RUTH 4...
Verses 1-2 tells us Boaz meets the nearer kinsman at the city gates...
“Now Boaz went up to the gate and sat down there; and behold, the close relative of whom Boaz had spoken came by.
So Boaz said, “Come aside, friend, sit down here.” So he came aside and sat down. And he took ten men of the elders of the city, and said, “Sit down here.” So they sat down.
Ruth 3 ended at a DRAMATIC cliff-hanger point.
Ruth and Boaz WANTED to get married, YET there was a kinsman closer to Ruth and he had priority.
Would he claim the right of kinsman-redeemer towards Ruth, and keep her and Boaz from coming together?
In those days, the GATE OF THE CITY was always the place where the esteemed and honorable men of the city sat. For an ancient city in Israel it was a combination of a city council chamber, a courtroom, a place for business, as well a public meeting place.
Now this man came by the city gates as Boaz sat there, so Boaz’s approach to this nearer kinsman was be a complete surprise to the other man. Clearly this was a tactical advantage to Boaz.
Verses 3-4 tell us Boaz does NOT waste time, he lays it out for this man as the nearer kinsman to redeem the land of Naomi and Elimelech...
“Then he said to the close relative, “Naomi, who has come back from the country of Moab, sold the piece of land which belonged to our brother Elimelech. And I thought to inform you, saying, ‘Buy it back in the presence of the inhabitants and the elders of my people. If you will redeem it, redeem it; but if you will not redeem it, then tell me, that I may know; for there is no one but you to redeem it, and I am next after you.’ “ And he said, “I will redeem it.”
The duty of the kinsman-redeemer - was more than the duty to preserve the family name of his brother in Israel, it was ALSO TO KEEP land allotted to members of the clan WITHIN the clan.
When Israel came into the Promised Land during the days of Joshua, the land was divided among the tribes and then among the family groups.
God intended that the land STAY within those tribes and family groups, so the land could NEVER permanently be sold.
Leviticus 25:8-17 tells us that every 50 years, it had be returned to the ORIGINAL family group.
But SINCE 50 years was a long time for man, God made provision for land that was “sold,” that it might be redeemed back to the family by the kinsman-redeemer at any time.
Notice when Boaz brought the matter up to the nearer kinsman, he brought it up as a matter regarding PROPERTY- something ANY man would be interested in.
Anyone would want to buy back a piece of property and keep it in the family name by keeping it for one’s self.
When Boaz put it in terms of purely a land transaction, there was NO hesitation on the nearer kinsman’s part, he WANTED the land.
Certainly Ruth and Naomi were watching and listening. How their hearts must have sunk when they heard the nearer kinsman say, “I will redeem it.”
They heard from his own lips that he would exercise his right at kinsman-redeemer, and that meant that he would gain not only the property in question, but also marry Ruth - instead of Boaz.
But Boaz KNEW EXACTLY what he was doing, and he had the situation all under control.
Verse 5 tells us BOAZ “DROPS THE OTHER SHOE”
“Then Boaz said, “On the day you buy the field from the hand of Naomi, you must also buy it from Ruth the Moabitess, the wife of the dead, to perpetuate the name of the dead through his inheritance.”
Boaz then informs that he wasn’t only dealing with Naomi and the property of Elimelech, he also had to deal with Ruth.
Because Naomi was older and beyond the years of bearing children, the nearer kinsman was NOT expected to marry Naomi and raise up children to the family name of her deceased husband Elimelech.
But Ruth was another matter - she WAS able to marry and bear children.
Boaz explained what everyone knew – that this was a package deal.
If someone was going to exercise the right of kinsman-redeemer towards the deceased Elimelech, he had to fulfill the duty in regard to BOTH the property and the posterity.
Because of Boaz’ wise (perhaps shrewd) way of framing the occasion, this was the first time the nearer kinsman considered this, and it was a pretty big question to take in all at once.
When it was just a matter of property, it was easy to decide on; but if he must take Ruth as a wife, that was another matter.
Verse 6 tells us he REFUSES his right of redemption towards the property AND posterity of Elimelech....
