Ruth 4 – A Love Story

Ruth 4 – A Love Story                                  June 16, 2018 

What we have covered – what we have found 

A Jewish man moved his wife and 2 sons to the country of Moab from the famine in Judah. 

The father and 2 sons died, leaving his wife, Naomi and 2 daughter-in-law’s left.  Naomi and Ruth moved back to Judah at the beginning of the barley harvest.  

Ruth told Naomi;  Your people will be my people, and your God, my God. 

Ruth had to go out to the fields and glean grain so her and Naomi to live. 

Boaz told Ruth to continue gleaning only in his fields, gathering grain until both the barley and wheat harvests were complete. 

Last week we covered: Called “the Levirate Marriage.” He had to meet three conditions to make it work. Kinsman-Redeemer, means:  A male, blood relative.    

·      First, he had to be a near kinsman.

·      Secondly, he had to be able to perform.

·      Thirdly, he had to be willing; it was not required.

·      If he chose not to, he had to give her his shoe, a symbol of shame; he had failed to do the kinsman’s part. 

Naomi explains to Ruth that Boaz is a near kinsman and take you as a wife, but you have to ask.  Naomi said when he lies down, be sure to notice where he is resting. Then go over, uncover his feet, and lie down and Spread the edge of your garment over your servant, because you are my related redeemer.  

She was to take the servant’s position in which the servant lies diagonally at his master’s feet.  He will tell you what to do." 

Boaz said, I'll do for you everything that you have asked, but there is another related redeemer even closer than I.  That morning, Ruth return to Naomi. 

Ruth 3:18 Naomi replied, "Be patient, my daughter, until you learn how this works out, because the man won't rest until he finishes everything today."     {this is where we will pick up the story – but first} 

What does the Scriptures say Boaz is to do, by instruction. 

*Deuteronomy 25:6-10 And it shall be that the firstborn son which she bears will succeed to the name of his dead brother, that his name may not be blotted out of Israel. (7) But if the man does not want to take his brother's wife, then let his brother's wife go up to the gate to the elders, and say, 'My husband's brother refuses to raise up a name to his brother in Israel; he will not perform the duty of my husband's brother.' (8) Then the elders of his city shall call him and speak to him. But if he stands firm and says, 'I do not want to take her,' (9) then his brother's wife shall come to him in the presence of the elders, remove his sandal from his foot, spit in his face, and answer and say, 'So shall it be done to the man who will not build up his brother's house.' (10) And his name shall be called in Israel, 'The house of him who had his sandal removed.' 

Boaz Redeems Ruth, rewarded with marriage,   

Ruth 4:1 NKJV 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. 

As a side:  Why is translated, friend.  Would you call his friend, who is a brother or close relative of yours.  The Hebrew gives a sense of concealment, of a specified person: Friend is something of a joke, meaning a certain so and so, without giving the name of the person. 

It looks like the writer did not what to say, who the person was.  Interesting. 

The city gate was where transactions and legal business was carried out.  

The gate of the city is a roofed building, unenclosed by walls and is similar to what you and I would consider City Hall. In the ancient tribal traditions, the city was protected with a wall and the people that came and went would go through the gate. The people in authority over the city would check credentials at the gate. If there was a matter of issue one would meet the elders at the gate of the city (cf. Gen 19:1). 

Boaz was obviously a wealthy landowner, but he also sits at the city gate, which implies that he could have been mayor of the city. When Boaz asks this man to sit down, he does so without question. Boaz is someone who is obeyed. 

The kinsman: Probably this other man was a brother of Elimelech, Naomi’s husband, which made him an uncle of Ruth’s first husband.  1 generation. 

Boaz’s approach to this nearer kinsman was be a complete surprise to the other man. Clearly this was a tactical advantage to Boaz. 

Ruth 4:2 And he took ten men of the elders of the city, and said, "Sit down here." So they sat down.  {notice, they did what they were told}    

Ten men or elders:  To be witnesses: we know two or three witnesses were sufficient, yet in more important matters they used 10 witnesses in cases of marriage problems, divorce, criminal, rights of a family and changing of property or inheritances. 

Ruth 4:3 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 relative Elimelech. 

*Leviticus 25:25 "If your brother is poor so that he had to a sell portion of his inheritance, then his nearest kinsman redeemer is to come and redeem what his brother has sold. 

