“Then 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. And he took ten men of the elders of the city, and said, Sit ye down here. And they sat down” (Ruth 4:1-2).
What was going on at the gate was similar to us going to city hall or court. Boaz was prepared to handle everything according to the laws of the land. Actually, he could have made a good lawyer. He understood the risk he would be taking if the nearer kinsman decided to “redeem” the land which had belonged to Elimelech. Boaz had such a strong love for Ruth; it was a risk he felt was worth taking.
As Boaz presented his case before the elders, I think his heart skipped a beat when the nearer kinsman said, “I’ll buy the land.” Monday we will see a turn of events in this courtroom drama.
Sue Winchester
Missouri
PRAY TOGETHER: Pray about changing some lifestyle habits to keep you spiritually fit during these though economic times.
