Ruth 4: The Ruined are Redeemed
Ruth: From Ruin to Redeemed • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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Introduction:
Redemption is a word we don’t use quite as often in today’s world. When we think of the word redemption today, we probably think about coupons! As helpful as saving a few dollars here and there is, this use of the word redemption pales in comparison to the Biblical use of this great theological word.
The Biblical definition is to buy back someone or something. It involves deliverance of someone or something that is being ransomed. It is also understood that when something is redeemed, it’s returned to either it’s original owner, or even it’s original state of being.
When used in discussing salvation, it means to have been bought back from or ransomed from sin. To be delivered from sin. To be brought back from RUIN to Redeemed.
Here a few verses using this term:
14 who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good.
7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace
Ephesians 1:7 shows it most clearly. We have redemption - or deliverance - or our ransom has been paid by - what? His body and blood. He paid the redemption price for us. And He did it all according to the riches of His grace.
As we go through this final chapter of the book or Ruth, we are going to see God’s plan of redemption played out in the lives of Naomi, Boaz and Ruth and we will also see God’s plan of an even greater redemption of mankind to come.
It’s a story of how something ruined can be redeemed.
Today we are going to discuss three overarching concepts that we see played out in today’s chapter. These are all elements that help us understand what Redemption really means— both for Ruth and Naomi, but also for you and me today!
Justification: A legal declaration
Sanctification: A relational process
Glorification: A future completion
The first is:
I. Justification is a legal declaration. (v. 1-12)
I. Justification is a legal declaration. (v. 1-12)
It will become clear as we see the parallels between Jesus and Boaz here as well. You and I can relate with Naomi and Ruth.
Let’s start in verse 1:
1 Meanwhile Boaz went up to the town gate and sat down there just as the guardian-redeemer he had mentioned came along. Boaz said, “Come over here, my friend, and sit down.” So he went over and sat down.
We ended chapter 3 with Naomi and Ruth anxiously awaiting the interchange to come between Boaz and the redeemer. This redeemer is the nearest of kin to Elimelech and has the right to redeem both the land of Naomi and Ruth the Moabite. We thought the last chapter would have this great happy ending in the middle of the chapter but a wrench was thrown into this great love story. Boaz couldn’t just marry Ruth - there was one nearer to her family in kin that would have the first right.
Here we see Boaz sit down at the gate. The gate was the place where business was conducted each day. It was an important place for the men of the city to gather.
Note that there is never a name mentioned for this redeemer. There could be a myriad of reasons not to mention this name. But it is most likely that this man lost his chance to have his name remembered because he refused to redeem the land and Ruth here.
2 Boaz took ten of the elders of the town and said, “Sit here,” and they did so. 3 Then he said to the guardian-redeemer, “Naomi, who has come back from Moab, is selling the piece of land that belonged to our relative Elimelek.
4 I thought I should bring the matter to your attention and suggest that you buy it in the presence of these seated here and in the presence of the elders of my people. If you will redeem it, do so. But if you will not, tell me, so I will know. For no one has the right to do it except you, and I am next in line.” “I will redeem it,” he said.
Ten witnesses were then gathered among the elders and they sat down together. It is important to note that when Boaz states that Naomi is selling the parcel of land, there are some debates on understanding what this means.
Boaz assembles a legal proceeding at the city gate. (v.2)
The city gate here is not just any particular place— it is a place in the city of Bethlehem where the business was conducted. This is crucial to understand. Boaz is basically assembling a court with these witnesses.
This land would need to stay in the family per Leviticus 25:25-30. It would need to be redeemed or bought back for the family by the nearest relative able to do so.
Then comes another sudden twist in the plot here. Boaz offers the right of redemption to him and we get to the end of verse four and what does he say? He agrees to redeem it! For those of you are drawn into this beautiful love story - those are four words that make our hearts drop a little!! Boaz is supposed to be with Ruth - not Mr. So and So! He can’t redeem the land and Ruth! This isn’t working out like we expect. But then comes verses 5-6!
5 Then Boaz said, “On the day you buy the land from Naomi, you also acquire Ruth the Moabite, the dead man’s widow, in order to maintain the name of the dead with his property.” 6 At this, the guardian-redeemer said, “Then I cannot redeem it because I might endanger my own estate. You redeem it yourself. I cannot do it.”