The land needs to be redeemed for Naomi. Here Boaz is calling the attention of this man to the fact that Naomi is in need of a kinsman-redeemer to step up and redeem the land for her now that she is back in town.  

Boaz mentions only Naomi, because all was done by her direction; lest the mention of Ruth should raise a suspicion of the necessity of his marrying Ruth, before he had given his answer to this first offer.  If Boaz would have mention Ruth’s name, it would have awaken a suspicion of having to marry Ruth.    Is this some Deception being done?  

We have to remember, Naomi was reduced to be poor, she had no one to inherit her land and now it was open for the next heir to purchase the land and thus preserve the land in the family.   

Ruth 4:4 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."   {he did not know about the following condition} 

Boaz’s heart just dropped into his sock when he said, I will act as related redeemer." 

This person (the Go’el) had the choice and he chose to purchase the land, he liked it and could make a good addition to his own land and to his children future. 

Elders were the witnesses of the purchase, now the surprise kicker in the deal. 

Ruth 4:5 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."  {important}  

Ruth, the wife of the dead”: Boaz doesn’t withhold his punches.  By marring Ruth, this would carry on her dead husband (Mahlon) line of Elimelech, and would continue his inheritance. 

The problem is, the kinsman must marry Ruth, the son born to them would inherit the property of Elimelech’s family.  This would not increase his land but decrease his land plus the additional cost in providing for Naomi and Ruth.  Also, any children would have a claim to a portion of his children inheritance.  He would lose out. 

Ruth 4:6 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." 

He was willing, able, to redeem the land, but unable to redeem the bride.

The law concerning a brother’s duty to raise up seed to the deceased, the Levirate Marriage, law (Deuteronomy 25:5-10). 

He would have to invest his own money to redeem the land; however, having to marry Ruth and produce a son through her meant that son would legally be the son of Ruth dead husband and the one to inherit the property. The kinsman would thus end up losing both the property and the investment. 

Moreover, not only would the son inherit the property the kinsman re-deemed, he would also inherit part of the kinsman’s own property; and since he would lose his investment, the redeemed property, and part of his own land, the kinsman would be depriving his own heirs. 

Ruth 4:7 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. 

Plucked off his own shoe”: to the giver, a testimony of deferral; to Boaz, a marriage license!  Spitting in his face could also mean, before his face. 

What do we do today is the transaction by signing a document or handing over a set of keys.  By handing over his shoe, the close relative was symbolically handing over his right to walk on the land that was being sold. 

Ruth 4:8 Therefore the close relative said to Boaz, "Buy it for yourself." So he took off his sandal. 

The custom itself arose from the fact that fixed property was taken possession of by treading upon the soil, hence, taking off the shoe and handing it to another was a symbol of the transfer of a possession or the right of ownership, to Boaz, a marriage license! 

Ruth 4:9 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. 

Boaz steps up: He purchases all the land, property and goods from Naomi, widow of Elimelech, and he “purchases” Ruth as his bride and obligated to support both in life and death.  Boaz just receive all of Naomi land.  The witnesses at the gate approved the transaction. 

Widow of Chilion stayed in Moab was still living and she was considered to have either been married again, or to have renounced all right to an inheritance with the family of Elimelech. 

Ruth 4:10 Moreover, Ruth the Moabitess, the widow of Mahlon, I have acquired as my wife, to continue the family 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." 

Ruth 4:11 And all the people who were at the gate, and the elders, said, "We are witnesses. {they affirmed the legal proceeding} The LORD make the woman who is coming to your house like Rachel and Leah, the two who built the house of Israel; and may you prosper in Ephrathah and be famous in Bethlehem. 

Ephratah and Bethlehem - Two names of one and the same place. 

These two women (Rachel and Leah – founding mothers) were singled out, because they were of a foreign origin, and yet will become part of God's people, as Ruth will become.  This was the usual bridal benediction for the couple to increase in children.  The marriage of Ruth to Boaz was part of the condition of the bargain. 

*Genesis 35:19 So Rachel died and was buried on the way to Ephrath (that is, Bethlehem).   {childbirth – Benjamin;  Interesting} 

What have we found:  As we cover this, apply it to our lives 

•      In order to bring Ruth to Naomi, Naomi had to be exiled from her land.

•      What the Law could not do, Grace did.

•      Ruth does not replace Naomi.

•      Ruth learns of Boaz’s ways thru Naomi.

•      Naomi meets Boaz thru Ruth.

•      No matter how much Boaz loved Ruth, he had to await her move.

