We're returning this morning to our series of studies in the book of Ruth. We have for some time now been looking at this lovely Old Testament portion. It is not merely a history book, though it is that. It is a book that sets forth in type our Lord Jesus Christ under the person of Boaz and the church of Jesus Christ under the person of Ruth. Ruth and Boaz are both very significant people in Israelite history and indeed in the history of the Kingdom of God, in the whole history of the Church. Because the reality is that right here in this portion you have someone who came from the land of Moab into the very line of the Messiah. If you were to read, and we will do that in a moment or two, Matthew chapter 1, You'll see there that there are a number of people mentioned there who were not exactly sterling characters in the Old Testament, but nevertheless people who God used, and according to the flesh, used them to bring about the coming of the Messiah, the Lord Jesus Christ. Now last time in Ruth chapter 2, we were looking at Again, this wonderful story of Ruth, how that she was called to glean in the field of Boaz. And something that we noted at that time that I want to just emphasize again is that Ruth could only glean in that field during harvest time. You couldn't glean during sowing time because nothing had yet grown. No sheaves could be cut down during the growing time. But when you glean is when the work of the harvest is ready. When the sheaves are cut or the olives are brought in or the grapes are gathered, then you glean. So really, whenever we looked at this, we made the very simple but very profound point that Ruth had access to the field of Boaz only on the basis of a work that was finished. The sowing, the irrigating, the tending to the crops or the fruit trees was now over. The work was done and the sheaves or the grapes or the olives could be gathered by the strangers, the fatherless and the widows. So Ruth was enabled to enter into the inheritance of God's people. on the basis of a finished work. And that is a beautiful gospel picture. And we can say this morning that sinful men and women and young people can have eternal life on the basis of a work that is finished. The finished work of the Lord Jesus Christ. Jesus is that seed that fell into the ground and died that it might bring forth great fruit, a great harvest of souls. His work of redemption is complete. It has been finished at Calvary. And so we made that point that Ruth was then, on the basis of a finished work, able to gather up the handfuls or the bundles that had been provided for her. They are spoken of there in verse 16 as handfuls of purpose. What this indicated was that Boaz had commanded his reapers to deliberately drop bundles of sheaves on the ground for her to pick up. It wasn't just that they maybe dropped one and had to just leave it there as the law had commanded, but this was more than that. This was grace abounding to her. You see, Boaz knew who Ruth was. He had heard about her reputation. He had inquired about her. He was already beginning to love her. And so, he provided for her. All of her wants and her needs were supplied. We made the point in a previous message, it bears repetition. Chapter 2, verse 17 records that she gleaned in the field until evening, and beat out that she had gleaned, and it was about an ephah of barley. That measurement, if you look back in the history of Israel, was very significant. Because when they were gathering the manna in the wilderness, the Bible tells us back there in the law that an omer was the tenth part of an ephah. An omer was a day's supply. So when she beat out the sheaves that she had gleaned, there were 10 days worth of supplies. A great abundance. And that's the way the Lord treats his people. Where sin abounded, grace did much more abound. There are some other points that we made last time. I don't want to go over all of that again. But I did make mention of the happiness or the blessings that Ruth enjoyed in the field of Boaz. She enjoyed a sufficiency in that field. She wanted nothing more. You see that in the words there, in verse 18, at the end of the verse, after she was sufficed. You know when you've had something to eat and you're full up to here, you just don't want any more. That's the way it was for Ruth. She was sufficed. She had enough. And that's the believer's testimony, isn't it? Like Jacob, I have enough. Ruth had a complete sufficiency, but she also received a constant supply because it was an ongoing daily thing where she could glean and have what she needed. And it's just like that for the child of God. We can trust God and we should trust God to meet our needs each and every day. We should be found in His Word gathering up the blessings that He has deliberately placed in our way. And we must do that as the Lord would give us help. This morning I want to go on from here to spend a bit of time looking at the conversation at the end of chapter 2 between Naomi and