Ruth 3 and 4

 Ruth 3 and 4

I have pages and pages of notes on these chapters, but most of them are from THIS SERMON SERIES from Alistair Begg.  I will let you listen to that rather than include all my notes from this, but I highly recommend that you DO listen to this series, especially for these chapters.  You can also read many good insights from John MacArthur in his study Joshua, Judges, & Ruth: Finally in the Land which you can get HERE.

Read Ruth 3 and 4

Who? Boaz and the other redeemer, elders of the city, Ruth, and Naomi 

What? Ruth approaches Boaz to propose marriage and he does everything needed to be able to marry her

Where? At Boaz’s threshing floor, the gate to the city, and in Bethlehem

When? This is just a few days time after Ruth has worked in the fields for a few months

Why? Boaz redeems Ruth because he loves her, but mostly because he is doing the right thing, the God honoring thing, no matter the cost to him

How? Ruth goes to Boaz in secret to request that he redeem her, Boaz goes to the redeemer in front of the elders to negotiate the terms for redemption, both for the land of Elimelech and for his family name by marrying Ruth

A few other notes:

(3:7) “his heart was cheerful” - this is from the satisfaction of a full harvest, especially after years of famine

(3:9) The hem of a garment in this culture was unique to the wearer and was an identifying pattern for that person.  For Boaz to cover Ruth with this hem would have meant that he was claiming her, identifying her as his.

(3:13) “as the Lord lives” - a solemn, binding oath;

Kinsman-redeemer (see the notes from Ruth 1 and 2) - this is a “Goel.”  In order to be a goel, one must be a near relative, have money to purchase the property needing to be redeemed, and be willing to do all that was needed to redeem the property, including marriage to a widow.

(4:12) Note that Perez is technically an illegitimate son (see Genesis 38) which would have excluded him from God’s people as the Moabites were excluded (see Deuteronomy 23:2) but God redeemed this child as Ruth was redeemed.

Just as Ruth’s redemption cost Boaz a great deal but only benefitted her, Christ’s redemption of us cost Him greatly but is free to us (see also Galatians 4:3-7 and 1 Peter 1:18-19).  God never abandoned Naomi, even when it seemed that He had, just as He never abandons any of His children.  This story shows us God’s faithfulness.  He handles every little detail, in every ordinary circumstance of life - Ruth coming to Bethlehem, ending up in Boaz’s field, Boaz being at the field, Boaz’s redemption of Ruth.  Even when all seems lost and hopeless, God is working in the lives of His children, making sure we are cared for and His plan is unfolding as it should.