Naomi, Ruth and Boaz (Part A)

Action on Naomi's orders, instructions, word some of you have mothers like this. Hope you know your mother is looking out for you, giving you sound advice.

I want to in my relationship with Christ.

Listen to him do what he instructs me to do and when he says to me do all that I say to you as Naomi is saying I want to be able to respond as you say I will do this is cross reference radio with our pastor and teacher. Rick asked Rick is the pastor of Calvary Chapel Mechanicsville. Pastor Rick is currently teaching through the book of Ruth. Please stay with us after today's message to hear more information about cross reference radio, specifically how you can get a free copy of this teaching, but for now let's join Pastor Rick in the book of Ruth chapter 3 as he begins a new message, Naomi, Ruth and Boaz Ruth chapter 3, Naomi, Ruth and Boaz. So one day in the field of Boaz change the life of Ruth and Boaz, and Naomi forever. Fortunately, Ruth did not stay home waiting for something to happen. We remember the story from chapter 2, she requested of Naomi that she go and clean in the field and she ended up in the field of Boaz.

Our last timestamp is to match with chapter 3 is found in verse 21 of chapter 2 Ruth and we should just turn quickly and reread that Ruth the Moabitess said he also said to me you shall stay close by my young men until they have finished all my harvest and that's that's Ruth telling Naomi what happened in the field and Naomi, of course, verse 22 and Naomi said to Ruth, her daughter Lloyd is good my daughter that you go out with his young women and that the people do not meet you in any other field, and so she stay close to the young women of Boaz and takes it that last verse in verse 23 verse of chapter 2 takes it to the end of the week season, but here we are in the barley. Still the barley season here, and that comes up latter versus Ruth seems oblivious to the implications of what she shared with Naomi. Naomi understood what was happening from Ruth's report a lot more than what Ruth was getting at the time Naomi in this chapter 3 is essentially saying to Ruth, I got this and I need you to take notes and Ruth is going to do that.

And Ruth is going to act upon what she is what she learns from Naomi and Naomi doesn't overstep her role.

She doesn't get become too big for her britches as the saying goes, we only see her giving sound advice at this point Naomi is the star too much of the story. Ruth is the beloved of course of the entire book, but at and Boaz. He is the hero without Boaz or one in his place. There is no hero.

He is the guy.

Initially, Boaz took at the very least, the Platonic liking to Ruth he heard about her.

He respected her. He was the single man in position to change their lives to save their lives from the poverty that they were in the other was another but really because we know the end of the story.

Boaz is the one, because he does not only want to take Ruth under his care, but Naomi too and that that is pronounced in in the story that he is very careful about Naomi. What becomes clear between oh verse 22 of the last chapter and verse one of Ruth chapter 3 is that Boaz has fallen in love with Ruth. He may have been earlier but it doesn't seem that way seems again to have this respect for her this admiration, but it begins to become something deeper with him if it first falls in love with her inner beauty as a matter of fact, how she helped Naomi. Then after meeting her in observing her and as time moved on and with time has moved on from the gleaning of the field to now they're harvesting the wheat and the going to thresh the wheat now it is up after observing all of this he is in love, but he is restraining himself for for various room couple reasons why we should get them as we go through this. He is the nobleman in the story. Remember let's not lose sight of the fact he is very rich and in Bethlehem. He is very powerful.

He really could if if he were not such a noble character. He just wouldn't have any time for someone like Ruth, verse one, then Naomi, her mother-in-law said to her, my daughter Michelle I not seek security for you, that it may be well with you.

Now this sacrificial love was mutual and it guarded their relationship through the hardship. These two women faced together.

They have a long history together over 10 years and Naomi remained a mother to Ruth and Ruth remained a daughter to Naomi by my choice and it was choice of love in this case. Love is thicker than blood. You may have heard the expression blood is thicker than water.

And that means you know, family, family, don't mess with family. You can be real close with somebody but still that's my brother but love comes along and can overrule and Jesus taught this and it is good that it is this whales nepotism would get out of control. Amongst the righteous.

