WEBVTT 00:00:07.040 --> 00:00:12.720 This sermon was recorded at Faith Evangelical Free Church in Grand Forks, North Dakota. 00:00:19.199 --> 00:00:27.199 This morning and for the last two weeks here at Faith, we have been working our way through the Old Testament Book of Ruth. 00:00:28.640 --> 00:00:34.960 This evening we have the privilege of finally hearing the conclusion to this story. 00:00:35.679 --> 00:00:45.920 It's a conclusion really unlike any other in the Old Testament, but it's one that we often don't recognize fully. 00:00:46.320 --> 00:00:52.640 If you haven't been here, I'll recount briefly that we have followed the tragic story of two widows. 00:00:53.840 --> 00:00:59.520 A family left Bethlehem, the house of bread, because there was no bread. 00:01:00.079 --> 00:01:14.719 They left during a time of famine and during their time of sojourning across the Jordan River in the land of Moab, the husband and the two sons died, leaving Naomi and her two daughters-in-law. 00:01:15.040 --> 00:01:29.040 One daughter-in-law remained in Moab, the other daughter-in-law, Ruth, traveled with Naomi back to Bethlehem, where they scrounged around for some kernels of barley and wheat to be able to survive. 00:01:29.359 --> 00:01:30.480 They needed redemption. 00:01:30.560 --> 00:01:31.840 They had nothing. 00:01:32.159 --> 00:01:38.480 And along comes two redeemers, at least two potential redeemers. 00:01:38.799 --> 00:01:43.439 One we learned this morning was not worthy of being a redeemer. 00:01:43.680 --> 00:01:49.200 And so the narrator, the storyteller, doesn't give us his name, just refers to him as Mr. 00:01:49.359 --> 00:01:50.159 So-and-so. 00:01:52.079 --> 00:02:01.519 To raise up in our estimation this man named Boaz, who is worthy to be called a Redeemer. 00:02:02.159 --> 00:02:05.120 So this morning we heard the happy ending of the story. 00:02:05.359 --> 00:02:11.680 A knight in shining armor named Boaz rescues the girl, and they get married and lived happily ever after. 00:02:12.240 --> 00:02:13.840 Or something like that. 00:02:14.639 --> 00:02:18.960 Boaz wasn't a knight, and there was no shining armor, but he did get the girl. 00:02:19.759 --> 00:02:23.759 Boaz, though, rescued the two widows by redeeming them. 00:02:24.240 --> 00:02:27.280 He paid the price for their redemption. 00:02:28.159 --> 00:02:34.560 At the end of the book of Ruth is a conclusion to the entire story. 00:02:34.879 --> 00:02:36.800 Here's what it says. 00:02:37.840 --> 00:02:46.479 So Boaz took Ruth, and she became his wife, and he went into her, and Yahweh gave her conception, and she bore a son. 00:02:47.199 --> 00:02:51.759 Then the women said to Naomi, the woman who called herself Ms. 00:02:52.000 --> 00:02:56.319 Bitter for a while, but is now pleasant. 00:02:56.560 --> 00:03:01.439 Blessed be Yahweh, who has not left you this day without a redeemer. 00:03:01.599 --> 00:03:06.479 And may his name, that is the child's name, be renowned in Israel. 00:03:06.800 --> 00:03:12.400 He shall be restored to you a restorer of life and a nourisher of your old age. 00:03:12.719 --> 00:03:20.800 For your daughter-in-law, who loves you, who is more to you than seven sons, has given birth to him. 00:03:21.840 --> 00:03:26.639 Then Naomi took the child and laid him on her lap and became his nurse. 00:03:27.120 --> 00:03:35.599 And the women of the neighborhood gave him a name, saying, A son has been born to Naomi. 00:03:37.120 --> 00:03:39.199 And they named him Obed. 00:03:40.479 --> 00:03:45.199 He was the father of Jesse, the father of David. 00:03:45.599 --> 00:03:48.400 Now these are the generations of Perez. 00:03:48.960 --> 00:04:05.199 Perez fathered Hezron, Hezron fathered Ram, Ram fathered Aminadab, and Aminadab fathered Nashon, and Nashon fathered Salmon, and Salmon fathered Boaz, Boaz fathered Obed, Obed fathered Jesse, and Jesse fathered David. 00:04:05.919 --> 00:04:08.400 What an exciting end to the story. 