INTRODUCTION:

A. This lesson will examine what we know of the life and actions of a man by the name of Boaz.
B. Boaz is mentioned only a few times in the Bible, and these references are to be found mainly in the book  of Ruth.
 Boaz is not spoken of as a soldier, or a king, or a prophet, or in other ways that man might consider  "glamorous."  His name would probably not come up if we were talking about some of the "great" 
 characters of the Old Testament.
D. He is called a "valiant" man in Ruth 2:1 (KJV) but it would probably be better translated "wealthy."  As  you read and study the book of Ruth, however, there are some very admirable qualities to be found  in Boaz.
E. The word "valiant" normally carries with it the idea of brave, courageous, mighty; but it can also mean  worthy or virtuous, and in  this sense there is no doubt that Boaz is a valiant man.

DISCUSSION:

I. THE BOOK OF RUTH.

 A. H. I. Hester in his book, The Heart of Hebrew History made this comment concerning the book `  of Ruth:  "It is a distinct relief to turn from the depressing and sordid stories of the latter part   of the book of Judges to the bright, wholesome, and lovely story of Ruth."
 B.  Franklin Camp in a sermon on Ruth stated:  "The book of Ruth is one of the sweetest stories in   the Old Testament.  Perhaps one of the reasons is because it touches two of the heart's most 
  tender strings, sorrow and love."
 C. The book of Ruth is the story of Elimelech and his wife Naomi, and their two sons who lived in   the vicinity of Bethlehem.  During a severe famine the family left their ancestral home and took   up an abode in Moab.
 D. While sojourning in this land Mahlon and Chilion, the two sons, marry two Moabite women,   Ruth and Orpah.
 E. Elimelech, and later the two sons, die in the land of Moab, leaving Naomi and her daughters-in-  law in the land.  Naomi decides to return to her old home, and her daughters-in-law offer to go   with her.
 F. Naomi explains that this would not be necessary, and Orpah decides to return to her family.   Ruth, however, in what are some of the most beautiful words in the Bible declares her    intentions to follow Naomi.  "Entreat me not to leave you, or to turn back from following after   you: For wherever you go, I will go; And wherever you lodge, I will lodge; Your people shall be   my people, and your God, my God.  Where you die, I will die,  and there will I be buried.  The   Lord do so to me, and more also, if anything but death parts you and me" (Ruth 1:16,17).
 G. Upon their arrival back home they are faced with the necessity of making a living.  Ruth finds   work gleaning in the fields of Boaz, a wealthy land owner.
 H. Through a series of events Boaz and Ruth come to love each other and are eventually married.    This delightful account closes with the birth of a baby boy named Obed.  This boy, Obed, 
  becomes the father of Jesse, who was the father of David, the great king of Israel.  It was 
  through this family line that our Savior entered the world.

II. BOAZ:  A VALIANT MAN.

 A. Boaz was a wealthy man (Ruth 2:1).
  1. It is important for us to understand that in the word of God material possessions are 
   neither good nor bad; it all depends on what we do with them and what we allow    them to do to us.
  2. The Bible never condemns wealth or prosperity.  It does warn against our letting a 
   concern for riches replace our faith and devotion to God.
  3. Several in the Bible are spoken of as wealthy.
   a. Abraham (Genesis 13:1-6).
   b. Solomon (Ecclesiastes 2:1-11).
   c. Lydia (Acts 16:11-15).
  4. Consider also these New Testament passages.
   a. Romans 12:6-8 (Is the gift of liberality an implication that they also had an     ability to make money?).
   b. III John 2 - A prayer that a brother might prosper in the physical sense.
   c. I Timothy 6:9,10,17-21- A warning about the dangers of riches and how 
    prosperity should be used.
 B. Boaz was also a benevolent man.
  1. He learns of the situation which Ruth is facing and he makes special arrangements for    her to glean in his fields (Ruth 2:5-9).
  2. This is what God expects of His children; to do good as we have the opportunity.
   a. Galatians 6:9,10.
   b. I Timothy 6:17-19.
   c. James 2:14-16.
   d. I John 3:16-18.
 C. Boaz was not a man controlled by prejudices.
  1. He helped Ruth even though she was a foreigner (Ruth 2:10).  He judged her on the 
   basis of character, not on the basis of race (Ruth 2:11,12).
  2. This is a valuable lesson for Christians today.  There is absolutely no place in the
   kingdom of God, the family of God, for prejudice.  It doesn't matter if it is racial, 
   social, intellectual, etc.; there is no place for prejudice in the heart of a Christian.
  3. The Bible teaches that all people are loved of God and are fit candidates for the 
   kingdom of God (Matthew 28:18-20; Mark 16:15,16; John 3:16; Acts 10:34,35; 
   Galatians 3:26-29; Ephesians 2:11-16).
  4. Think about how Boaz might have responded.
   a. "I'm not letting a foreigner take food from my people."
   b. "Why don't you go back to your own country where you belong!"
 D. Boaz was an honorable man.
  1. According to the custom of the Levirate law, a relative could redeem another's wife in    order to preserve the dead man's name and inheritance.
  2. Ruth appealed to Boaz to follow this custom, and it was his desire to do so, but he was    aware that someone else was a closer relative (3:9-13).
  3. Boaz called the relative and ten elders of the city to determine exactly what could be   done.  After the matter was discussed, it was determined that Boaz could redeem Ruth    (4:1-11).
  4. Boaz is to be admired for wanting to do things in an honorable way and according to 
   the law.
  5. As we have been stressing in each point, this should also be true of Christians.
   a. Matthew 5:33-37.
   b. John 8:46 - Jesus' character was above reproach.
   c. II Corinthians 8:21.
 E. Boaz typifies the work of Christ.
  1. Boaz redeemed Ruth by purchasing her back.
  2. The greatest redemption is found through Jesus Christ.  Just as Boaz purchased Ruth's    redemption, so Christ has purchased us (Acts 20:28; I Corinthians 6:19,20; I Peter    1:18).

CONCLUSION:

A. Boaz may not be as well known as many Bible characters, but he truly was a valiant man.
B. In what little the Bible has to say about him we see several admirable characteristics.
 All of us would be blessed as individuals, as churches, as communities if we learned to use our prosperity  in God's service,  demonstrated benevolence, overcame prejudice, and tried to do all things in an 
 honorable way.
D. No doubt most of the discussion from the little book of Ruth will deal with Ruth and her devotion to  Naomi and the God of Israel; but let us not forget the wonderful contribution that Boaz made to this story  as well.

 
       Steve Snider