Also, it's not wrong, of course, love, family, some of you might need to know that don't always help so I not seek security for you. She says here in verse one that it may be well with you. Just taking the initiative.

Naomi is a faithful initiative. She's going on offense. She no longer playing defense. She says lesson Ruth. I've been thinking about this and now she's beginning to make make her mood genuinely looking out for Ruth. This is the selfless appearance of Naomi. She doesn't seem to have some other motive in mind. She you not care for you, yes you going to benefit from this.

But that is not her objective at all.

She knows what she is doing.

She knows that Ruth will be just the right fit. Ruth and Boaz. She just senses. This she knew it Boaz a godly man, Ruth, a virtuous woman. She knew the landscape. We don't have that advantage. We don't know about the other bathroom lights at this time except we know that they were decent people. Overall that comes out of the story to the end right to the end of the of the fourth chapter. So she is saying to Ruth. If Boaz is the one listen to me. Verse two now Boaz, whose young women you were aware, is he not our relative. In fact, he is winnowing barley tonight at the threshing floor, so there is at the threshing floor this evening Naomi informed Ruth about the surrounding possibilities, because he is related to Naomi and he was related to Naomi's husband and therefore her sons, who died therefore to Ruth, the widow of Naomi's son and so Naomi says is a connection is a legal connection here and I don't want to miss this.

She could've said God is no point. He's rich, he's powerful where poor no point God is not signed on in our lives look at us. She could've taken that road and she does not. So she says. In fact, he is winnowing barley tonight at the threshing floor now my time. The breezes would pick up a little bit at the time of the year be cooler to work in that after the harvesting of the barley's that's what he was going to do now.

This is separate the kernels from the stocks. Naomi knew he'd be there likely from the other women in Bethlehem with the ladies stalking the interactions with the women she's putting it all together. She sees got a plan again. She is on offense now waiting for something to happen.

Making something happen and that is admirable how she goes about it where she and the flesh where she pushed she will receive you know it had her own selfish interests at heart. It would miss the whole story up. She doesn't appear to be ambitious for herself. She genuinely is is doing what she should do and she has a right to do it because Boaz is related he is the near kinsman verse three, therefore wash yourself and anoint yourself put on your best garment and go down to the threshing floor but do not make yourself known to the man until he is finished eating and drinking. Now you tell me if you help me because I have a plan for this guys going down is Jesus. Listen look at you gotta clean yourself up to.

You can't go there in genes like this is way going to work a hook bioethicist going to have to do certain things is so practical. It is so sensible of course the page.

We live in. Femininity is is diminished to almost nothing but an and that our loss but not met with Naomi Boaz is a doesn't stand a chance.

Dress for success. My child, wash sweetened and put on that killer outfit that you know he's going to get your attention.

It is some of this is just flat out appropriate. A man like Boaz and she's going to approach him on that sort of to the formal approach is in this to mean we can take the love out of the situation and just say legally he is supposed to is in line to take Ruth as his wife legally and that would be a very dry story and would not be true to the story, God has given us these human exchanges and experiences in characters and scriptures of the story can be told so that the Holy Spirit can then select from the story, things that are relevant to us personally. He can isolate us and bring something out of the stress of this is for you. It could be a review or it could be a grand encouragement. I like to believe that most of the time. It is a great encouragement and there are things appropriate and inappropriate in approaching someone with the formal request. Ruth is going to make it it it's not proper to where a pair of flip-flops to a funeral I'm aiming for it for a lot of reasons. When one is in your flapping around drawing attention to you in her pockets got their mind on someone else and something else in here so that it does matter. These things should be considered. I mean I keep out an outfit in my office because sometimes I'm in town and there have been times over the years where I've been asked, you know, maybe someone goes to the hospital in serious thing, or worse the past and our involvement in breaking the news of someone go there. You know if I'm in town and Holland allowed Hawaiian shirt show up everybody of the pastors here so some things are appropriate. Some things make sense and we should learn these things, but it is a big part of the story with this advice he gives her an insert the other. Naomi wrote a song few of you know, and I'll just give you some of the lyrics I won't sing it and if you don't know the song is probably available online for free where you're here just for him because you won't get him thinking and praying wishing and hoping this is just another person.

