Boaz has declared his
acceptance of the inheritance of Elimelech, and by doing so he is
entitled to marry Ruth. After much effort and a long wait, what Boaz
desired most of all would be his. He declares this publicly in
today's verse found in the book of Ruth in chapter four and verse ten
where we read:
Moreover 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: you [are] witnesses this day.
Boaz
continued his speech to the ten elders, the nearer kinsman and all
the people who are around him, “Moreover Ruth the Moabitess, the
wife of Mahlon, have I purchased to be my wife”. In other
words, Boaz declared that he bought the rights to his wife. When Boaz
redeemed the land, he inherited Ruth with it. Although the land was
the treasure in the eyes of the nearer kinsman, Ruth was the treasure
for Boaz. Boaz was willing to pay the price for the land that he
might gain Ruth as his wife.
In
addition to saying that Ruth was now his wife, Boaz gives the reason
that she is to be so, “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.” In the Jewish
traditions, “eternal life” was perpetuated by having offspring.
In a sense, the person who had children, especially male children,
would have their name continue and thus enjoy eternal life. Those who
were blessed by God were ones whose names continued generation after
generation after generation. This was part of the reason there was
such an emphasis on continuing the name. Boaz knew that everyone
within his hearing would understand the importance of continuing the
name of Elimelech and Mahlon. His actions would be seen as noble,
righteous, and commendable by all who observed. Elimelech and Mahlon
would live on because Boaz would marry and have children by Ruth.
Finally
Boaz insures that everyone who is within the sound of his voice know
their role in this transaction, “you are witnesses this day.”
Let there be no doubt about this at all. Witnesses to Boaz'
testimony and actions are all around him, and there should be no
future dispute about his rightful place as kinsman redeemer. Boaz was
the only kinsman redeemer now, and all these witnesses would verify
it should there be any doubt.
What
about Jesus as our kinsman redeemer? Have we ever thought about the
price He paid to redeem mankind? Have we ever considered the treasure
that He sought when He repurchased the world back from Satan himself
when He died on the cross? Have we realized that witnesses are all
around including over five hundred who saw Him after His
resurrection? Have we given any thought to the fact that He knew the
treasure inside of the Earth was us, and when He bought back the
world, He gained us as His bride? Let it be known and let it be
declared, Jesus Christ is the rightful kinsman redeemer of the world,
and He will accept as His bride whosoever will believe in, rely upon
and trust in Him as their Savior and Lord. If we do not know Him,
perhaps today has become the day of Salvation and Redemption even as
the Lord Jesus has declared.
Next
time the witnesses make a declaration about Boaz, so read ahead, and
we shall join together then.
Until
tomorrow...there is more...
Look
for the new devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From
Generation to Generation” in all major bookstore sites,
www.amazon.com
; www.barnesandnobles.com
; download
to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore
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