Sermon Tone Analysis

If you recall from last week, we saw that Naomi was so excited that Ruth had “stumbled” upon Boaz’ field and that he was treater her so well.

One of the reasons for this excitement was that he was a “close relative of ours, one of our redeemers”

We are going to see the significance of that statement today.

Before we get too gar into it, I want to address the concept of Boaz being a type of Christ on account of him being a redeemer.

I spoke to this the first week we looked at Ruth. and I want to add two reasons why I struggle with the concept that Boaz is a type.

I noted that Scripture never identifies him as such.

In addition to that, I have a hard time seeing as a type because the reason why Boaz treat Ruth so well is because of her worthiness.

We saw this in chapter two when asked why he was treating her so well he responded with “because everything you have done for your mother in law has been told to me”. and as we will read in chapter three, Boaz will call her a worthy woman.

Christ doesn’t redeem those on the basis of their worthiness, and its a good thing!

We aren’t worthy!

Second, as we shall see, Boaz is unable to redeem Ruth and Naomi unless the nearer kinsman declines.

That’s not how Christ is.

Our God is mighty to save and save to the uttermost those who have faith in Christ.

I spend time on that for two reasons.

1) you may wonder why I don’t speak of Boaz in this way in this sermon, so I am preempting the question.

2) so we can turn our attention to the author’s intent and learn what is here since we aren’t looking for what isn’t.

Because here’s the reality: does a denial of typology in Ruth make Ruth less meaningful for us?

Absolutely not!

Ruth is a marvelous book without stacking what I now believe is artificial meaning on top of the text that has the chance to obscure what is intended.

In our text today, we see several individual who act with intent and purpose.

But in the end, it is God whose purposes are being accomplished.

First let’s see Ruth’s purpose

Ruth’s Purpose: To Seek a Redeemer

In order to understand this passage, we need to understand the role of the redeemer in this culture.

Daniel Block notes in his commentary the concept of a kinsman redeemer is as follows.

“As a kinship term it denotes the near relative who is responsible for the economic well-being of a relative, and he comes into play especially when the relative is in distress and cannot get himself/herself out of the crisis.

The Scriptures note five aspects of a redeemers redemptive role: 1) to ensure that the hereditary property of the clan never passes out of the clan (Lev 25:25-30) (2) to maintain the freedom of individuals within the clan by buying back those who have sold themselves into slavery because of poverty (Lev 25:47-55) (3) to track down and execute murderers of near relatives (Num 35:12, 19-27) (4) to receive restitution money on behalf of a deceased victim of a crime (Num 5:8) and (5) to ensure that justice is served in a lawsuit involving a relative (Job 19:25; Ps 119:154; Jer 50:34)”

Now, it is a little curious that the book of Ruth refers to Boaz as a redeemer as none of these texts have anything to say about marrying the widow of a deceased relative.

However, it seems the the Israelites took the principle of the redeemer and applied to the area of widows and the idea of a levirate marriage.

What is a levirate marriage?

I’m going to turn over to Deut 25:5-10 to help us in our understanding:

This is a big deal.

In order to protect the inheritance and keep the land in the family, this was the way to accomplish that.

In this passage, it is the brother who it to perform this duty.

It doesn’t mention other relatives, like cousins or others.

But when you apply the concept of the kinsman redeemer and the responsibility to provide for those in your clan to the concept of the levirate marriage, it doesn’t surprise us to see that the scenario playing out in the book of Ruth.

Here’s whats at steak.

Not only are Ruth and Naomi destitute, but there is a legitimate chance that their family property is going to lost to another family without an heir.

The property inheritance doesn’t strike us as that big of a deal in our culture, but to them it was so significant that there were so many laws that spoke to the importance of keeping property in the family, and there was the year of Jubilee that would set all the slaves free and return all land to the original family.

So much is on the line!

But Naomi gives instructions to Ruth.

Make yourself presentable.

And go to where Boaz is about to spend the night.

Her actions of cleaning up and donning the cloak may have indicated that she was finished with her time of mourning and was ready to move forward in life.

Mourning was a very public and obvious thing.

