s kingdom really looks like.
Notice with me a couple of reasons why this system that James confronts is counter to God’s plan for His church. Think first of all about:
A. Those Favored by the System
In verses 6 and 7, James points out an irony that was true of the first century church, and is still true today.
He says that while you are despising the poor and needy, the rich people you are courting are actually your strongest enemies.
He asks in verse 6, “Is it not the rich who oppress you and personally drag you into court?” He goes on in verse 7, “Do they not blaspheme the fair name by which you have been called?”
The early church was made up of mostly poor peasants and servants. They were the bottom of the societal ladder, and they were often abused by the upper class and wealthy.
James asks, “Why are you so interested in the pleasure and approval of the very people who oppress you and oppose you?”
There is a temptation and a tendency for the church to try desperately to be cool and attractive to the mainstream of our society.
As a result, we try to appeal to the educated, upper-class, socially-stylish people. We target the Starbucks and sushi crowd, with their Blackberry’s and BMW’s, thinking their presence in our church will validate us in the world.
The only problem, is that so very often, this is the same crowd who resents the presence of the Church in the world, and scoffs at the message of the gospel we proclaim.
It is a sad and ironic system of operation when the church chases the very classes and culture that despise it.
We must realize that the Bible will never make Oprah’s book club, and the church will never be cool in a world that sees the cross of Jesus as silliness.
There is something further that makes this system so counter to the plan of God. Notice not only who this system favors, but notice also further:
B. Those Forgotten by the System
In this text, James is rebuking the church for misunderstanding the truth about God’s kingdom.
Look again at verse 5, James says, “Listen, my beloved brethren: did not God choose the poor of this world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom which He promised to those who love Him?”
While these church members were fawning after the rich, they had forgotten what their own Savior had said. In Luke 6:20, Jesus said, “Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God.”
Not long before that statement, in Luke 4:18, Jesus said, “The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, Because He anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor. “
As much as it stings our egos to hear it, we need to be reminded of how Paul described the church in 1 Corinthians 1:26. He said, “For consider your calling, brethren, that there were not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble…”
If we are not careful, we will value the same select people and the same shallow principles of our sin-sick society, and we will forget that the kingdom of God is primarily made up of those whom the world overlooks and undervalues.
We need to be reminded that Christ is building His body, and the people who make it up probably look less like the CEO in the new convertible, and more like a single-mom in an old minivan full of kids.
We need to recognize that the Kingdom of Christ will more likely include a calloused-handed mechanic with his name on his shirt, than a well-dressed executive with his name on the office door.
James is not saying that no rich man ever gets saved, or that every poor man is saved already. No, but He is reminding us of the overall plan of God.
The plan of God for his church is for us to, as the parable in Luke 14 says, “…Go out at once into the streets and lanes of the city and bring in here the poor and crippled and blind and lame.”
While social standing and wealth may offer some advantages in a world where those things are valued, they should make no difference whatsoever in the church of the Lord Jesus.
Pride and prejudice at the house of God are sure signs that the church has missed the truth of the kingdom of God.
D.L. Moody hung a sign over the door of his church in Chicago that I believe would have pleased Brother James. It said, “Ever welcome to this house of God are the strangers and the poor.”
May that be true of this church as well, and may we never hold the faith of Christ with favoritism.
Scotus quickly replied, “That’s true, but also no longer can we say, ‘In the name of Jesus Christ…rise up and walk’.”
In 2,000 years, the church has moved from the catacombs to cathedrals, from prison cells to worship centers, from upper rooms to arenas.
These days, celebrities accept awards with diamond crosses dangling from their necks, and drug-enhanced athletes give thanks to Jesus for the ability to hit a ball.
We’ve come a long way, but have we come in the right direction? Is it possible that in our efforts to pack our pews and build our buildings, we have misunderstood the kingdom of God completely?
In James 2:1-7, Brother James deals with an issue that was as contemptible in the 1st century as it is common in the 21st century.
[James 2:1-7]
1 My brethren, do not hold your faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ with an attitude of personal favoritism.
2 For if a man comes into your assembly with a gold ring and dressed in fine clothes, and there also comes in a poor man in dirty clothes,
3 and you pay special attention to the one who is wearing the fine clothes, and say, “You sit here in a good place,” and you say to the poor man, “You stand over there, or sit down by my footstool,”
4 have you not made distinctions among yourselves, and become judges with evil motives?
5 Listen, my beloved brethren: did not God choose the poor of this world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom which He promised to those who love Him?
6 But you have dishonored the poor man. Is it not the rich who oppress you and personally drag you into court?
7 Do they not blaspheme the fair name by which you have been called?
James warns the people of God NOT to live out their faith while practicing a sinful favoritism toward society’s elite. He says in verse 1, “My brethren, do not hold your faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ with an attitude of personal favoritism.”
This text calls for us to see if our pride and prejudices might be blinding us to the kingdom of God at the very doors of our church.
Let’s look at this passage together, and follow Brother James as he points us to some failures that may be realities in our church, or in our lives. First of all, notice that James describes for us:
1. A Timeless Scenario
Beginning in verse 2, James sets up a hypothetical situation that does not require all that much imagination to connect it to reality.
The setting is what James calls in verse 2, “your assembly.” This is what amounts to a typical Sunday morning service.
On this particular Sunday, two very different visitors attend the service. Based on the contrast between them, they are greeted and treated very differently by the people of the church.
Church should be the one place where everybody is somebody; but as James’ story reveals, and as is all too often the case, the church can be as segmented and segregated as the sin-sick world around it.
Notice a couple of things about this scene that James describes for us. First of all, notice:
A. Three Actors
Look beginning in verse 2. James says, “For if a man comes into your assembly with a gold ring and dressed in fine clothes…”
The first actor in this story is Mr. Goldfinger. The original language actually describes him as a “gold-fingered man.” His gold rings were his status symbol in the first-century.
If this story were told today, perhaps the man would step out of a chrome-covered SUV, and walk in wearing a three-piece tailored suit, while checking his Rolex to see if he was on time.
Look again at the text, and notice a second actor in this story. Continuing in verse 2, James says, “…and there also comes in a poor man in dirty clothes.”
This man walked up to the church from off the street, and his clothes look as if he had slept in them, and smell as bad as they look.
These are the two visitors, but there is one more actor – the greeter who meets them at the door. Notice verse 3. It says, “and you pay special attention to the one who is wearing the fine clothes, and say, ‘You sit here in a good place,’ and you say to the poor man, ‘You stand over there, or sit down by my footstool.’”
This socially-savvy, seeker-friendly usher leads the man in the suit to a comfortable and prominent seat, while he tells the poor man to stand in the back, or else sit on the floor.
These are the actors described in this scenario. My prayer is that we would not see ourselves playing out this scene in our own church.
Notice not only the three actors described in this scene, but notice also:
B. Their Actions
You don’t have to know Greek or understand systematic theology in order to see what is going on this scenario that James describes for us.
This scene is an illustration of the conduct that James condemns in the first verse. It is the sin of showing partiality and favoritism toward a particular group or person.
It is holding your faith in Christ, while showing personal favoritism. It is claiming that you believe Christ died for all, while only proclaiming that Christ died for all to a select group of people.
If we are not careful, this hypothetical scene will become a practical reality in our church. We will consciously or unconsciously target a certain class and kind of people.
We will witness to and welcome in only those who look like us, talk like us, dress like us, think like us, and act like us.
We will become a cookie-cutter fellowship that better resembles a club than a congregation. We will have socio-economic uniformity, but not a genuine Christian unity.
Though 2,000 years old, there is something definitely and disturbingly familiar about this scene that James paints in this text. Notice a second thing we draw from this passage.
Notice not only that we have here a timeless scenario sadly common in the church of God, but notice also secondly that what James describes is:
2. A Troubling Sin
This favoritism for a certain class or kind of person is something that goes completely against the character of our God.
In Acts 10:34, Peter said, “…God is not one to show partiality…” In Leviticus 19:15, God commanded his people to do the same. He said, “…you shall not be partial to the poor nor defer to the great, but you are to judge your neighbor fairly.”
The favoritism of the snooty usher in verse 3 is something that the Word of God soundly condemns. It is an ungodly and unholy practice.
There are two aspects of this sin that I believe James is specifically confronting in this text. Notice first of all, this sin involves:
A. A Shallow View of People
In verse 4, James asks two questions. The first is this, “have you not made distinctions among yourselves…?”
The word “distinctions” is translated from a word that literally means to create divisions. James’ question is literally, “Have you not then divided people into two categories?”
By seating the rich man, and slighting the poor man, the usher had distinguished between two people in a way that was wrong and unwarranted by the gospel.
What caused this distinction? It goes back to verse one. Notice there the phrase, “attitude of personal favoritism.”
That phrase is translated from one word that literally means “to focus on the face.” The usher had judged each of the two men by what he saw of them on the outside. He viewed them superficially rather than spiritually.
We too are tempted to size people up by what we can see of them on the outside. Their apparel and their appearance too often form our opinions of them.
Contrary to this, the Lord told Samuel, in 1 Samuel 16:7, “…God sees not as man sees, for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”
There’s a little poem that goes like this:
“Full many people go to church,
As everyone knows;
Some go to close their eyes,
And some to eye their clothes.”
Somewhere, we have got learn to stop viewing people in such a shallow manner, based on their appearance. The man with the tie may be no more spiritual than the man with the t-shirt.
This sin that is condemned by the Word of God is not only the sin of a shallow view of people, but it also involves:
B. A Selfish View of People
Look at the second rhetorical question James asks in verse 4. He asks, “…and [have you not then] become judges with evil motives?”
When we distinguish between people, based on their outward appearance, James says we become judges whose thoughts or motives are evil.
What are these evil motives? Well, based on the story James used, it must be greed.
The rich man is schmoosed while the poor man is shunned, and it must be because the rich man had money to give.
One writer commented on this passage and said, “One of the great dangers of the church is to look for people who can help us instead of looking for people we can help.”
When we are worried more about budgets than baptisms, and more about finances than faithfulness, we fall into the trap of viewing people selfishly.
I read about a poor, cleaning lady who tried to join the fashionable, up-town first church. The preacher was a little concerned about how his wealthy, influential members would feel about this meager, little woman sitting on the pew with them.
He met with the woman and told her to go home and talk to God about it, and then let him know later what God had said. The little woman never returned to the church again, and the preacher began to wonder about her.
He ran into her one day as she was scrubbing the floor of a building he entered, and he asked her why she hadn’t come back.
She told him, “I talked to God about it, just like you said, and God told me not to worry about it, that He had been trying for twenty years to get into your church too.”
It is a sin to view people shallowly and selfishly. If God is no respecter of persons, then we cannot be without disobeying Him.
There is a third thing we find in this text, and it is what I feel to be the real heart of this passage. James points us not only to a timeless scenario and a terrible sin, but we see also finally:
3. A Terrible System
Look closely at verse 5, James says, “Listen, my beloved brethren: did not God choose the poor of this world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom which He promised to those who love Him?”
Now look at the first part of verse 6. James says, “But you have dishonored the poor man.”
In verse 5, James calls for close attention, and then he explains the nature of God’s plan in this world, and the make-up of His kingdom.
Then in verse 6, he condemns the church for working in a way that is completely counter to that plan and that kingdom.
At the heart of this passage is an indictment against a church that would follow the values of a sinful culture, while forgetting the truth of what God’s kingdom really looks like.
Notice with me a couple of reasons why this system that James confronts is counter to God’s plan for His church. Think first of all about:
A. Those Favored by the System
In verses 6 and 7, James points out an irony that was true of the first century church, and is still true today.
He says that while you are despising the poor and needy, the rich people you are courting are actually your strongest enemies.
He asks in verse 6, “Is it not the rich who oppress you and personally drag you into court?” He goes on in verse 7, “Do they not blaspheme the fair name by which you have been called?”
The early church was made up of mostly poor peasants and servants. They were the bottom of the societal ladder, and they were often abused by the upper class and wealthy.
James asks, “Why are you so interested in the pleasure and approval of the very people who oppress you and oppose you?”
There is a temptation and a tendency for the church to try desperately to be cool and attractive to the mainstream of our society.
