“The Legal Proceedings”
By Pastor Rich Paradis
Ruth 4:1-12
As
the story of Ruth and Boaz has unfolded, there have been a number of different
venues shared. We began with the family of Elimelech travelling to the land of
Moab due to a famine in Bethlehem and the surrounding areas. The story
continues with Naomi and Ruth’s return to Bethlehem because “God had visited
His people in giving them food”. From there, we have seen the story unfold in
the field of Boaz, the home of Naomi and Ruth, and most recently the community
threshing floor. Now we will see the story continue at the gate of the city,
the “town hall” of ancient Israel.
I.
Gathering
at the Gate Ruth 4:1-2
a.
After
a probable sleepless night, the story continues with Boaz doing exactly what he
had said he would in Ruth 3:13. He had said that “when morning comes” he would
see to the continuing care and provision for Ruth and Naomi. The trust the
Naomi had in the character of Boaz in Ruth 3:18 was not misplaced, was it? Verse 1 introduces us to the
“courtroom” of the ancient world, the city gate. This was the recognized place
for business and legal transactions. Because it was the place where everyone
would go through on their way to the day’s activities, it was a place of public
interaction and activity.
b.
Because
of the normal flow of people from the city to work in the mornings and the
activity at the gate all through the day, it didn’t take long before the “close
relative” made his way through that area. While there is the normal flow of
life going on here, let’s not forget the providence of God in getting this man
to the place where he was most needed at this time in the story. With the
appearance of this unnamed man, Boaz wastes no time in calling to him and
asking him to sit down and talk for a little bit. And the man does just that.
It is noteworthy that in the first 2 verses of this chapter, we see “sitting
down” mentioned 5 times. There is important business to attend to, along with
the hand of God at work.
c.
Boaz
continues to put together the proceedings needing attention by summoning 10
“elders” of the city to sit down at the gate as well. Again, Verse 2 tells us that these “men with
beards” responded to Boaz’ appeal by sitting down to hear the information that
Boaz would bring to all of them, along with some other people that would gather
while the proceedings were under way.
d.
So
now we have all the people necessary at the city gate to hear of both the need
and the plan for caring for Ruth and Naomi going forward. Boaz has been
faithful to his character, but so has God!
II.
The
Case Is Presented Ruth 4:3-5
a.
The
first order of business is for Boaz to share with the “closest relative” the
situation that Naomi is in. Verse 3
unfolds with Boaz sharing that Naomi, the wife of Elimelech, is in a position
where she “has to sell” the piece of land which had been owned by her husband.
She does not currently “own” it or she could have farmed it herself to service
their economic situation, but she does have the first right to buy it back but
she has no means. What the reason is for this need to sell is not stated, but it
can be speculated that Naomi and Ruth can no longer hold right to purchase this
land due to their poverty and needs going forward.
b.
Boaz
continues in Verse 4 by saying that
his desire is to inform this closest relative of this situation and appeal to
him as the go-el, or kinsman redeemer. This “informing” is literally to
“uncover his ears” to the situation. Boaz appeals for the closest relative to
redeem the land, that is buy it back from Naomi to ensure her care and
provision for the future. He mentions that this relative is the only one that
can serve as this “closest relative”, but if he doesn’t redeem it Boaz will.
The elders of the city are both hearing this situation unfold and are empowered
to witness the decisions that are made here. What is going on is not a jury
trial, but a proceeding that will need to be witnessed to ensure the decisions
are implemented as these witnesses have heard them.
c.
The
closest relative now does something that must have caused the heart of Boaz to
shudder. He says that he will redeem the land from Naomi to himself. OUCH! Boaz
cares deeply for both Ruth and Naomi, and hopes that they will be cared for
going forward. But it is not a secret to those of us that are reading the story
that he cares deeply for Ruth. Is the plan that he has in mind crumbling? Has
God lost control of the proceedings? Is our love story over?
d.
Boaz
continues with his explanation of the role of this “kinsman redeemer” as Verse 5 opens. He says that in addition
to the land that would be acquired as the go-el, there is also the matter of
the care of Ruth the Moabitess, the widow of the deceased (Mahlon, according to
Verse 10). Her care, in addition to the duties of the kinsman redeemer in
marrying her, going in to her and providing an heir to inherit whatever is
remaining and to continue the name into the future would also fall to this
“closest relative”. His answer is…
III.
The
Refusal of the “Closest Relative” Ruth 4:6-8
a.
The
“closest relative” quickly looks at all of the responsibilities of this
“kinsman redeemer” and says that he can’t do it. He was willing to redeem the
land, but to redeem Ruth would have jeopardized his own inheritance. Verse 6 does not tell us how the
inheritance would be jeopardized, but it clear as day that this unnamed man has
made his decision. Is it because to marry Ruth would be to marry a foreigner?
Is it that he doesn’t want to split whatever he has between two families? We
are left wondering what those answers are, but we do not have to wonder about
his decision. He has said, “NO!” He also continues to give detail to this
answer by saying that Boaz can have his right of redemption because he doesn’t
want it.
b.
We
are reminded of the times that this story is happening in as Verse 7 opens. Remember, we are in the
time of the Judges. The land is chaotic, the people are sinful and rebellious,
and the Law of God is something that has been put on the back burner at best
and forgotten completely in most situations. The writer reminds us of this
chaos and rebellion by stating that “the custom in former times” included a
confirmation of any legal attestations to be made by removing a sandal as a
visual sign to all that witnessed the decision so that it could be remembered in
that records of this type of thing were not common.
c.
The
brief parenthesis is concluded and we are back to the story in Verse 8. The “closest relative” does
exactly as the custom prescribes by saying that Boaz can buy the land for
himself, along with all of the other responsibilities. And he removes his
sandal and gives it to Boaz as a demonstration of the decision being confirmed.
IV.
The
Decision Witnessed and Blessings Are Given
Ruth 4:9-12
a.
With
the last recorded words of the “closest relative”, Boaz turns to the witnessing
elders and summarizes what they have seen today and all that has taken place. Verses 9-10 share that all of the
desires of Boaz have now been met:
i. The land of
Naomi has been bought that once belonged to Elimelech, Chilion and Mahlon.
ii. Ruth will now be
the wife of Boaz.
1.
To
continue to name of the deceased.
2.
To
ensure that he is not excluded from the family in future dealing regarding
inheritance and land.
b.
This
section concludes with a series of blessings from those who were in the court that
day. Verses 11-12 share these
blessings:
i. May Ruth be
blessed with fertility – This blessing was the blessing that all Israelite
women longed for. Children were seen as the blessing of God and to be fertile
was to be blessed. Remember that Rachel and Leah had twelve sons between them.
ii. May Boaz be
blessed with both wealth and fame in Bethlehem – Boaz’ faithfulness will be
rewarded at last!
iii. May the
offspring of this marriage be blessed of the Lord – Perez was Boaz’ ancestor.
His birth to Judah was based on a union from a levirate practice (Genesis 38).
These ancestors had given a prominent place to the tribe of Judah. The blessing
here is that the children of this union would do the same.
1.
We’ll
see that unfold in our next lesson!
V.
An
Application For All Of Us
a.
God will ultimately see His plans accomplished.
b.
God
uses people who have right priorities and purposes to work even in the most
difficult of times.
c.
God
doesn’t always make the way easy on the path to His will.
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