Hope in Darkness (Judges/Ruth)

In Sermons, The Whole Story, Year 2024 by Maryam Nejad

Resource by Peter Park

We’re going to be in the book of Judges and Ruth this morning. Last weekend, we saw Israel made it to the Promised Land. God’s promise to Abraham hundreds of years before to take his people to a new land is being fulfilled. And things start off ok, but not great, while Joshua is alive. And then, as we’ve seen over and over again, things turn bad pretty quickly…

Judges 2:1-19 1 Now the angel of the Lord went up from Gilgal to Bochim. And he said, “I brought you up from Egypt and brought you into the land that I swore to give to your fathers. I said, ‘I will never break my covenant with you, 2 and you shall make no covenant with the inhabitants of this land; you shall break down their altars.’ But you have not obeyed my voice. What is this you have done? 3 So now I say, I will not drive them out before you, but they shall become thorns in your sides, and their gods shall be a snare to you.” …

11 And the people of Israel did what was evil in the sight of the Lord and served the Baals. 12 And they abandoned the Lord, the God of their fathers, who had brought them out of the land of Egypt. They went after other gods, from among the gods of the peoples who were around them, and bowed down to them. And they provoked the Lord to anger… 14 So the anger of the Lord was kindled against Israel, and he gave them over to plunderers, who plundered them… 15 … And they were in terrible distress.

16 Then the Lord raised up judges, who saved them out of the hand of those who plundered them. 17 Yet they did not listen to their judges, for they whored after other gods and bowed down to them. They soon turned aside from the way in which their fathers had walked, who had obeyed the commandments of the Lord, and they did not do so. 18 Whenever the Lord raised up judges for them, the Lord was with the judge, and he saved them from the hand of their enemies all the days of the judge. For the Lord was moved to pity by their groaning because of those who afflicted and oppressed them. 19 But whenever the judge died, they turned back and were more corrupt than their fathers, going after other gods, serving them and bowing down to them. They did not drop any of their practices or their stubborn ways.

So Israel is spiraling out of control. 1) They forget everything God has done for them and their covenant with God to worship and serve him only 2) And they follow after other gods. 3) So God judges them and they become enslaved by the enslaved. 4) But God raises up judges to deliver them, but then they go right back to their sinful ways. And even Israel’s judges failed to ultimately deliver God’s people because they themselves were deeply flawed.

-Gideon – Says he doesn’t want to be king over Israel but names his son, Abimelech, “My dad is king”. Ephod – Israel whores after.

-Jephthah – Makes a rash vow and has to kill his daughter.

-Samson – Compromise. Impulsive. Bad taste in women.

The book of Judges and this time in Israel’s history can be summarized by two repeated phrases…1) “There was no king in Israel.” Israel didn’t have a man for a king like the other nations. But that’s because they weren’t supposed to be like the other nations. God was their king. But they rejected God as their king and his laws and did whatever they wanted… 2) “Everyone did what was right in his own eyes.” This should sound familiar to you because this is the original sin of Adam and Eve from Gen. 3. And the book of Judges shows us the result of our sin and rejection of God, it’s not life and joy and peace; it’s an endless cycle and spiral deeper into darkness and death with no way out.

This could be how the story ends. It’s how the book of Judges ends. But in the midst of all this, another story is tucked in, but is actually the next book in the Bible.

Ruth Chapter 1 – 1 In the days when the judges ruled there was a famine in the land, and a man of Bethlehem in Judah went to sojourn in the country of Moab, he and his wife and his two sons. Note: There is a famine in the Promised Land, in Bethlehem which literally means, “House of Bread”. This was supposed to be the land flowing with milk and honey. But because of their sin, the land is devastated. Just like the Garden of Eden, where everything was good and perfect in the beginning, until it was ruined by sin.

1:2 The name of the man was Elimelech and the name of his wife Naomi, and the names of his two sons were Mahlon and Chilion. They were Ephrathites from Bethlehem in Judah. They went into the country of Moab and remained there. Elimelech’s name literally means,“My God is King”, though we’re not sure whether he was faithful to God. But he names his sons, Mahlon and Chilion, which mean “Sick” and “Frail”. Possibly because of the famine, we’re not sure. But still, it seems cruel. (Baby – “Ugly”)

1:3 But Elimelech, the husband of Naomi, died, and she was left with her two sons. 4 These took Mabite wives; the name of the one was Orpah and the name of the other Ruth. So the sons married Gentile women, which was forbidden and not advised, because they worshiped other gods.

