Thursday, November 4, 2021

The Sandal of Integrity - Part 1


Thursday, November 4, 2021

Boaz went to the town gate and took a seat there.  Just then the family redeemer he had mentioned came by, so Boaz called out to him, “Come over here and sit down, friend.  I want to talk to you.”  So they sat down together.  Then Boaz called ten leaders from the town and asked them to sit as witnesses.  And Boaz said to the family redeemer, “You know Naomi, who came back from Moab.  She is selling the land that belonged to our relative Elimelech.  I thought I should speak to you about it so that you can redeem it if you wish.  If you want the land, then buy it here in the presence of these witnesses.  But if you don’t want it, let me know right away, because I am next in line to redeem it after you.”  The man replied, “All right, I’ll redeem it.”  Then Boaz told him, “Of course, your purchase of the land from Naomi also requires that you marry Ruth, the Moabite widow.  That way she can have children who will carry on her husband’s name and keep the land in the family.”  “Then I can’t redeem it,” the family redeemer replied, “because this might endanger my own estate.  You redeem the land; I cannot do it.”  Now in those days it was the custom in Israel for anyone transferring a right of purchase to remove his sandal and hand it to the other party.  This publicly validated the transaction.  So the other family redeemer drew off his sandal as he said to Boaz, “You buy the land.”  Then Boaz said to the elders and to the crowd standing around, “You are witnesses that today I have bought from Naomi all the property of Elimelech, Kilion, and Mahlon.  And with the land I have acquired Ruth, the Moabite widow of Mahlon, to be my wife.  This way she can have a son to carry on the family name of her dead husband and to inherit the family property here in his hometown.  You are all witnesses today.”  Ruth 4:1-10

The saga of Naomi and Ruth’s epic struggle to find peace, and even just stay alive after losing their husbands, ends in joy.  Mostly the big press for this story is the women’s saga and the happy ending.  But there is other big news here – the integrity of a wise man.  Boaz acted with the kind of integrity that is different from the 21st century norm.  He chose to follow the model of the prophet Micah:

No, O people, the Lord has told you what is good, and this is what he requires of you:  to do what is right, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.  Micah 6:8

Notice the wisdom of Boaz:

He “did right”

In choosing to protect Ruth’s reputation he made the offer publicly to marry her, but only after all the customary channels of redemption were satisfied.  There was no question in the public of the law being observed with honesty.

He “loved mercy”

With her reputation protected, Ruth would have no doubt of Boaz’ intentions to care for her; their relationship was built with a strong foundation.

He “walked humbly with God”

Boaz placed this declaration of his care for Ruth (and Naomi) squarely in public view, calling ten witnesses of the community.  This was an “Accountability-101” step.  When you make your intentions known (as opposed to a back room deal), there is a certainty of honor.  It takes humility to placy yourself in accountability to God and the community.  It is a vow, and your legacy depends upon the way you fulfill those promises.

For You Today

Because you are human, one day the forming of your legacy will end…you will die and the books will be closed on this chapter.  Your mission to create the legacy of doing right, loving mercy, and walking humbly with your God will be a story of your days and your integrity.  Make sure the story is well-worth reading!

You chew on that as you hit the Rocky Road; have a blessed day!   

[1] Title and Other Images:  Wikimedia Commons (public domain)  Unless noted, Scripture quoted from The New Living Translation©    



 

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