S) "9 Then Boaz said to the elders and all the people, 'You are witnesses today that I have bought from the hand of Naomi all that belonged to Elimelech and all that belonged to Chilion and Mahlon. 10 Moreover, I have acquired Ruth the Moabitess, the widow of Mahlon, to be my wife in order to raise up the name of the deceased on his inheritance, so that the name of the deceased will not be cut off from his brothers or from the court of his birth place; you are witnesses today.'"
Ruth 4:9-10 (NASB)
O) The romance of Ruth and Boaz is one of my favorite stories in the Bible. One element to it that I particularly appreciate, is that everything was done with the utmost care toward propriety. Boaz never took advantage of Ruth's need. He never pressed his advantage over her. He did not try to trick anyone about redeeming Naomi's land. He went through all of the appropriate steps, necessary by God's law and also their culture at the time, in order to marry Ruth. In the above verse, we see Boaz finish the last step. He had just approached the closest kin to Naomi's late husband (the only family closer than himself), in the presence of ten elders. He didn't neglect anything along the way. This romance is one of grace and beauty, honesty and purity, righteousness and love.
A) In the current culture, it is easy to be discouraged that the stories of love that are presented by the world are hopelessly corrupted by the low standards that the world has allowed. It is such a joy to have this joyous story of redemption, that I can look toward (and show others, like my children), as a model of hope, grace, and love. In today's world, it's easy to believe that doing things the right way is also the boring way. It's easy to be deceived into thinking that romance is about following feelings capriciously. While I am a big fan of spontaneous expressions of affection, it's important for me to remember (and value, for the sake of my kids) the difference between solemn and somber. Romance should be solemn, but that doesn't make it unattractive. In the story of Ruth and Boaz, because he took the time to go through all of the necessary steps (necessary by God and by the culture), he began their relationship with a solid foundation. To look back on their relationship, and have no regrets about how it formed, would have been a huge benefit to their relationship as it flourished. I wish that I could change my own history in that regard. Since I can't, I take the example of Ruth and Boaz, and I point to it as the ultimate romance story.
P) Father, it is such a beautiful thing when Your will is followed to the fullest! This story is simply wonderful in its romance. I thank You, that this story is part of history, part of the lineage of Jesus, and preserved in Your Word for the world to see. I pray that the story of Ruth and Boaz is recognized by more people, especially young people who have not yet formed an opinion on how romance should look. I pray that single people, who may have been taught the wrong example by the world, would see this story for all of the grace, hope, beauty, and love that it truly presents. Thank You for redeeming my own marriage, despite the wrong start I had in my relationship with Kristin. Your grace through my life, especially as it pertains to my marriage, is a testament to Your glory. Be glorified as new people learn of Ruth and Boaz. Be glorified when I share my own testimony about my marriage. Be glorified. In Jesus's name I pray. Amen.
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