By washing and changing her clothes she was signaling that she is ready for courtship.

Now, regarding how she approached him…This is strange to us, and truly there are cultural things here that it seems are left somewhat to speculation.

....some have interpreted her approach in a sexual way.

There is a degree of understand ability to this approach, as many of the words can be understand or translated in a variety of ways.

Considering the location and time period, if there was to be some immorality at play here, would it really surprise us?

However, the overall context of the book as well as the purpose that the original writer had when he set out to write the book of Ruth make this interpretation questionable.

The author has gone to great lengths to demonstrate the godly and pious lives of both Ruth and Boaz.

To put them in such a compromising situation would seem counter to the entire tone and tenor of the book.

The author’s purpose served as a polemic for King David legitimacy as King over Israel.

If anyone wanted to besmirch the legitimacy or worthiness of David’s place on the throne might would be countered with this book demonstrating his noble ancestry and how pious they were.

A salacious story about an inappropriate encounter certainly would not have served to paint David in a positive light.

Each of the terms and customs represented here can legitimately be understood in perfectly innocent ways according to the customs of the day without having to be embarrassed by what we see.

It seems strange to us, and in many way, perhaps it is strange.

But strange doesn’t mean immoral, and based on how things unfold be can be confident that both Boaz and Ruth acted consistently with their pious innocence.

This is not to say, however, that Ruth’s actions were without risk.

She didn’t know how Boaz would respond.

Would he take her as a prostitute and banish her? Would he acknowledge her case bur refuse her the redemption she sought?

After being startled awake and hearing Ruth’s request, he speaks favorable to her, but here we come to an unforeseen issue.

Boaz cannot redeemer her!

Everything was going so well!

Boaz, an older man, fancied Ruth.

Ruth seems to fancy Boaz, everything seems like its all coming together perfectly for the perfect happy ending, and then scchreeech pump those brakes.

He have a problem.

Boaz is not the nearest redeemer.

In order for him to redeem her, the nearer kinsman must pass on the opportunity.

When Ruth returns home and reports to Naomi, however, Naomi doesn’t seem to be phased.

She is confident that Boaz, being a man of good character, will address the matter straight away.

Let’s read on in the story to learn how it turns out, where we will now see Boaz’s purpose.

Boaz’s Purpose: to Redeem Ruth

So the nearer kinsman had the opportunity to redeem.

This would have added to his estate, which would have been profitable for him.

At first he was eager to redeem the land!

But when he learned that he would have to redeem not only the land, but also Ruth and Naomi, his financial boon suddenly represents a potentially financial liability.

Perhaps the cost of caring for two widows would outweigh the benefit of the increased land.

Perhaps if Ruth only bears him one son he fear losing his property to the family line of Elimelech instead of himself.

whatever the reason, he decides to pass, and the transfers the right of redemption to Boaz.

Let;s read to the end of the book.

There are a few interesting details here.

The first is that though Ruth bears the son, the women of the community say that a son has been born to Naomi.

In many ways, though Ruth is a key character in the book, it seems that Naomi is actually the main character.

This is less a book about the love story between Ruth and Boaz, and more about God’s provision for Naomi, and through Ruth and Boaz God’s provision for King David.

They name the child Obed, meaning one who serves.

Its likely a shortened version of Obadiah, meaning servant of Yahweh.

Some have found the genealogy at the end of the book strange and out of place.

It’s perfectly in place if we consider the purpose and intent of the author in penning this book, and the overall theme of the book.

And as we consider that, we will close our study of this book with these reminders and observations of God’s purpose

God’s Purpose: To Establish the King

Ruth sought a kinsman redeemer to provide children for her and Naomi.

Boaz sought to perform his ethical responsibility for a woman he came to love.

But through all these events, God’s purpose was to establish the godly line through which King David would come.

This book was written as a polemic to help establish the legitimacy of King David in the early part of his reign.

It shows God’s divine providence to bring about His purposes in the lives of ordinary individuals.

God accomplished his purposes through pain.

God accomplished his purposes in what seemed like mere happenstance.

God accomplished his purposes, even when Boaz and Ruth and Naomi had no idea what God was doing.