Realizing Redemption

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. 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! 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.” Then Naomi took the child and laid him on her lap and became his nurse. 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.

It seems like if we could consolidate this passage into one main theme, it might be…

Yahweh’s redeemer is renown because he reveres the covenant, restores life, resources his people, and produces a royal heritage.

There is a sense in which Yahweh’s redeemer is Boaz and yet Boaz’s redemptive work is accomplished or completed in the birth of the child Obed.

I believe we can also conclude that Boaz is a type of Christ in this, a fore-shadowing of what Christ as our redeemer has done.

So, let’s begin by considering the fact that

Yahweh’s redeemer is renowned because he…

…reveres covenant (13)

We see this initially in verse 13:

Ruth 4:13 ESV

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.

Boaz respected the proper way to do things. He did not take advantage of Ruth’s vulnerable place for his own selfish pleasure. If anything, as we saw earlier in the book, he actively sought to protect her (Ruth 2:8-9). In addition to that, he respected the covenant of marriage and the intended way that Israel’s laws were supposed to manifest themselves in society. As we observed earlier, he saw God’s hesed or covenantal love as not only something he should only relish in but something he should exhibit. His theology was practical and public.

If you remember a couple weeks ago, we watched Boaz secure Ruth and Naomi’s redemption in a very public manner at the city gates. He had witnesses to observe the transaction so that there would be no question behind his actions. We wanted to redeem Ruth, but knew there was another who had that right first. He wanted to marry her, in part because he grew to love her.

David Atkinson comments…

“For Boaz, all three parts of the marriage covenant are now together: his love for Ruth, the public witness to their wedding, and now the sexual union. In thinking about our author and other biblical writers, physical sexual union belongs within such a context of a committed, loving and publicly known relationship.” p. 121

Our society has become a place where sex is cheap and valueless. Commitment becomes a temporary obligation - lasting only as long as it benefits one party or the other. The covenant of marriage is not worth the pain that may come. Why get married when you can live together? There are many who have bought into the “try before you buy” mentality by cohabiting. Casual sex has become normative in our culture. Convenient commitment has become common place.

I think understand why a bit.

There are some of us who have grown up in abusive homes where parents fought incessantly, infidelity was present, and judgment was rampant. Divorce became a painful means to an end and a way out.

I believe that as a people who say that we follow Jesus and want to obey his Word, we need to revere the value and precedent of a covenant.

When God entered into a covenant with Israel, he did so out of his sincere love - not because they deserved it. He provided the law as a means of helping them understand what life with Him should look like. When they rebelled and broke faith with him, he brought discipline, but did not abandon them.

Ultimately, Jesus is the eternal fulfillment of that covenant. He lived out all that the law requires. He accomplished all that we could not.

Imagine what it would be like if Jesus only redeemed us until we commited some sin that was too much for him to handle and let us go. That kind of conditional salvation would be meaningless.

Instead, when you and I respond to his loving call for salvation, we are his for eternity. He will not let us go!

I think this is a bit why Paul paints a picture of life in Christ like a marriage - (Eph. 5…)

Ephesians 5:25–33 ESV

Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish. In the same way husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ does the church, because we are members of his body. “Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.” This mystery is profound, and I am saying that it refers to Christ and the church. However, let each one of you love his wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband.

Men, we need to be people who love our wives in the same way that Christ did - sacrificially, spiritually, selflessly. When we truly live that out, imagine how life-giving that is to our families. Imagine what kind of difference that would make in our culture, how much that would strengthen the very fabric of our society.

Ladies, for those who are not yet married, look for men who will love you in this way. Look for a man who will willingly lay down his life for you. Save yourself for that kind of man.

For those who are married but don’t feel like you have a man who is loving you in this way, pray for him, enlist your community group to pray for him. Keep living honorably.

Paul writes…

1 Corinthians 7:10–16 ESV

To the married I give this charge (not I, but the Lord): the wife should not separate from her husband (but if she does, she should remain unmarried or else be reconciled to her husband), and the husband should not divorce his wife. To the rest I say (I, not the Lord) that if any brother has a wife who is an unbeliever, and she consents to live with him, he should not divorce her. If any woman has a husband who is an unbeliever, and he consents to live with her, she should not divorce him. For the unbelieving husband is made holy because of his wife, and the unbelieving wife is made holy because of her husband. Otherwise your children would be unclean, but as it is, they are holy. But if the unbelieving partner separates, let it be so. In such cases the brother or sister is not enslaved. God has called you to peace. For how do you know, wife, whether you will save your husband? Or how do you know, husband, whether you will save your wife?

When we look at all that Boaz did in redeeming Ruth and Naomi, he revered the covenant or marriage. He seemed to love sacrificially. He acted properly. As Yahweh’s redeemer, he was renown in the land.

Secondly, we see that Yahweh’s redeemer is renown because he…

…restores life (14-15)

In response to the birth of the child, the women around Naomi give this blessing…

Ruth 4:14–15 ESV

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! 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.”

In Moab, Naomi and Ruth were as good as dead - feeling hopeless and forgotten - out of known, ethical options.

Boaz - in his redeeming act and God’s provision of a son brought life and encouragement to Naomi. Her future was secured. This child represented her provision, her heritage. He brought her hope again. In essence this child restored her life.

When we receive Jesus Christ as our redeemer, trusting in the work that he did on the cross - we move from death to life. Ephesians 2 talks about us being dead in our trespasses and sins - but God brings life - and brings purpose.

Ephesians 2:4–10 ESV

But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

As God’s ambassadors, we get to bring people to the restoring life of Jesus - we get to proclaim his goodness and love. In a world where burdens are relieved for a short time through tax breaks or windfalls, Jesus gives us an eternal restoration.

