Liturgy Byford WA morning service 20th December 1998
Votum
Salutation
Ps. 67: 1
Reading of the law
Ps. 67: 2 and 3
Scripture reading: Ruth 4: 1-17
Prayer
Collections
Ps. 132: 6, 7, 8 and 10
Ministry of God’s Word
Text: Ruth 4: 18 - 22
Hymn 19: 1, 2 and 3
Prayer
Hymn 19: 4, 5 and 6
Benediction.

Congregation of our Lord Jesus Christ,

‘It was late. Everyone else had gone to bed. Boaz and Ruth had the lobby to themselves. “I can’t believe this day,” Boaz said. “When I awoke this morning, I had no idea any of this would be happening.” Ruth laughed. Boaz looked at her. He remembered the first time he was this close to her. “What are you looking at?” Ruth asked. Boaz replied by leaning towards her. Their lips met. “Ruth?” he said. “Hmm?” Her eyes were still closed. Marry me?” Now they were open. And they glassed over with tears. “I thought you’d never ask,” she said. For more than an hour they sat on the sofa in the lobby savouring their love and each other’s nearness. “Think we should tell somebody?” Ruth whispered. “Later,” Boaz said, kissing her again.”
This is the end of one of our historical novels. I’ve only changed the names to those of Boaz and Ruth. And it ought to be like this, we think. After a lot of difficulties and obstacles the two main characters of the novel find each other. The author works up to a climax, so that the reader can close the book with satisfaction. Everything turns out well.
Therefore, on the face of it, it appears that the author of the book of Ruth does something silly. He ends his book in an anti-climax. The story peters out. First you have the end of the book in verse 17: ‘And they called his name Obed. He is the father of Jesse, the father of David.’ After the climax of this verse the author comes with some additional information. He does not do this in an attractive style. He only gives a dry review of the situation by supplying a list of ten names. Names, we would leave out during our bible reading at home as irrelevant and meaningless data.
But don’t be mistaken! It is just the other way around. You will find the climax in the ten names. The genealogy of Perez makes clear what the actual purpose of the book of Ruth is. Without these verses the book of Ruth would not be finished and, eventually, we would not be able to understand this book. For the story of this book is not about Ruth or Boaz. The main characters are not Obed or Naomi, who receives a redeemer. Even David is not the principal person. The list of names leads to David, that is clear. However, his is not the most important one. From the list of names we become aware of the path the LORD follows to deliver His people and to give them rest. With this end in view the LORD goes back much further than we would ever have thought. At the same time He reaches ahead much further than we can imagine. In the list of names the LORD point to the dominion of the servant of the LORD.
IN THE GENEALOGY OF PEREZ THE LORD
POINTS TO THE DOMINION OF THE SERVANT OF GOD
We see this in
1 the election of the house of Perez;
2 the promise to the house of Perez;
3 the eternal dominion of the house of Perez.

IN THE GENEALOGY OF PEREZ THE LORD
POINTS TO THE DOMINION OF THE SERVANT OF GOD
1 We see this in the election of the house of Perez.

Have you ever heard about the ‘one-note’ musician? She inspected her violin, took her seat in the orchestra, arranged the music, and tuned the instrument. As the concert began, the conductor skilfully cued one group of musicians and then another until finally, the crucial moment arrived. It was time for her note to be played. The conductor signalled to her, she sounded her note, and the moment was over! The orchestra played on and the ‘one-note’ player sat there quietly for the rest of the concert; not with a sense of disappointment that she had only played one note, but with joy that she had played her part in tune, on time, and with great gusto! She knew that she was part of a greater whole. Without her note the whole concert would be a flop. All the parts are necessary in the execution of the music.
You notice this in our text as well. First you see the ‘one note’ part of the score of God’s care. We receive a picture of domestic happiness: grandmother Naomi with the child of Boaz and Ruth on her lap and the visiting women-next-door around her, chattering. In Boaz Naomi has received a restorer of life and a nourisher of her old age. She has a marvellous daughter-in-law, better than seven sons. The LORD has restored her house and filled her lap with happiness. And they called his name Obed, that means ‘servant’. He is the father of Jesse, the father of David. In the time that there is no king in Israel, the LORD is busy filling this vacancy.