her mother-in-law. This was a crucial point in Ruth's life. I really believe, as you read this portion, that Ruth probably knew what was going on, but Naomi definitely knew what was going on. Because Naomi had a plan for Ruth. And of course, it was God's plan. Ruth was, in modern terms, a kind of a matchmaker. As you look at this portion of scripture, you see that Naomi is asking her, where did you glean today? Chapter 2, verse 19. Where hast thou gleaned today? And where wroughtest thou? But I think when you read on, you find that Naomi already knew the answer to her own questions. She said, where were you gleaning today, Ruth? Whose field were you in? Then she answers it herself. Blessed be he that did take knowledge of thee. And then Ruth, it says, showed her mother-in-law with whom she had wrought and said, The man's name with whom I wrought today is Boaz. And this made a conversation ensue that was very significant. Let's read these verses from verse 20. And Naomi said on her daughter-in-law, Blessed be he of the Lord, who hath not left off his kindness to the living and to the dead. And Naomi said unto her, The man is near of kin unto us, one of our next kinsmen. And Ruth the Moabite said, He said unto me also, Thou shalt keep fast by my young men until they have ended all my harvest. And Naomi said unto Ruth her daughter-in-law, It is good, my daughter, that thou go out with his maidens, that they meet thee not in any other field. So she kept fast by the maidens of Boaz, to glean unto the end of barley harvest and of wheat harvest, and dwelt with her mother-in-law." I think it's interesting to note that Naomi said three things basically to Ruth. In verse 20, you'll see that she blessed the Lord for Boaz. And then in the same verse, she described the relationship that Boaz stood to them in. And then in verse 22, Naomi spoke of Ruth's relationship to the other Gleaners. And there's something here that's really important. The speaking, the words of Naomi, are crucial to the development of the story in the book of Ruth. Naomi was a very wise person. If you go back to chapter 1, verse 18, Naomi was silent in that instance. Remember how she spoke to Ruth and her sister-in-law, Orpah, She told them to go back to their own country, go back to their own kindred, get on with your life, meet new husbands there, go back to your gods, just forget about me. I'm going back to Bethlehem, just you stay where you are. But Ruth said, no, I don't want you to beg me to leave you, entreat me not to leave thee or to return from following after thee. Whether thou goest, I will go. Where thou lodgest, I will lodge. Thy people shall be My people, and most significantly of all, and thy God My God. Where thou diest will I die, and there will I be buried, the Lord. Jehovah, do so to Me, and more also, if aught but death part thee and Me." And look at verse 18 of chapter 1. When she saw that she was steadfastly minded to go with her, then she left speaking unto her. She stopped talking. There's Naomi's silence. In wisdom, she just kept quiet. But from Naomi's silence, we now move to Naomi's speech. Doesn't the Bible tell us in the book of Ecclesiastes there's a time to speak and a time to be silent? This was a time for Naomi to speak. In response to what Ruth had said, Naomi began to say to her, Blessed be he of the Lord, who hath not left off his kindness to the living and to the dead, and this man is near of kin unto us, one of our next kinsmen. Here's Naomi speaking with great wisdom. Ruth, at this point, needs direction in her life. And with the gentle leading of her mother-in-law, she's going to be guided into the next stage, into the next chapter of her life's journey. Ruth needs counsel. She's still a relatively young woman. She needs to hear what Naomi has to say. And what she may have not known, but came to appreciate, was that what Naomi had to say was a word from the Lord. It was a word that was spoken out of her own knowledge and her own life's experience. And men and women and young people, we need to be guided by the Lord. We're told in the Word of God that the Scripture itself is given by inspiration of God and that it's profitable. It's profitable for instruction in righteousness. It's profitable for our guidance and our direction that we might be equipped unto every good work. So Naomi's words here are very important. They were carefully chosen. They were given in a very timely fashion. They were a word from God to Ruth's soul. And they were a light to guide her on her journey. Many a time in your life's experience you will find that a word that's given to you by another Christian is actually a word from the Lord. It's actually counsel that is given to you that is out of godly wisdom. And the Bible does tell us in the Proverbs that in the multitude of counselors there is safety. What that means is it's good not only just to talk to one person or two people, but a number of people who are godly people when you're trying to