As a result, we try to appeal to the educated, upper-class, socially-stylish people. We target the Starbucks and sushi crowd, with their Blackberry’s and BMW’s, thinking their presence in our church will validate us in the world.
The only problem, is that so very often, this is the same crowd who resents the presence of the Church in the world, and scoffs at the message of the gospel we proclaim.
It is a sad and ironic system of operation when the church chases the very classes and culture that despise it.
We must realize that the Bible will never make Oprah’s book club, and the church will never be cool in a world that sees the cross of Jesus as silliness.
There is something further that makes this system so counter to the plan of God. Notice not only who this system favors, but notice also further:
B. Those Forgotten by the System
In this text, James is rebuking the church for misunderstanding the truth about God’s kingdom.
Look again at verse 5, James says, “Listen, my beloved brethren: did not God choose the poor of this world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom which He promised to those who love Him?”
While these church members were fawning after the rich, they had forgotten what their own Savior had said. In Luke 6:20, Jesus said, “Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God.”
Not long before that statement, in Luke 4:18, Jesus said, “The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, Because He anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor. “
As much as it stings our egos to hear it, we need to be reminded of how Paul described the church in 1 Corinthians 1:26. He said, “For consider your calling, brethren, that there were not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble…”
If we are not careful, we will value the same select people and the same shallow principles of our sin-sick society, and we will forget that the kingdom of God is primarily made up of those whom the world overlooks and undervalues.
We need to be reminded that Christ is building His body, and the people who make it up probably look less like the CEO in the new convertible, and more like a single-mom in an old minivan full of kids.
We need to recognize that the Kingdom of Christ will more likely include a calloused-handed mechanic with his name on his shirt, than a well-dressed executive with his name on the office door.
James is not saying that no rich man ever gets saved, or that every poor man is saved already. No, but He is reminding us of the overall plan of God.
The plan of God for his church is for us to, as the parable in Luke 14 says, “…Go out at once into the streets and lanes of the city and bring in here the poor and crippled and blind and lame.”
While social standing and wealth may offer some advantages in a world where those things are valued, they should make no difference whatsoever in the church of the Lord Jesus.
Pride and prejudice at the house of God are sure signs that the church has missed the truth of the kingdom of God.
D.L. Moody hung a sign over the door of his church in Chicago that I believe would have pleased Brother James. It said, “Ever welcome to this house of God are the strangers and the poor.”
May that be true of this church as well, and may we never hold the faith of Christ with favoritism.
Sunday, January 17, 2010
They Lived Happily Ever After (Ruth 4:13-22)
A little girl had learned the story of "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs." She was telling the story to her mother. When she got down to the place where the prince kissed Snow White and awakened her from her sleep, the little girl said, "Mother, do you now what happened then?" The mother, knowing how the storied ended, said, "They lived happily ever after." The little girl said, "Oh no, they got married."
We come to the close of the book of Ruth. The book of Ruth is a story that could began with the words, "Once upon a time," and you could certainly end the book with the words, "And they lived happily ever after."
[Ruth 4:13-22]
13 So Boaz took Ruth, and she became his wife, and he went in to her. And the Lord enabled her to conceive, and she gave birth to a son.
14 Then the women said to Naomi, “Blessed is the Lord who has not left you without a redeemer today, and may his name become famous in Israel.
15 “May he also be to you a restorer of life and a sustainer of your old age; for your daughter-in-law, who loves you and is better to you than seven sons, has given birth to him.”
16 Then Naomi took the child and laid him in her lap, and became his nurse.
17 The neighbor women gave him a name, saying, “A son has been born to Naomi!” So they named him Obed. He is the father of Jesse, the father of David.
18 Now these are the generations of Perez: to Perez was born Hezron,
19 and to Hezron was born Ram, and to Ram, Amminadab,
20 and to Amminadab was born Nahshon, and to Nahshon, Salmon,
21 and to Salmon was born Boaz, and to Boaz, Obed,
22 and to Obed was born Jesse, and to Jesse, David.
In the case of Ruth and Boaz, they got married and they lived happily ever after. Well, I got some good news for you. One of these days we are going to get married and live happily ever after. The last few verses of the Book of Ruth tell us how everything ended up in Ruth's case, and they remind us how everything is going to end up in our case.
We that are the earthly servants of Christ will one day become the heavenly spouse of Christ. Today we are His workers, one day we will be His wife. One day we will move out of the fields and move into His house.
In these closing verses we see:
1. OUR WAITING
In Ruth's case, there was a night of waiting. In 3:13, Boaz said to Ruth, "Remain this night." There was a period of waiting before everything would be legally finalized and personally realized. In our case, we await and anticipate our glorious future and the coming of our Heavenly Bridegroom. He went away and we wait for His return.
As we wait, there is:
A. We Rest on a Promise
Notice Ruth 3:13, “Remain this night, and when morning comes, if he will redeem you, good; let him redeem you. But if he does not wish to redeem you, then I will redeem you, as the Lord lives. Lie down until morning.”
Ruth was to rest in the promise Boaz gave her that he would take care of everything. He said, in a nutshell, "Lie down and rest. I will take of everything in the morning.”
The Lord gave us His promise that He would come again. Jesus said in John 14:1-3, “Do not let your heart be troubled; believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father’s house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you. If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also.”
I read about a London bookmaker that accepted a bet against a visit from outer space. The odds had been 100-1, but they lowered it to 33-1 because of a rash of bets from the United States. The firm said it stands to lose nearly $500,000 if somebody drops in. I say they better drop the odds lower, for one day, Someone will drop in and if I were a gambling man, I'd put a bet down on that one. Here is something on which you can hang your hat. Jesus is coming again! That's a promise on which we rest.
Boaz said “It shall be in the morning" (3:13). We wait in the night, but morning is coming! Do not despair the sunset, for the sunrise is coming.
C.A. Blackmore, one of America’s pioneer radio preachers, was preaching on the return of the Lord Jesus. He said, "My friend, we have a glorious hope, the Bible calls it a blessed hope for Christians. The Bible tells us that one day the trumpet will sound and Jesus will come back to take His children home! Dear friend, all your suffering and pain will be over, you'll have a new body, arms and legs that are missing will be replaced friend, we'll be like Jesus! You'll have a glorified body someday, some golden daybreak when Jesus comes back."
A few days later, Blackmore received a letter from a woman listener who had been bed-ridden for years. She wrote, "Rev. Blackmore, the message you gave on Jesus coming was such a blessing to me. I've been an invalid for almost 25 years and sometimes I get so discouraged, I can hardly wait for the Lord to come. To think I'll be able to walk again and there'll be no heartaches there. Thank you so much for your sermon."
His son Carl was the pianist and soloist for the broadcast. He too had been moved by what his father had said. Remembering his father’s words, "Some Golden daybreak," he gave us the great hymn:
Some glorious morning sorrow will cease,
Some glorious morning all will be peace;
Heartaches all ended, Labor all done,
Heaven will open, Jesus will come.
Some golden day-break Jesus will come;
Some golden day-break battles all won,
He'll shout the vict'ry, break thro' the blue,
Some golden day-break, for me, for you.
As we wait, there is also:
B. We Rest in a Place
In Ruth 3:13, Boaz said, "Remain this night." Then we read in 3:14, “So she lay at his feet until morning." The promise on which we rest is that Jesus will come. The place in which to rest is at His feet. We are to look for Him and live for Him. We are to live a life of expectation and a life of consecration.
Pompeii, Italy is an ancient Roman city that was destroyed by the eruption of Mt. Vesuvius. Hundreds were buried beneath the ash, cinders, and lava. During excavation, people were found in various places and positions. There were some found in deep vaults, having gone there for security. Some were found in lofty chambers, attempting to get above it all.
But there is one interesting Roman sentinel that was found. He was found standing at the city gate where he had been placed by the captain, with his hands still grasping his weapon. There, while the earth shook and the floods of ashes and cinders overwhelmed him, he had stood at his post, and there 1800 years later they found him. Like Ruth, may we stay at His feet till morning.
Secondly, besides our waiting, in these closing words we are reminded of:
2. OUR WEDDING
The night passed, the morning came, and Boaz kept his word. Notice Ruth 4:13, "So Boaz took Ruth, and she became his wife." You talk about an honorable Bridegroom and a happy bride. You talk about a sweet, special, significant wedding. This wedding certainly was!
As we look at this wedding we see:
A. A Thrilling Scene
How special this hour must have been to Boaz. He had loved Ruth so much that he had purchased and redeemed her. How special this must have been to Naomi. It was she that first saw the possibilities of all this coming to pass. How special it must have been to Ruth. She was no longer a worker in his field, she was a wife in his arms.
There is an interesting word that is used to describe Boaz taking Ruth to be his wife. Verse 13, says, "So Boaz took Ruth." The word "took" means "to carry away, to fetch." One of these days our heavenly Boaz will "fetch" us and carry us away.
I can only imagine what that hour will be like when Jesus comes and we are called home. John got a glimpse of that thrilling scene in Revelation 19:1-9:
1 After these things I heard something like a loud voice of a great multitude in heaven, saying, “Hallelujah! Salvation and glory and power belong to our God;
2 because His judgments are true and righteous; for He has judged the great harlot who was corrupting the earth with her immorality, and He has avenged the blood of His bond-servants on her.”
3 And a second time they said, “Hallelujah! Her smoke rises up forever and ever.”
4 And the twenty-four elders and the four living creatures fell down and worshiped God who sits on the throne saying, “Amen. Hallelujah!”
5 And a voice came from the throne, saying, “Give praise to our God, all you His bond-servants, you who fear Him, the small and the great.”
6 Then I heard something like the voice of a great multitude and like the sound of many waters and like the sound of mighty peals of thunder, saying, “Hallelujah! For the Lord our God, the Almighty, reigns.
7 “Let us rejoice and be glad and give the glory to Him, for the marriage of the Lamb has come and His bride has made herself ready.”
8 It was given to her to clothe herself in fine linen, bright and clean; for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints.
9 Then he said to me, “Write, ‘Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb.’ ” And he said to me, “These are true words of God.”
That will be a thrilling scene. That will be a blessed hour. That will be a glorious time.
We also see:
B. A Touching Story
Boaz was as described, "a mighty man of wealth" (2:1). No doubt, Boaz could have married just about any single woman in town. He was Bethlehem’s most eligible bachelor. He would have been a prize catch for any of the Bethlehem maids. But Boaz fell in love with Ruth, in spite of the fact she was from Moab. Most Jews wouldn't have anything to do with such foreigners. The idea of marrying one was out of the question.
Add to that the fact that Ruth didn't have anything to her name. She was hopeless and helpless. She was having to pick up left-overs in a field just to live. But Boaz fell in love with her and made her his wife.
One day we will enjoy being the heavenly bride of the heavenly Bridegroom. When we stand there, it will be as an undeserving bride. All of us will have to say that we don't understand why He would love us and make us His own. Never will what God has done for us be understood anymore than on our wedding day.
Lastly, in these closing words we see:
3. OUR WORSHIP
We read in 4:13, “So Boaz took Ruth, and she became his wife, and he went in to her. And the Lord enabled her to conceive, and she gave birth to a son.”
They had a baby boy. Verse 17 reads, “The neighbor women gave him a name, saying, ‘A son has been born to Naomi!’ So they named him Obed. He is the father of Jesse, the father of David.”
Notice two things in verse 17. First, notice WHO named the baby boy. It was the neighbor ladies. Those who are in Christ should be identified as Christians by the witness of the lost instead of by the words of our lips. In Acts 11:26, the Bible teaches that the early believers in the city of Antioch of Syria were first called “Christians.” The name means “like Christ.” These early believers lived lives that made their neighbors think of Jesus. So, they came to be called “Christians” by the people of that city. We shouldn’t have to identify ourselves as Christians to others; others should be able to identify us as Christians.
Second, notice WHAT they named him. They named him "Obed," which means worship. Boaz and Ruth became husband and wife and it wasn't long before the sound of Worship filled their home.
