[Rth 4:1-22] Obed the Father of Jesse, and Jesse the Father of David

John Lim

Obed the father of Jesse, and Jesse the father of David
Ruth 4:1-22                                                                                

I am not sure if any of you have ever done this but some point in our lives, we look back at life we have lived and basically exclaim, “Wow, what a ride it has been!”  Can we ever imagine that we would be where we are at this point in our lives?  When we were 10 years old, or 20 years old or even 30 years old or 40 years old, can we possibly imagined this is where we would be in life? 

Ruth, a young lady from the land of Moab, or otherwise known as a Moabitess, could she ever have dreamed that she would marry an Israelite and within a few years, she would become a widow at a young age and that she would travel from her birthplace and end up in a foreign land as a destitute having to gather leftover grains for herself and her mother in law in order to make a living?

Life is a journey that is filled with all kinds of sadness and joy along the way.  It is a long journey that takes a long time to complete.  No one should give up in this journey because the going gets tough.  For those whom God loves and cares for, and for those who trusts in God’s goodness and His mercy, we submit ourselves to His will and continue to march on. 

Indeed life was hard for Ruth but as I have mentioned many times before, Ruth was a woman of God.  It did not matter that she started out her life as an unbeliever living in the land of Moab.  She was a foreigner worshipping foreign idols when she married an Israelite young man.  Through her mother in law, Naomi’s life of faith, somewhere along, Ruth became a believer.  Though she lost her husband in her youth, she refused to go back to her parents and marry a young man from Moab.  She insisted on accompanying her mother in law Naomi to Bethlehem professing God Naomi worshipped as her own God.

Faith in God always gives us hope, doesn’t it?  In spite of all that we are experiencing even now and what we are going to encounter, we have faith in God that He is in charge and that He knows what we are going through.  There are difficult times in our lives but we still trust in His goodness for our lives and we continue to believe He will take care of us as only loving Father can of His children.

Through unexpected turn of events, now we come to the final chapter of Ruth where Boaz, the kinsman-redeemer is about to carry out his promise to Ruth and his commitment to Ruth.

In the first 2 chapters, Naomi and Ruth were the main characters.  In the third chapter, Ruth and Boaz were the main characters.  Now n the fourth chapter, we see Boaz as the main character.

 

On this day, Boaz would not rest until the matter is fully resolved. 

In the ancient times, town gate area was where legal business transactions took place.  Town gate area not only served formal functions of business transactions but informally also served as a social gathering place and social interactions.

On this day, however, Boaz was a man of purpose with certain task that had to be completed.  I can’t stress enough the character of this man, Boaz.  Here is a man who always did what was right and noble.  He was not of shady character who tried to swindle someone of his rights or opportunities but were adamant about doing things properly and formally without any kind of improprieties.  Boaz had lived his whole life building his character and his reputation.

As much as he wanted to oblige himself to Ruth’s overture of becoming the kinsman-redeemer to her, he knew there was someone who is closer than he is by blood who would have to be asked first to be Ruth’s kinsman-redeemer.

“That’s close enough.”   “I am sure no one would raise any issue.”   “I am wealthy enough to do this without raising a ruckus.”   “I will just simply buy the other guy out.”  These were not his options.  Before men and God, Boaz wanted to do the right thing the right way.

 

So, Boaz a man of God trusting in God’s will and providence for his life began carrying out what he had promised to Ruth without further delay.   Look at verse 1 and 2. 

 

Meanwhile Boaz went up to the town gate and sat there.
When the kinsman-redeemer he had mentioned came along,
Boaz said, "Come over here, my friend, and sit down.”  So he went over and sat down.

Boaz took ten of the elders of the town and said, “Sit here,” and they did so.

Everyone in that ancient times living in Bethlehem knew what certain words and customs meant when initiated.  When Boaz called out to that man, he knew this was a formal hearing and not some social interaction.  Whenever an important business transaction was to take place, there had to be witnesses to ensure what was proper by their practiced custom took place.

Boaz initiated this procedure and now the main players are in place.  I am sure other curious on lookers and others who knew of Boaz surrounded this important development in town gate area where interesting gatherings always attracted people’s attention.

Now the formal request is presented to this man.  Look at verses 3-4.

 

            Then he said to the kinsman-redeemer, “Naomi, who has come back

from Moab, is selling the piece of land that belonged to our brother

Elimelech.  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.   

 
Boaz, ever a decent, and noble human being lays out as clear as he can to this man who has the first opportunity to fulfill his obligation and duty to redeem the land Naomi was selling.  Since Naomi doesn’t have male in her family, someone from her clan has to redeem the land through purchase.  Can you imagine what must have gone through the mind of Boaz.  As much as he wanted to fulfill the duty of kinsman-redeemer, himself, he was an honorable man who presented this opportunity to a man closer than he was by blood to redeem the land.

This is a formal gesture and entreaty.  Elders were seated along with other witnesses who are watching this entire event take place in their presence.  This scene would be played again and again in the minds and tales of the town folks for ages to come as they retold the story of that day in the town gate. 

