A Sealed Deal

Ruth, Sunday Night Study

Series Title: Ruth— God’s Providential Love

Message #8

Ruth 4:1-12.

ETS: Boaz became the official redeemer of Ruth.

ESS: God is compassioante and caring, redeeming even those who are outcasts and overlooked.

OSS: [Devotional] {I want the hearers to reflect on their redemption through Jesus and give God praise because of His great care towards them, even when they were like Ruth— outcasts and overlooked.}

PQ: How is the redemption of Ruth sealed in this passage?

UW: Ways

TS: Let us examine the ways that Ruth’s redemption is sealed in this passage.

Boaz and the closest of kin enocunter one another. [v. 1]

The gate of the town was the place of great significance for social events and legal matters.

As Boaz summoned the kinsmen, it was literally as though he said, “Mr. So and so, come here and sit.”

Some suggests that for the legal matter to take place, Boaz would have had to know his name. Others suggest that he did know his name, but it is intentionally left out to make distinction to the consequence of his situation. Take note of the following:

Ruth 4:11 “All the people who were at the city gate, including the elders, said, “We are witnesses. May the Lord make the woman who is entering your house like Rachel and Leah, who together built the house of Israel. May you be powerful in Ephrathah and your name well known in Bethlehem.”

Boaz summoned the closest of kin eligible to redeem Ruth and he established a meeting with him.

The closest of king permitted Boaz to redeem Ruth. [vv. 2-6]

Evidence in the OT (Joshua 20:4 “When someone flees to one of these cities, stands at the entrance of the city gate, and states his case before the elders of that city, they are to bring him into the city and give him a place to live among them.” and 1 Kings 21:8, 1 Kings 21:11 “The men of his city, the elders and nobles who lived in his city, did as Jezebel had sent word to them, just as it was written in the letters she had sent them.”) support that elders had important roles in legal matters and carried authority. Here, it seems that their role, really, is that of witness so as to provide testimony to the agreement that could not be reversed.

Note here:

Tradition of the Levirite Marriage (Deuteronomy 25:5–10 ““When brothers live on the same property and one of them dies without a son, the wife of the dead man may not marry a stranger outside the family. Her brother-in-law is to take her as his wife, have sexual relations with her, and perform the duty of a brother-in-law for her. The first son she bears will carry on the name of the dead brother, so his name will not be blotted out from Israel. But if the man doesn’t want to marry his sister-in-law, she is to go to the elders at the city gate and say, ‘My brother-in-law refuses to preserve his brother’s name in Israel. He isn’t willing to perform the duty of a brother-in-law for me.’ The elders of his city will summon him and speak with him. If he persists and says, ‘I don’t want to marry her,’ then his sister-in-law will go up to him in the sight of the elders, remove his sandal from his foot, and spit in his face. Then she will declare, ‘This is what is done to a man who will not build up his brother’s house.’ And his family name in Israe…”)

The announcement in front of the elders of Boaz following the law and introducing the situation— requesting and advising the kinsmen to redeem Ruth.

The determination of Boaz— If you want to redeem it, do it. But if oyu do not want to redeem it, tell me so that I will know, because there isn’t anyone other than you to redeem it, and I am next after you.

The pairing of the land and Ruth— this was more than one financial burden and perhaps too much for the kinsmen.

Some suggests that he may have not been well enough off financially to take on both burdens.

Others suggest, with the support of verse 6, that for selfish reasons he did not want to redeem the land and Ruth because it would hinder his own inheritance.

The permission granted to Boaz of the redemption right— strong language is used in verse 6 when permission is granted:

The man did not say, “I won’t redeem it.” Instead, he said, “I cannot redeem it.” (Cundall, Arthur E., and Leon Morris. 1968. Judges and Ruth: An Introduction and Commentary. Vol. 7. Tyndale Old Testament Commentaries. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press.)

The redemption was sealed. [vv. 7-12]

Through a legally binding agreement [vv. 7-8]

The taking off of the sandal and giving it to the other party

Something not in practice during the time of events (hinted by the explanation)

The man took his sandal off and said buy back the property yourself

Through the presence of witnesses [vv. 9-11a]:

Boaz spoke to those there to ensure they knew their role as witnesses to the agreement taking place [v. 9-10]:

I am buying from Naomi everything that belonged to Elimelech, Chilion, and Mahlon. I have also acquired Ruth the Moabitess, Mahlon’s widow, as my wife, to perpetuate the deceased man’s name on his property, so that his name will not disappear among his relatives or from the gate of his hometown.

The people agreed they were witnesses. [v. 11a]

Through the blessing of the witnesses [vv. 11b-12]

A blessing of fruitfulness— Gen. 29:25-30.

Like that of Rachel and Leah

Like the house of Perez (which much of the tribe of Judah depended on)

Offspring or seed (important implications regarding their children)

Reflective Questions:

Read Ephesians 1:3-14.

[1] As you think about your own redemption, how do you have assurance that your redemption is sealed and secure?

[2] How can you offer God gratitude in these moments for the redemption provided for you through Jesus?