Ruth encourages Boaz that she is willing to come under his covering and ultimately to be a blessing to Naomi to carry on Elimelech’s line. The ancient kinsman-redeemer laws are applied. This speaks of Christ covering and redeeming a people for Himself.
Ruth 3: Ruth and Boaz at the Threshing Floor
1 Then Naomi her mother-in-law said to her, "My daughter, should I not seek rest for you, that it may be well with you?
2 Is not Boaz our relative, with whose young women you were? See, he is winnowing barley tonight at the threshing floor.
3 Wash therefore and anoint yourself, and put on your cloak and go down to the threshing floor, but do not make yourself known to the man until he has finished eating and drinking.
4 But when he lies down, observe the place where he lies. Then go and uncover his feet and lie down, and he will tell you what to do."
5 And she replied, "All that you say I will do."
6 So she went down to the threshing floor and did just as her mother-in-law had commanded her.
7 And when Boaz had eaten and drunk, and his heart was merry, he went to lie down at the end of the heap of grain. Then she came softly and uncovered his feet and lay down.
8 At midnight the man was startled and turned over, and behold, a woman lay at his feet!
9 He said, "Who are you?" And she answered, "I am Ruth, your servant. Spread your wings over your servant, for you are a redeemer."
10 And he said, "May you be blessed by the LORD, my daughter. You have made this last kindness greater than the first in that you have not gone after young men, whether poor or rich.
11 And now, my daughter, do not fear. I will do for you all that you ask, for all my fellow townsmen know that you are a worthy woman.
12 And now it is true that I am a redeemer. Yet there is a redeemer nearer than I.
13 Remain tonight, and in the morning, if he will redeem you, good; let him do it. But if he is not willing to redeem you, then, as the LORD lives, I will redeem you. Lie down until the morning."
14 So she lay at his feet until the morning, but arose before one could recognize another. And he said, "Let it not be known that the woman came to the threshing floor."
15 And he said, "Bring the garment you are wearing and hold it out." So she held it, and he measured out six measures of barley and put it on her. Then she went into the city.
16 And when she came to her mother-in-law, she said, "How did you fare, my daughter?" Then she told her all that the man had done for her,
17 saying, "These six measures of barley he gave to me, for he said to me, 'You must not go back empty-handed to your mother-in-law.'"
18 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."
Ruth 4: Boaz Redeems Ruth
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.
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."
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."
11 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."
Ruth and Boaz Marry
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.
The Genealogy of David
18 Now these are the generations of Perez: Perez fathered Hezron,
1. In Ruth 3:1-5 Ruth displays not only a submission to Naomi whom she wants to honour, but also a boldness in purpose. Uncovering Boaz’s feet was a sign that she wanted to marry him if he was willing. She initiates here even though Boaz has already noted that she is a woman of character, diligence and integrity. It is at that point Boaz has to act on this act one way or another, Ruth 3:5.
2. The interaction between Boaz and Ruth is one of the most joyous in the scriptures, Ruth 3:6-15. It shows the willingness of Boaz to marry and therefore redeem her as well as confirming that he is a man of abundance, grace and humility. He is honoured by Ruth’s request to come under his covering and be married by him, vs 10. He acknowledges she is a worthy woman, vs 11, but that there is also a closer relative than he and therefore a potential redeemer, vs 12. Boaz confirms he will redeem if the closer relative does not. Either way Ruth will be protected. But clearly Ruth wanted Boaz to do it. No doubt Naomi knew of the closer kinsman-redeemer but he is not mentioned by name. We no nothing of this man or his character, but by law he was the one who should have initiated, rather than Boaz. But here we see both law and love shaking hands. Indeed that is how it is in Christ for all who come under His covering.
3. Ruth returns to Naomi with the news and Naomi assures Ruth that the matter will be dealt with straight away, Ruth 3:16-18. She knows Boaz is a man of action as a result of his integrity. It sets the scene for the joy and blessing shown in the interactions in Ruth 4.
4. Boaz wastes no time and sits at the gate of Bethlehem, Ruth 4:1, 2. The city gates are where the law is city issues are discussed and transacted. It is here where legal, moral and spiritual council is transacted. No doubt Boaz gets there early before the nearer kinsman passes through. Once he does he calls him ‘friend’, there is no name which is interesting considering he is likely an uncle, a brother of Elimelech. He may also have been an older brother, but this would show a distancing that would deny the relationship or show there was considerable strain in the relationship and point to the fact that this man was not a person of integrity. As we have noted he should have already approached Naomi as the nearest relative (kinsman) to redeem her. Ten elders are gathered to affirm the discussion and transaction. Boaz organises the whole event. Often those who are blessed in life are blessed with order and discipline.
