Thought for the day
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Boaz lost no time in contacting the man who was the closer relative and met up with him in the presence of ten of the leaders of the town. Boaz then explained the situation to him: "'Now that Naomi has come back from Moab, she wants to sell the land that belonged to our relative Elimelech … If you want it, buy it in the presence of these men … But if you don't, say so, because the right to buy it belongs first to you and then to me.' The man said, 'I will buy it.' Boaz said, 'Very well, if you buy the field … you acquire the dead man's widow in order to maintain the name of the dead with his property.' The man answered, 'In that case I will give up my right to buy the field, because it would mean that my own children would not inherit it. You buy it'". Which was what Boaz did.
There are a number of similarities between the closer relative and the Law of Moses. The Law has first claim on us. We are to obey it, but unfortunately none of is able to. The Law cannot be changed and is therefore unable to help us. In a legalistic sense, the Law is distant, cold, impersonal and written in stone. It cannot overlook our weaknesses, failings and sinfulness and accept us as we are, warts and all. It can make no concessions or sacrifices. It is holy, just and true, but can never redeem us. Romans 7 says, in effect, we were married to the Law, and the Law could never die, so we had die to the Law so we could be free to marry another: Jesus! How ridiculous to think that when we sin we would dream of going back to our old husband for a beating rather than throwing ourselves into the arms of our new husband Jesus and asking him to forgive us!
The leaders and the others said to Boaz, "'May the Lord make your wife become like Rachel and Leah, who bore many children to Jacob … May the children that the Lord will give you by this young woman make your family like the family of Judah' So Boaz took Ruth home as his wife. The Lord blessed her, and she became pregnant and had a son. The women said to Naomi, 'Praise the Lord! He has given you a grandson today to take care of you … Your daughter-in-law loves you, and has done more for you than seven sons. And now she has given you a grandson, who will bring new life to you and give you security in your old age.' Naomi took the child, held him close, and took care of him. The women of the neighbourhood named the boy Obed. He became the father of Jesse, who was the father of David." It is a fitting end to a story of grace with Naomi enjoying God's loving smile upon her and Ruth looking on with the arms of her new husband around her shoulders.
The following truly beautiful video was sent to me by Pam. May it bless you all. It brought tears to my eyes.