Sermon Outline: 11/13/22

INTRODUCTION
Common Themes we see all throughout Ruth:

• Tragedy
• Heartache
• Suffering
• Faith
• Courage
• Trust
• Hope
• Faithfulness
• Redemption

1. Church, I want to tell you that we will, if not already, experience difficult times. I’d love to tell you it’s going to get easier, it’s not. BUT, If we’ve paid attention to our journey through Ruth, you will see God has had His hand in everything Ruth and Naomi have gone through. He is reminding us that He is still on His throne. He’s still in control. He is faithful.
2. Peerless we will continue to experience the ups and downs of our journey. In the days, weeks, months, and years ahead, we will face days of confusion, disorientation, uncertainty, and fear. That is a guarantee! How will we respond?  Here’s God’s Response:  I will provide just trust Me!

The Title of my message this morning is, God Will Provide!
We will see God’s Hand Ruth’s Story in 3 ways:
1. A Dangerous Plan
2. A Delicate Proposal
3. A Divine Pause

1. A DANGEROUS PLAN (vv1-8)
   

Ruth 3:1 - Naomi asks Ruth a question
“Security” - maw-no'-akh; LITERAL: resting place, state, or condition of rest, FIGURATIVELY: a home

• Naomi’s plan involves Ruth initiating a meeting with Boaz. Once again, we see that even though the book of Ruth highlights the providence of God, the characters do not slip into passive fatalism. They are active, not disengaged. Naomi does not say, God is sovereign, so let’s just wait until a husband knocks on the door! God’s sovereignty is not a license for human inactivity. That would be not trusting the Lord but testing the Lord. No, we should work and act, in view of and because of God’s work and God’s activity. (Merida, Tony. Ruth For You: Revealing God's Kindness and Care (God's Word For You) (p. 91). The Good Book Company. Kindle Edition.)

Ruth 3:3-5 - Ruth is instructed to prepare herself like a bride

Notice the 7 Steps:

• Take a Bath (v3)
• Put on Perfume (v3)
• Put on Clean Clothes (v3)
• Visit Boaz at the right place/time (v3)
• Observe where he sleeps – make sure it’s Boaz (v4)
• Uncover Boaz’s Feet (v4)
• Listen/Follow what Boaz says (v4)

 
Note: At this point in the story, Boaz has not proposed to Ruth, so she proposes to him. This plan was not normal. And we wouldn’t suggest this for our daughters. This could have grave consequences for Ruth.

 2. A DELICATE PROPOSAL (v.9 - 11) 

A. It was a straightforward marriage proposal. 

• The phrase “Take me under your wing” can also be translated as “Spread your covering over me.” It was 
• Ruth’s was saying, “Marry me, and bring me under your protection.” 
• She uses the same Hebrew word Boaz used in Ruth 2:12 when he described the God of Israel, “under whose wings you have come to seek refuge.”

B. Notice what didn't happen

• We are left to marvel at the purity of both Boaz and Ruth. Instead of engaging in some steamy sexual encounter, Boaz praises Yahweh for Ruth! Nor does Ruth make any sexual advances toward Boaz in an effort to win him. (Merida, Tony. Ruth For You: Revealing God's Kindness and Care (God's Word For You) (p. 98). The Good Book Company. Kindle Edition.)
• We know that Boaz is a man of character in how he treats Ruth at this moment. Notice:

1. He prays for her (v10)
2. He agrees to her proposal because of her character (v11)
- Woman of excellence (same as in Proverbs 31:10)
- She is a Proverbs 31 woman
3. He protects and provides
- She leaves at dawn so no rumors could be started (v14)
- He provides for Ruth AND Naomi (v15)

3. A DIVINE PAUSE

A. Notice verses 12-13
1. In essence, Boaz is saying wait. He wants to honor the Lord before
he honors Ruth or himself.
2. It was more important to trust and obey God than to give way to his own feelings and emotions.

B. Naomi’s Response (v18)

• The word translated “wait” can mean to “sit down.” We would say today, “Sit tight.”

Quote: “Waiting time is not wasted time if you are waiting on the Lord.”

• Naomi is basically telling Ruth that no matter, God has provided a husband for her, but she must wait.
• It does feel that we spend a lot of our time waiting to hear from God.
• Faith waits. Faith trusts. Faith experiences peace.

Hebrews 11:6 “And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.”
2 Corinthians 5:7 “For we walk by faith and not by sight.”

Quote: Williams Bates – “God will try our faith before he satisfies our sight.”
Quote: “Patience is the companion of wisdom.” - Augustine
Quote: “The fruit of patience in all its aspects – long-suffering, forbearance, endurance, and perseverance – is a fruit that is most intimately associated with our devotion to God. All character traits of godliness grow out of and have their foundation in our devotion to God, but the fruit of patience must grow out of that relationship in a particular way.” - Jerry Bridges


CONCLUSION

• God is asking us today, “Will we be a people of faith? Will we be a church of faith? Will we walk by faith or by sight?”
• Here’s our challenge today, “Will we pray for faith when we don’t understand what God is doing?” "Will we trust Him we He doesn't make sense to us?"
  • Pray for Unwavering Trust
  • Pray for My Unbelief
  • Pray for Faith
  • Pray for Strength
  • Pray for Grace
  • Pray for Gratitude