And ten years later, Sickling and Frailty live up to their names and die. So Naomi, left with just her two Gentile daughters in law with no hope for a future, tries to get them to leave so at least they can have a future. And one does, 1:14 but Ruth clung to her. 15 And she said, “See, your sister-in-law has gone back to her people and to her gods; return after your sister-in-law.” 16 But Ruth said, “Do not urge me to leave you or to return from following you. For where you go I will go, and where you lodge I will lodge. Your people shall be my people, and your God my God. 17 Where you die I will die, and there will I be buried. May the Lord do so to me and more also if anything but death parts me from you.”

So Ruth displays an extraordinary commitment to Naomi, which is really kind to stick with an old widow, maybe even more so considering that it was her mother in law. But what she does here is so much more than that. See, when Orpah left Naomi, she returned to her gods in hopes of a life. But Ruth, a Gentile, in clinging to Naomi is forsaking the gods of her own people and becoming a faithful follower of the one true God. And again, we see God’s promise to Abraham that all the nations of the earth will be blessed by God’s chosen people coming to fruition.

So Naomi and Ruth go back to Bethlehem since they have nowhere else to go. And Naomi decides to change her name from Naomi, “Lovely/Pleasant” to “Mara,” which means “bitter” because she thinks God has dealt bitterly with her. It’s understandable, she left full with family and has come back empty, no offense to Ruth. You’d probably feel the same way if you thought God took everything away from you. You can see how this story so far fits right in with Judges. But again, this could be the end of the story but it continues…

Chapter 2 – Naomi and Ruth are back in Bethlehem, where they at least know some people, but they are jobless, husbandless, and sonless. So they have to figure out what to do and how to survive. So Ruth takes the initiative 2:3a …set out and went and gleaned in the field after the reapers.

See, God had a plan for these kinds of situations. You could say he had a plan for Ruth and Naomi. When God gave his people the law, he made provision for the poor. Lev. 23:22 “And when you reap the harvest of your land, you shall not reap your field right up to its edge, nor shall you gather the gleanings after your harvest. You shall leave them for the poor and for the sojourner: I am the Lord your God.” We don’t have time to go into depth here and now but this is a principle showing God’s heart for the poor and vulnerable and for how his people should live generously, with margin in their lives and budgets to care for the needy.

And Ruth 2:3b …happened to come to the part of the field belonging to Boaz, who was the clan of Elimelech. Now, Ruth doesn’t know it at this point. We do as the reader. (!!!) Great news because there’s extended family who will likely help. And his name means “Strong”. And Ruth “Just so happened…” PJD – “There’s no dramatic miracles throughout the book of Ruth; just sovereignly controlled circumstances.”

2:4 And behold, Boaz came from Bethlehem. And he said to the reapers, “The LORD be with you!” And they answered, “The LORD bless you.” Pretty awesome greeting and reception. (No one greets me like that. Or is usually that happy to see me.) We can already see that there is something different about Boaz in his speech, the way he relates to his workers, and how his workers view him. Boaz was a good guy, 2:1 “worthy man”.

2:5 Then Boaz said to his young man who was in charge of the reapers, “Whose young woman is this?” 6 And the servant who was in charge of the reapers answered, “She is the young Moabite woman, who came back with Naomi from the country of Moab. 7 She said, ‘Please let me glean and gather among the sheaves after the reapers.’ So she came, and she has continued from early morning until now, except for a short rest.” Ruth’s reputation for her kindness and faithfulness is widespread.

2:8 Then Boaz said to Ruth, “Now, listen my daughter, do not go to glean in another field or leave this one, but keep close to my young women. 9 …Have I not charged the young men not to touch you? And when you are thirsty, go to the vessels and drink what the young men have drawn.” So Boaz is not only providing for and serving Ruth, but he’s also giving her protection because she is vulnerable being poor and a widow.

2:10 Then she fell on her face, bowing to the ground, and said to him, “Why have I found favor in your eyes, that you should take notice of me, since I am a foreigner? Ruth recognizes her lowly estate. She’s a foreigner, a widow, and unworthy of the kind of generosity and kindness shown to her by Boaz.

