1. Ruth 4a
Ruth 4:7–16
Love Is The Thing
Introduction
Everyone likes a happy ending, and this story has one. But before we come to it, there are
a few loose ends to be tied off. The husband for Ruth has been settled, but there are a few
more scenes to be played out before the story is concluded.
Boaz's Love
Having established his legal right to act as kinsman-redeemer, Boaz got right to the point.
Our mounting suspense is finally released. The morning's events have been very taxing
for Boaz. He has consistently done what is right, regardless of his personal preferences.
Now in a carefully worded legal statement he outlines all that he proposes to do for
Elimelech's widow and daughter-in-law. His emotion is evident in his words, yet he
remains self-controlled, as he carefully outlines all that he is acquiring and clearly states
his intention to take Ruth as his wife.
The elders and all the others present were witnesses to his redemption of all the property
of Elimelech, that had passed to his two sons after his death. They could also attest that
he had acquired Ruth the Moabitess as his wife, so that the name of Mahlon might be
carried on and not disappear from the town records.
Boaz is seen here as a great and selfless man, a sharp contrast to his petty, self-seeking
kinsman. In contrast to his kinsman who was afraid he would harm his interests if he
bought the land, Boaz spoke as if he had just acquired considerable wealth. The field
itself could not have meant much to a man like him, especially since it cost him some
money up front. But in gaining Ruth as his wife he had received a great treasure. As
Proverbs 31:10 reminds us, A wife of noble character who can find? She is worth far
more than rubies.
These events well illustrate the fact that the heart of the law is the commandment to love;
and this cannot be obeyed by someone who looks solely to his own material interests like
the nearest kinsman redeemer, but only by a man like Boaz, inspired by love for God and
his neighbour.
When Boaz finished, the entire assembly answered him. Everyone was happy about how
the case had turned out, and there was obvious affection for Boaz and Ruth. The words
we are witnesses completed and ratified the act of redemption. This was followed by a
blessing in which they wished Boaz a large and famous family. And there is a reminder
here that ultimately all blessing comes from God. Unless He intervened, this marriage
would be as barren as Ruth's first one was – and with tragic results for Naomi.
Ruth's Love
So, at long last Ruth marries and gives birth to a son, but both she and Boaz are

2. noticeably absent from the last scene. Instead, the focus is upon Naomi and the baby.
That comes as no surprise, for, since the beginning, this book has been essentially
Naomi's story. So, it is appropriate that at the end attention should return to her, in her
radical change of circumstances.
The conclusion of the story is like the introduction. Both compress a lot into a short
space. Both focus on Naomi; the introduction emphasising her emptiness and the
conclusion displaying her fullness. So the significance of the baby’s birth is viewed from
Naomi's perspective first. It was to her that the women of Bethlehem addressed their
congratulations. They interpret the scene, for they alone speak directly. As they had once
welcomed bitter, empty Naomi back to Bethlehem, so they welcome her new-born heir,
acknowledging that God had given her the child. The women gave God total credit for
everything that had happened. They praised the name of the Lord, because against all
expectations, He had not left Naomi without a kinsman-redeemer.
It is quite surprising that the newly-born child is already called a redeemer. Boaz had,
indeed, redeemed Elimelech's estate, but the child was the real kinsman-redeemer
because, if Ruth had remained childless, the property would have reverted to the clan.
Only through this child was the family name and property secure.
The women were confident that the birth of the grandson would mean a new lease of life
for Naomi, because the son was born to Ruth, who loved Naomi and was dearer to her
than seven sons. Ruth had been an extraordinary blessing to Naomi. Her costly
commitment in chapter 1, her initiative at the harvest in chapter 2, her obedience at the
threshing-floor in chapter 3 and her dedication to preserve Naomi's family. She had
remained faithful to her mother-in-law and shown real love to her. And now, by giving
birth to a son, she had turned Naomi's sorrow into joy, her darkness into light, and her old
age into youth. Through Ruth, Naomi again had a future. Ruth's final act of loving-
kindness has been to hand her son over to Naomi for adoption; it is her child. Ruth's
unusual action was one last gift to Naomi - the gift of a son to care for her as her own - a
son to replace the dead ones, a son who would later care for her, as she grew older. For,
Naomi was to raise the child as if it were her own.
Verse 16 is a scene of love - simply the loving delight of a grandmother in her grandson.
Naomi listened in silence to the words of the women of Bethlehem. Then, as the AV so
beautifully puts it, Naomi took the child, and laid it in her bosom, and became nurse unto
it. Very often, as here, actions speak louder than words.
What a tender moment - the fragile baby snuggling peacefully at the grey-haired Naomi's
bosom. Now the empty Naomi enjoys her final fullness. What a contrast with her earlier
cry of emptiness!
To Naomi this child was special. She had expected a lonely old age when her husband
and sons died. With none of those near to her left, her future had indeed looked bleak.
But thanks to Ruth's devotion, everything was now different. She belonged to a family
once more. She was loved and had a recognised place. The child symbolised all this. And

3. it was ultimately all God’s doing.
God's Love
Throughout this book we have seen the consistent demonstration that God is over all as
He works out His will. In both the Old Testament and the New God is seen dealing
graciously with His people. The basis of God's relationships has always been His firm
persistent steadfast love. And God's greatest act of loving-kindness was to give His Son
for our salvation; He is our Saviour. As John 3:16 tells us: For God so loved the world
that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have
eternal life.
That salvation is the supreme act of God’s love for us. He redeems us from our helpless,
sinful state in which we are held captive, releases us and restores us to a right relationship
with Himself. God does all this through the sacrificial death of Christ for us.
Our response to God's grace should be twofold. Firstly, we should respond to Him in
loving obedience to His will and secondly, we should demonstrate the same kind of
loving-kindness in our relationship with others.
Conclusion
Throughout this book Naomi, Ruth and Boaz have all had one thing in common - loving-
kindness, which shows itself in their actions. The final scene brings the story to its happy
conclusion. It is the counterbalance to chapter 1 - a bright colour print developed from its
gloomy negative. In essence the scene is a birthday celebration, honouring the child just
born to Boaz and Ruth.
They say that you get like the company you keep. If you keep company with Jesus, you
become like Him. Inevitably people become like the thing or things they worship. This
was true of people in Old Testament times, and it is true of us today. Human nature has
not changed. The more we are taken up with God and His goodness, the more we take on
His likeness. As Paul says in 2 Corinthians 3:18, And we, who with unveiled faces all
reflect the Lord's glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing
glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit. One of the characteristics of such
growth is graciousness. God is a God of grace. He delights in showing His loving-
kindness to those who are the ready to receive His grace.
But so often we are not ready to receive it. What a difference there will be when we are.
As Juan Carlos Ortiz says, "The day the community of Jesus knows what love is, God
won't have any problem in pouring out His Spirit in power upon everybody." Then we
will grow. And that is what the Christian life is all about. That is Paul's point in Galatians
5:6; The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love. Are you ready to
receive God's grace?