4. Living by Grace (1)

Posted on Posted in Sermon Notes, Prayer Meeting, Sermon Audio 2015, August 2015 Tagged with , , , ,

Hymns: 335 Keep On Believing, 336 Only Believe, His Eyes Is On the Sparrow

Ruth 2:1-8

1 And Naomi had a kinsman of her husband’s, a mighty man of wealth, of the family of Elimelech; and his name was Boaz. 2 And Ruth the Moabitess said unto Naomi, Let me now go to the field, and glean ears of corn after him in whose sight I shall find grace. And she said unto her, Go, my daughter. 3 And she went, and came, and gleaned in the field after the reapers: and her hap was to light on a part of the field belonging unto Boaz, who was of the kindred of Elimelech. 4 And, behold, Boaz came from Bethlehem, and said unto the reapers, The LORD be with you. And they answered him, The LORD bless thee. 5 Then said Boaz unto his servant that was set over the reapers, Whose damsel is this? 6 And the servant that was set over the reapers answered and said, It is the Moabitish damsel that came back with Naomi out of the country of Moab: 7 And she said, I pray you, let me glean and gather after the reapers among the sheaves: so she came, and hath continued even from the morning until now, that she tarried a little in the house. 8 Then said Boaz unto Ruth, Hearest thou not, my daughter? Go not to glean in another field, neither go from hence, but abide here fast by my maidens:

Under His Wings

– Living by Grace (1)

OUTLINE

  • A Working Faith (v1-3)
  • A Faithful God (v4-8)

 

INTRODUCTION

God is working out His redemption plan for all mankind quietly in the lives of two seemingly insignificant characters Naomi and Ruth when He brought them back to Israel by a famine in Moab. They have made the journey and they are now back home in the land of inheritance. We see the favour of God upon His children as they sought to walk with Him according to His will, albeit sometimes very imperfectly. God makes no mistake and we can be assured of His care for us when we commit our lives to Him. That vow of consecration Ruth made to follow Israel’s God by following her mother-in-law back to Israel was pleasing in God’s sight. We would see here in this chapter God’s faithfulness in guiding and caring for the two widows.

 

Widows are the most helpless people in ancient Israel. They are despised and often the victim of unfair treatment. They have no social status, no money, women don’t earn money, having no influence, no husband to back or support them, most vulnerable and easily bullied. The most difficult is to be both a widow and childless, this is a double hardship. Such a woman has no husband to be provider, and protector and also has no son or even prospects for a son to carry on the family name and to support her in her old age.

Yet, we see Ruth’s confidence in Israel’s God moved her to take steps of faith as she trusted the Lord for His provision for her life. She had to care for not just herself but Naomi, her elderly mother-in-law. God was with them as they entrusted their lives to His care. We see how Ruth and Naomi live by the grace of God. Two thoughts – (1) A Working Faith (v1-3) (2) A Faithful God (v4-8).

 

(1) A Working Faith

1 And Naomi had a kinsman of her husband’s, a mighty man of wealth, of the family of Elimelech; and his name was Boaz.

We see verse 1 like a parenthesis to introduce how God would work out His grace through a man called Boaz to provide help to Ruth and Naomi. This movement of God to bring Ruth and Boaz to meet has far reaching effect fulfilling God’s plan to bring forth the Messiah, Jesus, in the fullness of time.

We are introduced to Boaz, this man was a relative, a kinsman to the Elimelech family. He was a man with the means to help the widows. And God will mysteriously by His providential hand lead Ruth to work in Boaz’s field!

 2 And Ruth the Moabitess said unto Naomi, Let me now go to the field, and glean ears of corn after him in whose sight I shall find grace. And she said unto her, Go, my daughter.

 Ruth had a faith that works, a true faith that trust God by courageously doing her part. – James 2:20 But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?

 Why do I mean? The law of God made provision for widows and strangers and the fatherless to glean in the field after the owners have gleaned. The owners are not to glean all the harvest but to leave some for the strangers and widows and fatherless.

Deuteronomy 24:18-22 But thou shalt remember that thou wast a bondman in Egypt, and the LORD thy God redeemed thee thence: therefore I command thee to do this thing. 19 When thou cuttest down thine harvest in thy field, and hast forgot a sheaf in the field, thou shalt not go again to fetch it: it shall be for the stranger, for the fatherless, and for the widow: that the LORD thy God may bless thee in all the work of thine hands. 20 When thou beatest thine olive tree, thou shalt not go over the boughs again: it shall be for the stranger, for the fatherless, and for the widow. 21 When thou gatherest the grapes of thy vineyard, thou shalt not glean it afterward: it shall be for the stranger, for the fatherless, and for the widow. 22 And thou shalt remember that thou wast a bondman in the land of Egypt: therefore I command thee to do this thing.

 Remember they were living in the times of the Judges where there was social chaos in Israel where Israel was under oppression by enemies sent by God to bring them back to God. Life can be very difficult in those times.

Invasion at harvest time (Judges 6:3). The timing of the raider was very important. If harvest time had passed, the villagers would have stored and hidden all of their grain and could withstand attack more easily. If the grain was still in the fields, the invader would have ample provisions and the villagers none. This would suggest April or May as the time of the invasions. The villages could easily be crippled if they were deprived of their year’s supply of grain, so what the invaders did not use or steal, they destroyed. The trampling of the fields would jeopardize future seasons.