2:11-12 11 But Boaz answered her, “All that you have done for your mother-in-law since the death of your husband has been fully told to me, and how you left your father and mother and your native land and came to a people that you did not know before. 12 The Lord repay you for what you have done, and a full reward be given you by the Lord, the God of Israel, under whose wings you have come to take refuge!”

Ruth doesn’t know it, but she’s taken care of Boaz’s relative not for reward but out of faithfulness. And then Boaz proceeds to make sure Ruth has food to eat and makes her gleaning easier by giving her not just leftovers but from the main stockpile. So he gave not just according to the min. requirement, but generously, above and beyond. ESV Study Bible – He responded to her according to her need, not her position or worth. That’s a great principle to live by.

And Ruth at the end of the day goes back and reports to Naomi and 2:20 And Naomi said to her daughter-in-law, “May he be blessed by the LORD, whose kindness has not forsaken the living or the dead!” Naomi also said to her, “The man is a close relative of ours, one of our redeemers.” Naomi is no longer bitter. She’s excited and hopeful for God’s faithfulness in her story.

“Redeemer” – Living relative who was able and willing to buy the family’s inheritance of land, especially if it was controlled by others as a debt. And they would care for the widow/family of the dead so their lineage could continue.

Chapter 3 – Knowing this, Naomi sends Ruth to Boaz to essentially ask him to become their redeemer through marriage. And how this next part unfolds sounds a little strange and not really how we do things today, at least I don’t think…3:7-8 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 grain. Then she came softly and uncovered his feet and lay down. 8 At midnight the man was startled and turned over, and behold, a woman lay at his feet! (Boaz freaks out for a second because he’s sleeping good from a food coma, and his foot hits something and someone’s there he’s not expecting!)

3:9-14 9 He said, “Who are you?” And she answered, “I am Ruth, your servant. Spread your wings over your servant, for you are a redeemer.” 10 And he said, “May you be blessed by the Lord, my daughter. You have made this last kindness greater than the first in that you have not gone after young men, whether poor or rich. 11 And now, my daughter, do not fear. I will do for you all that you ask, for all my fellow townsmen know that you are a worthy woman. 12 And now it is true that I am a redeemer. Yet there is a redeemer nearer than I. 13 Remain tonight, and in the morning, if he will redeem you, good; let him do it. But if he is not willing to redeem you, then, as the Lord lives, I will redeem you. Lie down until the morning.” 14 So she lay at his feet until the morning, but arose before one could recognize another. And he said, “Let it not be known that the woman came to the threshing floor.”

Ok. So Boaz agrees to the plan, but there’s a problem. Boaz is not the closest relative that has the first right of refusal as a redeemer. So Boaz, being a good man, says he will redeem Ruth if the other declines, and has her rest there until early morning. Again, this speaks to the character of Boaz. He sends Ruth back discreetly, not in the middle of the night when Ruth could be harmed, but also not too late to where people might see and come to wrong conclusions about anything inappropriate. (BKC) And of course with more food. (Cause that’s how you show love. Single guys – Take note.)

Chapter 4 – 1 Now Boaz had gone up to the gate and sat down there. And behold, the redeemer, of whom Boaz had spoken, came by. So Boaz said, “Turn aside, friend; sit down here.” And Boaz tells him about the situation and the opportunity he has to redeem it. 4:4 “And he said, “I will redeem it.”

4:5 “Then Boaz said, “The day you buy the field from the hand of Naomi, you also acquire Ruth the Moabite, the widow of the dead, in order to perpetuate the name of the dead in his inheritance.” 6 Then the redeemer said, “I cannot redeem it for myself, lest I impair my own inheritance. Take my right of redemption yourself, for I cannot redeem it.” You’ve got to give Boaz credit. He’s not only a good man, but he’s clever too. () So thinking only of himself, this guy, who shall not be named, passes the opportunity to redeem Ruth because it doesn’t seem like that great a deal for him. He’s going to have to marry a widow, split the inheritance with more kids, and take on a “bitter” mother in law. But Boaz steps up and seals the deal in front of the community.

And then look at the blessing both he and Ruth receive 4:11 “May the LORD make the woman, who is coming into your house, like Rachel and Leah, who together built up the house of Israel. May you act worthily in Ephrathah and be renowned in Bethlehem, 12 and may your house be like the house of Perez, whom Tamar bore to Judah, because of the offspring that the LORD will give you by this young woman.”

