Ruth and Her Guardian-Redeemer (Ruth): In the stunning conclusion, Boaz legally becomes the guardian-redeemer, Boaz and Ruth get married, and a new baby provides redemption for Naomi. But the Lord was doing much more than providing a “happily ever after.” As the ultimate Guardian-Redeemer, God was doing immeasurably more than anything they asked or imagined! Recorded on Aug 25, 2024, on Ruth 4:1-22 by Pastor David Parks.
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This sermon is part of the series Ruth: The Love of a Redeemer. In the Bible, the book of Ruth tells the story of a family that experienced a series of bitter tragedies. But through loyalty, integrity, and faithful love (hesed), they find unexpected redemption, restoration, and hope. Our God is a redeemer.
Sermon Transcript
So, all month, we’ve been working through a series on the OT book of Ruth called The Love of a Redeemer. As we’ve seen, Ruth is all about facing the bitter tragedies of life by leaning on the hesed, or the steadfast loving-kindness of God, but also on the men and women in our lives who have the character and integrity to reflect this kind of redeeming love to us. The Bible, from cover to cover, is a redemption story. And sometimes, the people of the Bible, people like Ruth and Boaz, reflect the redemptive love that God ultimately gives through Jesus Christ, his son. I do hope this short series has been helpful to you. I’ve really enjoyed it personally. But today, in Act 4 of our play, we’ll see this inspiring story come to its conclusion. We’ll see that the covenant love (hesed) of Boaz would make the cost of redemption a joy, not a burden. But also, we’ll see that the redeeming work that God was doing would have an impact far beyond the lives of Naomi, Ruth, and Boaz. God was doing something so much greater than anyone could ever imagine! If you have your Bible/app, please open it to Ruth 4:1.But before we jump back in, let me give you a little context. So, last week, we saw that, at Naomi’s suggestion, Ruth got dressed up nice, put on some perfume, and went down to the threshing floor when Boaz and the others were winnowing the grain they had harvested. Ruth pulled off what seemed to be a sketchy plan to go to Boaz at night and let him know that she was interested in him as more than a friend, shall we say? But when Boaz woke up and realized Ruth was there, she boldly asked him if he would be willing to serve as her guardian-redeemer. Now, we’ll see more about what exactly she was asking of him today. But instead of taking advantage of Ruth there on the threshing floor, Boaz was blown away and responded with a blessing, telling her he would do everything she asked. But there was one potential problem: there was another who was a closer relative to Elimelek who, according to their custom, should have the first opportunity to be the guardian-redeemer ahead of Boaz. But Boaz would not rest until the matter was settled the very next day. Now, we have Act 4, scene 1.
Ruth 4:1–4 (NIV), “1 Meanwhile 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. 2 Boaz took ten of the elders of the town and said, “Sit here,” and they did so. 3 Then 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. 4 I 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.” Uh oh. Ok! So Boaz went up from the threshing floor to the town gate. Now, I mentioned last week that Ruth clearly embodied the “wife of noble character” described in Proverbs 31. Proverbs 31:23 says of this kind of woman, “Her husband is respected at the city gate, where he takes his seat among the elders of the land.” Now, Ruth was really a Pro 31 kind of woman, but Boaz was no slouch either! He, too, was a man of noble character and standing who was respected there in Bethlehem. So, like v. 23, Boaz took his seat there at the city gate, which was where official legal matters were judged and settled back then. Now, as if by coincidence, the other potential guardian-redeemer just happened to be walking by when Boaz sat down. Now, do you really think that was a coincidence? I think this might’ve been divine providence. Either way, Boaz called him over and then assembled ten of the elders of the town to serve as official witnesses for what was about to go down. At the heart of the legal matter Boaz needed to resolve was whether or not this other man was willing to be the guardian-redeemer for the deceased Elimelek and his family and land. But what exactly did that mean? Well, we don’t have the role of guardian-redeemer anymore, but this story takes place over 3,000 years ago, so their culture and social norms were very different than ours. Last week, I mentioned that the title of guardian-redeemer comes from Lev 25 of the Mosaic Law. And Lev 25 says that if someone has to sell their land because they became poor, a member of their extended family would have the right to redeem (buy back) the land from whoever bought it. This guardian-redeemer would be able to use it until the Year of Jubilee, which came every 50 years, when all the debts were forgiven, and the land would be returned to the original owner. Boaz approached this nameless relative very tactfully, saying that he wanted to bring this matter to his attention and that if this man wanted to redeem this land, Boaz would respect that. But he also implies that if this man isn’t interested, Boaz is, and he’s next in line. And how does the man respond? “I will redeem it,” he said.” Commentator Daniel Block writes, “If Ruth was watching, her heart must have sunk.” (TNAC, p. 712) This was the first legal step towards Boaz and Ruth getting married, and it looked like their plans were falling apart. Would that stop Boaz? Let’s continue and see.
