Title: Proclamation of Boaz
Ruth 4:9-10
Boaz said to the elders and all the people, "You are witnesses today that I bought from Naomi all that I had from Elimelech, Kirion, and Marlon, and I bought Marlon's wife Ruth the Moabite woman, and took her as my wife, and inherited the inheritance from the dead. You are witnesses today, so that his name may not be cut off among his brethren and at the gates of that city.
In today's text, we see the scene where Boaz completes the legal process. In verses 9 and 10, Boaz concludes the procedure he has to do, verse 9 on the business of taking the property, and verse 10 on taking Ruth as his wife. In verses 11 and 12 that follow the text, it is recorded that the Witnesses acknowledge what Boaz has done, and go on to pray for the house of Boaz and his descendants.
4:9, "Boaz said to the elders and all the people, "Boaz said to the elders and all the people, "You are witnesses today that I bought from Naomi all that I had with Elimelech, Kirion, and Marlon."
What does Boaz declare? The first is that he bought everything that Elimelech, Kirion, and Marlon had.
“The fact that I bought all that Elimelech, Kirion, and Marlon had.”
Elimelech is Naomi's deceased husband, and Kirion and Marlon are Naomi's two dead sons. Not only Elimelech, but also everything that Kirion and Marlon had, the land, the house where Elimelech and Naomi lived, not only the real estate but also the gardens such as livestock, and whatever it was, you bought everything from Naomi's hand. is to be a witness. So, who takes all the responsibility? Boaz is going to lose. Don't fuss about this any more in the future. Accurately, in great detail, and comprehensively, he promised to take responsibility for everything that Elimelech, Kirion, and Marlon had.
For this, he said, "Today you are witnesses." When does this verse say that Witnesses did not become witnesses yesterday, nor will they be witnesses tomorrow? You said you were a Witness “today.” When the Old Testament says “today”, it has a very important meaning. It is said to be "today" when it is given a very important, solemn meaning. In the old days, our Declaration of Independence began with "Odeung is Jae-ah, an independent country of Joseon, and", what does "jae" mean? It means "to this". There is no special meaning, but to add solemnity, it is said that "Ie" and "zae" are used. In that sense, the word “today” is also included in the text.
Genesis 25:31, "Jacob said, "Sell me your brother's birthright today."
The word "today" is also used in this article to emphasize something important and to add to the solemnity of a promise or contract. So, while translating into Korean, I emphasized “today” rather than just “today”.
Genesis 31:48, "Because Laban said, "Today this heap is a witness between you and me."
Genesis 47:23, "Joseph said to the people, Today I have bought your bodies and your batteries for Pharaoh's sake."
1 Samuel 12:5, "Samuel said to the people, The LORD testifies of you that you have found nothing out of my hand, and the anointed testifies today."
As such, the word “today” has a solemn effect when making important announcements. That's why he said, "You are witnesses today in what you bought from Naomi's hand."
There is a second declaration.
4:10, "And I bought Marlon's wife Ruth a Moabite woman, and I took her as my wife, and made an inheritance in her name, so that her name would not be cut off among her brothers and at the gates of that place, so that you are witnesses today."
What does this verse start with? "In addition." It's not just that the business is soft, but that there's something more important. Did you do a lottery when you were young? You go to the store and pay a 10 won bill and do a lottery. Then the gum comes out and sometimes the balloon comes out. But when it says "balloon + again", it feels good. Because you can pull it out one more time. What started out with the word "again" was that, more important to Boaz, it was not about breaking the business, but about fulfilling the promise to Ruth. He wanted to take Ruth as his wife. As elsewhere in the book of Ruth, the important things here come later.
Boaz declares that he will buy Ruth, a Moabite woman, for Marlon's wife and take her as my wife. However, he does not simply say Ruth, but describes Ruth in two ways. First, it was called "Marlon's wife." What does it mean? That she is a single widow. Second, it is called "a Moabite woman." He was a Gentile, not a Bethlehemite. Boaz was honest. He told everything honestly and honestly. In a way, these are Ruth's weaknesses. A widow without a husband, and a foreign woman. These two weaknesses are exposed openly and frankly as they are, and although she is such a woman, I declare that I am taking her as my wife. This is precisely to avoid becoming a legal problem later.
Some people try to hide their weaknesses. He is dishonest. These people tell another lie to hide one thing. It has been said that honesty is the best policy. We must always be like Boaz, revealing ourselves as we are, and be a person who lives honestly and honestly.
An important statement follows the phrase, “I also bought Ruth the Moabitess for Marlon’s wife, and took her as my wife.”
"Let the inheritance of the dead be heir in his name."
The fact that he took Ruth as his wife was never because of his own greed. I can imagine that Ruth must have been beautiful. But even if you were beautiful from birth, think of you. Would you have eaten well in that poor house? Did you dress up properly? They say clothes are wings, so are you wearing clothes well? And how tired and weary must have been the long journey from the land of Moab to Bethlehem? Still, he immediately went out to the field to glean. How hard was it to glean in the scorching sun from early morning until late in the evening to honor your mother-in-law Naomi? His face was tanned and his hands must have been rough. It would have been insignificant in appearance.
Nevertheless, I am taking Ruth as my wife, not for my own greed and enjoyment with a young woman, but "so that I may inherit the inheritance of the dead in her name." As a relative of Elimelech, he is doing it for his kin. We do this in order to fulfill our responsibilities as a relative. Aren't you a great person? He was a wonderful and ideal Israeli man who knew how to fulfill his responsibilities and duties before thinking about his rights. So, would you be blessed?
It is said that the inheritance of the dead will be inherited in that name in two areas.
4:10 Second half, "You are witnesses today, that his name may not be cut off among his brethren and at the gates of it."
First, "His name is from among his brethren." If Ruth fails to bear children, Elimelech's family will completely disappear from the region. This means that the genealogy will continue among the brothers. Then the second, "at the gates". Who was sitting at the gates? They were elders. From that perspective, it seems that Elimelech was also a powerful person in Bethlehem, and he was also a person who could be considered an elder. So, the legal and social rights will continue as it is. Boaz is once again solemnly proclaiming it.
“You are witnesses today, not to be cut off from among his brethren and from the gates of that place.”
In this way, the title of Naomi's earnest prayer so earnestly and the title of Naomi's earnest prayer, wishing that the poor and poor self-esteem find a good groom and live happily ever after, was fulfilled. Not only that, but Ruth's wish, that is, to inherit an inheritance for her mother and her deceased husband, so she went to Boaz in shame and lay at her feet and said, "Cover your maid with the hem of your robe." That wish has come true. Also, Boaz's promise to Ruth that he would give Ruth was fulfilled. Now, Naomi and Ruth have forgotten all the suffering they have been through and are now living happily ever after.
Like Naomi and Ruth, I hope that all the beloved saints who kneel under the Lord's knees and pray this morning, like Naomi and Ruth, will have a wonderful work of fulfilling all the prayers and hopes they have in their hearts. So I hope that you can be grateful with your heart.
I pray in the name of the Lord that there will be many people like Boaz who cool our hearts around us today. At the same time, not only are there many people like Boas around us, but the weather is getting hotter. I pray that you and I will become a refreshing agent that cools the hearts of others like Boas on this hot summer day and receive all the wonderful blessings that Boaz received. I bless you in the name of