8. A Faith that Works

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

Hymns: 418 O Jesus, I Have Promised 420 I Surrender All 423 Follow, I Will Follow Thee

Under His Wings

– A Faith That Works

 

6 And she went down unto the floor, and did according to all that her mother in law bade her. 7 And when Boaz had eaten and drunk, and his heart was merry, he went to lie down at the end of the heap of corn: and she came softly, and uncovered his feet, and laid her down. 8 And it came to pass at midnight, that the man was afraid, and turned himself: and, behold, a woman lay at his feet. 9 And he said, Who art thou? And she answered, I am Ruth thine handmaid: spread therefore thy skirt over thine handmaid; for thou art a near kinsman.

 

OUTLINE

  • The Counsel (v1-4)
  • The Concurrence (v5)
  • The Compliance (v6-9)

 

INTRODUCTION

The life of faith in God is undergirded by a willingness to take action to do the will of God. This is true faith. As James taught in James 2:18.

James 2:18 Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works.

 James speaks of the uselessness of an inoperative faith. Faith that produces no works is barren of saving power. Faith is tested by production of good works.[1]

 Ruth demonstrated an operative faith, a faith that works. Ruth stated that she would act in full and unquestioned obedience to the directions of her mother- in- law (cf. 2:22- 23) on the proposed marriage to Boaz. Indeed, to find a godly life-partner is never an easy task in any age. For Ruth, a Moabite widow in Israel, as we would put it in our words today – the probability is almost zero.

The preparation for the redemption experience had been carefully made. Now the plan had to be carried out. It will have far reaching implication as we see now from hindsight.

Out of that marriage will come Israel’s future king. Ruth concurred with the counsel of Naomi subordinating her own happiness to her duty of raising up an heir to her deceased husband and to Naomi.

We recall in Ruth 1:16-17 that Naomi counselled Ruth to remain in Moab, she did not comply because it was contrary to God’s will. Why would a God-fearer remain in a pagan environment and not be with the people of God!

 Ruth 1:16-17 And Ruth said, Intreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee: for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God: 17 Where thou diest, will I die, and there will I be buried: the LORD do so to me, and more also, if ought but death part thee and me.

Her steadfastness to obey God caused her to reject Naomi’s counsel. She would rather obey God than man (Acts 5:29). But now that Naomi began to walk with God again, recovering from her backsliding, Ruth obeyed Naomi as an expression of faith in obedience to God. She would comply with Naomi’s advice.

 And Ruth’s obedience is not mere lip-service but she was willing to follow through her actions complying to her mother-in-law’s instructions concerning her proposed marriage to Boaz.

 Ruth 3:5 And she said unto her, All that thou sayest unto me I will do.

 This is the continuing story…just one thought – compliance.

 

(1) Compliance (6-7)

6 And she went down unto the floor, and did according to all that her mother in law bade her.

 We see Ruth going down to the threshing floor[2] and did all that her mother-in-law had commanded her. She had an active faith that is characterized by obedience. Indeed, full success comes with full compliance. Her marriage would fill God’s plan of redemption as the progenitor of Messiah, a descendant of David – Ruth 4:17 And the women her neighbours gave it a name, saying, There is a son born to Naomi; and they called his name Obed: he is the father of Jesse, the father of David.

When God called Noah to build the ark, Noah was compliant to all of God’s instructions. The Bible recorded the obedient faith of Noah in Genesis 6:22 Thus did Noah; according to all that God commanded him, so did he.

 Before Joshua led Israel to enter the Promised Land, he was instructed to be fully compliant to God’s instruction for good success in the conquest and settlement in the land.

 Joshua 1:6-8 Be strong and of a good courage: for unto this people shalt thou divide for an inheritance the land, which I sware unto their fathers to give them. 7 Only be thou strong and very courageous, that thou mayest observe to do according to all the law, which Moses my servant commanded thee: turn not from it to the right hand or to the left, that thou mayest prosper whithersoever thou goest. 8 This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.

 God’s commendation of Joshua came at the end of his life in Joshua 24:29 And it came to pass after these things, that Joshua the son of Nun, the servant of the LORD, died, being an hundred and ten years old.

The Apostle Paul called himself a servant of Jesus Christ. By virtue of being a servant, literally a “bond-slave”, he committed himself wholeheartedly, with undivided loyalty, to serve his Master, Jesus Christ. A commitment Paul discharged with distinction till the end of his life. He was wholly given over to Jesus Christ and His cause!

