Ruth and Her Guardian-Redeemer (Ruth)

Appleton Gospel Church

Ruth and Her Guardian-Redeemer (Ruth): In the stunning conclusion, Boaz legally becomes the guardian-redeemer, Boaz and Ruth get married, and a new baby provides redemption for Naomi. But the Lord was doing much more than providing a "happily ever after." As the ultimate Guardian-Redeemer, God was doing immeasurably more than anything they asked or imagined! Recorded on Aug 25, 2024, on Ruth 4:1-22 by Pastor David Parks. This sermon is part of the series Ruth: The Love of a Redeemer. In the Bible, the book of Ruth tells the story of a family that experienced a series of bitter tragedies. But through loyalty, integrity, and faithful love (hesed), they find unexpected redemption, restoration, and hope. Our God is a redeemer. Sermon Transcript So, all month, we’ve been working through a series on the OT book of Ruth called The Love of a Redeemer. As we’ve seen, Ruth is all about facing the bitter tragedies of life by leaning on the hesed, or the steadfast loving-kindness of God, but also on the men and women in our lives who have the character and integrity to reflect this kind of redeeming love to us. The Bible, from cover to cover, is a redemption story. And sometimes, the people of the Bible, people like Ruth and Boaz, reflect the redemptive love that God ultimately gives through Jesus Christ, his son. I do hope this short series has been helpful to you. I’ve really enjoyed it personally. But today, in Act 4 of our play, we’ll see this inspiring story come to its conclusion. We’ll see that the covenant love (hesed) of Boaz would make the cost of redemption a joy, not a burden. But also, we'll see that the redeeming work that God was doing would have an impact far beyond the lives of Naomi, Ruth, and Boaz. God was doing something so much greater than anyone could ever imagine! If you have your Bible/app, please open it to Ruth 4:1.But before we jump back in, let me give you a little context. So, last week, we saw that, at Naomi’s suggestion, Ruth got dressed up nice, put on some perfume, and went down to the threshing floor when Boaz and the others were winnowing the grain they had harvested. Ruth pulled off what seemed to be a sketchy plan to go to Boaz at night and let him know that she was interested in him as more than a friend, shall we say? But when Boaz woke up and realized Ruth was there, she boldly asked him if he would be willing to serve as her guardian-redeemer. Now, we’ll see more about what exactly she was asking of him today. But instead of taking advantage of Ruth there on the threshing floor, Boaz was blown away and responded with a blessing, telling her he would do everything she asked. But there was one potential problem: there was another who was a closer relative to Elimelek who, according to their custom, should have the first opportunity to be the guardian-redeemer ahead of Boaz. But Boaz would not rest until the matter was settled the very next day. Now, we have Act 4, scene 1. Ruth 4:1–4 (NIV), “1 Meanwhile Boaz went up to the town gate and sat down there just as the guardian-redeemer he had mentioned came along. Boaz said, “Come over here, my friend, and sit down.” So he went over and sat down. 2 Boaz took ten of the elders of the town and said, “Sit here,” and they did so. 3 Then he said to the guardian-redeemer, “Naomi, who has come back from Moab, is selling the piece of land that belonged to our relative Elimelek. 4 I thought I should bring the matter to your attention and suggest that you buy it in the presence of these seated here and in the presence of the elders of my people. If you will redeem it, do so. But if you will not, tell me, so I will know. For no one has the right to do it except you, and I am next in line.” “I will redeem it,” he said.” Uh oh. Ok! So Boaz went up from the threshing floor to the town gate. Now, I mentioned last week that Ruth clearly embodied the “wife of noble character” described in Proverbs 31. Proverbs 31:23 says of this kind of woman,