Third Presbyterian Sunday Morning Bible Study - November 1, 2020

elow is the Bible Study written by Jim Rudiger for his Sunday School Class which meets at Third Presbyterian Church, Norfolk, Virginia. It's based on Ruth 4:1-10.

In our day and time, what defines a family?  Mother, father, kids, grandchildren and grandparents.  These are our immediate family.  Then there are our other kin.  Uncles, aunts, cousins - first, second and third removed - great aunts, uncles, great grandparents and so on.  Before you know it, you have a family tree.  Anybody into genealogies?   

A few decades ago, I decided to find out about my ancestors on my father’s side.  My grandfather had immigrated here from Germany in around 1880.  He left a sister there and I wrote her son who sent me a history of the Rudigers traced back into the 1700s.  They were just ordinary working people, mostly stone masons.  Jackie’s cousin wasn’t so lucky.  She was really into genealogy.  She went to libraries, town records, and cemeteries tracking down her ancestors.  Things were going fine until she ran into a relative who lived in about 1850.  In going through his dealings, she found out that he had been a slave owner.  That cooled some of her enthusiasm for following that branch of the family.

While we all keep in touch with great Aunt Sadie, we generally center most of our concern on our immediate family.  When one of them is in trouble, we try to help out.  A third cousin twice removed who we have never laid eyes on, doesn’t enlist much of our energy or help.  Things were different for the Israelites back in Ruth’s time.  A family then consisted of not only your immediate relatives, but, anybody remotely related to you.  All degree of cousins, aunts and uncles were part of your responsibility.  Their custom dictated that you were obligated to help anybody in this extended family who got into some difficulty.  And this extended family included your whole tribe.  

Last week we were introduced to what was called a “kinsman-redeemer.”  Who was a kinsman redeemer?  A ”kinsman-redeemer” was a member of your family or tribe, who was pretty well off.  He was expected to pay off the debts of a relative who was unable to pay and faced becoming an indentured servant.  If the relative died and left a widow who didn’t have any children, the “kinsman-redeemer” had to marry her so she could have a child and carry on the dead husband’s name.  That first child born to the couple would be considered the off spring of the dead husband.  The obligation was taken so serious that if a relative was murdered, the “kinsman-redeemer” had the right to track the murderer down and kill him.  So the role of “kinsman-redeemer” wasn’t something to sneeze at.  In our story of Ruth, this custom was used to save Ruth and Naomi.

Two weeks ago Ruth went to fields owned by Boaz as a gleaner.  Boaz had heard about Ruth and was impressed with what he had heard.  He called Ruth over and allotted to her the best pickings position among the gleaners.  When Ruth told Naomi what had happened, Naomi said that Boaz was kinfolk and actually encouraged Ruth to flirt with Boaz.  The plan was for Ruth to lay at the feet of Boaz.  When he woke up and saw Ruth laying there and she called him her next of kin which was the same as telling Boaz that he was responsible for her as her “kinsman-redeemer”.  Now this was fine with Boaz, but, the fly in the ointment was that there was another kinsman who was closer to Naomi and Ruth than he was.  Boaz agrees that he will marry her if he can work things out with the other kinsman.  As a token of that pledge he sends Ruth home the next day with her apron full of barley. Now, giving Ruth the apron full of barley had more meaning than just a meal.  Grain was a symbol of fertility.  Boaz was saying that if they get married, Ruth’s and Naomi’s life won’t be empty because the baby mill will be operating 24/7.  Ruth hurries home to tell Naomi that Boaz has popped the question and he will work out the problem with the other unnamed kin folk.  In the meantime Boaz is planning on how he can snake out the other kinsman and be declared Ruth and Naomi’s kinsman-redeemer.  And that is where we start our lesson today.

Ruth 4:1 No sooner had Boaz gone up to the gate and sat down there than the next-of-kin, of whom Boaz had spoken, came passing by. So Boaz said, "Come over, friend; sit down here." And he went over and sat down. 2 Then Boaz took ten men of the elders of the city, and said, "Sit down here"; so they sat down. 

