Pursued By Grace Series Sermon #12
Ruth 4:13-22
SOMEBODY PINCH ME PLEASE!
Intro: We have all has experiences in life that were almost too good to be
true. In the midst of that experience have ever said, or heard someone say,
"Somebody pinch me please! I must be dreaming."? Well, I suppose
that is what Ruth is feeling when you reach the concluding chapters of this
book. She finds herself in a situation that is almost unbelievably good!
You see, in the verses of this little book, Ruth has worn the garments of
a Widow, Chapter 1; of a Worker, Chapter 2 and of a Woman, Chapter
3. But, in this concluding section of the book, we see Ruth wearing the
garments of a Wife! For her it must have been like a fairy tale! She must
have felt like Cinderella as the handsome prince swept her off her feet to live
happily ever after, which is just what they did!
Well, this morning as we look at these verses which form the culmination
of Ruth's journey from Widow to Wife, I want you to see that there are some
parallels between her experience and ours. If you stop and think of all the
redeemed enjoy in Jesus, you could almost feel like you were in a fairy tale
this morning. Sometimes, as I ponder all that Jesus has done for me and
in me, I just want to say "Somebody pinch me please!" If you will join me
for a few minutes, we will look at three experiences that Ruth had in these
closing verses that may have left her wondering if she was dreaming. As
she pondered all that Boaz had done for her, she may have said,
"Somebody Pinch Me Please!"
I. 3:13-14 RUTH AND HER WAITING EXPERIENCE
A. She Waited By Faith -v.13- Boaz told her to "tarry this night." His
promise to her was that when morning came, he would see to her
redemption one way or another. (Note: May I remind you that we
are in the night right now? We are to wait patiently upon our
Heavenly Boaz to "see to" the needs of life! I would just remind you
that He is still "Jehovah-Jireh" - "The LORD Will See To It".
Therefore, no matter how dark the way becomes, remember that
when the morning comes, He will meet all the needs of life, Psa.
30:5.) (Note: You can trust Jesus to finish that which He has started
in our lives, Phil. 1:6. Nothing that arises in life will ever stop the
fulfillment of God's plan for you and me!)
B. She Waited At His Feet -v. 14- Ruth spent the night at the feet of
Boaz just as she had been instructed! She knew that as he would
do just what he promised! (Note: I would just remind the saints that
Jesus Christ is a refuge from the stormy winds and raging seas of
life, Psalm 61:1-4; Psalm 46:1; Psalm 62:7-8! There is no better
place for the suffering saint to be than near His feet. Stay in that
place where you can feel His closeness. Until He comes mark
yourself off a place at His feet and determine in your heart that you
will be moved by nothing this life throws at you!)
II. 4:13 RUTH AND HER WEDDING EXPERIENCE
A. It Was A Time Of Glory For The Groom - Boaz saw his plan
completed when Ruth was redeemed and when she became his
bride. He paid the price for her because of his love for her and he
was magnified as a result, 4:11-12. (Note: The word "took" means
"to carry away, to fetch". What a picture of that which our heavenly
Boaz will do for us when He returns for His bride - 1 Cor. 15:51-52;
1 The. 4:16-17; Rev. 19:1-9. He will catch us away and He will see
His plan completed when His bride is safe with Him in glory!
Friends, if you are saved, you are going home! On that day, He will
receive all the praise He is worthy of today!)
B. It Was A Time Of Grace For The Bride - In spite of her past, Ruth
was accepted in Boaz! When she was redeemed, a legal
transaction took place, 4:1-11. When the near kinsman plucked off
his shoe as a sign that he could redeem Ruth, Boaz took that shoe
and kept it as evidence that he was the Redeemer and that Ruth had
been forever redeemed from her past! (Note: In Jesus, and through
His blood, we are accepted, Eph. 1:6. The Bible reminds us that in
spite of what we were, in Jesus we have been forever redeemed, 1
Cor. 6:9-11; 1 Pet. 1:18-19. His grace has changed everything for
those who trust Him for salvation, Eph. 2:8-9; 12-18.) (Note: We do
not have a shoe to prove that we belong to Jesus, we have
something far better than that! We have the Lord Himself, seated at
the right hand of the Father, ever living to make intercession for us, Heb. 7:25. We have an "Advocate" in heaven Who bears in His
body the marks of the cross, 1 John 2:1; Rev. 5:6.) (Note: In spite
of what we were, and still are at times, we are going to stand in
Heavenly places by His grace! In fact, I am already there this
morning, Eph. 2:6.)
III. 4:14-22 RUTH AND HER WORSHIP EXPERIENCE
(Ill. After the redemption was concluded and the marriage was finished,
there was a time of worship that began. Notice what prompted their
praise.)
A. V. 14 It Focused Itself In A Sovereign - This verse indicates that
God received the praise for the transaction! This is justified because
He established the plan that brought Ruth and Boaz together, and
He is exalted because of it. (Note: May we never forget that all we
have in Jesus is because of God's eternal decree, Rev. 13:8. And,
that He is worthy to be praised because of it, Rev. 4:1-11; Rev. 5:8-14!)
B. V. 15-22 It Fixed Itself In A Son - The child that Ruth and Boaz had
together was named "Obed". This is a name that means
"Worshiping". This son firmly fixed Ruth's place in Israel! You see,
her redemption gave her legal standing in the courthouse records,
but this child gave her a connection with the royal family! Obed
was King David's grandfather! This made Ruth David's great-grandmother! But, better than that, she is named in Matt. 1:5 as
one of the ancestresses of Jesus Christ! This little boy changed
everything for Ruth! So, for Naomi, Ruth and everyone involved,
Obed became a "restorer of life, and a nourisher of thine old
age". Knowing the son was a blessing to them all! (Note: Genuine
worship will always erupt out of a personal relationship with the Son
of God! When you know Him, you know One Who is The Restorer
of Life and the Nourisher of all Ages! If you know Him, you should
rejoice in that fact! If you do not know Him, then you need to know
that you can, and to know Him changes everything, 1 John 5:12!)
Conc: As her life progressed, there were probably many days when she
said to herself, "Somebody pinch me, I must be dreaming!" Such is the
power of grace in the life all who are pursued and captured of it! Grace can take you from nowhere as a nobody and it can change your
life, redeem you from death and place you in the family of the King! Are you
living your life in the grace of God? Would you like to know Him? Do you
need to get at His feet this morning? Whatever your need, it will be met by
coming to Him and trusting Him to do the amazing in your life!
