THE MISSING BRIDE (RUTH 4 )
Introduction
A. Wedding bells are ringing in the little village of Bethlehem,
1 A public wedding is being solemnized in an impressive and legal way
a It was an outdoor wedding held in the public square at the gate of the city
b. The record is brief and is found in Ruth 4:9-11
2. This is a very simple ceremony
II. Something Missing
A. There is something strange about this ceremony in the gate of Bethlehem,
1 There is something missing — Did you notice it?
2 Ruth is strangely absent everything is done by the bridegroom, Boaz
a Ruth does nor appear at the ceremony. last time we hear of her is in Ruth 3:18
b After that it is Boaz all the way
B. Compare this to a wedding today
1 Considering the weddings we have attended this is a strange procedure
a. Today the bride steals the show from beginning to end the whole marriage revolve
around the bride
b. The poor bridegroom is lost in the maze of activities all designed to honor the bride
c. Whose picture appears on the society page when the engagement is announced?
d. For whom are all the showers planned?
e. Who walks down the center aisle? For whom does the music swell and the people stand? It's all the bride
f. The poor groom is scarcely noticed as he meekly follows the preacher and waits for the climax when all eyes focus on the bride
g. Father gives the bride away who gives the groom away
h. In the receiving line the bride gets all the attention and the kisses.
i. When the account of wedding appears in paper it is all about the bride — what about her husband?
2 This of course is quite humorous, some of you may even feel that it is frivolous
a. I have overplayed this account in order to show how different was the wedding of Ruth and Boaz
b. Ruth is out of the picture. Her only claim to honor. She has become Mrs. Boaz
III. Our Great Bridegroom
A All of this is in harmony with the spiritual teaching of the book of Ruth
1. It is the redemption of a poor outcast widow who according to the law had no rights to press
a. Everything for her must be done by another
b By law she was excluded from congregation of God's people (Deut. 23:3)
c The law barred the way for poor Ruth, She could do nothing about her condition but cast herself upon the mercy of her redeemer (Goel)
2. Here grace stepped in and did what the law was powerless to do,
a The law knows no mercy — only justice
b Boaz acts in grace and accepts Ruth by paying the price the law demanded and then her redemption is accomplished
B. What a picture of Christ as our Redeemer
1. By nature we are under a curse and the judgment of God (Gal,3:1O)
a. Why? Because the law of God demands perfection from its adherents
b. If you are to be saved by keeping the ten commandments then it must be kept perfectly and without interruption.
c. One evil deed, one lie, one dishonest act you have violated the whole law -
James 2:10
2. God's law is a single unit
a. To break one commandment is to break the entire law
b. What is the penalty for one violation of God’s law ( Rom. 623) Wages of sin is death.
c. How many sins do you have to commit to be a sinner How many did Adam commit in order for our race to become sinners
d. Let’s read carefully James 2:lO - one point
e. Read Gal 3:10 to discern the full meaning of the text.
f. Notice we are to continue in all things
g. Notice again, there are no exceptions - every one
h. It must be a continuous obedience without any interruption,
3. This then leaves us like Ruth without a single claim to God’s salvation
a. We are hopeless helpless and condemned
b In spite of that — there is good news for all
c Boaz by virtue of his love for Ruth acted in grace, paid her account and them by marrying her assumed all responsibility for any future debts she might incur,
d. What a complete provision what wonderful love
4. In the very same way Christ our Redeemer acted in grace for us,
a. On the Cross He assumed the responsibility for our sin and took our curse upon Him (Gal, 3 13)
b. In this translation we are like Ruth .not even there, we are wholly passive as far as doing anything toward our salvation.
c. At Calvary Christ paid the debt for us and we were not even there
d. However this paved the way for Him our heavenly bridegroom to take us as His bride (Rom: 7:4 - II Cor:11:2 - Eph: 5:31-32)
e. In modern weddings the bride steals the show but not so at wedding of the Lamb. (Rev: 19:7-9)
5. He will be the Center of Attraction
a. We owe everything to Him
b. All that we possess as His bride is IN Him and because of Him
c. Praise be to His wonderful name - He has promised to protect provide and keep those who trust in Him
and Boaz