Ruth Series: Of Law Courts and David’s Line
Devotion by Graeme Harrison)
PRAYER: The workshop of the Carpenter
O Christ, the Master Carpenter,
who at the last through wood and nails
purchased our whole salvation;
wield well your tools in the workshop of your world,
so that we, who come rough-hewn to your bench,
may here be fashioned to a truer beauty by your hand.
We ask this in your name and for your sake. Amen.
A prayer of the Iona Community, Scotland
Read:
Ruth 4:1-16. Read this 3 times, each time asking God’s help and thinking about those words or phrases that leap out at you.
1Meanwhile Boaz went up to the town gate and sat down there just as the guardian-redeemer he had mentioned came along. Boaz said, “Come over here, my friend, and sit down.” So he went over and sat down.
2Boaz took ten of the elders of the town and said, “Sit here,” and they did so. 3Then he said to the guardian-redeemer, “Naomi, who has come back from Moab, is selling the piece of land that belonged to our relative Elimelek. 4I thought I should bring the matter to your attention and suggest that you buy it in the presence of these seated here and in the presence of the elders of my people. If you will redeem it, do so. But if you will not, tell me, so I will know. For no one has the right to do it except you, and I am next in line.”
“I will redeem it,” he said.
5Then Boaz said, “On the day you buy the land from Naomi, you also acquire Ruth the Moabite, the dead man’s widow, in order to maintain the name of the dead with his property.”
6At this, the guardian-redeemer said, “Then I cannot redeem it because I might endanger my own estate. You redeem it yourself. I cannot do it.”
7(Now in earlier times in Israel, for the redemption and transfer of property to become final, one party took off his sandal and gave it to the other. This was the method of legalizing transactions in Israel.)
8So the guardian-redeemer said to Boaz, “Buy it yourself.” And he removed his sandal.
9Then Boaz announced to the elders and all the people, “Today you are witnesses that I have bought from Naomi all the property of Elimelek, Kilion and Mahlon. 10I have also acquired Ruth the Moabite, Mahlon’s widow, as my wife, in order to maintain the name of the dead with his property, so that his name will not disappear from among his family or from his hometown. Today you are witnesses!”
11Then the elders and all the people at the gate said, “We are witnesses. May the Lord make the woman who is coming into your home like Rachel and Leah, who together built up the family of Israel. May you have standing in Ephrathah and be famous in Bethlehem. 12Through the offspring the Lord gives you by this young woman, may your family be like that of Perez, whom Tamar bore to Judah.”
13So Boaz took Ruth and she became his wife. When he made love to her, the Lord enabled her to conceive, and she gave birth to a son. 14The women said to Naomi: “Praise be to the Lord, who this day has not left you without a guardian-redeemer. May he become famous throughout Israel! 15He will renew your life and sustain you in your old age. For your daughter-in-law, who loves you and who is better to you than seven sons, has given him birth.”
16Then Naomi took the child in her arms and cared for him. 17The women living there said, “Naomi has a son!” And they named him Obed. He was the father of Jesse, the father of David.
(Ruth 4:1-16 NIV)
Thought for the Day:
Boaz had such integrity that he would risk losing the opportunity to marry the woman he had immense admiration for rather than cheat his relative of his legal rights. Everything then was taken out of Boaz’s control. His relative with the prior claim/responsibility to care for their relative in distress (for that is the sole role of a guardian-redeemer) could say yes or no to this responsibility. But the key point is that Boaz had no control. It is hard to “let go and let God” as the old saying states.
By doing so he kept his good character as well as gaining the amazing Naomi into his life.
Of course, Naomi had even less power over her life as a woman in those times but she too gained a man of good character into her life.
As a married couple their good qualities would have combined to make a rich upbringing for their children where good character would be a highly valued trait. This sets the scene for their great grandchild David who would become King of God’s people.
But what is truly remarkable about this whole story of Ruth is that she is not even an Israelite. She comes from the Moabites to the south east her were ancient enemies of Israel. The story is highlighting that God cares for good character and faith above all else that may divide us. A lesson that had to be relearnt by the early church. God is delighted to welcome into the centre of his family anyone who yearns for the things that God yearns for.
How might this insight help you today?