BOOK OF RUTH: A STATEMENT OF LIFE
RUTH 4:1-22
#bookofruth
INTRODUCTION / SERIES REMINDER (imdb.com/title/tt0317219/quotes/?item=qt0460872)
In the movie Cars (2006), the character Mater and Lightning McQueen are having a conversation in which Mater drives backwards showing off his fantastic ability to use his review mirrors to drive backwards. Lightning McQueen is very concerned for him. Mater then says: “Aint no need to watch where I'm going, just need to know where I been.”
This morning as we are in week 4 of 4 in the Book of Ruth, we will be watching where we are going while at the same time knowing where we’ve been. All the events in Naomi’s life and in Ruth’s life and in Boaz’s life have led to chapter 4.
The first week in Ruth 1 we took note of Ruth’s wonderful statement of faith with which she confessed her faith in God, but also her willingness to stay with Naomi and die with her; Chapter 1, statement of faith.
The second week in Ruth 2 we took note of Naomi’s statement of blessing which is not only the point of chapter 2, but also the central point of the entire book of Ruth. Ruth 2:20 is quite a significant verse even for us in chapter 4…
READ RUTH 2:20 (ESV)
“And Naomi said to her daughter-in-law, “May he be blessed by the Lord, whose kindness has not forsaken the living or the dead!” Naomi also said to her, “The man is a close relative of ours, one of our redeemers.”
Chapter 2, statement of blessing.
Last week in chapter 3, we saw the powerful statement of redemption made by Boaz in response to the request for marriage and redemption from Ruth. Ruth was asking for him to exercise his right as a “kinsman-redeemer” to pay off the widows’ debt and restore them. We looked at how the “kinsman-redeemer” in Ruth directly points to what Jesus Christ does for us in His redemption of our sin-debt. In chapter 3, verse 11, Boaz says, “I will do for you all that you ask;” Chapter 3, statement of redemption.
Chapter 3 ends with Naomi telling Ruth:
READ RUTH 3:18 (ESV)
“She replied, ‘Wait, my daughter, until you learn how the matter turns out, for the man will not rest but will settle the matter today.’”
TRANSITION
We now pick up the events as they unfold for Naomi, Ruth, and Boaz. We can infer from Naomi’s statement at the end of chapter 3 that the events of chapter 4 happen on the same day, just a little bit later in the day. What happens?
READ RUTH 4:1-5 (ESV)
“Now Boaz had gone up to the gate and sat down there. And behold, the redeemer, of whom Boaz had spoken, came by. So Boaz said, “Turn aside, friend; 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 down here.” So they sat down. 3 Then he said to the redeemer, “Naomi, who has come back from the country of Moab, is selling the parcel of land that belonged to our relative Elimelech. 4 So I thought I would tell you of it and say, ‘Buy it in the presence of those sitting here and in the presence of the elders of my people.’ If you will redeem it, redeem it. But if you will not, tell me, that I may know, for there is no one besides you to redeem it, and I come after you.” And he said, “I will redeem it.” 5 Then Boaz said, “The day you buy the field from the hand of Naomi, you also acquire Ruth the Moabite, the widow of the dead, in order to perpetuate the name of the dead in his inheritance.”
The first five verses introduce us into the effort that Boaz will have to make in order to marry Ruth and redeem all of the disaster that fell on Naomi and her family. As I mentioned last week, Boaz is more than willing and able to redeem the debt of Naomi and Ruth and marry Ruth, but there is a kinsman-redeemer who is a closer relative than him and so legally Boaz must go through this fellow first.
The redeeming takes place as verse 1 tells us, at the gate of Bethlehem which is where all the decisions and legal matters were discussed and agreed upon. The gate in towns and cities of Israel was where merchants, visitors, and judges all stopped to do business. Notice, that Boaz went to the gate to wait for the nearer kinsman. He was prepared. He waited. He had a plan.
