Series: Ruth

Title: What it means to be redeemed?

Boaz Redeems Ruth

¹ Now Boaz had gone up to the gate and sat down there. And behold, the redeemer, of whom Boaz had spoken, came by. So Boaz said, “Turn aside, friend; sit down here.” And he turned aside and sat down. ² And he took ten men of the elders of the city and said, “Sit down here.” So they sat down.³ Then he said to the redeemer, “Naomi, who has come back from the country of Moab, is selling the parcel of land that belonged to our relative Elimelech. ⁴ So I thought I would tell you of it and say, ‘Buy it in the presence of those sitting here and in the presence of the elders of my people.’

Boaz conducts business honestly.  He sees that Ruth is a virtuous woman and he goes through the properchannels to obtain her.  There was a kinsmen redeemer who was closer than he was.  So, Boaz was to present the offer to him first according to the law of Moses. 

Leviticus 25:25

²⁵ “If your brother becomes poor and sells part of his property, then his nearest redeemer shall come and redeem what his brother has sold.

As we have read thus far, we know that Naomi is in a desperate state being she has lost her husband Elimelech as well as their two sons.  She is having to sell the family property to make ends meet.

The reason why the nearest redeemer was to come and redeem (buy back) the property was to keep the land among God’s people.  The land was a major part of the promises of God towards the Israelites.  Far be it that their inheritance would come in the possession of pagans.  To separate from their part of land would be in effect to cut themselves off from fellowship and communion with God. 

The land must stay among the Israelites.  More specifically if the land had not yet been redeemed in the year of Jubilee (full releasing of people’s debts and occurred every 50 years), the land would then be returned to its originalowner.  This was a picture of God’s unmerited grace towards us in Christ Jesus as He takes us back despite our ill efforts and gives us abundant grace.  It is because of the work of the cross that we are restored to the favor of God and are thereby heirs of the kingdom of God.

Boaz is more than willing to serve as kinsmen redeemer and buy back the property from Naomi.  He knows that in purchasing this property he also acquires Ruth as a wife.  Ruth had a good reputation and the people of the town had good things to say about Ruth.  We see this in the previous chapter

¹¹ And now, my daughter, do not fear. I will do for you all that you ask, for all my fellow townsmen know that you are a worthy woman. 

Boaz understood one of the most valuable lessons in life. Having a virtuous woman for a wife far exceeds obtaining vast number of properties or accumulating significant amounts of wealth. 

            Proverbs 31:10-11

¹⁰ An excellent wife who can find? She is far more precious than jewels.
¹¹ The heart of her husband trusts in her, and he will have no lack of gain.

If you have a virtuous woman, then you are blessed. 

For Boaz it was a win, win.  He not only gets the property, but He gets Ruth as well.  But first the closest redeemer must forfeit his rights as redeemer.

 If you will redeem it, redeem it. But if you will not, tell me, that I may know, for there is no one besides you to redeem it, and I come after you.” And he said, “I will redeem it.” ⁵ Then Boaz said, “The day you buy the field from the hand of Naomi, you also acquire Ruth the Moabite, the widow of the dead, in order to perpetuate the name of the dead in his inheritance.” 

There was another law which states:

Deuteronomy 25:5-6

⁵ “If brothers dwell together, and one of them dies and has no son, the wife of the dead man shall not be married outside the family to a stranger. Her husband's brother shall go in to her and take her as his wife and perform the duty of a husband's brother to her. ⁶ And the first son whom she bears shall succeed to the name of his dead brother, that his name may not be blotted out of Israel. 

This law was established to preserve the lineage of the deceased Israelite.  The first-born son would be considered the son of his deceased brother and not his own. This was God’s way of preserving the Israelites who had died with no sons to carry on their name.   This was the other major part of God’s promise to Abraham and his descendants “Abraham would become a father of many nations.”

Everything sounded good for this unnamed redeemer, up until he learned that he must take in Ruth along with the land.  He was willing to add more land to his estate, but he was not willing to marry Ruth to perpetuate the name of his dead relative. 

