Character Studies - ElectronicGospel

Boaza character study by Jeff S. SmithIntroductionThe great-grandfather of King David makes for an interesting character study, in that it was his goodnessand fairness that caused him to meet his wife, Ruth, during the era of Judges in the history of Israel.Usually, when we study the book of Ruth or think about its characters, we focus on the title character, butBoaz, along with Naomi and Orpah, provide rich studies as well.The writer presents Boaz as a model of godliness and purity, a man who recognized a virtuous woman,rewarded her and had the good sense to marry her. Would that all young men could do likewise.DiscussionI. The Character of BoazA. His Era1. we can never truly understand the character of any person until we understand the era in whichhe lived; people are partly defined and shaped by their circumstances and only sometimes rise above thestatus quo to leave behind their own marka. circumstances is not an excuse for immoral behavior, but it is sometimes a partial explanationb. what matters is whether a person in difficult circumstances can take a stand on God’s willand rise above the negatives of his era2. the reason we remember Boaz is that he did just that–he rose above the violence, chaos andselfishness of the era of the Hebrew Judges to show compassion and take a place in the genealogy ofJesus Christ3. between Joshua and Saul, there was much disorder in Israel and it is little wonder that the peoplewere dissatisfied with the situation, but it was one of their own making (“In those days there was no kingin Israel; everyone did what was right in his own eyes” (Judges 21:25)4. Boaz lives in the latter part of the Judges period, but seems to occupy a lonely noble plain againsta broader backdrop of lawlessnessB. His Convictions1. Boaz, of course, lived under the authority of the Law of Moses, which contained both civil andreligious facets2. the land was parceled out to tribes and families and was intended to remain according to thoseassignments, even in cases of debt and bankruptcy3. the perpetuation of families also mattered greatly, so that young widows were to be wed to theirbrothers-in-law and to bear them children to continue the bloodline4. Boaz finds himself in the midst of such a situation when Naomi the Israelite returns from asojourn in Moab, widowed herself, but also accompanied by her widowed daughter-in-law, both indigentand bereft of land, man or inheritance, except for these customs of the levirate and redemption of the landa. levirate (Deuteronomy 25:5-10)b. redemption of the land (Leviticus 25:23-38)C. Naomi and Ruth1. before we meet Boaz, we are introduced to Naomi, a Jewess who had fled from famine with herhusband to Moab, only to be widowed by him in that neighboring country, where their sons had met andmarried Orpah and Ruth2. Moab was located just across the Dead Sea, east of Bethlehem, where Naomi came froma. like the Hebrews, the Moabites were descendants of Noah’s son, Shem, by way of anincestuous episode involving Lot and his elder daughter (cf. Genesis 19:30-38)b. the Moabite language was strikingly similar to Hebrew, although the people were earlyinvolved in idolatryc. mingling with Moabites was like visiting cousins, but these cousins had some very dangeroushabits to be sure3. it is the culmination of the deaths of Naomi’s sons and husband that causes her to head back toJudah (Ruth 1:6-18)Character Studies! 123