Ruth 4:1-8 - Come over here, my friend, and sit down

4:1-4

True to Naomi’s prediction, Boaz wastes no time in getting matters finalised. So Boaz gets the other kinsman redeemer, along with ten of the elders of the town. He gathered the ten elders so that everything was witnessed and there could be no dispute about the outcome. Boaz starts by saying that Naomi needs to sell a field. The reason for looking for a kinsman redeemer to buy it is in order to keep it within the family, something that was considered to be very important under the Law and within Israel. Initially the other kinsman is keen to buy the field.

4:5-8

Boaz then adds the provision that acquiring the field also involves acquiring Ruth as a wife. Now to our Western ears this may sound rather offensive. However, the reason for this was to keep the family line going. We should also note that there is a very practical approach to marriage in the Bible, something our society could well learn from. At the same time, it is clear from the book of Ruth that Boaz does love Ruth and has genuine affection for her. Romance and practicality go together.

On learning that he would have to take Ruth as a wife, the other kinsman backed out, thinking that it might endanger his own estate. At this point the deal was sealed and Boaz would take the field and Ruth.

Acts 24:1-9 - He is a ringleader

24:1-4

So five days later Ananias, the high priest,  and some elders went down to Caesarea to make their case. They took with them a lawyer named Tertullus, he would be their lead spokesman. So Tertullus presented his case, beginning with a fair degree of flattery. He praised the governorship of Felix, mentioning, in particular, the “long period of peace” and his “reforms”. So Tertullus is trying to butter up the governor.

24:5-9

Tertullus then moves to the case, claiming that Paul was “stirring up riots among the Jews all over the world”. Now riots had often occurred when Paul spoke, but that was a result of Jews trying to stir up trouble. He was described as a “ringleader of the Nazarene sect”. “Nazarene sect” was a term used by the Jews for Christians. Paul was indeed a leader, but ringleader implies something illicit, e.g. leading something illegal. He was then accused of trying to desecrate the temple, which was manifestly untrue. The rubbish spouted by Tertullus was supported by the other Jews.

Ruth 3:10-18 - The Lord bless you my daughter

3:10,11

Boaz seems quite taken by Ruth’s actions. Why had Boaz not acted sooner? He was probably somewhat older than Ruth and thought she would want someone younger. In all this tale there is both initiative on the part of Boaz, especially in his earlier actions, and his actions after this. But there is also initiative on the part of Ruth as we see here. It is like that in coming to Christ. Is it Christ who seeks us out, or is it we who seek Christ? The answer is yes. Jesus portrays Himself as the good shepherd seeking out the lost sheep, but He also says “seek and you shall find”. In the parable of the prodigal son, the son realises the mess he has made of his life and decides to return home, but the Father lavishes riches on him beyond his wildest dreams., Boaz responds very favourably to Ruth’s request, and declares that she is “a woman of noble character”. 

3:12-15

Boaz will act properly. There was a relative who was closer than he, so he would give this other relative “first refusal”. Boaz is not set on his course. So Ruth remained at his feet and left early in the morning so that no one would recognise her. Boaz wanted things to remain private for the time being so that there would not be any gossip. He also gave Ruth six measures of barley to take home.

3:16-18

On returning home Naomi asked how things had gone, and Ruth told her all that Boaz had said and done, including the six measures of barley. Naomi assures Ruth that Boaz will act quickly, and to wait patiently.

Acts 23:23-35 - This man was seized by the Jews

23:23-25

The commanders seemed to be taking the situation very seriously, sending “a detachment of two hundred soldiers, seventy horseman and two hundred spearman” to go to Caesarea. This should have been more than enough to protect Paul! He also writes a letter to Governor Felix. Paul is now in a phase where he is being passed from one to another, everyone being concerned to cover their backs and make sure they don’t get blamed. The situation is somewhat parallel to the situation with Jesus who was sent to Herod and then back to Pilate, and with Pilate aiming to avoid taking responsibility for any decision.

23:26-35

The letter is a little disingenuous, with the commander portraying the situation as if he was the one in control of matters, and acting decisively. In reality the commander was responding to events. However, the soldiers and cavalry took Paul to Caesarea and he was handed over to the governor. The commander could now breathe a sigh of relief! Paul was to be kept under guard, and Paul’s accusers would be summoned so that Felix could try and work out what was going on.

