Ruth 4:1-5
KJV Then went Boaz up to the
gate, and sat him down there: and, behold, the kinsman of whom Boaz
spake came by; unto whom he said, Ho, such a one! turn aside, sit down
here. And he turned aside, and sat down. (2) And he took
ten men of the elders of the city, and said, Sit ye down here. And they
sat down. (3) And he said unto the kinsman, Naomi, that is
come again out of the country of Moab, selleth a parcel of land, which
was our brother Elimelech's: (4) And I thought to advertise
thee, saying, Buy it before the inhabitants, and before the elders of
my people. If thou wilt redeem it, redeem it: but if thou wilt not
redeem it, then tell me, that I may know: for there is none to redeem
it beside thee; and I am after thee. And he said, I will redeem
it. (5) Then said Boaz, What day thou buyest the field of
the hand of Naomi, thou must buy it also of Ruth the Moabitess, the
wife of the dead, to raise up the name of the dead upon his inheritance.
Bro Simmons taught this morning on the need to realize God's Spirit enters inside our lives so that we let Him shine through us.
People mistaken Christianity to require us to be like work-horses.
Bro Simmons spoke of this verse: Exodus 15:2 KJV The LORD is my strength and song, and he is become my salvation: he is my God, and I will prepare him an habitation; my father's God, and I will exalt him. Isa 12:2-3 KJV Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid: for the LORD JEHOVAH is my strength and my song; he also is become my salvation. (3) Therefore with joy shall ye draw water out of the wells of salvation. We will draw waters with joy from salvation because GOD IS OUR STRENGTH.
BOAZ is found in a story of the Bible that stresses this entire concept.
Notice how the book immediately before Ruth ends: Judges 21:25 KJV In those days there was no king in Israel: every man did that which was right in his own eyes. Sounds like what satan tried to make Eve believe would result in eating the false fruit in the Garden of Eden.
This is the concept most everyone thinks with.
Eph 6:10 KJV Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. We can only be strong when He is inside us and HIS POWER is what we point to when asked how good our power is.
We live by the knowledge of good and evil, and try to make ourselves do what is right in our own eyes. But the fruit of life emphasizes ANOTHER LIFE INSIDE US.
Col 3:3-4 KJV For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. (4) When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory. CHRIST IS OUR LIFE. Gal 2:20 KJV I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. After Adam and eve ate the wrong fruit, God told them they could not eat of the fruit of life.
Rth 1:1 KJV Now it came to pass in the days when the judges ruled, that there was a famine in the land. And a certain man of Bethlehemjudah went to sojourn in the country of Moab, he, and his wife, and his two sons. Notice this is in Bethlehem, or "HOUSE OF BREAD."
And the man's name was ELIMELECH. Rth 1:2 KJV And the name of the man was Elimelech, and the name of his wife Naomi, and the name of his two sons Mahlon and Chilion, Ephrathites of Bethlehemjudah. And they came into the country of Moab, and continued there. His name means GOD OF THE KING.
And his sons names Mahlon and Chilion, mean SICKLY and WEAKLY.
Rth 1:3-6 KJV And Elimelech Naomi's husband died; and she was left, and her two sons. (4) And they took them wives of the women of Moab; the name of the one was Orpah, and the name of the other Ruth: and they dwelled there about ten years. (5) And Mahlon and Chilion died also both of them; and the woman was left of her two sons and her husband. (6) Then she arose with her daughters in law, that she might return from the country of Moab: for she had heard in the country of Moab how that the LORD had visited his people in giving them bread. Food once again comes to Bethlehem, as the famine is over and Naomi seeks to return home with the two daughters-in-law. Now something occurs here which is very important in helping us understand the VITAL KEY to being the Christian we need to be.
When Naomi tells them to return to Moab and not go with her, Ruth says something that moves Naomi to bring her home, that is very important for you to begin to return to Adam's lost place in God. Christianity is a return to Adam's lost place in God.
Rth 1:15-17 KJV And she said, Behold, thy sister in law is gone back unto her people, and unto her gods: return thou after thy sister in law. (16) And Ruth said, Intreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee: for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God: (17) Where thou diest, will I die, and there will I be buried: the LORD do so to me, and more also, if ought but death part thee and me. Notice this.
Romans 6:3-4 Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. This started a work of God in her life.
During the story, they arrive in Bethlehem at a particular time of the year. Rth 1:22 KJV So Naomi returned, and Ruth the Moabitess, her daughter in law, with her, which returned out of the country of Moab: and they came to Bethlehem in the beginning of barley harvest. THE BEGINNING OF BARLEY HARVEST.