“And the close relative said, “I cannot redeem it for myself, lest I ruin my own inheritance. You redeem my right of redemption for yourself, for I cannot redeem it.”
Though it would be great to receive the property associated with Ruth, the nearer kinsman knew that taking her into his home and raising up her children would ruin his own inheritance.
Probably, the man had grown sons that had already received their inheritance of lands.
The problem of dividing that inheritance among future children he would have with Ruth was more than he wanted to deal with.
Also, no doubt, the man was married - and knew it would be awkward (at best!) to bring home Ruth as wife number two.
These were WONDERFUL words in the ears of Ruth and Naomi.
A moment before, all seemed lost when the nearer kinsman had said, “I will redeem it.”
But Boaz’s plan had a surprise and an unexpected wisdom to it. And it worked!
Verses 7-8 tell us of the custom of THE SANDAL in transactions...
“Now this was the custom in former times in Israel concerning redeeming and exchanging, to confirm anything: one man took off his sandal and gave it to the other, and this was a confirmation in Israel. Therefore the close relative said to Boaz, “Buy it for yourself.” So he took off his sandal.”
Deuteronomy 25:5-10 tells us it WAS the custom in former times in Israel that when a kinsman declined his responsibility. The one declining removed a sandal and the woman he declined to honor spat in his face. But in this case, because there was no lack of honor was involved, they just did the part of the ceremony involving the sandal.
Verse 9-10 tells us of Boaz’s PUBLIC announcement to the elders and the people...
“And Boaz said to the elders and all the people, “You are witnesses this day that I have bought all that was Elimelech’s, and all that was Chilion’s and Mahlon’s, from the hand of Naomi. Moreover, Ruth the Moabitess, the widow of Mahlon, I have acquired as my wife, to perpetuate the name of the dead through his inheritance, that the name of the dead may not be cut off from among his brethren and from his position at the gate. You are witnesses this day.”
You can HEAR the JOY in Boaz’ voice - legally sealing the transaction - that he would redeem both the property and the posterity of Elimelech, and (best of all!) take Ruth, the woman he loved, as his wife.
In the beginning, Ruth seemed to be GIVING UP her best chance of marriage by leaving her native land of Moab and giving her heart and life to the God of Israel.
But as Ruth put God FIRST, He brought her together in a relationship greater than she could have imagined.
Today, God will bless those wanting to get married in the same way if they will only put JESUS CHRIST FIRST in their life & marriage.
“You are a witness this day”…this explains why a marriage ceremony is important, and why it should be recognized by the civil authorities.
Boaz had a love for Ruth that was public, a love that wanted to be publicly witnessed and registered.
Sometimes, people wonder why a marriage ceremony or a marriage license IS REALLY important. “Can’t we just be married before God?”
But in Almighty God’s eyes there is something SEVERELY LACKING in a love that does NOT want to proclaim itself; that does NOT want witnesses; and that does NOT want the bond to be recognized by the civil authorities.
That love FALLS SHORT of true marital love.
God wants you to do it FOR Him, and for your own heart/life‘s peace/security/happiness.
Verses 11-12 tells us the blessing of the witnesses to the wedding...
No doubt, the crowd cheered!
The men thought Ruth was beautiful and the women thought Boaz was handsome. Everybody could see what a romantic, loving occasion this was.
This is a TRUE REAL happily ever after history Almighty God finely knitted and wove together for US.
Verse 13 tells us Ruth and Boaz have their first child...
“So Boaz took Ruth and she became his wife; and when he went in to her, the Lord gave her conception, and she bore a son.”
The gift of children was never taken for granted in Israel. The fact that Boaz and Ruth were able to raise up a son to the deceased Elimelech was evidence of God’s blessing.
Verses 14-16 tells us how God Almighty ALSO blessed Naomi...
“Then the women said to Naomi, “Blessed be the Lord, who has not left you this day without a close relative; and may his name be famous in Israel! And may he be to you a restorer of life and a nourisher of your old age; for your daughter-in-law, who loves you, who is better to you than seven sons, has borne him.”
