Midwestern Seminary faculty members gathered for a lunch and lecture by Blake Hearson, professor of Old Testament and Hebrew, during the eighth faculty lecture delivered on October 6.
The lecture was titled, “A Theology of Birkenstocks,” and focused on the significance of the removal of shoes in the Old Testament.
“I look forward to our faculty lecture each semester,” said President Jason Allen. “We have a world class faculty at Midwestern Seminary, and the bi-annual faculty lecture always proves to be a thoughtful and equipping time as we get to hear from one of our own professors on one of their research interests.”
After reading Ruth 4:7, Hearson began his lecture by admitting, “The episode where this unnamed man removes his sandal as a symbol to renounce his rights to redeem the land, and Ruth along with it, is a puzzling one.”
Nevertheless, Hearson sought to address the “inner-biblical currents of this symbolic act and demonstrate the fuller meaning of the metaphor based on the Old Testament uses and possible illusions.”
“Specifically,” Hearson stated, “I will demonstrate that the common thread of the shoe metaphor is ownership granted by God and that treading on ground, usually by shoed foot, is often associated with a claim to a territory, unless such claim is overwritten by a previous or higher claim.”
In the lecture, Hearson addressed this unifying theme by examining the stories of the promise to Abraham, Moses’ experience with the burning bush, Joshua’s encounters with the divine, the custom in Ruth, and even the manner in which this theme applies to God Himself.
Seeking to demonstrate the significance of this theme throughout the Old Testament, he pointed to several important texts for a fuller understanding of the ancient custom.
“References that tie shoes to property begin as early as Genesis 13,” Hearson shared. “Abraham’s action of walking throughout the Promised Land signified his taking possession of the land. Abraham was to lay claim to the property by walking about it.”
“Treading shoes represented power and authority, and a lack of shoes represented a lack of power and authority,” he said.
He gave three specific examples from Scripture to further his argument.
First, he addressed Moses’ experience with the burning bush. Hearson began this example by asking, “Why would the holy ground require the removal of shoes?”
After offering several possible answers and refuting each, he stated that “Moses could not lay claim to the area around the burning bush. He was required to show subservience, humility, and a total lack of authority before God at the bush.”
Second, Hearson spoke to Joshua’s encounter with the captain of the army of the Lord in Joshua 5:15.
As with Moses and the burning bush, Joshua was required to remove his shoes before the presence of the divine.
Hearson said, “This passage in Joshua 5 not only links Joshua to Moses in his removal of shoes in several ways but goes a step further to signify the authority of this captain over the army in the long term.”
Thirdly, Hearson addressed Deuteronomy 25:9 to explain the meaning of another experience of removing shoes in Scripture.
“This passage in Deuteronomy 25 requires a brother to raise up children for his deceased brother. If he refuses, the public humiliation described in the passage follows, which includes the removal of the shoe,” Hearson explained.
“The loss of his shoe signifies the loss of his rights and the loss of his status.”
Bringing these three passages together, Hearson concluded his address by applying these interpretive conclusions to his original passage in Ruth.
“In passing the shoe to Boaz, this unnamed man in Ruth 4:7 symbolically gives up his rights and submits himself to Boaz,” Hearson shared. “He cannot walk about the land to claim it. He removes his shoe as a sign of surrender.”
Turning to Boaz’s reaction, Hearson said, “By accepting the shoe, Boaz takes the role of taking charge of that which God has given him. As with the other specific details in the book of Ruth, God’s providential hand is evident in the passing of the sandal.”
“Thus, the simple act is much more than a mere exchange of property rights. It reflects the interaction with God and others in a complex manner.”
Closing his address, he said, “Boaz’s acceptance of the shoe has a three-fold significance: (1) it is an act of humility and service to the poor and downtrodden, (2) an act of self-sacrifice in becoming a sort of distant kinsman-redeemer, and (3) an act of governance over that which God has offered as a gift.”
Midwestern Seminary invites faculty members to present addresses within their field of expertise each semester during faculty meetings.
To see more of Dr. Hearson’s publications and works, visit here.