Ruth 4: Celebration

The story ended in chapter 3 in suspense. Ruth and Naomi were waiting in a mixture of great expectation and anxiety because their status would be changed in the next 24 hours. They would be redeemed by either the closest redeemer, whose name was never revealed, or Boaz. Ruth and Naomi would prefer Boaz. However, nothing was certain at that time.

Summary of Ruth 4

Boaz acted immediately. While he was near the city gate, he happened to see the closest relative. Then, he quickly summoned the ten elders of the city and explained to them that Naomi came back from Moab to Bethlehem and she needed to be redeemed. At first, the closest relative said that he would redeem. Then, Boaz explained further that redemption would include not only Naomi’s land, but also Ruth the Moabite, the widow of Mahlon, in order to raise up the name of the deceased. Then, the closest relative told Boaz that he could not redeem it. Boaz, who was next in line for redemption, officially proclaimed that he had bought the land that belonged to Naomi and acquired Ruth to be his wife.

Boaz married Ruth and they had a son named Obed. The whole village celebrated and blessed Naomi as well. This Obed came to be the grandfather of king David.

Repeated Keywords

In an Inductive study, we examine the text closely to make a few simple, fundamental observations on the frequently repeated phrases and words. Here are a few repeated keywords: redeemer, redeem, Boaz, deceased, fathered, and witnesses,

Boaz was repeated eight times. The chapter clearly showed that the main character in chapter 4 was Boaz. The main repeated verb was redeem. Therefore, the main continent of this chapter was that Boaz redeemed Ruth and Naomi. However, this event did not just take place at the individual or the family level. Plenty of witnesses partook and confirmed this redemption event, and this signified that the redemption was for the whole community to celebrate. Then, there was a dramatic change in status from the deceased to “life” for Naomi, Ruth, and even Elimelech. As a result of this event, they became the ancestor of King David, who was the representative physical ancestor of LORD Jesus.

Boaz: A Man of Action

As Naomi predicted, he immediately launched into action to settle the matter related to redemption. He happened to meet the redeemer in the city gate and quickly summoned ten elders of the city. We briefly see how the LORD guided Boaz to meet the redeemer near the city gate on that very morning. Also, we can see the extent of Boaz’s (positive) influence in the city by the quickness with which he was able to summon all the elders in a very short time.

Swift, Decisive Proclamation

Although the closest redeemer was willing to redeem Naomi’s land initially, after being informed about his additional duty to acquire Ruth the Moabite, he stated he could not redeem (Ruth 4:9). With his refusal, Boaz made a swift, decisive proclamation. Boaz proclaimed to all the witnesses that he redeemed the land of Naomi and acquired Ruth to be his wife in order to raise up the name of the deceased. It was a firm statement that no one could object.

Let’s notice a few things. Boaz followed the principle thoroughly. Based on the law of Moses laid out by God, he followed it step-by-step, ensuring that every important person, the closest redeemer and the ten elders, were summoned and consulted. Boaz, although being wealthy and very influential, did not circumvent the law and procedure laid out by God.

When God was to redeem us from sin, the all mighty God could have used His power to unilaterally forgive. However, even God, He subjected Himself under a “proper process.” In order to save us from sin, a sinless person had to shed his blood to free us from sin. He allowed Jesus to undergo death on the cross to free us from the dominance of sin. God followed the process. So did Boaz in a miniature manner.

Side Note: Nameless Redeemer

On a side note, the name of the closest redeemer was never revealed in this chapter. There are potentially two reasons for this – one for negative, and the other for positive.

The first reason for his anonymity was that his name was irrelevant overall. Because he refused to redeem, the author of this book saw no need to reveal his name.

On the other hand, the second reason was to protect his descendants from humiliation. The author could have deliberately shielded his name. If his name was revealed, the descendants of his family may have felt shamed because the closest in line refused to redeem.

Boaz and Ruth’s City-wide Celebration

This event was not to be an isolated event. Marriage and celebration permeated to the whole community. The word witnesses was repeated three times (Ruth 4:8, 9, and 10). Although the redemption took place at a private and family level, this became a public event in the presence of many witnesses. The ceremony of redemption was to be witnessed by the people. Because of what Boaz did to redeem Naomi and Ruth, the whole village indirectly experienced a key aspect of the character and the law of God, which gives life and hope to those who had fallen and been subjected to captivity of poverty and no inheritance.

