(Ruth 4:1–12; Proverbs; 1 Corinthians 1:30; Colossians 2:3 — NIV)

Our problem often isn’t ignorance—it’s paralysis. Ruth 4 shows that knowing God emboldens wise action when options multiply.

Recap — Ruth so far

• Loss and lament; quiet providence; ordinary faithfulness.
• Ruth’s bold request: “Spread your garment… you are a guardian-redeemer.” (Ruth 3:9)
• Boaz: willing, but there is a nearer redeemer. Naomi: “Wait.”

Observations at the Gate — How knowing God frees action

• Providence: “Just as” the nearer redeemer arrives—God’s hidden hand emboldens Boaz to act (Ruth 4:1).
• Community: ten elders witness—wise action invites accountability, not isolation (Ruth 4:2).
• Clarity: Boaz presents terms in order; exposes motives—he sees people, not just profit (Ruth 4:5–6).
• Covenant: He secures name, land, and lineage—love protects the vulnerable over personal portfolio (Ruth 4:10)

Knowing God is better than knowing what to do. Boaz doesn’t have every outcome—he has God, community, and courage.

Why we freeze — and the gospel answer

• We want guarantees before obedience; perfect clarity before movement.
• Proverbs’ center: “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom” (Proverbs 9:10).
• Jesus as Wisdom: “Christ… became to us wisdom from God” (1 Corinthians 1:30); “in whom are hidden all the treasures…” (Colossians 2:3).
  
  

Wisdom is relational before it’s procedural. Get close to Jesus; then move.

Boaz vs. “So-and-So” — A tale of two hearts

• “So-and-So” is nameless (Ruth 4:1) — self-interest forgets people and is forgotten.
• Boaz risks reputation and resources to secure Ruth/Naomi — hesed remembers names.
• Result: God folds Boaz into Messiah’s line (Matthew 1:5–6). Obedience echoes.
  
  

Gospel connection — The Redeemer who moved first

• Jesus didn’t wait for safe clarity; He set His face toward the cross (Luke 9:51).
• At the cross, apparent loss became cosmic redemption (Acts 2:23; 4:27–28).
• Because He has secured us, we can take faithful risks to secure others (Ephesians 5:2).

Study Notes

Boaz reminds the man of a small but significant detail: the owner of the land [Naomi’s husband?] was “our brother,” that is, a relative to both of them. How closely related they were we may only speculate. As recounted in Deut 25:5–10, the legal levirate obligation applied to the immediate brothers of a deceased man (so also Genesis 38). While we have no textual documentation, it is possible, perhaps even likely, that according to Israelite custom (not law), in cases where there was no

unmarried brother, the principle of levirate obligation was extended in accordance with the “pecking order” in inheritance law. According to Num 27:9–11, if a man died without a progeny (either son or daughter), his property would pass to his brothers; if he had no progeny or brothers, it would pass to his paternal uncles (father’s brothers); if he had no progeny, brothers, or paternal uncles, the property would pass to his nearest relative from his own clan. The text does not indicate how far down this order Boaz and the gōʾēl were. In 2:1, however, the narrator does note that Boaz was from the clan of Elimelech. If the gōʾēl was a closer relative than Boaz (3:12), he must have been ahead in the pecking order. – Block

Biblical prudence protects us from the twin dangers of naiveté and fear in our relationships. Naiveté is fed by how our culture values openness and vulnerability…Prudence also protects us from fear, from shutting down… As people become less trustworthy, we instinctively try to reduce risk…  Perfectionism, yet another aspect of ancient paganism reemerging in our culture, doesn’t allow for messiness. It evaluates life against an impossible standard that ultimately freezes people from risking commitment. In short, people are fearful of failure, of messing up… Look at the potential messiness in Ruth’s going to an unknown land, going out to a field alone, and sleeping at Boaz’s feet. Prudence can unfreeze us from the danger of perfectionism by anticipating messiness and minimizing the risk. It doesn’t shut down. The return to paganism is our instinctive response to a world increasingly devoid of a robust faith in God. The human heart reverts to paganism when it doesn’t feel safe, when it doesn’t know that a loving and sovereign God is orchestrating the details of life…. Prudence shapes how Boaz loves Ruth. Because men have a problem with sexual lust, he cautions his male workers not to touch her. Because people have a problem with jealousy, he cautions his workers not to belittle her. Because people have a tendency to judge, he gives her a sack of grain as cover. The right caution frees us to love with abandon. – Miller

The irony is that by seeking to protect his future legacy in this way, Mr. So-and-So ended up leaving himself nameless, missing out on having a share in the biggest legacy of all: a place in God's plan of salvation. Boaz took a different and more sacrificial approach, embracing the opportunity to leave a legacy for someone else. – Ian Duguid

Pastor Sam Sutter //Sam@bbcconline.org

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