The redeeming takes place in the presence of the elders of Bethlehem who just so happen to be on hand. The elders of Bethlehem were the leaders of the households of the town and were the governing body of the city. In this instance, there is no legal or criminal issue to deal with, but they are to oversee the transaction Boaz wishes to make.
Boaz describes the situation. Boaz mentions that the land of Elimelech is up for grabs and in need of redemption. The kinsman agrees that he will purchase the land and increase his permanent land holdings in the area. Since Naomi is a widow with no heir, then the money spent would be an investment in the future that he could pass on to his sons. Notice, if the deal was just for the land then it is a fantastic deal. The man agrees to purchase the land.
Verse 5 is significant in that Boaz fleshes out the deal because the redemption not only includes land, but Ruth who must be married and would then provide an heir for her dead husband. It is a complication that Boaz doesn’t mind, but the other kinsman might.
Please notice the repeated word in verse 5. The word “dead” occurs twice. For Boaz, the deal is not about land but about redeeming the death that swept through Naomi and Ruth’s life. Death took away Elimelech, Mahlon, and Chilion. Death made them destitute. Death might still win the day if Naomi and Ruth are left on their own with no help.
TRANSITION
Ruth 4 continues as the nearer-kinsman weighs the full debt and full impact.
READ RUTH 4:6-10
6 Then the redeemer said, “I cannot redeem it for myself, lest I impair my own inheritance. Take my right of redemption yourself, for I cannot redeem it.” 7 Now this was the custom in former times in Israel concerning redeeming and exchanging: to confirm a transaction, the one drew off his sandal and gave it to the other, and this was the manner of attesting in Israel. 8 So when the redeemer said to Boaz, “Buy it for yourself,” he drew off his sandal. 9 Then Boaz said to the elders and all the people, “You are witnesses this day that I have bought from the hand of Naomi all that belonged to Elimelech and all that belonged to Chilion and to Mahlon. 10 Also Ruth the Moabite, the widow of Mahlon, I have bought to be my wife, to perpetuate the name of the dead in his inheritance, that the name of the dead may not be cut off from among his brothers and from the gate of his native place. You are witnesses this day.”
Once Boaz interprets his relative’s responsibility to include marrying Ruth and providing children with her, then the whole deal changes. It is not just an economic deal about land. The man is not just buying land but adding a whole family to his family and then dividing up everything equally among them all. His family in many ways would be diminished. He would not only have to provide for Ruth, but all children and even Naomi. I did some digging, and it is possible that the relative could have gotten away with just buying the land and leaving Naomi and Ruth out of the equation, but the fact that Boaz brought it up in front of the elders at the town gate made it a legally binding issue.
The nearer-kinsman backs down.
Those of us who have been cheering Boaz on yell… “YASSSSSSS!” as we read.
The prophet Samuel gives us a little commentary in verses 7-8 that the transaction takes place by the exchange of footwear. There are reasons why this was the tradition but sufficed to say that once the sandals were exchanged in the presence of the elders as witnesses at the town gate; Naomi and Ruth were redeemed.
Ruth and Naomi were paid for satisfying the debt.
Ruth and Naomi were set apart as part of Boaz’s household.
Ruth and Naomi were brought into a new relationship with Boaz.
In verse 10 as Boaz is making his verbal claim on redeeming Naomi, Ruth, the debt, and the land, please notice again the word that is repeated. Again, Boaz mentions death. Death is what began the book of Ruth. Famine and death. Hunger and death. A move away from the Promised Land and death. Marriage and death. Separation and death. Death changed Naomi and Ruth’s life forever and it is Boaz who is stepping in to change the trajectory of their life by redemption.
The word dead is repeated I think as an intentional echo and emphasis. The legal problem centers on death and the end of a family line. There is even concern over a dead man’s “name” disappearing. Death dominates the legal conversation among these men. The chapter begins in a world defined by past funerals (Elimelech, Mahlon, Chilion) and the threat of a dead family line but does not finish there.