And suddenly we see the whole score and hear the ‘one note’ in the ear-flattering whole of the composition of God’s grace. For the LORD says: ‘Now this is the genealogy of Perez.’ All of a sudden you become aware that the whole story of Ruth is not only a happy family affair. The redemption of Elimelech’s and Naomi’s inheritance and descendants occurs in the wider context of God’s election and our salvation. The small family history of Naomi and Ruth in the time of the judges ends in the wide current of the history of redemption.
Although it’s only a little side effect, with hindsight you may use this history as an encouragement in your family life as well. Perhaps you - as educator of your children - wonder in despair: what is the use of blowing the noses of your children or changing the baby's nappy; or later, when the children grow older: why is it always necessary to speak with them, to warn them, to have arguments. Children tie you down, don’t they? You can’t improve your own mind and you can’t be busy with the things you like and the work which seems to be more important. But don’t underestimate your task regarding family planning and the task you have in your family. Don’t despise the small things in your own eyes. Be faithful over a few things and - just like that - you notice that the faithfulness of Ruth ends in the position of David, the king. And of course, I don’t want to talk you into a kind of megalomania regarding your children. But I’m allowed to say that the significance of your faithfulness is great; incalculably great, in the Kingdom of God. He shall exalt the unpretentious and the lowly [comp Luke 1: 52].
In our story the LORD makes clear that, if you want to have a clear picture of what has happened to Naomi, you have to go back to Perez. To read the whole score you have to go back in history. It is striking that we do not receive a reference to Júdah as the forefather of David. For you all know that Júdah is the king’s tribe and that he has received the promises of God. ‘Júdah, yóu are he whom your brothers shall praise; … the sceptre shall not depart from Júdah, nor the lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh comes; and to Him shall be the obedience of the people.’ [Gen 49: 8ff]. And you wonder what is behind the fact that the LORD passes by Judah and speaks of the genealogy of Perez.
Well, by referring to the genealogy of Perez all our attention is focussed on the birth of Perez and the history behind this birth in Genesis 38. Or actually, this story starts in Genesis 37 verse 2: ‘This is the history - or better -; this is the genealogy of Jacob.’ And with this term ‘the history of’, the ‘genealogy of’ the LORD explains to us what happens in the house of Jacob. For what happens with the promises of God to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob? To cut a long story short: nóthing will come of it! If everything is dependent on Jacob and his sons, there will be no future for the people of God. The sons of Jacob sell their brother Joseph to Egypt. And Judah disappears from the circle of the covenant as well. Not that Judah is forced to do so. He voluntarily leaves the church of his days. He loves the world. He mixes with the people of Canaan. He sees a daughter of one of the Canaanites, Shua and he marries her. They receive three children: Er, Onan and Shelah. And - what’s more - Judah himself takes a wife from the Canaanites for Er his firstborn son: Tamar. The LORD punishes Er because of his sins. Er dies. So Judah gives the widow Tamar to the second oldest, Onan. Onan however, refuses to father an heir for his brother [comp Deu 25]. This displeases the LORD and Onan also dies under the striking hand of the LORD.
Then Judah proceeds with caution. There is no repentance, not at all. Judah walks with calculation. He still has another son. He thinks that he has to be careful with his last son. There is the danger that if Shelah comes too close to Tamar, he will die as well. Therefore his youngest son is better off staying out of her way. Judah sends Tamar back to her father’s house. Remember: it is Judah who acts and excludes his sons from the promises and the messianic future. He refuses to give his two dead sons descendants.
Then we peep behind the scenes of the immoral Canaanite temple service and Judah’s involvement therein. Tamar dresses up like a temple prostitute and Judah goes in to her during the harvest festivities. He does this not only to satisfy his own sexual desires, but this immorality has an important place in the fertility religion of the Canaanites. In this way they thought to bid for the favour of their idols with respect to the harvest of next year. The consequences soon make themselves felt. Judah has fathered a child with Tamar.
But when Judah hears the rumours about her pregnancy, his judgement is rough and harsh: ‘bring her out and let her be burned.’ So this is what happened with the house of Judah. The lineage of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob leads nowhere. The genealogy of Jacob peters out through the immoral behaviour of Judah, God’s child. The masterpiece of God’s work of deliverance ends up in disaster through Judah, who plays out of tune.