Matthew 11:28–30 ESV

Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

Friend, if you are not yet a follower of Jesus, come to him. Let the burdens of your sin rest on his capable shoulders. Let your life be redeemed and your hope restored by his sacrificial love.

In addition to revering covenant and restoring life, Yahweh’s redeemer…

…resources his people (14)

In the blessing from the women to Naomi, the ESV notes that this child will “nourish” Naomi in her old age. Other translations talk about sustaining or caring or providing ramifications of this Hebrew word and the actions of this boy. In other words this child will be a resource to Naomi - meeting her daily needs on into her old age. They viewed this child as a blessing.

There is a sense in which our society sees children as a burden and not a blessing. So often, people delay having kids for the sake of a career or simply because they want to keep options open.

But Scripture says that children are not a burden, but a blessing.

Psalm 127:3–5 ESV

Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb a reward. Like arrows in the hand of a warrior are the children of one’s youth. Blessed is the man who fills his quiver with them! He shall not be put to shame when he speaks with his enemies in the gate.

Now, I realize that in any discussion like this, there are some who struggle with this because for whatever reason, God has not allowed children. We saw in verse 13 that it is Yahweh who provides conception. We’ve seen several people in Scripture who have wanted kids, but couldn’t have them, at least for a long while - Sarah, Rachel, Hannah, and more. So, it feels like this is a blessing or heritage or gift that God is withholding from some. I do think that adoption is a worthy option for those who have the heart to parent but not the means to have “home grown” children. There are thousands of kids here in the states and abroad that are looking for and longing for a good home. Prayerfully consider being that home for them. I think you’ll find the gift from the Lord in that act of hand picking a child.

But for those who can have children, let me encourage you to have many - 2, 3, 4 or more! We always thought we wanted to have four kids, but in His sovereignty, God only allowed us to have three - and we’re ok with that. As time and resources allow, we will welcome exchange students and others into our home - like Nagisa and Olivia.

In Ruth and Naomi’s day, children were the means for providing for adults in their old age. In our day, while there are some who fear over population, the negative birth rate in some countries is putting future stability at risk.

But beyond the economics of it, imagine what happens when godly parents are able to raise godly kids and send them into the world to make a difference - bringing life and hope to society. Bringing the message of the gospel to a world that is looking for answers in all the wrong places.

This child will be a resourcing redeemer to Naomi.

In much the same way, another child born in Bethlehem is our resourcing, nourishing, sustaining redeemer. Jesus - by the work of the Spirit, through the truth of His Word, through the care of his people - resources you and me, providing for us.

Are we making ourselves available to all that Jesus provides?

Are we making ourselves available to be a resource, nourishment for people around us?

There is one final thing that we get to see in this passage about Yahweh’s redeemer. Because we have the full counsel of God’s word, we get to understand that Yahweh’s redeemer…

…produces a royal heritage (16-17)

Ruth 4:16–17 ESV

Then Naomi took the child and laid him on her lap and became his nurse. 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.

It is interesting that while the book is entitled “Ruth,” Naomi is the one who is most blessed and even central. Naomi is the one who is seen as the recipient of God’s favor, even though this child was born to Ruth.

What’s more is that the women of the neighborhood helped to name this child. They gave him the name Obed which means “to till; to toil, work; to serve; to accomplish, do.” In essence, God accomplished his redeeming work through Obed. God sent Obed as a servant to this family, to restore, to resource, to refresh.

There are some who state that the book of Ruth is a book designed to bring legitimacy to the reign of King David. While there is a connection to David, I don’t think that is the ultimate purpose. David does become King, but this family could not have known that.

I think that the book of Ruth helps us to see how God remembers the outcast, the widow, the forgotten, the outsider. God remembers his covenant with his people. God redeems his people - not just back to a normal life, but to a royal life.

When we respond to God’s salvation through Jesus Christ - we become children of God, royal heirs, co-heirs with Christ.

Romans 8:14–17 ESV

For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!” The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, 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.

Galatians 4:4–7 ESV

But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!” So you are no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, then an heir through God.

Beloved, if you have received Christ as your Savior, you are a child of God. You are a son or daughter of the King of Kings. You are a prince or princess in the Kingdom.

Just as Obed served the family of Naomi, Ruth, and Boaz by eventually providing a royal heir, you and I get to serve the world around us by representing our Lord, our redeemer to the world.

Are we representing him well in our neighborhoods, schools, workplaces?

Are we being a blessing to them?

Are we honoring our redeemer in how we live?

Let’s pray.

Questions for reflection and discussion:

Read Ruth 4.

What stands out to you in this passage?

How did Boaz demonstrate reverence for the covenant of marriage? Why was that important then? Why is it important now?

In verses 14 and 15, the women around Naomi pronounce a blessing. Who is blessed? Why? What will be the result to the redeemer? What will the redeemer do?

Obed’s name means to serve, to work, to accomplish. How is that name fitting for this situation?

Where to you see Jesus and the message of the gospel in this passage?

What can we do to extend Jesus work in our world as Obed extended Boaz’s redemptive work in their family?

Sources:

Atkinson, David. The Message of Ruth. The Bible Speaks Today Commentary. Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 1983.

Barry, John D., David Bomar, Derek R. Brown, Rachel Klippenstein, Douglas Mangum, Carrie Sinclair Wolcott, Lazarus Wentz, Elliot Ritzema, and Wendy Widder, eds. The Lexham Bible Dictionary. Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2016.

Block, Daniel Isaac. Judges, Ruth. Vol. 6. The New American Commentary. Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 1999.

Piper, John. Providence. Wheaton, IL. Crossway, 2020.

Reed, John W. “Ruth.” In The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures, edited by J. F. Walvoord and R. B. Zuck. Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1985.

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