The Big Finish of Boaz
Text: “Ruth 4: 1 - 13”
Ruth 4:1-13 (KJV) 1 Then went Boaz up to the gate, and sat him down there: and, behold, the kinsman 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. 2 And he took ten men of the elders of the city, and said, Sit ye down here. And they sat down. 3 And he said unto the kinsman, Naomi, that is come again out of the country of Moab, selleth a parcel of land, which was our brother Elimelech's: 4 And I thought to advertise 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 am after thee. And he said, I will redeem it. 5 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. 6 And the kinsman said, I cannot redeem it for myself, lest I mar mine own inheritance: redeem thou my right to thyself; for I cannot redeem it. 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 neighbour: and this was a testimony in Israel. 8 Therefore the kinsman said unto Boaz, Buy it for thee. So he drew off his shoe. 9 And Boaz said unto the elders, and unto all the people, Ye are witnesses this day, that I have bought all that was Elimelech's, and all that was Chilion's and Mahlon's, of the hand of Naomi. 10 Moreover Ruth the Moabitess, the wife of Mahlon, 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: ye are witnesses this day. 11 And all the people that were in the gate, and the elders, said, We are witnesses. The LORD make the woman that is come into thine house like Rachel and like Leah, which two did build the house of Israel: and do thou worthily in Ephratah, and be famous in Bethlehem: 12 And let thy house be like the house of Pharez, whom Tamar bare unto Judah, of the seed which the LORD shall give thee of this young woman. 13 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.
Introduction
In this section we will see the redemptive work being done to redeem Ruth and Naomi. It is the only place in the scriptures that we see how the process was carried out. Boaz would not rest until had done all that he could to redeem the girl that he loved. In this setting we get to see the redemptive process up close and personal. I hope that we see the value of the workings of being a kinsman redeemer.
The Confident Intention of Boaz:
a. Boaz would intently seek
b. Boaz would intently speak
The Compelling Inspiration of Boaz:
a. Compelled inwardly - his affection
b, Compelled outwardly - his actions
I - Boaz Requiring his Redemptive Seat (1 - 2)
The town’s business transactions would be done at the main gate of the city. In biblical times the city gate was a place of prominence, the city elders would be found around the gate of the cities. It was in this situation that we find Boaz conducting the work of a redeemer. The leaders of the city sat about the gate of their respective cities.
A) The Gate of Bethlehem & its Relativity
It was time for Boaz to seek out the redemption of Ruth. In doing this he went down to the city of Bethlehem and took a seat and patiently waited for the other kinsman, one that was closer kin than he was.
The City Gate Used for Marketing & Buying
The City Gate Used for Meeting & Business
B) The Guest of Boaz & his Request
The other fellow finally shows up, it may have seemed to have been an eternity. The business is about to proceed and it was now or never for Boaz and Ruth. The bible does not say how closely related this man was to the husband of Ruth. It is believed that he would have been the brother of Elimelech or the uncle of Ruth’s deceived husband. We really do not know his relation, but we do know that he was of closer relation than Ruth.
C) The Gathering of Businessmen & their Requirements
The 10 men would have been the judges of the city of Bethlehem. It was their role to settle the various cases that needed to be settled in court. In this case the men would be declared as witnesses of the process of redeeming the household of Ruth. The transaction would be authorized due to their personal witness.
II - Boaz Reporting his Reluctant Story (3 - 6)
In finding the other kinsman Boaz would now tell him the situation. In telling him, Boaz was probably hoping that this man would be unwilling to redeem Ruth.
A) The Pressing Problem & Need (3)
Boaz tells the tragic story of Naomi and Ruth, of all of their sorrows back in the country of Moab. The family is need of a redeemer, and it looked as if this man was the next closest of kin. The idea of redemption is that not only must there be a need for redemption, but there must be a willingness of the redeemer. The need of this hour was pressing and a decision must be made immediately.
B) The Public Proposal & Notice (4)
Boaz wastes no time in asking the nearer kinsman if he would redeem Naomi. The witnesses were on hand to approve of this public transaction. I hope that we can see the drama in this story.
The Public Appeal
The Prominent Answer
C) The Pagan Participant & Nullification (5 - 6)
At first we see the willingness of this kinsman to redeem Naomi. It seemed as if Boaz was going to lose out on redeeming Ruth. I believe that Boaz was giving bits and pieces of information. It would also cost him to purchase back the land that Elimelech lost in leaving for Moab.
The kinsman supposed that he could afford to make this transaction; he agrees to purchase the redemption of Naomi. Now Boaz throws a kink into the process, he reminds the man that he must also take Ruth along in this transaction. The kicker was that in purchasing the redemption of Naomi he must also purchase the redemption of Ruth, the Moabitesh girl. The kinsman must take in Ruth and raise up some descendants to keep the family name around.