First, I am reminded that:
A. Worship Is the Result of Our Love for Christ.
Obed was the result of Ruth's and Boaz' love for each other. Our worship is the result of our love for Him. The more we understand His love for us, the more we love Him. The more we love Him, the more we worship Him.
I am also reminded that:
B. Worship Is the Response of Our Life in Christ.
No doubt Ruth wanted to give Boaz a son. After all he had done for her, this was what she wanted to give him.
One day Jesus will come. We will become His wife for all eternity. He will be the object of our affection and the occupation of our time. He will be worshipped and rightly so. Yes, we will live happily ever after. What a wonderful story is THE LOVE STORY OF REDEMPTION!
We come to the close of the book of Ruth. The book of Ruth is a story that could began with the words, "Once upon a time," and you could certainly end the book with the words, "And they lived happily ever after."
[Ruth 4:13-22]
13 So Boaz took Ruth, and she became his wife, and he went in to her. And the Lord enabled her to conceive, and she gave birth to a son.
14 Then the women said to Naomi, “Blessed is the Lord who has not left you without a redeemer today, and may his name become famous in Israel.
15 “May he also be to you a restorer of life and a sustainer of your old age; for your daughter-in-law, who loves you and is better to you than seven sons, has given birth to him.”
16 Then Naomi took the child and laid him in her lap, and became his nurse.
17 The neighbor women gave him a name, saying, “A son has been born to Naomi!” So they named him Obed. He is the father of Jesse, the father of David.
18 Now these are the generations of Perez: to Perez was born Hezron,
19 and to Hezron was born Ram, and to Ram, Amminadab,
20 and to Amminadab was born Nahshon, and to Nahshon, Salmon,
21 and to Salmon was born Boaz, and to Boaz, Obed,
22 and to Obed was born Jesse, and to Jesse, David.
In the case of Ruth and Boaz, they got married and they lived happily ever after. Well, I got some good news for you. One of these days we are going to get married and live happily ever after. The last few verses of the Book of Ruth tell us how everything ended up in Ruth's case, and they remind us how everything is going to end up in our case.
We that are the earthly servants of Christ will one day become the heavenly spouse of Christ. Today we are His workers, one day we will be His wife. One day we will move out of the fields and move into His house.
In these closing verses we see:
1. OUR WAITING
In Ruth's case, there was a night of waiting. In 3:13, Boaz said to Ruth, "Remain this night." There was a period of waiting before everything would be legally finalized and personally realized. In our case, we await and anticipate our glorious future and the coming of our Heavenly Bridegroom. He went away and we wait for His return.
As we wait, there is:
A. We Rest on a Promise
Notice Ruth 3:13, “Remain this night, and when morning comes, if he will redeem you, good; let him redeem you. But if he does not wish to redeem you, then I will redeem you, as the Lord lives. Lie down until morning.”
Ruth was to rest in the promise Boaz gave her that he would take care of everything. He said, in a nutshell, "Lie down and rest. I will take of everything in the morning.”
The Lord gave us His promise that He would come again. Jesus said in John 14:1-3, “Do not let your heart be troubled; believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father’s house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you. If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also.”
I read about a London bookmaker that accepted a bet against a visit from outer space. The odds had been 100-1, but they lowered it to 33-1 because of a rash of bets from the United States. The firm said it stands to lose nearly $500,000 if somebody drops in. I say they better drop the odds lower, for one day, Someone will drop in and if I were a gambling man, I'd put a bet down on that one. Here is something on which you can hang your hat. Jesus is coming again! That's a promise on which we rest.
Boaz said “It shall be in the morning" (3:13). We wait in the night, but morning is coming! Do not despair the sunset, for the sunrise is coming.
C.A. Blackmore, one of America’s pioneer radio preachers, was preaching on the return of the Lord Jesus. He said, "My friend, we have a glorious hope, the Bible calls it a blessed hope for Christians. The Bible tells us that one day the trumpet will sound and Jesus will come back to take His children home! Dear friend, all your suffering and pain will be over, you'll have a new body, arms and legs that are missing will be replaced friend, we'll be like Jesus! You'll have a glorified body someday, some golden daybreak when Jesus comes back."
A few days later, Blackmore received a letter from a woman listener who had been bed-ridden for years. She wrote, "Rev. Blackmore, the message you gave on Jesus coming was such a blessing to me. I've been an invalid for almost 25 years and sometimes I get so discouraged, I can hardly wait for the Lord to come. To think I'll be able to walk again and there'll be no heartaches there. Thank you so much for your sermon."
His son Carl was the pianist and soloist for the broadcast. He too had been moved by what his father had said. Remembering his father’s words, "Some Golden daybreak," he gave us the great hymn:
Some glorious morning sorrow will cease,
Some glorious morning all will be peace;
Heartaches all ended, Labor all done,
Heaven will open, Jesus will come.
Some golden day-break Jesus will come;
Some golden day-break battles all won,
He'll shout the vict'ry, break thro' the blue,
Some golden day-break, for me, for you.
As we wait, there is also:
B. We Rest in a Place
In Ruth 3:13, Boaz said, "Remain this night." Then we read in 3:14, “So she lay at his feet until morning." The promise on which we rest is that Jesus will come. The place in which to rest is at His feet. We are to look for Him and live for Him. We are to live a life of expectation and a life of consecration.
Pompeii, Italy is an ancient Roman city that was destroyed by the eruption of Mt. Vesuvius. Hundreds were buried beneath the ash, cinders, and lava. During excavation, people were found in various places and positions. There were some found in deep vaults, having gone there for security. Some were found in lofty chambers, attempting to get above it all.
But there is one interesting Roman sentinel that was found. He was found standing at the city gate where he had been placed by the captain, with his hands still grasping his weapon. There, while the earth shook and the floods of ashes and cinders overwhelmed him, he had stood at his post, and there 1800 years later they found him. Like Ruth, may we stay at His feet till morning.
Secondly, besides our waiting, in these closing words we are reminded of:
2. OUR WEDDING
The night passed, the morning came, and Boaz kept his word. Notice Ruth 4:13, "So Boaz took Ruth, and she became his wife." You talk about an honorable Bridegroom and a happy bride. You talk about a sweet, special, significant wedding. This wedding certainly was!
As we look at this wedding we see:
A. A Thrilling Scene
How special this hour must have been to Boaz. He had loved Ruth so much that he had purchased and redeemed her. How special this must have been to Naomi. It was she that first saw the possibilities of all this coming to pass. How special it must have been to Ruth. She was no longer a worker in his field, she was a wife in his arms.
There is an interesting word that is used to describe Boaz taking Ruth to be his wife. Verse 13, says, "So Boaz took Ruth." The word "took" means "to carry away, to fetch." One of these days our heavenly Boaz will "fetch" us and carry us away.
I can only imagine what that hour will be like when Jesus comes and we are called home. John got a glimpse of that thrilling scene in Revelation 19:1-9:
1 After these things I heard something like a loud voice of a great multitude in heaven, saying, “Hallelujah! Salvation and glory and power belong to our God;
2 because His judgments are true and righteous; for He has judged the great harlot who was corrupting the earth with her immorality, and He has avenged the blood of His bond-servants on her.”
3 And a second time they said, “Hallelujah! Her smoke rises up forever and ever.”
4 And the twenty-four elders and the four living creatures fell down and worshiped God who sits on the throne saying, “Amen. Hallelujah!”
5 And a voice came from the throne, saying, “Give praise to our God, all you His bond-servants, you who fear Him, the small and the great.”
6 Then I heard something like the voice of a great multitude and like the sound of many waters and like the sound of mighty peals of thunder, saying, “Hallelujah! For the Lord our God, the Almighty, reigns.
7 “Let us rejoice and be glad and give the glory to Him, for the marriage of the Lamb has come and His bride has made herself ready.”
8 It was given to her to clothe herself in fine linen, bright and clean; for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints.
9 Then he said to me, “Write, ‘Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb.’ ” And he said to me, “These are true words of God.”
That will be a thrilling scene. That will be a blessed hour. That will be a glorious time.
We also see:
B. A Touching Story
Boaz was as described, "a mighty man of wealth" (2:1). No doubt, Boaz could have married just about any single woman in town. He was Bethlehem’s most eligible bachelor. He would have been a prize catch for any of the Bethlehem maids. But Boaz fell in love with Ruth, in spite of the fact she was from Moab. Most Jews wouldn't have anything to do with such foreigners. The idea of marrying one was out of the question.
Add to that the fact that Ruth didn't have anything to her name. She was hopeless and helpless. She was having to pick up left-overs in a field just to live. But Boaz fell in love with her and made her his wife.
One day we will enjoy being the heavenly bride of the heavenly Bridegroom. When we stand there, it will be as an undeserving bride. All of us will have to say that we don't understand why He would love us and make us His own. Never will what God has done for us be understood anymore than on our wedding day.
Lastly, in these closing words we see:
3. OUR WORSHIP
We read in 4:13, “So Boaz took Ruth, and she became his wife, and he went in to her. And the Lord enabled her to conceive, and she gave birth to a son.”
They had a baby boy. Verse 17 reads, “The neighbor women gave him a name, saying, ‘A son has been born to Naomi!’ So they named him Obed. He is the father of Jesse, the father of David.”
Notice two things in verse 17. First, notice WHO named the baby boy. It was the neighbor ladies. Those who are in Christ should be identified as Christians by the witness of the lost instead of by the words of our lips. In Acts 11:26, the Bible teaches that the early believers in the city of Antioch of Syria were first called “Christians.” The name means “like Christ.” These early believers lived lives that made their neighbors think of Jesus. So, they came to be called “Christians” by the people of that city. We shouldn’t have to identify ourselves as Christians to others; others should be able to identify us as Christians.
Second, notice WHAT they named him. They named him "Obed," which means worship. Boaz and Ruth became husband and wife and it wasn't long before the sound of Worship filled their home.
First, I am reminded that:
A. Worship Is the Result of Our Love for Christ.
Obed was the result of Ruth's and Boaz' love for each other. Our worship is the result of our love for Him. The more we understand His love for us, the more we love Him. The more we love Him, the more we worship Him.
I am also reminded that:
B. Worship Is the Response of Our Life in Christ.
No doubt Ruth wanted to give Boaz a son. After all he had done for her, this was what she wanted to give him.
One day Jesus will come. We will become His wife for all eternity. He will be the object of our affection and the occupation of our time. He will be worshipped and rightly so. Yes, we will live happily ever after. What a wonderful story is THE LOVE STORY OF REDEMPTION!
Friday, January 15, 2010
Be Mighty In Prayer
“Devote yourselves to prayer, keeping alert in it with an attitude of thanksgiving; praying at the same time for us as well, that God will open up to us a door for the word, so that we may speak forth the mystery of Christ, for which I have also been imprisoned; that I may make it clear in the way I ought to speak.”
Colossians 4:2-4 NASB95
I was so encouraged and blessed by our prayer retreat. To have so many of our church praying together was the best way possible to spend a Saturday morning. I thank all those who helped by leading, organizing, preparing food, and providing child care. I also thank you for the prayers offered in my behalf and for my family.
It is quite remarkable to know that others are talking to God about you! I often ask people this question, “How can I pray for you?” Or, “Is there something you would like me to pray about?” Let me turn that question into a request for how the Brown Deer Church family can pray for me. Following the example of the Apostle Paul in Colossians 4, I ask that you pray for me in two ways. First, that God would open doors of opportunity to share the Gospel of Christ with those who are lost. Second, that God would give clarity to the words I speak in communicating the Word.
One of my heroes of the faith is the great John Knox. He was the founder of the Presbyterian Church in Scotland. Knox was a man known far and wide as a great preacher. But, he was most known for being a man of prayer. At the end of his life, while very ill, John Knox called to his wife and said, "Read me that Scripture where I first cast my anchor." After he listened to the beautiful prayer of Jesus recorded in John 17, he seemed to forget his weakness. He began to pray, interceding earnestly for his fellow men. He prayed for the ungodly who had thus far rejected the gospel. He pleaded in behalf of people who had been recently converted. And he requested protection for the Lord's servants, many of whom were facing persecution. As Knox prayed, his spirit went home to be with the Lord. He ministered through prayer until the moment of his death.