00:04:08.639 --> 00:04:12.479 A whole bunch of names that most of us have never heard of. 00:04:13.759 --> 00:04:18.959 Well, it's a satisfying conclusion to Ruth and Naomi's story, but it's much more than that. 00:04:19.199 --> 00:04:23.279 It's really the end of Elimelech's story. 00:04:24.240 --> 00:04:30.879 Going back to the very beginning of the book of Ruth, Elimelech is a man whose name means my God is king. 00:04:31.680 --> 00:04:37.600 But it's in a time when there is no king in Israel because everyone does what's right in his own eyes. 00:04:37.920 --> 00:04:43.839 Elimelech, Naomi's husband, dies after leaving the land of promise instead of trusting in God's provision. 00:04:44.000 --> 00:04:47.199 But by the end of the story, Elimelech's land is redeemed. 00:04:47.360 --> 00:04:50.879 Boaz buys back the property that Elimelech had sold. 00:04:50.959 --> 00:04:52.160 He marries Ruth. 00:04:52.399 --> 00:04:53.439 They have a baby. 00:04:53.600 --> 00:04:55.040 They name him Obed. 00:04:55.120 --> 00:05:09.040 And so when we remember that Ruth is connected to the book of Judges, we see that God rescues Elimelech's family from the consequences of doing what's right in their own eyes. 00:05:09.439 --> 00:05:12.959 They thought they were doing what was right when they left the land. 00:05:14.399 --> 00:05:22.879 God did that through a redeemer named Boaz, a man who graciously bore the cost of rescuing that family. 00:05:23.120 --> 00:05:30.319 That was God's loving kindness to a family from Bethlehem so long ago. 00:05:32.240 --> 00:05:39.120 So we have a sentence here that tells us that this story is true. 00:05:40.480 --> 00:05:44.800 These people lived and experienced these things. 00:05:45.600 --> 00:05:50.079 These are real people who lived real lives. 00:05:50.399 --> 00:05:52.720 It's not a made-up story. 00:05:54.160 --> 00:05:59.279 But there's a sentence here that tells us that it's not just about them. 00:06:00.399 --> 00:06:02.319 It's about God's people. 00:06:12.240 --> 00:06:22.560 In the same way he visited not just Bethlehem, not just Ruth and Naomi, but all of Israel. 00:06:22.800 --> 00:06:32.079 Because the 17th verse tells us that the women of the neighborhood gave Boaz and Ruth's son a name. 00:06:32.319 --> 00:06:36.000 How would you like to entrust the women of the neighborhood to name your children? 00:06:36.240 --> 00:06:37.839 That's what happens. 00:06:38.639 --> 00:06:42.639 A son has been born to Naomi, and they named him Obed. 00:06:43.519 --> 00:06:49.120 But it's not just about Ruth and Naomi and Obed, it's about all of Israel. 00:06:49.439 --> 00:06:55.199 Because from Obed we get Jesse, and from Jesse we get the great King David. 00:06:55.600 --> 00:06:58.160 Kids, I need you to think with me for a minute. 00:06:58.319 --> 00:06:59.839 I know there are some kids in here tonight. 00:07:00.160 --> 00:07:00.720 I can hear you. 00:07:00.800 --> 00:07:01.199 That's great. 00:07:01.279 --> 00:07:01.920 I'm glad you're here. 00:07:02.000 --> 00:07:04.079 I need you to think with me for a minute. 00:07:04.480 --> 00:07:05.839 Kids, think about this. 00:07:06.079 --> 00:07:07.439 You know your dad. 00:07:07.600 --> 00:07:09.360 Most of you know your dad. 00:07:11.120 --> 00:07:13.199 Some of you know your granddad. 00:07:13.360 --> 00:07:14.480 Or your grandpa. 00:07:14.720 --> 00:07:16.959 Papa, however you refer to him. 00:07:17.600 --> 00:07:21.360 And maybe some of you know your great-granddad. 00:07:22.800 --> 00:07:27.680 That's your granddad's dad. 00:07:28.480 --> 00:07:30.319 That's four generations. 00:07:30.879 --> 00:07:37.199 There's a great-granddad, there's a granddad, there's a dad, and then there's you. 00:07:50.079 --> 00:07:54.079 Boaz is the great-granddad. 00:07:54.639 --> 00:07:56.800 And Ruth is the great-grandma. 00:07:58.319 --> 00:08:01.199 Their son was named Obed. 00:08:03.040 --> 00:08:05.199 Their grandson was named Jesse. 00:08:07.040 --> 00:08:10.399 And their great-grandson is named David. 00:08:13.120 --> 00:08:16.480 Boaz rescued Ruth and Naomi. 00:08:17.680 --> 00:08:24.800 But God would rescue all of Israel through David, the great-grandson. 