Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 2:00 — 3.7MB)
Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | RSS | More
I have fond memories of my wedding. We have pictures of the ceremony at the church, but don’t have pictures of getting the marriage license at the courthouse. At least we didn’t have to get someone to remove a sandal!
Sandal? What does that have to do with weddings? Well, in our day, nothing. But in Ruth’s day, Boaz had to do the equivalent of going to the courthouse for the legal establishment of the marriage. He was not the closest relative of Ruth’s deceased husband. So, he had to get an agreement from that relative to transfer the deceased husband’s land to him and to marry Ruth. Their custom for making such agreements was the one transferring the property removed a sandal. As soon as the sandal was off, Ruth 4:9-10 says Boaz replied, “Today you are witnesses that I have bought from Naomi all the property of Elimelech, Kilion and Mahlon. I have also acquired Ruth the Moabitess, Mahlon’s widow, as my wife, in order to maintain the name of the dead with his property, so that his name will not disappear from among his family or from the town records. Today you are witnesses!” (NIV)
The book of Ruth tells of a widowed foreign woman pledging to care for her widowed mother-in-law, rather than seek marriage in her land. They returned to Israel in poverty. But God redeemed them from poverty through a marriage to Boaz.
Are you facing difficult times? Keep trusting God. He’s got this!
How to leave a review: https://www.sparkingfaith.com/rate-and-review/
Please provide feedback and suggestions at: https://www.sparkingfaith.com/feedback/
Bumper music “Landing Place” performed by Mark July, used under license from Shutterstock.