I have a way of getting myself into predicaments. I was backpacking in northern Wisconsin one weekend before I was married. I can’t remember how this happened (I’m sure I blocked it out of my memory), but somehow I lost the trail, was running out of daylight, and was in the midst of private land that I couldn’t camp on. This car pulled up and two kind strangers, Dan and Evi, offered me a ride. I thanked them profusely and as I got in, I shared that I wasn’t exactly sure where I was going. They then suggested I camp in their back yard for the night and they could take me back to the trail in the morning. I happily took them up on the offer and then to top it all off, they invited me in for dinner! Now, that’s the way to get rescued!
Now maybe you don’t get yourselves into those kind of situations, but there are plenty of ways in life that we find ourselves in predicaments. Sometimes, it feels as if our whole life is a predicament! Ruth and Naomi were certainly in a predicament. They had no one to care for them; relying on the kindness of others to provide for even their basic needs. But what I want us to see today through this story is that even during the trials and hardships, God’s hand is upon our life seeking to redeem us from our hopelessness and reign as King of all.
In the account of Ruth and Naomi, we meet a very important figure with a very important role in the story- Boaz. Boaz’s role as kinsman redeemer gets fleshed out in chapters 3 and 4. Boaz is a “type” of Christ figure. We see these throughout history where someone takes on the role or typifies what Christ does on our behalf. Boaz as kinsman redeemer shows us a picture of how Christ redeems us.
Christ functions as our Kinsman Redeemer. He is our kinsman because He became flesh for our sakes. He took on the form of man, so He could also take on our judgment. He is our redeemer because He laid down His life to rescue us from our hopeless and destitute state (Philippians 2).
“This may encourage us to lay ourselves by faith at the feet of Christ, that he is our near kinsman; having taken our nature upon him” (Matthew Henry's Commentary, p.209).
We are in need of our Redeemer to spread His covering over us to seek His protection and comfort and safety.
Just as we can learn some things through Boaz, we can also learn some things through Ruth.
Matthew Henry points out Ruth’s 4 roles (p.214-5) of:
1. Wife
2. Mother
3. Daughter-in-law
4. Ancestor of David and Christ
If we look at those roles, we can apply certain lessons to our life:
1. Wife- As the Church, we are the bride of Christ. Ruth was grafted into the family of the Israelites through marriage, even though she had no right to be there. We have been likewise grafted into the spiritual family of Israel, as the bride of Christ and believers of God’s promises. The story of Ruth gives us a taste to come that the blessings of the Lord are not limited to Israel. Psalm 113:7-8 says, “God raises the poor from the dust and lifts the needy from the ash heap, to make them sit with princes, with the princes of His people.” We, like Ruth, have been raised up from nothing to be counted among God’s people! Hallelujah!
2. Mother- We have been called to be parents to our own children, but then also to be spiritual mothers and fathers to those who come after us. Who am I helping to grow spiritually right now? What am I passing on to the next generation? Or the next class? Or my younger brothers and sisters? Or to new believers in Christ?
3. Daughter-in-law- Ruth as a daughter-in-law showed immense loyalty to someone who had nothing to offer her; someone who she owed nothing to. With the birth of Obed, Naomi was encouraged in her old age, and raised him like he was her own. When Christ acts as our kinsman redeemer, we suddenly become showered with amazing blessing. What do we do with that blessing? Are we passing it on to those around us? Are we sharing that blessing with those who have lost all hope and are despairing of their very life?
4. Ancestor of David and Christ- It is through this ancestry that King David came as Boaz’s great-grandson. And 14 generations after King David came King Jesus. So as Christ acts as our “kinsman redeemer,” He also acts as our King. And that is why today on Christ the King Sunday I wanted to tie together those two titles for Jesus. Because He is Savior, yes. But He is also Lord. We cannot accept one without the other.
So with that in mind, I want to close by focusing on Ruth chapter 3, verse 18, “Wait, my daughter, until you know how the matter falls; for the man will not rest until he has finished the matter today.”
