Sunday, September 15, 2019

The Providence of God in Redemption - Love's Redeemer

Temple Baptist Church - 9-15-2019
Ruth 2:1


Introduction:

A.  The Story of Ruth!  One of the most beautiful Books of the Bible!  A Book of Love.  A Book of Redemption.

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.

B.  Naomi and Ruth have now returned to Bethlehem-Judah: the place of the Birth of Christ.  The place where our beloved Saviour was born 2,000 years ago.  A place where Ruth’s Saviour 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.

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.”  Ruth gleaned where God 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.

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!

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 Saviour!  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. 

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