Besides, we see that the LORD God is the one who literally gives life. The LORD allowed Ruth to conceive – in contrast, Ruth was childless when she was married to Mahlon. It is only the LORD who determines life and death. The gift of life is common around us. Yet, everyone is precious because without God’s permission a new life would not be realized.

Coming Home

This whole book of Ruth reminded us of the parable of the lost son given by Jesus (Luke 15:11-32). The second son ran away from the presence of the father and eventually came back to be embraced and redeemed by the father. In a similar manner, Naomi stepped away from her hometown to spend 10 years in the land of Moab before coming back to her home, where God was waiting with a hidden treasure. In her hometown, Naomi and Ruth were redeemed.

Jesus Christ: The Ultimate Redeemer

Borrowing the definitions provided by Merriam Webster dictionary, redeem means: 1) to free from captivity by payment of ransom, and 2) to free from the consequences of sin.

With his wealth and willingness to marry Ruth, Boaz freed Naomi and Ruth from the captivity of poverty and the risk of losing their name forever without inheritance. On a far greater level, Jesus was the ultimate redeemer who freed us from the consequence of sin with the payment of His life.

Let us remember Jesus Christ the Redeemer in this season of the year.

Ruth 3: Risk and Suspense

Although two main characters of the book of Ruth are Ruth and Boaz, in this chapter, I gave a little bit more focus on Naomi and the important role that she played as a connector in this chapter.

Summary of Ruth 3

At the end of the barley harvest period, wanting to provide a safe family for Ruth, Naomi gave a specific instruction for Ruth to go see Boaz at the threshing floor. Ruth obeyed and went down.

At the threshing floor, Ruth waited until Boaz had finished eating and drinking and let his heart merry. After he went to lie down, Ruth approached him quietly and uncovered his feet and lay down. In the middle of the night, Boaz was startled by the unexpected presence of Ruth. Ruth asked Boaz to redeem her and Naomi. Boaz praised Ruth for showing kindness and informed her that there was a closer relative, who was first in line to redeem. Boaz told Ruth that he would redeem Ruth and Naomi if the closer relative refused to do so.

Ruth went back to Noami and told everything that had happened. Namoi was certain that Boaz wouldn’t rest until the matter had settled.

Naomi the Connector

Naomi played a crucial role in connecting Ruth with Boaz in this chapter. The time gap between chapter 2, the beginning of the harvest period, and chapter 3, the end of the harvest period, was two to three months. During this time, Ruth did what she did the best by diligently gleaning. Boaz did what he did best by providing a generous opportunity for people like Ruth to glean. This day-to-day happenings lasted for two to three months.

Then came Naomi, who was instrumental in connecting Ruth with Boaz. Naomi must have seen and heard the character of Boaz. Naomi also must have sensed how Ruth thought of Boaz. Perhaps, noticing the opportunity and the hesitancy from both Ruth and Boaz, Naomi took the initiative to build the first step for them to be connected as a potentially redeemer-redeemed pair. Naomi gave an instruction to Ruth to anoint herself and change to her best clothes (to signify that she was no longer a grieving widow) and go down to the threshing floor where Boaz would be threshing harvested grains (Ruth 3:3-4). In fact, Naomi was instructing Ruth to propose to Boaz as a redeemer-redeemed pair. Without Naomi’s intervention and active role as a connector, a private meeting between Ruth and Boaz might not have happened.

Ruth the Risk Taker

Ruth obeyed Naomi by following her instruction (Ruth 3:5). She took a great risk by going to the threshing floor, which was typically located outside the village. Walking to the threshing floor alone and staying there until late night as a woman can be a risky venture. Plus, this was during the times of Judges, when the level of the fear of God was low society-wide. Regardless, Ruth obeyed and took this risk to have a private encounter with Boaz.

