New Life

While the women in the congregation have stated-we've heard so much about Ruth in all our women's Bible studies, the men have shared they know very little about the story of Ruth. It seems women's studies have done overkill on Ruth-poor Ruth. Conclusion-there is an imbalance in our men and women Bible studies. What do you think? Here is the last in this year's sermon series on Ruth. Enjoy.

Sermon Ruth 4:7-17 July 23, 2017 4 of 4 in Ruth series.

New Life

I’m ridiculously happy (I love this story) about sharing the final chapter of the story of Ruth with you today. It is a story that represents the abundance of joy that comes through salvation. It’s a story that describes salvation-or I should probably say redemption, because that is the word used throughout this tale-as an occurrence not just for an individual but for an entire people.

The gospel of John, in the New Testament, begins with the fullness of God’s love for us. We are told that nothing came into being without God in Jesus Christ. In him was life and the life was the light of all people. ..and..16-from his fullness we have received grace upon grace.

It is in the light of my New Testament lenses that I look back to this fourth chapter of Ruth. New life through the fullness of grace upon grace represents the abundance of love.

In this final chapter of Ruth all this abundance of grace, of love, of new life and restoration, renewal, redemption, salvation become a reality. In this story we discover the nature of God’s love in the relationship of Ruth to Naomi. No matter how far Naomi pushed Ruth away, Ruth was unrelenting in her love and faithfulness to Naomi. No matter how often in our lives that we reject God-we can be sure that God is ever faithful to stick with us no matter how we treat him. We will continue to receive God’s unmerited love for us no matter what. We will continue to be surrounded by others who reach out to us on God’s behalf-whether they know it or not-to extend a hand of grace.

We have this funny idea that our salvation, our redemption, is some kind of reward for those people who are faithful to God. Ruth was faithful to Naomi and committed to obey and follow her advice. So, we assume in response to ‘how good’ Ruth was, God rewarded her and restored her life. We could read that into the story with that kind of a lens. But, I’d like to suggest that the authors of this story clearly did not have this interpretation in mind.

Let’s look at what has happened-briefly.

Boaz gathers at the gate with elders-which is a way of saying he convened court. The ‘other’ relative to whom he engages is not named. He is ‘so-and-so’ because as it turns out in the story he is unwilling to completely fulfil his legal obligation. The purpose of the court is to put a contract on the property-buy the property-restore the clan/family.

Side bar-women could inherit, own, sell and buy property. But, since Naomi left during the famine it probably fell into the hands of so-and-so and she has to reclaim it. Boaz tells so-and-so that he has to buck up and do his legal duty. He shames him by telling him he can’t have the land without the lady. Worse he tells so-and-so that even if he doesn’t do his duty, he-Boaz, will step in, marry Ruth, present an heir to Elimelech and take the land back anyway. If that happens so-and-so will be out land and lose the money he used to buy it.

Business transaction were sealed with a sandal. Taking off the shoe meant you were giving up your rights to redeem and the obligation passed on to the next of kin in line.

Here is where I find the intertwining of the power of God’s grace in the actions of people remarkable.

It’s not that what we do earns us anything.

But, it is what we do that God uses to shape a people for good.

Boaz didn’t have to do anything.

He didn’t have to offer kindness,

or even go to the extent of being an instrument of redemption.

But, God used him and his actions are glorified in print.

In the power of the willingness of a person to act,

the power of God’s grace breaks through.

Boaz follows through on his promise to name the child to Naomi’s husband. By doing this Naomi is now legally, figuratively, and faithfully restored.

His actions make possible the new life for the family.

New life is restored to Naomi not through the literal resurrection of her husband, but through the resurrection of his inheritance in the newborn child. Our lives are probably better reflected in the life of Naomi than the one of Ruth.

Naomi was a woman who had it all and then lost it all. She became bitter in her grief and bitter toward God. As events unfold and choices are made, gracious circumstances occur in ‘happenstance’ sort of ways. In these moments, we witness the beginning of healing in the faith of Naomi. As she heals, she hopes, as she hopes, she blesses, and as she blesses, she recognizes her life turning around-she witnesses the face of a new direction.

Now Ruth is not to be diminished for her role in all of this. Yes, her life was one of faith and commitment. We do want to try to be faithful to God and people.

But, let us also be reminded of God’s action of salvation through the people we least expect.

-if our eyes are to be opened to newness

-if our eyes are to be opened to restoration

-is our eyes are to be opened to fulfillment, sustenance, and nourishment-and all of what God has to offer;

Then we have to be willing to let those ‘others’ into our lives and into our churches, and into our villages with a full embrace and an extension of true love.

Because we never know when God will use a Moabite, or a Ninevite, or a stranger, or a foreigner, or a ‘not like us’, or an ‘other’ to be the vessel of our salvation.

The women of the village are the undergirding of the impact of God’s wonderful, abundant grace. If it wasn’t for the words of these villagers, this story would just be about a nice guy who goes to court and makes good things happen for a family.

But these women announce the absolute joy that has transpired for Naomi.

She has completely turned around.

They bless her fullness of spirit-her soul has been restored.

Redemption isn’t about stuff.

Redemption is the fulfillment of one’s being. It’s about new life!

A village embraces a woman who has lost everything.

A village comes out to greet a lost and bitter soul.

A village embraces and loves and realizes the power of God at work.

It is the village who blesses in the abundance of God’s grace.

 It is the village who rejoices in the salvation of one lost soul restored to new life.

Let the church be the village that does the same.

Amen.

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