in the book, in the book of Ruth, we see a woman who was widowed, penniless, a foreigner, secretly approach a man in the cover of night.

This was a bold and risky move, a potentially dangerous plan.

But today on Truth for Life, we'll find out how this highly respected man responded to the woman's unusual proposal.

Alistair Begg is teaching from Ruth, Chapter 4.

I summarized Chapter 4 under three separate headings. I'll give the first of these to you now.

I wrote down first of all the gate, the negotiation, and the sandal. Because that's really what the first eight verses are all about.

Naomi is right. Boaz has wasted no time in getting to the place he needs to get to in order to

deal with this issue that has transpired on the previous evening. He has gone, we're told, in

verse one, to the town gate. And I tried in my mind's eye to see him there, perhaps under the cover

of the morning mist, hastening in order that he might get

in position as early as he possibly could. The gate area in a place like this and in this period

was spacious, and purposefully so. So much like an Italian piazza, serving as both a marketplace

and a civic center. There, the law was

administered and their business was conducted. And the reason that he went there, because he was

committed to doing the right thing. That's the reason that he went to the town gate.

You remember, in chapter three, he had said to Ruth, when she said, spread your blanket over me,

when she made this proposal of marriage to him, essentially, he said, well, you know,

I'm so gratified by your kindness and all of the considerations of your heart, but I need to tell you,

and you'll find this in the heart of Chapter 3, I need to tell you, and you'll find this in the heart of

Chapter 3, I need to tell you that there is another kinsman Redeemer who's actually in line

before me. So I really like the idea, but I have a problem because I must do the right thing.

And because he was determined to do the right thing, he goes to take his place in the

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