 

This man gave his answer that he would redeem it as a relative closer to Naomi than Boaz.  Upon which Boaz then presents what that means and ramification of this man saying that he will redeem the land.   Look at verses 5.

 

            Then Boaz said, “On the day you buy the land from Naomi and from

Ruth the Moabitess, you acquire the dead man’s widow, in order to

maintain the name of the dead with his property.

                                                                       

This request or the offer is not so simple.  By redeeming the land, you must not only acquire the land but also Ruth who comes with the land and furthermore the obligation that Naomi’s blood line continues with a child born from Ruth who will carry the name of Naomi’s family.

 

Look at verse 6.

 

            At this, the kinsman-redemer said, “Then I cannot redeem it because

I might endanger my own estate.  You redeem it yourself.  I cannot do it.

This man’s logic was that by redeeming Ruth, he might have to compromise and divide his own estate with a child that will be born from Ruth.  He was not so eager to make his own estate more complicated with additional children with Ruth.   This kinsman redeemer is given this opportunity and he weighs the gravity of further commitment and sacrifice he has to make and deems he will not make that commitment and sacrifice.  He is afraid of making financial sacrifice.

If our Lord Jesus Christ felt like this man did, he would not have died on the cross two thousand years ago.  The cup he drank from contained too much pain and suffering, too great of a sacrifice.  Yet, our Lord Jesus Christ willingly and gladly took that cup and though without sin sacrificed himself on the cross to save us.  Where would we be today without our Lord Jesus Christ as our Kinsman Redeemer who purchased us?  Our Lord Jesus Christ was willing to pay the ultimate price for our redemption. 

 

(Often times, wealth is seen as something negative for those who are more puritanical in their thinking.  Somehow, wealth and resources are to be shunned while spirituality is to be exalted.) 

In this interesting story of Ruth, Boaz was a man of notable wealth.  Perhaps it was God’s plan to have blessed him with material possessions so that one day he would be in a position to do what is good and noble.  Boaz was in a position to be able to do this whereas the other man was not. 

God has certain plan for our lives and we may not know why we are going through certain stages but ultimately, God uses all that we have and all that we are for His glory and for His purpose. 

We don’t know much about this other man whom Boaz approached to redeem Ruth but we know he declined because of his own circumstances and situations.   He was not in a position to redeem Ruth with financial obligation that came with it.  Look at verses 7-8.

 

            (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.)  So the kinsman-redeemer

said to Boaz, “Buy it yourself.”  And he removed his sandal.

The business transaction was now completed.  There is finality to this gesture when the man removed his sandal to indicate his relegating that opportunity to Boaz in the presence of numerous witnesses and elders of the town.  People who witnessed this event will tell others who weren’t there that this transaction took place in broad daylight with everyone watching.  This was not under the table kind of a deal but open and witnessed by many.  People will say what that man did and how he looked when he took off his sandal and how he removed it since they saw the entire event before their eyes.  It was important for this event to be witnessed by many people so that there would never be any doubt that there was anything improper took place. 

 

Boaz being a man of great wealth could have been easily accused of using his wealth to pressure a man of lesser means if it was not done in the sight of all men but because this transaction took place at the town gate, there is no shadow of doubt in anyone’s mind of the legality and legitimacy of this transaction.  Look at verses 9-10.

 

            Then Boaz announced to the elders and all the people,  “Today you are

witnesses that I have bought from Naomi all the poperty of Elimelech,

Kilion and Mahlon.  I have also acquired Ruth the Moabitess, 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 the town records.  Today you are witnesses!”

 

Boaz kept his promise to Ruth and fulfilled his obligation and commitment under strictest guideline.  He crossed all the t’s and dotted all the is’.   He did everything legally and legitimately.

 

Of course the towns folks were elated at what took place.  Look at verses 11-12.

 

            Then the elders and all those 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 house of Israel.  May you

have standing in Ephrathah and be famous in Bethlehem.  Through

the offspring the LORD gives you by this young woman, may your

family be like that of Perez, whom Tamar bore to Judah.”

There is a genuine exultation from the people who witnessed this event as if everyone was holding their breath and waiting for this transaction to take place and spontaneously, people let out a sigh of relief and congratulatory remarks were shouted out publicly.

Boaz was a man of character whose kindness and goodness was well known and appreciated.  Even to what may have seemed so trifle in dealing with a poor widow, Boaz showed deference and went through the proper channels and made it into a public affair to ensure legitimacy of their union.

People were appreciative of Boaz’s thoroughness and thoughtfulness.  Everyone was happy for Boaz and Ruth as well as Naomi. 

 

Now look at verse 13-15.

 

            So Boaz took Ruth and she became his wife.  Then he went to her,

and LORD enabled her to conceive, and she gave birth to a son.  The

women said to Naomi: “Praise be to the LORD, who this day has not

left you without a kinsman-redeemer.  May he become famous throughout

Israel!  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.”