Diametrically opposed to this human failure we see the pleasure of God in the election of Perez’ house. The promises towards Judah are aggregated in his son Perez. ‘Perez, the way your father went is a ‘no through road’. Yóú, Perez, are the one all the generations of this world will praise. For the sceptre shall not depart from you, O Perez, nor the lawgiver between your feet, until Shiloh comes.’ The genealogy of Perez tells us that the LORD will redeem His people according to His divine pleasure and election. He chooses Perez. The struggle against his twin brother is already thrashed out in their mother’s womb. In Perez it becomes obvious that the redemption of God’s people is through grace alone. Therefore, in the genealogy of Perez we face the good pleasure of God, who has already chosen His children in His Servant before the foundation of the world. In the genealogy of Perez it becomes clear that God has adopted us as His children in His Servant, our Lord Jesus Christ, alone. It is only according to His good pleasure. We hear: ‘Now this is the genealogy of Pérez!’ And what is the catchword of the ‘genealogy of Perez’. Remember the term in Scripture: what actually happens in the house of Perez? We have already come to the conclusion that through Judah’s immorality, nothing will come of the genealogy of Jacob. But now we hear the tune of our redemption: ‘by grace alone’, ‘according to God’s good pleasure’. The grace and election of God leads the tone in the church. Perez was chosen, instead of his twin brother Zerah. And Perez begot Hezron, an insignificant person in the whole of the history of redemption [Gen 46:12; Num 26:21;; 1Chr 2: 9ff.24; 4:3ff]. And we can say the same of Amminadab [Num 1:7; 2:3; 7:12.17; 10:14; 1Chr 2: 10]. The Lord has chosen the foolish, weak and despised things of the world to put to shame things which are wise and mighty [1Cor 1:27]. Ram is chosen, instead of his older brother Jerahmeel [1Chr 2: 9.25ff.33.42]. Nahshon, who is especially chosen from the congregation of Israel by the LORD in the wilderness to guide God’s people {Num 1: 7; 2: 3 etc]. Salmon, who at the entry to the promised land, marries Rahab the whore. And via the Moabitess Ruth Obed is chosen to serve God. Over and against expectations we do not hear of Elimelech in this genealogy of Perez. The LORD chooses Boaz. And instead of king Saul the LORD chose the line of Jesse. And in the house of Jesse the LORD chose the youngest, the most insignificant among the brother’s, David. He also chooses David His servant and takes him from the sheepfolds; from following the ewes that have young He brings him, to shepherd Jacob His people and Israel His inheritance [Ps. 78: 70f].
David, a name full of promises in the genealogy of Perez; a name full of promises, for now it becomes clear that in him all the generations are blessed. For in his house we receive a King on the throne of David for evermore [Ps. 132: 12]. But again: it is all according to God’s good pleasure that He gives us this Servant of God and that we may live under His dominion. Because we hear in Scripture that the Servant of God has no form or comeliness and that there is no beauty that we should desire Him. Grace is the order of the day. For it pleases the LORD to bruise Him. His soul was an offering for our sins. Therefore the righteous Servant shall justify many, for He shall bear their iniquities. Everything according to the good pleasure of God’s will, just as He chose us before the foundation of the world. Why? What is the aim God had in mind before the creation of the world? The election of the house of Perez makes clear that everything is to the praise of the glory of His grace. For our election is in line with the election of Perez house. For He has chosen us in Christ, the Servant of God. So we may glorify God because of the grace we have received in Christ Jesus our Lord. And we may play our part in the concert of life to the honour of God. Perhaps we are only a ‘one-note’ musicians, who only have a small contribution in the whole. And every tone we play is a false one as well. But this does not alter the fact that the score of our redemption sounds wonderful. It is God’s masterpiece and the orchestra of God’s good pleasure drowns out the weak and sinful singer of God’s grace. So that he who glories, let him glory in the LORD alone! [1Cor 1:30].

