The Providence of God in Redemption – Love’s Redeemer Ruth 2:1
The Story of Ruth! One of the most beautiful Books of the Bible! A Book of Love. A Book of Redemption. A Book of Providence of God.
1. A story of wrong and right choices.
2. A story of consequences of wrong and right choices.
3. A story of remorse and gladness.
4. A story of return and redemption. A story of the return of Naomi and the redemption of a young Moabite woman named Ruth.
5. A story of a kinsman redeemer, a type of our Redeemer, Jesus Christ.
Naomi and Ruth have now returned to Bethlehem-Judah: the place of the Birth of Christ. The place where our beloved Savior was born 2,000 years ago. A place where Ruth’s Savior would be born 1,000 years in the future. The place where God became Man, the Word became Flesh, the LORD became a Lamb, and Salvation came freely and underserved for us all. John1 :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.”
1. Verse 1. The Person of God’s choosing. Ruth 2:1 is where Naomi’s Kinsman Redeemer is introduced. Boaz! “Pillar” or Strength!”
1 Kings 7:21 And he set up the pillars in the porch of the temple: and he set up the right pillar, and called the name thereof Jachin: and he set up the left pillar, and called the name thereof Boaz.
2. Verse 3. At Bethlehem-Judah, we find the Providence of God. I love the word “hap.” We call it luck but God had Ruth gleaned where He intended her to glean. The place where Ruth would meet her Kinsman Redeemer.
3. Verse 16. In Boaz’s field, we find the Provision of God. “Handfuls of purpose.” Naomi and Ruth came home at the right time and Ruth gleaned in the right place.
4. Verse 19-20. In Boaz, we find the Purpose of God. Ruth’s Kinsman Redeemer.
C. When you look at the life of Boaz, you find everything that you should look for in Christ.
1. Boaz was a Mighty Man. (Ruth 2:1) He was both bold and authoritative. He ruled his house well and protected what was his. Christ Jesus was such a man! Though He took the form of a servant, He ruled the universe at the same time. Mighty to perform and mighty to save.
Luke 9:42b “And Jesus rebuked the unclean spirit, and healed the child, and delivered him again to his father.
43 And they were all amazed at the mighty power of God.”
2. Boaz was a Wealthy Man. (Ruth 2:1) He lacked nothing and had more than he could spend. Christ Jesus was such a man. He owns the cattle of a thousand hills. He created the universe for His pleasure and can do as much again and again. He has need or nothing!
2 Corinthians 8:9 “For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich.”
3. Boaz was a Near Man. (Ruth 2:1) Of the family of Elimelech. Naomi was well acquainted with Boaz as she had married into the family. Christ Jesus was such a man! He became flesh and dwelt among us. He was flesh as well as God. He knows our weaknesses and understands our failures. He has made provision for them all.
James 4:8 “Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you.”
4. Boaz was a Man of Providence. (Ruth 2:3) He was in the right place at the right time to do the right thing. He was a man born in Bethlehem-Judah. Christ Jesus was such a man. He was the God-Man born in Bethlehem-Judah. Always in the right place at the right time to do the right thing in redemption.
Hebrews 12:2 “Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.”
5. Boaz was a Gracious Man. (Ruth 2:8-9) Though he was the owner of all, he treated Ruth with great gentleness and compassion. Christ Jesus was such a man. He spoke gracious words to both rich and poor. Never a man spake like this man.
John 3:16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”
6. Boaz was a Generous Man. (Ruth 2:14-16) He will allow Ruth to glean “hands full of purpose.” Christ Jesus was such a man. He has given to mankind so much more than salvation, He has given to us all that we have.
Luke 6:38 “Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom.”
7. Boaz was a Simple Man. (Ruth 3:2-4) Though he owned much, he slept on the ground at the threshing floor with the servants. Christ Jesus was such a man. The foxes had holes and birds nests but this man had neither. He became that was rich became poor that through His poverty, we might be made rich.
Philippians 2:6 “ Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: 7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: 8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.”
8. Boaz was a Willing Man. (Ruth 3:9) He was a kinsman redeemer. For Boaz to redeem all that belonged to Naomi, he had to be a kinsman as well as a near kinsman. Under the Law, he had to be qualified in order to take care of the task at hand. Christ Jesus was such a man. Our Lord is not only near, He is qualified to save and to save eternally. He is the Only Kinsman Redeemer for sinful man.
John 10:17 “ Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again. 18 No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again.”
9. Boaz was a Compassionate Man. (Ruth 3:10-11) He took a helpless, hopeless Moabite girl and made her the great grandmother of a King. She never had to glean again! Christ Jesus was such a man. He looked upon the multitudes and individuals that He met as well with compassion.
Mark 6:34a “And Jesus, when he came out, saw much people, and was moved with compassion toward them,”2 Peter 3:9 “The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.”
10. Boaz was a righteous man. (Ruth 3:13) He had a high regard for the Law and operated within its realm. Christ Jesus was such a man. He said that the Scripture could not be broken. He came to fulfill the Law, not to do away with it. His enemies could lay no sin to His charge.
Matthew 5:17 “Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill.”
Conclusion: Typology in the Bible is a precious thing. The Old Testament foreshadows the New Testament. In the Old Testament, Truth is concealed. In the New Testament, Truth is revealed. Oh, what a Savior! Oh, what a Bible!
a. We were far from God when Jesus found us.
b. We were enslaved by sin when Jesus found us.
c. We were hopelessly, helplessly lost when Jesus found us.
d. Jesus was willing to lower Himself on our behalf.
e. Jesus was willing to pay the price of our redemption.
Victory Baptist Church April 2023 victorypalmetto.com