Ruth Series: A Statement Of Life Series

BOOK OF RUTH: A STATEMENT OF LIFE

RUTH 4:1-22

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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.