January 27 - Ruth 3 - "There is a Redeemer"

MPC 27th January 2019.

Phil Campbell

Have you noticed there's a crisis at the heart of 21st century marriage? And I'm not just talking about the fact that since last year your gender doesn't matter.

Some people think that's the problem. But in reality it's just a symptom of something deeper.

Which you can watch playing out in the new season of Married at First Sight. Launching on Channel 9 tomorrow night.

And look, I'm not even so worried about a show like Married at First Sight or even The Bachelorette; that's advertising on Channel 10 for the next batch of bachelors who are looking for love.

The crisis. Is the underlying void that it shows in any kind of substantial understanding of what marriage is all about.

The sadness that you see in the people stepping up. Looking for something. That they can't even find by the end of the season.

The sadness of the promos for the new series. Like Ming. Dressed for her wedding, on the way to marry the guy she hasn't even met. Just desperately wanting, she says, "to find someone who loves me enough to keep me." As she breaks down in tears.

Here's what I'm talking about. Take a look.

I haven't checked. But I'm almost sure that's not politically correct. It's not empowered. It's not properly feminist. And yet she's got this deep yearning that there'd be somebody; somewhere. Who'd want to value her for who she is enough to hold on to her and love her and care for her to the end. Who'd take on the obligation to have and to hold. In good times or bad.

And look, I'm not sure Married at First Sight is going to be the way to achieve that. But for her sake, I'm kind of hoping it is. Because somehow that's what we all long for. Isn't it?

And in the world we live in of cheap functional relationships that you just stay in as long as it feels good for you... and nobody wants to commit. That; that's our marriage crisis.

And so the idea of building an extended family unit. The idea of propagating an enduring family line. And a family name. The idea of covenant obligation built on covenant kindness. It's all but gone.

To which you might say good. Because that's just patriarchy isn't it? And patriarchy is just a form of male privilege and abuse.

And if that's your point of view, you're maybe going to be triggered by all sorts of things here in the book of Ruth. And especially Ruth chapter 3.

For starters there's no doubt that as the story of Ruth unfolds we're made keenly aware of the dangerous men around the streets and fields of ancient Israel in the time of the judges. Where just like Melbourne, girls aren't safe walking home after dark. Where we saw last week Boaz has to say to his men in the field "Don't put a hand on her."

Ultimately, the book of Ruth is a very traditional love story.

But it's not primarily a romance story. It's a love story born of what in the original Hebrew was called hesed. covenant kindness. Which starts with God himself. And flows out through the covenant kindness of Boaz. In a way that goes far deeper than romance.

One commentary describes hesed this way. Because it's a key word in the book.

Hesed here is "acceptance of the duty of care involved in covenantal relationships, especially those of marriage and family."

Which is exactly what Ming's longing for; in Married at First Sight. Isn't it?

Let's jump into the story. If you've been here the last couple of weeks you'll remember you've got Naomi and Ruth.

They've come back from the land of Moab. And they've come home empty. Naomi's husband Elimelech had been shooting for the big time. Looking for success away from God's promised land Israel.

But by the end of chapter 1 Naomi's home again. With nothing but her Moabite daughter-in-law, Ruth.

Verse 21 in chapter 1, Naomi says, "I went away full... but the Lord has brought me back empty."

Which is the experience of a lot of people who look for their blessing a long way from God. Maybe you've watched it play out with a friend or a family member. Maybe it's you. Seems like a great idea at first. But the time comes when you realise where you've been. It's the story Jesus tells of the runaway son who ends up eating pig food, played out all sorts of different ways. And the Lord brings you back empty; and dry.

In Naomi's case, bitter. With low expectations.

IN THE FIELDS

Chapter 2, there's a flicker of hope. Because young widow Ruth finds herself gleaning in the fields of Boaz. Who we're told is a relative of Elimelech. Which puts him in a particular legal position under Israel's law. As what's called a guardian redeemer. Here's someone who has the legal option to step in and buy the family assets and continue the family line.