Lev 23:5-11 KJV In the fourteenth day of the first month at even is the LORD'S passover. (6) And on the fifteenth day of the same month is the feast of unleavened bread unto the LORD: seven days ye must eat unleavened bread. (7) In the first day ye shall have an holy convocation: ye shall do no servile work therein. (8) But ye shall offer an offering made by fire unto the LORD seven days: in the seventh day is an holy convocation: ye shall do no servile work therein. (9) And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, (10) Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, When ye be come into the land which I give unto you, and shall reap the harvest thereof, then ye shall bring a sheaf of the firstfruits of your harvest unto the priest: (11) And he shall wave the sheaf before the LORD, to be accepted for you: on the morrow after the sabbath the priest shall wave it. THAT WAS THE SAME DAY JESUS CHRIST RESURRECTED! The message?
God started working when He saw her faith!
Rth 2:3 KJV And she went, and came, and gleaned in the field after the reapers: and her hap was to light on a part of the field belonging unto Boaz, who was of the kindred of Elimelech. HAP means BY CHANCE. Rth 2:5-8 KJV Then said Boaz unto his servant that was set over the reapers, Whose damsel is this? (6) And the servant that was set over the reapers answered and said, It is the Moabitish damsel that came back with Naomi out of the country of Moab: (7) And she said, I pray you, let me glean and gather after the reapers among the sheaves: so she came, and hath continued even from the morning until now, that she tarried a little in the house. (8) Then said Boaz unto Ruth, Hearest thou not, my daughter? Go not to glean in another field, neither go from hence, but abide here fast by my maidens: She asks why he took notice of her: Rth 2:10 KJV Then she fell on her face, and bowed herself to the ground, and said unto him, Why have I found grace in thine eyes, that thou shouldest take knowledge of me, seeing I am a stranger? He told her he heard of what she said to Naomi about coming with Naomi.
Rth 2:11-12 KJV And Boaz answered and said unto her, It hath fully been shewed me, all that thou hast done unto thy mother in law since the death of thine husband: and how thou hast left thy father and thy mother, and the land of thy nativity, and art come unto a people which thou knewest not heretofore. (12) The LORD recompense thy work, and a full reward be given thee of the LORD God of Israel, under whose wings thou art come to trust. Naomi hears of her day and Ruth explains what happened. Rth 2:19-20 KJV And her mother in law said unto her, Where hast thou gleaned to day? and where wroughtest thou? blessed be he that did take knowledge of thee. And she shewed her mother in law with whom she had wrought, and said, The man's name with whom I wrought to day is Boaz. (20) And Naomi said unto her daughter in law, Blessed be he of the LORD, who hath not left off his kindness to the living and to the dead. And Naomi said unto her, The man is near of kin unto us, one of our next kinsmen. Naomi could not believe her ears!
But something stood in the way of this happening.
Rth 3:7-12 KJV And when Boaz had eaten and drunk, and his heart was merry, he went to lie down at the end of the heap of corn: and she came softly, and uncovered his feet, and laid her down. (8) And it came to pass at midnight, that the man was afraid, and turned himself: and, behold, a woman lay at his feet. (9) And he said, Who art thou? And she answered, I am Ruth thine handmaid: spread therefore thy skirt over thine handmaid; for thou art a near kinsman. (10) And he said, Blessed be thou of the LORD, my daughter: for thou hast shewed more kindness in the latter end than at the beginning, inasmuch as thou followedst not young men, whether poor or rich. (11) And now, my daughter, fear not; I will do to thee all that thou requirest: for all the city of my people doth know that thou art a virtuous woman. (12) And now it is true that I am thy near kinsman: howbeit there is a kinsman nearer than I. There is someone who has a right to Ruth that must be dealt with.
1Ti 1:5 KJV Now the end of the commandment is charity out of a pure heart, and of a good conscience, and of faith unfeigned: 1Ti 1:9 KJV Knowing this, that the law is not made for a righteous man, but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and for sinners, for unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers, THE LAW.
Grace had all the ability to give us what Law was supposed to give us. 1Ti 1:14 KJV And the grace of our Lord was exceeding abundant with faith and love which is in Christ Jesus. But LAW IS FOR SINNERS.
But Boaz said to Ruth to wait until MORNING -- the sun shines in the morning -- light comes -- REVELATION IS REQUIRED. This revelation is the companion to the understanding that we must die and be buried with Jesus.
Rth 3:13-14 KJV Tarry this night, and it shall be in the morning, that if he will perform unto thee the part of a kinsman, well; let him do the kinsman's part: but if he will not do the part of a kinsman to thee, then will I do the part of a kinsman to thee, as the LORD liveth: lie down until the morning. (14) And she lay at his feet until the morning: and she rose up before one could know another. And he said, Let it not be known that a woman came into the floor. She lay at his feet until the morning. What does laying at his feet represent? Luke 10:39-40 KJV And she had a sister called Mary, which also sat at Jesus' feet, and heard his word. (40) But Martha was cumbered about much serving, and came to him, and said, Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? bid her therefore that she help me. Martha was working and doing this and doing that to please Jesus. but Mary sat at his feet hearing his word.