Upon receiving all of this information the kinsman declares that he cannot mar or damage his inheritance. The kinsman is not willing to redeem this stranger that was in Bethlehem. It was one thing to redeem one of his own countryman but another to redeem a foreigner and a stranger to the commonwealth of Israel. Is not this a wonderful picture of the “law” it dared not redeem those that were vile sinners. If we were saved by the law, either we had to become perfect or the law would have to become imperfect.
III - Boaz Removing his Relatives Shoe (7/10, Deut. 23: 6/10)
In this passage we will look at the meaning and motive for removing the shoe off of ones foot. The bible shows us a wonderful depiction of the redemptive process. The verification of business transactions was done by handing ones shoe to another. It was to verify that a personal transaction had taken place.
A) The Shoe off of his Foot - Denied his Heritage
The moment this man removed the shoe from his foot and handed it to Boaz, the transaction had been declared. This kinsman was not willing to redeem Naomi and Ruth. In denying his redemption of them, he immediately took his shoe off and handed it to Boaz. This declared that Boaz was now the next in line to redeem this family. The man had passed his right over to Boaz, and now Boaz had significant authority to redeem.
B) The Shame of his Family - Despised his Household
The moment he removed hi shoe and denied his role in redeeming these woman, he brought much shame upon himself and his family. This man declared that he would not carry on the bloodline of his relative’s name. It would have been a source of great dishonor upon the name of this man. In all reality he shamed the name of his deceased family member due to his lack of concern for his heritage.
C) The Spitting upon his Face - Disgraced his Honor
In another passage, the woman that was being denied redemption would have taken his shoe and spit openly upon his face. The witnesses would have seen this and the man would live in shame for the rest of his life. It is not clear if the woman would spit literally upon his face or upon the ground at his face. The significance was that he had rejected to marry her and therefore disgraced himself and the woman.
IV - Boaz Receiving his Rightful Signs (11 - 12)
The transaction was denied by one kinsman, but accepted by the other. Boaz acknowledged his role and right in redeeming the land, the mother-in-law, and marrying Ruth. It would have been a wonderful day in the heart of Boaz; he had persistently purchased the redemption of the one he loved. The gathered witnesses put their agreement upon this redemptive transaction.
A) The Witnesses Speak of Blessings
The witnesses agreed that the transaction was legal and finished. Then they propose many blessings upon the man Boaz and his new bride. The witnesses pronounced blessings upon Ruth in a mighty and meaningful manner.
B) The Welcomed Signs of Birth
The witnesses were asking God to greatly bless the woman and her womb so that she could continue the bloodline of the family of Naomi. The witnesses asked God to give fame to the house of Boaz and Ruth. The little town of Bethlehem would be used to touch the entire world. In the ages to come, one would be birthed in this little city that would ultimately offer salvation to the entire world. The Lord God of heaven heard their prayers and honored them through out the ages.
C) The Worthy Seed of Boaz
The bloodline of Boaz was going to be crucial in bringing the Messiah to Israel in the coming days. The seed that was to be born in his house would offer peace and comfort to the entire world. I dare say that no one knew the significance of that redemptive process that happened at the city gate of Bethlehem.
V - Boaz Reproducing his Regal Son (13)
The transaction was completed and Boaz goes to the house of his lovely bride. Ruth had been waiting back home patiently but eagerly awaiting the news of her redemption. Boaz declares that he has redeemed her and she was now his wife. It was a notable day in the life of this family.
A) The Lovely Bride of Boaz - His Helpmate (his wife)
The little Moabitesh woman was now his lovely bride. The God of Boaz was also the God of Ruth. The wealth of Boaz was also the wealth of Ruth. The moment the transaction was completed Ruth’s life was instantly changed for the better.
B) The Lord’s Blessing of Boaz - His Helper (the Lord gave)
Lest we forget God reminds us that all that had happened that day was due to his hand and his workings. The blessings of God must not be overlooked or taken for granted. It was the Lord that provided Boaz his lovely wife and it was the Lord that had blessed her womb to conceive a child. If not for the helping hand of God where would we be in this walk of life?
C) The Little Baby of Boaz - His Heritage (bare a son)
The baby that came from the womb of Ruth was a boy; God had given them a baby boy. The heritage of Naomi’s family would remain in the land of Israel. The blessings that the witnesses had pronounced upon Boaz and his wife went into effect immediately. Is this not how God works in blessing his children? The moment we get saved we begin to find the manifold blessings of God.
Conclusion
In this section hopefully we understand the mighty transaction that took place at the city gate of Bethlehem. In this portion of scriptures we see the wonderful process of someone redeeming another.