Matthew 1:1–7 The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the Son of David, the Son of Abraham:Abraham begot Isaac, Isaac begot Jacob, and Jacob begot Judah and his brothers…
The Lord takes away the tears and sorrows of our life and turns them for our good and the good of the Body of Christ. He turns ashes into beauty. Nothing is impossible with God…nothing. Out of the loss of Naomi and Ruth came Obed and eventually David and from this family line came Jesus, the Son of God. God has elevated women to bring life into His world. Through Mary and the power of Holy Spirit, life, eternal and whole, was born into the world. God cares for you. Carla
Ruth 4:8-22
8 Therefore the close relative said to Boaz, “Buy it for yourself.” So he took off his sandal. 9 And Boaz said to the elders and all the people, “You are witnesses this day that I have bought all that was Elimelech’s, and all that was Chilion’s and Mahlon’s, from the hand of Naomi. 10 Moreover, Ruth the Moabitess, the widow of Mahlon, I have acquired as my wife, to perpetuate the name of the dead through his inheritance, that the name of the dead may not be cut off from among his brethren and from his position at the gate. You are witnesses this day.”
11 And all the people who were at the gate, and the elders, said, “We are witnesses. The Lord make the woman who is coming to your house like Rachel and Leah, the two who built the house of Israel; and may you prosper in Ephrathah and be famous in Bethlehem. 12 May your house be like the house of Perez, whom Tamar bore to Judah, because of the offspring which the Lord will give you from this young woman.”
13 So Boaz took Ruth and she became his wife; and when he went in to her, the Lord gave her conception, and she bore a son. 14 Then the women said to Naomi, “Blessed be the Lord, who has not left you this day without a close relative; and may his name be famous in Israel! 15 And may he be to you a restorer of life and a nourisher of your old age; for your daughter-in-law, who loves you, who is better to you than seven sons, has borne him.” 16 Then Naomi took the child and laid him on her bosom, and became a nurse to him. 17 Also the neighbor women gave him a name, saying, “There is a son born to Naomi.” And they called his name Obed. He is the father of Jesse, the father of David.
18 Now this is the genealogy of Perez: Perez begot Hezron; 19 Hezron begot Ram, and Ram begot Amminadab; 20 Amminadab begot Nahshon, and Nahshon begot Salmon; 21 Salmon begot Boaz, and Boaz begot Obed; 22 Obed begot Jesse, and Jesse begot David. (NKJV)
The removal of a sandal was part of a legal transaction in ancient Israel. It would parallel the modern custom of concluding a transaction by signing a document or handing over a set of keys. By handing over his shoe, the close relative was symbolically handing over his right to walk on the land that was being sold.
The witnesses at the gate played a significant role in validating the transaction. Chilion and Mahlon, Elimelech’s sons would have been. the heirs of their father’s land. The land was bought from Elimelech’s widow, Naomi.
In addition to redeeming the land, Boaz also redeemed Ruth by taking her as his wife. In contrast to the land, Ruth was not bought. She did not require a purchase price nor was Boaz required to redeem her. He willingly chose to be her redeemer. Boaz was a blood relative of Elimelech, and he was financially able to take on the responsibilities of redemption. The people and the elders affirmed the legal proceeding with their response, we are witnesses. Then the crowd gave Ruth a remarkable blessing by asking that the Lord make her like Rachel and Leah, Israel’s founding mothers (Genesis 35:23–26). Even though Ruth was a Moabite, she was fully and eagerly accepted by the Israelites. The Law of Moses demanded the exclusion of the Moabites from the congregation of Israel for ten generations (1:22). In this exceptional case we see a beautiful example of the spirit of the Law being maintained. Ruth loyally loved Naomi by leaving her homeland and serving her mother-in-law even in the worst of circumstances. In turn, God rewarded Ruth by extending His loyal love to her. He gave this foreigner a godly husband, accepted her as one of His people, and gave her a child who would be an ancestor of King David and ultimately of Jesus (verses 13, 22).
The Book of Ruth is replete with allusions to the Pentateuch. Here the name of Tamar refers to another story about the spirit of the Law (Genesis 38). Certainly Tamar’s behavior would not normally be commended. Yet she was desperate because her husband’s brothers would not fulfill their responsibility to her, and in the end Judah praised her as more righteous than himself (Genesis 38:26). Even in Tamar’s deplorable situation, God mercifully blessed her with a son, and this son Perez was an ancestor to King David (verse 18). Like Ruth, Rahab was a Gentile woman. Yet God extended His loyal love to Rahab because of her faith in Him and included her in the messianic line.
Children are a gift from God. He fashions every person in the womb of the mother (Psalm 139:13).
The women praised God for His provision for Naomi. They offered a blessing for the child, asking that his fame be extended throughout Israel and that he would comfort Naomi and nourish her in her old age. Naomi’s emptiness had been replaced with fullness through the birth of this boy.
The theme of Naomi’s fullness continues to dominate as the neighbor women declared that a child was born to Naomi. His name was Obed, signifying “One Who Serves.” The author at last reveals how Ruth, a Moabite woman, had become part of the royal Davidic line.
The story concludes with David’s genealogy, beginning with Perez, the son of Judah and Tamar. This genealogy could have been added to the book long after the original writing was complete, but more probably the book as a whole was composed at a later date than the events described. The genealogy of David is not really an appendix, but an essential element demonstrating the author’s purpose—and the purpose of the Lord in the building of the family line of King David and the Messiah. The story of Boaz’s redemption of a foreign woman points to Jesus’ great redemption of all those who believe in Him. The NKJV Study Bible
Genesis 38:1–30
It came to pass at that time that Judah departed from his brothers, and visited a certain Adullamite whose name was Hirah. And Judah saw there a daughter of a certain Canaanite whose name was Shua, and he married her and went in to her…
Genesis 29:25–35:19
So it came to pass in the morning, that behold, it was Leah. And he said to Laban, “What is this you have done to me? Was it not for Rachel that I served you? Why then have you deceived me?”And Laban said, “It must not be done so in our country, to give the younger before the firstborn…
Deuteronomy 25:9
then his brother’s wife shall come to him in the presence of the elders, remove his sandal from his foot, spit in his face, and answer and say, ‘So shall it be done to the man who will not build up his brother’s house.’
Luke 1:57–59
Now Elizabeth’s full time came for her to be delivered, and she brought forth a son. When her neighbors and relatives heard how the Lord had shown great mercy to her, they rejoiced with her…
I received this great story from Brian, a Sabbath Moment reader…When I was serving as a Peace Corps volunteer in a small village in Thailand back in the 60s, I learned that when I visited with others in their homes, I was there to be there, and not to talk much. We would sit together and just enjoy each other’s presence. After what seemed like a long time, I would get up to leave, and they would thank me for being there. I was uncomfortable since I was a novice Thai learner until my Headmaster explained to me that just being together was the most meaningful conversation.
So. I have an idea. This week...
Be open to the gift of conversation. Even if that conversation is presence without words.
Be open to the spirit of consolation.
Be wholehearted.
This week taught me that we all need to have our spirits—and our hearts—replenished. Sabbath Moments
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