3 And she went, and came, and gleaned in the field after the reapers: and her hap was to light on a part of the field belonging unto Boaz, who was of the kindred of Elimelech.

Was it just a coincidence? Not if God is sovereign and providentially in control of even the numbers of hairs on our head or the demise of a lowly sparrow.

The English dictionary says that coincidence is the occurrence of events that happen at the same time by accident but seem to have some connection or a chance occurrence of events remarkable either for being simultaneous or for apparently being connected or a remarkable concurrence of events or circumstances without apparent causal connection.

And as you might surmise, there is not a single use of the word coincidence in all of Scripture! This happening did not happen by accident, chance, luck, good fortune or any other similar term the unbelieving world might ascribe. But by the mysterious providence of God!

What is the force that compels the Christian? It is true faith in God! A truly born-again Christian with the indwelling of the Holy Spirit is spiritually alive and actively serving God and the people in his/her sphere of influence.

James 2 tells us that uselessness of an inoperative faith. A faith that does not produce good works is a dead faith. A faith that does not bear spiritual fruit in the extension of the spiritual life to impact others is a dead faith. He or she may not be spiritually alive. He cited that even the devil believes there is one true God but his works are evil.

James asked that we do not live just for ourselves but we live with a loving interest for others for faith must undergird itself by good works. If we are truly saved, we will have the burden to save others also. He asked that we examine our life carefully if we are truly producing good fruit?

Ruth saw that sitting at home would not help her and her aged mother-in-law. She decided to trust God and go out to find work. God directed her.

 

(2) A Faithful God (v4-8)

4 And, behold, Boaz came from Bethlehem, and said unto the reapers, The LORD be with you. And they answered him, The LORD bless thee. 5 Then said Boaz unto his servant that was set over the reapers, Whose damsel is this? 6 And the servant that was set over the reapers answered and said, It is the Moabitish damsel that came back with Naomi out of the country of Moab: 7 And she said, I pray you, let me glean and gather after the reapers among the sheaves: so she came, and hath continued even from the morning until now, that she tarried a little in the house. 8 Then said Boaz unto Ruth, Hearest thou not, my daughter? Go not to glean in another field, neither go from hence, but abide here fast by my maidens:

We see how Ruth “happened” to come to Boaz’s field and gleaned in the field that belonged to Boaz, the relative of the family. Her steps indeed were guided by God – “I being in the way, the Lord led me” (Gen. 24:27). Human responsibility undergirded by God’s delightful, mysterious, guidance.

She left home that morning looking for someone who would show grace. It means an unmerited favour. Favour given to someone who does not deserve it. We serve a faithful God.

C H Spurgeon said that “There is no attribute more comforting to His children than that of God’s Sovereignty. Under the most adverse circumstances, in the most severe trials, they believe that Sovereignty has ordained their afflictions, that Sovereignty overrules them, and that Sovereignty will sanctify them all. There is nothing for which the children ought more earnestly to contend than the doctrine of their Master over all creation—the Kingship of God over all the works of His own hands—the Throne of God and His right to sit upon that Throne. On the other hand, there is no doctrine more hated by worldings, no truth of which they have made such a football, as the great, stupendous, but yet most certain doctrine of the Sovereignty of the infinite Jehovah. Men will allow God to be everywhere except on His throne. They will allow Him to be in His workshop to fashion worlds and make stars. They will allow Him to be in His almonry to dispense His alms and bestow His bounties. They will allow Him to sustain the earth and bear up the pillars thereof, or light the lamps of heaven, or rule the waves of the ever-moving ocean; but when God ascends His throne, His creatures then gnash their teeth. And we proclaim an enthroned God, and His right to do as He wills with His own, to dispose of His creatures as He thinks well, without consulting them in the matter; then it is that we are hissed and execrated, and then it is that men turn a deaf ear to us, for God on His throne is not the God they love. But it is God upon the throne that we love to preach. It is God upon His throne whom we trust. (Divine Sovereignty )

God is faithful to care for His children – Matthew 6:25-33 Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment? 26 Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they? 27 Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature? 28 And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin: 29 And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 30 Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith? 31 Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? 32 (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. 33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

 

CONCLUSION

Ruth would return home with food enough for herself and Naomi. Not only that but He is working out His greater Messianic purpose to these who would yield themselves to seek first the kingdom of God. Amen.

 

His Eye Is On the Sparrow

Why should I feel discouraged, why should the shadows come,

Why should my heart be lonely, and long for heav’n and home,

When Jesus is my portion? My constant Friend is He:

His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me;

His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me.

Refrain:

I sing because I’m happy, I sing because I’m free,

For His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me.

 

“Let not your heart be troubled,” His tender word I hear,

And resting on His goodness, I lose my doubts and fears;

Though by the path He leadeth, but one step I may see;

His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me;

His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me.

Refrain:

I sing because I’m happy, I sing because I’m free,

For His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me.

 

Whenever I am tempted, whenever clouds arise,

When songs give place to sighing, when hope within me dies,

I draw the closer to Him, from care He sets me free;

His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me;

His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me.

Refrain:

I sing because I’m happy, I sing because I’m free,

For His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me.