TRANSITION
In Ruth 4, Boaz mentions the word “dead” 4 times in verses 1-10 and also mentions “cut off” which is the same type of wording. I want you to notice that because the rest of the chapter, verses 11-22, doesn’t mention death, but only life. Ruth Chapter 4 is a statement of life. Let’s finish reading Ruth 4.
READ RUTH 4:11-22 (ESV)
“Then all the people who were at the gate and the elders said, “We are witnesses. May the Lord make the woman, who is coming into your house, like Rachel and Leah, who together built up the house of Israel. May you act worthily in Ephrathah and be renowned in Bethlehem, 12 and may your house be like the house of Perez, whom Tamar bore to Judah, because of the offspring that the Lord will give you by this young woman.” 13 So Boaz took Ruth, and she became his wife. And he went in to her, and the Lord gave her conception, and she bore a son. 14 Then the women said to Naomi, “Blessed be the Lord, Who has not left you this day without a redeemer, and may his name be renowned in Israel! 15 He shall be to you a restorer of life and a nourisher of your old age, for your daughter-in-law who loves you, who is more to you than seven sons, has given birth to him.” 16 Then Naomi took the child and laid him on her lap and became his nurse. 17 And the women of the neighborhood gave him a name, saying, “A son has been born to Naomi.” They named him Obed. He was the father of Jesse, the father of David. 18 Now these are the generations of Perez: Perez fathered Hezron, 19 Hezron fathered Ram, Ram fathered Amminadab, 20 Amminadab fathered Nahshon, Nahshon fathered Salmon, 21 Salmon fathered Boaz, Boaz fathered Obed, 22 Obed fathered Jesse, and Jesse fathered David.”
Once Boaz announces the legal redemption of Naomi and Ruth, the language shifts dramatically toward life-giving words.
The blessings from the witnessing elders are all words that speak to fruitfulness, birth, and prosperous future. The women Rachel and Leah are mentioned who literally produced the whole tribe of Israel and were women who symbolized life. The blessings from the witnessing elders are all words that speak to fruitfulness, birth, and prosperous future. The woman Tamar is mentioned who in Genesis 38 forced Judah to obey the traditions later described in Leviticus for the people of God. She brought life to a threatened household. The passage shares with us in verse 13 how God gave Boaz and Ruth conception. Verses 18-22 at the tail end of the chapter speak about the lineage of the family showing that there weas ongoing life, survival, and the blessing of flourishing life.
The clearest reference for life comes in verses 14-15 as the women of the town speak to Naomi. They speak to Naomi because in chapter 1 she shared with all of them how God was against her with death causing much bitterness in her heart.
RE-READ RUTH 4:14-15 (ESV)
“Blessed be the Lord, Who has not left you this day without a redeemer, and may his name be renowned in Israel! 15 He shall be to you a restorer of life and a nourisher of your old age, for your daughter-in-law who loves you, who is more to you than seven sons, has given birth to him.”
This is the clearest statement in the chapter about life. The truth is given to us by the kind words the women of Bethlehem give to Naomi in the midst of her grandchild being born. The women tell Naomi that God has provided her a kinsman-redeemer and that this child will renew her life. The word there in the original language is “one who turns life back” or “life-giver” or “reviver.”
The women point out to Naomi that God blessed her life.
Goodness is God’s nature.
Redemption is God’s nature.
Renewing is God’s nature.
The women did not want her to miss this Truth because she had been stuck in her bitterness.
God doesn’t want us to miss Truth which is why the Book of Ruth exists.
Emotions can get the better of us and bitterness can dig down roots deep in our hearts miring us in terrible feelings. God can renew us. Circumstances in our lives can dash our world to pieces and we get stuck among the broken pieces. God can redeem any situation for His good and for our good that we find ourselves in. Whatever is going on that is unfair that stops us in our path in life… God can redeem from the pit of despair and renew us. Our expectations about life can be cut up and thrown away, but God can renew us in our lives and give us new expectations.
God is all about redemption.
