Pursued By Grace Series Sermon # 11
Ruth 3:9-4:12
REDEEMED, REDEEMED, BY LOVE DIVINE
Intro: Ruth has come alone way since she left the country of Moab. She
has come all the way from being a lost, sinner girl in a doomed country to
finding herself at the feet of a wealthy land owner by the name of Boaz.
Because she is at his feet, she is about to get the help she needs. You see,
she is looking for a redeemer. Someone who can give her back all the
things that sin and death have taken from her. She has found herself at the
feet of the redeemer. She is about to find herself in the middle of his
redemption. If Ruth had a favorite song, it might have contained a line that
went something like this; "I'm redeemed by love divine!"
Now, this passage has a lot to say to us about the redemption we enjoy
if we are saved, and can come to enjoy if we are lost. In this passage, we
are given a clear picture of how redemption operates and of what is required
to receive it. Let's look in on the wonderful world of redemption. I want to
preach for a while on this thought, "Redeemed! Redeemed! By Love
Divine!" If you are saved, I hope it will help you to be more appreciative of
that which you have in Jesus. If you are not saved, I hope this massage will
cause you to want to be redeemed.
I. 3:9-18 THE PROPOSAL OF REDEMPTION
A. 3:6-9 Ruth's Request For Redemption - Here we see Ruth asking
for just what she needs: redemption. (Note: Salvation is as simple
as our asking for it, John 6:37; Rom. 10:13; James 4:2. Jesus
Christ has done everything that is necessary to save the soul of the
lost sinner; all the sinner has to do is humble himself before the Lord
and ask for salvation.)
B. 3:10-18 Ruth's Reassurance Of Redemption - After Ruth makes
her request, she receives some precious assurances from Boaz. He
wants her to know that she can count on him and the redemption he
will provide for her.
1. V. 10-13 Reassured By His Promises - His promise to her is
that he will do whatever is necessary to see that she is
redeemed. Notice that he promises to do "all" that she needs
done. (Note: So it is with Jesus! He has done all that is required
to make redemption a reality for everyone who calls upon Him in
faith, John 6:47; Rom. 10:9.) (Note: Heb. 9:12; Heb. 10:10-14
speak of the redemptive price Jesus paid for us. His precious,
shed blood is the price, payment and promise of our redemption, 1 Pet. 1:18-19; Heb. 9:22.)
2. V. 14-17 Reassured By His Provisions - When Ruth leaves the
threshing floor the next morning, she leaves with the promises
of Boaz, but she also leaves loaded down with his provisions.
He places 88 pounds of barley on her back. Imagine her walking
back through the city. Everyone who sees her knows where she
has been and that there is about to be a wedding. When she
arrives home Naomi asks the question, "Who art thou my
daughter?" She is asking, "Are you going to be Mrs. Boaz?"
Ruth just says, "Look at the provisions he has given me and
tell me what you think! Yes Mama Naomi, there's going to
be a wedding!" (Note: The Lord gives His children many proofs
that they are His, Psa. 68:19. His provisions are both internal - Rom. 8:16; Heb. 13:5; Eph. 1:13-14; and external - Matt. 6:25-33. If you are His child, you will know it for sure!)
3. V. 18 Reassured By His Persistence - Naomi tells Ruth to sit
tight, because Boaz would not rest until he had finished her
redemption. (Note: The child of God can rest in the sure
knowledge that Jesus will not rest until every single one of His
children are home in glory, Heb. 7:25; 1 Pet. 1:5. He is a "man
with a mission", John 6:37-40; John 10:28-29.)
II. 3:12; 4:1-10 THE PROBLEMS OF REDEMPTION
(Ill. Before Ruth's redemption can be settled, there are a couple of
problems that must be dealt with first.)
A. The Problem Of The Requirements - For a man to fulfill the role of
the Kinsman Redeemer, there were a few requirements that he had
to meet.
1. Redemption Required A Relationship - According to Lev.
25:25, the kinsman redeemer had to be a near relative of the
person being redeemed. Boaz fulfilled this requirement, Ruth
2:1; 2:20.