Queen Mary had said of John Knox, "I fear his prayers more than I do the armies of my enemies." Wouldn’t it be incredible to have men and women who prayed like that in our church? E. M. Bounds wrote, “What the Church needs today is not more machinery or better, not new organizations or more novel methods, but men whom the Holy Ghost can use--men of prayer, men mighty in prayer.”
May our church family devote [ourselves] to prayer, keeping alert in it with an attitude of thanksgiving.
Love in Christ,
Pastor Larry
Colossians 4:2-4 NASB95
I was so encouraged and blessed by our prayer retreat. To have so many of our church praying together was the best way possible to spend a Saturday morning. I thank all those who helped by leading, organizing, preparing food, and providing child care. I also thank you for the prayers offered in my behalf and for my family.
It is quite remarkable to know that others are talking to God about you! I often ask people this question, “How can I pray for you?” Or, “Is there something you would like me to pray about?” Let me turn that question into a request for how the Brown Deer Church family can pray for me. Following the example of the Apostle Paul in Colossians 4, I ask that you pray for me in two ways. First, that God would open doors of opportunity to share the Gospel of Christ with those who are lost. Second, that God would give clarity to the words I speak in communicating the Word.
One of my heroes of the faith is the great John Knox. He was the founder of the Presbyterian Church in Scotland. Knox was a man known far and wide as a great preacher. But, he was most known for being a man of prayer. At the end of his life, while very ill, John Knox called to his wife and said, "Read me that Scripture where I first cast my anchor." After he listened to the beautiful prayer of Jesus recorded in John 17, he seemed to forget his weakness. He began to pray, interceding earnestly for his fellow men. He prayed for the ungodly who had thus far rejected the gospel. He pleaded in behalf of people who had been recently converted. And he requested protection for the Lord's servants, many of whom were facing persecution. As Knox prayed, his spirit went home to be with the Lord. He ministered through prayer until the moment of his death.
Queen Mary had said of John Knox, "I fear his prayers more than I do the armies of my enemies." Wouldn’t it be incredible to have men and women who prayed like that in our church? E. M. Bounds wrote, “What the Church needs today is not more machinery or better, not new organizations or more novel methods, but men whom the Holy Ghost can use--men of prayer, men mighty in prayer.”
May our church family devote [ourselves] to prayer, keeping alert in it with an attitude of thanksgiving.
Love in Christ,
Pastor Larry
Sunday, January 10, 2010
The Redeemer (Ruth 3:12 - 4:12)
One of the great hymn writers of all time was Philip P. Bliss. Bliss and his wife were killed in a train wreck around Christmas in 1876. He was on his way to join D.L. Moody in an evangelistic campaign. Among the personal effects of Bliss were a set of words entitled, "My Redeemer." They were later set to music and have become one of the Church's most cherished hymns. When I read this portion of the Book of Ruth, I find myself singing:
I will sing of my Redeemer,
And His wondrous love to me;
On the cruel cross He suffered,
From the curse to set me free.
Sing, oh, sing of my Redeemer;
With His blood He purchased me,
On the cross He sealed my pardon,
Paid the debt and made me free.
Before us is a wonderful illustration of our Redeemer, the Lord Jesus, and how He paid the debt and made us free. It is the story of how Boaz, as a kinsman-redeemer, redeemed Ruth. In our last study we learned about the role of a kinsman-redeemer. Now let's notice the only example of a kinsman-redeemer in the Bible.
[Ruth 3:12-18]
12 “Now it is true I am a close relative; however, there is a relative closer than I.
13 “Remain this night, and when morning comes, if he will redeem you, good; let him redeem you. But if he does not wish to redeem you, then I will redeem you, as the Lord lives. Lie down until morning.”
14 So she lay at his feet until morning and rose before one could recognize another; and he said, “Let it not be known that the woman came to the threshing floor.”
15 Again he said, “Give me the cloak that is on you and hold it.” So she held it, and he measured six measures of barley and laid it on her. Then she went into the city.
16 When she came to her mother-in-law, she said, “How did it go, my daughter?” And she told her all that the man had done for her.
17 She said, “These six measures of barley he gave to me, for he said, ‘Do not go to your mother-in-law empty-handed.’ ”
18 Then she said, “Wait, my daughter, until you know how the matter turns out; for the man will not rest until he has settled it today.”
[Ruth 4:1-12]
1 Now Boaz went up to the gate and sat down there, and behold, the close relative of whom Boaz spoke was passing by, so he said, “Turn aside, friend, sit down here.” And he turned aside and sat down.
2 He took ten men of the elders of the city and said, “Sit down here.” So they sat down.
3 Then he said to the closest relative, “Naomi, who has come back from the land of Moab, has to sell the piece of land which belonged to our brother Elimelech.
4 “So I thought to inform you, saying, ‘Buy it before those who are sitting here, and before the elders of my people. If you will redeem it, redeem it; but if not, tell me that I may know; for there is no one but you to redeem it, and I am after you.’ ” And he said, “I will redeem it.”
5 Then Boaz said, “On the day you buy the field from the hand of Naomi, you must also acquire Ruth the Moabitess, the widow of the deceased, in order to raise up the name of the deceased on his inheritance.”
6 The closest relative said, “I cannot redeem it for myself, because I would jeopardize my own inheritance. Redeem it for yourself; you may have my right of redemption, for I cannot redeem it.”
7 Now this was the custom in former times in Israel concerning the redemption and the exchange of land to confirm any matter: a man removed his sandal and gave it to another; and this was the manner of attestation in Israel.
8 So the closest relative said to Boaz, “Buy it for yourself.” And he removed his sandal.
9 Then Boaz said to the elders and all the people, “You are witnesses today that I have bought from the hand of Naomi all that belonged to Elimelech and all that belonged to Chilion and Mahlon.
10 “Moreover, I have acquired Ruth the Moabitess, the widow of Mahlon, to be my wife in order to raise up the name of the deceased on his inheritance, so that the name of the deceased will not be cut off from his brothers or from the court of his birth place; you are witnesses today.”
11 All the people who were in the court, and the elders, said, “We are witnesses. May the Lord make the woman who is coming into your home like Rachel and Leah, both of whom built the house of Israel; and may you achieve wealth in Ephrathah and become famous in Bethlehem.
12 “Moreover, may your house be like the house of Perez whom Tamar bore to Judah, through the offspring which the Lord will give you by this young woman.”
From this example we learn 3 things about our redemption.
1. THE REQUEST FOR REDEMPTION
Ruth had a need for a kinsman-redeemer. Likewise, we have a need for a Redeemer. The law had provided for her a kinsman-redeemer, and the Lord has provided for us a Redeemer. You might say that for both Ruth and us, redemption is for the taking.
First, we see Ruth:
A) Asking For Redemption
Let's go back and look at a few verses that we considered in our last study. Notice Ruth 3:6-9, So she went down to the threshing floor and did according to all that her mother-in-law had commanded her. When Boaz had eaten and drunk and his heart was merry, he went to lie down at the end of the heap of grain; and she came secretly, and uncovered his feet and lay down. It happened in the middle of the night that the man was startled and bent forward; and behold, a woman was lying at his feet. He said, “Who are you?” And she answered, “I am Ruth your maid. So spread your covering over your maid, for you are a close relative.”
She said, "for you are a close relative.” She recognized Boaz as a kinsman-redeemer and requested that he be her kinsman-redeemer. Her actions were a custom of that day in which one asked another to be their kinsman-redeemer. She was asking Boaz to be her redeemer.
Ruth requested and Boaz responded. Notice Ruth 3:11, “Now, my daughter, do not fear. I will do for you whatever you ask, for all my people in the city know that you are a woman of excellence.”
On Ruth's part it was as simple as that. All she had to do was ask. And when she asked, Boaz said yes! The Bible tells us in Romans 10:13, “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”
Salvation on our part is as simple as asking. We are told in John 6:37, “All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will certainly not cast out.”
If we will ask Him, He will accept us. Salvation is as simple as that. We acknowledge that Jesus is the only Redeemer, and we ask that He be our Redeemer. To anyone that ever asked, Jesus has never said no!
We also see Ruth:
B) Assured Of Redemption
Ruth was assured of redemption by two things Boaz did. First, there was his promise. Notice Ruth 3:13, “Remain this night, and when morning comes, if he will redeem you, good; let him redeem you. But if he does not wish to redeem you, then I will redeem you, as the Lord lives. Lie down until morning.”
Boaz assured her that he would do the part of the kinsman. He promised that he would take care of everything. All Ruth had to do was ask and everything else was up to Boaz. Ruth was to rest in his promise that he would redeem her.
I have heard people say something like, "If we do the best we can, then that will be enough, for that is all we can do." May I be very clear and say that doing the best we can is not enough. Furthermore, there is nothing we can do. Salvation is not based on what we do, but what He has done. Our part is to ask, and the rest depends entirely on Him. We rest in what He has done. Jesus took care of all that had to be done for our redemption.
The songwriters said it well:
Nothing in my hands I bring,
Simply to Thy cross I cling.
My hope is built on nothing less,
Than Jesus blood and righteousness.
Jesus paid it all,
All to Him I owe.
Second, she was assured by his provision. Notice Ruth 3:15, Again he said, “Give me the cloak that is on you and hold it.” So she held it, and he measured six measures of barley and laid it on her. Then she went into the city.
He gave her a token, 6 measures, (24 gallons or 88 pounds of barley) to assure. He said, "I will redeem you and here is a small token to prove that I mean what I say."
Notice Ruth 3:16-17 , When she came to her mother-in-law, she said, “How did it go, my daughter?” And she told her all that the man had done for her. She said, “These six measures of barley he gave to me, for he said, ‘Do not go to your mother-in-law empty-handed.’ ”
She walked in the next morning and Naomi asked, "How did it go, my daughter?” She was asking if she was the future wife of Boaz. Ruth said, "Look for yourself. What do you think?"
The Lord loads us down with proofs that we are redeemed. He gives us the evidence that we are His. There is an internal proof. Something happens on the inside. There is an external proof. Something happens on the outside.
Both His promise and provision give us assurance that He has redeemed us, just as it assured Ruth that Boaz would redeem her.
Secondly, we see:
2. THE REQUIREMENTS OF REDEMPTION
In order for Boaz to become Ruth's redeemer, there were certain requirements. There were certain business matters for which Boaz was responsible.
First, the Kinsman had to be:
A) Worthy
I say worthy in the sense of meeting certain qualifications. For one thing, He had to be a relative. Not just anyone could be a redeemer. He had to be a kinsman. We read in Leviticus 25:25, If a fellow countryman of yours becomes so poor he has to sell part of his property, then his nearest kinsman is to come and buy back what his relative has sold.
Boaz met this qualification (Ruth 2:19-20). Boaz was a near kinsman, thus was qualified. Did the Lord Jesus meet this qualification? We read in John 1:14, “And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.”
He that was God became man. He that was Divine became human. He became one of us. He became a relative of the human race. We read in Philippians 2:7, “But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men.”
There was a day that the Lord of Glory forsook His royal chariot to alight on this earth. You could say that he undressed Himself. He gave to the clouds His white robe. He gave to the sky His azure mantle. He gave to the stars His jewels. He gave to the sun His brightness. He that was from eternity was embodied in human flesh, demonstrated in human life, and was crystallized in human form. He became kin to us!
Not only did the redeemer have to be a relative, but he also had to have the resources. He had to have the money and means to pay the price. He had to be rich enough. Did Boaz meet this qualification? Notice Ruth 2:1, “And Naomi had a kinsman of her husband's, a mighty man of wealth, of the family of Elimelech; and his name was Boaz.” He was a man of wealth. He was financially able to be her kinsman.
Did Jesus meet this qualification? Was He able to redeem? Ephesians 3:20, “Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us.” Also we read in Hebrews 7:25, “Therefore He is able also to save forever those who draw near to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them.”
He was more than able. He was a relative and He had the resources. When Ruth asked Boaz to be her redeemer, He said yes, for he knew that he could be her redeemer. Our Lord is qualified to be our redeemer.
When you look at the wonderful story of redemption, you see Jesus stepping into the situation; and He steps into it as a qualified, able redeemer.
