Ruth 4:12
Ruth 4:9-10 (Highlights) Then In Strength (Boaz) said to the elders and all the people, I have bought all which belonged to Elimelech 10 “And also, I have acquired Companion (Ruth) to be my wife; you all are witnesses this day.” 11 Then all the people who were at the gate and the elders, said,
“We are witnesses. May YHWH make the woman who is coming into your house like Rachel and Leah, both of whom built the house of Israel;
12 “Moreover, may your house be like the house of Perez
whom Tamar bore to Judah,
through the offspring which YHWH will give you
by this young woman.”
Introduction
Our text this morning continues our study of the book of Ruth.
Now remember the story thus far: as Boaz finishes reading the finalized contract of redemption, he calls all the elders and townsfolk to witness and approve its terms.
The contract states that Boaz has purchased Elimelech’s land and he has officially agreed to marry Ruth. The contract also states that he has done this in order to raise up an heir for Elimelech’s line, with Ruth, on Elimelech’s land.
To our delight the townsfolk resoundingly approve the contract. However, before we can rejoice and cheer, all the folks officially bless the new couple, asking YHWH to build up His whole people through this union.
Again, we get ready to cheer. However, again we are silence. Why? The townsfolk aren’t done.
Instead, in our text this morning’ the townspeople continue their blessing. And on my, it’s a doozy.
Verse 12
Notice at once verse 12 continues the blessing begun in verse 11. Notice then, the townsfolk ask God to make the couple’s house like the house of Perez. Why? Just as God established His people through Rachael and Leah, so too God established Boaz’s specific family line through the house of Perez. In other words, Perez was the particular son of Judah through whom Boaz’s family descended (I Ch 2:2-11). Simply put, in verse 12 the blessing becomes more specific. That is, in verse 12 we have moved from the common marriage blessing given to all Israelite couples to (what is likely) the customary blessing of the particular family line to which the couple belongs FN#1. Importance: as the author builds the case for the Davidic kingship, his deliberate inclusion of this genealogical blessing allows him to gently remind his readers that this is David’s family as well. In other words, David is of the tribe of Judah and therefore, his kingship directly lines up with God’s promise that the scepter (the king of God’s choosing) will arise from the house of Judah (Gen 49:8-10). FN#2
Next, notice the back story included with this seemingly standard blessing of a family line: verse 12 goes on to tell us that Tamar was the mother who bore Perez to Judah. Importance: the account of Judah and Tamar is one of the most messed up stories in the whole Bible (Gen 38:6-26). Tamar was the wife of Judah’s firstborn son, Er. Er was extremely wicked so God struck him down. Judah then sends his second born son, Onan to raise up an heir for his brother with Tamar. However, Onan refuses so God strikes him down as well. Thus, after the loss of two sons, Judah refuses to give his youngest son to Tamar to raise up offspring. Tamar then disguises herself as a temple prostitute, tricks Judah, conceives a child by him, and thus forces him to marry her FN#3. After all of that, the son she bears Judah is Perez, Boaz’s ancestor. Importance: first, you thought your family is messed up. Second, what kind of stupid wedding blessing is this? Who would want their house to be like the house of Perez? In other words, why in the world did the town folks give such a blessing? Not only that, if you are building the case for the glorious kingship of David, who goes out of their way to make sure we all remember the family’s most regrettable secrets? Notice the answer: the first and most obvious reason for this blessing is the direct relevance of the story of Judah and Tamar to that of Boaz and Ruth. Not only are Judah and Tamar a part of the same family line as Boaz, their relationship is also one of kinsman redemption. In fact, it was due to the mess with Tamar that God codified the entire practice of kinsman redemption, setting it into law. Regardless, Boaz’s faithfulness to redeem his kinsman’s widow stands in stark contrast to the mess with Tamar’s redemption. Therefore, the blessing celebrates the fact that Boaz has done redemption right. Next, despite the mess with Judah and Tamar, God honored their kinsman redemptive union and established a noble line of His people through it FN#4. Therefore, the townsfolk are asking God to bless such a union once again. However, all that said, at the same time, there is a quiet but intentional warning in this blessing. Notice then by recalling the messy account of Tamar, the author quietly reminds his readers that the reason Judah’s son refused to redeem Tamar is the very same reason that the other relative refused to redeem Ruth (c.f. Gen 38:8-10 and Ruth 4:6). In both cases they placed self-interest over God and the future that God has promised. Not only that, in both cases, these unfaithful relatives were removed from the line and the future of God’s people. Importance: God’s displeasure with those who refuse the kinsman redeemer union underscores the weight of the author’s case for David. In other words, the blessing gravely warns all who hear it, that as you examine the case for David, be very careful not to dismiss or denigrate what God has established through a union that He commands and honors. Finally, the author’s inclusion of this blessing points ahead to and anticipates the great blessing that God will once again bring to His people through a kinsman redeemer union. As God established His people through Rachel, Leah, and Tamar so too will He establish His people through the king brought about by Boaz and the unlikely convert Ruth FN#5.
