Old Dog V
The Shoe And The Unnamed Kinsman
Bob Neumann, 5/2006
Sometimes when you read a passage of scripture you are looking at the retelling of an event 3000 years old from a modern point of view. Sometimes it just does not work. Take the passage in Ruth 4…4. Rth 4:4 And 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].
Sometimes there is a job to do, and the one who should have been fast and ready to do it….doesn’t. For whatever reason. A long time ago THE LORD said to me I had not been HIS FIRST CHOICE….sort of humbling if yah think about it. But then I had a choice, whether I would be THE LAST HE WOULD ASK.
Rth 4:5
5 Then 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
6 And 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
His own inheritance….ponder it a moment….he said “MAR”. As in permanently being marked or perverted. In Hebrew “shachath”….basically being accursed. So why would anyone bother REDEEMING a PAGAN WOMAN?
Rth 4:7 Now 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.
Sort of being willing to WALK IN SOMEONE ELSE’S SHOES.
Rth 4:8
8 Therefore the kinsman said unto Boaz, Buy [it] for thee. So he drew off his shoe
9 And 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
10 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: ye [are] witnesses this day
Old Boaz made sure everyone knew what was being done. But then we get a flashback to another PAGAN WIFE….
Rth 4:11 And all the people that [were] in the gate, and the elders, said, [We are] witnesses.
The LORD make the woman that is come into thine house like Rachel and like Leah, which two did build the house of Israel: and do thou worthily in Ephratah, and be famous in Bethlehem:
Rth 4:12
12 And let thy house be like the house of Pharez, whom Tamar bare unto Judah, of the seed which the LORD shall give thee of this young woman
Tamar had to trick Judah to do his duty. Boaz chose to do his duty…
Rth 4:14
14 And the women said unto Naomi, Blessed [be] the LORD, which hath not left thee this day without a kinsman, that his name may be famous in Israel
15 And he shall be unto thee a restorer of [thy] life, and a nourisher of thine old age: for thy daughter in law, which loveth thee, which is better to thee than seven sons, hath born him
So we got a KINSMAN WHO WOULD REDEEM US.
As for redeeming the “time”…? something to think on
Eph 5
14 Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light
15 See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise
16 Redeeming the time, because the days are evil
17 Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord
18 And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit
19 Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord
20 Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ
21 Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God
Col 4
2 Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving
3 Withal praying also for us, that God would open unto us a door of utterance, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in bonds
4 That I may make it manifest, as I ought to speak
5 Walk in wisdom toward them that are without, redeeming the time
6 Let your speech [be] alway with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man
Selah Old Dog
Up Next: A Song Of Deliverance