Secondly, the kinsman had to be:
B) Willing
Boaz was a relative and had the resources, but there was one slight problem. Notice Ruth 4:3-4.
Boaz was a near kinsman, but there was one that was nearer. The nearer kinsman was the first one in line to be Ruth’s kinsmen redeemer. Boaz said, "Ruth, if he chooses to redeem you, then I'll have to let him. But if he doesn't, then I will redeem you."
Now notice how things happened. We read, "Now Boaz went up to the gate and sat down there, and behold, the close relative of whom Boaz spoke was passing by, so he said, “Turn aside, friend, sit down here.” And he turned aside and sat down. He took ten men of the elders of the city and said, “Sit down here.” So they sat down (4:1-2).
The first thing the next morning Boaz went up to the gate. The gate was the center of the life of a community and a city. It was the place where people met and fellowshipped. But more importantly, it was the place that cases were heard and contracts were made.
Boaz waited until the nearer-kinsman passed by and he hollered at him to turn aside and sit down. “I want to talk with you about something.” Then Boaz asked that the elders sit down. Boaz was asking for a court hearing. Boaz put the case before the elders and the nearer-kinsman.
Then he said to the closest relative, “Naomi, who has come back from the land of Moab, has to sell the piece of land which belonged to our brother Elimelech. “So I thought to inform you, saying, ‘Buy it before those who are sitting here, and before the elders of my people. If you will redeem it, redeem it; but if not, tell me that I may know; for there is no one but you to redeem it, and I am after you.’ ” And he said, “I will redeem it.” (4:3-4).
Boaz told him about the situation. There was a parcel of land that Naomi had lost. He carefully lays out the details of the case. He reminds the nearer kinsman that he was the first one with responsibility of redeeming Naomi. Boaz asks if he would redeem the land for Naomi? He said, "Sure, I'll redeem it."
I'm sure Ruth's and Naomi's heart sunk when they heard him say "yes." But Boaz had a trump card up his sleeve. Notice Ruth 4:5, Then Boaz said, “On the day you buy the field from the hand of Naomi, you must also acquire Ruth the Moabitess, the widow of the deceased, in order to raise up the name of the deceased on his inheritance.”
He says, "By the way, if you buy the land, you will also have to marry Ruth. She is the wife of one of Elimelech's sons." When he hears that, he changes his tune. We read, The closest relative said, “I cannot redeem it for myself, because I would jeopardize my own inheritance. Redeem it for yourself; you may have my right of redemption, for I cannot redeem it” (4:6). When he realizes that a wife comes in the deal, he decides that he doesn't want to be a kinsman redeemer. Legally he was qualified, but personally he disqualified himself. He said, "I don’t think I want to do that"
That opened the door for Boaz, the next in line to be a redeemer. He was both worthy and willing to be a kinsman-redeemer. Notice Ruth 4:7-10, Now this was the custom in former times in Israel concerning the redemption and the exchange of land to confirm any matter: a man removed his sandal and gave it to another; and this was the manner of attestation in Israel. So the closest relative said to Boaz, “Buy it for yourself.” And he removed his sandal. Then Boaz said to the elders and all the people, “You are witnesses today that I have bought from the hand of Naomi all that belonged to Elimelech and all that belonged to Chilion and Mahlon. “Moreover, I have acquired Ruth the Moabitess, the widow of Mahlon, to be my wife in order to raise up the name of the deceased on his inheritance, so that the name of the deceased will not be cut off from his brothers or from the court of his birth place; you are witnesses today.”
Boaz says, "I’ll buy her." In those days the transfer of a sandal symbolized a change of ownership and came to be used as a sign of any agreement made and publicly witnessed between two parties. The nearer-kinsman pulled his shoe off and said, "Here, she's yours."
In our case there was a nearer-kinsman. That nearer-kinsman was the law. That law declared we were sinners. That law showed that we were sinners. That law showed that we needed a Savior, but it could not redeem us. But there was one that was both worthy and willing, both available and able.
Paul said in Romans 8:3, “For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh.”
Our flesh is a nearer-kinsman. But our flesh cannot save us. But Jesus is able and willing! Praise God He was willing! He is the kinsman who was able and willing! He is our kinsman redeemer.
3. THE RESULTS OF REDEMPTION
We see two things that resulted from Boaz becoming Ruth's kinsman-redeemer and the results of our redemption.
First, there is:
A) The Position of the Saints Is Established
Notice Ruth 4:11, All the people who were in the court, and the elders, said, “We are witnesses. May the Lord make the woman who is coming into your home like Rachel and Leah, both of whom built the house of Israel; and may you achieve wealth in Ephrathah and become famous in Bethlehem.
She is no longer called a Moabitess, but a woman. They express their wishes that she be like Rachel and Leah. the mothers of Israel. She has a new position in life. Redemption takes the outcasts and makes them part of God's family. It makes a sinner a saint. It makes a hell-bound sinner a heaven-bound saint.
B) The Praise Of The Savior Is Expressed
Notice the latter part of verse 11, and may you achieve wealth in Ephrathah and become famous in Bethlehem.
They said in effect, "May you be praised for what you have done." When we stop and think of what Jesus has done for us, the heart wants to sing out: "To God be the glory - great things He has done."
I will sing of my Redeemer,
And His wondrous love to me;
On the cruel cross He suffered,
From the curse to set me free.
Sing, oh, sing of my Redeemer;
With His blood He purchased me,
On the cross He sealed my pardon,
Paid the debt and made me free.
Before us is a wonderful illustration of our Redeemer, the Lord Jesus, and how He paid the debt and made us free. It is the story of how Boaz, as a kinsman-redeemer, redeemed Ruth. In our last study we learned about the role of a kinsman-redeemer. Now let's notice the only example of a kinsman-redeemer in the Bible.
[Ruth 3:12-18]
12 “Now it is true I am a close relative; however, there is a relative closer than I.
13 “Remain this night, and when morning comes, if he will redeem you, good; let him redeem you. But if he does not wish to redeem you, then I will redeem you, as the Lord lives. Lie down until morning.”
14 So she lay at his feet until morning and rose before one could recognize another; and he said, “Let it not be known that the woman came to the threshing floor.”
15 Again he said, “Give me the cloak that is on you and hold it.” So she held it, and he measured six measures of barley and laid it on her. Then she went into the city.
16 When she came to her mother-in-law, she said, “How did it go, my daughter?” And she told her all that the man had done for her.
17 She said, “These six measures of barley he gave to me, for he said, ‘Do not go to your mother-in-law empty-handed.’ ”
18 Then she said, “Wait, my daughter, until you know how the matter turns out; for the man will not rest until he has settled it today.”
[Ruth 4:1-12]
1 Now Boaz went up to the gate and sat down there, and behold, the close relative of whom Boaz spoke was passing by, so he said, “Turn aside, friend, sit down here.” And he turned aside and sat down.
2 He took ten men of the elders of the city and said, “Sit down here.” So they sat down.
3 Then he said to the closest relative, “Naomi, who has come back from the land of Moab, has to sell the piece of land which belonged to our brother Elimelech.
4 “So I thought to inform you, saying, ‘Buy it before those who are sitting here, and before the elders of my people. If you will redeem it, redeem it; but if not, tell me that I may know; for there is no one but you to redeem it, and I am after you.’ ” And he said, “I will redeem it.”
5 Then Boaz said, “On the day you buy the field from the hand of Naomi, you must also acquire Ruth the Moabitess, the widow of the deceased, in order to raise up the name of the deceased on his inheritance.”
6 The closest relative said, “I cannot redeem it for myself, because I would jeopardize my own inheritance. Redeem it for yourself; you may have my right of redemption, for I cannot redeem it.”
7 Now this was the custom in former times in Israel concerning the redemption and the exchange of land to confirm any matter: a man removed his sandal and gave it to another; and this was the manner of attestation in Israel.
8 So the closest relative said to Boaz, “Buy it for yourself.” And he removed his sandal.
9 Then Boaz said to the elders and all the people, “You are witnesses today that I have bought from the hand of Naomi all that belonged to Elimelech and all that belonged to Chilion and Mahlon.
10 “Moreover, I have acquired Ruth the Moabitess, the widow of Mahlon, to be my wife in order to raise up the name of the deceased on his inheritance, so that the name of the deceased will not be cut off from his brothers or from the court of his birth place; you are witnesses today.”
11 All the people who were in the court, and the elders, said, “We are witnesses. May the Lord make the woman who is coming into your home like Rachel and Leah, both of whom built the house of Israel; and may you achieve wealth in Ephrathah and become famous in Bethlehem.
12 “Moreover, may your house be like the house of Perez whom Tamar bore to Judah, through the offspring which the Lord will give you by this young woman.”
From this example we learn 3 things about our redemption.
1. THE REQUEST FOR REDEMPTION
Ruth had a need for a kinsman-redeemer. Likewise, we have a need for a Redeemer. The law had provided for her a kinsman-redeemer, and the Lord has provided for us a Redeemer. You might say that for both Ruth and us, redemption is for the taking.
First, we see Ruth:
A) Asking For Redemption
Let's go back and look at a few verses that we considered in our last study. Notice Ruth 3:6-9, So she went down to the threshing floor and did according to all that her mother-in-law had commanded her. When Boaz had eaten and drunk and his heart was merry, he went to lie down at the end of the heap of grain; and she came secretly, and uncovered his feet and lay down. It happened in the middle of the night that the man was startled and bent forward; and behold, a woman was lying at his feet. He said, “Who are you?” And she answered, “I am Ruth your maid. So spread your covering over your maid, for you are a close relative.”
She said, "for you are a close relative.” She recognized Boaz as a kinsman-redeemer and requested that he be her kinsman-redeemer. Her actions were a custom of that day in which one asked another to be their kinsman-redeemer. She was asking Boaz to be her redeemer.
Ruth requested and Boaz responded. Notice Ruth 3:11, “Now, my daughter, do not fear. I will do for you whatever you ask, for all my people in the city know that you are a woman of excellence.”
On Ruth's part it was as simple as that. All she had to do was ask. And when she asked, Boaz said yes! The Bible tells us in Romans 10:13, “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”
Salvation on our part is as simple as asking. We are told in John 6:37, “All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will certainly not cast out.”
If we will ask Him, He will accept us. Salvation is as simple as that. We acknowledge that Jesus is the only Redeemer, and we ask that He be our Redeemer. To anyone that ever asked, Jesus has never said no!
We also see Ruth:
B) Assured Of Redemption
Ruth was assured of redemption by two things Boaz did. First, there was his promise. Notice Ruth 3:13, “Remain this night, and when morning comes, if he will redeem you, good; let him redeem you. But if he does not wish to redeem you, then I will redeem you, as the Lord lives. Lie down until morning.”
Boaz assured her that he would do the part of the kinsman. He promised that he would take care of everything. All Ruth had to do was ask and everything else was up to Boaz. Ruth was to rest in his promise that he would redeem her.
I have heard people say something like, "If we do the best we can, then that will be enough, for that is all we can do." May I be very clear and say that doing the best we can is not enough. Furthermore, there is nothing we can do. Salvation is not based on what we do, but what He has done. Our part is to ask, and the rest depends entirely on Him. We rest in what He has done. Jesus took care of all that had to be done for our redemption.
The songwriters said it well:
Nothing in my hands I bring,
Simply to Thy cross I cling.
My hope is built on nothing less,
Than Jesus blood and righteousness.
Jesus paid it all,
All to Him I owe.
Second, she was assured by his provision. Notice Ruth 3:15, Again he said, “Give me the cloak that is on you and hold it.” So she held it, and he measured six measures of barley and laid it on her. Then she went into the city.
He gave her a token, 6 measures, (24 gallons or 88 pounds of barley) to assure. He said, "I will redeem you and here is a small token to prove that I mean what I say."
Notice Ruth 3:16-17 , When she came to her mother-in-law, she said, “How did it go, my daughter?” And she told her all that the man had done for her. She said, “These six measures of barley he gave to me, for he said, ‘Do not go to your mother-in-law empty-handed.’ ”
She walked in the next morning and Naomi asked, "How did it go, my daughter?” She was asking if she was the future wife of Boaz. Ruth said, "Look for yourself. What do you think?"
