Ruth 4, The Kinsman Redeemer

The story of Ruth (and Naomi and Boaz) is one of the most touching and powerful stories in Scripture.  It is well worth the read for anyone.  The change in Naomi from “Mara” (bitter) back to “Naomi” (pleasant) shows the value of waiting on the Lord.  Every couple ought to read the story regularly.  It shows the qualities that make for great husbands and wives.  It has great value for any person.  Our world would be so much better if there were more like Ruth and Boaz.  We seem to know very little about the devotion and loyalty to others that is expressed in these four chapters.

However, as powerful as the story is in that regard, I am convinced the primary purpose of this little book is bound up in the exaltation of Jesus the Messiah.  I am convinced of this because of the end of the story.  If it was just about morality, the story could end at 4:17.  That’s the point where we could say, “and they all lived happily ever after.”  Instead, we are given the genealogy of the infant, back to Perez and ahead to David.  That. of course, is the Messianic line.

Another reason I am convinced this is about Christ is the key term and concept of the book: the kinsman redeemer, a term used 22 times in these 4 chapters (2:20; 3:9,12 (2x),13 (4x); 4:1,3,4 (5x),6 (4X),8,14.)  The background for this is in Deut. 25:5-10 where, if a man dies with a wife but no children, the next brother takes the widow as a wife and inherits the property of the firstborn.  You might think this is to make provision for the young widow.  It does do that.  But our story makes it clear that this “redeemer” law is fundamental to God’s promise to send a Savior.  The first promise (Gen. 3:15) made it clear that the solution to the sin problem would be a human, Someone who was part of the human family.

Some time ago, when we were posting on the book of Numbers, we noted some interesting names relative to this matter.  For example, Amishaddai (Num. 10:25) meant “my kinsman is Almighty.”  Ammihud (10:22) meant “my kinsman is Majesty.”  The names reflected the belief that the LORD Himself would have a “kinship” with sinners.  This concept is rooted in Gen. 22, the story of Abraham offering Isaac to God on Mt. Moriah. 

In the story of Ruth, we see Boaz going to great lengths to redeem Ruth.  Boaz did not need a lot of money to do this.  What he needed was a love for Ruth that was sufficient for him to take on all the responsibility.  And he had to be the nearest of kin.  There was another “nearer” who was unwilling to sacrifice his own standing.  But Boaz was immediately willing to give all for his bride.

This is Christ.  He took on flesh and blood, being willing to call us brethren (Hb. 2:10-14).  In doing this He gave up His heavenly glories that He might redeem us, believers in Christ who have become His bride, the Church.  Redeemed, how I love to proclaim it; redeemed by the blood of the Lamb.