make a decision. I think that's important. And here it was a word from heaven to Ruth's heart. I think, too, there's a point here before we go any further about the importance of Christian fellowship. Some people think they can just make it on their own. They don't need church. They don't need any fellowship. They don't need to be in the company of God's people. They can make it all by themselves. They're so spiritual that they can live for God just by staying home and reading their Bible. Well, I want to tell you the Scripture doesn't teach that. The Bible tells us how important it is that we have fellowship. When I was a kid, we had a coal fire in our house. I remember building that fire many times. Twisting up newspapers, putting them in there, laying kindling on top of that, then putting some coals on top of that and lighting the fire. I remember seeing, often times, a coal fire blazing in the hearth. And all those coals were as red as they could be. But just once in a while, a coal would fall out of the hearth onto the front there. And if you left it lying there for a while, the redness would go out of it, you would see that. If you tried to lift it at first, you'd burn your fingers. But if you leave it there for a while, it gets cooler until it actually gets so cold you can actually lift it with your finger and thumb. and just hold it forever. That's an illustration of the way it is for God's people. When you're with other people of God in fellowship, there's a blaze. We kindle one another. As iron sharpeneth iron, so doth a man the countenance of his friend. But when you pull out of that fellowship and you're on your own, you get cold. And many have proved that in their life's experience. It's so important that we have Christian counsel and fellowship. And here's an older woman, Naomi. She didn't always act in wisdom. She didn't always speak wisely. Chapter 1 illustrates that Naomi was actually not in a good place spiritually for a time. But as you read on through this book, you find that she was indeed a spiritual woman. She was a woman who loved the Lord. And Ruth found her life enriched by Naomi's presence and vice versa. Let's think about the three things, however, that were said by Naomi to Ruth. First of all, there was a word here that really could be summed up as the great rejoicing. In verse 20, Blessed be he of the Lord. Really, this is an expression of gratitude to the Lord for the full attention that Boaz has given to them. And so the sense of this in English today would be, may the Lord bless him. Oh, may the Lord bless Boaz for his kindness. That's what she was saying. Now, isn't it interesting that she talks about blessing here? And yet, in the earlier part of this book, Naomi was talking about emptiness. She was talking about her bitterness. But now she's talking about blessedness. Whenever Naomi hears that Ruth has been gleaning in the fields of Boaz, she breaks out with this great anthem of praise. The Lord bless him. He has not stopped showing his kindness to the living and the dead. By the way, it's my own belief that that second part of that statement is a reference to the Lord Himself. As you read it in verse 20, it might look like Naomi is saying, blessed be He, because He, Boaz, has not left off His kindness to the living and to the dead. But I believe this is a reference to the Lord. Blessed be Boaz. May the Lord bless him. Because the Lord has not left off His kindness to the living, us, and to the dead, in the sense that Elimelech's name will continue and his inheritance will be taken up. Now, not very long before this, there was this other word on the lips of Naomi. If you go back to chapter 1, you see that when she returned from Moab to Bethlehem, all the people gathered round her. And they couldn't believe that it was her. And friend, I want to tell you something. This is an illustration of what backsliding can do in the life of a true Christian. It can get you to the place where you're unrecognizable from what you used to be. People who used to walk with God, who were zealous in the things of the Lord, they get to the place through backsliding and sin where they're unrecognizable from what they used to be. And we see this in verse 19. The two of them went till they came to Bethlehem and it came to pass when they were come to Bethlehem that all the city was moved about them and they said, is this Naomi? Surely that's not Naomi. It doesn't look like her. Now, I know it's been ten years. There's been a lot of water under the bridge that's gone past. She's had a lot of negative experiences. She's lost her two sons. She's lost her husband. But nevertheless, it's interesting, is it not? Is this Naomi? They can hardly believe what she looked like. And what did Naomi say to that? Verse 20 of chapter 1. Call me not Naomi, call me Mara. And you'll see in the margin of your authorised version, if you have one there, it says Naomi means pleasant, but Mara is bitter. Call me not pleasant, call me