Next notice the means through which these blessings will come to Boaz and his house FN#6: the townsfolks say may all this come about through the offspring which YHWH shall give you. Importance: in a book that is all about names, the blessing has reminded us twice (vs 11, 12) that YHWH is the source of both the union and its results. Not only that, notice the divine validation (notice YHWH’s amen/witness/approval): YHWH’s name is not being casually invoked here to make the blessing seem religious or special. Instead, the elders and people fully expect YHWH to set His divine and public seal of approval on the union that He has established by granting it offspring (which is the whole point of the arrangement). In other words, as the author builds the case for David, his readers are reminded, that what YHWH brings about, He blesses. And what YHWH blesses, is to be embrace/received by all.
Finally, notice the town’s attitude and embrace: they conclude their blessing by saying that the offspring which YHWH shall give will be through this young woman. Importance: despite the fact that Ruth is a foreign-born widow, the townspeople publicly describe her as a young marriage eligible woman FN#7. In other words, her conversion and YHWH’s acceptance have completely remade and repositioned Ruth in life. In fact, it is Ruth’s conversion that is at the heart of everything else God has done throughout the book. Not only that, this conversion is the very essence of the future/salvation that the book proclaims. As such, in Ruth we not only see a preparation for the future/salvation, we see the very heart of that future/salvation already at work FN#8.
Bottom line: by the end of verse 12 the union between Boaz and Ruth has been solidified, witnessed, and blessed. At long last, the reading audience is free to cheer and rejoice. That said, there is still more we need to see- but for now join the heartfelt celebration.
Footnotes
1] Notice that the blessings in both verses 11 and 12 have a liturgical feel to them. How? Everyone at the gate knows them, they all know that they are supposed to say them on such an occasion, and then they all say it together. Thus, taken together the blessings seem to be the standard customary blessings given to a newly engaged couple in Ruth’s day. Notice then the blessing formula begins general (may God bless His whole people through this union) and then become more localized. That is, the focus shifts to the groom’s specific family (Moreover, may God bless your particular family line through this union and its offspring). However, what is important is the reason and the way the author incorporates this standard blessing into the text in order to bring out the way that God is going to fulfill this blessing in the most extraordinary way. In other words, the irony of the blessing is not lost on the author nor is completely lost on the townsfolk as they give it. Think about it: the contrasts and similarities between Boaz and Ruth’s situation and that of Perez and Tamar has just played out before their eyes in the most pertinent way. This blessing then probably had extra meaning/significance to the townsfolk when they gave it.
2] Not only that, as this blessing points us to future blessings through future offspring, it alerts the reader that the miraculous deliverance we have just watched God provide to Naomi and Ruth is in fact a part of God’s much bigger plan for His people. In other words, through God’s seemingly ordinary kindness to a few of His ordinary children, He is bringing about blessing and deliverance for His whole people (and indeed the world). Importance: verse 12 reminds me that this is how the same God works in the lives of His children today. God’s blessings are always more than we intend or ask. You have no idea how God is going to use your witness/faithfulness today to set in motion things for generations to come. Simply put: in a book that is all about the future, the very God we worship, is the reason why it is so important for His people to keep God’s promises about the future front and center (faithfulness today is never pointless or in vain in the hands of the God who is directing/unfolding all time and event).