00:08:26.879 --> 00:08:31.279 So the story of Ruth and Naomi is not just about their redemption. 00:08:33.039 --> 00:08:41.120 It's about a family who ends up rescuing all of Israel from the consequences of their choices. 00:08:42.240 --> 00:08:43.759 But that's not all. 00:08:44.080 --> 00:08:47.759 The final part of the story is in the very last sentence. 00:08:48.399 --> 00:08:52.080 It says, now these are the generations of Perez. 00:08:52.159 --> 00:08:53.360 Peres fathered Hezron. 00:08:53.519 --> 00:09:03.919 Hezron fathered Ram, Ram fathered Aminadab, Aminadab fathered Nashon, Nashon fathered Salmon, Salmon fathered Boaz, Boaz fathered Obed, Obed fathered Jesse, and Jesse fathered David. 00:09:04.639 --> 00:09:05.679 That's a long sentence. 00:09:05.759 --> 00:09:07.120 I didn't practice that. 00:09:08.480 --> 00:09:12.559 The whole story of Ruth comes down to that last sentence. 00:09:14.639 --> 00:09:19.039 Because it's not just about Naomi and Ruth being rescued. 00:09:19.440 --> 00:09:25.840 It's not just about the entire people of Israel being rescued through David. 00:09:27.200 --> 00:09:33.759 What we have here is a generation of people that goes all the way back to a man named Perez. 00:09:35.360 --> 00:09:43.759 This list of people shows us that Boaz and David, the two redeemers, are from the tribe of Judah. 00:09:44.399 --> 00:09:50.399 Because Perez was the son of Judah, one of Jacob's sons. 00:09:50.720 --> 00:09:55.279 And did you know that Judah means praise? 00:09:57.120 --> 00:10:09.840 So the story of Ruth ends with this little bit of a hint that God's people are to praise him for rescuing them through Boaz and David. 00:10:10.960 --> 00:10:17.200 The birth of a boy named Obed was the birth of hope for Ruth, for Naomi, and for all of Israel. 00:10:17.360 --> 00:10:20.159 Now, what does that have to do with Christmas? 00:10:20.639 --> 00:10:21.440 Well, you know what? 00:10:21.600 --> 00:10:24.320 That might be the best part of the story. 00:10:25.840 --> 00:10:35.200 Listen to the first part of another list of names that we find in the Gospel of Matthew. 00:10:36.480 --> 00:10:44.320 It says, this is the book of the genealogy of Jesus, Messiah, the son of David, the son of Abraham. 00:10:45.200 --> 00:10:53.039 Abraham was the father of Isaac, and Isaac the father of Jacob, and Jacob the father of Judah, and his brothers. 00:10:53.519 --> 00:10:55.759 And Judah, guess what? 00:10:56.320 --> 00:11:04.799 The father of Perez, and Zerah by Tamar, and Perez the father of Hezron, and Hezron the father of Ram, and Ram the father of Aminadab. 00:11:04.879 --> 00:11:06.639 Is it beginning to sound familiar to you? 00:11:06.879 --> 00:11:24.399 And Aminadab the father of Nashon, and Nashon the father of Salmon, and Salmon the father of Boaz by Rahab, and Boaz the father of Obed by Ruth, and Obed the father of Jesse, and Jesse the father of David, the king. 00:11:30.399 --> 00:11:42.480 Matthew shows us that God prepared the way for Israel's rescue through David when he redeemed Ruth through Boaz. 00:11:42.799 --> 00:11:51.039 And when God rescued Israel through David, he was also preparing the way to save everyone who trusts in him. 00:11:51.440 --> 00:12:04.559 Because if we follow down at the end of Matthew, it tells us that we get to Jacob, the father of Joseph, the husband of Mary, of whom Jesus was born, who is called the Christ. 00:12:06.720 --> 00:12:12.480 My friends, if you believe in Jesus who is called the Christ, then Ruth is your story. 00:12:13.759 --> 00:12:20.879 The story of redemption through Boaz and through David and through Jesus who is called the Christ is your story. 00:12:21.120 --> 00:12:29.039 It's the story of people who lived the tragedy of going through life doing whatever they thought was best, and it's not pretty. 