Ruth 4:8
Ruth 4:8 So the family redeemer said to In Strength (Boaz),
“Buy it for yourself.” And he removed his sandal.
Introduction
Our text this morning continues our study of the book of Ruth.
Notice then the story thus far: Elimelech and his two sons have died leaving Naomi (his wife) and Ruth (his daughter-in-law) childless and impoverished.
Therefore, their relative, Boaz has gone to the city gate to see if the family’s closest relative is willing to fulfill his role as family redeemer and buy a piece of property that Naomi is having to sell due to her impoverishment.
In turn, Boaz also informs this closer relative that to redeem the property he also has to redeem/marry Ruth. Why? In order to raise up an heir with Ruth for Elimelech on Elimelech’s land. However, the moment this closer relative learns of Ruth, he backs out of the deal. Why? He wants nothing to do with Ruth, a Moabite woman.
Therefore, the closer relative publically declares his intention to transfer his full right of redeemership to Boaz, who is next in line for the job.
As such, last week, the text prepared us to witness the transfer of this redeemership by explaining the process. How it works is this: the closer relative would take off his shoe and hand it to the next in line. In other words, he is publically and officially declaring that this is no longer the role he stands in. Instead, he has given full redeemership to Boaz for him to put on.
In our text this morning, we get to watch this official transfer take place.
Verse 4:8
Notice at once, verse 8 opens by saying, the family redeemer said to Boaz. Importance: if the previous verse (verse 7) told us what we were about to see and explained its significance, then verse 8 allows us to watch the proceeding actually take place, fully informed. Notice then, like the townsfolks gathered at the city gate, the author has prepared his readers to serve as witnesses to the propriety of this proceeding. Importance: to serve as witnesses to this proceeding is an allowance that would have been doubly important for those in the days of David’s acceptance as king. Why? Remember the book of Ruth is written to build the case for the Davidic kingship. Therefore, the author has gone out of his way to enable the original readers to witness the fact that the Davidic line was legitimately founded by a practice that was implemented and accepted throughout the whole kingdom FN#1. However, we can’t stop there. Instead, readers today also have an invested interest in this proceeding since through it God is bringing about our eventual Messiah. Therefore, the reader today is also prepared/allowed to stand as a witness to the propriety, goodness, and character by which God has established the line through which our Messiah comes.
Next, notice the specific parties involved in this transaction: first, there is the closer relative, who is supposed to act as the family’s redeemer. However, due to his prejudice, his worldliness, and his disregard for God and God’s people, he rejects his moral obligation to his own kin FN#2. As such, he refuses to redeem/ marry Ruth the Moabite and raise up an heir with her for Elimelech’s line. Notice then the irony: not only that, notice the author fully intends this irony to register with you. In other words, what we are about to see is some divine justice and the author fully intends it to delight you. Notice then, in an effort to protect the integrity of his family’s name from the blemish of foreign Moabite blood, his name gets intentionally deleted from the pages of Scripture (it goes unmentioned throughout the whole book). As such, his name/line (the very thing he was trying to protect) will forever be forgotten by the future of God’s people. Notice then the message: the unfaithfulness of this native born relative (his disregard for God and what matters to God) has denied him the very thing that the faith of foreign born Ruth has gained for her. Notice then, Ruth’s name will forever be remembered (and held in prestige) on the role of God’s people. By contrast, this relative’s name is forgotten and will never be mentioned again. In other words, the point is clear: from the beginning and throughout all Scripture (both Old and New) it has always been the case that the sons of Abraham are those who share Abraham’s faith (Gen 15:6; Hab 2:4; Rom 4:3, 13; Gal 3:7).
Next, notice that the second party involved is Boaz. Notice then, in a book that is all about names (whether the name is mentioned or deleted), verse 8 shows us Boaz in his full light. That is, as Boaz officially receives the post of redeemership, we have the divine, providential confirmation that Boaz is and has always been the Strength and chosen instrument of YHWH. In other words, the book of Ruth and all that follows from it (David/Messiah) is God’s doing.
