"Relationships of Refuge”

Scripture Reading:  Ruth 2

Memory Verse:  “May the Lord, the God of Israel, under whose wings you have come to take refuge, reward you fully for what you have done.” Ruth 2:12

God provides relationships of refuge that will lift us from bitterness into joy!

1.  What had God provided for Naomi? Does God Deal Bitterly?

• A Relative: Boaz, She winds up in Boaz’ field, kinsman of Elimelek
  
• A Law of provision for the poor: Gleans behind the harvesters
  
• A Land of promise: Notice the connection back to the Covenant with Abraham?
  
• “As it turns out?” Was this all and accident? Coincidence?
  
• God works in sovereign and surprising ways to enact His gracious will!
  
• Ruth, “the Moabite”, (7 times), volunteers to go glean in the field: 
  

2.  What responsibility did they have for their own lives? Humans must live justly!  

Ruth:

• Initiative
  
• Humility 
  
• Industry: Gathered all day in surprising and undeserved prosperity!
  
• Shared with Naomi
  
• Piper:  http://www.desiringgod.org/sermons/ruth-under-the-wings-of-god

Boaz Appears:

• A man of wealth and a man of God!
  
• From Bethlehem! Redemption from Bethlehem?
  
• Bestows God’s blessing and presence
  
• Takes note of Ruth: Told of her race, Moabite, her work
  
• Stay with me, Work with my female workers, Don’t worry about my men: Protected! Drink water from my supply. Fed her from his table! Left her extra gleaning
  
• Even though she is a “foreigner”?
  
• Why? Ruth had a reputation for faithfulness in the community!
  
• Boaz saw himself as an instrument of God’s refuge. A source of reward for her faith!
  
• She was offered Refuge under God’s wings/Boaz’ field and provision/protection: Psalm 91:4, Psalm 36:7, Psalm 57:1, Psalm 17:8, Psalm 61:4, Psalm 63:7, Luke 13:34
  

Naomi:

• You hit the jackpot? Where did you glean?
  
• He is one of our redeemers! Lev. 25:25-55
  
• Encourages Ruth to stay with Boaz 
  

SO WHAT?

• Reputations are important!
  
• Relationships are vital!
  
• Refuge is life changing!
  
• Redemption is possible!