•      Boaz, not Ruth, confronts the “Nearer Kinsman.” 

Ruth 4:12 May your house be like the house of Perez, whom Tamar bore to Judah, because of the offspring which the LORD will give you from this young woman." 

House of Perez: Perez was born as the result of a levirate marriage (Gen 38:6-29). He was the son of Judah from whom Boaz descended. Boaz was of the Clan of Perez, a clan that had settled in Bethlehem.  Tamar’s behavior would not normally be commended because how she did the levirate marriage for herself. 

Judah had twin children with his daughter in law, Tamar, who husband had died, and she won the right to be the mother of Judah’s twin children. 

Ruth and Boaz Marry    

Ruth 4:13  So Boaz took Ruth and she became his wife. When he made love to her, the LORD enabled her to conceive, and she gave birth to a son. 

Children are a gift from God. He fashions every person in the womb of the mother.   Did God close her from having children before? 

*Psalms 139:13 For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb. 

Ruth 4:14 Then the women of Bethlehem told Naomi, "May the LORD be blessed, who has not left you today without a related redeemer. May his name become famous throughout Israel! 

Boaz, near kinsman, has done more than expected of a go’el, he has redeemed the property and has secured an heir for Naomi’s family. 

Ruth 4:15 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." 

Sons were considered a great reward, so for the women to state that Ruth is better to Naomi than seven sons was considerable praise for Ruth. 

Boaz, Kinsman-Redeemer, has redeemed the property, and now he has secured an heir for Naomi’s family and future inheritance.  He will take care of Naomi and Ruth in their old age by providing food and shelter, legal protection and proper burial.  Did David know Ruth, his grandmother? 

Ruth 4:16 Then Naomi took the child and laid him on her bosom, and became a nurse to him.   {“a guardian” or “a nanny, supporter”} 

*Numbers 11:12 Did I conceive all these people? Did I beget them, that You should say to me, 'Carry them in your bosom, as a guardian carries a nursing child,' to the land which You swore to their fathers? 

Just a simple recognition that Naomi is the legal mother of the child and that she will play a significant role in his upbringing, while he (Obed) will continue to provide for her in the next generation. 

Most likely after the mother had nursed and weaned the boy, then Naomi took the child from Ruth, and brought it up.   Wonder why? 

*1 Samuel 1:22  Hannah did not go. She said to her husband, "After the boy is weaned, I will take him and present him before the LORD, and he will live there always."  (Samuel) 

Ruth’s son to be King David’s grandfather    

Ruth 4:17 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.  {Obed means One Who Serves} 

Notice, the neighbor women gave him his name.  Interesting, more to it?

*Luke 1:58-60 Her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown her great mercy, and they shared her joy.  (59)  On the eighth day they came to circumcise the child, and they were going to name him after his father Zechariah,  (60)  but his mother spoke up and said, "No! He is to be called John."   {Peer pressure?} 

It was an ancient custom to give the name of a family member to a newborn.  Up until a few years ago, we as a nation did the same thing, because you will find this in your family history. 

The Genealogy of King David 

Ruth 4:18-22 Now this is the genealogy of {Judah is father} Perez: Perez begot Hezron; (19) Hezron begot Ram, and Ram begot Amminadab; (20) Amminadab begot Nahshon, and Nahshon begot Salmon {wife was Rahab}; (21) Salmon begot Boaz, and Boaz begot Obed; (22) Obed begot Jesse, and Jesse begot David.   {King of Israel} 

This story pictures one aspect of our redemption.  Boaz represents our Lord, Ruth stands for the believer.  On our Lord’s part, Jesus paid the price with His own blood, for He was both able and willing to redeem us, individually.   

Remember, a Kinsman-Redeemer had to be 

·      First, he had to be a near kinsman.

·      Secondly, he had to be able to perform.

·      Thirdly, he had to be willing; it was not required.  

We have just finished covering the Book of Ruth.  The Kinsman-Redeemer.  Who is our Kinsman-Redeemer, Jesus.   

·      What did Jesus do to save us. 

·      Jesus went freely to the cross, died for our sins to be forgiven by His blood pouring out of His body,

·      He was put in the grave and buried,

·      Then raised on the third day,

·      With the appearance of the Resurrected Christ (our elder Brother) and

·      Now at the right hand of the Father,

·      Showing this what will happen to us and

·      Then we will be like He is.  (1 Corinthians 15:3-4).