Why Bethlehem? (part 1)

Ruth 4:8-13, 17; II Samuel 7:12-16

To understand the significance of the village of Bethlehem, you must go back to the story of Ruth. Many of us are familiar with this book of the Bible, but there are often some subtle details that go unnoticed if we are only reading the story without connecting to Hebrew customs and traditions of that day. We also tend to lose interest when we come across genealogies except to say something like, "Oh that's cool. She was related to King David". Besides being a beautiful love story, there are riches hidden beneath the surface of the book of Ruth that need to be mined. It goes far beyond the love of a man for a woman, and expresses the redemptive love of God for His creation.

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Therefore the close relative said to Boaz, “Buy it for yourself.” So he took off his sandal. 9 And Boaz said to the elders and all the people, “You are witnesses this day that I have bought all that was Elimelech’s, and all that was Chilion’s and Mahlon’s, from the hand of Naomi. 10 Moreover, Ruth the Moabitess, the widow of Mahlon, I have acquired as my wife, to perpetuate the name of the dead through his inheritance, that the name of the dead may not be cut off from among his brethren and from his position at the gate. You are witnesses this day.” 11 And all the people who were at the gate, and the elders, said, “We are witnesses. The LORD make the woman who is coming to your house like Rachel and Leah, the two who built the house of Israel; and may you prosper in Ephrathah and be famous in Bethlehem. 12 May your house be like the house of Perez, whom Tamar bore to Judah, because of the offspring which the LORD will give you from this young woman.” 13 So Boaz took Ruth and she became his wife; and when he went in to her, the LORD gave her conception, and she bore a son.

17 Also the neighbor women gave him a name, saying, “There is a son born to Naomi.” And they called his name Obed. He is the father of Jesse, the father of David.

Ruth 4:8-13, 17

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When Naomi and her family left Bethlehem, apparently the property was sold or somehow obtained by another person. After the men died in Moab, Naomi returned with Ruth, her daughter-in-law, and they were destitute. Their only hope was to survive on the social welfare system established by God in the law. This required Ruth to go out and pick over the leftovers in the field of the landowners. She willingly did this, knowing that there could be a lot of harassment because she was a gentile in a foreign land. Basically, she had to throw herself on the mercy of others.

Ruth and Naomi had been back in Bethlehem long enough for her to develop a reputation in the small town. By the time she went to "glean" in the fields, Boaz had already heard about her. She had a reputation of love, sacrifice, and kindness that she demonstrated in her care for Naomi. Everyone knew that she had walked away from her world to live in a new world and to become a part of a people who were not her people. There was the possibility of always being an outcast, but she was willing to risk it.

By the time we get to chapter 4, Boaz has learned enough about this woman that he puts his reputation on the line to marry her. The term used is redeem. He would purchase the property of Elimelech and Mahlon (Ruth's deceased husband) and would take the widow of Mahlon (Ruth) to be his wife. Then, he would have children with her to continue the family name of Mahlon. That was what the law required of the kinsman redeemer.

There are a few things we will quickly notice in our passage today. First, Boaz and Ruth were living in Bethlehem (v. 11). This is also mentioned in chapter 1 of Ruth. Bethlehem means "house of bread", and grain is central to the narrative. It was the lack of grain that led the family to leave in chapter 1. It was the return of grain that persuaded Naomi to return after her husband and sons died. It was grain that Ruth was gathering when she met Boaz. Because of this history, God would send the Bread of Life to be born in Bethlehem some 1,200 years later.

We also see in this passage that Ruth was David's (King David) great grandmother. This is the main reason that Jesus was born in Bethlehem. God made a promise to David that there would always be an heir upon his throne. "When your days are fulfilled and you rest with your fathers, I will set up your seed after you, who will come from your body, and I will establish his kingdom. 13 He shall build a house for My name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. 14 I will be his Father, and he shall be My son. If he commits iniquity, I will chasten him with the rod of men and with the blows of the sons of men. 15 But My mercy shall not depart from him, as I took it from Saul, whom I removed from before you. 16 And your house and your kingdom shall be established forever before you. Your throne shall be established forever" (II Samuel 7:12-16). Joseph being in the family of David meant that he had to return to the city of his family. His history easily traced back 1,200 years to this village, and so this was where the Savior of the world would be born.

Father, there is no detail too small for You to notice. You took a gentile woman who, in her lifetime, was insignificant, and You made her a key figure in the lineage of Jesus. Where she should have been a nobody, You made her someone important. That is what You want to do with us. If we humble ourselves and seek You, You will promote us in Your kingdom.