Note that Boaz was shrewd in this dealing but he wasn’t deceptive. He told the entire truth and gave all of the facts. Why he left out Ruth in the first presentation, we are not completely sure. But we see once he brings up Ruth and the requirement to perpetuate the clan of Elimelech and Mahlon through Mahlon’s widow Ruth, Mr. So and So backs away.
What is his reason for bowing out? He doesn’t want to have more children because it may impair his own family inheritance situation. He liked the idea when it was just land that he could add to his portfolio. But now that there is a wife - he’s out.
Not Boaz though. Listen to the outcome of this in the following few verses:
7 (Now in earlier times in Israel, for the redemption and transfer of property to become final, one party took off his sandal and gave it to the other. This was the method of legalizing transactions in Israel.) 8 So the guardian-redeemer said to Boaz, “Buy it yourself.” And he removed his sandal.
Obviously this custom in verse 7 had changed by the time this book was written. That is why it is spelled out here. Most Jewish scholars attribute the book of Ruth to being written by Samuel during the reign of David (which as we will see wasn’t more than a few generations later). They believe this because Solomon’s name is not listed in the last part of the genealogy. This custom of handing over the sandal was done as a witness to the transaction.
Boaz formally redeems Naomi and Ruth through these witnesses. (v. 10)
9 Then Boaz announced to the elders and all the people, “Today you are witnesses that I have bought from Naomi all the property of Elimelek, Kilion and Mahlon. 10 I have also acquired Ruth the Moabite, Mahlon’s widow, as my wife, in order to maintain the name of the dead with his property, so that his name will not disappear from among his family or from his hometown. Today you are witnesses!”
Boaz fulfills the promise of redemption here. He buys back the land for the clan of Elimelech and takes Ruth as his wife. He is willing to pay the price.
That’s a sacrifice, and the witnesses confirm that it has happened. Yet, this is only the start of the process of Redemption. The people even proclaim a prayer for the future:
11 Then the elders and all the people at the gate said, “We are witnesses. May the Lord make the woman who is coming into your home like Rachel and Leah, who together built up the family of Israel. May you have standing in Ephrathah and be famous in Bethlehem. 12 Through the offspring the Lord gives you by this young woman, may your family be like that of Perez, whom Tamar bore to Judah.”
The elders bless Boaz for his selflessness here. They give quite the blessing to Boaz and bring up a few of his ancestors and how God had worked in their lives. They pray for offspring for him and bring up Rachel and Leah - who both spent at least part of their lives barren (Rachel more so than Leah). Ruth was likely barren before this as well as she was married for some 10 years and was without child with Mahlon. We will see in a moment whether this prayer is answered!
But before we move on - I want us to spend a few moments reflecting on the sacrifice involved in redemption here.
This is a life changing decision for Boaz. He’s taking responsibility for the estate and future of Naomi and Ruth. They lost their husbands— their lives were broken— Boaz is able, through his sacrifice to restore them. This begins as a legal conclusion.
But you see, Boaz was willing to step up and deliver Ruth and her family. He understood the cost involved— But he also understands the benefit and gift that this is!
Jesus also has sacrificed to justify believers through His death.
And Jesus did the same for you and me. Jesus is our justification. He paid the ultimate cost for our redemption. He is our closest relative— as the “Son of Man”— he is the only one worthy and able to redeem us.
It required the shedding of His blood on the cross. And this price of redemption that Jesus paid is the only way for us to be reconciled, to be whole again with God. Jesus’s death on the cross — as witnessed by all of creation that fateful day— is the legal declaration that you and I are redeemed.
My friends - Jesus redeems us through a sacrifice— we who believe in that— put our faith in Him and His act of love. But it doesn’t stop there! That’s not the end of the story!
II. Sanctification is a relational process. (v. 13-17)
II. Sanctification is a relational process. (v. 13-17)
13 So Boaz took Ruth and she became his wife. When he made love to her, the Lord enabled her to conceive, and she gave birth to a son. 14 The women said to Naomi: “Praise be to the Lord, who this day has not left you without a guardian-redeemer. May he become famous throughout Israel!
15 He will renew your life and sustain you in your old age. For your daughter-in-law, who loves you and who is better to you than seven sons, has given him birth.”
Boaz and Ruth build a strong relationship and a new family. (v.13)
Verse 13 shows God’s blessing of a child to the once widowed Ruth. The prayer of the elders and the witnesses has been answered.