Mara. Bitter. For the Almighty hath dealt very bitterly with me. I went out full, and the Lord hath brought me home again empty. Why then call ye me Naomi? Pleasant, seeing the Lord hath testified against me, and the Almighty hath afflicted me." Here the words coming out of Naomi's lips are marked with bitterness. Naomi's seen all these handfuls of corn now that Ruth is gleaning. Her mind has changed. Her voice has changed. Her word is now very different. Her whole attitude is completely contrasting to that which went before. Everything about Naomi now is different. She's moved from bitterness to blessedness. She's moved from saying that the hand of the Lord has been against her, it's gone out against her, to saying now that the hand of the Lord is with her. God is now for me." And in that provision that Ruth brought home to the house, Naomi can see not just the kindness of Boaz, but God's unfailing kindness, His covenant love to her, His faithfulness to His people. I want to tell you, no matter how far you get away from the Lord as a Christian, the Lord will never leave you nor forsake you. And the Lord is yet ready to be merciful to you. He says, I'm married to the backslider. In that sense, there's no divorce with God. There's no bread in the home. God has been working. And now the words coming out of His mouth are words of rejoicing, blessedness. And is that not what the Lord does for men and women? From bitterness He brings them into the place of blessing. There's joy, there's delight even in the hearts of some who strayed far from Him. He's brought them back, back into fellowship, back into the circle of His people. And so they've made a great transition from bitterness to blessedness. And let me just say, bitterness is a mark of backsliding. I've met people who once walked with God very well, and for some reason they got away from the Lord. And when you talk to them, they're full of cynicism. And they're full of criticism. And they want to point at all the faults of the church, and all the faults of God's people. And He's not this, and she's not the other thing. And when they start speaking, it's obvious that what's coming out of that heart is bitterness. Because they're not walking with God. When you're walking with God, there's blessedness. There's joy. There's rejoicing. But the God that we serve, the faithful God of the covenant, is able to lift us out of bitterness and give us blessedness. I know a point where sins are washed away. I know a place where night is turned to day. Burdens are lifted. Blind eyes made to see, for there's wonder working power in the blood of Calvary. Bitterness can be turned into blessing. Think of the psalmist. He talked about that, didn't he? If you read in Psalm 30, in verse number 11, he puts it like this. Thou hast turned for me my mourning into dancing. Thou hast put off my sackcloth and girded me with gladness. To the end that my glory..." And in that instance, and in many other places as well, His glory is His tongue. "...to the end that my glory, my tongue, that which brings glory to God, may sing praise to Thee, and not be silent." turning from bitterness to blessing. I think of the disciples in that upper room. What a sad shower they were. A bunch of defeated, discouraged men. They believed that the Lord had left them for good. And there they were, as it were, metaphorically crying into their soup. And what happened? Then came Jesus to that upper room and stood in the midst. And he said, Peace be unto you. And it says he showed them his hands and his side. He reminded them, I did this for you. I've just come from the cross just a few days ago. I did this for you. I shed my precious blood for your redemption. You know what the Bible says there in John chapter 20? Then were the disciples glad when they saw the Lord. Maybe that's what we need this morning. Maybe that's what you need this morning, is a fresh sight of the Lord, a fresh vision of Christ, who He is, what He has done for you. That will turn you from bitterness to blessing. The moment we see Him, in that way. It transforms our whole outlook. I know when I'm discouraged and despondent, and it is a sin, by the way. It's a sin. Why should we ever be discouraged when we realize what the Lord has done for us? But it happens. What takes care of that is when I get a fresh sight of Calvary. I realize what it is that the Savior has done for me and for all His people. That brings a thrill to my heart. When the Lord turned again the captivity of Zion, we were like them that dreamed. Then was our tongue filled with laughter, our tongue with singing. Then said we, the Lord hath done great things for us, whereof we are glad. Don't you have cause to praise the Lord this morning? Has the Lord worked in your life? Do you have any reason to sing the glorious praises of the Lord? I'm sure you do if you're a Christian. You don't have to be in bitterness today. You can enjoy the blessing of the Lord. And that blessing, you see, doesn't