Ruth 4:5-6 (NIV), “5 Then 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.” 6 At 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.” Ok! So, Boaz apparently knew the Law because after referring to Lev 25 regarding redeeming the land, he then brought up Dt 25, which deals with what to do if a brother dies and leaves his widow without any children. The brother was supposed to marry the widow, and “The first son she bears shall carry on the name of the dead brother so that his name will not be blotted out from Israel.” (Dt 25:6). This practice was known as levirate marriage. And while it might seem strange to us, again, we have a very different culture. This was normal for them. This practice was concerned not only for providing for a vulnerable widow but also for honoring the man who died. As we’ve said, for them, a husband meant security, and sons meant hope for the future. But when this relative says he’s willing to redeem the land, Boaz mentions that the situation is a little more complicated. It’s not just the land. Given the situation with Naomi and Ruth, there was also an elderly widow who needed to be taken care of, as well as a young childless widow. It’s not clear that this man would’ve been legally obligated to marry Ruth (even Dt 25 has a provision if a brother was not willing to take on this responsibility), but seeking to provide a home and children for Ruth would’ve been the spirit of the law and would’ve been seen as the right thing to do in their eyes. Now, no offense to Ruth or Naomi, but this was too much for our potential guardian-redeemer. He’s not willing to take on this responsibility because he says he doesn’t want to endanger his own estate. Perhaps he knows he won’t be able to provide for and protect these women financially. Or maybe he knows this will cause too much conflict with his own family. Or maybe he couldn’t stomach the idea of taking on a Moabite woman for a wife. But for whatever reason, he wants out. Of course, this is exactly what Boaz and Ruth were hoping for. Whoever this character was, it doesn’t seem like he was a great option since he doesn’t even have a name in our story. But, in how he handled this whole situation, Boaz showed his faithfulness to do for Ruth what he promised to do; he showed his commitment to knowing/obeying the Law of God; he showed his respect for this relative, whoever he was; and he showed his desire to do the right thing in the eyes of his community there in Bethlehem. He didn’t take advantage of Ruth. He followed the right path and now had the opportunity he hoped for — to be her guardian-redeemer.
Ruth 4:7-12 (NIV), “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.) 8 So the guardian-redeemer said to Boaz, “Buy it yourself.” And he removed his sandal. 9 Then 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. 10 I 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!” 11 Then 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. 12 Through the offspring the Lord gives you by this young woman, may your family be like that of Perez, whom Tamar bore to Judah.” Here again, we see Boaz’s commitment to marrying Ruth, honoring and providing for Naomi, and redeeming the land and family name of Elimelek. Most critically, Boaz got the official sandal before the witnesses, which means the matter has been settled. Boaz and Ruth are married. He will buy back Elimelek’s land and use it to provide for the new family. They’ll make sure that Naomi is taken care of. Ruth has found her guardian-redeemer. In response to this beautiful turn of events, the people break out in a blessing. If this were a musical, this would be the big final number. They ask the Lord, Yahweh God, to bless the couple. They ask that the Lord would provide children for Ruth and a good name or reputation for Boaz. They ask the Lord that their new family would be like that of Perez, their ancestor and one of the sons of Judah. In other words, they ask the Lord that he would allow them to fulfill the original blessing of God over humanity — to be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth. Let’s finish our story with the epilogue starting in v. 13.
Ruth 4:13–22 (NIV), “13 So 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. 14 The 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! 15 He 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.” 16 Then Naomi took the child in her arms and cared for him. 17 The women living there said, “Naomi has a son!” And they named him Obed. He was the father of Jesse, the father of David. 18 This, then, is the family line of Perez: Perez was the father of Hezron, 19 Hezron the father of Ram, Ram the father of Amminadab, 20 Amminadab the father of Nahshon, Nahshon the father of Salmon, 21 Salmon the father of Boaz, Boaz the father of Obed, 22 Obed the father of Jesse, and Jesse the father of David.” This is God’s word. So our story started with tragedy but ended with a happily ever after. We started with famine, and Elimelek’s family moved to Moab, where they encountered unimaginable loss. Eventually, Naomi returned to Bethlehem in Judah as a bitter older woman with only her foreign daughter-in-law, Ruth. But through the providence of God and the good character and integrity (hesed) of Ruth and Boaz, our story finds redemption and new life; our lead characters find security and joyful hope for the future. Naomi, who returned to Bethlehem empty, now has a daughter who loves her and is better to her than seven sons. She now has a little grandbaby to care for, too. What a blessing. And this would be such a satisfying ending to our story, wouldn’t it? But there’s one more detail that makes this story truly amazing. Commentator Daniel Block writes, “These characters could not know what long-range fruit their compassionate and loyal conduct toward each other would bear.” (TNAC, p. 736-737) But we know. Our narrator tells us that little Obed would grow up and become the father of Jesse, who was the father of David. This means that Boaz and Ruth became the great-grandparents of David, the most famous king of ancient Israel. This story was not only a story of God demonstrating his hesed, his loyal covenantal love to protect and provide for Naomi, Ruth, and Boaz. This is also a story of God doing something so much more. He was protecting the lineage of the king who would bring peace and prosperity to his people after this terrible chapter of history, which was the time of the Judges of Israel. Isn’t that amazing? So today, we are in a very different time and place. But will we face loss? Will we face bitter tragedies in this broken world? Most likely. Will we face situations that test our character and integrity? Will we have to decide whether or not we’re going to follow the way of Jesus, even when it’s costly? Absolutely. Boaz and Ruth provide great examples of what it looks like to reflect the steadfast loving-kindness of God. And through their story, we see what God is able to do as our ultimate guardian-redeemer. But what is truly incredible is to think that through the lineage of Ruth and Boaz, about a thousand years later, another child would be born in Bethlehem. Like Obed, his conception was a gift of God. Like Obed, he, too, would be one who would provide security and hope for the future. But not only for his parents or his grandmother, this son would provide security and hope for the whole world. In Matthew chapter 1, in the story of the birth of Jesus Christ, Matthew provides a genealogy that traces the ancestry of Jesus back to none other than Boaz and Ruth. When you put your faith and trust in God and in the person and work of his son, Jesus, you never know what God might do. He is our Guardian. He is our Redeemer. “Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.” (Eph 3:20-21). Let us pray.
