OT Notes Ruth 3,4

1) One could look at Ruth as a series of waystations on grief. By this time, hey have made a plan to live. Even with obstacles, the plan works, somewhat like a romance novel, and they live to see a better day. 2) The plan itself is quite bold and depends on the fidelity of Boaz about matters sexual. Can you imagine a bigger leap of faith in someone in that culture, or now for that matter? Further, the plan itself is a sign that they live not in the past but are trying to chart of future. They are not caught in denial but actively being agents of their lives. 3) Boaz will be the name of a pillar of the temple. It goes without saying how many men would love to be named a pillar of strength.It could be in strength is well and God would be the silent subject of the name.That applies to fertility as we know of no children for Ruth, but notice also that God is the one who permits conception here. 4) Another sermon angle is that Naomi becomes young again. She who lamented that the age of childbearing was gone is the nurse maid for her grandchild. 5) One could write a sermon of the background of the great. Ruth is the great grandmother of the great king David. Matthew makes sure that she is mentioned in the linage for Jesus. 6) Ruth stands in the great tradition of inner-Biblical argument. Its very presence stands against the decision of Ezra to push marriage only between the people of Judah after the return.One could perhaps consider a sermon on inter-marriage. Then again are not all marriages the joining of different styles and attitudes of 2 families? 7) One could use this to speak on infertility , in vitro, and adoption perhaps. 8) Notice that the goel, the redeemer has a legal sense here of resotring a family to its tribal inheritance.