If you want him you better do some certain things you have the goal on offense. Don't overdo it. Jason away. Ruth had responsibilities to fulfill if she were ever to receive what God had for her and I believe very strongly that there are still Ruth's, who need Naomi's just as there are still men like Moses, who need men like Jethro, we need people in our lives that are strong believers that we are close enough to six were part of course the right close enough to to receive from them when when God should desire to speak through them. She says to her in verse three. Now go down to the threshing floor.

That's where Boaz will be do not make yourself known to the man until he has finished eating and drinking, keep a low profile. Whatever you do don't mess with this food God local business will even be let him eat and drink.

Get tired and make your move and the move is going to be it's going to be very, very wise, very smart she is to privately approach him for for a lot of yes no one's business number one and, of course, minding one's business is disagreeable to some that usually leads them to saying things they know nothing about them making just hurting people. But here is one of the practical reasons why it should be private. What if Boaz is really not interested.

Then Ruth is sort of humiliated in front of everyone. Naomi knows what she's telling. Listen, this is you don't uncle living out loud. There are some things it's just people just don't need to know and you're not doing anything wrong.

Your conscience is clear here Ruth you're making a legal, a move that is right and were not going to turn this into a circus have everybody gossiping around the well verse 41 pause that you can just hear them. Can you believe that poor woman from that Moabitess is after the money man you know Boaz you could just, you know, people do things like that only takes one or two just takes one to release our everything verse four, then it shall be when he lies down that you shall notice the place where he lies and you shall go in and uncover his feet and lie down, and he will tell you what you should do. Naomi, how do you know that Knowles she knows the man now Boaz has to have seen Naomi well this is one scenario moving around as everybody is eating and doing their thing and she's not approaching him, and he's gotten notice who is that she looks different unless that that's Ruth. I administered Naomi and of euros of this I wasted is my point.

The advice because going to get dark at midnight when he finally gets to interact with her. Maybe enough moonlight out for her to for him to recognize with get to that in a moment, but Naomi knew that Boaz would sleep near his harvest for fear of thieves coming and stealing. After all of his hard work and so she says observe with the Lord of the harvest is there will be heaps of straw and stalks all around for people to have some level of privacy and he being Lord of the harvest he would be removed from the workers, and God is showing us that these are virtuous people and that there is nothing going on here outside of these natural barriers and some business that has to take place that is no one else's business. He's cheap, says here in verse four and you shall go in uncover his feet and lie down, and he will tell you what you should do now. You can you can give all of the advice you want to give to a person that sounded good. That person still has to have the ability to pull it off. And Ruth does.

She's taken her notes and she is methodically going through this. This is as far as Naomi can counsel her.

She can really do nothing more. She's she's gone on quite a bit and now it is up to Ruth. The uncovering of his feet is likely literal. She actually goes and he's sleeping and uncovers his feet and the reason why is because he's been working all day. He's eaten.

Just fill of wine or water whatever he drank. Probably a milkshake vanilla but he's tired it's midnight, he lies down is nice and cozy is in the sleep by uncovering his feet, his feet going to get cold and asked him to wake him up and it is. I know there are all these commentators that read into the story.

All these things. The problem is they can back it up. I know I've search where they get that from, how come they so this is a bill. This means that when you get that from there others. If you give hints in all that this you know there were other connotations and they can back this up so high I don't go with them on this.

I believe it is little you can try it tonight.

Crank the AC up pretty good and uncover your some of you in a warm-blooded problem, but most will wake up and will see this unfold. Verse five now, but if some of you may have heard of the immuno good men of God preach about all the cultural things with this and I just departed from that don't go flat in my truck tires because I don't agree.