Where does Boaz go after Ruth leaves?  To the gate.  When we hear “the gate”, what comes to mind?   A big wooden door that was part of a wall around a city.  Then, where would be the weakest part of the city wall?  The wooden gate.  We’ve seen hundreds of movies where the gate in a walled city is pushed open and the enemy floods into the city.  In many cases, the gate was more like a stone building with several rooms and gates through which people had to pass to get into the city.  By having the gate open into one room and then another, the enemy was slowed down making the defense of the city easier.  So, by adding the rooms, busting down one gate didn’t make the city so vulnerable.  

With these rooms just sitting there, the gate became a place for people to gather and discuss what was happening in the city - socially, financially and legally.  There were even benches along the inner walls of the rooms.  Court was held there.  The city elders took complaints and settled questions of ownership and disputes there.  The latest twitters from the mayor's office were discussed there. 

Now it’s early in the morning when Boaz gets to the gate and who just happens to be walking down the street eating a Hardy's sausage biscuit?  The next of kin Boaz is looking for.  Do you think that this was just a coincidence?  The book of Ruth seems to be full of coincidences.  Was it a coincidence that Ruth left her people to come to Bethlehem with Naomi?  Was it a coincidence that she chose to glean in the field owned by Boaz?  Was it a coincidence that Boaz showed up that particular day Ruth was gleaning?  Was it a coincidence that Ruth played footsy with Boaz in the threshing room and finagled an engagement party? And now, Boaz just happens to run into the very guy he is looking for.  Coincidence?  I think not.  Who do you think was behind all of these coincidences?  Who wrote the book and knows everything?   

Of course it may be that Boaz knew that it was the habit of the next of kin to come to the gate first thing in the morning and meet with all of his buddies before starting to work.  When Boaz sees the next of kin what does he do?  He says, “Hey, cousin.  Come over and sit with me for a while.”  Do you think Boaz was just lonely?  No.  His plan to snake out the next of kin was being put into action.

What does Boaz do next?  Invites ten elders to come and sit with them..  Why?  He needed witnesses if his plan is to work.  It also tells us that either Boaz knew that ten elders, which would constitute a quorum of elders, would be there that particular morning or he sent word to them and asked to make sure that they were there that morning.  Boaz is a rich influential guy in the city.  A guy the elders would listen to.  It never occurs to the next of kin that something fishy is going on when the elders just happen to come over and sit with them.

Ruth 4: 3 He then said to the next-of-kin, "Naomi, who has come back from the country of Moab, is selling the parcel of land that belonged to our kinsman Elimelech. 4 So I thought I would tell you of it, and say: Buy it in the presence of those sitting here, and in the presence of the elders of my people. If you will redeem it, redeem it; but if you will not, tell me, so that I may know; for there is no one prior to you to redeem it, and I come after you." So he said, "I will redeem it." 

In passing what does Boaz tell the next of kin?  “Oh, by-the-way, did you hear that Naomi is going to sell that patch of land over in Back Bay that our cousin, Elimelech, owned?  I just thought that since you were the next in line kin, you might want to take advantage of the kinsman redeemer law to buy that land.  And look, we just happen to have ten elders sitting here beside us, so.  If you want to buy it using your 'kinsman redeemer' status, they can witness your claim and it’ll be a done deal.  Of course, if you don’t want to do it, then, since I’m the next in line kin, I’ll make the sacrifice and assume the role of 'kinsman redeemer' and buy the land myself.”  

The next of kin jumps at the chance to get Elimelech’s land and says what?  “I’ll redeem it.”  Now, we’ve talked about redeeming and what it entails even if it did border on Pungo.  The next of kin thought about the deal and the way he saw it was this was a prized piece of land.  It could double his gross income per year.  Now, he recognized that as the “kinsman redeemer”, he would have to take care of Naomi.  But she was old and scrawny way passed her prime. Didn't look like she eats too much either.Taking care of her was nickel and dime stuff.  More importantly, she was way passed having children, so there would be no more babies for her.  That meant that when he died the land would pass down to his kids since she wouldn't have any.  Sounds like he has everything covered, right?  What has he left out or rather who has he left out of the equation?  Ruth.  Up to now, has Boaz even mentioned Ruth?  No.   Apparently, the next of kin doesn’t know about Ruth.

Ruth 4:5 Then Boaz said, "The day you acquire the field from the hand of Naomi, you are also acquiring Ruth the Moabite, the widow of the dead man, to maintain the dead man's name on his inheritance." 6 At this, the next-of-kin said, "I cannot redeem it for myself without damaging my own inheritance. Take my right of redemption yourself, for I cannot redeem it."

