Ruth and Boaz marry

Ruth Chapter 4

Boaz went to the town gate and took a seat there. When the family redeemer he had mentioned came by, Boaz called to him to come talk. So they sat down together and Boaz called ten leaders from the town as witnesses. Boaz told the family redeemer that Naomi came back from Moab and she was selling the land that belonged to their relative Elimelech. Boaz suggested that the family redeemer could purchase it and could do so on the spot in front of his witnesses. But if he didn’t want the land, then he had to let Boaz know right away, because he was next in line for it.

The man replied that he would redeem the land. And Boaz told him that with the land came Ruth, the Moabite widow. So that she could have children who would carry her husband’s name and keep the land in the family. The man replied that then he could not redeem the land because it might endanger his own estate. He suggested that Boaz redeem it.

It was the custom in those days that anyone transferring a right of purchase would remove his sandal and hand it to the other party. This publicly validated the transaction. So the family redeemer took off his sandal and told Boaz to buy the land. The Boaz said to the witnesses that he had bought from Naomi the property of Elimelech, Kilion and Mahlon and with the land he had acquired Ruth to be his wife. This way, he said, she can have a son to carry on the family name of her dead husband and to inherit the family property in his hometown.

Then the leaders and all people standing there replied that they were witnesses and prayed that the woman who was coming into Boaz’s home be like Rachel and Leah from whom all the nation of Israel descended. And they prayed that Boaz be as great in Ephrathah and famous in Bethlehem and the Lord would give him descendants by the young woman who would be like those of their ancestors Perez, the son of Tamar and Judah.

So Boaz married Ruth and took her home to live and she became pregnant and birthed a son. The women of the town said to Naomi, “Praise the Lord who has given you a family redeemer today! May he be famous in Israel and may this child restore your youth and care for you in your old age. For he is the son of your daughter-in-law who loves you so much and has been better to you than seven sons."

Naomi took care of the baby and cared for him as if he were her own. The neighborhood women said, “Now at last Naomi has a son again!” And they named him Obed. He became the father of Jesse and grandfather of David.

BIBLE NOTES SHOW: The town gate was the center of activity and Boaz could find his relative there. It was a good place to transact business and find witnesses. Boaz presented his case to the relative by first giving new information, that Naomi’s husband still had some property in the area that was for sale. The relative backed down probably because he feared that a son through Ruth might transfer some of his property to the family of Emelech.
This book may seem like a nice story, but in reality, the events recorded in Ruth were part of God’s preparations for the births of David and Jesus.

How does this chapter relate to us today? Just as Ruth was unaware of the larger purpose of her life, we will not know the full purpose of our lives until we are able to look back from the perspective of eternity. We must live faithful to the Lord, knowing that the significance of our lives will extend beyond our lifetime.

Yours in Christ,
Mary

Prayer Requests are needed for:
HEALTH: Gabe, Wanda, Janice Long’s parents, Arlene’s nephew David, Lori (who suffered a terrible accident)and her family and my neighbor Al who is nearing the end of his life. And Barb who went in for back surgery and had a heart attack and stroke. Update on Stella: She is 10 weeks old and has her own room at the hospital. The doctors continue to experiment with respirators, but her parents can see progress in her lung activity. They need your prayers so badly. Let’s all raise our voices to God to hear our prayers.
SPIRITUAL UPLIFTING: Gail, Mary
RESTORATION OF FAITH: Al, John
LOVE AND SUPPORT: Claire, Hunter
SUPPORT: Haiti, Chile, those who need jobs, those who are about to lose or have lost their homes. Pray too, for our country’s leaders and our military people who die each day for our freedom.