Ruth 4 RESULTS OF GOD'S GRACE What we believe, our attitude, how we act and what we do establishes our reputation over a period of time. People make allowances for mistakes and understand the fact that failures occur in the best of people. What this really means is it takes time and careful consideration of all that we do and say each day, for a good reputation to be in place. Along with the willingness to take risks, and the purity and integrity that has formed our character, there is a dignity that is expected from the child of God that people do not expect from others. Ruth is an example of that dignity in that she was willing and able to wait with patience. Boaz in a more public way is an example of one who maintained his dignity even in the pursuit of a solution to a matter that had the potential of being a public scandal if not dealt with in a righteous and dignified way.
Boaz was a man of integrity who followed the due process of the law to settle Naomi and Ruth's legal claim. He recognized his accountability to the law. To break ethical rules whenever one pleases will not escape divine judgment in the future. Those who model integrity, are those who recognize they are accountable to God and His law no matter what others may do or say. God arranged that shortly after dawn when Boaz was at the city gate where legal matters were dealt with, the other kinsman-redeemer came by. Public matters have to be dealt with publicly today the same as in those ancient days. The ten elders formed the government when it came to the law and judicial process. The matter Boaz brought to those men and the other kinsman had nothing to with guilt or innocence but an administrative procedure involving the exchange of land. This was like a public hearing on a matter as to who is responsible to exercise the rights and responsibilities of a kinsman-redeemer. Boaz was open and honest as a man of integrity should be. He followed the law without deception. Such living before the people of a community honors God. He brought up the land Naomi wanted to sell and the relatives had to decide who would get that land so it would remain in the ancestral family.
The other kinsman wanted the land and had first rights to it, until he learned that in order to redeem the land he had to take Ruth to be his wife in order to raise up an heir for the dead relative. The newborn heir would ultimately keep the ancestral land. For some reason the other kinsman drew back from that responsibility. Perhaps it was too expensive for him to take three other people into his home. Perhaps it would jeopardize his family life or his own property rights. There are consequences to every action we take. It is a wise person who takes time to consider all that is involved in each decision we make. Because of one man's choice, Boaz was free legally to take his place, buy the land and take Ruth to be his wife. He took the responsibility to pay the cost of redemption. The sacrifice to pay that cost brought him the blessing of a bride and later and heir for Naomi. Integrity costs, and integrity pays the bill that is owing. That is what our Lord Jesus Christ did when He paid the cost of redemption with His own life and purchased a bride for Himself.
As far as patience: Ruth was willing to wait and rest contentedly knowing that the God she had testified about, and in whom she trusted, would bring the right result of the matter. She had done what she was advised to do by one older and more experienced in life, and she had maintained her own sense of worth, responsibility and dignity. Now she was able to rest in quiet confidence in God knowing she had done what she should have done. Boaz in a respectful, honorable and dignified way, followed through the matter regarding the buying and selling of land and the passing on of an inheritance, carefully, wisely and cleverly to bring about the right conclusion. If a relative wanted the land of a dead person, he also had to take the possessions of that person and be responsible for them – including the widow. Not everything will be settled at once when important issues arise in our lives. We have a tendency to take our time in making our mind up about a matter, and then expect the response to be an immediate answer on the part of others toward what we have decided. One who can wait quietly and patiently is impressive to most people because many make decisions based on the affect it has on us and others in the immediate future rather than looking ahead to the conclusion of a matter.
Dignity and honor go together. Boaz publicly announced his intention in an honorable way. Even though he knew what he wanted the outcome to be, he didn't short-circuit the legal practice of the law of his day. He stayed within the bounds of the law and, in faith, he stated only what was necessary to say so the other kinsman was put in the position of clearly stating what he could and could not do. Nothing was compromised. No one could accuse Boaz or Ruth of inappropriate behavior. Boaz’s proclamation was clearly fulfilling the laws of the Jews and Ruth was able to live in dignity and respectability before them all. The children borne to them were legitimately heirs of all the possessions of Ruth and Boaz. Naomi was not abandoned either because her daughter-in-law and husband took full responsibility for her. The women of the town of Bethlehem stated than Ruth was better to Naomi than seven sons.
It is a wise person who recognizes that all we have lived for and stood for, can be lost in a moment if we choose to make a decision based on the desire for material gain alone. When we wait upon God, we will find His grace is sufficient for our every need, and His plans are often carried out in a gracious way without the threat of pressure or violent opposition. When the shoe exchange took place, Boaz had the legal right to the land he could set foot on. That bill of sale settled the contract. Witnesses verified the claim. The property was defined, everything owned by Elimelech, Chilion and Mahlon now belong to Boaz - and Ruth was his wife. The family line would be preserved. Ruth would have full status as an Israelite and the whole community was witness to this legal agreement.
The people of Bethlehem blessed Boaz with a desire for his prosperity, fame and a family line that would continue. That blessing asked for an heir, gave praise to Boaz and the reward of integrity established his leadership. Leaders are not intended to be caterers to the whims of people. Celebrations make life enjoyable, give recognition to special people and give opportunity for us to join together in praising God. Boaz and Ruth married, and the Lord enable her to conceive and have a son as an heir for Naomi. The Lord gave the conception so that child was a gift from God as His reward to faithful ordinary people. Naomi and her grandson were featured in the praise of the people. No longer was she empty but full as the heir, Obed, (servant) would serve the Lord and provide for Naomi. The bitter woman now had joy.
The faithfulness of those ordinary people, have blessed others down through the generations to David, then the Lord Jesus and now to us. Millions have become children of God through faith in Jesus Christ who was of the seed of David. Another result of God's manifested grace to be seen in this book involves rewards. God had done all this not just to let us have an interesting story to read to our children. We learn for ourselves how to conduct life in a manner that is honorable to God and before men in our day and age. In the midst of the terrible days of the judges, God was preparing the way for the Lord Jesus Christ to come. He was teaching those through the ages yet to come how His purposes will be fulfilled in spite of the kind of day and society in which we live.
It is not necessary for us to know the reasons behind everything that happens. It is enough that we trust God by faith to do what is best and during those times of uncertainty, maintain a dignity appropriate to one who is in the family of God. Ruth would not have known the full outcome of her story and the purpose God had for her life. We will not know all the reasons for the things that happen to us until we look back from the perspective of eternity and see what God had in mind. Our biggest responsibility now is to make our choices with God’s eternal values in mind. Never take shortcuts to get ahead but give God a chance to work in your life. Live in faithfulness to God and the rewards will far outweigh any sacrifices or losses that may have occurred. The life of Ruth was full of significance and her legacy is still bringing blessing because of a choice she made along side of a road when she was a young woman.