March 30, 2014 - Sunday

Start Time: 7:28 A.M.

End Time: 7:52 A.M.

Title: Boaz Marries Ruth

Scripture: Ruth 4:1 – 22

God’s Message / God’s Promise / God’s Commands:

→Meanwhile Boaz went up to the town gate and sat down there just as the guardian-redeemer^[a] he had mentioned came along. Boaz said, “Come over here, my friend, and sit down.” So he went over and sat down. Boaz took ten of the elders of the town and said, “Sit here,” and they did so. 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. 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^[b] 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. Then Boaz said, “On the day you buy the land from Naomi, you also acquire Ruth the Moabite, the^[c]dead man’s widow, in order to maintain the name of the dead with his property.”  At this, the guardian-redeemer said, “Then I cannot redeem it because I might endanger my own estate. You redeem it yourself. I cannot do it.”  (Now in earlier times in Israel, for the redemption and transfer of property to become final, one party took off his sandal and gave it to the other. This was the method of legalizing transactions in Israel.)  So the guardian-redeemer said to Boaz, “Buy it yourself.” And he removed his sandal.  Then Boaz announced to the elders and all the people, “Today you are witnesses that I have bought from Naomi all the property of Elimelek, Kilion and Mahlon.  I have also acquired Ruth the Moabite, Mahlon’s widow, as my wife, in order to maintain the name of the dead with his property, so that his name will not disappear from among his family or from his hometown. Today you are witnesses!”  Then the elders and all the people at the gate said, “We are witnesses. May the Lord make the woman who is coming into your home like Rachel and Leah, who together built up the family of Israel. May you have standing in Ephrathah and be famous in Bethlehem.  Through the offspring the Lord gives you by this young woman, may your family be like that of Perez, whom Tamar bore to Judah.”

NOTES:

Ø God is our guardian redeemer!  God redeemed us by purchasing us using His blood so He now owns our possessions and has taken us as His wife.  What Boaz did to redeem Ruth was a clear symbol of what God has done for us.  He does not leave us abandoned and He took the lead by taking responsibility even when He is not required to do so.  Boaz was not next in line but he went to the guardian-redeemer of Naomi’s land to tell him to redeem it, including Ruth, and if he will not, Boaz will.  The same with the Lord, it is not God’s duty or responsibility to save and deliver us or take us as part of His family, but He still did anyway!  He took a stand and decided to take the duty and responsibility because of His love for us!  Thank You Jesus!

→So Boaz took Ruth and she became his wife. When he made love to her, the Lord enabled her to conceive, and she gave birth to a son. The women said to Naomi: “Praise be to the Lord, who this day has not left you without a guardian-redeemer. May he become famous throughout Israel!  He will renew your life and sustain you in your old age. For your daughter-in-law, who loves you and who is better to you than seven sons, has given him birth.” Then Naomi took the child in her arms and cared for him. The women living there said, “Naomi has a son!” And they named him Obed. He was the father of Jesse, the father of David.

NOTES:

Ø God restores everything we lost!  Through Ruth, God was able to fulfill His promise to His daughter, Naomi, and gave her a son.  When we live according to God’s will and perspective, we see that everything we lost for doing what is right and His commands, will be restored back in full and sometimes even more to us.  Naomi, left Moab depressed and returned home with Ruth, who became instrumental to her restoration.  Know that whatever we had to give up for God, He returns back to us 30, 60 and 100-fold!  Hallelujah!

→This, then, is the family line of Perez: Perez was the father of Hezron, Hezron the father of Ram, Ram the father of Amminadab, Amminadab the father of Nahshon, Nahshon the father of Salmon,^[d] Salmon the father of Boaz, Boaz the father of Obed, Obed the father of Jesse, and Jesse the father of David.

NOTES:

Ø God allows all things to happen in us according to His purpose and plan!  Know that God is in control always even when things aren’t going the way we planned it to be…still God has a purpose.  He allowed these things to happen for a reason and it is always necessary for the fulfillment of His promises and grand plan for us!  Let us trust Him fully at all times!

Prayer:

Lord Jesus, gracious God and marvelous King!  Thank You because You are my guardian-redeemer and You redeem me from my circumstances and restores everything I lost.  Thank You because Your power and love not only restores what was taken from me but Your restoration exceeds what was taken by my enemy.  Thank You Lord because I can just trust in You and know that I am in good hands for You are in full control.  Calm my heart and silence my soul when things aren’t going the way I want them Lord and hold my heart and mind at peace by reminding me that You have everything in order.  Ease my worries and remove it from my heart that I may focus in living by faith and not by what I see.  All glory belongs to You Lord and let it be evident in my words, actions and behaviors that You deserve all glory, honor and praise.  Thank You for Your favor, love and grace daily and let me be a channel of Your goodness to others.  In Jesus’ Name, Amen!