It's an option. And not an obligation. So there's the flicker of a hope.

And as we come to chapter 3, it's the end of the barley harvest, it's threshing time; as Farmer Boaz is hard at work beating out the grain with his men in a cloud of dust and sweat. They're long days. They camp there over night.

Which sets the scene for a mother-in-law's cunning night time plan.

A MOTHER-IN-LAW'S PLAN

Used to be there were lots of mother-in-law jokes. Which weren't really fair. Like the cannibal who says "My mother-in-law is awful," and the other cannibal says, "well, just leave her on the side of your plate and eat the vegetables."

If you know what it's like to be one, you'll know being mother-in-law is a tough job. Always knowing how things should be done. But never wanting to meddle. Or sometimes the other way around.

Now remember; Naomi and Ruth are back from Moab. Both husbands dead. Ruth tags along back to Israel looking for refuge with her dead husband's mum.

So it's time, chapter 3 verse 1, for mother-in-law to hatch a plan.

One day Naomi her mother-in-law says to Ruth, "My daughter, shouldn't I try to find a home for you, where you'll be well provided for?"

Which is literally, shouldn't I try to find rest for you... which is a word deeply rooted in Israel's story. And speaks to every restless heart.

So mother-in-law hatches a plan. It's a good goal. But I'm not sure if it's a good plan.

The plan is, Ruth's going to make herself attractive. And find Boaz. And then literally throw herself at his feet. In the middle of the night. And see what develops.

Naomi says, look, Boaz is down at the threshing floor. Winnowing grain. Here's what you do. Put on your best clothes, splash on some perfume, verse 3, go down to the threshing floor and stay out of sight 'til he's finished work and he's had a few drinks. Then when he lies down and goes to sleep, make your move.

And so verse 5, Ruth says, "I'll do exactly what you say." And she does. Up 'til this point, she's been the dusty working girl in the field; this time, it's perfume, best dress, and down the road to the threshing floor in the twilight to be the dusky seductive girl in the hay bales.

And she's watching Boaz from the shadows as he finishes work. And eats his dinner. And verse 7 it says when Boaz has finished eating and he's had a few drinks and he's in good spirits, he goes to lie down at the far end of the grain pile.

Ruth watching and waiting. And there's snoring.

Sneaks over; uncovers his feet; lies down. And nothing happens. Lies there wide awake. And nothing happens. Until midnight. When Boaz is startled awake. And he rolls over. And senses more than sees. At his feet. In the darkness: a woman. Smells the perfume.

But who is it? Which is why he asks, Verse 9, "Who are you?" "I'm your servant Ruth," she says.

CORNER OF YOUR GARMENT

And there's a little something that you can miss in the English translation. Follow it in verse 9. "I am your servant Ruth," she says. "Spread the corner of your garment over me, since you're a guardian redeemer of our family." Which in the original Hebrew is literally spread the wing of your garment over me... since you're our guardian redeemer.

Which has got a little echo to it if you've read chapter 2. Which is where Boaz says to Ruth, "I'm caring for you because you've come to seek shelter under the wings of God."

And now Ruth's pushing it one step further... how about you shelter me under your wings? As you show some of the covenant kindness of your covenant kindness God? Because according to the laws of Israel, you're the guy who can step up and do that.

Leviticus 25. That the closest next of kin was invited to take on the childless widow as his wife... and the first child of the marriage is counted as carrying on the name of the first husband. And his family line. And the inheritance.

Family line was everything. And to our ears it sounds strange. But that's what Ruth's asking. As she clings to the feet of Boaz in the darkness of the night.

It's a big ask. And Boaz doesn't have to say yes. I mean, redeeming is costly. Boaz is a middle aged bachelor. Set in his ways.

So what's he going to say? Look, I think the reality is behind the legal obligations; this actually is a romance. And you can see that in verse 10. She's come asking him for some covenant kindness. But look at his words...

