Ruth #6: Three Different Types of Men
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Ruth Recap
In the time of the Judges
Spiritually Dark
Famine - God’s Discipline
Elimelech & Naomi (Mr. My God is King & Mrs. Pleasant) - Mahlon and Chilion (Mr. Sick and Mr. Dying)
Living in Bethlehem (house of bread)
Abandon their people, land, inheritance, and God… To go to Moab.
Elimelech Dies
Sick and Dying take Moabite wives: Ruth and Orpah
Sick and Dying get sick and die.
Naomi sets off to go back to Bethlehem
On the way, Naomi urges Ruth and Orpah to go back to Moab.
Orpah returns… Ruth Clings to Naomi…
Ruth has a true conversion.
Upon returning, Ruth seeks to work hard and provide for her and Naomi
Ruth shows faith in God by saying that she will find favor in a man’s eyes.
God’s Subtle Hand of Providence begins to manifest.
There happens to be a Godly man in town named Boaz (In Him is Strength).
Ruth happens to be in Boaz’s field
Boaz happens to see Ruth
Boaz happens to be in the line of Redeemers
Redeemer Laws.
Be Committed Chapter Four: Love Finds a Way (Ruth 4)
The purpose of these laws was to preserve the name and protect the property of families in Israel.
Boaz shows interest in Ruth because of her character.
He praises her to her face
He warns the men that if they touch her he will hold them accountable
He gives her a great job with benefits
He gives her tons of food for her and her mom
Ruth and Boaz remain faithful to God for around half a year
Ruth works really hard
Boaz remains at arms length
Ruth doesn’t chase Boaz but instead “get’s in his way”.
Namoi instructs Ruth on how to show Boaz that she desires him to redeem her.
Ruth obeys her mother-in-law
Ruth entrust herself to Boaz and invites him to lead her to redemption.
Boaz responds positively to Ruth’s proposal for him to propose!
Boaz protects Ruth’s name and reputation
Boaz doesn’t take advantage of Ruth sexually
Boaz expresses his desire to do the right thing for Ruth
Introduce today’s theme
As we’ve recalled this story we’ve witnessed the character and choices of two important characters.
The first was Elimelech
A man who sought to make his own way without God.
A man who did not prepare his family for the disaster about to come.
A man, who’s name suggests he should be wise, but actually acted very foolishly.
The second is Boaz
A man who sought to care for a woman who had been failed by her deceased husband and father-in-law.
A man who provided for widows who’s husbands had failed them.
A man who is commited to doing the right thing no matter what the cost.
If I were to describe them each with two words, I would say...
Elimelech: Reckless and Foolish
Boaz: Righteous and Wise
We are now going to meet a third guy.
Literally, in the Hebrew, he is introduced as mr. so and so.
His character isn’t bad and foolish enough to warrant a name like Elimelech. Elimelech’s name shows irony.
A man who should have acted as if God was his king does the opposite.
His character isn’t good and courageous enough to warrant a name like Boaz
Boaz’s name essentially describes him as heroic and a provider.
In him is strength.
This man is just.. oh that guy over there.
He’s lazy. Impulsive. Doesn’t do what he is responsible to do.
As we look at him, we will also compare him to Boaz.
So lets go...
Ruth 4:1a (ESV)
1 Now Boaz had gone up to the gate and sat down there. And behold, the redeemer, of whom Boaz had spoken, came by...
Look at God’s providence here:
The day after his interaction with Ruth, Boaz goes to the place where business transactions are done and waits for the man he needs to talk to.
The guy shows up, which wasn’t guaranteed, and this gives Boaz the opportunity to make his move.
There are no supernatural miracles in this story like Jonah, Exodus, the gospels, etc.
Those types of obvious signs of God’s movement are part of God’s...
Visible Hand of Miracle
Visible Hand of Miracle
Ruth is full of stuff like this… God’s
Subtle Hand of Providence
Subtle Hand of Providence
Most of us experience this type of life. Our lives feel more like the book of Ruth than like the book of Acts.
Thats okay.
God is still at work. Boaz takes advantage of it. Takes a risk!
Application:
I want to be walking with Jesus so closely that I want to be able to sense and discern when he is working out something and I’m supposed to listen and obey.
1 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.
Boaz is seeking the man out, taking command of the situation. Moving forward because he desires to help and redeem Ruth.
2 And he took ten men of the elders of the city and said, “Sit down here.” So they sat down.
This is Boaz calling court to session. He is setting up a business transaction.
He’s calling witnesses for what he is about to do.
This provides both accountability and a legal ground for how it ends up.
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.
