Turn with me to 2 Timothy chapter 1. 2 Timothy 1 verse 1 says, Call an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God according to the promise of life which is in Christ Jesus. To Timothy, my dearly beloved son, grace, mercy, and peace. From God the Father, in Jesus Christ our Lord. Grace, mercy, and peace. Those are gracious words. Those are such gracious words. Beautiful, comforting, encouraging words. brought mercy and mercy brought peace from God to his people. Peace from God, peace by God, peace with God. That is what creates peace in the hearts of God's people. Those three words are the summary of salvation. That is the summary of salvation, grace, mercy, and peace. It has been said that the definition of grace is Getting what you don't deserve. Receiving something that you did not earn. Being gifted what you are not owed. Grace is a gift. Grace is a gift. A gift of kindness. A gift of favor. And it has been said that the definition of mercy is not getting what we deserve. Grace is getting what we don't deserve, but we haven't earned. And mercy is not getting what we do deserve, not getting the punishment we've earned or the outcome that is owed to us. because of compassion. Mercy comes from compassion. Mercy is a showing of compassion. Mercy is a deliverance or a redemption because of compassion. And I want us to look for a minute at grace and mercy. And in that, I believe we'll see and find peace. The grace of God to sinners and the mercy of God to sinners brings the peace of God to sinners. And I pray that grace, mercy, and peace will be brought to us. I pray that it'll be brought to every person here. A couple of weeks ago, we had a message on growing in grace, and we saw that God's grace was sovereign grace, Our brother just read where the Lord said, I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious. It's sovereign grace. It's free grace. It's sacrificial grace. You know, the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, though he was rich, he became poor that you might be rich. It's saving grace. And it's sufficient grace. And it's the same with mercy and it's the same with peace. And with that in mind, I want us to see an example of all three of those things in a wonderful account. I personally enjoyed this so much. The Lord fed me with this and blessed me with this. And I'm very, very thankful for that. Turn with me to Ruth chapter two. Page 374 in my Bible, Ruth chapter 2. In this account, a woman named Naomi left Bethlehem, Judah, which is the house of bread. That's what it means. She left with her husband, a man named Elimelech, and her two sons, Mahlon and Kylion. And they moved from Bethlehem, Judah. And you know, our Lord was born in Bethlehem. Well, they moved from Bethlehem to an idol worshiping land called Moab. And Naomi's sons married two idol worshiping women from Moab. One of the women was named Ruth. And Naomi's husband died. And then her two sons died. And Naomi ended up going back to Bethlehem Judah, a broken, empty, destitute woman. She left full and she came back empty, completely empty. And with her, she brought one of her broken, empty, destitute daughter-in-laws Ruth. And they came back as strangers, heathens, outcasts, with no other option than to become beggars of food. But chapter 2 verse 1, Ruth chapter 2 verse 1 says, Naomi had a kinsman of her husband's, a mighty man of wealth of the family of Elimelech, and his name was Boaz. Here's the thing about it. Here's the but. Naomi had a kinsman. There was a man. There was a man. When it comes to the grace, mercy, and peace of salvation, it always begins with a man. It always cries, thank God for that man. When you get to the end of all that, after grace, mercy, and peace are finished, you cry, thank God for that man. That's what you cry. Thank God for that man. Chapter 2, verse 1, Naomi had a kinsman of her husband's, a mighty man of wealth, of the family of Elimelech, and his name was Boaz. Boaz represents Jesus Christ. Ruth represents his people. Verse two says, and Ruth the Moabitess said unto Naomi, let me now go to the field and glean ears of corn after him in whose sight I shall find grace. Ruth said to Naomi, let me go see if I can beg, go find somewhere to beg to receive something that I do not deserve, and I have not earned, and I'm not owed. Let me go see if I can find grace. Verse 3, And she went and came and gleaned in the field after the reapers, and her hap, it just so happened, sovereignly, predestinatedly, graciously. Her hat was to light on a part of the field belonging unto Boaz, who was of the kindred of Elimelech. What that means is she didn't find grace, grace found her. That's what it means. Verse four, and behold, Boaz came from Bethlehem and said unto the reapers, the Lord be with you. And they answered him, the Lord bless thee. Then said Boaz unto his servant that was set over the reapers, whose damsel is this? And the servant that was set over the reapers answered and said, it is the Moabitish damsel. It's the sinful heathen idol worshiper. that came back with Naomi out of the country of Moab. And she said, I pray you, let me glean and gather after the reapers among the sheaves. So she came and hath continued even from the morning until now that she tarried a little in the house. Then said Boaz unto Ruth, Hearest thou not my daughter? Go not to glean in another field, Neither go from hence, but abide here fast by my maidens. Let thine eyes be on the field that they do reap, and go thou after them. Have I not charged the young men that they shall not touch thee? And when thou art athirst, go unto the vessels and drink of that which the young men have drawn.' Then she fell on her face, and bowed