The Lord loads us down with proofs that we are redeemed. He gives us the evidence that we are His. There is an internal proof. Something happens on the inside. There is an external proof. Something happens on the outside.
Both His promise and provision give us assurance that He has redeemed us, just as it assured Ruth that Boaz would redeem her.
Secondly, we see:
2. THE REQUIREMENTS OF REDEMPTION
In order for Boaz to become Ruth's redeemer, there were certain requirements. There were certain business matters for which Boaz was responsible.
First, the Kinsman had to be:
A) Worthy
I say worthy in the sense of meeting certain qualifications. For one thing, He had to be a relative. Not just anyone could be a redeemer. He had to be a kinsman. We read in Leviticus 25:25, If a fellow countryman of yours becomes so poor he has to sell part of his property, then his nearest kinsman is to come and buy back what his relative has sold.
Boaz met this qualification (Ruth 2:19-20). Boaz was a near kinsman, thus was qualified. Did the Lord Jesus meet this qualification? We read in John 1:14, “And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.”
He that was God became man. He that was Divine became human. He became one of us. He became a relative of the human race. We read in Philippians 2:7, “But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men.”
There was a day that the Lord of Glory forsook His royal chariot to alight on this earth. You could say that he undressed Himself. He gave to the clouds His white robe. He gave to the sky His azure mantle. He gave to the stars His jewels. He gave to the sun His brightness. He that was from eternity was embodied in human flesh, demonstrated in human life, and was crystallized in human form. He became kin to us!
Not only did the redeemer have to be a relative, but he also had to have the resources. He had to have the money and means to pay the price. He had to be rich enough. Did Boaz meet this qualification? Notice Ruth 2:1, “And Naomi had a kinsman of her husband's, a mighty man of wealth, of the family of Elimelech; and his name was Boaz.” He was a man of wealth. He was financially able to be her kinsman.
Did Jesus meet this qualification? Was He able to redeem? Ephesians 3:20, “Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us.” Also we read in Hebrews 7:25, “Therefore He is able also to save forever those who draw near to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them.”
He was more than able. He was a relative and He had the resources. When Ruth asked Boaz to be her redeemer, He said yes, for he knew that he could be her redeemer. Our Lord is qualified to be our redeemer.
When you look at the wonderful story of redemption, you see Jesus stepping into the situation; and He steps into it as a qualified, able redeemer.
Secondly, the kinsman had to be:
B) Willing
Boaz was a relative and had the resources, but there was one slight problem. Notice Ruth 4:3-4.
Boaz was a near kinsman, but there was one that was nearer. The nearer kinsman was the first one in line to be Ruth’s kinsmen redeemer. Boaz said, "Ruth, if he chooses to redeem you, then I'll have to let him. But if he doesn't, then I will redeem you."
Now notice how things happened. We read, "Now Boaz went up to the gate and sat down there, and behold, the close relative of whom Boaz spoke was passing by, so he said, “Turn aside, friend, sit down here.” And he turned aside and sat down. He took ten men of the elders of the city and said, “Sit down here.” So they sat down (4:1-2).
The first thing the next morning Boaz went up to the gate. The gate was the center of the life of a community and a city. It was the place where people met and fellowshipped. But more importantly, it was the place that cases were heard and contracts were made.
Boaz waited until the nearer-kinsman passed by and he hollered at him to turn aside and sit down. “I want to talk with you about something.” Then Boaz asked that the elders sit down. Boaz was asking for a court hearing. Boaz put the case before the elders and the nearer-kinsman.
Then he said to the closest relative, “Naomi, who has come back from the land of Moab, has to sell the piece of land which belonged to our brother Elimelech. “So I thought to inform you, saying, ‘Buy it before those who are sitting here, and before the elders of my people. If you will redeem it, redeem it; but if not, tell me that I may know; for there is no one but you to redeem it, and I am after you.’ ” And he said, “I will redeem it.” (4:3-4).
Boaz told him about the situation. There was a parcel of land that Naomi had lost. He carefully lays out the details of the case. He reminds the nearer kinsman that he was the first one with responsibility of redeeming Naomi. Boaz asks if he would redeem the land for Naomi? He said, "Sure, I'll redeem it."
I'm sure Ruth's and Naomi's heart sunk when they heard him say "yes." But Boaz had a trump card up his sleeve. Notice Ruth 4:5, Then Boaz said, “On the day you buy the field from the hand of Naomi, you must also acquire Ruth the Moabitess, the widow of the deceased, in order to raise up the name of the deceased on his inheritance.”
He says, "By the way, if you buy the land, you will also have to marry Ruth. She is the wife of one of Elimelech's sons." When he hears that, he changes his tune. We read, The closest relative said, “I cannot redeem it for myself, because I would jeopardize my own inheritance. Redeem it for yourself; you may have my right of redemption, for I cannot redeem it” (4:6). When he realizes that a wife comes in the deal, he decides that he doesn't want to be a kinsman redeemer. Legally he was qualified, but personally he disqualified himself. He said, "I don’t think I want to do that"
That opened the door for Boaz, the next in line to be a redeemer. He was both worthy and willing to be a kinsman-redeemer. Notice Ruth 4:7-10, Now this was the custom in former times in Israel concerning the redemption and the exchange of land to confirm any matter: a man removed his sandal and gave it to another; and this was the manner of attestation in Israel. So the closest relative said to Boaz, “Buy it for yourself.” And he removed his sandal. Then Boaz said to the elders and all the people, “You are witnesses today that I have bought from the hand of Naomi all that belonged to Elimelech and all that belonged to Chilion and Mahlon. “Moreover, I have acquired Ruth the Moabitess, the widow of Mahlon, to be my wife in order to raise up the name of the deceased on his inheritance, so that the name of the deceased will not be cut off from his brothers or from the court of his birth place; you are witnesses today.”
Boaz says, "I’ll buy her." In those days the transfer of a sandal symbolized a change of ownership and came to be used as a sign of any agreement made and publicly witnessed between two parties. The nearer-kinsman pulled his shoe off and said, "Here, she's yours."
In our case there was a nearer-kinsman. That nearer-kinsman was the law. That law declared we were sinners. That law showed that we were sinners. That law showed that we needed a Savior, but it could not redeem us. But there was one that was both worthy and willing, both available and able.
Paul said in Romans 8:3, “For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh.”
Our flesh is a nearer-kinsman. But our flesh cannot save us. But Jesus is able and willing! Praise God He was willing! He is the kinsman who was able and willing! He is our kinsman redeemer.
3. THE RESULTS OF REDEMPTION
We see two things that resulted from Boaz becoming Ruth's kinsman-redeemer and the results of our redemption.
First, there is:
A) The Position of the Saints Is Established
Notice Ruth 4:11, All the people who were in the court, and the elders, said, “We are witnesses. May the Lord make the woman who is coming into your home like Rachel and Leah, both of whom built the house of Israel; and may you achieve wealth in Ephrathah and become famous in Bethlehem.
She is no longer called a Moabitess, but a woman. They express their wishes that she be like Rachel and Leah. the mothers of Israel. She has a new position in life. Redemption takes the outcasts and makes them part of God's family. It makes a sinner a saint. It makes a hell-bound sinner a heaven-bound saint.
B) The Praise Of The Savior Is Expressed
Notice the latter part of verse 11, and may you achieve wealth in Ephrathah and become famous in Bethlehem.
They said in effect, "May you be praised for what you have done." When we stop and think of what Jesus has done for us, the heart wants to sing out: "To God be the glory - great things He has done."
Sunday, January 3, 2010
The Threshing Floor (Ruth 3:1-11)
Many believers are quite content just to be saved and know that when they die, heaven is their home. To them, salvation is no more than a passport to heaven and a fire escape from hell. Their Christianity is just a salvation that takes them to heaven when they die. For many, Christianity doesn’t include a relationship with a Savior who makes heaven real while they live. Many are excited in knowing about the heaven God has prepared. But not many are excited about knowing the God that is preparing heaven. For many there is an interest in golden streets but there is not an intimacy with a glorious Savior.
As we continue looking at Ruth we find that she was not content with just the blessings found in the field of Boaz. She wanted the blessings that were to be found at the feet of Boaz. She wanted more than the blessings. She wanted the Blesser. She wanted to be more than a worker for Boaz. She wanted to be the wife of Boaz. In Ruth 3, she is no longer in the barley field, but is found at the threshing floor. It is a beautiful scene that suggests several lessons about a believer and the process of an intimate relationship with Christ.
[Ruth 3:1-11]
1 Then Naomi her mother-in-law said to her, “My daughter, shall I not seek security for you, that it may be well with you?
2 “Now is not Boaz our kinsman, with whose maids you were? Behold, he winnows barley at the threshing floor tonight.
3 “Wash yourself therefore, and anoint yourself and put on your best clothes, and go down to the threshing floor; but do not make yourself known to the man until he has finished eating and drinking.
4 “It shall be when he lies down, that you shall notice the place where he lies, and you shall go and uncover his feet and lie down; then he will tell you what you shall do.”
5 She said to her, “All that you say I will do.”
6 So she went down to the threshing floor and did according to all that her mother-in-law had commanded her.
7 When Boaz had eaten and drunk and his heart was merry, he went to lie down at the end of the heap of grain; and she came secretly, and uncovered his feet and lay down.
8 It happened in the middle of the night that the man was startled and bent forward; and behold, a woman was lying at his feet.
9 He said, “Who are you?” And she answered, “I am Ruth your maid. So spread your covering over your maid, for you are a close relative.”
10 Then he said, “May you be blessed of the Lord, my daughter. You have shown your last kindness to be better than the first by not going after young men, whether poor or rich.
11 “Now, my daughter, do not fear. I will do for you whatever you ask, for all my people in the city know that you are a woman of excellence.
First, notice with me from the story that we see Ruth:
1. AT HIS FLOOR
Notice Ruth 3:4-6, “It shall be when he lies down, that you shall notice the place where he lies, and you shall go and uncover his feet and lie down; then he will tell you what you shall do.” She said to her, “All that you say I will do.” So she went down to the threshing floor and did according to all that her mother-in-law had commanded her.
Naomi instructs Ruth to go down to the threshing floor where Boaz was threshing the barley. Symbolically, the threshing floor reminds us of a truth that it is involved in an intimate relationship with Christ.
Customarily a threshing floor was located on the top of a hill, which was for the purpose of catching the wind in order the blow away the chaff. Ordinarily it was circular with a clay surface that was packed hard and smooth, with rocks lined around it.
The grain would be cut and carried to the threshing floor. Sheaves of grain would be spread on the floor and trampled by oxen drawing a sled. The people would take a flail to throw the grain up in the air, so that the chaff would be blown away and the good grain fell down on the threshing floor.
It was usually in the afternoon that the breeze would come up, and the people would thresh the wheat until the wind died down, whether that be at sundown or midnight. It was a place that all the families came and camped. There would always be several people present. It was not only a time of threshing the wheat, but also a time of feasting for the abundant harvest. They would sing psalms and give praises to God. When the feast was over, the men would sleep around the grain. They would sleep with their heads toward the grain and their feet pointing away from the grain.
Now understanding the threshing floor, consider with me the threshing floor and it's significance concerning an intimate relationship with Christ.
First, we see that it was a place of:
A. Spiritual Meaning
Threshing floors in the Bible are significant. A good example is the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite (2 Sam. 24). It was there that the judgment of God was stayed in David's day. On that very site, Abraham had offered up Isaac, and years later Solomon would build the Temple. On that same hilltop, Jesus would die on a cross. That threshing floor was a place of sacrifice.
In this case, the threshing floor is a picture of Calvary. At Calvary we see our Lord on God's threshing floor. It was at the threshing floor that Ruth was to claim a relationship with Boaz, and it is at Calvary where we enter into a relationship with our heavenly Boaz—Jesus Christ.
The work of Calvary is the basis of our individual union with Christ and our intimate communion with Christ. We have acceptance on the basis of Christ's work on Calvary. We also have access on the basis of His work on Calvary. Our relationship with Christ and our fellowship with Christ are based on what Jesus did for us at Calvary. Notice this work illustrated in Boaz.