3] Notice at once the parallels between the story of Judah and Tamar and that of Boaz and Ruth:
However, in the book of Ruth there is not the mess or unfaithfulness that we find in the account of Judah and Tamar. Instead, in the book of Ruth kinsman redemption is done faithfully and in a manner pleasing to God. Importance: just as the Day of Pentecost in the book of Acts is said to be a redemptive reversal of the confusion of language that took place at Babel (Gen 11:1-9), so too there is a very real sense that the author intends us to see the account of Ruth as a redemptive reversal and grace given correction of Tamar’s story. Thus, in the account of Ruth we not only see a preparation for the renewal that God will bring, we see that very grace and renewal already at work, paving the way for its full manifestation in God’s own Son. Notice the result: as the author builds the case for David’s kingship, the contrast between Ruth’s account and that of Tamar underscores that God’s grace and presence have permeated every aspect of Ruth’s redemption. The account of Ruth is truly the work of God. Therefore, every detail of the book displays God’s grace, salvation, and character to the reader.
4] Scripture tells us that Nahshon, Boaz’s grandfather became the leader of the whole tribe of Judah (I Cr 2:10)
5] So, why did the townsfolk include this blessing? What were their intentions for this specific blessing with all its details? Think about it, they could have easily asked the same blessing on Boaz’s house by starting somewhere (anywhere) else on the family tree. For example, they could have said, “May your house be like the house of Nahshon (Boaz’s grandfather), the great leader of the tribe of Judah”. In other words, they had a plethora of other options to turn to. So why go to Perez and all the messy details surrounding his birth? A completely different question is, why did the author include this blessing in his account? Think about it, the author could have left it out completely or merely reported that the townsfolk blessed the new couple without giving the specifics of what they actually said. So why did he include it?
6] Remember the whole point of this union is to raise up an heir/offspring for Elimelech. However, here the elders and people of the town ask God to bless Boaz and his house, making them great through this selfless act of faithfulness for another. Importance: even in the wild days of the Judges, God’s people knew that God blesses faithfulness and promotes those who seek the wellbeing of others over self. Thus, they ask (and fully expect) God to bless Boaz for the care he has shown his kinsman’s family. In other words, if Boaz’s faithfulness has pleased YHWH resulting in YHWH lavishly blessing Boaz, then so to should its outcome (David) please and be received with joy by the subsequent generations of His people.
7] Note the Hebrew word here for “young woman” (נַעֲרָה) emphasizes that the female is a young marriage eligible person. Importance: notice the hope and acceptance: despite the fact that Ruth is a foreign-born widow, she is described as a young marriage eligible woman. In other words, YHWH’s acceptance has completely remade and repositioned Ruth in life.
8] It is important to keep in mind that the folks at the gate as well as the original readers would have been well aware of all the details of Judah and Tamar. In fact, the mere mention of their names would have brought their story to mind. Therefore, when the author includes this blessing, he does so with the full intention that his readers will see and contemplate the contrast between these two cases of kinsman redemption. Why? It is here in this contrast that the full glory of God is seen shining through the entire account of Ruth. God’s grace and presence permeate every detail of Ruth’s redemption. Ruth’s redemption is not a mess like Tamar’s. Instead, it is the redemptive reversal of all such messes. The result is that in Ruth we not only see God’s preparation for the future/salvation He has in store for His people. Instead, in Ruth we see the very heart of that future/salvation already at work. In the end, the contrast that the author provides by including the details of this blessing, makes the glory seen throughout the book of Ruth pop (stand out). And in doing so, the author shows that God’s hand is behind and has been at work all along in bringing David’s reign about.