herself to the ground and said unto him, why have I found grace in thine eyes? That thou shouldest take knowledge of me, seeing I'm a stranger. Why have I found grace in your eyes? That's a question that all of God's people can relate to. Seeing that I'm a sinner. Seeing that I'm a sinner, seeing that I'm so wretched, seeing that I'm just as bad as the worst sinner on this earth. We could name some very famous names of sinners on this earth, and I'm just as bad as they are. Why have I found grace in your eyes? She was a sinful, heathen, outcast beggar. But Ruth found grace in the eyes of Boaz. She found favor in the eyes of Boaz, and she abundantly received from Boaz what he didn't have to give to her, and what he didn't owe her. It just sovereignly, freely, abundantly pleased Him to give it to her. Look at verse 14. And Boaz said unto her, At mealtime come thou hither and eat of the bread and dip thy morsel in the vinegar. And she sat beside the reapers, and he reached her parched corn, and she did eat and was sufficed and left. That means she sat at his table and he served her. Verse 15, And when she was risen up to glean, Boaz commanded his young men, saying, Let her glean even among the sheaves, and reproach her not. And let fall also some of the handfuls of purpose for her. And leave them that she may glean them and rebuke her not. He told his reapers, you let her pick and scrape from anywhere that she wants to pick and scrape from. And He said, as you're going through the fields, if she's behind you, if you look back and you see her behind you, you reach in and you grab handfuls and just drop it on the ground. You just leave it for her. Verse 17, So she gleaned in the field until even, and beat out that she had gleaned. And it was about an ephah of barley, And she took it up and went into the city, and her mother-in-law saw what she had gleaned, and she brought forth and gave to her that she had reserved after she was sufficed. And her mother-in-law said unto her, Where hast thou gleaned to-day, and where wroughtest thou? Blessed be he that did take knowledge of thee. And she showed her mother-in-law with whom she had wrought, and said, The man's name with whom I wrought to-day is Boaz. And Naomi fell out. Naomi said unto her daughter-in-law, blessed be he of the Lord who hath not left off his kindness to the living and to the dead. Naomi said unto her, the man is near of kin unto us. One of our next kinsmen. Blessed be God who has not left off his kindness. God has not left off his favor. God has not left off his grace. He sent you to the only man who has the right to redeem you. That's what one of our next kinsmen means. One that hath right to redeem. Naomi said, Ruth, there is a debt that we owe and we can't pay it. We are trespassers. We are trespassers. As beggars, we don't have any right to anything. Everywhere we go, everything we do, we're trespassers. And we will never be forgiven our trespasses unless we are redeemed. We need to be bought back with a price. Naomi said, Ruth, we need mercy. We need compassion and mercy. We need for Boaz in mercy to redeem us. Oh, that he would have compassion and redeem. Chapter three, verse one says, then Naomi, her mother-in-law said unto her, my daughter, shall I not seek rest for thee that it may be well with thee? She said, Ruth, I want peace for you. This is what I want. I want you to have peace. Therefore, I want mercy for you. I want pardon from all trespass for you. You go beg that man for redemption. Beg him to, in compassionate mercy, deliver you from the condition you're in. Verse two, now is not Boaz of our kindred with whose maidens thou wast? Behold, he went with barley tonight in the threshing floor. Wash thyself, therefore, and anoint thee, and put thy raiment upon thee, and get thee down to the floor. But make not thyself known unto the man until he shall have done eating and drinking. And it shall be, when he lieth down, that thou shalt mark the place where he shall lie, and thou shalt go in and uncover his feet, and lay thee down, and he will tell thee what thou shalt do." She said, you go in humbly. You go into his feet. And any soul who comes to Christ needs to come to his feet. Verse five, she said unto her, all that thou sayest unto me, I will do. And she went down unto the floor and did according to all that her mother-in-law bade her. And when Boaz had eaten and drunk and his heart was merry, he went to lie down at the end of the heap of corn and she came softly and uncovered his feet and laid her down. And it came to pass at midnight that the man was afraid and turned himself, and behold, a woman lay at his feet. And he said, Who art thou? And she answered, I am Ruth, thine handmaid. Spread therefore thy skirt over thine handmaid, for thou art a near kinsman. What a picture that is of a child of God crying, Lord, cover me in your blood. This is what I need. I need mercy. I need mercy. I need redemption. I need compassion from you. Cover me in your blood. You're the only one who can redeem me. Grace gave me your life. Mercy will redeem me from my death. God be gracious and merciful to me. Deliver me from going down to the pit. I need a ransom. Verse 12, this is what Boaz said to her in reply. Now it is true that I am thy near kinsman, albeit there is a kinsman nearer than I. This is the law of God, this is God's holy law, this is God's commandment to all men and women who are under that law, bound by that law. He said, Terry this night and it shall be in the morning that if he will perform unto thee the part of a kinsman well. Let him do the kinsman's part. But if he will not do the part of a kinsman to thee, then will I do the part of a kinsman to thee. As the