4:13 So Boaz took Ruth, and she became his wife. And he went in to her, and the LORD gave her conception, and she bore a son. 14 Then the women said to Naomi, “Blessed be the LORD, who has not left you this day without a redeemer, and may his name be renowned in Israel! 15 He shall be to you a restorer of life and a nourisher of your old age, for your daughter-in-law who love you, who is more to you than seven sons…” In God’s faithfulness through Ruth and Boaz, Naomi and her hope are restored. And Ruth and Boaz lived happily ever after and had a son.

4:17 They named him Obed. He was the father of Jesse, the father of David.

The very last word in the book of Ruth is “David”. (v. 22) And why is that so significant? It’s not because Israel’s hope would be in David, because as we’ll see in a few weeks, David was in many ways a great king, arguably Israel’s greatest king, but he also did some pretty wicked and evil things. No, we know that Ruth ends in hope because God’s Promised One, the Messiah, would come through David’s line. 

The book of Judges ends in despair but the book of Ruth ends in hope. Judges ends in despair and darkness because it shows us the end result of us living our own way, doing what is right in our own eyes. Even our leaders, like Israel’s judges, will ultimately fail us. They cannot save us. But Ruth, though it begins sadly with grief and death, it ends in joy and hope because there is a righteous one coming who would be born in the same city of Bethlehem, who would perfectly follow the will of the King and not go his own way. His way would be the way of the Father. And he would redeem his people from sin and suffering. Every story in the Bible is about a faithless people and a faithful God, pointing us to Jesus.

Jesus is the better Boaz. Boaz – Righteous – Law, Honor, Protector, Provider. Worthy. Generous. Redeemer. Like Boaz and us, Jesus was born of a woman and took on flesh to become one of us. But Jesus was perfectly righteous, without sin, obeying the law perfectly. He loved us fully and completely even when we were still sinners. Jesus had ultimate strength and power over sin and death. He was an even greater redeemer because he redeemed us to God the Father for eternity. And he was generous to us far beyond what we deserved and paid the ultimate cost to become sin for us and died in our place so we could be gifted his righteousness and standing before the Father.

And like Ruth, Gentile “Moabite”. Gave up her people and their gods to become a part of God’s people. Faithful. Jesus, though rich, became poor and humbled himself for our sake. He was an insider with God but became an outsider for our sake. He took enemies of God and made them the people and family of God. And he is an even better “Friend”, which is what Ruth means. He is the friend who will never betray you. He’s devoted to you through the good and the bad and will always be by your side.

In the midst of “There was no king in Israel.” and “Everyone did what was right in his own eyes.”, when God’s people were in  darkness, he kept repeating, “There is a Redemption/Redeemer coming”. 23x in Ruth mostly in the last two chapters. A story with the backdrop of spiritual darkness and starts with famine and death is building and moving towards redemption. The book of Ruth is a clear picture of the gospel for us where the outsider is brought in, the unlovable become loved, the poor are given generosity, the empty are made whole, and those without hope are given a joyous future. (PJD) No one deserves it. But that’s what God does. It’s who He is. He is constantly redeeming those who are unworthy because He is a faithful Redeemer. Even when we can’t see it, he’s working according to his faithful and steadfast love.

Do you know God this way? Do you have hope in Jesus? See our sinful nature is to spiral out of control. Maybe you feel like your life is a mess. You’ve really done some bad things. You’ve made too many bad decisions. Your sin is enslaving you. You’re too far gone for hope. God can redeem you!; He can redeem it all! Maybe you think you don’t deserve it. You don’t. Why it’s called GRACE – God’s Riches at Christ’s Expense.

Salvation has never been and never will be what you have done or what you will do. But what Jesus has already done for you and the free gift of life and righteousness he offers you. It doesn’t matter how many times you’ve rejected God. It’s never too late. If you call out to God to save you, he will save you through Jesus.

Our story also ends with hope because Jesus has put death to death and we will be with him forever. And until that day comes, as those who have been shown incredible generosity and grace and redemption, we ought to live in radical obedience to Jesus and be people who are about the work of redeeming the world, advancing Christ’s kingdom here in KL and the nations – EV, caring for the orphan and widow, the refugee, the poor. (PJD) I pray all these things will be true of this church.

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