This is a product of a relationship. Everyone loves the wedding day right? But the wedding day is kind of like the “legal” declaration of the joining of two people— the next day--- that’s when the life begins! For Ruth and Boaz, and Naomi also, life began— and life together happens.
Redemption here comes as a result of the “life” that is being lived in this new reality. Naomi, Ruth, and Boaz all represent characters in the story that have both given and received redemption in their own ways— in specific ways that fulfill God’s plan for their lives and the world.
Jesus gives us new life with Him in a new reality!
The women also make a wild statement for that time period - That her daughter-in-law who is more to her than seven sons. Seven sons was the ideal Jewish family. It was a sign of completeness and power. And yet, Ruth is worth more to her than that!
16 Then Naomi took the child in her arms and cared for him. 17 The women living there said, “Naomi has a son!” And they named him Obed. He was the father of Jesse, the father of David.
It is very fitting that this account would start with the desolation of Naomi and end with the joy of Naomi. She has gone from empty and bitter to full and joyful. It is very unique that the women of the neighborhood are involved in naming this precious child. This is the only place in Scripture where this is seen. No doubt, Ruth and Boaz are part of this naming as well - but it is interesting that the women take a part in naming this blessed child. There seems to be a Bethlehem-wide understanding that this child will be special. That something bigger is going to be seen through the lineage of this child than what is seen on the surface.
They name him Obed. Interestingly this name sounds like the Hebrew word meaning ‘servant.’ How prophetic would that name be for his future lineage as will see in a moment.
III. Glorification is a future completion.
III. Glorification is a future completion.
Finally we get to the genealogy of David given in the final few verses:
18 This, then, is the family line of Perez: Perez was the father of Hezron, 19 Hezron the father of Ram, Ram the father of Amminadab, 20 Amminadab the father of Nahshon, Nahshon the father of Salmon, 21 Salmon the father of Boaz, Boaz the father of Obed, 22 Obed the father of Jesse, and Jesse the father of David.
The story here was probably written during the reign of King David. Probably in the time frame we would know and read about in II Samuel.
This portion of the book might be overlooked or skipped, but let’s reflect here for a moment.
Naomi, Ruth and Boaz join God in the epic story of redemption for the world!
These people become what God intended them to be. The ancestors of Jesus— the Light of the World. They didn’t know that at the time. They were just doing what God called them to do in their lifetime.
The genealogy starts with Perez. If you would recall, Perez is the son of Judah. I am sure the name Judah rings a bell when you think about Jesus:
1 A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse; from his roots a Branch will bear fruit.
Some would point out that you and I are a part of that fruit!
We too have been moved from ruin to redeemed.
We were broken by sin— our own, and the sins of others against us.
We’ve been justified— we’ve been declared redeemed and forgiven.
We are invited into a process of sanctification— we seek to partner with God through His Holy Spirit to grow, to live, to become more like Him in relationship to Him and to each other! That’s discipleship each day— in a relationship with Jesus.
We look forward to the coming glorification of everything! Jesus will return and make everything new— returning it to it’s original intended state— He will finalize the Redemption of creation.
No matter where you are along that continuum, be encouraged today that God is indeed working all things out for your good.
Maybe you’re still on the fence about this who faith thing. That’s ok— I’m glad you’re here— stay at the table— stay in the conversation with those you trust. Jesus is real, and his free gift of Grace through faith is right there for you!
Maybe you’re in the grind of sanctification. Discipleship is hard— the root word there is discipline, remember? Press into your relationship with Jesus today. Thank Him for your life, for your blessings, for the work he’s given you to do today— and keep walking with him!
Maybe some of you today have been on this walk of faith for a long time— most of your life. I want you to be particularly encouraged today— you have children and grandchildren—maybe even great grandchildren! (That four generations right here in our church!)
Naomi- Ruth- Obed-Jesse
You have no idea what the life will be like for your great-great grandchildren. But because of your faithful life TODAY— all the trials/ups/downs/ Your faith will indeed affect that DAVID Generation. That’s who I want you to think about today. What can you do today to prepare for the future glorification of your life— and all of your family behind you? Be compassionate, be wise, be a leader like Naomi was.
THE LORD BLESS YOU AND KEEP YOU.
24 “ ‘ “The Lord bless you and keep you; 25 the Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you; 26 the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace.” ’
God used Ruth to turn Naomi’s bitterness into gratitude, her unbelief into faith, and her despair into hope. One person, trusting the Lord and obeying His will, can change a situation from defeat to victory.
Warren W. Wiersbe