Boaz’s Reaction: Second Kindness > First Kindness

After drinking and eating, Boaz was merry and lay down. In the middle of the night, he was startled to find out that a woman was at his feet. It was Ruth. Ruth asked Boaz to spread his garment over her as he was a close relative, a redeemer (Ruth 3:9). Notice the word, “garment”, is the same word that denotes the wing of the God of Israel (Ruth 2:12 May the Lord reward your work, and may your wages be full from the Lord, the God of Israel, under whose wings you have come to take refuge). This request to redeem her and Naomi’s family was practically a marriage proposal. This can be a risky situation because Ruth can be rejected and spurned by Boaz. .

In response, however, Boaz praised Ruth that her second kindness was greater than her first (Ruth 3:10). What does this mean? Ruth’s first kindness was leaving the land of Moab for Bethlehem to provide for Naomi. Ruth’s second kindness was to the deceased Elimelech, whose name would be preserved by Ruth getting married to Boaz. Ruth could have sought a young man for marriage for herself (which is not necessarily bad). For this reason, Boaz complimented her.

Suspense with Great Expectation

Boaz told Ruth that he would be glad to redeem her and Noami. However, he stated that there was a closer relative than him. Boaz stated he would redeem Ruth if the closer relative would not redeem. After this conversation, Ruth waited until dawn and went back to Naomi.

That day must have been a sleepless day for both Noami and Ruth. Naomi knew that Boaz would not rest until he had settled the matter that day. In the next 24 hours, their status would change: they would be redeemed by either the closest relative, whose name was unknown, or Boaz. It must have been an exciting, anxious, sleepless night and day for both.

Ruth 2: Proactiveness meets Kindness

Proactive Ruth meets kind Boaz – like a beautiful, shining star in the crooked days of Judges, when the law of the LORD was despised by people as they did what was right in their own eyes.

Summary of Ruth 2

After talking with Naomi, Ruth went out to the field to glean behind the harvesters. She happened to come to the portion of the field that belonged to Boaz.

Noticing Ruth, Boaz showed kindness to her. Not only did Boaz allow her to glean after his harvesters, but he also invited her to have water and eat roasted grain with him and his workers.

After spending all day gleaning, she went back to Naomi with an ephah of barley (about 50 lb). Naomi was pleasantly surprised with the amount of barley which Ruth gleaned. After finding out that Ruth worked in the field that belonged to Boaz, Naomi became ecstatic, telling Ruth that Boaz was one of her closest relatives, who could be a redeemer.

Entrance of Boaz: A Man of Standing

The first verse of this chapter introduced Boaz. He was described as a relative of Naomi’s husband and the family of Elimelech (Ruth 2:1 and 3). Boaz was also a redeemer (Ruth 2:20).

Note the description given to this man. The NIV (New International Version) describes him as “a man of standing.” The NASB (New American Standard Bible) version says a man of “great wealth.” The NLT (New Living Translation) version states “influential man.” The Hebrew word used to describe Boaz is chayil, which has all the meanings described before, plus strength. This description was not limited to men. The same word was used to describe Ruth’s character as “a woman of excellence (Ruth 3:11).” Also, the same word was used for an excellent wife described in Proverbs 31 (Proverbs 31:10).

Ruth’s Work Ethics: A Woman of Standing

Let’s notice what Ruth did after she came to Bethlehem with Naomi. She went out to the field to glean and gather grains (Ruth 2:2). Her example of work ethics shows a great application of “dependence on God” in everything she did.

She was proactive. Although Ruth was a Moabite in a foreign land of Israel, she was brave and proactive to support Naomi and herself. This was the day of Judges, which meant that working outside as a widow could be dangerous. Despite the implicit danger, she went out to the field. She did not just stay downcast, but walked out to the field to gather and glean grains.

At the same time, she was dependent. She knew that the success of her glean depended on the favor shown by the owner and the workers at the field at that time (“…after one in whose sight I may find favor” Ruth 2:20). She was brave and took calculated risks in this endeavor.

She was a diligent worker. Based on the testimony of the servant in charge of the reapers, she came and remained in the field except for a short rest (Ruth 2:7). After Boaz allowed her to glean and have free access to the water jars, she gleaned diligently until evening (Ruth 2:17).