For Boaz and Ruth who both believed in God, their joyful union resulted in God’s granting them a son.  People who witnessed the event shared joy with Naomi, Boaz and Ruth.  The women blessed openly and praised God for the baby born to Ruth and Boaz. 

What a daughter-in-law Ruth turned out to be for Naomi.  Women praised Ruth for being such a daughter in law who loved her mother in law and who was better to Naomi than seven sons.  Can you imagine someone saying something like this in our world today?

 

If this is to take place today, I hope it can be done in the families of Christians.

                                                                       

Finally we see the conclusion.  Look at the verses 16-17. 

 

            Then Naomi took the child, laid him in her lap and cared for him.  The

women living there said, “Naomi has a son.”  And they named him Obed. 

He was the father of Jesse, the father of David.”

 

In the genealogy of our Lord Jesus Christ in Matthew 1:1-6, Ruth’s name appears.

 

                       

¹A record of the genealogy of Jesus Christ the son of David, the son of Abraham:
    ²Abraham was the father of Isaac,
         Isaac the father of Jacob,
         Jacob the father of Judah and his brothers,
       ³Judah the father of Perez and Zerah, whose mother was Tamar,
         Perez the father of Hezron,
         Hezron the father of Ram,
       ⁴Ram the father of Amminadab,
         Amminadab the father of Nahshon,
         Nahshon the father of Salmon,
       ⁵Salmon the father of Boaz, whose mother was Rahab,
         Boaz the father of Obed, whose mother was Ruth,
         Obed the father of Jesse,
       ⁶and Jesse the father of King David

King David’s grandfather was Obed or King David’s great grandmother would have been Ruth.  What do we think of that?  Ruth obviously never knew she would one day be the great grandmother of King of Israel but I am sure she lived a wonderful life filled with much joy and happiness as she trusted in God.

In the lineage of our Lord Jesus Christ, we see Ruth’s name mentioned.  And isn’t it interesting that Boaz’s own mother was none other than Rahab, one time a foreign prostitute who also became a believer and was incorporated into the family of God.

History of God’s redemption of sinners is filled with examples such as this. 

It is not really that important where we come from or who we are.  The most important

issue is that we believe in God and that we are loved by God.  What more is there to life than that?

Can you imagine their lives without God’s intervention?  Look at Naomi.  What could have become of her life?  After losing her husband and two sons, she could have easily ended up being the bitterest old widow the ancient world had ever seen.  She probably would have won the argument as to how unjust God had been to her but that would not have changed anything but she would have lived as a bitter old woman and died as a bitter old woman.  But enter God in her life, she of course ended up being a woman of God who received so much love from her daughter in law and eventually ended up as being the mother in law of Ruth, the great grandmother of King David and more importantly in the lineage of our Lord Jesus.

 
What about Boaz?  He could have ended his life as a very wealthy man whose generosity was known throughout the ancient region of Bethlehem but that would have been it.  His name unlike the first kinsman redeemer who declined the offer is not only well known but because of God in his life, has become the great grandfather of King David. 

 

What about Ruth?  She could have returned back to her own family when Naomi told her that she should go back to her parents and marry a young Moab to bear children and live happily ever after.  We would have never heard of Ruth and she would have lived and died as another Moabitess like any other in that time.  But enter God in her life, her life is transformed to being the most beautiful woman of her days and her wonderful character is well documented in this book of Ruth bearing her name and we now know her as the great grandmother of King David.  She is included in the genealogy of our Lord Jesus Christ.  Status of Ruth changed from a poverty stricken widow to a wife of a noble man. 

The same transformation takes place when we accept Jesus Christ as our personal Lord and Saviour.  When we are adopted into the family of God through Christ Jesus, our kinsman redeemer, our lives are forever changed and our status forever changed.

We are no longer poor sinner deserving only wrath and eternal condemnation but we have been bought or redeemed through Christ who purchased us with his own blood that we may enter into His kingdom as His own children and live life on this earth with a new sense of purpose and goal.  Where are we today?  Are we wondering what God has in store for us? 

As we trust in Jesus Christ and as we acknowledge God in our lives, we have nothing to fear but to forge ahead knowing and believing that God is leading us step by step.  What we become is not by our own effort or by our own work but purely through the grace of our Lord.  He will mold us and shape us that we might glorify God. 

Has it been some kind of a ride for us thus far in our life?  As we look back 10 years, 20 years and 30 years, could we say what a run it has been for us?  Hold on to our hats because we just don’t know what God has in store for us in the next 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60 years.  At the end of our life, I hope we can all say, Wow!  What a ride!  You never know what God has in store for us, and our families.  With God in our lives, how much fuller our life is today and is going to become.  Aren’t we glad that we have our Lord Jesus Christ in our lives and that we have nothing to fear but simply live trusting in His goodness for our lives?  He will lead us and He will be glorified through our lives. 

We may not know where we are going and where we will end up but He does.  And as we continue to live our lives in His presence and trust in His goodness and mercy, we have nothing to be afraid of.  Though we may not be aware of God’s eternal plan for us, as Naomi, Ruth, and Boaz may not have known, through our lives, God is building His kingdom even this day.