5. Boaz lays out the point of the meeting, Ruth 4:3,4. He we see with his wisdom and his shrewdness. The nearer kinsman no doubt knows the law and that he should buy Naomi’s field to perpetuate the name of Elimelech, who was in all likelihood this man’s brother. The man then says he will redeem it. It is here that Boaz adds the detail that as part of the transaction he would also need to redeem Elimelech’s dead sons Chilion and Marlon, vs 9 through the only available woman of childbearing age. This of course is Ruth. Naomi is beyond child-bearing age and so Ruth the Moabitess is part of the redeemable package. If this man married Ruth he would have his own sons inheritances being divided up as part of his marriage to Ruth and any potential sons that she would from the marriage, vs 6. This was unacceptable to this man and he allows Boaz to buy and therefore redeem Naomi’s property and Elimelech’s land rights and identity in Israel. The sandal is taken off by the man to affirm the transaction. The elder’s acknowledge the transaction has taken place.
6. Boaz states twice that the hearers are witnesses to the transaction, Ruth 4:9, 10. We are also called to witness the redemption that has occurred for us in Christ. They acknowledge that they are witnesses, vs 11 and then pronounce that a blessing by upon the union. This blessing concerns Israel generally as it came through Leah and Rachael to the 12 tribes and then specifically to Judah through his daughter in law Tamar who bore him Perez. This is interesting because Tamar had her own painful trials with kinsman redeemers who failed her where she had to take things into her own hands and the Lord blessed her as a result, Genesis 38.
7. Boaz and Ruth marry and are blessed in their union, Ruth 4:13-17. Ruth gives birth to a son Obed which means “Worshipper”. There is praise, comfort and blessing given to Naomi and we see her later days are filled with identity and peace in the God who comforts those who have suffered loss. No doubt she is happy to be known as Naomi, “Pleasantness” and not Mara “Bitterness”. She nurses her grandson Odeb on her lap. Obed we see is the grandfather of Kind David, Ruth 4:17. The line of Tamar and the line of Ruth those two amazing women play their part alongside other women who also knew hardship and blessing. All these women are mentioned in the genealogy of Jesus mentioned in Mt 1:1-17. It is interesting to note that in Matthew’s genealogy that Boaz’s mother is mentioned as Rahab who you would remember was a Canaanite prostitute from the city of Jericho. She was blessed by her diligence and faith in hiding the spies and sought the blessing of her family as a result. One wonders if Boaz didn’t see in Ruth some of the valued qualities and characteristics he saw in his own mother Rahab and married her as a result.
Vision Point for cell groups
CBC’s Vision :- To be a growing biblical church community, significantly influencing our city and beyond, through intentional outreach, fulfilling our mission.
Sermon and reading topic for this week – Sermon “You’re not saying it right”
Reading – Judges 12:1-7
1. The Judges were often outcasts. Jephthah was no different. He was the son of a prostitute and cast out by his brothers to live miles away in a town called Tob. But this period made Jephthah into a warrior and he was called upon to lead the Gileadites. What hardships or differences from the ‘norm’ have you experienced that have made you stronger and more resilient?
2. Jephthah led the Gileadites and fought the Ammonites and won. Another tribe in Israel, Ephraim got jealous and fought against Jephthah and the Gileadites. Do you recall the circumstances surrounding the word “Shibboleth” and how it was their undoing?
3. Discuss what you know about the history of the Tower of Babel in Genesis 11, what it was and how Pentecost and the pouring out of the Holy Spirit in Acts 2 reverses the language barrier curse.
4. We are known by our words and attitudes as to what motivates us and what captivates our hearts. Discuss how the Holy Spirit speaks to you and how we can more accurately discern God’s voice.
5. Discuss some prayer points of the group. Church prayer points.
Prayer Points
1. Recharge youth and Kids@Church ministries. Pray for Maddison and Melinda as they Coordinate Kids and Youth ministries.
2. Growth, conversions, joy in the Word and Spirit to remain and increase.
3. Church finances to meet our new staff and to put a roof over our café.
4. Sunday’s message from Ruth 4 - “Ruth’s Redeemer and ours” – Pastor Jay.
Praise Points.
1. More visitors to church on Sunday.
2. Two cell groups starting up this term.
3. Praise and worship – pray for continued growth and blessing.
4. Unity, peace and grace at CBC.
Announcements
1. Members meeting 23rd May after the morning service.
2. Recharge on this week all high schoolers – 6:30pm-8:30pm Friday at church. $2 coin donation. Melinda Fourie heading up this ministry.
3. Kids Church for all primary schoolers. Maddison Willey is the ministry contact. Parents please check your rosters. Remember to sign your kids in and out.
4. Combined Church worship and prayer meeting at Beacon Baptist, 30th May 5pm.
5. Working bee – Saturday 5th June, 8:00am start at the church.
6. Outdoor service in the morning 6th June followed by lunch, Potjie on “the common”
7. Church bank details bsb:- 704 913 and Acc number:- 4000 4388 1