depend only on circumstances. Some people are up and down like yo-yos because their joy and their discouragement really rests upon circumstances. Things are going well. They're as happy as Larry, to quote a phrase we used to use in Northern Ireland. They're as happy as they can be because everything is going well in their lives. But then they hit the buffers. Something happens. Some problem arises. Some health issue perhaps. Or some discouragement in the family. Whatever it may be. And they hit rock bottom. The joy is gone. The delight is gone. And it's as if the Lord doesn't even exist anymore. That's not right. There is a joy that we can have in spite of and in the midst of the worst of circumstances. Remember what Paul said to the Philippians in Philippians chapter 4? Rejoice in the Lord always, and again I say rejoice. The psalmist in Psalm 34, verse 1, I will bless the Lord at all times. His praise shall continually be in my mouth. You say, well, that's hard, pastor. That's hard. That's difficult. I know it's difficult. I've been there. I know it's hard. But it's right. It's right. It's God's Word. We can have a joy that's there, even though there's not a big smile on our faces. We don't feel like jumping up and down with happiness, yet we have the joy of the Lord as our strength. It doesn't matter how we're feeling. We can bless the Lord for who He is. It never changes. And for the blessings that will never be taken from us. Naomi here has had her share of heartache She's had many tears. The Bible doesn't go into any detail on this, but if you read chapter 1, I would say it's pretty obvious that this woman has suffered a lot. I really don't know how complicit she was in the move to Moab, whether she wanted to go or not, but the reality is she said at the end of chapter 1 that she went out full and the Lord brought her home again empty. She was taken away from her homeland, presumably from friends. She got there, and things got worse. The two sons married Moabite women, Orpah and Ruth, and then within ten years, both of those sons, Malon and Kilion, were dead, and the husband was also dead. That woman had had to stand at three separate graves during her time in Moab. Oh, she shed many tears, no doubt. But yet, here she is. Her life's been changed by the grace of God. And when Ruth came home that day, she said about Boaz, the Lord bless him. She's rejoicing. May the Lord help us to rejoice, no matter what the circumstances are. There's another thought here. The second word that she spoke really is a word that brings to our minds the gracious revelation. In verse 20 of chapter 2, she talks about the relationship that Boaz had to her family. She said, you know that man that you're working for? He's a near kinsman of ours. He's a relative. In fact, he's a close relative. He is one that has right to redeem and she repeats that in chapter 3 verse 2. And now is not Boaz of our kindred. He's one who is our close relative. There are family ties here to Boaz. And I believe that in that there was hope in Naomi's heart that maybe Boaz would get together with Ruth and continue the family name and take up the inheritance of her late husband. But when we look at this, we think, well, what hope did this fact of his being a relative give to Naomi? Well, it gave her a twofold hope that was based upon the provisions that were in God's holy law. You can read about those things, we've already indicated it in a former message, in Deuteronomy chapter 25 and Leviticus chapter 25. That's easy to remember. Leviticus 25, Deuteronomy 25. One law, the one in Deuteronomy 25 from verse 5 onwards, stated that if a family lost a father through death, a close relative, maybe a brother, or in some cases another relative, He could bring up the children and continue the family name within the household. And this included the brother or the close relative marrying the widow and having children with her. And the law also included this provision that if the close relative didn't want to do that, the widow could actually sue him in front of the elders of the city. When we get to chapter 4, we'll see the outworking of that. But there was another law. That's the one in Leviticus 25. You can read in verse 23 down to verse 34 of that chapter. Leviticus 25, verse 23 to 34. That law stated that if a man lost his property, then a near kinsman could redeem that, he could buy it back. And that law was based on a two-fold principle. First, the land belonged to the Lord, so nobody could actually claim absolute ownership. But secondly, that restoration was an expression of grace. Now, the idea of redemption was fundamental in Israel's history. We see this in the book of Exodus, in that great song of Moses, where the release from Egypt was seen to be an act of redemption by the Lord. The Lord brought them out with a high hand. But in terms of land ownership, God's law made provision for lost land to be restored, either through the payment of a redemption price, or