IN THE GENEALOGY OF PEREZ THE LORD
POINTS TO THE DOMINION OF THE SERVANT OF GOD
2 We see this in the promise to the house of Perez.

The genealogy we find in our text is not an ordinary one. It is not one we are used to. If I want to know something about my ancestry, I start at the present. I write my name down. Then I write down the name of my father, my grandfather; and slowly but surely I delve into my past. In our text it is the other way around. The family tree starts with Perez and goes forward. This is already obvious from the first few words. ‘This is the genealogy of Perez’. And every time in Scripture when God’s people arrive at an important stage of the history of their salvation, you will find this word ‘genealogy’. For it functions as a kind of signpost. It shows us in which direction the LORD guides His people. At the same moment it shows us the ‘no through roads’ as well. With this word the author ties in with the past: Perez; it starts with him. At the same moment he anticipates what follows.
Thus, ‘this is the genealogy of Perez’; means that the LORD makes a fresh start with Perez and He gives a rough sketch of the result. Perez, he is the firstborn of Judah. As the legal heir he receives the blessing of Judah. ‘Judah, you are he whom your brothers shall praise; Your hand shall be on the neck of your enemies; Your father’s children shall be bow down before you. Judah is a lions whelp: … The sceptre shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh comes; and to Him shall be the obedience of the people….’ [Gen. 49:8ff]. In Perez lineage this blessing of Judah is preserved. This becomes obvious Again and again in the names of the house of Perez the LORD mentions. When father Jacob goes down to Egypt we hear that Perez goes as well. ‘now these were the names of the children of Israel, Jacob and his sons, who went to Egypt. … The sons of Judah were Er, Onan, Perez, and Zerah, but Er and Onan died in the land of Canaan. The sons of Perez were Hezron and Hamul.’ [Gen 46: 8]. In this way the people of God is preserved. Think of the words of Joseph after the death of his father Jacob: ‘God meant it for good, in order to bring it about as it is this day, to save many people alive.’ [50: 20].
When the people of Israel after four hundred and thirty years return to the promised land Moses receives the mandate to take a census of all the congregation of the children of Israel. From the tribe of Judah, Nahson the son of Amminadab has to assist Moses [Num 1: 2.8]. And, as the leader of the tribe of Judah, he is the first one to bring the offering for the tabernacle [Num 7:12ff] and in the advance guard of the people of Israel he leads God’s children through the desert [Num 10: 14]. And when, at the end of the journey through the desert, Moses has to take a second census of all the congregation of the children of Israel, it becomes clear that the LORD has preserved the house of Perez. Although all the men aged twenty years old and above have died, the family of Perez as the bearer of God’s promises has been preserved and the tribe of Judah is even more numerous than ever before. And the biggest tribe of Israel, Judah, has to go up first against the Canaanites to fight against them, for the LORD has delivered the land into his hand. And in this way the LORD will fulfil the promise given to Judah and provides for the future in the genealogy of Perez. The promise of the deliverance of God’s people and the rest the LORD will give to His people through the king in the house of Perez. At the conquest Salmon is the instrument used in God’s hand to fulfil His promise. Boaz has the key role in the time of the judges, Jesse comes to the fore in the time of Saul, until this promise is fulfilled in the dominion of God’s servant after His own heart: David. Since the time of the judges there are no oppressors any more and the LORD causes David to rest from all his enemies [2Sam 7: 4].