Lord liveth, lie down until the morning. And she lay at his feet until the morning, and she rose up before one could know another. And he said, let it not be known that a woman came into the floor. Also he said, bring the veil that thou hast upon thee and hold it. And when she held it, he measured six measures of barley and laid it on her and she went into the city. He gave her a promise of mercy. That's what he did. He gave her a covenant promise token of mercy. Verse 16, and when she came to her mother-in-law, she said, who art thou my daughter? And she told her all that the man had done to her. And she said, These six measures of barley gave he me, for he said to me, Go not empty unto thy mother-in-law. Then Naomi said, Sit still, my daughter, until thou know how the matter will fall. For the man will not be in rest until he have finished the thing this day. Naomi said, Ruth, according to his covenant promise, mercy will come to you today. The man will not be at rest until he finishes this transaction today. That is what you call the good news of the gospel. Today is the day of salvation. This man is about to do something to redeem you to himself. That was said to God's people the day Jesus Christ willingly allowed those soldiers to nail him to a cross. Stand still. Sit still. This thing will be finished today. In grace he gave his life, in mercy he took our death. In a transaction with the holy law of God, that's what it was. All of that happened on the cross of Calvary. Chapter 4, verse 1 says, Then went Boaz up to the gate, and sat him down there. And behold, the kinsmen of whom Boaz spake came by, unto whom he said, Ho, such a one, turn aside, sit down here. And he turned aside and sat down. And he took ten men of the elders of the city, and said, Sit ye down here. And they sat down. And he said unto the kinsmen, Naomi, that is come again out of the country of Moab, selleth a parcel of land, which was our brother Elimelech's. And I thought to advise thee, saying, buy it before the inhabitants and before the elders of my people. If thou wilt redeem it, redeem it. But if thou wilt not redeem it, then tell me that I may know, for there is none to redeem it beside thee, and I'm after thee. And he said, I will redeem it. And that's what the law says. You abide by this law, you can enter into heaven. Yes, I will accept that person right on in. Verse five, then said Boaz, what day thou buyest the field of the hand of Naomi, thou must buy it also of Ruth the Moabitess, the wife of the dead, to raise up the name of the dead upon his inheritance. You're going to have to take that center with her. If you redeem Naomi, you have to take that idol worshiping center with her. Verse six, and the kinsman said, I cannot redeem it for myself, lest I mar my own inheritance. Redeem thou my right to thyself, for I cannot redeem it. The law cannot redeem one sinner from this earth. The law cannot say to one sinner in this world, well done, enter in. The law is too holy, the law is too just, and we are too sinful. It just cannot be done. Verse 7, now this was the manner in former time in Israel concerning redeeming and concerning changing. For to confirm all things, a man plucked off his shoe and gave it to his neighbor. And this was a testimony in Israel. Therefore the kinsman said unto Boaz, buy it for thee. So he drew off his shoe. Our Lord humbled himself. Our Lord came down. In mercy, he came down. And in his coming down to us, he paid every penny, he paid every ounce of the debt that his people owed. In humiliation and in shame, he took all of their heathen, outcast, trespasses, and he paid the price for them in full. He died in their death. He was cut off in their separation. He was forsaken in their condemnation. And in that, they were redeemed. In that, they were accepted. By His compassionate, tender mercy, they were redeemed. Verse nine says, And Boaz said unto the elders and unto all the people, you are witnesses this day that I have bought all that was Elimelech's and all that was Chilon's and Malon's of the hand of Naomi. Moreover, Ruth the Moabitess, the wife of Malon, have I purchased to be my wife. to raise up the name of the dead upon his inheritance, that the name of the dead be not cut off from among his brethren and from the gate of his place. You are witnesses this day. And all the people that were in the gate and the elders said, We are witnesses. The Lord make the woman that has come into thine house like Rachel and like Leah, which too did build the house of Israel, and do thou worthily in Ephrata, and be famous in Bethlehem, and let thy house be like the house of Phares, who Tamar barren to Judah, of the seed which the Lord shall give thee of this young woman." So 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 borne him." The grace of Boaz and the mercy of Boaz brought the peace of Boaz. By his grace and mercy, she had peace. And that's the picture and the story of every soul given to Christ. The one who David represents. Verse 16, Naomi took the child and laid it in her bosom and became nurse unto it. And the women, her neighbors, 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. Now these are the generations of Phares, Phares begat Hezron and Hezron begat Ram and Ram begat Amenadab and Amenadab begat Nashon and Nashon begat Salmon and Salmon begat Boaz and Boaz begat Obed and Obed begat Jesse and Jesse begat David, who is the picture of Christ, our grace giver. our mercy supplier, our prince of peace. Grace, mercy, and peace be unto thee. If it is, it will all be through that man. If it is, if grace, mercy, and peace is unto us, it will all come through the Lord Jesus Christ. I pray it will for his sake. Amen.