Ruth 3:1-9 - I will do whatever you say

3:1,2

Naomi is now starting to look further ahead, and, in particular, at her daughter-in-law’s future. The basic fact of the matter is that Ruth needed a husband if she was to have a secure future. The NIV has “finding a home”, other translations have “finding rest”. Some feminists object to the idea that “a woman needs a man”, but the truth is that men and women need each other. Naomi clearly hopes that Boaz would be a husband for her. He was a relative, and relatives had an obligation to marry bereaved wives of their family.

3:3,4

So Naomi tells Ruth of a plan to encourage Boaz to act as a kinsman redeemer. She tells Ruth to put on her best clothes and then to go to the threshing-floor. The threshing-floor would be used  by various people in the village during the harvest. Naomi knew that Boaz would be using the threshing floor at this time. Ruth was to note where Boaz lay down after the work and the rejoicing. She was then to uncover his feet. In this whole scenario there are some commentators who see Naomi as urging Ruth to seduce Boaz, or even act as a prostitute, but we should note that the text gives no hint whatsoever of this. Moreover, both Boaz and Ruth are portrayed as being of honourable character with matching actions throughout the narrative.

3:5-9

Ruth agrees to do what Naomi has suggested. So Ruth went down to the threshing floor, and observed where Boaz lay down. She uncovered his feet and lay down. Now why did she do this? It was to demonstrate her dependence upon him. So in the middle of the night he woke up and discovered this woman there! Because it was dark he did not immediately recognise who it was. Ruth identified herself and then said “spread your garment over me, since you are a guardian-redeemer of our family”. Ruth was inviting Boaz to marry her, to fulfil his role as a “guardian-redeemer”.

Acts 23:13-22 - More than forty men were involved in this plot

23:13-15

There were over forty men involved in this plot, no donut encouraging one another in their evil scheme. We see a similar form of madness with Islamic terrorists (or terrorists of any sort) who think that by their atrocities they are somehow pleasing God. These plotters went to the Sanhedrin and got them involved in the plan. They would get the commander to send Paul to them, but they would capture Paul and kill him on the way.

23:16

So some men were making plots against Paul, God was not inactive. Paul's nephew learnt of the plot and went to the barracks to tell Paul. We should not fear when we learn of men making schemes. For God knows all that is happening, and He is not inactive. At present transidealogues, amongst others, make evil plans, but God will not stand by forever.

23:17-22

On learning of the plot Paul called one of the centurions and told him to take his nephew to the commander. The commander would want to be aware of the plot for two reasons. One was to avoid any trouble as far as possible, and the other was that Paul was a Roman citizen. He would be held responsible if any harm came to a Roman citizen. So the nephew was taken to the commander and informed him of the plot. The commander warned the nephew not to let anyone know that he had informed the commander. This would be both for the young man’s own safety, and so that the commander could be one step ahead of the plotters.

Ruth 2:13-23 - The Lord bless him!

2:13-16

Ruth is grateful for Boaz’s kindness. Boaz continues to show kindness by inviting her to have some bread at mealtime. He then gave her further food, so “she ate all she wanted”. After that he instructed his men to show her particular favour. Now why is Boaz doing all this? I think there are two primary reasons. One is that Naomi, and therefore Ruth, are part of the wider family. The other is that he “took a fancy” to Ruth. The book makes it clear that in all this Boaz actress properly.

2:17-19

Ruth worked hard until evening. She then threshed the barley and had about an ephah of grain at the end of it. That amounted to about thirteen kilograms. She then carried this back to Naomi. This must have been quite some feat! They would need a sizable amount, as it had to see them through the season. Naomi was pleasantly surprised with the amount that Ruth had gleaned, and asked which field she had worked in. Ruth told her that the field belonged to Boaz.

2:20-23

Naomi blessed Boaz and told Ruth that he was “one of our guardian-redeemers”, or “kinsman- redeemer”. Israeli society recognised the importance of families, and commitment and responsibility went beyond the immediate “nuclear family”. Rules regarding this were enshrined in the Law. Families are God’s building blocks for society. Naomi encouraged Ruth to remain with Boaz, for there she would be safe, whereas elsewhere she might be at risk. So Ruth continued to work in Boaz’s field during the barley and wheat harvests, and lived with her mother-in-law.