RUTH AND THE HEAVENLY WEDDING
Boaz sat at the gate of the city to work on acquiring Ruth as his bride, by putting in order the matter of redeeming Ruth from her first closest relative – namely the law – and buying back all that was Elimelech’s, and all that was Chilion’s and Mahlon’s from the hand of Naomi.
1. Boaz acquires what was Elimelech’s 1 ‐ 8
2. Boaz acquires Ruth 9 ‐ 12
3. Ruth gives birth to Obed 13 ‐ 17
4. David’s genealogy goes back to Ruth 18 – 22
1. BOAZ ACQUIRES ALL WHAT WAS ELIMELECH’S:
Intending to acquire Ruth as his bride, to perpetuate the name of the dead through his inheritance; he was committed first to ask the closest relative, whether he is ready to redeem, himself, or he would rather waive his right to redeem to Boaz, being the next closest relative. The book describes to us the procedure of setting a gathering of elders to decide the issue; saying: “Now Boaz went up to the gate and sat down there, and behold the close relative of whom Boaz has spoken came by. So Boaz said, ‘Come aside, friend, sit down here’, so he came aside and sat. And he took ten men of the elders of the city, and said, ‘Sit down here’, So they sat down” (1, 2).
According to the old custom of the Jews in those days, Boaz held an assembly of elders to decide the matter; the figure 10 probably referring to the law, means that the assembly is canonical, and has the right to issue a decision in the matter before them. The figure 10 may also probably refers to the law which would decide the inability of the first closest relative to redeem the human soul from the authority of the devil, to acquire her as his bride, to perpetuate the name of the dead through his inheritance.
The book disregarded the name of the first closest relative, for he is not worthy to be mentioned, on account of that, while he was ready to redeem Elimelech’s field, and pay its price to add to his own inheritance; once he knew that he is also committed to marry Ruth to perpetuate the name of the dead, and that Elimelech’s field which he paid its price, would eventually get back to her son , he declined, for he counted it a loss deal. He was ready to redeem the land, but did not care to perpetuate the name of the dead; he had the intention to acquire the dust, but not the souls which are of no value in his eyes.
The first closest relative said: “I cannot redeem it for myself, lest I ruin my own inheritance; you redeem my right of redemption for yourself, for I cannot redeem it” (6). The word “redeem” here, means (to save), The first closest relative, namely the law, that had the authority on man, being not able to save, he delivers the authority to the divine grace; for it is only the Lord Christ who can save man and redeem him from the bitter bondage.
As to the old custom of taking off the sandal and giving it to the second in line who consented to redeem for himself what was dead’s, it refers to that the first one will have no right to tread on the land of the dead, as he has delivered his right to someone else, to tread and to possess to perpetuate the name of the dead
2. BOAZ ACQUIRES RUTH:
Boaz’ heart was not on Elimelech’s land, but on acquiring Ruth as his 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 (10). All the people blessed such a giving spirit, full of love; and asked the Lord to bless Ruth for him, and to make her like Rachel and Leah, the two who built the house of Israel, to give him a name in Ephrathah, and to make his descendants like Perez born by Tamar to Judah.
(1) They asked the Lord to bless his wife as He blessed Jacob’s two wives Rachel and Leah, to come to be the mother, not only of the nation of Israel, but of a series of kings (David and his descendants), until the time comes for the King of kings to come incarnate from her daughter – St. Mary.
(2) Asking the Lord to give Boaz a great name in Ephrathah; ……… what would be more exalted for Boaz than to be a symbol of the Person of the Lord Christ?!
(3) Asking the Lord to make his descendants like Perez born by Tamar to Judah, who, by breaking his way through from his mother’s womb, breached his twin brother Zerah So did Boaz by breaching the first closest relative, and taking the blessing away from him.
3. RUTH GIVES BIRTH TO OBED:
“The Lord gave Ruth conception, and she bore a son. 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. 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” (13 – 15).
In the Holy Book the child is referred to the father; while here, he is referred to Ruth; being said: “The Lord gave her”, and not “gave him”; because he was given to her, to be legally referred to her dead husband …… Having been the fruit of her faith in God, who is capable of granting life after death; the women said to Naomi: “May he be to you a restorer of life”; having restored a name to his dead father, to be as though alive.
“Obed” (17), meaning (a bond servant) refers to the Lord Christ, who, for our sake became a bond servant, (Philippians 2: 7), granted to the believing soul to bear Him in her womb, the way Ruth bore Obed, and to come to be to Naomi a restorer of life; to let her have a name after the death that for so long reigned on her; and a nourisher of her old age; bringing her back to her spiritual youth, and taking away from her the weakness and despair………… By that, once Ruth gave birth to Obed, it was said about her to Naomi: “She is better to you than seven sons” (15).
If 7 sons refer to the blessing of the Lord (1 Samuel 2: 5), we bearing “the true Obed” in us, we bear the Word of God who became a bond servant ……… and will be counted as better than seven sons.
“Naomi took the child and laid him on her bosom, and became a nurse to him” (16). If the child was the fruit of love of Ruth , namely of the church of the Gentiles; Naomi, referring to the law and the prophecies, would rejoice to see her work consummated by such an exalted fruit.
4. DAVID’S GENEALOGY GOES BACK TO RUTH:
The book comes to an end by the proclamation that David will come as a fruit from his grandmother Ruth; and the royal root started to grow in the Jewish nation, to become a tree which will eventually give the unique Fruit “The Son of David” the true spiritual King.
So the book started by the famine, because of which Elimelech and his family migrated from Judah to Moab; and ends by the true satisfaction, when the whole world enjoy the Son of David “The desire of the nations)” (Haggai 2: 7).