Ruth 4 - The Promise of Redemption
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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.
Redemption: to buy back someone or something. To deliver someone or something that is being ransomed.
In a contemporary way we see this played out in a case of ransomware. Ransomware is a software that is maliciously placed on someone’s computer system in order hold it hostage. The ransomware demands payment before releasing the software back. The person must buy back their software and they must redeem it by buying it back.
The Biblical definition is also to buy back someone or something. It involves deliverance of someone or something that is being ransomed. When used in discussing salvation, it means to have been bought back from or ransomed from sin. To be delivered from sin. Here a few verses using this term:
14 who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works.
14 in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.
7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace,
Ephesians 1:7 shows it most clearly. We have redemption - or deliverance - or our ransom has been paid by - what? His 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 Boaz and Ruth and we will also see God’s plan of an even greater redemption of mankind to come.
Let us pray.
Prayer
Today we are going to discuss two overarching points that we see played out in today’s chapter. The first is:
I. Jesus is Our Sacrificial Redeemer (1-12)
I. Jesus is Our Sacrificial Redeemer (1-12)
You may wonder why the name Jesus is in both of these points. It will become clear as we see the parallels between Jesus and Boaz here as well as the providential plan of God coming to fruition through this wonderful account as well.
Let’s start in verse 1:
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.
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.
23 Her husband is known in the gates when he sits among the elders of the land.
We see here in Proverbs 31:23, that those who were known in the gates and sitting among the elders of the land were often those of nobility. Boaz is a respected elder of the city.
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.
Some may look at the middle of verse 1 and think - wow what a coincidence that just as soon as Boaz sits down that this redeemer comes by! Obviously, we know that God is providentially working. He is sovereignly orchestrating this whole thing.
Something that is missed in our English versions is this phrase ‘turn aside friend.’ 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. This phrase ‘turn aside friend'actually means more literally ‘Mr. So and So.’ This man’s name remains anonymous to us to this day.
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.
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.
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 redeemer. We also see in Numbers 27, that the land of deceased man could be passed down to a son, daughter, brother, uncle, or another near relative - but we don’t see widow being given here.
How or whether she had come to attain this land as her personal possession is debated and not well understood. But we know that the land is in need of redemption. Whether she owns it outright and is not able to afford or perform the upkeep or that the land was subcontracted out when Elimelech left for Moab and needs it needs redeemed back - we are unsure. What we do know is that the land needs redeemed.
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.’ 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.”
Then comes another sudden twist in the plot here. Boaz offers the right of redemption to the redeemer and we get to the end of verse four and what does he say? I will redeem it. For those of you are drawn into this beautiful love story - those are four words you despise right now! 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, “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.” 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.”
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 bounces out. He taps out. He asks for the relief pitcher to come in.
What is his reason for bowing out? He doesn’t want to have more children because it may impair his own inheritance. He liked the idea when it was just land that he could add to his portfolio. But now that there is a cost involved - he is out.
Not Boaz though. Listen to the outcome of this in the following few verses:
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. 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.”
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 fulfills his 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.
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 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 moreso 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.
The redeemer in this first section who passes up on the opportunity of redemption is much like those in our world. Many are willing to accept a blessing or gift - but not if it costs them anything. As soon as there is a cost involved, they are out.
Would that explain you and how you respond to the Gospel? The free gift of eternal life seems like a great thing. Get out of Hell free card. Check - I’m in! But then you see that true salvation requires that you give up the reins of your life and you hand them over to Jesus. You ask that His will be done and not your own. There is a cost involved - the cost is dying to yourself and living for Christ. He paid the entire cost of your redemption and you cannot do any works to earn it. Yet, in order to be redeemed you must be born again. This “cost” of dying to your own desires is difficult to many and keeps many out of eternal life with Jesus Christ.
But you see, Boaz was willing to step up and deliver Ruth and her family. He didn’t care if there was a cost involved.
And Jesus did the same for you and me. He paid the ultimate cost for our redemption. It required the shedding of His blood on the cross. And this price of redemption that Jesus paid is the only way one may escape the flames of Hell.
Brothers and sisters - I pray that you spend some time being sure that you have truly been redeemed by our Savior. That you have truly repented of your sins, believed in the Son of God - Jesus Christ - who lived some 2000 years ago, died on the cross for our sins, and was resurrected 3 days later and now promises eternal life through Him and Him alone.