And now Boaz drops the “R” bomb.  In addition to Naomi and the land, who else will the next of kin get?  Ruth.  And how does he describe Ruth?  A Moabite woman.  Obviously, the next of kin has a thing about Moabites and doesn’t like them, so Boaz plays the race card.  And, besides Ruth being a Moabite and all, she is what?  The widowed daughter-in law of Naomi which makes her his next of kin, so he will have to marry her so she can have a son who will legally be considered the son of her dead husband, Mahlon, and the grandson of Elimelech.. 

How does the next of kin respond?  Deals off.  And who was the deal breaker?  Ruth.  Why doesn’t the next of kin want to marry Ruth and have children by her?  It won’t be fair to his children.  Why not?  Here is the way the next of kin sees it.  He not only has to take care of Naomi who probably doesn’t have a lot of time left on this earth so her cost was minimal, but, he now has this young girl who he will have to take care of for the rest of her life.  In addition it’s going to cost him a lot of money to get the land back in shape.  Remember it has been ten years since anybody took care of the land.  It will bring in more money, but, he’ll have to hire additional workers.  Now, if in the end he would own the land and his kids would inherit it, it might make sense and be worth it.  But, if Ruth has a son by him, the son will be considered the owner of the land since he was legally the son of Mahlon who was Elimelech’s son.  All that work and expense would end up in the hands of another family not his son’s.  You see.  It is all about money.

Ruth 4:7 Now this was the custom in former times in Israel concerning redeeming and exchanging: to confirm a transaction, the one took off a sandal and gave it to the other; this was the manner of attesting in Israel. 8 So when the next-of-kin said to Boaz, "Acquire it for yourself," he took off his sandal. 9 Then Boaz said to the elders and all the people, "Today you are witnesses that I have acquired from the hand of Naomi all that belonged to Elimelech and all that belonged to Chilion and Mahlon. 10 I have also acquired Ruth the Moabite, the wife of Mahlon, to be my wife, to maintain the dead man's name on his inheritance, in order that the name of the dead may not be cut off from his kindred and from the gate of his native place; today you are witnesses."

Before the next of kin leaves the city gate, what does he do to cement the deal? He declares that Boaz can acquire it for himself.  How does he confirm it? By taking off one shoe and giving it to Boaz.  Seems like a dopey thing to do unless he was going to throw it at Boaz.  This exchange appears to symbolically represent that the true next of kin is relinquishing his obligation as “kinsman redeemer” and turning over the responsibility to someone else.  Maybe it was their way of saying that if the shoe fits, wear it.

Boaz then addresses the elders who had been witnessing all of this and he claims the role of “kinsman redeemer”.  He states that he is willing to buy everything that had belonged to Elimelech and his two sons including, the widow of Mahlon.  That means that from now on Ruth will not be that Moabite woman but a full fledged Israelite.  Was Ruth the only widow of one of Naomi’s sons?  What about Orpah?  Is Boaz also the kinsman redeemer of Orpah?  Yes, if she was still there with Naomi.  But, she left Naomi and returned to her people which was the same as divorcing herself from Naomi’s family. 

After that, the elders spoke up.  They are overjoyed that Boaz will be the “kinsman redeemer”.  Makes you kind of get the idea that they were pals of Boaz and bolsters the theory that Boaz had asked them to be there so that they could act as witnesses.  They pray that Ruth will bear as many children as Rachel and Leah.  How many sons did Rachel and Leah give Jacob?  Twelve - which formed the tribes of Israel.  This whole plan could have all blown up in Boaz’ face if the next of kin had accepted his responsibility.  Is this another coincidence?  

Get ready.  It’s happy ending time. Boaz took Ruth as his wife.  The taking was more actual than literal.  He didn’t get down on one knee or bring her a bunch of roses.  There was no Justice of the Peace.  No church wedding with a big wedding cake.  The marriage consisted of Boaz going over to Ruth’s house and taking her back to his house.  They came together and you know what that means Biblically.  She got pregnant immediately and had a son.