First we see Boaz eating and drinking. We read, “And when Boaz had eaten and drunk..” (3:7). This is descriptive of the feasting and celebration that was involved. We read in John 4:34, Jesus said to them, “My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me and to accomplish His work.” Jesus said that the will of God was to do the work of God that He had been sent to do. That work was Calvary. Jesus ate of that meat and drank of that bitter cup. Jesus went to Calvary, God's threshing floor, and paid the price for sin and that men might have a individual relationship and intimate fellowship with the Father.
We not only see Boaz eating and drinking, we also see him rejoicing. Notice Ruth 3:7, "And when Boaz had eaten and drunk, and his heart was merry..." Hebrews 12:2 says, "Looking unto Jesus the Author and Finisher of our faith, Who for the joy that was set before endured the cross." There was judgment, but there was also joy. One can only imagine the joy of our Savior’s heart as He saw men and women being brought into relationship and fellowship with God.
Boaz was not only eating, drinking, rejoicing, but we also see him sleeping. Notice Ruth 3:7, "And when Boaz had eaten and drunk, and his heart was merry, he went to lie down at the end of the heap of grain." The day's work was done and now he is resting in that finished work. Jesus finished the work the Father had given Him to do. Jesus cried, "It is finished" (John 19:30), declaring that salvation's plan was complete.
Because of the work Jesus did on God's threshing floor, Calvary is significant to each believer. It is there that we enter into an individual union with Christ and enjoy an intimate communion with Christ. There we see our Heavenly Boaz eating, drinking, rejoicing, and sleeping.
We also see that it was a place of:
B. Specific Marking
Notice Ruth 3:4, “It shall be when he lies down, that you shall notice the place where he lies…” Naomi gave Ruth instructions to mark the place where he lay down to rest. The word "notice" means "to know, acquaint yourself." She was telling her to pay close attention and be aware of where Boaz was sleeping.
Christians should mark the place where our Lord lay on God's threshing floor. We should become greatly acquainted with our Lord’s work on the cross. That place should be important to us and meaningful to us. Calvary should be more than a historical event. It should be a personal experience. It should be a place that we focus upon and mark in our heart and life. Calvary should be more than a fact of history. It should be a force in our hearts. It should capture our hearts, control our wills, consume our thoughts and check our walk.
Paul said in Philippians 3:10, “that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death.” Paul had marked the cross and the work of Christ in his heart. The songwriter marked Calvary in his heart when he wrote:
On a hill far away, stood an old rugged cross,
The emblem of suffering and shame;
And I love that old cross,
Where the dearest and best
For a world of lost sinners was slain.
I will mark it, for there the Savior from heaven died and this sinner going to hell began to live. I will mark it, for there the Savior bowed His head and there I believed in my heart. I will mark it, for there God gave His Son and there I became His son.
After seeing Ruth at his floor, secondly, we see Ruth:
2. AT HIS FEET
We read in Ruth 3:4-7, “It shall be when he lies down, that you shall notice the place where he lies, and you shall go and uncover his feet and lie down; then he will tell you what you shall do.” She said to her, “All that you say I will do.” So she went down to the threshing floor and did according to all that her mother-in-law had commanded her. When Boaz had eaten and drunk and his heart was merry, he went to lie down at the end of the heap of grain; and she came secretly, and uncovered his feet and lay down.
There is nothing immodest or indecent going on here. Ruth, according to Jewish custom, was claiming Boaz as her kinsman-redeemer. She was stating in her actions that she wanted to be the wife of Boaz. Ruth wanted the closest possible relationship she could have with Boaz. I ask you, do you want an intimate relationship with Christ?
Look closer with me at this scene. First, notice:
A. The Privilege Requested
Several times we have already seen references to a kinsman-redeemer (2:1, 2:20, 3:2). The law of the kinsman is a fascinating study in the Bible. It was established by God and revolved around two things.
First there was the division of land. When God had given Israel the land, it was not like the pioneers going west and staking out their claim. The land was divided and assigned by God. God gave certain sections of the land to each of the 12 tribes. Each family within a tribe had a certain plot of land within that section.
Those plots or tracts of land were to be kept in the families of that tribe and passed on to their heirs. It was not to be sold to members of other tribes, such as the heirs of Jude could not sell their land to the heirs of Reuben. Each plot of land was to stay in each tribe.
Second, it also involved the destitution of life. Let's say that someone found themselves in financial straits. Maybe there was crop failure and there was a need for money. The land could be mortgaged. In so doing, the owner would lose his rights to the land.
There were two ways one could get the land back. There was the year of Jubilee that occurred every 50 years. In the year of Jubilee every mortgage was canceled and the land returned to its original owner. By this law, God kept the land in a family and tribe.
One could also get their land back by the means of a kinsman-redeemer. A near kinsman (relative) could redeem the land (pay off the mortgage). This law is found in Leviticus 25:23-25, ‘The land, moreover, shall not be sold permanently, for the land is Mine; for you are but aliens and sojourners with Me. ‘Thus for every piece of your property, you are to provide for the redemption of the land. ‘If a fellow countryman of yours becomes so poor he has to sell part of his property, then his nearest kinsman is to come and buy back what his relative has sold.
In the case of a widow, like Naomi and Ruth, the law was even more interesting. We read in Deuteronomy 25:5-6, “When brothers live together and one of them dies and has no son, the wife of the deceased shall not be married outside the family to a strange man. Her husband’s brother shall go in to her and take her to himself as wife and perform the duty of a husband’s brother to her. “It shall be that the firstborn whom she bears shall assume the name of his dead brother, so that his name will not be blotted out from Israel.
A single brother, or in the case where there were no brothers, the nearest single relative, was obligated to marry the widow to care for her; and in so doing, the land would be kept in the family. Because of this law, the widow had every right to claim the nearest relative as a kinsman.
That is exactly what Ruth is doing. Boaz is a near kinsman of her dead husband. As a widow, when she lay down at his feet, she was saying, "You are a near-kinsman. I am claiming my privilege as a widow." In other words, she was saying, "Boaz, I want you to marry me." Ruth is expressing a desire for an intimate relationship with Boaz. She was claiming her privilege to have this relationship.
It is the privilege of every believer to have an intimate relationship with Christ. You say, "I would have liked to have been one of the disciples and been as close to Jesus as they were." You can! That is your privilege.
Secondly, notice:
B. The Promise Received
Notice Ruth 3:8, It happened in the middle of the night that the man was startled and bent forward; and behold, a woman was lying at his feet.
Boaz was sleeping with his head toward the threshing floor. Ruth came in softly so as not to wake him up, uncovered his feet, and lay down with her feet next to his. In the night Boaz woke up and was startled (afraid) to find a woman lying at his feet. He asked, "Who are you?"
I confess to you it would have scared me. I think I would have been somewhat like the fellow walking through the cemetery and fell into an open grave. He tried and tried to get out but could not. He finally just sat down in a corner. In a little while another fellow came along and fell into the grave. He tried and tried to get out, but could not. The first fellow watched him trying to get out and finally said, "It's no use. You can't get out." But he did!
Notice what Ruth said to him in Ruth 3:9, He said, “Who are you?” And she answered, “I am Ruth your maid. So spread your covering over your maid, for you are a close relative.”
She said, "I am claiming you as a kinsman. Spread your cloak over me as an act of acceptance. Show me that you will allow me to be your wife." The word "covering" literally means "wings." She was saying, "Take me under your wings."
Notice Ruth 3:10-11, Then he said, “May you be blessed of the Lord, my daughter. You have shown your last kindness to be better than the first by not going after young men, whether poor or rich. “Now, my daughter, do not fear. I will do for you whatever you ask, for all my people in the city know that you are a woman of excellence.
Boaz said in effect, "Oh yes, I have loved you since I first saw you in the field. There is nothing I would like any better than for you to be my wife. Yes, I will be your kinsman-redeemer and make you my own."
Ruth requested her privilege and received the promise that Boaz would do all that was necessary. We not only have the privilege of blessed fellowship with Christ, but He assures us that He will allow us to enjoy that closeness.
Do you want to know Christ intimately? He waits with open arms for such a relationship with you. What a privilege and what a promise. We read in Revelation 3:20, “Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and will dine with him, and he with Me.”
Jesus said in John 14:23, “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our abode with him.”
He is waiting to spread His covering over you. Will you claim that privilege?
As we continue looking at Ruth we find that she was not content with just the blessings found in the field of Boaz. She wanted the blessings that were to be found at the feet of Boaz. She wanted more than the blessings. She wanted the Blesser. She wanted to be more than a worker for Boaz. She wanted to be the wife of Boaz. In Ruth 3, she is no longer in the barley field, but is found at the threshing floor. It is a beautiful scene that suggests several lessons about a believer and the process of an intimate relationship with Christ.
[Ruth 3:1-11]
1 Then Naomi her mother-in-law said to her, “My daughter, shall I not seek security for you, that it may be well with you?
2 “Now is not Boaz our kinsman, with whose maids you were? Behold, he winnows barley at the threshing floor tonight.
3 “Wash yourself therefore, and anoint yourself and put on your best clothes, and go down to the threshing floor; but do not make yourself known to the man until he has finished eating and drinking.
4 “It shall be when he lies down, that you shall notice the place where he lies, and you shall go and uncover his feet and lie down; then he will tell you what you shall do.”
5 She said to her, “All that you say I will do.”
6 So she went down to the threshing floor and did according to all that her mother-in-law had commanded her.
7 When Boaz had eaten and drunk and his heart was merry, he went to lie down at the end of the heap of grain; and she came secretly, and uncovered his feet and lay down.
8 It happened in the middle of the night that the man was startled and bent forward; and behold, a woman was lying at his feet.
9 He said, “Who are you?” And she answered, “I am Ruth your maid. So spread your covering over your maid, for you are a close relative.”
10 Then he said, “May you be blessed of the Lord, my daughter. You have shown your last kindness to be better than the first by not going after young men, whether poor or rich.
11 “Now, my daughter, do not fear. I will do for you whatever you ask, for all my people in the city know that you are a woman of excellence.
First, notice with me from the story that we see Ruth:
1. AT HIS FLOOR
Notice Ruth 3:4-6, “It shall be when he lies down, that you shall notice the place where he lies, and you shall go and uncover his feet and lie down; then he will tell you what you shall do.” She said to her, “All that you say I will do.” So she went down to the threshing floor and did according to all that her mother-in-law had commanded her.
Naomi instructs Ruth to go down to the threshing floor where Boaz was threshing the barley. Symbolically, the threshing floor reminds us of a truth that it is involved in an intimate relationship with Christ.
Customarily a threshing floor was located on the top of a hill, which was for the purpose of catching the wind in order the blow away the chaff. Ordinarily it was circular with a clay surface that was packed hard and smooth, with rocks lined around it.
The grain would be cut and carried to the threshing floor. Sheaves of grain would be spread on the floor and trampled by oxen drawing a sled. The people would take a flail to throw the grain up in the air, so that the chaff would be blown away and the good grain fell down on the threshing floor.
It was usually in the afternoon that the breeze would come up, and the people would thresh the wheat until the wind died down, whether that be at sundown or midnight. It was a place that all the families came and camped. There would always be several people present. It was not only a time of threshing the wheat, but also a time of feasting for the abundant harvest. They would sing psalms and give praises to God. When the feast was over, the men would sleep around the grain. They would sleep with their heads toward the grain and their feet pointing away from the grain.
Now understanding the threshing floor, consider with me the threshing floor and it's significance concerning an intimate relationship with Christ.
First, we see that it was a place of:
A. Spiritual Meaning
Threshing floors in the Bible are significant. A good example is the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite (2 Sam. 24). It was there that the judgment of God was stayed in David's day. On that very site, Abraham had offered up Isaac, and years later Solomon would build the Temple. On that same hilltop, Jesus would die on a cross. That threshing floor was a place of sacrifice.
In this case, the threshing floor is a picture of Calvary. At Calvary we see our Lord on God's threshing floor. It was at the threshing floor that Ruth was to claim a relationship with Boaz, and it is at Calvary where we enter into a relationship with our heavenly Boaz—Jesus Christ.
