Promises Fulfilled

 We have reached the final chapter of the Book of Ruth. 

We have seen how God has worked behind the scenes in the lives of Naomi, Ruth and Boaz and now we see the plan unfold before our very eyes. In our previous posts we left off where Boaz had accepted Ruth's proposal for marriage but there was a glitch in the plans, there was a relative who was closer to Ruth and Naomi than Boaz and by law he had first-rights to be the kinsman-redeemer. Boaz promised Ruth that he would address the matter to the other relative but also reassured her that she would be redeemed whether it be the other relative or he himself. This is where chapter four takes off.

Let's open our Bibles to Ruth 4:1 says "Now Boaz went up to the gate and sat down there; and behold, the close relative of whom Boaz had spoken came by. So Boaz said, "Come aside, friend, sit down here." So he came aside and sat down." ~ Boaz went up to the city gate as he knew his relative would pass by there and he wanted to talk to him. In those days the city gate was the place to meet to conduct business, it was a place where court was held and legal matters were settled. City gates became the place where city officials and businessmen gathered to conduct their affairs. So for Boaz to go to the city gate to talk to his relative about Ruth and Naomi was the custom then. As his relative came by Boaz said "Come aside, friend, sit down here. So he came aside and sat down". Join me in our next posts to see what happens next...