Redeemed

“And he said, Who art thou? And she answered I am Ruth, thine handmaid: spread therefore thy skirt over thine handmaid: for thou art a near kinsman.  And he said, Blessed be thou of the LORD, my daughter: for thou hast shewed more kindness in the latter end than at the beginning, inasmuch as thou followedst not young men, whether poor or rich.  And now, my daughter, fear not; I will do to thee all that thou requirest: for all the city of my people doth know that thou art a virtuous woman.”  Ruth 3:9-11

Continuing with yesterday’s blog, Boaz had made sure that Ruth was able to glean a large amount of grain to take home to Naomi, her mother-in-law.  Upon Ruth’s arrival back home, she showed Naomi the grain, and Naomi was “tickled pink”, as we say in the south.  She was also delighted to know that it was Boaz’s land on which Ruth worked that day.  She praised the LORD for this favor and identified Boaz as one of their next kinsmen.  According to Jewish tradition, it was the duty of the nearest kinsman or relative to protect the life and property of another relative usually to avenge the blood of a slain relative.  This obligation was called redeeming and the man whose duty it was to perform was call a kinsmen redeemer.  Thus, Ruth knew that Boaz was one of the kinsmen redeemers, but she didn’t know as of yet that he was her kinsmen redeemer.  In the same manner, Israel will not know the full story of Jesus Christ until He reveals Himself in grace and power to the remnant of His people at His second advent.

We know that God is the ultimate Matchmaker, but Naomi was quite helpful in bringing together Ruth and Boaz.  She told Ruth to make herself as attractive as she could, to go down to the threshing floor where Boaz would be, but not to let him see her.  After he had eaten his meal, he would be lying down to sleep.  Ruth was then to lie down at his feet and await him to awake and tell her what she should do.  Naomi was searching for rest for Ruth (3:1), and rest would be found at the feet of her kinsman redeemer.  It is the same for us.  Rest can only be found at the feet of Jesus, our Redeemer.  Boaz’s occupation of winnowing barley at the threshing floor foretells the work of the divine Boaz, or Jesus Christ, when at His second coming He separates the wheat (the saved) from the chaff (the unsaved).  The believing Jewish remnant, like Ruth, will seek the place of rest at the feet of the Redeemer.

This custom that Naomi advised Ruth to follow seems strange to us, and it was also startling to Boaz when he awoke.  He didn’t recognize her, perhaps because it was midnight (3:8) and very dark.  Ruth identified herself and then asked Boaz to spread the flap of his garment over her.  This was a marriage proposal–a bold move on her part.  Spreading the garment over a person was a token of matrimony, a taking of another under one’s wing.  Boaz seemed pleased.  He said that she could have gone for a younger man, which indicates that he was a good bit older than her.  Ruth likely felt something for Boaz, but it was out of respect for Naomi that she chose to follow Naomi’s directions.  In ancient days, people wed not so much out of love, but more so for protection and provision.  Many marriages were arranged.

Boaz agreed to Ruth’s proposal, but he told her that there was another kinsman nearer than he was.  When daylight came, Boaz went to the other man to find out if he would be willing to marry Ruth who had gone home to Naomi early that morning.  Naomi said to wait, but the answer should come that same day.  Boaz took ten elders and met with the other relative.  He told the other man that Naomi was selling a parcel of her land, and this other relative had first choice to buy it.  He decided that he wanted the land, but there was a catch.  If he buys the land, he must also marry Ruth and raise up a child who would, in the name of Ruth’s deceased husband, Naomi’s son, inherit the balance of Naomi’s land.  He refused because he didn’t want to raise up a child in another’s man’s name.  He was the unnamed redeemer, representative of the law, who could have redeemed the land but could do nothing for the poor foreigner, Ruth, which shows how the law cannot save.  The law could only keep Ruth out, not bring her in.

The other relative removed his shoe and gave it to his neighbor to signify his refusal to redeem the land and marry Ruth, relinquishing all rights as a near redeemer and giving that privilege to Boaz.  This was done before all the witnesses who blessed Ruth and Boaz.  The two did marry and had a son whom they named Obed, and who became the grandfather of King David.

There are four requirements of a Kinsmen Redeemer.  1.  He must be near of kin.  Jesus, in human form, was one of us.  He is not ashamed to call us His brethren (Hebrews 2:11); 2. He must be able to redeem.  Christ can redeem because he made the perfect and sinless sacrifice; 3. He had to be willing to redeem.  “No man taketh it (life) from Me, but I lay it down of Myself.  I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again” (John 10:18a); and 4. He had to pay the price in full.  Jesus’ death and resurrection is proof that the way of salvation is complete: “It is finished” (John 19:30).  The account found in the book of Ruth is a story of love and sacrifice, and in it is interwoven God’s plan for the redemption of the world and the bringing back to Him of His people Israel.