Ruth 3:1-18

Bringing the sermon home:

Having been blessed by the extravagant generosity of their relative, Boaz, Naomi devises a plan for Ruth to propose to Boaz, asking him to fulfill the role of kinsman redeemer (see Lev 25), combined with the law about levirate marriage (see Deut 25). There is much for us to glean from this episode, but none is more important for us than Naomi’s motherly instruction to find redemption by lying at the feet of our Redeemer.

In the incarnation, God the Son literally become our kin. He took on human flesh, becoming our brother, to live the life that we have failed to live and to die the death we deserve for our sins, in our place, so that all who seek shelter under the shadow of His wings will be granted the forgiveness of sin and the promise of eternal life with Him. Like Ruth at the feet of Boaz, humbly declare yourself to be His servant, and boldly plead for Jesus to spread His wings over you. Unlike Ruth, there is no question about how your Redeemer will respond!

This then leads to one other vital piece of motherly instruction from Naomi to Ruth (and thus to us): patiently wait for the Redeemer to fulfill His promises. As Ruth must wait for Boaz to settle the matter, we must wait for our Redeemer to return and to bring us into His eternal home. And much like Ruth and Naomi, we too have received a pledge of the blessings yet to come: the Holy Spirit who indwells us and the church that serves as the channel through which Christ’s care is extended to us as we wait for Him.

Sermon Outline:

1. “Forsake not your mother's teaching.” (Proverbs 1:8) (vv. 1-6)
2. Find redemption by lying at the feet of the Redeemer. (vv. 7-14)
3. Patiently wait for the Redeemer to fulfill His promises. (vv. 15-18)