BIBLE STUDIES ARCHIVE.....RUTH

In the last study of Ruth, Chapter 3 we saw the love story unfold between Boaz and Ruth. As we review Chapter 3 we see that there is another relative next in line to Boaz who could be Ruth's kinsman redeemer. We can only imagine how Ruth feels as she is in love with Boaz. With Naomi's instruction in Chapter 3:18 "Then she said, Sit still my daughter, until thou know how the matter will fall: for the man will not be in rest until he have finished the thing this day." Naomi understood Boaz's message: "sit still Ruth." Rest and watch and see what he'll do.

What a great message for us always. When things seem like there is no way out. When it seems almost impossible to the human understanding, we should WATCH, and SEE what HE will do. That is a time to experience HIS Glory.

Chapter 4 brings us to such a time. Boaz goes up to the city gate to take care of this matter. Now in an ancient city, that is where all business ventures took place, as well as all the commerce. Boaz finds the other redeemer - the other relative who was closer in line than he was. Ruth 4:1 "Then went Boaz up to the gate, and sat him down there: and behold the kinsman of whom Boaz spoke came by; unto whom he said, Ho, such a one! Turn aside, sit down here. And he turned aside and sat down".

In other words Boaz is saying, Hey come here, sit down, let's talk, I have a business deal to talk over with you.

As is required, Boaz took ten men of the elders of the city (Ruth 4: 2-4),
With great wisdom Boaz starts to mention how their relative Elimelech (Ruth's father in law who died in Moab), passed away, without mentioning Ruth as of yet. He mentions that the widow Naomi is back in Bethlehem among them. She was advertising to sell a piece of land. He explains how he knows this relative has the right of redemption before he does. He asks if the relative would like to purchase the land from Naomi, redeeming it on her behalf. He says yes, he'd like to buy the land. Ruth 4:4 states, "the relative said he would redeem it."

Ruth 4:5: ""Then said Boaz, What day thou buyest the field of the hand of Naomi, thou must buy it also of Ruth the Moabitess, the wife of the dead to raise up the name of the dead upon his inheritance". The relative says this: 4:6 "I cannot redeem it for myself, lest I mar mine own inheritance: redeem thus my right to thyself, for I cannot redeem it."

The other kinsman is saying Boaz, well; I don't want to marry her, as I have my own inheritance. I'm already engaged to someone else and have my own dowry to receive. So he says for Boaz to take it. You can imagine the relief in Boaz's heart when he hears the decision he so desired. That is exactly the decision he hoped for. He says that he wants to marry the girl and makes a commitment at the gate. He states he will buy the land and marry the girl and settle the deal in front of the elders. This was, basically, their way of making a legal contract. In this ancient culture taking off your shoe and handing it to someone else, was a promise to say that they just made a verbal commitment and would carry it out in their walk in life. It indicated that they would be held accountable if they did not follow through with their commitment. The shoe was kept as a testimony against them if they did not keep their word. If they didn't keep their end of the bargain they had the shoe to prove it.

Jesus has made a commitment to us to marry us. We are the Bride of Christ. He promises to take us home for an eternity. His down payment is the gift of the Holy Spirit. We don't have to wait to go to Heaven to receive this gift. The Holy Spirit is ours right now when we put our faith and trust in the Lord, Jesus Christ.

Chapter 4 verse 10 sums it up as Boaz expresses that they are all witnesses that day: all that belonged to Elimelech, Chilion and Mahlon, all that was in the hand of Naomi Boaz has redeemed. He makes it clear that he is committing himself to the gentile girl and that she will indeed not only be his wife but a child of the God of Israel. The Bible tells us they were married.

The witnesses, the elders at the gate in 4:11-12 say this to Boaz: "The Lord make the woman that is come into thine house like Rachel and like Leah, which two did build the house of Israel: and do thou worthily in Ephratah, and be famous in Bethlehem: and let thy house be like the house of Pharez, whom Tamar bare unto Judah, of the seed which the Lord shall give thee of this young woman". (Note: Ephratah is an ancient name for Bethlehem). Ruth has now been covered by Boaz, her kinsman redeemer and will not longer be considered a Moabitess.

When we accept our "KINSMAN REDEEMER" JESUS CHRIST into our lives, we are covered by HIS Blood. An eternal covenant is made through HIS innocently shed blood. NO ONE LOVES US LIKE CHRIST LOVES US. HE died for you to redeem you from the pit. HE will give us a future and a hope. No longer being a slave to sin. Free in HIM. We are born again of the Spirit, with a new life in HIM, "where old things pass away and all things become new".

HE is our Bridegroom.

This Love Story is our Love Story! It is truly a physical example of a great Spiritual Truth. Jesus covers with HIS Blood and calls us to be HIS Gentile Bride. It is romance beyond natural understanding.

Now as Chapter 4 unfolds, we find in Ruth 4: 13 - 16 that "Boaz took Ruth and she was his wife: and when he went in unto her, the Lord gave her conception, and she bare a son. And the women said unto Naomi, Blessed be the Lord, which hath not left thee this day without a kinsman, that his name may be famous in Israel. And he shall be unto thee a restorer of thy life, and a nourisher of thine old age: for thy daughter in law, which loveth thee, which is better to thee than seven sons, hath born him. And Naomi took the child and laid it in her bosom and became nurse unto it.”

Naomi left Bethlehem full, and she came back empty, but now the Lord God is blessing her once again. When the women told Ruth that she was better than having seven sons, that was a true blessing as the number seven symbolizes perfection, and completion.

The words of these women were quite prophetic, even though they may not have known it at the time, and we will study why next month, as this lesson continues out of Chapter 4.
The genealogy at the end of Chapter 4 merits a study all of its' own. We look forward to sharing this word with you.