The Book of Ruth
Chapter
4
¹ No sooner had Boaz gone up to the gate and sat down there than the next of kin, of whom Boaz had spoken, came passing by. So Boaz said, "Come over friend; sit down here." And he went over and sat down.
(The Book of Ruth Chapter 4 verse 1)
Oh God my Father, I do not believe in coincidences or chance, I believe that all is under Your control. Every situation of our life is in Your hands Amen.
² Then Boaz took ten men of the elders of the city, and said, "Sit down here"; so they sat down.
(The Book of Ruth Chapter 4 verse 2)
Oh God my Father we have become a society based on evidence and proof and the person who does not show such will not be credible, however, in my case, the court was so gullible to believe my wife without proof who portrayed me as being violent and aggressive and this limited my access to my child. I pray that even though the court's judgement was such Your justice prevails over such corrupt ways Amen.
³ He then said to the next-of-kin. "Naomi, who has come back from the country of Moab, is selling the parcel of land that belonged to our kinsman Elimelech. ⁴ So I thought I would tell you of it, and say; Buy it in the presence of those sitting here, and in the presence of the elders of my people. If you will redeem it, redeem it; but if you will not tell me, so that I may know; for there is no one prior to you to redeem it, and I come after you." So he said, " I will redeem it."
(The Book of Ruth Chapter 4 verses 3 to 4)
Oh God, my Father Boaz was talking about Naomi and Ruth as if they were inherited property over which the next-of-kin had a right over. As a sinner, You also have a claim over me, and You exercised that claim when You redeemed me by means of a cruel passion. You sealed the deed of sale or redemption with Your very blood Amen. I thank You for redeeming me Amen.
⁵ Then Boaz said, "The say you acquire the field from the hand of Naomi, you are also acquiring Ruth the Moabite, the widow of the dead man, to maintain the dead man's name on his inheritance. ⁶ At this, the next-of-kin said, "I cannot redeem it for myself without damaging my own inheritance. Take my right of redemption yourself, for I cannot redeem it".
⁵ Then Boaz said, "The say you acquire the field from the hand of Naomi, you are also acquiring Ruth the Moabite, the widow of the dead man, to maintain the dead man's name on his inheritance. ⁶ At this, the next-of-kin said, "I cannot redeem it for myself without damaging my own inheritance. Take my right of redemption yourself, for I cannot redeem it".
(The Book of Ruth Chapter 4 verses 5 to 6)
Oh God many times we end up facing great dilemmas and end up taking decisions in which in part we gain and in part we may need to lose in order to make it a win-win solution. I pray for Your intervention during today's meeting so that a win-win situation be reached Amen.
⁷ Now this was the custom in former times in Israel concerning redeeming and exchanging; to confirm a transaction, the one took off a sandal and gave it to the other; this was the manner of attesting in Israel.
⁷ Now this was the custom in former times in Israel concerning redeeming and exchanging; to confirm a transaction, the one took off a sandal and gave it to the other; this was the manner of attesting in Israel.
(The Book of Ruth Chapter 4 verse 7)
Oh God my Father, many countries have different traditions and customs, however, such practices cannot substitute those of the native country in which we are living in. I pray oh God that as Roman Catholics we will not be influenced by the influx of new traditions and customs Amen.
⁸ So when the next-of-kin said to Boaz, "Acquire it for yourself," he took off his sandal. ⁹ Then Boaz said to the elders and all the people, "Today you are witnesses that I have acquired from the hand of Naomi all that belonged to Elimelech and all that belonged to Chillion and Mahlon. ¹⁰ I have also acquired Ruth the Moabite, the wife of Mahlon, to be my wife, to maintain the dead man's name on his inheritance, in order that the name of the dead may not be cut off from his kindred and from the gate of his native place; today you are witnesses." ¹¹ Then all the people who were at the gate, along with the elders, said, "We are witnesses. May the LORD make the woman who is coming into your house like Rachel and Leah who together built up the house of Israel. May you produce children in Ephratah and bestow a name in Bethlehem; ¹² and through the children that the LORD will give you by this young woman, may your house be like the house of Perez, whom Tamar bore to Judah."
(The Book of Ruth Chapter 4 verses 8 to 12)
¹³ So Boaz took Ruth and she became his wife. When they came together, the LORD made her conceive, and she bore a son.
(The Book of Ruth Chapter 4 verse 13)
Oh God my Father, when You intervene You make all things possible. You open the doors to many opportunities that are according to Your will as in the case of Ruth Amen. Thank You Jesus.
¹⁴ Then the women said to Naomi, "Blessed be the LORD, who has not left you this day without next-of-kin; and may his name be renowned in Israel. ¹⁵ He shall be to you a restorer of life and a nourisher of your old age; for your daughter-in-law who loves you, who is more to you than seven sons, has borne him."
(The Book of Ruth Chapter 4 verses 14 to 15)
Oh God my Father blessed and holy is Your Name throughout the entire world. May we always bless and give worship to You. Amen. Indeed You are my life support. In You I have life eternal Amen.