in what was called the year of the Jubilee. Now, there's a complex legal situation behind the book of Ruth. But it's very clear from what we read in these chapters 3 and 4, that there's a mingling of the two laws, there's a continuation of the family name, and there's the restoration of the family's property. And we see, as the book goes on here, that Ruth's story is a story of redemption by a close relative. Boaz, you see, is going to do two things. He's going to fulfill the law of God in respect of marriage, because he's going to marry Ruth, and they will raise up children. And he's going to fulfill the law in respect of land or property. He's going to redeem that which had belonged to Elimelech. So he's going to play the part. He's going to fulfill the obligations of the Kinsman Redeemer, as it is in the Hebrew, the Goel, G-O-E-L in English. He's going to continue the name of Elimelech, Naomi's deceased husband, and he's going to see to the restoration of the land. Now what has this got to do with us? Or what has it even got to do with the Gospel? Well I mentioned a little while ago the genealogy in Matthew chapter 1. If you'd like to turn there, you will see that this particular genealogy leads up to the birth of Jesus Christ. And it talks about the generations from Abraham to David. 14 generations. The generations from David till the carrying away into Babylonian captivity, 14 generations. And from the carrying away into Babylon unto Christ, 14 generations. And then there's the birth of Jesus Christ that is recorded. But in the early part of the chapter, notice this. Chapter 1 of Matthew, verse 2. Abraham begat Isaac. Isaac begat Jacob. Jacob begat Judas and his brethren. And Judas begat Phares and Zara of Tamar. Now you think about Tamar, she doesn't have a very good reputation in the Old Testament. Again as you read on down in verse 5 it says, and Salmon begat Boaz it looks like, but it's Boaz, this is just the transliteration of the name, of Rechab. Who's Rechab? Well, that's Rahab, the harlot. That's a very touching thought. Ruth was a Moabiteess and she's mentioned there in verse 5. And Boaz begat Obed of Ruth. And we'll come to that when we get to chapter 4 when they got married and had the child. He was called Obed. And Obed begat Jesse, Jesse begat David the King and so on and so forth. And then David the King begat Solomon of her that had been the wife of Uriah. Now think about this. Tamar, not a very savoury character. Rahab, well she's known every time she's mentioned as Rahab the harlot. Not a very savoury character. Verse 6, her that had been the wife of Uriah. Who's that? Bathsheba. Not a very good reputation there because it was the situation with David when he committed adultery. And in the midst of that you have Ruth. Now what's wrong with Ruth? Because Boaz was able to say later that she was a virtuous woman. The whole town knew that. The whole place knew that she was a virtuous woman. Yes, but you see Ruth by nature was a Moabitess. So she was also tainted. And yet here we have one, Boaz, who was the son of a harlot and he takes into union with himself a woman who was a stranger from the covenant of promise who was outside of the nation of Israel. What a wonderful story of grace this is. Boaz is going to play a primary and pivotal role in the big story of God's redemptive purpose in the Bible. But it's because of his involvement with Ruth that he's going to have this significant role in the unfolding of the eternal purpose of God's grace for his people. But there's something else here. Because of the way in which he's going to fulfill the two-fold law from Leviticus 25 and Deuteronomy 25 regarding the family and the property, Ruth herself is going to find a way in to the covenant people of God through marriage. So not only is she gleaning because of grace that's provided through the law to the stranger, the fatherless and the widow, but she's going to be brought in through her kinsman, Redeemer. And that's why Naomi is so thrilled here. This is a gracious revelation. See, Ruth had started out in chapter 2, verse 2, saying that she wanted to go to the field. She wanted to glean ears of corn. after him in whose sight I shall find grace." And that was only that morning. Think about it. That had only been that morning. Here she is in the evening. Ruth had no idea where she was going when she set off that morning. The Bible just says in chapter 2, verse 3, that her hat was to light on a part of the field belonging to Boaz. We would call that a coincidence. Actually, there's nothing really wrong with the word coincidence, because these are two instances brought together. But as one man put it, we don't believe in mere coincidence, but in measured coincidence. God, who is ordering every event, working out His eternal purpose in the events of this life and the so-called coincidences of this life, You know, you think that certain things happen in your life, well, that's only by chance. No, it's not