‘This is the genealogy of Perez’, it starts with him. But notice the end as well: David. And the dominion of this servant of God shall be established forever [2Sam 7]. The sceptre shall not depart from Perez house. Until Shiloh comes, the Prince of peace. Jerusalem becomes a remarkable royal seat in the house of Perez. For in the capital palace and tabernacle; palace and temple will be next to each other. Between the walls of Jerusalem the kingship and the priesthood will be united. The lion of the house of Judah has to become the lamb for the sacrifice as well. That is the ultimate promise to the house of Judah and the genealogy of Perez leads to that aim. There is still a long way to go. ‘Until Shiloh comes’, in that ‘until’ we hear the failure of Perez lineage as well. The house of David will end in exile. But on that day the LORD ‘will raise up the tabernacle of David, which has fallen down’ [Amos 9: 11]. ‘There shall come forth a Rod from the stem of Jesse, and a branch shall grow out of his roots.’ [Isa 11: 1]. ‘And in that day there shall be a Root of Jesse, who shall stand as a banner to the people; for the gentiles shall seek Him and his resting place shall be glorious.’ [Isa 11: 10]. ‘Until Shiloh comes!’ The genealogy of Perez leads to the fulfilment of the promise to the house of Perez. Therefore, when we read in the New Testament about Mary and Joseph, we see the ‘tabernacle of David which has fallen down’ and the ‘stem of Jesse’. The ‘Shiloh’ of the LORD will be born, and the promises fulfilled. The sceptre of Judah and the genealogy of Perez lead to Jesus and the Kingdom of God; the king who is the perfect King; the priest, who is the perfect Priest; the lion of Judah’s tribe is ‘the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world’ [John 1: 19]. The Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has prevailed! [Rev. 5:5]. In Him all the families of the earth shall be blessed. For He has sanctified Tamar, Rahab, Naomi and Ruth with His own blood. His blood that was poured out on Golgotha for the complete forgiveness of all our sins. For the child of Mary and Joseph became the eternal King on the throne of David and you may share in all His blessings. We listen to this blessing with a bowed head and with a contrite heart. For our consciences accuse us. We haven’t deserved this. But yet, we may take our score and sing the song of the Lamb in the midst of the great multitude which no one can number: ‘Blessing and honour and glory and power be to Him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb, forever and ever.’ [Rev. 5: 13ff].

IN THE GENEALOGY OF PEREZ THE LORD
POINTS TO THE DOMINION OF THE SERVANT OF GOD
3 We see this in the eternal dominion of the house of Perez.

The genealogy of Perez, at the end of the book of Ruth, deviates from a normal family tree in another aspect as well. When we make a list of our ancestors, we list all of them, nobody is missing. Our list has to be as accurate as possible. But in the genealogy of the book of Ruth only a few names are mentioned. To be precise we find ten names. This is done on purpose. Not because the other names are not known. But the number ten has a special meaning in Scripture. Remember the ten elders of the city Boaz uses as witnesses for the redemption of Ruth. Ten is the number of completion, fulfilment. It is on purpose that we have the ten commandments: the complete and perfect will of God to live in this world. In the gospel of Matthew we hear about ten miracles. This points to the completeness of the work of our Lord.
When we find ten names in the genealogy of Perez it explains to us something about the LORD. The faithfulness of the LORD goes from the first to the tenth generation. The LORD shows His faithfulness from Perez till David included. The work of redemption continues without interruption. His promises are for all the families of the earth. In the days of Ruth the LORD is busy with the complete deliverance of His people.
In the time the judges ruled, there was no king in Israel. Everyone did what was right in his own eyes. The LORD had promised to give his people to give a king. Well, He is faithful. He goes from Perez to David, ten generations long. He gives more than we could dream of: an eternal King on the throne of David; the eternal rest.
Now we can understand that the author brings the story of Ruth and Boaz to a climax in the genealogy of Perez. Everything turns out well. No, not in the same sense as when we close our novels. It is a love story. The genealogy tells you about the eternal love of God. ‘For God so loved the world that He gave the genealogy of Perez that tells us about His only begotten Son. It points to ten generations, the faithfulness of God in the lineage of the generations, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. The list of ten names tells me about God’s counsel and will concerning my redemption. He embraced me with His everlasting care. For it is our eternal King who sits on the throne of His father David, at the right hand of God, who defends me and preserves me in the redemption He has obtained for us.
Yes, I am that one-tone musician in this. It is as if I am behind a piano and want to become a great pianist. But now matter how hard I try, I generate only false tones and tunes. But then suddenly the composer is there and takes a place next to me on the piano bench. He listens for a moment. After a moment he begins to play along with me, adding chords, runs and arpeggios. I still continue my efforts, but at the same moment I can’t believe my ears. It’s a masterpiece, thanks to his composition and play. The Lord is able to take the little that I am able to do and to turn it into something beautiful for Him.
Don’t despise the small things in your own eyes. ‘In this the love of God was manifested towards us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him.’ [1Joh 4: 7]. And ‘this is love, that we walk according to His commandments. [2Joh 6]. So let us of Christ our Lord and Saviour sing. He made Himself of no reputation. He took the form of a servant and became obedient to the point of death. Therefore God also highly exalted Him and has given Him the dominion over all the earth, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow. And therefore you should work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, says Paul. For it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure [Phil 2]. Every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ has dominion, the glory of God the Father.
Amen.