Then Naomi took the child and laid him on her bosom, and became a nurse to him.”
Naomi now HAS a son in law and a grandson, whom she was allowed to care for. It was fitting that these blessings in the life of Naomi be given so much attention at the end of the book.
Naomi was the one whose original returning to the Lord BEGAN all this great work of God. If Naomi had not decided to go back to Bethlehem, the land of Israel, and the God of Israel, none of this would have happened.
Naomi could NOT see then how greatly the Lord Jesus WOULD bless her at the end! But we should also LEARN from NAOMI.
We should learn that God’s plan is perfect and filled with love, and even when we CAN’T UNDERSTAND OR FIGURE OUT what is going on OR WHAT JESUS IS DOING…we need to remember that JESUS DOES KNOW WHAT HE IS DOING.
Jesus promises us in Romans 8:28, “ALL THINGS work together for good for those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.”
Verses 17 also SHOW us HOW ADVANCED, AMAZING, FAR-REACHING INTO ETERNITY is the marriage of Ruth and Boaz...
They ARE the great-grandparents to David, King of Israel.
“Also the neighbor women gave him 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…”
And here are several more AMAZING future plans of the day…we know that David had a descendant named Jesus!!!
Also Naomi’s return to Bethlehem, and the roots of David in Bethlehem, go back to Ruth and Boaz.
Their blood relation are WHY Joseph and Mary HAD to go to Bethlehem to register in the census of Augustus (Luke 2:1-5).
Ruth and Boaz are the reason why Jesus was born in Bethlehem!
And Boaz is ALSO a picture of JESUS WHO IS OUR OWN KINSMAN-REDEEMER.
OUR kinsman-redeemer HAD to be a family member; Jesus became a man to His eternal deity so He could be our kinsman and save us.
OUR kinsman-redeemer HAD the duty of buying family members out of slavery; Jesus redeemed us from slavery to sin and death.
OUR kinsman-redeemer HAD the duty of buying back land that had been forfeited; Jesus will redeem the earth that mankind “sold” over to Satan.
OUR kinsman-redeemer IS NOT motivated by self-interest, but motivated by love. Jesus’ motivation for redeeming us is His great love for us.
OUR kinsman-redeemer HAS A PLAN to redeem US unto himself. Jesus dying for us on a cruel cross did that for us.
OUR kinsman-redeemer took us as his bride. Those Jesus has redeemed are collectively called His bride (Ephesians 5:31-32; Revelation 21:9).
OUR kinsman-redeemer provided us a glorious destiny. Jesus, as our redeemer, provides a glorious destiny for EACH of us.
Jesus HAD to come as OUR kinsman-redeemer; this is WHY He became a man.
God might have sent an angel to save us, but the angel would NOT have been OUR kinsman.
Jesus, in His eternal glory, without the addition of humanity to His divine nature might have saved us, but He would NOT have been OUR kinsman.
A great prophet or priest COULD be our kinsman, but his own sin would have disqualified him as OUR redeemer.
ONLY JESUS, the eternal God who added humanity to His eternal deity, can be BOTH the kinsman and the redeemer for mankind!
Isaiah 54:4-8 describes the beautiful ministry of the Lord as our Goel - our kinsman-redeemer. “Do not fear, for you will not be disgraced, for you will not be put to shame . . . your [Kinsman] Redeemer is the Holy One of Israel . . .For the Lord has called you like a woman forsaken and grieved in spirit . . . with everlasting kindness I will have mercy on you, says the Lord, your [Kinsman] Redeemer.”
The true story of RUTH AND BOAZ once again, clearly, preciously, precisely, and perfectly SHOW us that our Jesus Christ HAS not only a PERFECT plan for each of us.
If we WILL put JESUS FIRST & IF we will TRUST HIM, Jesus Christ is PROMISING us that He has ALSO created a unique, PERFECT soul mate for EACH of us…if we will be listen, look for, and wait.
Jesus Christ HAS a glorious plan…Trust Jesus!!!!