 Remarkable faithfulness worthy of our emulation! A most sort after trait in a man of God, in such a time as this, prior to Christ’s Second Coming. A servant is one who serves in obedience to his Master’s will. A man with a surrendered will. Every aspect of his life was brought under his master’s charge. In Jesus Christ is hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge (Col. 2:3). By abiding in Jesus Christ, his life brought forth much spiritual fruit (John 15:5). Without Jesus Christ, we can do nothing. We have no life at all. Therefore, being a servant of Jesus Christ is a great privilege and honour.

 Similarly, we see Ruth living in full surrender to her mother-in-law’s advice to carry on Elimelech’s line and redeem the inheritance due to the family by taking the step toward the proposed marriage to Boaz.

 7 And when Boaz had eaten and drunk, and his heart was merry, he went to lie down at the end of the heap of corn: and she came softly, and uncovered his feet, and laid her down.

Recall Naomi’s instructions to Ruth earlier – Ruth 3:3 Wash thyself therefore, and anoint thee, and put thy raiment upon thee, and get thee down to the floor: but make not thyself known unto the man, until he shall have done eating and drinking.

Verse 7 tells us that Ruth did according to Naomi’s instruction. When laid down contented and happy that she was to act. The timing was important as Naomi instructed Ruth as this was the time Naomi reckoned that Boaz would be most amicable to the proposition.

 When Joshua led Israel to take the first city, Jericho, in the Promised Land, God had a special strategy that require every Israelite to comply and act at precise instruction.

Joshua 6:8-10 And it came to pass, when Joshua had spoken unto the people, that the seven priests bearing the seven trumpets of rams’ horns passed on before the LORD, and blew with the trumpets: and the ark of the covenant of the LORD followed them. 9 And the armed men went before the priests that blew with the trumpets, and the rereward came after the ark, the priests going on, and blowing with the trumpets. 10 And Joshua had commanded the people, saying, Ye shall not shout, nor make any noise with your voice, neither shall any word proceed out of your mouth, until the day I bid you shout; then shall ye shout.

Joshua 6:16 And it came to pass at the seventh time, when the priests blew with the trumpets, Joshua said unto the people, Shout; for the LORD hath given you the city.

 Joshua 6:20 So the people shouted when the priests blew with the trumpets: and it came to pass, when the people heard the sound of the trumpet, and the people shouted with a great shout, that the wall fell down flat, so that the people went up into the city, every man straight before him, and they took the city.

 Her mother-in-law had complete confidence in the integrity of the kinsman- redeemer. Boaz could be trusted to act responsibly. And Ruth was recognized by everyone as “a woman of noble character” (2:11). The uncovering of the feet was a ceremonial act that was completely proper. Probably the scene took place in the dark so that Boaz had the opportunity to reject the proposal without the whole town knowing about it.

 8 And it came to pass at midnight, that the man was afraid, and turned himself: and, behold, a woman lay at his feet. 9 And he said, Who art thou? And she answered, I am Ruth thine handmaid: spread therefore thy skirt over thine handmaid; for thou art a near kinsman.

 Something startled Boaz in the middle of the night. He turned to discover that a woman was lying at his feet. Boaz asked for the identity of his unusual guest (cf. 2:5). Ruth responded in humility (cf. 2:10): “I am your servant Ruth”. She had put herself under the wings of the LORD (2:12), and now she asked to be put under the wings of Boaz.

In the phrase the corner of your garment the word “skirt” is “kanaf”, which is translated “wing” in 2:12. There is a poetic image alluded here that had its source in the blessing that Boaz had given her.

Ruth 2:12 The LORD recompense thy work, and a full reward be given thee of the LORD God of Israel, under whose wings thou art come to trust.

A Moabitess widow was calling the attention of this Hebrew gentleman to his responsibility. He could now follow through on his blessing (2:12) by becoming Ruth’s kinsman-redeemer and providing her with the security of marriage.[3]

 Ruth immediately made her objective clear when she requested, “spread therefore thy skirt (wing) over thine handmaid” She was using the accepted idiom meaning “Marry me”. The idiom reflected the custom, still practiced by some Arabs, of a man’s throwing a garment over the woman he has decided to take as his wife.