2. Redemption Required Resources - That same passage
teaches that the kinsman redeemer had to have the funds to buy
back the sold possession. Boaz fulfilled this requirement also, Ruth 2:1.
3. Redemption Required A Resolve - Lev. 25:25 and Deut. 25:5-10 teach that the kinsman redeemer had to be willing to buy
back the inheritance of his kinsman. Boaz also fulfilled this
requirement, 3:11.
(Note: For the saints of God, Boaz is a picture of our Redeemer, the
Lord Jesus Christ. Our Savior also fulfills all the necessary
requirements to qualify as our redeemer. He has a relationship to
us, Phil. 2:5-8. He has the proper resources - Heb. 7:25; Eph.
3:20. And, He was willing to pay the price for our redemption - Mark
10:45; John 18:37. Jesus alone is qualified to be the Redeemer of
mankind!)
B. The Problem Of The Relative - Boaz tells Ruth that there is just one
problem with his plan to redeem her. It seems that there is one
fellow in town who is closer kin than Boaz and that he must have the
first shot at her redemption. He meets the requirement of
relationship. He must also meet the qualification of resources. The
question that remains is does he meet the requirement of resolve?
Is he willing to redeem? Ill. The Context of the meeting between
Boaz and the near kinsman. The proposal is made and the kinsman
wants to redeem. Note: This must has stung the heart of Boaz!
When the nearer kinsman hears that he must not only buy the land,
but that he must also marry Ruth and raise up children in the name
of her dead husband, he backs away from the deal and declares
himself unable to redeem. He plucks off his shoe and hands it to
Boaz as a symbolic way of saying, "I can't redeemer her, but you
can. She is yours!" (Note: For us, the nearer kinsman is the Law!
It laid claims on us, but was not able to redeem us. All it could do
was condemn us as unworthy in its sight. Like this kinsman, the Law
made a feeble effort at redemption, but it was unable to carry
through to the end of the matter. This is what Paul tells us about the
Law, Rom. 8:3.) (Note: Just for the record, there are lots of kinsmen
out there who lay claims to us and try to redeem us. Things like the
flesh, religion, good works, etc. They all make claims that they
cannot keep. Salvation is found in one place and one place only. It
is found in the person of the Lord Jesus Christ, Acts 4:12; John
14:6; John 8:24.)
III. 4:11-12 THE PROCEEDS OF REDEMPTION (Ill. After the deal was made and redemption was accomplished, a
couple of very important things took place. We might want to
understand them, because the affect us as well.)
A. V. 11 Ruth Is Elevated - When the people gathered there see what
has happened, they begin to rejoice. They call Ruth "woman" and
not "the Moabitess." They compare her with Leah and Rachel, the
wives of Jacob, who gave birth to the twelve sons of Jacob, and in
effect, all of Israel. They have elevated her standing! (Note: The
same thing happens in the life of the sinner who comes to Jesus for
redemption. We are transformed from "sinners" into "saints". We
are no longer outcasts from God, but now He calls us His "sons", 1
John 3:1-2. This great change is declared forcefully by Paul in 1
Cor. 6:9-11! Ill. Gal. 4:5-6)
B. V. 11-12 Boaz Is Exalted - While the people elevate Ruth, the main
focus of their rejoicing is Boaz. They praise him for that which he
has done in the life of Ruth. He has done a wonderful thing and the
people praise him for it. (Note: Jesus Christ, the Author and
Finisher of our faith paid the ultimate price for our redemption.
Because of this, He is worthy of praise and exaltation. He receives
this from His Father, Phil. 2:9-11. He deserves it from those He has
redeemed, Heb. 13:15. Are you exalting the heavenly Boaz?)
Conc: Ruth's life changed that day at the gates of Bethlehem! She had a
redeemer. She had a husband. She had a new life. She could sing with
gusto the chorus, "Redeemed, Redeemed, by love divine." What about you? Do you know the Kinsman-Redeemer, the Lord Jesus
Christ today? Can you sing this song?
I'm redeemed by love divine,
Glory, glory Christ is mine.
All to Him I now resign,
I have been redeemed!
If you can't I invite you to come to Jesus, get at His feet and ask Him to
redeem your soul. You can be redeemed today, if you will come to Him!