Likewise, we are to wait upon Jesus putting the hope of our future in His hands, because we know He will not rest until the matter is finished completely.
WAIT- The hardest command of all for us, but we are to wait upon the Lord. Christ as our Kinsman Redeemer did not rest until He had settled the matter completely.
He completely prayed it through at Gethsemane.
He completely endured the harsh trials of the high priest and Pontius Pilate.
He completely suffered through the beatings and cruelties of the Romans.
He completely accepted the mockery of the people.
He completely witnessed the abandonment of His own followers.
He completely took death on the cross in our place, as our Redeemer.
He completely died so that all lost hope.
He completely rose to be the first fruits of new life!
He completely conquered Satan and all he had been scheming for so many years!
He completely reigns over the earth and over our lives!
He completely rules over all the other kings and kingdoms!
He completely loves in a way that only Jesus can love!
(Colossians 1:13-18)
He completely rescued us from our domains of darkness!
He completely transferred us to His Kingdom!
We have been redeemed! We have been forgiven!
Hallelujah! Christ reigns over all! He is King!
Since the beginning of creation, He is King!
Over the heavens and the earth, He is King!
Over the visible and the invisible, He is King!
Over thrones and dominions and rulers and authorities, He is King!
He is King of the Church!
He is King of my life! Hallelujah! He is King!
And what are we to do with that kingship?
An elderly gentleman was out walking with his young grandson. "How far are we from Home?" he asked the grandson. The boy answered, "Grandpa, I don't know." The grandfather asked, "Well, where are you?" Again the boy answered, "I don't know." Then the grandfather said good-naturedly, "Sounds to me as if you are lost." The young boy looked up at his grandfather and said, "Nope, I can't be lost. I'm with you." Ultimately, that is the answer to our lostness, too. We can't be lost with our Redeemer and King.
And so it is my prayer that everyone here can claim Jesus as their Redeemer and King, and as a way to confirm that in our lives and to each other, I’d like to read from Revelation 1.
Grace to you and peace, from Him who is and who was and who is to come, and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead and the ruler of the kings of the earth. To Him who loves us and released us from our sins by His blood- and He has made us to be a kingdom, priests to His God and Father- To Him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen. “I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.” Amen.
Now maybe you don’t get yourselves into those kind of situations, but there are plenty of ways in life that we find ourselves in predicaments. Sometimes, it feels as if our whole life is a predicament! Ruth and Naomi were certainly in a predicament. They had no one to care for them; relying on the kindness of others to provide for even their basic needs. But what I want us to see today through this story is that even during the trials and hardships, God’s hand is upon our life seeking to redeem us from our hopelessness and reign as King of all.
In the account of Ruth and Naomi, we meet a very important figure with a very important role in the story- Boaz. Boaz’s role as kinsman redeemer gets fleshed out in chapters 3 and 4. Boaz is a “type” of Christ figure. We see these throughout history where someone takes on the role or typifies what Christ does on our behalf. Boaz as kinsman redeemer shows us a picture of how Christ redeems us.
Christ functions as our Kinsman Redeemer. He is our kinsman because He became flesh for our sakes. He took on the form of man, so He could also take on our judgment. He is our redeemer because He laid down His life to rescue us from our hopeless and destitute state (Philippians 2).
“This may encourage us to lay ourselves by faith at the feet of Christ, that he is our near kinsman; having taken our nature upon him” (Matthew Henry's Commentary, p.209).
We are in need of our Redeemer to spread His covering over us to seek His protection and comfort and safety.
Just as we can learn some things through Boaz, we can also learn some things through Ruth.
