Jesus Our Successor – Part 8

Ruth chapter number four. Hopefully. Hopefully, you’ve been learning some things. I’ve learned a ton in this little book. And I see why so many girls like this book now. And I’m not a girl, but it’s a good book. A love story. That’s exactly right. It’s the progress of a love story.

Scripture Reference

Ruth 4:13-17 Then Boaz took Ruth, and she was his wife: and when he went in unto her, the LORD gave her conception, and she bare a son. And the women said unto Naomi, Blessed be the LORD, which hath not left thee this day without a kinsman, that his name may be famous in Israel. And he shall be unto thee a restorer of thy life, and a nourisher of thine old age: for thy daughter in law, which loveth thee, which is better to thee than seven sons, hath born him. And Naomi took the child, and laid it in her bosom, and became nurse unto it. And the women her neighbours gave it a name, saying, There is a son born to Naomi; and they called his name Obed: he is the father of Jesse, the father of David.

Introduction

Sermon Title: “Jesus Our Successor – Part 8” Preacher: Dr. Terry LeQuieu

Ruth chapter four brings to a close the beautiful picture of redemption, providence, and God’s sovereign plan. Dr. LeQuieu leads us through the legal transaction at the city gate, the redemption of Ruth by Boaz, the cultural customs surrounding the transfer of property, and the blessed outcome: a son, Obed, who ultimately places Ruth in the lineage of David and, ultimately, of our Lord Jesus Christ. For young adults and every believer, this chapter offers practical spiritual lessons about waiting, trust, cost, and the surprising ways God brings beauty from brokenness.

We’re going to be wrapping up our study tonight. We’ll be in Ruth, chapter number four. Ruth, chapter number four. Hopefully. Hopefully, you’ve been learning some things. I’ve learned a ton in this little book. And I see why so many girls like this book now. And I’m not a girl, but it’s a good book. A love story. That’s exactly right. It’s the progress of a love story.

Outline

The Gated Conference: Where Legal Redemption Is Set
1. Setting and purpose — Boaz goes to the city gate because that is the public place for legal affairs, the courts, and witnesses (Ruth 4:1–4, 9). The gate was the marketplace of justice and testimony.
2. Sovereign trust while we wait — Ruth did not know the legal details, but Naomi instructed patience (Ruth 3:18). Believers must learn to wait on God’s timing and trust His process rather than forcing outcomes prematurely.
3. Seeming tragedy may appear — The nearer kinsman initially claims the land (Ruth 4:4–6). What looks like a setback may be part of God’s ordering; trust God through the apparent obstacle.
The Cost of Redeeming: What True Redemption Requires
1. Who will pay the price? — The nearer kinsman refuses to redeem when it would mar his inheritance (Ruth 4:6). This refusal shows the self-centered nature of the world and the flesh; they will not pay the full cost to redeem lost souls.
2. Christ, our willing Redeemer — Boaz is a type of Christ: willing to pay the price and to secure a bride. Jesus paid the ultimate cost for us on Calvary and did not withhold Himself for fear of losing anything (Romans 5:8; Galatians 2:20).
3. Application for believers — Recognize that worldly solutions cannot redeem the soul; only Christ’s sacrifice secures salvation. Value Christ’s willingness and be ready to follow His example of sacrificial love.
The Custom of Redeeming: Cultural Signals that Teach Spiritual Truths
1. Shoe as transfer of ownership — In Israel the removal and handing over of a shoe signified transfer of land or right (Ruth 4:7–8). It’s a vivid cultural sign that ownership changed hands.
2. From Middle Eastern custom to spiritual meaning — The sermon connects the shoe custom with other Scripture: Psalm 60:8 (casting the shoe) and Exodus 3 (holy ground, shoes off). These all point to God’s sovereign claim over what is His and the seriousness of a divine transaction.
3. How to see customs the Bible uses — Learning the cultural background deepens understanding. When Scripture uses customs, those customs often reveal spiritual realities: ownership, dominion, holiness, and transfer.
The Conclusion and Confirmation of Redemption: Public Witness, Blessing, and Lineage
1. Public witness at the gate — Boaz makes the transaction before the elders and people; they declared him the redeemer (Ruth 4:9–11). Public confession and witness are biblical and important for church life.
2. Joyful blessing and prophetic words — The elders bless Boaz and Ruth with fruitfulness, fame, and faith; they even invoke the names Rachel, Leah, and Pharez (Ruth 4:11–12). Their blessing reflects hope for a thriving household and God’s providence.
3. Gentile conception and great celebration — Ruth conceives and bears Obed (Ruth 4:13–17). What began in a pagan nation becomes part of God’s covenant line. The people celebrate Naomi’s restoration—God answers over a long season.
4. Genealogical confirmation — The chapter closes with the genealogy that places Ruth and Boaz in David’s ancestry, showing providence that culminates in Christ (Ruth 4:18–22; see Matthew 1:5).
Providence from Outcast to Lineage: God’s Sovereign Hand
1. Ruth’s origins — Ruth comes from Moab, a nation born of an incestuous, tragic circumstance (Genesis 19) and steeped in false worship; yet God redeems her (Ruth 1–2).
2. God brings beauty from brokenness — Like Pharez—whose birth came under scandal—God can use unexpected, even shameful backgrounds for His glory (Genesis 38; Ruth 4:12). The doctrine of providence comforts believers: God orders even the painful details.
3. Practical encouragement — Your past does not disqualify you from God’s blessing. God can and will use those who trust Him; He remakes histories into testimonies for His glory.

