Sermon #13 Ruth Series:

Title: Boaz Redeems Ruth

Text: Ruth 4:1-22

Reading:

Subject: Redemption by Christ Typified in Boaz’s Redemption of Ruth

Date: Tuesday Evening - July 20, 1993

Tape #

Introduction:

We come now to the best part of the Book of Ruth. The things recorded in chapter 4 are the things to which everything up to this point has been leading. The title of my message tonight is Boaz Redeems Ruth. Let’s read the chapter together.

Everything in this chapter is designed by God the Holy Spirit to direct our hearts to the Lord Jesus Christ and his great work of redemption. Let me call your attention to three or four things by way of introduction.

1. “Then went Boaz up to the gate and sat down there” (v. 1). Why? To intercede for Ruth. This is a picture of our Lord Jesus Christ who ha gone up to heaven for us, and sat down there to intercede for us. Boaz went up to the city to do his work - Christ because his work was done! (Heb. 10:11-14; 1:1-3).

· Everything Boaz did there was for Ruth.

· Failure was an impossibility. Boaz was going to take Ruth home with him that night!

2. Boaz said to his kinsman, “Redeem, if thou wilt, Redeem, for there is none to Redeem but thee and me” (v. 4).

This near kinsman, more than anything else represents the law. But the law cannot redeem, it cannot save without marring itself and the very character of God.

· The law identifies sin, but cannot forgive it.

· The law condemns us all, but changes none.

· The law slays, but can never save! (Rom. 3:19-20, 28; 8:3-4; Gal. 3:10, 13).

3. Notice verse 5 too - Boaz said, “What day thou buyest the field of the hand of Naomi, thou must by it also of Ruth the Moabitess.”

Ruth is a type of the church. The world is a great field. The church of God is a treasure hid in the field (Matt. 13:44). Our heavenly Boaz, the Lord Jesus Christ, sold all that he had and bought the field so that he might get the treasure!

NOTE: As a man, Christ purchased all things. All things are his. He rules and disposes of all things for the saving of his people, whom he redeemed with his own blood. As Boaz bought all that was Elimelech’s, so Christ bought all that was Adam’s!

4. Now look at verses 9-10 - “And Boaz said unto the elders, and unto all the people, Ye are witnesses this day, that I have bought… Ruth the Moabitess…to be my wife.”

Proposition:

As Boaz purchased Ruth to be his wife, so the Lord Jesus Christ purchased the church of God’s elect to be his wife (Eph. 5:25-27).

Tonight, I want to show you nine things about Boaz’s redemption of Ruth which are also true concerning Christ’s redemption of God’s elect. It was…

I. A PROPER REDEMPTION!

None but Boaz could redeem Ruth. He alone was both able and willing to redeem. Redemption, if it is proper, must be legal. And our redemption by Christ is a proper redemption. Deliverance without satisfaction is a violation of the law. Satisfaction without deliverance is a violation of justice.

A. He alone is willing to redeem (Heb. 10;1-5).

B. He alone is able to redeem (Psa. 24).

C. He alone is a just and legal Redeemer (Isa. 45:20).

II. A PLEASURABLE REDEMPTION!

Boaz went through great pains, trouble, and cost to redeem Ruth; but he did so with great pleasure. He did it all with the sweet prospect of having Ruth for himself. Even so, our Lord Jesus found great pleasure and satisfaction in the midst of his sorrows, as he anticipated having his elect with him forever (Heb. 12:2; Isa. 53:10-12).

He did not hesitate to pay the price required for our ransom!

III. A PRECIOUS REDEMPTION!

· Precious because the redemption of the soul is precious!

· Precious because the price of redemption was his precious blood.

· Precious because it was a great act of infinite, condescending grace.

Boaz was not ashamed of Ruth, the poor Moabite stranger. She could not redeem herself; but this wealthy Prince stooped to lift her up and exalt her. What a great type of the Lord Jesus Boaz is!

A. He stooped low, that he might lift us high.

B. He invites the poor, the wretched, the miserable, the blind, the lame, and the halt to come to him.

C. He is not ashamed to call us brethren.

Illustration: Mephibosheth at David’s table.

Gomer and Hosea going home.

IV. A PUBLIC REDEMPTION! (vv. 1-2).

There were many witnesses to this great transaction. This thing was not done in a corner. When Boaz purchased Ruth everyone in Bethlehem knew it.

A. There were many witnesses to our redemption by Christ.

· The angels of God!

· The law of God!

· The demons of hell!

· God himself!

B. As Boaz pulled off his shoe as a token of the transaction being complete (v. 8), so the Lord Jesus Christ took off his grave clothes and ascended up to heaven, “having obtained eternal redemption for us!” (Heb. 9:12; Rom. 4:25).

V. A PURPOSEFUL REDEMPTION! (v. 10).

A. Boaz redeemed Ruth “that the name of the dead be not cut off.” (Psa. 22:30; Isa. 53:10).

B. Boaz redeemed Ruth to be his wife - Not a slave, but a wife!

VI. A PARTICULAR REDEMPTION!

“Ruth, the Moabitess, the wife of Mahlon, have I purchased!” (v. 10).

· Isaiah 53:8

· Galatians 3:13

· Ephesians 5:25-27

· Revelation 5:9

VII. A PRODUCTIVE REDEMPTION!

· Boaz got Ruth! Christ will get his Moabite bride!

· A King was brought to Israel - David! - Christ!

· The Son of God came into the world. The sons of God shall be brought to glory!

VIII. A PERFECT REDEMPTION!

“Boaz took Ruth, and she was his wife” (v. 13). So too, our heavenly Boaz will finish this thing when the day is over. He will come again to take his Bride unto himself (Rev. 19:1-9). What a day that will be!

IX. A PRAISEWORTHY REDEMPTION!

Not for Ruth, but for Boaz. The work of redemption was all his. Therefore, he was praised for it.

· “Do thou worthily!” Acquire wealth for yourself!

· “Be famous in Bethlehem!”

· “Let your house be full!”

Application: vv. 13-16

1. “That his name may be famous in Israel” (v. 14; Eph. 1:6, 12, 14).

2. Let us adore and publish his name. Make him famous where you live for…

· His sovereign purpose of grace!

· His sovereign election!

· His sovereign providence!

· His sovereign mercy!

· His sovereign redemption!

3. Do not allow the care of this world to destroy you, as it did Elimelech.

4. Cling to Christ, as Ruth did to Naomi.