⁶ Then the redeemer said, “I cannot redeem it for myself, lest I impair my own inheritance. Take my right of redemption yourself, for I cannot redeem it.”

He says twice that he cannot redeem it for himself, for the sake of impairing his own inheritance.

Perhaps he thought it would ruin his reputation to marry a poor foreigner such as Ruth.  Or some think that he had another wife and if he were to take in Ruth it would bring strife and contention in the family.  Regardless of the reason, Boaz considered the acquisition a favorable one while this closest redeemer is reluctant to do so as it would impair his own inheritance.  “I cannot Redeem it.” Much like the law.

What can be said, is that he did not act as redeemer though he was closest to do so, and the reason was for the sake of his own inheritance. 

Some will view following Christ the same way.  Some will consider the price of following Jesus as well as the gains of knowing Him and will be willing to follow regardless of the cost.  While others will also see the cost of following Christ and will instead value and cling to their own earthly interest. 

It was easier to pass on this opportunity than to redeem Ruth rather than risk it all and gain her.

But let’s again consider what exactly he missed out on.  Ruth became the mother of Obed, the father of Jesse who was the father of David.  It was through David’s lineage that Jesus would come to the earth.

He passed on the opportunity to be mentioned in the ancestry of the Son of God.  Even though he passed on the opportunity, we know it was all a part of God’s divine plan. 

⁷ Now this was the custom in former times in Israel concerning redeeming and exchanging: to confirm a transaction, the one drew off his sandal and gave it to the other, and this was the manner of attesting in Israel. ⁸ So when the redeemer said to Boaz, “Buy it for yourself,” he drew off his sandal. 

This is in essence of what he was saying when he said “Buy it for yourself,” Whatever right he had to tread upon or go upon the land, he relinquished that right to the purchaser.  (Boaz)

The one who purchases the property now has the right of that property.  It belongs to Him. 

⁹ Then Boaz said to the elders and all the people, “You are witnesses this day that I have bought from the hand of Naomi all that belonged to Elimelech and all that belonged to Chilion and to Mahlon.¹⁰ Also Ruth the Moabite, the widow of Mahlon, I have bought to be my wife, to perpetuate the name of the dead in his inheritance, that the name of the dead may not be cut off from among his brothers and from the gate of his native place. You are witnesses this day.” 

Boaz then made a public confession, announcing not only his purchase of the property but also declaring that Ruthwas now his bride.  Boaz a wealthy man, an affluent man, a man who was well respected in the community has welcomed Ruth, a poor Moabite widow who had nothing to offer, into his home and has made her his wife.  In doing so he bestows tremendous value and honor upon Ruth.

Not only that, but he also publicly announced his intention to perpetuate the name of his dead relative.  Meaning the first-born son that he and Ruth would have together would carry on Mahlon’s name and not his own.  That is a sacrificial type of love.

¹¹ Then all the people who were at the gate and the elders said, “We are witnesses. May the Lord make the woman, who is coming into your house, like Rachel and Leah, who together built up the house of Israel. May you act worthily in Ephrathah and be renowned in Bethlehem, ¹² and may your house be like the house of Perez, whom Tamar bore to Judah, because of the offspring that the Lord will give you by this young woman.”

The elders honored Boaz’s decision and blessed him and his wife. 

Just so that we know how the story ends let’s finish reading the chapter.

Ruth and Boaz Marry

¹³ So Boaz took Ruth, and she became his wife. And he went in to her, and the Lord gave her conception, and she bore a son. ¹⁴ Then the women said to Naomi, “Blessed be the Lord, who has not left you this day without a redeemer, and may his name be renowned in Israel! ¹⁵ He shall be to you a restorer of life and a nourisher of your old age, for your daughter-in-law who loves you, who is more to you than seven sons, has given birth to him.”¹⁶ Then Naomi took the child and laid him on her lap and became his nurse.¹⁷ And the women of the neighborhood gave him a name, saying, “A son has been born to Naomi.” They named him Obed. He was the father of Jesse, the father of David.