The gesture is a symbol of protection as well as a declaration that the man is willing to enter into husband-wife relationship with his chosen partner.

Boaz had prayed in Ruth 2:12 that Ruth might be rewarded by the Lord under whose wings she had taken refuge. Ruth now essentially asked Boaz to answer his own prayer, for “garment-cover or skirt” and “wing” are the same word in Hebrew.

Ruth’s reason for this action is expressed in her appeal to Boaz as a “kinsman-redeemer.” That is a legal status. Under Jewish law, then, her request was not particularly unusual.

 We observe that Boaz handled himself honourably can be seen in his revelation that there was someone who actually had prior claim over Ruth and her inheritance, since he was a closer relative. However, if he should prove unwilling to take responsibility in the matter, then Boaz would marry Ruth.

 Remarkably, Ruth seems willing to marry even this other relative sight unseen, again subordinating her own happiness to her duty of raising up an heir to her deceased husband and to Naomi. In doing so she demonstrates again why this book singles her out as a most worthy example of what Proverbs 31 refers to as a “virtuous woman” or a person “of noble character.” This is one whose demonstrates a working faith that emanates godliness. Boaz saw that in Ruth.

 Proverbs 31:10-29 Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies. 11 The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil. 12 She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life. 13 She seeketh wool, and flax, and worketh willingly with her hands. 14 She is like the merchants’ ships; she bringeth her food from afar. 15 She riseth also while it is yet night, and giveth meat to her household, and a portion to her maidens. 16 She considereth a field, and buyeth it: with the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard. 17 She girdeth her loins with strength, and strengtheneth her arms. 18 She perceiveth that her merchandise is good: her candle goeth not out by night. 19 She layeth her hands to the spindle, and her hands hold the distaff. 20 She stretcheth out her hand to the poor; yea, she reacheth forth her hands to the needy. 21 She is not afraid of the snow for her household: for all her household are clothed with scarlet. 22 She maketh herself coverings of tapestry; her clothing is silk and purple. 23 Her husband is known in the gates, when he sitteth among the elders of the land. 24 She maketh fine linen, and selleth it; and delivereth girdles unto the merchant. 25 Strength and honour are her clothing; and she shall rejoice in time to come. 26 She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness. 27 She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness. 28 Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her. 29 Many daughters have done virtuously, but thou excellest them all.

In turn, Ruth knew also that Boaz was a godly man who would be a loving husband.

 

CONCLUSION

Faith in action fulfilling God’s blessed will is what we see here. Step by step God was leading her to find her life-partner to fulfill God’s eternal purpose for her life. She was in the way of the Lord and the Lord led her. Amen.

[1] D. Edmond Hiebert, James, BMH Books, 1992, 159.

[2] The threshing-floors are constructed in the fields, preferably in an exposed position in order to get the full benefit of the winds. If there is a danger of marauders they are clustered together close to the village. The floor is a level, circular area 25 to 40 ft. in diameter, prepared by first picking out the stones, and then wetting the ground, tamping or rolling it, and finally sweeping it. A border of stones usually surrounds the floor to keep in the grain. The sheaves of grain which have been brought on the backs of men, donkeys, camels, or oxen, are heaped on this area, and the process of tramping out begins. The supply of unthreshed grain is kept in the center of the floor. Some of this is pulled down from time to time into the path of the animals. All the while the partly threshed grain is being turned over with a fork. The stalks gradually become broken into short pieces and the husks about the grain are torn off. This mixture of chaff and grain must now be winnowed. This is done by tossing it into the air so that the wind may blow away the chaff (see WINNOWING ). When the chaff is gone then the grain is tossed in a wooden tray to separate from it the stones and lumps of soil which clung to the roots when the grain was reaped. The difference in weight between the stones and grain makes separation by this process possible (see SIFT ). The grain is now poled in heaps and in many localities is also sealed. This process consists in pressing a large wooden seal against the pile. When the instrument is removed it leaves an impression which would be destroyed should any of the grain be taken away. This allows the government offers to keep account of the tithes and enables the owner to detect any theft of grain. Until the wheat is transferred to bags some one sleeps by the pries on the threshing-floor. If the wheat is to be stored for home consumption it is often first washed with water and spread out on goats’ hair mats to dry before it is stored in the wall compartments found in every house. [ISBE]

[3] John F. Walvoord, Bible Knowledge Commentary.