Ruth 2:10-17
Title: 'Jesus in Ruth: The Grace of Salvation"
Subj: Ruth's relationship with Boaz.
Purpose: To show the truth of the need of every man to have a Redeemer.

Introduction: The little book of Ruth forms a transition between the book of Judges and 1 Samuel. It is a historical picture of the ancestor of the great king, David. It shows how these ancestors walked uprightly before God and man, in piety, singleness of heart and purpose. Ruth, of the nation of Moab, is one of the three women mentioned, by name, in the genealogy of Matthew's gospel. Tamar was from Canaan, Rahab was from Jericho, and Ruth was from Moab, all heathen nations and cities that fought against the children of Israel. The time period of Ruth is probably during the time of Gideon and his battles against the Midianites, another heathen nation.

The book opens with a startling statement! "Now it came to pass in the days when the judges ruled, that there was a famine in the land.” God had never intended for judges to rule over His people. His rule is a theocracy, rule by God, but the children of Israel wanted to be like the surrounding nations, first ruled by judges, then by kings. God often allowed His Chosen Nation to experience famine, both spiritually and physically, as they turned from Him, only to deliver them over and over, upon their recognition of their sinfulness. We see the same thing working in America, as "judges” make decisions based on what society seems to want as opposed to what our Constitution states! Not "what would God have us to do, but what does society want to do," is the basis of rulings and laws! Can we find the condoning of killing babies in the Bible? Can we find the condoning of homosexuality in the Bible? Can we find the condoning of adultery in the Bible? Can we find the idea of assisting our enemies with money and technology, so that they can bury us, in the Bible? Who has made these decisions, but our 'judges?' And because of these "judges," America is in deep spiritual famine today! Every man is doing that which is right in his own eyes!

But that is not the end. As sin and famine spread across the land, many of the children of God turned from following Him and turned from depending on His promises to sojourn in a heathen land. "And a certain man of Bethlehem-Judah went to sojourn in the country of Moab, he and his wife, and his two sons." They left the place of God's blessings to go to a place of the Devil's provision! Do you realize that because of the decisions of others in this case, judges, that God's children can be in need? God's promise is not to isolate us, nor to keep us out of problems, but to see us through them!

You know the rest of the story. Elimelech and Naomi return to the Moab (the world) for the physical aspect of life (food), where Elimelech dies. Then the two boys take heathen girls (Orpah and Ruth) in marriage, lived about 10 more years and then the boys died. Here is a true picture of what happens when you are a saved child of God and you return to the world! Soon Naomi hears that God has restored His provision to her native land, and so her and Ruth return to Palestine (though it took her 10 years to hear of God's blessings).  But God still wants to bless them, and so on returning, Ruth is supernaturally directed to the field of Boaz, a relative of Naomi’s. Here she finds favor with this old man, amidst the provision of his field.

Text: Ruth 2:10-17 — "Jesus in Ruth: The Grace of Salvation* — prayer

I. GOD'S GRACE GIVEN (v10)

Note: Grace is unmerited favor, undeserved favor, limitless favor. Grace is an attitude on God's part that proceeds entirely from within Himself, and that is conditioned in no way by anything found in the objects of His favor.

A. Recognized by Ruth
1. Though she was already allowed in field
a. All live by the grace of God
b. But not all die in the grace of God

B. Realized by Ruth
1. She bowed down to the provider.
 a. When we see the grace of God, it causes us to worship God

C. Not understood by Ruth
1. Why? (no one understands grace!)
a. A poverty-stricken, foreign, widowed woman
b. A stranger (heathen)
1) Separated from God
Eph 2:12 'That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world:"
2) Separated unto God through Christ
Eph 2:19 "Now therefore ye are no more strangers and for­eigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God;

II. RUTH'S RESPONSE TO GRACE REVEALED (v11)
A. By What You Do (what thou hast done)
Ja. 2:14-18 (turn)

B. By What You Leave
1. Family
Luke 14:26 "If any at come to Me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be My disciple."
2. Worldly attractions (land of nativity)     
Luke 14:33 "So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be My disciple.”

C. By Who You Come To
1. A people that you knew not before; God's people!

Note: Young Chr. don't tell yourself not to come to church because you don't know anyone! You didn't know your mother and father either, when you were first born! You all just started to grow on each other! Its the same for a baby Christian, you don't know the family yet, but you get to know them by being around them! Don't complain about no one being friendly when you jump up on the last "Amen" and head out the door!

III. GOD'S PROMISE TO RUTH (v12-13) (6 things)
A. Recompense for Work
1. A giving back in return
Gal 6:7 "Be not deceived; God is not locked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap."
2. God will give back to us for our work!
a. Could be physical, but is always spiritual
2 Cor 8:9 “For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that ye through His poverty might be rich."

B. Rewarded by the Lord God of Israel (not man)
1. I can't promise you earthly things, material things, but I can give you a sure promise of spiritual things
Gal 6:8 “For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting."
a. How earthly we are that the first mention of reward makes us think of the material

C. Protection
1. Under His wings
Ps 91:4 "He shall cover thee with His feathers, and under His wings shalt thou trust..."
Jesus said in Matt 23:37 "O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not!"

D. Favour in His Sight
Ps 30:5 “For His anger endureth but a moment; in His favour is life; weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning."

E. Comfort
Ps 23:4 “...Thy rod and Thy staff they comfort me.”  
1. Sometimes we need the rod of correction, sometimes we need the staff of Christ just to lean on

F. Friendly Speech
1 Jn 3:1 "Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestow­ed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God;..."

IV. GOD'S PROVISION FOR RUTH (v14)
A. At a Certain Time (mealtime)
Rms. 10:17 "So then faith couth by hearing, and hearing, by the Word of God."
1. But you must come
a. God's provision is only for those that come
b. As you sit in church and the bread of life is preached, and you get hungry for more of God, come!

B. What God Gives You
1. Living Bread, and the Water of Life
a. Needs for the physical life and the spiritual life
Phil 4:19 "But My God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus."
b. Above what you ask or think
Eph 3:19b-20 “...that ye might be filled with all the ful­ness of God. Now unto Him that is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us."

C. You Must Eat
1. No one is force fed

V. GOD'S ABUNDANCE FOR RUTH (v15-16)

Note: Ruth was not gleaning for herself, but for another. She had already eaten! We are not just to eat, but we are to take the bread of life to others!

A. Among the Sheaves
1. The spiritual harvest takes place in the midst of the grain

B. Handfuls on Purpose     
1. God's abundant blessings

VI. RUTH'S APPRECIATION TO GOD (v17)
A. Worked until dark
Jesus Himself said, "I must work the works of Him that sent Me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work."

B. Made What She Harvested Usable! (beat it out)
1. She removed the chaff and the impurities from what she gleaned

Conclusion: Like Ruth, we were strangers to the grace of God. It is not that Sod did not know us, for God knows all things, but that we did not know God. And God has already given us lore grace and been acre long-suffering to us than we deserve. Have we responded to God's grace as we should? You see, God's promises cote through His grace, which must be accepted and applied in our lives. Do you remember Boaz's provision for Ruth? God wants to provide for us if we will put ourselves in a place of His blessing coming to Him just as we are as needy children. May God in His grace help us today to appreciate what we have in Christ, and work and share with others. Are you saved today?  Are you close to God today? You come, for the meal is spread and the food is prepared, if you will but come.