The work of Calvary is the basis of our individual union with Christ and our intimate communion with Christ. We have acceptance on the basis of Christ's work on Calvary. We also have access on the basis of His work on Calvary. Our relationship with Christ and our fellowship with Christ are based on what Jesus did for us at Calvary. Notice this work illustrated in Boaz.
First we see Boaz eating and drinking. We read, “And when Boaz had eaten and drunk..” (3:7). This is descriptive of the feasting and celebration that was involved. We read in John 4:34, Jesus said to them, “My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me and to accomplish His work.” Jesus said that the will of God was to do the work of God that He had been sent to do. That work was Calvary. Jesus ate of that meat and drank of that bitter cup. Jesus went to Calvary, God's threshing floor, and paid the price for sin and that men might have a individual relationship and intimate fellowship with the Father.
We not only see Boaz eating and drinking, we also see him rejoicing. Notice Ruth 3:7, "And when Boaz had eaten and drunk, and his heart was merry..." Hebrews 12:2 says, "Looking unto Jesus the Author and Finisher of our faith, Who for the joy that was set before endured the cross." There was judgment, but there was also joy. One can only imagine the joy of our Savior’s heart as He saw men and women being brought into relationship and fellowship with God.
Boaz was not only eating, drinking, rejoicing, but we also see him sleeping. Notice Ruth 3:7, "And when Boaz had eaten and drunk, and his heart was merry, he went to lie down at the end of the heap of grain." The day's work was done and now he is resting in that finished work. Jesus finished the work the Father had given Him to do. Jesus cried, "It is finished" (John 19:30), declaring that salvation's plan was complete.
Because of the work Jesus did on God's threshing floor, Calvary is significant to each believer. It is there that we enter into an individual union with Christ and enjoy an intimate communion with Christ. There we see our Heavenly Boaz eating, drinking, rejoicing, and sleeping.
We also see that it was a place of:
B. Specific Marking
Notice Ruth 3:4, “It shall be when he lies down, that you shall notice the place where he lies…” Naomi gave Ruth instructions to mark the place where he lay down to rest. The word "notice" means "to know, acquaint yourself." She was telling her to pay close attention and be aware of where Boaz was sleeping.
Christians should mark the place where our Lord lay on God's threshing floor. We should become greatly acquainted with our Lord’s work on the cross. That place should be important to us and meaningful to us. Calvary should be more than a historical event. It should be a personal experience. It should be a place that we focus upon and mark in our heart and life. Calvary should be more than a fact of history. It should be a force in our hearts. It should capture our hearts, control our wills, consume our thoughts and check our walk.
Paul said in Philippians 3:10, “that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death.” Paul had marked the cross and the work of Christ in his heart. The songwriter marked Calvary in his heart when he wrote:
On a hill far away, stood an old rugged cross,
The emblem of suffering and shame;
And I love that old cross,
Where the dearest and best
For a world of lost sinners was slain.
I will mark it, for there the Savior from heaven died and this sinner going to hell began to live. I will mark it, for there the Savior bowed His head and there I believed in my heart. I will mark it, for there God gave His Son and there I became His son.
After seeing Ruth at his floor, secondly, we see Ruth:
2. AT HIS FEET
We read in Ruth 3:4-7, “It shall be when he lies down, that you shall notice the place where he lies, and you shall go and uncover his feet and lie down; then he will tell you what you shall do.” She said to her, “All that you say I will do.” So she went down to the threshing floor and did according to all that her mother-in-law had commanded her. When Boaz had eaten and drunk and his heart was merry, he went to lie down at the end of the heap of grain; and she came secretly, and uncovered his feet and lay down.
There is nothing immodest or indecent going on here. Ruth, according to Jewish custom, was claiming Boaz as her kinsman-redeemer. She was stating in her actions that she wanted to be the wife of Boaz. Ruth wanted the closest possible relationship she could have with Boaz. I ask you, do you want an intimate relationship with Christ?
Look closer with me at this scene. First, notice:
A. The Privilege Requested
Several times we have already seen references to a kinsman-redeemer (2:1, 2:20, 3:2). The law of the kinsman is a fascinating study in the Bible. It was established by God and revolved around two things.
First there was the division of land. When God had given Israel the land, it was not like the pioneers going west and staking out their claim. The land was divided and assigned by God. God gave certain sections of the land to each of the 12 tribes. Each family within a tribe had a certain plot of land within that section.
Those plots or tracts of land were to be kept in the families of that tribe and passed on to their heirs. It was not to be sold to members of other tribes, such as the heirs of Jude could not sell their land to the heirs of Reuben. Each plot of land was to stay in each tribe.
Second, it also involved the destitution of life. Let's say that someone found themselves in financial straits. Maybe there was crop failure and there was a need for money. The land could be mortgaged. In so doing, the owner would lose his rights to the land.
There were two ways one could get the land back. There was the year of Jubilee that occurred every 50 years. In the year of Jubilee every mortgage was canceled and the land returned to its original owner. By this law, God kept the land in a family and tribe.
One could also get their land back by the means of a kinsman-redeemer. A near kinsman (relative) could redeem the land (pay off the mortgage). This law is found in Leviticus 25:23-25, ‘The land, moreover, shall not be sold permanently, for the land is Mine; for you are but aliens and sojourners with Me. ‘Thus for every piece of your property, you are to provide for the redemption of the land. ‘If a fellow countryman of yours becomes so poor he has to sell part of his property, then his nearest kinsman is to come and buy back what his relative has sold.
In the case of a widow, like Naomi and Ruth, the law was even more interesting. We read in Deuteronomy 25:5-6, “When brothers live together and one of them dies and has no son, the wife of the deceased shall not be married outside the family to a strange man. Her husband’s brother shall go in to her and take her to himself as wife and perform the duty of a husband’s brother to her. “It shall be that the firstborn whom she bears shall assume the name of his dead brother, so that his name will not be blotted out from Israel.
A single brother, or in the case where there were no brothers, the nearest single relative, was obligated to marry the widow to care for her; and in so doing, the land would be kept in the family. Because of this law, the widow had every right to claim the nearest relative as a kinsman.
That is exactly what Ruth is doing. Boaz is a near kinsman of her dead husband. As a widow, when she lay down at his feet, she was saying, "You are a near-kinsman. I am claiming my privilege as a widow." In other words, she was saying, "Boaz, I want you to marry me." Ruth is expressing a desire for an intimate relationship with Boaz. She was claiming her privilege to have this relationship.
It is the privilege of every believer to have an intimate relationship with Christ. You say, "I would have liked to have been one of the disciples and been as close to Jesus as they were." You can! That is your privilege.
Secondly, notice:
B. The Promise Received
Notice Ruth 3:8, It happened in the middle of the night that the man was startled and bent forward; and behold, a woman was lying at his feet.
Boaz was sleeping with his head toward the threshing floor. Ruth came in softly so as not to wake him up, uncovered his feet, and lay down with her feet next to his. In the night Boaz woke up and was startled (afraid) to find a woman lying at his feet. He asked, "Who are you?"
I confess to you it would have scared me. I think I would have been somewhat like the fellow walking through the cemetery and fell into an open grave. He tried and tried to get out but could not. He finally just sat down in a corner. In a little while another fellow came along and fell into the grave. He tried and tried to get out, but could not. The first fellow watched him trying to get out and finally said, "It's no use. You can't get out." But he did!
Notice what Ruth said to him in Ruth 3:9, He said, “Who are you?” And she answered, “I am Ruth your maid. So spread your covering over your maid, for you are a close relative.”
She said, "I am claiming you as a kinsman. Spread your cloak over me as an act of acceptance. Show me that you will allow me to be your wife." The word "covering" literally means "wings." She was saying, "Take me under your wings."
Notice Ruth 3:10-11, Then he said, “May you be blessed of the Lord, my daughter. You have shown your last kindness to be better than the first by not going after young men, whether poor or rich. “Now, my daughter, do not fear. I will do for you whatever you ask, for all my people in the city know that you are a woman of excellence.
Boaz said in effect, "Oh yes, I have loved you since I first saw you in the field. There is nothing I would like any better than for you to be my wife. Yes, I will be your kinsman-redeemer and make you my own."
Ruth requested her privilege and received the promise that Boaz would do all that was necessary. We not only have the privilege of blessed fellowship with Christ, but He assures us that He will allow us to enjoy that closeness.
Do you want to know Christ intimately? He waits with open arms for such a relationship with you. What a privilege and what a promise. We read in Revelation 3:20, “Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and will dine with him, and he with Me.”
Jesus said in John 14:23, “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our abode with him.”
He is waiting to spread His covering over you. Will you claim that privilege?
Friday, January 1, 2010
Look Beyond and Rejoice
“O satisfy us in the morning with Your lovingkindness that we may sing for joy and be glad all our days.” Psalm 90:14 NASB95
There are more nearsighted people in New York City than in any other city. The reason that ophthalmologists have booming practices in The Big Apple is because people are down among the sky scrapers -- hemmed in by the walls of high buildings – which, in turn, limit their field of vision. For many, the only opportunity for distant vision is to look up at the sky, which very few do. Thus, the constant use of the eyes for short distances tends for nearsightedness. In the same way, our eyes can be so focused on the immediate that we lose sight of the ultimate.
Architect Frank Lloyd Wright once told of an incident that may have seemed insignificant at the time, but had a profound influence on the rest of his life. The winter he was nine, he went walking across a snow-covered field with his reserved, no-nonsense uncle. As the two of them reached the far end of the field, his uncle stopped him. He pointed out his own tracks in the snow, straight and true as an arrow’s flight. Young Frank’s tracks were meandering all over the field. “Notice how your tracks wander aimlessly from the fence, to the cattle, to the woods, and back again?” his uncle remarked. “And see how my tracks aim directly to my goal? There is an important lesson in that.”
Years later the world-famous architect liked to tell how this experience had greatly contributed to his philosophy in life. “I determined right then,” he’d say with a twinkle in his eye, “not to miss most things in life, as my uncle had.”
I love Psalm 90:14! The person who is able to be happy in the knowledge that Christ’s love is waiting for him each morning when he gets out of bed will be able to enjoy all the little things in daily life. He doesn’t need to seek the next emotional “high” of a big thing, while suffering in the doldrums of the ordinary things. Such a person can see beyond the present troubles, sing for joy, be glad today, and rejoice in all the tomorrows.
Look beyond the immediate, and enjoy the beauty of life. Happy New Year!
Love,
Pastor Larry
There are more nearsighted people in New York City than in any other city. The reason that ophthalmologists have booming practices in The Big Apple is because people are down among the sky scrapers -- hemmed in by the walls of high buildings – which, in turn, limit their field of vision. For many, the only opportunity for distant vision is to look up at the sky, which very few do. Thus, the constant use of the eyes for short distances tends for nearsightedness. In the same way, our eyes can be so focused on the immediate that we lose sight of the ultimate.
Architect Frank Lloyd Wright once told of an incident that may have seemed insignificant at the time, but had a profound influence on the rest of his life. The winter he was nine, he went walking across a snow-covered field with his reserved, no-nonsense uncle. As the two of them reached the far end of the field, his uncle stopped him. He pointed out his own tracks in the snow, straight and true as an arrow’s flight. Young Frank’s tracks were meandering all over the field. “Notice how your tracks wander aimlessly from the fence, to the cattle, to the woods, and back again?” his uncle remarked. “And see how my tracks aim directly to my goal? There is an important lesson in that.”
Years later the world-famous architect liked to tell how this experience had greatly contributed to his philosophy in life. “I determined right then,” he’d say with a twinkle in his eye, “not to miss most things in life, as my uncle had.”
I love Psalm 90:14! The person who is able to be happy in the knowledge that Christ’s love is waiting for him each morning when he gets out of bed will be able to enjoy all the little things in daily life. He doesn’t need to seek the next emotional “high” of a big thing, while suffering in the doldrums of the ordinary things. Such a person can see beyond the present troubles, sing for joy, be glad today, and rejoice in all the tomorrows.
Look beyond the immediate, and enjoy the beauty of life. Happy New Year!
Love,
Pastor Larry
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