Doing What's Honorable

                                                   Sunday School Lesson week of August 28th
Lesson scripture:Ruth 4:1-10

Introduction:

Boaz a wonderful godly man,decided Ruth would be his wife.was it love at first sight the day she showed up in his fields and her picking up the leftover grain behind his  servants?Did Boaz admire her strength and courage the night she came and lay at his feet.What ever the reason, Scripture states clearly that Boaz wasted no time going after Ruth.The couple eventually became ancestors of King David,and more than that,the genealogy of Christ included Ruth and Boaz as well.

Boaz Redeems and Marries Ruth
Ruth 4:1-4KJV

 ¹Then went Boaz up to the gate, and sat him down there: and, behold, the kinsman of whom Boaz spake came by; unto whom he said, Ho, such a one! turn aside, sit down here. And he turned aside, and sat down.
   ²And he took ten men of the elders of the city, and said, Sit ye down here. And they sat down.
   ³And 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:
   ⁴And 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.

footnotes:

Boaz loved Ruth and wanted to marry her,but he realized there was a legal and cultural obstacle that must first be overcome.Naomi had land that needed to be redeemed by the closet male relative in her family.Boaz probably could have talked to the kinsman privately,but he arranged a cordial but public setting to put the matter to rest.Boaz explained the situation and his interest in redeeming Naomi's land if this kinsman would not.The man seemed to exercise his rights and say he will redeem the land.And then,Boaz pulled the trump card.

Boaz Negotiates
Ruth 4:5-8KJV

 ⁵Then 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.
   ⁶And 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.
   ⁷Now this was the manner in former time in Israel concerning redeeming and concerning changing, for to confirm all things; a man plucked off his shoe, and gave it to his neighbour: and this was a testimony in Israel.
   ⁸Therefore the kinsman said unto Boaz, Buy it for thee. So he drew off his shoe.

footnotes:

Boaz informed the  kinsman,again, in front of an authoritative audience,that if the first-in-line did redeem the land,he must also marry Ruth.Since Naomi's husband died before his sons,the passing along of the inheritance would have already happened.So technically, the land belonged to Ruth,but Naomi still had rights over it from which she could benifit.So the kinsman would have to marry Ruth.The kinsman declined when he seen what all redeeming the land would involve.Many of us withdraw from following the Lord when we count up the cost ,when we see what we must give up,or what all following Jesus requires.

Boaz Wins the Day
Ruth 4:9-10KJV

 ⁹And Boaz said unto the elders, and unto all the people, Ye are witnesses this day, that I have bought all that was Elimelech's, and all that was Chilion's and Mahlon's, of the hand of Naomi.
   ¹⁰Moreover Ruth the Moabitess, the wife of Mahlon, have I purchased to be my wife, to raise up the name of the dead upon his inheritance, that the name of the dead be not cut off from among his brethren, and from the gate of his place: ye are witnesses this day.

footnotes:

What a contrast between Boaz's reaction and that of the first kinsman! The first man said in essence, "Oh no, I don't want the burden or further obligation of another man's progeny".But Boaz couldn't seem to contain his excitement.He publicly proclaimed that he had not only acquired all of Naomi's land from her at a fair price,but now he also had the right to marry Ruth.

      Much like Jesus did for us.Boaz purchased Ruth by giving out of his wealth,while Jesus purchased his bride by giving Himself on the cross.