The Genealogy of David

¹⁸ Now these are the generations of Perez: Perez fathered Hezron,¹⁹ Hezron fathered Ram, Ram fathered Amminadab, ²⁰ Amminadab fathered Nahshon, Nahshon fathered Salmon, ²¹ Salmon fathered Boaz, Boaz fathered Obed, ²² Obed fathered Jesse, and Jesse fathered David.

What does it mean to be Redeemed?

We are bought back with a price

         1 Peter 1:18-19

Knowing that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot.

Because of our sin, we have a debt that we cannot pay.  As Ruth needed someone to be her kinsmen redeemer, we too needed someone to step in on our behalf. 

Boaz bought back the land and bought back Ruth, Christ Jesus paid the ultimate price by giving His life.  We were slaves of sin, but we (the redeemed of the Lord) have been bought back not with silver or gold but by the precious blood of Jesus Christ. 

Being that we have been bought back, means our former master (the devil, sin, selfishness) must relinquish his rights over us.  He cannot tread here, nor is he welcomed here, for we have a new master and His name is Jesus.  We have been purchased.

We are Valued

Being redeemed means that Christ has bestowed upon us a tremendous amount of value and honor which we do not deserve.  He valued us to the point that he was willing to die for us. 

Ephesians 2:4-7

⁴ But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, ⁵ even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— ⁶and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, ⁷ so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.

God has bestowed a tremendous amount of value upon us by making us alive together with Christ.  He has given us new life in Christ.  Our identity is now found in Him.  He has done away with our old man, and He has made us alive in Christ.  Much like how the old Ruth was put away and a New Ruth then comes into the picture.

We are valued and loved by God to the extent that He sent His only begotten Son to die in our place.  He endured the cross for the Joy of gaining you and I. 

Hebrews 12:2

looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.

One day Christ is coming back for His bride, also known as the church.  Just as Boaz declares publicly that Ruth (who is a Moabite who was not a part of the common wealth of Israel) is his wife, Christ, the bridegroom, in the presence of all, will initiate His eternal union with the church. 

To be redeemed means that He values us so much that He has taken us from the filth of our previous lives and gives us a new identity which is found in Christ.

We are heirs to the promise

Let’s go back to what Boaz says.

¹⁰ to perpetuate the name of the dead in his inheritance, that the name of the dead may not be cut off from among his brothers

The name of the dead relative is to continue beyond his death, that is part of his inheritance.  As believers in Christ our inheritance will commence after death. Just as the name of the deceased relative will not be cut off, our names have not been blotted out of the Lamb’s book of life.

Revelation 3:5 (Jesus tells the church of Sardis)

⁵ The one who conquers will be clothed thus in white garments, and I will never blot his name out of the book of life.

Being Redeemed means your name is written in the Lamb’s Book of Life.  If your name is written, you are a recipient of an eternal inheritance.  You are an heir to the Kingdom of God.  Heaven will be your home.  As believers we can have assurance that this is so.

Romans 8:16-17

¹⁶ The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, ¹⁷ and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him.

Much like how Boaz showed undeserved riches and kindness towards Ruth.  She became an heir to his estate.  God will make us heirs to heaven. He has prepared a place for us in which He plans to pour out His immeasurable riches and kindness on us.  However the promise is not for everyone.

Revelation 20:15

¹⁵ And if anyone's name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.

Boaz Redeems Ruth by paying the appropriate price, He bestows upon her great value and honor, He makes her an heir to his estate.

Christ Jesus does the same for us

Jesus is a better redeemer because He risked it all for people who could offer him nothing.  When the law of Moses failed and could not remove the shame brought about by sin, Jesus acts as a better redeemer who has paid in fullthe prices for our sins.  He not only covers our sin, but He eliminates our shame.

We are bought back with a price

We are Valued

We are heirs to the promise