Laying at Boaz' feet til morning represents the need for us to seek His word for REVELATION until the light shines and we GET IT straight from glory! In the morning something was going to occur.
She goes to Naomi in the morning and hears this: Rth 3:18 KJV Then said she, Sit still, my daughter, until thou know how the matter will fall: for the man will not be in rest, until he have finished the thing this day. We must get the point.
Rth 4:1-2 KJV Then went Boaz up to the gate, and sat him down there: and, behold, the kinsman of whom Boaz spake came by; unto whom he said, Ho, such a one! turn aside, sit down here. And he turned aside, and sat down. (2) And he took ten men of the elders of the city, and said, Sit ye down here. And they sat down. THE GATE represents our MINDS.
You want to know God's WILL?
And at the gate he took TEN WITNESSES. Law was represented by TEN COMMANDMENTS.
Boaz deals with the relative. Rth 4:3-4 KJV And he said unto the kinsman, Naomi, that is come again out of the country of Moab, selleth a parcel of land, which was our brother Elimelech's: (4) And I thought to advertise thee, saying, Buy it before the inhabitants, and before the elders of my people. If thou wilt redeem it, redeem it: but if thou wilt not redeem it, then tell me, that I may know: for there is none to redeem it beside thee; and I am after thee. And he said, I will redeem it. The relative chooses to get the land of Naomi's. But Boaz holds back the important part of it all, and after the relative agrees to buy the land, he lays it on him. Rth 4:5-6 KJV Then said Boaz, What day thou buyest the field of the hand of Naomi, thou must buy it also of Ruth the Moabitess, the wife of the dead, to raise up the name of the dead upon his inheritance. (6) And the kinsman said, I cannot redeem it for myself, lest I mar mine own inheritance: redeem thou my right to thyself; for I cannot redeem it. You must also MARRY A GENTILE WOMAN named RUTH and RESURRECT HER HUSBAND'S NAME. The man knows he cannot do it!
But that is exactly what Jesus could do! Law had no part in dealing with Gentiles!
The righteous sort of life we have to live in order to please God cannot be done by works.
And that is what Paul said: Rom 8:2-4 KJV For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death. (3) For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: (4) That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. Jesus DIED to condemn sin in OUR FLESH, since WE DIE WITH HIM BY FAITH!
Rth 4:7-8 KJV Now this was the manner in former time in Israel concerning redeeming and concerning changing, for to confirm all things; a man plucked off his shoe, and gave it to his neighbour: and this was a testimony in Israel. (8) Therefore the kinsman said unto Boaz, Buy it for thee. So he drew off his shoe. You take my show and you walk this through, because I cannot walk it through and accomplish what you;'re asking!' You see, we not only identify with His death and burial, but also his resurrection by WALKING IN NEWNESS OF LIFE -- a new life different and totally apart from a sinful walk.
It was as though his family member told him, you walk this thing out, because I cannot do what you are asking me to do. And then Boaz cried out: Rth 4:9-11 KJV And Boaz said unto the elders, and unto all the people, Ye are witnesses this day, that I have bought all that was Elimelech's, and all that was Chilion's and Mahlon's, of the hand of Naomi. (10) Moreover Ruth the Moabitess, the wife of Mahlon, have I purchased to be my wife, to raise up the name of the dead upon his inheritance, that the name of the dead be not cut off from among his brethren, and from the gate of his place: ye are witnesses this day. (11) And all the people that were in the gate, and the elders, said, We are witnesses. The LORD make the woman that is come into thine house like Rachel and like Leah, which two did build the house of Israel: and do thou worthily in Ephratah, and be famous in Bethlehem: Boaz the strong one said he purchased Ruth to be his wife to RAISE UP THE NAME OF THE DEAD. 1 Corinthians 15:45 And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit. QUICKEN means to GIVE LIFE. START A NEW ISRAEL through her!
Rachel and Leah were Israel's wives who birthed for him the children who became the patriarchs of each of the twelve tribes of Israel. Boaz cried this forth at the GATE! Your MIND has to get this truth represented by this story! All your efforts of good deeds is not to be your goal in living for Jesus.
Rth 4:21-22 KJV And Salmon begat Boaz, and Boaz begat Obed, (22) And Obed begat Jesse, and Jesse begat David. Jesus came through David's line.
THIS was what RUTH had to SEE that DAY when the light dawned upon her.
It's not how much good effort you can make yourself produce.
Col 3:3-4 KJV For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. (4) When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with CHRIST IS not only our strength and righteousness, but OUR LIFE!!!!
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