Study 8 – The Lord blesses, gives life, and cares
Read Ruth 4
So we reach the end of the story – a story very much of rags to riches, see 1.20,21 and 4.14,15. Chapter 3 closed with a ‘more next week’ sort of feeling at 3.18. You just have to read on to find out what happens!
As we enter chapter 4 we wonder (as if you hadn’t read the story before) if the nearer next-of-kin is going to prevent Boaz and Ruth from marrying. But, of course, he doesn’t!
V1a Boaz went up to the gate. This was the place where the elders and leaders would meet. A bit like a Town Council session. The gate was the place where important business was conducted and civic affairs decided. Boaz obviously had a recognised position being a notable businessman of Bethlehem.
V1b There was another of those ‘happenings’ that was not by chance but by divine arrangement (look back to 2.3). Perhaps this nearest kinsman-redeemer was also a town elder and this was the quarterly business meeting. Perhaps he just happened to come by and Boaz took the God-given opportunity.
Consider: God provides the circumstances and we work in harmony with his will by taking the opportunities as they are presented to us. You have known this many times, I am sure. Someone you do not know particularly well says something or does something which prompts you in a certain direction – to speak up for Jesus, or show Christian love, or whatever. It is when you look back you think, “Mm, the Lord did so-and-so and that is why I was led to …”
Vv2-6 Boaz was very careful in how he put his case. He was both tactful as well as calculating. He steered the conversation in the way he desired to achieve what he knew to be the will of the Lord.
Consider: There is a lesson for us here. When we have the opportunity to discuss Christian matters with others – whether it is explaining the gospel or drawing a biblical principle into a current-affairs conversation – our desire should be to steer the conversation so that the word of God may have the proper place in the discussion. This is what Boaz was doing. He was weaving the biblical principles of redemption and responsibility into his conversation with this nameless person.
V8 He took off his sandal. A strange thing to do in our western ways, but it has its origin in Old Testament law, see Deu 25.5-10. However, there was no dishonour or shame in this case, but the tradition of passing over a sandal still continued.
Vv9,10 Boaz was free to make his public declaration to redeem both property and posterity of Elimelech (i.e. land and Ruth). Remember from last time how Naomi selflessly had foregone her right of marriage.
Here is biblical example of how an expression of love between a man and a woman should be made public in order to ratify the union and to create accountability. Co-habiting is but one indicator of a society that has turned its back upon God and his just ways.
Vv11-12 So, the Town Council and members of the public gathered and prayed for a desired blessing upon the marriage.
Vv13-16 Compare Naomi’s beginning to her end:
· Then, left without husband or son
· Without a crust to live on
· Now, her daughter-in-law married to a godly man
· Given a grandson to nurse in her old age
David Guzik comments, “This is a marvellous demonstration of what God can do through one poor woman who gets right with Him.”[1]
Consider: What can we learn from what Naomi learned?
· Learn that God’s plan is perfect, and even when we can’t figure out what he is doing and it all seems so desperate, he still knows what he is doing!
· Learn that all things work together for good for those who love God, to those who are the called according to his purpose (Romans 8:28).
Vv17-22 Do not forget how important all this was to God’s plan of redemption – that is, his plan to save sinners like you and me.
The son born to Naomi was, of course, the son physically born to Ruth. This is just an expression of Naomi’s great privilege in nursing her grandson. That son, Obed, was the great-grandfather of King David, and, as we learn from Matthew’s Gospel, he was a direct descendant of the Lord Jesus Christ.
We know this story of how Ruth and Boaz married is not just a romantic Mills and Boon novelette. It was essential that the line of God’s Messiah, Jesus should be maintained, and so it was through Boaz. This story also shows that it was not just Jews that God was interested in saving. Indeed, his people comprise those of all nations and tongues, as he promised Abraham (Genesis 12.3), and this is evidenced in the Messiah’s line including a non-Jew, a Moabitess.
Consider: this all happened at Bethlehem. Think of it! This whole story is a cameo of that more wonderful birth in the same place! What we see in this so happy ending is an illustration of how God has prepared a way for his people to be redeemed, saved, and promised a rich future. This is the overarching providence of God.
What do we see particularly in this chapter of the character of our Lord God?
· He blesses families v11
· He gives life vv12-13
· He cares for the vulnerable vv14-15
God is the God of reversals – when all seems hopeless he brings salvation. He is the restorer of life and a nourisher of your young and old age. He desires to have this aspect of his character expressed through your selfless love and commitment to those in all sorts of need.
They who were poor became rich under God’s good hand (2 Corinthians 8.9). Not just rich in material goods and social benefits. They enjoyed spiritual benefits – Ruth particularly – of redemption through hesed. She who was an ‘outsider’ had become an ‘insider’. Such is the grace of our God. For Naomi, it meant the wanderer had returned into the arms of loving embrace among God’s people. Such is the grace of our God. Each of them had experienced much of the character – the saving character – of the Lord.
· How he had supplied them with food and rest.
· How they had experienced his loving chastisement and yet his smile of approval upon their mutual loyalty.
· They knew him as a companion and how he is faithful to his own and blesses with his riches in glory.
Because of Naomi’s and Ruth’s relationship with the Lord – and Boaz, as well, in his faithful witness to the Lord – they all showed in their own lives something of his character. So must we.
Pray: Heavenly Father, “from you each earthly family receives its name and learns its love. You are the God of history whose purposes span the centuries. Through your family the church you now make known your plan to unite all things in heaven and earth in Jesus Christ our Lord. Before him, one day, every knee will bow. We give you our praise, we ask for your aid, and we seek to bring all aspects of our lives under the rule of Christ our Lord. For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen.”[2]
Michael S Bostock, October 2020.
[1] https://www.blueletterbible.org/Comm/guzik_david/StudyGuide2017-Rth/Rth-4.cfm
[2] David Atkinson, The Message of Ruth, IVP 1983, p128.