Boaz’s Kindness

We can tell that Boaz’s servants and reapers did not repel Ruth the Moabite from gleaning. Although not explicitly stated in the text, they showed kindness to Ruth, allowing her to gather and glean sheaves although she was a foreign Moabite widow (traditionally, the relation between Israel and Moab was not exactly friendly).

Where did they learn how to treat the weak, the foreigners, the poor, and the women in this manner? They probably learned it from how Boaz treated the weak, the foreigners, the poor and the women who came to his field. Boaz asked Ruth to stay with his maids (Ruth 2:8-9), knowing that venturing out to other fields may be dangerous as this was in the days of Judges. Boaz allowed her to drink from the water jars that servants drew (Ruth 2:9). Boaz served her with roasted grain (Ruth 2:14). Boaz’s action was probably a routine one, which his servants observed from him on a regular basis.

If those workers did not permit Ruth to glean after the reapers, then the meeting between Boaz and Ruth would not have happened. Boaz’s kindness permeated to his workers. His workers showed kindness to Ruth. It was a virtual cycle.

What was the foundation of Boaz’s kindness to the weak of the society? I believe it was his fear of the LORD as demonstrated in this statement, “the God of Israel, under whose wings you have come to seek refuge (Judges 2:12).” He knew that the weak of the society, and especially those who came to seek refuge, were the guests of the God of Israel. They were not just people. To Boaz, they were people who were made in the image of God. To Boaz, they were the special guests of the God of Israel.

Remaining Puzzle Pieces

When Ruth came back to Naomi with an ephah of barley (50 lb), she must have been very pleasantly surprised – probably the first great news since the death of her husband and two sons. The more amazing news was to break out for Naomi as the two separate information merged into a complete one.

Ruth gleaned in the field of Boaz, but did not know Boaz’s relation with Naomi
Naomi knew Boaz’s relation to her, but did not know where Ruth gleaned.

When Ruth told Naomi that she gleaned at Boaz’s field, it must have been a bright moment of optimism for Noami. Naomi knew that Boaz was a close relative of her, but did now know what became of him as this was her first visit back to Bethlehem in the past 10 years. Based on the kindness that Boaz shown to Ruth as a man of God, Naomi must have thought that being redeemed could become a reality for her and Ruth.

Ruth 1: God in the midst of a Gentle Whisper

The Book of Ruth starts with two widows, who were at the bottom of the socioeconomic ladder. Yet, Ruth was included in the genealogy of King David, and eventually in the genealogy of Jesus Christ, our LORD. The story of God simply amazes us.

Summary of Ruth 1

In the days of Judges, a severe famine came in the land. A man named Elimelech decided to leave their land of Bethlehem in Judah for the land of Moab, along with his wife, Naomi, and two sons, Mahlon and Chilion.

In the next ten years, Elimelech died and their two sons married two Moabite women, Orpah and Ruth, respectively. Then, the two sons died, leaving Naomi without her husband and two sons.

When Naomi heard that the LORD provided food to His people back in her hometown, Bethlehem, she decided to go back. Although Orpah left, Ruth made her confession of “faith” in the LORD God, clung to Naomi and went to Bethlehem with her. As Naomi stepped into her hometown with Ruth for the first time in ten years, the whole city was stirred.

God’s Invisible Hand

Let’s take a step back and see where the Book of Ruth stands in the Bible, especially in relation to its previous book, the Book of Judges. I would like to use Elijah’s special experience of encountering God in 1 Kings 19 to compare these two books.

When Elijah was in a cave, downcasted, the LORD God decided to show His presence. Soon mighty forces were on full display as a great and powerful wind, an earthquake, and a great fire (1 Kings 19:11-12). However, the LORD was not in any of those mighty forces of nature. After in a small voice, a gentle whisper that came to Elijah was the presence of the LORD God (1 Kings 19:13).