“selling the parcel of land” is Boaz’s way of telling the Redeemer that the land and all that is associated with it has been offered to Boaz for him to redeem it. This is essentially what Ruth was doing when she lay down at his feet the night before.
Our concept of selling would be illegal for Naomi to do because she was a woman. Everyone there knows this so the obvious conclusion is that Boaz means “selling” in the sense of Kinsman Redeemer Rights.
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.”
Boaz is being shrewd.
Showing great practical intelligence. Being crafty.
The reality is, that the man who Boaz is talking to should have known that Naomi was in town and that her and Ruth needed help.
For some reason, this mr. so and so, is failing his kinsman redeemer duties.
By law he was supposed to come to the aid of Naomi the moment she came back into Bethlehem.
Well now, Boaz has publicly identified the problem. He is holding mr. so and so accountable.
But Boaz is presenting the issue by identifying some physical property that has value in order to rope him in!
“Hey Mr. so and so, there is some real estate you can buy! Want to buy it???”
YEAH!
At this time, the reader should be concerned.
What! Not mr so and so.
This lazy failure. Someone not even worthy of knowing his name!
Ruth 4:5 (ESV)
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.”
So, Boaz reveals the strings attached to the deal.
Want to buy a cheap piece of real estate!?
Well it comes with a bitter mother in law.
And You get a Moabite!
This guy doesn’t know that Ruth is a rock star.
But because of likely racism, this is a huge negative.
He has to get Ruth, the Moabite, pregnant and then split the inheritance with her son that he provides her.
SO, what was presented as a great gain for mr. so and so, is now being shown to be a loss for mr. so and so.
All the men of the town are witnessing this moment. There is no way the redeemer can get out of giving Ruth children now.
By expressly mentioning “perpetuate the name of the dead in his inheritance”, Boaz...
Shows that the redeemer won’t be acquiring the inheritance for himself, but will be securing it for Elimelech’s line.
Is making the need for giving Ruth offspring a public matter.
Ensuring that the redeemer will not underhand the deal by not fulfilling the full duties of a redeemer.
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.”
Boaz’s plan worked!
By making the matter public and intentionally highlighting the need for Ruth to be given children Boaz opened up a way for him to take Ruth as his wife.
There is something to be said regarding the difference between the potential redeemer and Boaz.
The potential redeemer saw the land as gain.
Boaz saw Ruth as gain.
The potential redeemer was unwilling to risk his own inheritance to redeem a Moabite.
Boaz was willing to risk reputation and his inheritance in order to redeem Ruth, the Moabite.
Here is mr. so and so’s true character.
He cares more about his inheritance and his name than he cares about obeying the Law of God and doing good towards widows.
What a joke!
You don’t want to be like this! I don’t want to be like this.
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.
This is akin to taking a document to a notary.
This was an official sign that the deal was made and that everyone included in the deal would be held accountable.
How would you know someone made a promise, well, here is there sandal!
8 So when the redeemer said to Boaz, “Buy it for yourself,” he drew off his sandal.
Boaz was ready to pull off his shoe to redeem Ruth!
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.”
Boaz publicly acknowledges before all that he is Redeeming Ruth and Naomi!
Be Committed Chapter Four: Love Finds a Way (Ruth 4)
The meaning of redemption. The word redeem means “to set free by paying a price.”
HE IS REVERSING THE CURSE OF DEATH FOR RUTH AND NAOMI.
Y’all this is the difference between Boaz and Mr. So and So.
Mr. so and so cares nothing for God or others.
Boaz cares completely.
Boaz shows us the way Jesus was going to act towards us!
11 I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.
12 He who is a hired hand and not a shepherd, who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees, and the wolf snatches them and scatters them.
13 He flees because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep.
14 I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me,
15 just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep.
16 And I have other sheep that are not of this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd.
17 For this reason the Father loves me, because I lay down my life that I may take it up again.
18 No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This charge I have received from my Father.”
Marks of a Redeemer
Needed to be A Near kinsman: Jesus had to be made like us, related to us before he could redeem us. So he became a man.
Needed to be Able to Pay the Redemption Price: Jesus paid our redemption with his sinless perfect blood. No body, but Jesus, was rich enough to pay our price for sin.
Needed to be willing to redeem: Jesus showed his willingness to lay down his life for us in order to redeem us.
Be Committed Chapter Four: Love Finds a Way (Ruth 4)
Like Boaz, Jesus wasn’t concerned about jeopardizing His own inheritance; instead, He made us a part of His inheritance (Eph. 1:11, 18). Like Boaz, Jesus made His plans privately, but He paid the price publicly; and like Boaz, Jesus did what He did because of His love for His bride.