by chance. It's ordered by God. And I'm going to tell you, that will help you when you hit some hard times to know this too is from the Lord. The Lord has allowed this. Because if He didn't allow it, it wouldn't have happened. You think of the book of Job. And Job realized that. You know, whenever Job talked about losing his 10 children and all of his wealth, he didn't say the Sabaeans have taken away. He didn't say evil men have taken away. He said the Lord gave and the Lord has taken away. Blessed be the name of the Lord. See, God is in control. We don't understand why He allows the things to happen that He does allow, but He is working out His own eternal purpose. It's always with a reason and with a purpose. So here's Ruth, no coincidence really that she's in the field of Boaz, because God is already working out His purpose. He guided her into that field. And now Naomi is explaining to her the significance of that. Ruth, you thought you were just going to any field with any master. Here's what's happening. Here's what the Lord is doing. This man is a close relative. This man, do you realize that he can undertake the duties, the obligations of a kinsman, redeemer? He can continue my husband's family name and he can secure the interests of our family inheritance. These are the things that Naomi is speaking about to Ruth. And it is at this point, as we've already indicated in a former message, in which the book of Ruth becomes so pregnant with the gospel of Christ and Christ himself. You see, there's a Redeemer who alone can do for us what we cannot do for ourselves. We see the Lord Jesus portrayed here in the book of Ruth. under the character Boaz, his person, even the description of him as a mighty man of wealth in his ability. And I'm sure and certain on that wonderful occasion in Luke chapter 24, when the Lord had those two disciples with Him, and He's taking the Old Testament Scriptures, and He's beginning at Moses, and then He's in the Prophets and the Psalms, and He's revealing to them the things concerning Himself. I'll guarantee you the Lord expounded to them the book of Ruth. He would not have overlooked it. I could preach some messages if I had been privy to that conversation. Oh, to hear the Savior talk about the book of Ruth. The two on the road to Emmaus, they're listening while the Lord Jesus is telling them, this Boaz, the one that had right to redeem, This kinsman of Naomi, that's me. Ruth, the Moabites, this stranger from the covenant of promise, the one who's outside of Israel, who has no right at all to the inheritance of God, that's you and everybody else in the church. And the Lord Jesus is expounding to them the gospel, and how He is the one who takes the obligations upon Himself of God's law to fulfill it, even in His going to the cross. No wonder their hearts burned within them. Heartburn is normally not associated with anything good, but there's a holy heartburn that we should all want to have. Did not our heart burn within us? while he taught to us by the way and opened unto us the Scriptures. This is what the book of Ruth unfolds. There was only one who could undertake our obligations, only one who had the ability to redeem and the glory of the gospel is that that one in whose fields we glean is one who shares Our flesh and our blood as our mediator, the God-man. Our time is completely gone this morning. But when we think of this, in Hebrews chapter 2, it speaks of the fact that the Lord Jesus Christ did not take to Himself the nature of angels. When you think about it, If the Saviour had, in redeeming His people, taken on Him the nature of an angel, you would have said, well, that was certainly a condescension on His part, wasn't it? That would be a big step down for the Lord, because He's the Creator. Angels are created beings. So here's the Creator becoming a creature. You would say, that's an amazing step down. The problem is that the angels had never sinned. So the Lord didn't take upon Him the nature of angels. But Hebrews 2 says He took on Him the seed of Abraham. He didn't take on the nature of an angel. He became a man. One of the Puritans said for the Lord Jesus Christ to become a man was a bigger step of condescension than if an angel had become a worm. Think about that. Took upon Him our nature. found in fashion as a man. He is bone of our bone and flesh of our flesh. He is near of kin to us. It was love that caused him to take on him frail flesh and to come to this scene of time to live our life and to die our death for us. Out of the ivory palaces into a world of woe Only His great eternal love made my Savior go. This is our heavenly Boaz. And as we read on in the book of Ruth, we'll see how this picture of Christ comes more even into focus as we see what happens in the story. May the Lord bless it to our hearts. May the Lord help us to look for Christ in the scripture because in looking for Him, we will find Him there. The Bible is full of the person and the work of Christ.