The Book of Ruth is like a whisper of God to Elijah whereas the Book of Judges is like the great, powerful wind, earthquake, and fire that preceded the whisper. The Book of Judges is filled with major political and military leaders and events associated with them. Othniel, the first judge, saved Israel from Cushan the King of Mesopotamia. Ehud delivered Israel by killing Eglon, the Moab king. Deborah and Barak defeated Sisera’s formidable 900 chariots. Gideon used 300 men to defeat 130,000 Midianites. Jephthah was a valiant warrior, defeating the Ammonites. These leaders were well-known heroes. In contrast, the Book of Ruth starts with two nameless widows, one Israelite and the other Moabite daughter-in-law. Their presence was indeed like a whisper compared to those well-known Judges. However, the sovereign presence of God’s hand was with those two widows.

Tragedy and Brutal, Harsh Life

It would not be an exaggeration to state that the story of Ruth started with a series of tragic events. The three verses (Ruth 1:3-5) summarizes a brutal, tragic event for Naomi.

In response to famine, the Elimelech family chose to move to Moab to search for better life circumstances. However, for Naomi, it was only the start of her 10 years of nightmare. Not only did she lose her husband (Ruth 1:3), but also, she lost her two sons (Ruth 1:5). Although two sons were married, there was no mention of her grandchildren. Naomi lost everything: no sons, no husband, no heir to continue her family line.

These must have been brutal life events for Naomi. Her family came for a better life, but she underwent a harsh reality, almost to a point of utter hopelessness. What good would be to Naomi with two daughters-in-law? Try to imagine the level of sorrowfulness when you had to bury your husband and two sons in a foreign land.

Glimpse of Hope

Once she heard that the LORD had visited His people in Judah by providing them with food (Ruth 1:6), she decided to return to Bethlehem. A decision to return to her hometown, after losing her family, was a natural response. So was the decision made by Orpah, one of Naomi’s daughters-in-law, to leave to seek a different path (Ruth 1:14).

What was unnatural was Ruth’s response. Ruth clung to Naomi and made a remarkable confession of her faith in God (Ruth 1:16-17). Ruth said that she would follow Naomi unless death separates them. Ruth said Naomi’s people would be her people, and Naomi’s God, the LORD, would be her God.

Ruth following Naomi into the land of Judah would not be a rational decision. Ruth would be going into a foreign land where nothing would guarantee a better life for her. Ruth would be an alien – being a Moabite in Israel would not elicit a natural good reception. Ruth, by going with Naomi, would need to support Naomi, who was older, economically. Naomi would be a net negative to Ruth in terms of economic well-being. Then, what enabled Ruth to make such a bold decision?

It must have been that Ruth somehow experienced a personal encounter with the true LORD sometime in the past ten years. We, the readers, do not know the details of that encounter. However, Ruth truly grasped the value of the “Kingdom of God.” Her decision reminded me of the parable that Jesus spoke: when a man found the treasure hidden in a field, he sold all he had and bought that field (Matthew 13:33-46). Ruth found the treasure, the LORD, in Israel and she knew that it would be far more worth than all the risks that she would be taking by going with Naomi.

What kind of conversation do you think Ruth and Naomi had over the 60 to 70 miles (which would have taken a week to 10 days) of journey from Moab to Bethlehem?

God’s Invisible Hand II

Let’s try to picture how God’s invisible hand worked over the (tragic) lives of Naomi and Ruth.

Natural famine pushed Naomi to move to the land of Moab. A series of family tragedies took place to move Naomi back to her hometown Bethlehem with Ruth.

Without the famine, Naomi would not have emigrated to Moab. Without tragedy, Naomi would not have come back to Bethlehem.

Indeed, what a sorrowful, excruciating event for Naomi and Ruth! Although it was bitter for Naomi, these tragedies placed Naomi along with Ruth in a perfect place for God’s sovereign plan to unfold.

God’s Hidden Treasure

Although Naomi was bitter, relegating herself to the name Mara (which means bitter), God’s gracious hands had prepared something beyond her imagination. First, God brought her in perfect timing at the beginning of barley harvest (Ruth 1:22). Plus, Naomi still had Ruth who would support Naomi economically by going out in the field to glean (Ruth 2). Then, finally, Boaz, a godly man with a standing, was a relative of Elimelech, Naomi’s husband, which meant he could be redeemer.