¹⁶ Then Naomi took the child and laid him in her bosom, and became his nurse.
(The Book of Ruth Chapter 4 verse 16)
Oh God my Father, as in the case of Naomi, You also take responsibility for our welfare and give us all the love and care that we need in order to grow up and become images of You Amen.
¹⁷ The women of the neighbourhood gave him a name, saying, "A son has been born to Naomi." They named him Obed; he became the father of Jesse, the father of David.
(The Book of Ruth Chapter 4 verse 17)
Oh God my Father, society is like an animal. Its personality changes with the blink of an eye. When Naomi was childless she was given a negative label, now that she had a child she was given a positive one. I pray that we refrain from giving labels to anyone for they do not reflect either the person or the situation, so much that Ruth's son ended up in becoming the father of David. Amen.
¹⁸ Now these are the descendants of Perez: Perez became the father of Hezron, ¹⁹ Hezron of Ram, Ram of Amminadab, ²⁰ Amminadab of Nahshon, Nahshon of Salmon, ²¹ Salmon of Boaz, Boaz of Obed, ²² Obed of Jesse, and Jesse of David.
(The Book of Ruth Chapter 4 verses 18 to 22)
Oh God my Father, You honour the humble in their lowly status by changing their life status to one of grandeur and honour and prestige. I thank You for having mercy on us and our situations Amen.
Therefore, I would like to end the fourth and final chapter of the Book of Ruth with the following prayer:-
Oh God my Father, I thank You for having control over my life and for what goes on during this period of my life. You raised me up and I have been under Your care. I thank You for adopting me as one of Your many sons Amen.
⁸ So when the next-of-kin said to Boaz, "Acquire it for yourself," he took off his sandal. ⁹ Then Boaz said to the elders and all the people, "Today you are witnesses that I have acquired from the hand of Naomi all that belonged to Elimelech and all that belonged to Chillion and Mahlon. ¹⁰ I have also acquired Ruth the Moabite, the wife of Mahlon, to be my wife, to maintain the dead man's name on his inheritance, in order that the name of the dead may not be cut off from his kindred and from the gate of his native place; today you are witnesses." ¹¹ Then all the people who were at the gate, along with the elders, said, "We are witnesses. May the LORD make the woman who is coming into your house like Rachel and Leah who together built up the house of Israel. May you produce children in Ephratah and bestow a name in Bethlehem; ¹² and through the children that the LORD will give you by this young woman, may your house be like the house of Perez, whom Tamar bore to Judah."
Oh God my Father what a beautiful prayer with much meaning and great value. I pray that our rites and customs be as rich in detail as the one referred to. I offer this prayer to all newlyweds and to all who will be married in the future Amen.
(The Book of Ruth Chapter 4 verse 13)
Oh God my Father, when You intervene You make all things possible. You open the doors to many opportunities that are according to Your will as in the case of Ruth Amen. Thank You Jesus.
¹⁴ Then the women said to Naomi, "Blessed be the LORD, who has not left you this day without next-of-kin; and may his name be renowned in Israel. ¹⁵ He shall be to you a restorer of life and a nourisher of your old age; for your daughter-in-law who loves you, who is more to you than seven sons, has borne him."
(The Book of Ruth Chapter 4 verses 14 to 15)
Oh God my Father blessed and holy is Your Name throughout the entire world. May we always bless and give worship to You. Amen. Indeed You are my life support. In You I have life eternal Amen.
¹⁶ Then Naomi took the child and laid him in her bosom, and became his nurse.
(The Book of Ruth Chapter 4 verse 16)
Oh God my Father, as in the case of Naomi, You also take responsibility for our welfare and give us all the love and care that we need in order to grow up and become images of You Amen.
¹⁷ The women of the neighbourhood gave him a name, saying, "A son has been born to Naomi." They named him Obed; he became the father of Jesse, the father of David.
(The Book of Ruth Chapter 4 verse 17)
Oh God my Father, society is like an animal. Its personality changes with the blink of an eye. When Naomi was childless she was given a negative label, now that she had a child she was given a positive one. I pray that we refrain from giving labels to anyone for they do not reflect either the person or the situation, so much that Ruth's son ended up in becoming the father of David. Amen.
¹⁸ Now these are the descendants of Perez: Perez became the father of Hezron, ¹⁹ Hezron of Ram, Ram of Amminadab, ²⁰ Amminadab of Nahshon, Nahshon of Salmon, ²¹ Salmon of Boaz, Boaz of Obed, ²² Obed of Jesse, and Jesse of David.
(The Book of Ruth Chapter 4 verses 18 to 22)
Oh God my Father, You honour the humble in their lowly status by changing their life status to one of grandeur and honour and prestige. I thank You for having mercy on us and our situations Amen.
Therefore, I would like to end the fourth and final chapter of the Book of Ruth with the following prayer:-
Oh God my Father, I thank You for having control over my life and for what goes on during this period of my life. You raised me up and I have been under Your care. I thank You for adopting me as one of Your many sons Amen.