"The lord bless you my daughter." He says, "You're the one showing kindness to me!" I'm not much of a catch. You could have gone after the young blokes. Even the rich younger guys. And so he says, verse 11, "And now my daughter, don't be afraid." Stop trembling. "I'll do for you all you ask." It's a yes! And all my fellow townsmen know you're a woman of noble character. Just the sort of woman I'd be looking to marry anyway!

THE THREAT...

But here's the problem. And they reckon in any good drama there's got to be a threat. What's a good love story without the other guy who's going to mess things up and make a love triangle?

Here he is. Waiting in the wings. We'll meet him in person next week.

Here's the guy who can spell the end to a beautiful relationship. Because even though Boaz is related, even though he's one of the guardian redeemers of Naomi's clan, even though he's in line to help out; he's not first in line.

There's another relative. Even closer.

And Boaz breaks the bad news in verse 12. He says, even though it's true that I'm near of kin, he says I'm not technically next of kin! He says there's something your mother-in-law has overlooked. "Although it's true I'm a guardian redeemer of our family, there's another who's more closely related than I."

Another guy. With first call. Which is awkward. Given the situation in the middle of the night.

But he says, wait here until morning. And we'll sort it out then. If he wants to redeem, good, let him redeem. "But if he's not willing," verse 13, "as surely as the Lord lives, I'll do it. Lie here 'til morning."

And so for the next three or four hours, Ruth I guess is left lying there in the warmth under the wings of his spread out cloak. Wondering what's going to happen in the morning. Because it's one thing to know that there's another possible kinsman redeemer. But that's no guarantee she's going to find the same sort of kindness... the same warmth of covenant love; that she's found in Boaz.

NO LONGER EMPTY

So our chapter closes with Ruth getting up at the crack of dawn and heading back to town; and again, if you're an alert reader looking for little harmonies in the story, there's a resonance. Remember Ruth and Naomi came back to the promised land empty. Naomi's words back in chapter 1 verse 21. "I went away full, the Lord brought me back empty."

Boaz says, before you go, hold out your shawl. And he piles it full of barley; six measures; as much as she can carry back to town. And sends her off.

Naomi. Who called herself bitter and empty. Meets her at the door. How did it go?

Verse 17, Ruth says, "He gave me these six measures of barley, and he said, you're not going back to your mother-in-law empty."

Your empty days are over.

Ruth and Naomi; they've come from Moab and they're looking for shelter under the wings of God in the promised land.

And they've found a redeemer.

Boaz says; I'll show you. What the covenant kindness of God looks like in practice. What redemption looks like. When you come as a refugee to the covenant God.

Except for that one small problem of the other guy in the wings.

So Naomi says in verse 18, let's wait and see what happens. Because Boaz won't rest until the matter's settled. She doesn't have to wait long. But we'll have to wait 'til next week. And Ruth chapter 4.

COMING HOME?

Now I wonder, as we read a chapter like this one, what we're meant to make of it? There's a prior question to that. If you were an Israelite reading the story back then... what are they meant to make of it? In their own situation.

The book of Ruth is set in the time of the judges. Early in Israel's history.

But here's a clue in chapter 4 that Ruth as a book was first intended to be read by Israelites much later on, in exile. Far from the promised land themselves. If you're curious, take a look at Ruth 4 verse 7.

If you've done Dan's bible overview you'll know the story. How as a nation they rejected God's promises. And suffer the consequences of the exile in Babylon. Feeling in their hearts a long way from God.

A time comes under King Cyrus where they're actually allowed to go back. Which you can read about in Old Testament books like Ezra and Nehemiah.

But the question is, maybe; what do you find if you turn back to God?

Maybe you know people who say I've messed things up so badly that God wouldn't possibly want me back. Maybe your neighbour who says, I couldn't go to church, the roof would fall in.

Your son or daughter maybe. Who's wandered a long way from faith and made the sort of life decisions that bring tears to your eyes. And yet from you maybe, they only hear criticism.

