Public Opinion
| 11 Then the elders and all those at the gate said, "We are witnesses. May the LORD make the woman who is coming into your home like Rachel and Leah, who together built up the house of Israel. May you have standing in Ephrathah and be famous in Bethlehem. 12 Through the offspring the LORD gives you by this young woman, may your family be like that of Perez, whom Tamar bore to Judah." (Ruth4:11-12) |
What is significant is that he goes about this mission in an honourable way - he follows all the traditions involved in negotiating the right to lawfully marry Ruth and dealing with the land that belonged to Ruth's late husband and father-in-law.
The author of the book of Ruth explains the process that Boaz goes through and even provides by-the-way commentary explaining the rituals that would have seemed strange to an audience hearing the story centuries later. The point is that Boaz was thorough and diligent to observe the nuances, traditions, customs and laws of the day.
The result?
A wedding between a Jewish man of standing and a gentile Moabite is given blessing instead of gossip. Boaz is prayed for and people wish him good instead of wishing evil or misfortune. This is the power of a godly life: When we do things properly and correctly people wish us blessing and not ill.
Public opinion about Christians is not particularly good these days. When last have you seen a preacher portrayed well in the movies? While we might argue that this is part of the persecution and trouble that Jesus told us to expect, we also have to admit that Christians, including you and I, have not always lived well.
Boaz lived honourably and respectfully. He treated others well and he did things by the book. He was a good and gracious man. This turned public opinion toward him and we should learn from this.