Matthew Henry points out Ruth’s 4 roles (p.214-5) of:
1. Wife
2. Mother
3. Daughter-in-law
4. Ancestor of David and Christ
If we look at those roles, we can apply certain lessons to our life:
1. Wife- As the Church, we are the bride of Christ. Ruth was grafted into the family of the Israelites through marriage, even though she had no right to be there. We have been likewise grafted into the spiritual family of Israel, as the bride of Christ and believers of God’s promises. The story of Ruth gives us a taste to come that the blessings of the Lord are not limited to Israel. Psalm 113:7-8 says, “God raises the poor from the dust and lifts the needy from the ash heap, to make them sit with princes, with the princes of His people.” We, like Ruth, have been raised up from nothing to be counted among God’s people! Hallelujah!
2. Mother- We have been called to be parents to our own children, but then also to be spiritual mothers and fathers to those who come after us. Who am I helping to grow spiritually right now? What am I passing on to the next generation? Or the next class? Or my younger brothers and sisters? Or to new believers in Christ?
3. Daughter-in-law- Ruth as a daughter-in-law showed immense loyalty to someone who had nothing to offer her; someone who she owed nothing to. With the birth of Obed, Naomi was encouraged in her old age, and raised him like he was her own. When Christ acts as our kinsman redeemer, we suddenly become showered with amazing blessing. What do we do with that blessing? Are we passing it on to those around us? Are we sharing that blessing with those who have lost all hope and are despairing of their very life?
4. Ancestor of David and Christ- It is through this ancestry that King David came as Boaz’s great-grandson. And 14 generations after King David came King Jesus. So as Christ acts as our “kinsman redeemer,” He also acts as our King. And that is why today on Christ the King Sunday I wanted to tie together those two titles for Jesus. Because He is Savior, yes. But He is also Lord. We cannot accept one without the other.
So with that in mind, I want to close by focusing on Ruth chapter 3, verse 18, “Wait, my daughter, until you know how the matter falls; for the man will not rest until he has finished the matter today.”
Likewise, we are to wait upon Jesus putting the hope of our future in His hands, because we know He will not rest until the matter is finished completely.
WAIT- The hardest command of all for us, but we are to wait upon the Lord. Christ as our Kinsman Redeemer did not rest until He had settled the matter completely.
He completely prayed it through at Gethsemane.
He completely endured the harsh trials of the high priest and Pontius Pilate.
He completely suffered through the beatings and cruelties of the Romans.
He completely accepted the mockery of the people.
He completely witnessed the abandonment of His own followers.
He completely took death on the cross in our place, as our Redeemer.
He completely died so that all lost hope.
He completely rose to be the first fruits of new life!
He completely conquered Satan and all he had been scheming for so many years!
He completely reigns over the earth and over our lives!
He completely rules over all the other kings and kingdoms!
He completely loves in a way that only Jesus can love!
(Colossians 1:13-18)
He completely rescued us from our domains of darkness!
He completely transferred us to His Kingdom!
We have been redeemed! We have been forgiven!
Hallelujah! Christ reigns over all! He is King!
Since the beginning of creation, He is King!
Over the heavens and the earth, He is King!
Over the visible and the invisible, He is King!
Over thrones and dominions and rulers and authorities, He is King!
He is King of the Church!
He is King of my life! Hallelujah! He is King!
And what are we to do with that kingship?
An elderly gentleman was out walking with his young grandson. "How far are we from Home?" he asked the grandson. The boy answered, "Grandpa, I don't know." The grandfather asked, "Well, where are you?" Again the boy answered, "I don't know." Then the grandfather said good-naturedly, "Sounds to me as if you are lost." The young boy looked up at his grandfather and said, "Nope, I can't be lost. I'm with you." Ultimately, that is the answer to our lostness, too. We can't be lost with our Redeemer and King.
And so it is my prayer that everyone here can claim Jesus as their Redeemer and King, and as a way to confirm that in our lives and to each other, I’d like to read from Revelation 1.
Grace to you and peace, from Him who is and who was and who is to come, and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead and the ruler of the kings of the earth. To Him who loves us and released us from our sins by His blood- and He has made us to be a kingdom, priests to His God and Father- To Him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen. “I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.” Amen.
No comments:
Post a Comment