Sunday, October 1, 2000   

I. VERSES 1-5, A NEED REALIZED

      A. Verse 1, Naomi realizes that Ruth has a need -- a need for rest. This is why Naomi asks the question of Ruth: "My daughter, shall I not seek rest for thee, that it may be well with thee?" Everyone needs three homes that bring rest to them: a domestic home, an eternal home, and a church home.

            1. Naomi wants Ruth to find the rest that comes from a good home.

                 a. Home is to be a place of rest, a place where the cares of the world are locked out.

                 b. Home is to be a place where love is found. "A house is made of walls and beams; a home is built with love and dreams" (McKenzie 240).

                  c. Home is to be a place of spiritual refreshment. "Forbidding prayers in school won't hurt our county half as much as forgetting prayers at home” (McKenzie 240).

            2. To have rest eternally, you must have a heavenly home. Heaven is the home of the saved. Heaven is a place of eternal rest, contentment, joy and peace. The grave is not the final resting place of the saved. You cannot have rest unless you have peace (Romans 5: 1).

           3. Every saved person needs a good Bible believing church home. Ephesians 3:21:'Unto Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages..."

                  a. To grow spiritually, you need a church home.

                  b. To be right with God, you need a church home.

            4. Just as Naomi sought for and longed for Ruth to have rest, the Holy Spirit seeks out, convicts and draws the lost to rest. Is it well with your soul? (Matthew 11:28-29).

      B. Verse 2, Naomi makes a real revelation to Ruth. Naomi points out that Boaz is the redeemer.

           1. For the lost to be saved, the Redeemer Jesus Christ must be revealed by the Holy Spirit.

            2. Naomi tells Ruth that Boaz is going to be winnowing wheat that very night at the winnowing floor.

                 a. Winnowing is the process of separating the wheat from the chaff by tossing the wheat in the air and allowing the cool breezes to blow away the chaff. The heavy wheat falls to the ground and is kept. The chaff is later raked up and burned.

                 b. One of these days the Lord Jesus Christ will separate the wheat from the chaff. The wheat, the saved, will be kept; and the chaff, the lost, will be burned.

      C. Verse 3, Naomi instructs Ruth to make preparation to meet Boaz.

           1. Ruth is instructed to wash herself for she is going to meet the one she is to marry.

                  a. The church, the bride, is cleansed through the word (Ephesians 5:24-26).

                  b. You cannot stay spiritually clean without the preaching of the Word.

           2. Ruth is told to anoint herself. It was customary for the people of Israel to anoint themselves with oil. Oil is a picture of the Holy Spirit. Just as Ruth was instructed to anoint herself, we are instructed to be filled with the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 5:18-19).

           3. Ruth is to be put on her best clothes. We need to have on our best when we meet our Lord. The Lord Jesus has placed in the church ministers to get the bride ready for the wedding day (Ephesians 4:11-12).

           4. Ruth is told to go down to the threshing floor. She is not to let Boaz know she is there until he is satisfied.

      D. Verse 4, Naomi's instruction to Ruth continues.

            1. Naomi tells Ruth to mark the place where Boaz is lying down.

                 a. Boaz, the Lord of the harvest, is sleeping at the threshing floor to protect the harvest. The Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of the spiritual harvest, protects the harvest.

                 b. Jude 24 says that Jesus is the one who "is able to keep you from failing, and to present you faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy.”

           2. Ruth is to lie down at the feet of Boaz.

                  a. In the Orient, the servant would often place himself at the feet of the Master for rest. This was a place of humility.

                  b. Ruth is willing to place herself in the place of a servant. This says that she can do nothing to redeem herself. If she is to be redeemed, it must be done by the redeemer.

                  c. The last verse of the song "Glory to His Name" says: Come to the fountain so rich and sweet; cast thy poor soul at the Savior's feet; plunge in today and be made complete; Glory to His name...

      E. Verse 5, Ruth had confidence and faith in the wisdom and kindness of Naomi. We are to have confidence in the Holy Spirit's leading.

II. VERSES 6-10, AT THE KINSMAN REDEEMER'S FEET

      A. Verse 6, Ruth does as she had been instructed by Naomi. Naomi had earned this confidence by her treatment of Ruth.

      B. Verse 7, After the harvest feast, much like our Thanksgiving celebration, Boaz lies "down at the end of the heap of corn..."

            1. Boaz lies down at the end of the heap of wheat to protect it from thieves. The Lord Jesus, our greater Boaz, protects His own from the robber, the Devil.

           2. After Boaz is comfortable, like Esther who went unbidden to the king, Ruth quietly slipped on the threshing floor and took her place at the feet of Boaz her kinsman redeemer.

                  a. Ruth quietly places herself in a place (at his feet) for his blessing.

                  b. Blessings are found at the Savior's feet.

                       1) Mary, the sister of Martha, lies at Jesus feet, and heard His Word." Jesus said: "Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her." We all need to take time to sit at Jesus feet, to worship, and to learn from Him. Friend, the place of blessing is at Jesus feet.

                        2) The woman with the issue of blood crouched at Jesus feet and touched the hem of His garment; and Jesus said to her: "Daughter, be of good comfort: thy faith hath made thee whole."

                        3) The blessing of salvation is found only at Jesus feet.

      C. Verse 8, After a while the feet of Boaz get cold, he wakes up frightened, and finds Ruth at his feet. Ruth is where she needs to be at the feet of the Lord of harvest.

      D. Verse 9, Ruth claims Boaz as her near kinsman. She lays claim to the fact that Boaz is her near kinsman. Ruth was not ashamed of the good news that Boaz was her redeemer (Romans 1:16; 10:11).

            1. To be saved, the lost must lay claim to Christ as the only redeemer (Romans 10: 13-14).

           2. Ruth's claim had been motivated by Naomi. This is a picture of how the Spirit moves the sinner towards Christ the Redeemer.

            3. The spreading of the skirt denotes protection. When we claim Christ as Redeemer, He becomes our refuge, our shelter in the time of storm.

      E. Verse 10, Ruth did not follow after the world; she wanted to do right. She was led by Naomi, a picture of the Holy Spirit leading the obedient saint.

CONCLUSION: Have you laid claim to Christ as your personal Savior?