Our God, by His very nature, will work in our lives for our good and for our benefit amidst the garbage and hurt that happens in life. Emotions overtake us. Circumstances out of our control ruin our lives. Unfair things and people stack up. Expectations of our lives seemed to be dismissed. God can and will work to redeem those for our benefit and for His. This is a truth we must believe in for He has proved Himself.
TRANSITION / EMPHASIS ON THANKFULNESS
I’d like us to do some responsive reading this morning and reflect on the goodness of God as it relates to our messes. I started this morning with a quote from the movie Cars (2006) from Mater which isn’t altogether true: “Aint no need to watch where I'm going, just need to know where I been.” As we read these verses this morning, please reflect on where you have been and where God may be taking you in the future.
Be thankful for His goodness.
Be thankful for His redemption.
Be thankful for His renewal.
RESPONSIVE READING TIME
Listen and take in the Word of the Lord. I invite you to don’t just read these words, but as we read them together and say them together, think about the ways that God has shown Himself in your life to be your redeemer. Where has God been so good amid bitterness. Where is renewal over the horizon promised by God. Where has God not yet shown up… but you wait in hope?
I will read the normal print and you all read together aloud the italics/yellow/emphasized print.
* PSALM 49:15 (ESV)
LEADER: But God will ransom my soul from the power of the grave
CONGREGATION: for He will receive me.
* PSALM 130:1-8 (ESV)
LEADER: Out of the depths I cry to You, O Lord!
CONGREGATION: O Lord, hear my voice! Let Your ears be attentive to the voice of my pleas for mercy!
LEADER: If You, O Lord, should mark iniquities, O Lord, who could stand?
CONGREGATION: But with You there is forgiveness, that You may be feared.
LEADER: I wait for the Lord
CONGREGATION: My soul waits, and in His Word I hope; my soul waits for the Lord more than watchmen for the morning, more than watchmen for the morning.
LEADER: O Israel, hope in the Lord!
CONGREGATION: For with the Lord there is steadfast love, and with Him is plentiful redemption.
LEADER: And He will redeem Israel from all his iniquities.
CONGREGATION: Amen.
* ISAIAH 43:1-3 (ESV)
LEADER: But now thus says the Lord, He who created you, O Jacob, He who formed you, O Israel:
CONGREGATION: “Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are Mine.
LEADER: When you pass through the waters,
CONGREGATION: I will be with you
LEADER: and through the rivers
CONGREGATION: they shall not overwhelm you;
LEADER: when you walk through fire you shall not be burned and the flame shall not consume you.
CONGREGATION: For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior.
* 2 CORINTHIANS 4:16-18 (ESV)
LEADER: So we do not lose heart.
CONGREGATION: Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day.
LEADER: For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison,
CONGREGATION: as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen.
LEADER: For the things that are seen are transient
CONGREGATION: but the things that are unseen are eternal. Amen. Amen. Amen.
SUMMARY
I want to encourage you this morning, especially if you have been here all 4 weeks through the Book of Ruth, to reflect well on the statements that we have thought through.
Ruth 1: A Statement of Faith, declaring God to be our God giving Him our believing loyalty
Ruth 2: A Statement of Blessing, focusing on God’s unfailing lovingkindess for us
Ruth 3: A Statement of Redemption, pointing to all that Jesus Christ would do for us
Ruth 4: A Statement of Life, God works for our good through our lives for redemption
Adore Him.
Account for Him.
Praise Him.
Bless Him.
Confess Him.
Praise Him.
Delight in Him.
Hindsight with Him.
Praise Him.
Thank Him.
Bank on Him.
Praise Him.
Adjust for Him.
Trust Him.
Praise Him.
Pray on Him.
Wait on Him.
Praise Him.
PRAYER
INVITATION
I started this morning with a quote from the movie Cars (2006) from Mater which isn’t altogether true: “Aint no need to watch where I'm going, just need to know where I been.” We all need to know where we are going… especially our souls. I’ll ask you the age old question, where are you going? After this life, what is the eternal destination of your soul?
Death?
Life?