Verse five and she said to her all that you say to me I will do no fussing, no resisting no negative gestures, you know, the rolling of the eyes. The folding of the arms and chest that way to the gate. I yeah yeah Naomi right know that compliance one the day so it was with Esther. We talked about that Ruth acts on Naomi's orders, instructions, soft the word some of you have mothers like this. I hope you know it, your mother is looking out for you, giving you sound advice. I want to in my relationship with Christ. Listen to him do what he instructs me to do and when he says to me do all that I say to you as Naomi is saying I want to be able to respond as you say I will do course, the flesh, give me a hard time in the grace of Christ through his cross and his blood overcomes that with this willingness to obey is meaningful, why, why would there not be a willingness to obey someone who loves you and who is who has understanding knows what's going on. Why not just obey them. Devotion can be measured not in inches but in obedience thing would love youth does not know automatically youth thinks it knows automatically men some things yes they do. But overall know they must learn they can learn the hard way, all the better way natural adults to we learn through perception and experience, but to learn by experience without perception can be a tough road you just learning the hard way. Unifying find out for yourself. You can really reduce the consequence of that through submission. Where else are you going to be told this outside the home. That's why God has given us to church to bring these things up in verse six so she went down to the threshing floor and did according to all that her mother-in-law instructed her well you know the devils know the word of God. The difference between devils and believers is devils are not trying to obey the word of God never ever if they do, it's a faint it's not genuine and you should remember that the next time Satan may come to you and say because you have failed to be obedient that you are not a solid Christian or you're not a Christian or some other lie.

The differences you do want to pursue God's word and Ruth just I just take a moment to point that out because he or she is acting on her instructions. Verse seven and after Boaz had eaten and drunk, and his heart was cheerful. He went to lie down at the end of the heap of grain, and she came softly uncovered his feet and lie down so here is again probably had a little bit of the wind that my he's happy it's the harvest season is going to you know sell the grain is the wonderful part of your better than dealing with a famine and he goes to lie down in tears.

The heap of grain that will give some privacy and she makes her move quietly justice Naomi called it. Now Naomi again knowing that Boaz probably did not dream that Ruth would be interested in him and he's going to be surprised to find out that she is there and this is going to just make the matter of the story more romantic. So reading again verse seven and after Boaz eaten and drunk in his heart was cheerful. He went to lie down at the end of the heap of grain, and she came softly and uncovered his feet.

He went to lie down and there she is and I will point this out.

The Bible has no problem exposing sin or things that are have an appearance of evil. There is nothing in this that is sinful or has an appearance of evil. I think I touched on that briefly. A moment ago, and I pointed out, because again some of the Bible study Bibles. If you have or maybe even commentators may suggest that and again they they have nothing to base that off of the try to similar Hebrew word could mean this to Annette that that's that's not iPod with them there. You may simply part with a lot of people say I don't play well with others.

Verse eight I do in the in another room but verse eight now it happened at midnight that the man was startled and turned himself in.

Their woman was lying at his feet. So now it's late, there's a timestamp and he startled because his feet got cold and again that he will give space for this, and he turned himself in to cover his feet back but there's a woman lying there. It would've been inappropriate if she were lying next to him is nothing wrong was she lying at his feet, where she uncovered where he's going to go when he just rises up to put the covers back on his feet forcefully for her. He wasn't a kicker.

So again that Hebrew word for startled indicates that he was in a pretty good sleep when he comes out of it and what are the odds he wakes up this person there. Verse nine and he said who are you so she answered I am Ruth, your maidservant move. Thanks for tuning in to cross reference radio for this study in the book of cross-reference is the teaching ministry of Pastor Rick Gaston of Calvary Chapel Mechanicsville in Virginia to learn more about this ministry. Visit our website cross reference radio.com. There you'll find additional teachings from Pastor Rick. We encourage you to subscribe to our podcast. When you subscribe, you will be notified of each new edition of cross reference radio. You can search for cross reference radio on your favorite podcast app work. Just follow the links@crossreferenceradio.com that's all the time we have for today, but we hope you'll join us next time. As we continue to learn more from the book of Ruth right here on cross-reference