My friends - Jesus Christ is our sacrificial redeemer…and he is also:
Scripture References: Titus 2:14, Colossians 1:14, Ephesians 1:7, Proverbs 31:23, Leviticus 25:25-30, Numbers 27
II. Jesus is Our Sovereign Redeemer (13-22)
II. Jesus is Our Sovereign Redeemer (13-22)
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.”
Verse 13 shows God’s blessing of a child to the once barren Ruth. The prayer of the elders has been answered.
The women now use this word redeemer to describe another. Boaz has been the kinsman redeemer throughout this entire account other than Mr. So and So who refused redemption. But Boaz has been the one who has redeemed Ruth and blessed the line of Elimelech with a son now. Yet now this son is the one who is referred to as a future redeemer. And this redeemer is said to be a redeemer for Naomi and a restorer of life and nourisher of her old age.
This term of redemption has a two-fold meaning. The first is that this child brings Naomi joy again. She again has a family. She has a baby to love. She has lost her husband and sons but now is blessed with this bundle of joy that she can nurse and love. Second, this gives Naomi hope for her family line. The name of her family will live on through this child.
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 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.
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.
Finally we get to the genealogy of David given in the final few verses:
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.
Many may wonder why I have decided to preach through the book of Ruth during the month of December. How does this 3000+ year old account play into Christmas? I’m sure you have noticed the parallels of Boaz and Jesus that we have mentioned but obviously these parallels could be made at any time of the year.
I hope that as we look at this genealogy, that it becomes more apparent how much this book of Ruth is about Christmas.
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:
Revelation 5:5a (ESV)
5 And one of the elders said to me, “Weep no more; behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah...
Here we see Jesus called the Lion of the tribe of Judah.
As we move down we see Salmon mentioned.
5 and Salmon the father of Boaz by Rahab, and Boaz the father of Obed by Ruth, and Obed the father of Jesse,
Salmon has Boaz by Rahab and then as we have seen the book of Ruth - Boaz and Ruth go on to have Obed - whose name means servant. This name is prophetic of the coming Messiah - who came a servant to many.
Matthew 1:5 ended with the name Jesse which we see in Isaiah points to the Messiah:
1 There shall come forth a shoot from the stump of Jesse, and a branch from his roots shall bear fruit.
10 In that day the root of Jesse, who shall stand as a signal for the peoples—of him shall the nations inquire, and his resting place shall be glorious.
These Scriptures point to the coming Messiah.
Finally we get to David:
22 Obed fathered Jesse, and Jesse fathered David.
Matthew 1:6 (ESV)
6 and Jesse the father of David the king.
If we continue through the genealogy of Matthew chapter 1 we get to Jesus at the end. And we see countless times in the New Testament that Jesus is descended from David in the flesh.
3 concerning his Son, who was descended from David according to the flesh
5 And one of the elders said to me, “Weep no more; behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has conquered, so that he can open the scroll and its seven seals.”
I go into this detail to show how important the account of Ruth and Boaz is in the coming of Jesus Christ. Christmas would have never happened if it wasn’t for the sovereign work of Jesus Christ, preparing the way for His birth. He was sovereignly working before his human birth, He sovereignly worked while on earth, and He continues to sovereignly work today.
Christmas was no accident. Jesus Christ planned the redemption of mankind before He even created the world. He knew that man would sin and that they would need redeemed. Man would need bought back from sin and death. A price would need to be paid.
As we consider that little baby - lying in a manger - let us not miss the weight of the world on him. This seemingly helpless child was still 100% the God that holds the universe together. And He would go on live the perfect life we couldn’t live and die the death that we deserved. That little baby was the sacrificial and sovereign redeemer of mankind. That little baby would be pierced for our transgressions. Crushed for our iniquities. And by His wounds we have been healed (Isaiah 53:5).
Scripture References: Isaiah 11:1,10, Matthew 1:5-6, Romans 1:3, Revelation 5:5, Isaiah 53:5
Conclusion:
We discussed the definition of redemption at the beginning of this message. As we come to a close, I want us to remember the benefits of this wonderful redemption that we have through Jesus Christ. Through his blood spilled for us on the cross we are given the following blessings:
The Result of Redemption
Eternal Life
Forgiveness and Deliverance from Sins
Imputed Righteousness from Christ
Adoption as Sons and Daughters
Peace and Reconciliation with God the Father
Believers: Live in the freedom and blessing given to you in Christ.
Let us pray.
Prayer
If you would like to learn more about salvation through Jesus Christ or want to obey Jesus by obeying the first commandment of a believer in going through the waters of baptism - please let me know.
Have a blessed week.