Ruth: The Meeting at the Gate

We left off with Ruth at the feet of Boaz. He is willing to fulfill his part as kinsman-redeemer. But there is just one problem.

Ruth 3:12 And now it is true that I am thy near kinsman: howbeit there is a kinsman nearer than I.
3:13 Tarry this night, and it shall be in the morning, that if he will perform unto thee the part of a kinsman, well; let him do the kinsman's part: but if he will not do the part of a kinsman to thee, then will I do the part of a kinsman to thee, as the LORD liveth: lie down until the morning.

Note the humility of the redeemer. He certainly desires Ruth! And yet, there is one who is before him in line to fulfill the part of the kinsman. He is willing to wait, and take the chance of losing her to someone else, in the name of doing what is right and just.

Before continuing on, let's take a moment and review some highlights of this story, in the context of what Jesus has to say about the Scriptures.

John 5:39 You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that bear witness about me

This is pretty deep wading. It all began in a foreign land, where Naomi lost her husband and both her sons. She was completely bereaved, and too old to have any more children. All hope to carry on the family name, as far as she was concerned, was gone. The name of the dead would remain dead.

Matthew 5:3 "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

She returned to Bethlehem in misery, accompanied by her daughter-in-law; a young woman of Moab. Ruth (a name meaning "friend") is her comforter, who also works to supply all her needs while she is in mourning. Do you see Jesus?


Matthew 5:4 "Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.

In her working the fields to provide food for Naomi, Ruth does not go unnoticed. It just so happens (?) that she comes across a field belonging to a man named Boaz (meaning "strength" and/or "swiftness"). He has heard of her kindness and selfless love, and now sees her with his own eyes. She is beautiful inside and out. She is meek and lowly.

Matthew 5:5 Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.

Blessing pours all over these passages. How different from the average perspective, that tends to define blessing by external measures of success. Where are we finding the blessings here?

God is in the business of providing hope for the hopeless. A provision of hope accompanied the revelation of this man's identity to Naomi.

Ruth 2:19 And her mother in law said unto her, Where hast thou gleaned to day? and where wroughtest thou? blessed be he that did take knowledge of thee. And she shewed her mother in law with whom she had wrought, and said, The man's name with whom I wrought to day is Boaz.
2:20 And Naomi said unto her daughter in law, Blessed be he of the LORD, who hath not left off his kindness to the living and to the dead. And Naomi said unto her, The man is near of kin unto us, one of our next kinsmen.

From sorrow to praise! From that point, it is Naomi, with restored hope, on her feet again. She does not sit idly by, but leaps toward the blessing. She tells Ruth what she must do, and Ruth is obedient in all things. Is there a semblance of some heavenly reality in this picture?

John 5:30 I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me.


Ruth did her part. She was obedient to the will of her who sent her. She submitted herself unto Naomi, and placed herself at the feet of the redeemer. But now we learn that there is another who is first in line, before Boaz, and he must meet this other redeemer to see what will become of Naomi and Ruth.

Ruth 4:1 Now Boaz had gone up to the gate and sat down there. And behold, the redeemer, of whom Boaz had spoken, came by. So Boaz said, "Turn aside, friend; sit down here." And he turned aside and sat down.
4:2 And he took ten men of the elders of the city and said, "Sit down here." So they sat down.

The gate of the city was the place where the people came and went. It was also the equivalent to our modern courts of law, or town squares. Boaz called the man, and gathered 10 witnesses from among the elders. As Naomi was not slow in reaching for the blessing, Boaz wastes no time. He too recognizes blessing, and windows of opportunity may not stay open for very long.

Sometimes God places things within our grasp, and we are wise to take hold of His provision in those times. It could be an opportunity to provide for someone else, and in so doing lay up eternal treasures for ourselves. Or it may be an outright gift for our own benefit in this life. Do not despise the gifts and opportunities that come from God. While it is better to give than to receive, sometimes we all must be the Jesus in need so that someone else my be rewarded by our Lord. Do not allow your pride deprive them of their reward. Take the gift, and give thanks unto God from whom we receive every good and perfect gift.

Boaz gives the contender no time to plan or scheme. He waits at the gate. He calls the man. He gathers the witnesses. It will happen quickly.

Ruth 4:3 And he said unto the kinsman, Naomi, that is come again out of the country of Moab, selleth a parcel of land, which was our brother Elimelech's:
4:4 And I thought to advertise thee, saying, Buy it before the inhabitants, and before the elders of my people. If thou wilt redeem it, redeem it: but if thou wilt not redeem it, then tell me, that I may know: for there is none to redeem it beside thee; and I am after thee. And he said, I will redeem it.

The mind processes information rather quickly, and by the time everyone is in place, Boaz already knew what he was going to do. This other redeemer was caught off guard. Boaz presents his offer as one who has good news, and bad news. We just got the good news, and this fellow is ready to redeem. In the presence of the assembly, he will redeem Naomi's property and come out looking like a hero. No problem; but here's the catch!

Ruth 4:5 Then said Boaz, What day thou buyest the field of the hand of Naomi, thou must buy it also of Ruth the Moabitess, the wife of the dead, to raise up the name of the dead upon his inheritance.

Boaz ensures that the man knows that Ruth is a Moabitess. He tells him that he also must buy that property from her, and not only that, but raise up the name of the dead upon his inheritance. That would be the family name of her dead husband in order to perpetuate his portion in the land. In other words, he has to marry this Moabite woman and give her a child, with everything that entails; and it does get complicated. That's quite a decision to have to make on the spot for an Israelite in the middle of ten witnesses first thing in the morning. Could you imagine what that could do to your day, especially if you already have things to do, schedules to meet, and appointments to keep? And what would the wife say? This fellow takes the path of least resistance.

Ruth 4:6 And the kinsman said, I cannot redeem it for myself, lest I mar mine own inheritance: redeem thou my right to thyself; for I cannot redeem it.

As long as things looked clear-cut, this man was ready to do his part. But when adversity was presented, he refused. Concerned for his own inheritance, he chose not to redeem, and will walk off the pages of Scripture a nameless individual. The name of Boaz, on the other hand, will later be found written in the Temple itself! (1 Kings 7:21)

Matthew 16:25 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it.

Revelation 3:12 Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name.