Actually there is more to it than that.  Scripture says that the Lord made her conceive.  And that’s important because of what comes from that birth.  One of the things that had convinced Naomi to return to Bethlehem was that she had gotten word that the Lord had given the people there food.  Now God was not only giving Naomi food, but, a son to maintain her family tree.  And this is where it gets confusing for us today.  Who’s son is he?  Physically, he is Boaz’s son.  But the custom was that since Ruth was the widow of Mahlon, her first son will considered Mahlon’s since he never had a son by Ruth.  Boaz understands this and is happy with it.  So this little boy becomes, by custom, Naomi’s grandson although a DNA sample wouldn’t prove it.  All other children born to Ruth will be Boaz’ children.

The women in Bethlehem were over joyed for Naomi.  Based on custom, there was no doubt in their mind that God had given Naomi a little “next-of-kin.” For Naomi it meant that this little guy would restore Naomi’s life and take the place of the husband and two sons she had lost.  This little boy will reverse all the bad things that had happened to her.  To restore her is to bring her back from where she was when she return to Bethlehem, a lonely bitter woman, to now being a woman with a future because of her new grandson.  No longer will she believe that God had something against her because He took her husband and sons.  God has proven His love for her by giving her this grandson.

What will the grandson do for Naomi after restoring her?  This grandson will nourish Naomi in her old age.  And how will he do that?  Make sure she has a place to stay.  Make sure she has enough to eat.  Provide her with a bridge to the future.  The village women are so happy for Naomi that they tell her that Ruth is worth seven sons.  In those days that was quite a compliment to pay Ruth, but, why seven sons and not six or five?  Seven is the complete number.  The women are really saying that with this little guy, Ruth has made Naomi as complete as she could possibly be.  It would be nice to think that Ruth was there to hear the town women say that about her.

When a new grand baby is born, what is the natural instinct for Grandmomma to do?  Pick up the baby, hug him and count all of the fingers and toes.  That is exactly what Naomi does. Scripture tells us that Naomi became his nurse, but, it doesn’t mean that she took over feeding the little guy.  Naomi is way too old for that job.  What it implies is that Naomi will have a significant input in that little fellow’s life.  I’m sure that when Boaz and Ruth wanted to go out for the evening to eat supper at Surf Rider, Naomi would be all too happy to come over and babysit.  

Like I said before, in the eyes of the community, this baby boy was Naomi’s.  Not the child’s mother, but, like every grandmother, she owned the kid.  Then the women did a wonderful thing. Normally, in the Old Testament, the parents named the baby, but, this time the town’s women named the little boy.  Ruth or Boaz and even Naomi were not consulted.  The women did it all on their own.  It’s like when my brother was born, my parents wanted to name him John, but, my grandmother said it didn’t make any difference what they named him, she was going to call him Jack.  So, my parents named him Jack.  What was happening was that the women in Bethlehem had become so involved in this love story - the love of Ruth for her mother in law, Boaz’s love for Ruth and the love Naomi had for this baby - that naming the kid became a community project. Do you know what they named him?  They picked the name of Obed.  Why pick Obed?  This is a shortened version of the name Obediah which means “servant of the Lord.”  The town women saw great things for this little baby and they will be proven right.  From this little baby will come the greatest Israelite king, David, and still later the Messiah, Jesus.  

That finishes our story of Ruth and it is the happiest of endings.  What makes this story give you that good deep down feeling is that there weren’t any bad guys in the story.  In fact everybody in the story were really nice folks.  An old woman’s bitterness was erased and the love of a foreign daughter-in-law for her mother-in-law gave her a chance for a future.  A rich old man meets the girl of his dreams and doesn’t exploit the relationship.  A town is drawn closer together due to the love shown by an outsider. Even the real next of kin won because he didn’t have to spend all of his money on what he considered a bad investment.  But, best of all, God had used an outcast Moabite woman to start the royal line of David which eventually gave us Christ.

Now about your family.  We have our immediate family and we have our extended family.  But think of this.  We have all been adopted into the family of God.  That means every Christian in the past, in the present and in the future is part of our family.  That’s some family tree and they are all good guys, not a black sheep among them.  And we have the opportunity to be the “kinsman redeemer” for all of them.  And we will learn how to be the best redeemer from a master, the greatest “kinsman redeemer” of them all - Jesus Christ.

Prayer: May we be more like Boaz and take our responsibility for the caring of our Christian brothers and sisters as a personal gain and not as a financial loss.  Amen.