Summary

Ruth 4 is the chapter where legal process, cultural ritual, and divine providence converge. Boaz the kinsman-redeemer acts as a type of Christ who willingly pays the price to redeem Ruth. The nearer kinsman’s refusal illustrates the self-preserving heart of the flesh and the world. The shoe custom teaches a true transfer of ownership, and the public testimony at the gate confirms the transaction. From a pagan woman to the great-grandmother of David, Ruth’s story testifies to God’s power to bring blessing and fruitfulness from unlikely places. The final genealogy points forward to Christ, showing that redemption in God’s economy often comes through patient waiting, sacrificial love, and sovereign providence.

Behold what manner of love the Father hath given unto us, that we should be called the sons of God.

Application for the Week

Practical, specific steps to apply Ruth 4 to daily life. These are simple, biblical, and actionable — especially for young adults seeking spiritual growth.

Practice patient, sovereign trust
1. Identify one unresolved prayer or long-term request on your heart. Commit to pray daily for it for the next 30 days without changing the request—trusting God’s timing.
2. Every Sunday morning this week, read Ruth 1–4 in the KJV. Note how waiting and trusting play out, and journal one way God might be calling you to wait with faith.
Count the true cost and point people to the Redeemer
1. Share the gospel with at least one person this week. When you explain salvation, emphasize the cost Christ paid (Calvary) and the fact that the world/flesh cannot redeem a soul.
2. Memorize Romans 5:8 or Galatians 2:20 and use it in gospel conversations to explain Christ’s willingness to pay the price.
Learn Scripture customs to deepen Bible understanding
1. Pick one cultural detail from Ruth (the gate, the shoe custom, gleaning) and research 10–15 minutes a day this week about its biblical background. Use trustworthy Bible commentaries or study Bibles aligned with KJV and conservative Baptist scholarship.
2. Share what you learn with a friend or small group to practice teaching and to sharpen your understanding.
Celebrate God’s providence and lift up Christ publicly
1. This week, publicly thank God in a small way: write a testimony, post a brief testimony on social media about how God redeemed some part of your life (glorify Christ, not yourself), or testify briefly in a church small group.
2. Pray for the salvation of family members who are far from God. Pick one name and commit to praying for them consistently, remembering Miss Diane Swinner’s example—persistent prayer matters.
Live like a redeemed people
1. Ask God to reveal one habit or attachment to the world/flesh that hinders your walk. Repent, and replace it with a specific Christ-glorifying habit (daily Bible reading, evangelism, serving).
2. Serve in a practical way in your church this week — be present, volunteer, or invite someone to church. Redeemed people serve out of gratitude, not for recognition.

As you practice these steps, remember Dr. LeQuieu’s emphasis: God is sovereign, patient waiting is spiritual growth, Christ alone redeems, and God delights to bring beauty from brokenness. Let this chapter encourage you to trust God, share His redemption, and live for His glory.