Next, notice the manner of the legal and public proceeding: first the closer relative tells Boaz to buy the land for himself FN#3. In other words, the legal proceeding begins with a clear and publically witnessed statement of exactly what is being transferred. However, notice the surprise: notice again the persistent hardness of this kinsman’s heart: Where? Even though the relative is relinquishing his full rights as family redeemer, he still refers to this transaction as just a land deal (buy it, the land for yourself). Why? In his eyes, the land is the only thing of value involved here. Ruth is not even worth mentioning. Instead, to him, she is simply an unwanted blemish, add on, and deal breaker, who does nothing more than to make an otherwise attractive land venture utterly undesirable. Notice the result: the closer relative’s own words have exposed his heart. Importance: this is the last time this closer relative will be seen or even mentioned by the book. As such, one last time the author allows the closer relative to tell us himself that he does not value or have any regard for the things that YHWH values. Ruth an accepted child of God is of no account to him. In other words, before this relative departs, the author wants to make sure that we see his character clearly and understand fully why, by contrast, God has selected Boaz as His instrument. Importance: in this contrast there is an intended lesson for God’s people. It asks you, to examine your own heart. Is your faith just appearance/talk; or are your decisions, assessments, and choices based on a heart for YHWH, like Boaz’s; or do they point to a heart that looks more like this other relative’s. In other words, when it matters, when you have to choose, which way are you facing?
Finally, notice the flow of this binding proceeding: the official statement of transfer having just been witnessed, the next step is the actual act of transfer itself (I will; I do). Notice then the other relative publically removes his shoe and gives it to Boaz. That is, he takes off his full role and rights as family redeemer and officially transfers them to Boaz, the next in line. Importance: at this very point in the book, the transaction is official. As such, from this point on everyone is to acknowledge and respond to all the parties involved in terms of this transaction. As such, Boaz is now the legal redeemer and custodian of Elimelech’s household. That is, he will act as Elimelech in Elimelech’s place. In turn, Ruth is his Companion and legal/proper wife. Importance: in a book that is all about the future, Boaz has already told us that the whole point of this redemption is to raise up an heir for Elimelech in order to carry on Elimelech’s family’s line on the portion of land that God has given to that family (4:5). In other words, the book of Ruth is all about the effort to value and faithfully maintain the concrete witness that God has given His people regarding their ongoing part in the future that He has promised (a future which by the way, will be secured by the very Messiah who will come through the events set in motion by this book, by this very verse FN#4).
Bottom line: as Boaz takes the shoe from the other relative, the reading audience erupts in a boisterous cheer. At this moment, the entire book of Ruth reaches its resolve. We now know that God did not ever forsake Naomi. Instead, she and her plan were pleasing to God. In turn, Ruth (accepted by YHWH as His child) is now to be Boaz’s Companion and wife. And finally, Boaz is indeed the Strength and instrument of YHWH. However, that said, the legal proceeding isn’t over. There is more that has to be done and there is more that we need to see and hear. Therefore, the ushers urge to the audience to quiet down and return to their seats so that the proceeding may continue.
Footnotes
1] In other words, the universal acceptance of this practice carries with it the expectation of a universal acceptance of its results (which in this case is the legitimacy of the Davidic line).
2] The refusal of the closer relative’s moral obligation to his own kin exposes the hardness of his heart as well as the depth of that hardness. He has no problem selling out God, the future that God has promised, and his own family’s part in that future for the world’s line of thinking/doing. His heart is cold and turned in a very different direction than the heart of YHWH.
3] Importance: remember back in verse 6 the closer relative already told Boaz to buy the land himself. In turn, he also stated his resolve to give Boaz his full rights as the family redeemer. However, while verse 6 voiced the closer relative’s intent, verse 8 serves as the official act and transfer of those rights. Thus, the author is not being wordy or needlessly repetitive here. Instead, the legal proceeding (official act) begins with a clear and publically witnessed statement of exactly what is being transferred.
4] Notice the progressive nature of God’s revelation. At the door of the garden God promised that the Messiah would come through the seed of the woman (thus humanity). In God’s covenant with Abraham God narrows the promise. Out of all humanity, it will be through the people of Abraham that the Messiah will come (through you the nations will be blessed). Finally, in God’s covenant with David the promise narrows once again becoming even more specific. Thus of all the families and people of Abraham, the Messiah will come through the distinct family line of David. Notice then, verse 8 is the fountainhead and spring where this line begins. Boaz is now the official kinsman redeemer and Ruth is his legal wife. It is through their union (sealed in verse 8) that the line of David and thus the line of the Messiah begins!