What happens when you turn back to the God of covenant kindness? That's a question the first readers would be asking. Maybe it's your question too. Or maybe it should be. Because it's great news.

And Ruth starts to shape an answer. You'll find a redeemer. Ready and waiting. To cover you with his wings of covenant kindness. In her case, his name's Boaz.

In our case, his name's Jesus. Who offers redemption and rest and a place to call home; not just to Israel. But anyone who comes to him empty.

If you're a 1980s vintage Christian, you'll remember Keith Green's song.

There is a redeemer

Jesus, God's own Son

Precious Lamb of God, Messiah

Holy One

The idea that he's bought us and paid a costly price for us; in his own self sacrifice. To set us free. Like Boaz is about to do for Ruth. If it works out okay next week.

Take a look from Revelation chapter 5. Last book in the bible. Where there's a vision of heaven, and a huge choir of angels standing around Jesus on a throne who in the dream looks like a slain lamb. And they're singing. Look at the words. Revelation 5:9:

And they sang a new song, saying:

'You are worthy to take the scroll,

And to open its seals;

For You were slain,

And have redeemed us to God by Your blood

Out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation.'

And so as you look at the welcome home for Ruth and Naomi, as you can see their emptiness about to be filled... as we look next week in Ruth 4 at the costly kindness involved in redeeming and restoring and these returning rebels; there's a word for us. And the even greater cost for Jesus.

That you're welcome home. When you turn back to God. No matter how far you've been.

And then beyond that. A glimpse of what redemptive relationships can look like for us even today.

I'm not saying we're being told to take on ancient Israelite marriage customs. That's not the point. And I'm not saying we've gotta turn back to 1950's patriarchy.

And yet there's something beautiful going on isn't there. Even if you're a paid-up feminist. Something beautiful going on. When you see a guy like Boaz. Who because he knows a redeeming God with wide covering wings. Is open to taking someone like Ruth and her extended family under his own wing. In hesed. Covenant kindness.

So maybe we could learn a bit. About being counter cultural in some of those ways. In our culture, where love and marriage are only defined by sexual attraction; and wanting our own needs met. To look back at a model of love and family bonded by obligations of kindness.

And make that a model for your family.

It's why Paul says in Ephesians 5, husbands, love your wives as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her.

Not authority. Or ownership. But bonds of family obligations of service and generosity. Even when it's costly.

Marriages and families built on a love that goes way deeper than romance and what makes me feel good for the next five minutes. But on a service that comes from willing self sacrifice.

LOVING

And what about being a church family that models that kind of covenant kindness as well. A church family that's built on not what's convenient for me. But loving with a servant heart.

That's what we're aiming for as a church. The generosity of Boaz. Not just leaving leaving legalistic scraps in his field for Ruth to glean like the law said. But loading her up with his generosity. Taking away the emptiness as he takes on the family debt as guardian redeemer. Which is just a tiny glimpse of the much bigger family debt taken on by Jesus at the Cross.

Finally just a word if you're someone who's keen to be married. Maybe like Ming on Married at First Sight. If you're looking for a marriage partner. How about look above all for qualities that show a heart of covenant kindness; reliability. Someone ready to accept the duty of care that comes from covenant relationship.

Single guys in particular, how about you learn what it means to be like that. And look not with eyes of lust but with eyes of care. For the chance not to be an alpha male or a dominant male but a servant male. Loving like Jesus.

I'm not sure Ming's going to find a guy like that on married at first sight. But how about being that kind of guy. For whoever finds you.

More next week. As the story of Ruth comes to its gripping conclusion. But for this morning, I know it's a retro 1970's kind of song; but there's no better song to close with than There is a Redeemer.

Table of Contents

IN THE FIELDS

A MOTHER-IN-LAW'S PLAN

CORNER OF YOUR GARMENT

THE THREAT...

NO LONGER EMPTY

COMING HOME?

LOVING