00:12:30.159 --> 00:12:35.200 Life is always complicated and tragic when it's lived without trusting God. 00:12:35.279 --> 00:12:41.919 But Ruth doesn't end there because it's the story of God redeeming a family who did what was right in their own eyes. 00:12:42.080 --> 00:12:48.559 And then the life of David is the story of God saving a nation who did what was right in their own eyes instead of trusting God. 00:12:48.720 --> 00:13:01.120 And Ruth and David's stories can become your stories, for Jesus is the account of God rescuing everyone who believes in Jesus from the tragedy of doing what's right in their own eyes. 00:13:02.879 --> 00:13:12.960 Ruth and Naomi could believe in God's redeeming work when they held that tiny baby named Obed. 00:13:14.159 --> 00:13:18.960 Israel could believe in God's deliverance when David became their king. 00:13:19.759 --> 00:13:28.159 And Mary and Joseph could believe when they held that little baby named Jesus who would save his people from their sins. 00:13:30.320 --> 00:13:38.559 And you can believe that Jesus will redeem you and rescue you from the sin of going your own way. 00:13:40.159 --> 00:13:56.480 And you can believe because God has traced his redeeming work from Abraham to Jacob to Judah to Boaz to Obed, to David, and to Jesus. 00:13:58.480 --> 00:14:08.639 And the little village of Bethlehem is the box, if you will, containing the details of God's gift. 00:14:10.240 --> 00:14:22.480 Because Boaz was from Bethlehem, and Obed was born in Bethlehem, and Bethlehem was the birthplace of David, and so it became known as the city of David. 00:14:23.120 --> 00:14:32.080 And so it was when the time came for God to send the ultimate redeemer, he would do so in tiny little Bethlehem. 00:14:32.720 --> 00:14:49.840 For we read that after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men came from the east to Jerusalem, the king's city, saying, Where is he who has been born, king of the Jews? 00:14:50.080 --> 00:14:53.679 We saw his star when it rose, and we've come to worship him. 00:14:54.639 --> 00:15:05.919 When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him, and assembling the chief priests and the scribes of the people, he inquired of them, Where is this Messiah to be born? 00:15:06.960 --> 00:15:13.120 And they told him, Naturally, in Bethlehem of Judea. 00:15:13.519 --> 00:15:28.000 For it is written by the prophet, and you, O Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, by no means least among the rulers of Judah, for from you shall come a ruler who will shepherd my people, Israel. 00:15:29.840 --> 00:15:36.399 My friends, the children's song reminds us that Jesus loves us. 00:15:36.720 --> 00:15:37.360 Why? 00:15:37.840 --> 00:15:41.679 Because the Bible tells us so. 00:15:43.759 --> 00:15:55.120 My friends, this Christmas, remember that God sent a savior from the little village of Bethlehem to rescue you from doing what's right in your own eyes when you trust in this infant. 00:15:55.600 --> 00:15:58.559 Because the Bible tells you so. 00:15:59.519 --> 00:16:13.679 He laid it all out in a list of names, all from the little village of Bethlehem to show you here's the worthy Redeemer who came to give his life for you. 00:16:15.279 --> 00:16:18.240 Trust in Jesus, your Redeemer. 00:16:18.559 --> 00:16:19.279 Would you pray with me? 00:16:19.440 --> 00:16:26.080 Lord Jesus, we give you thanks and praise on this Christmas Eve that we can give all of the praise. 00:16:26.559 --> 00:16:33.840 That you, a descendant of Judah, is the one worthy of all praise and all glory and all honor. 00:16:34.960 --> 00:16:40.240 Thank you that you would be born in Bethlehem, just as the prophets foretold. 00:16:41.600 --> 00:16:46.080 So that we could look to you for our redemption. 00:16:47.360 --> 00:16:57.360 May you be the recipient of all of our praise, all of our thanks, and all of the honor as the most worthy of all redeemers. 00:16:57.919 --> 00:17:00.320 For it's you we praise. 00:17:00.720 --> 00:17:01.360 Amen. 00:17:03.440 --> 00:17:07.200 That concludes this sermon from Faith Evangelical Free Church. 00:17:07.359 --> 00:17:14.240 Our mission is to declare the Word of God and disciple believers into mature, devoted followers of Jesus. 00:17:14.480 --> 00:17:18.559 You can learn more by visiting our website at faithfree.com.