The Heart of the Matter: Redemption

W. Gary Phillips, in his commentary on Ruth, offers the following summary on all that has taken place: Pretend you are an ordinary field worker in Bethlehem during the days of the judges, specifically at the time of Ruth. What events would you have observed?

First, you would have seen two women walk past your fields into town—one of them obviously a foreigner. Naomi was an embittered woman who described herself as someone whom God delighted in tormenting. It was clear to all that she had nothing—except a widowed Moabite daughter-in-law (Ruth 1). Then you would have been surprised by two things: First, you would have been impressed at the hard work undertaken by this young Moabite widow. And second, you would have been surprised because the country squire, Boaz, kept looking in her direction, providing more "supervision" of that part of the field than normal (Ruth 2).

Some weeks later, on your way back to town after the grain was harvested, if your eyes were sharp, you might have noticed Ruth, no longer in her mourning clothes, quietly going in the wrong direction—out from town toward where all the harvested grain was being kept overnight. But if you knew Boaz was there, you would know that she (a young woman alone at night) would be kept safe (Ruth 3).

And now, as you are on your way through the gate to the field to start transporting the grain, you notice a crowd gathered. You look closer, and all the elders are there—very unusual for this time of day—and then you see Boaz with another man in the middle of them, surrounded by a crowd of townspeople pressing against one another, every one of them trying to get close enough to hear what is happening. It turns out to be a fascinating legal mini-drama. This chapter of Ruth records the "court transcript" (Ruth 4). (W. Gary Phillips, "Reading an Ancient Court Transcript," Holmon Old Testament Commentary: Judges, Ruth, [Broadman & Holman Publishers, Nashville, Tennessee, 2004], 345)

David Jackman, in his commentary on Ruth, assesses the situation in Ruth 4 as follows: From one point of view, Naomi's story is like anybody else's in Israel in the days of the judges, "when there was no king in Israel" (Judges 21:25a). Elimelech made his decisions on the basis of what he thought would be best for himself and his family. He did "what was right in his own eyes" (Judges 21:25b). It brought his wife to the brink of ruin, eventually, but he could not have foreseen that. Her only way out was through her foreign daughter-in-law, whose loyalty to her because of her loyalty to God, paved the way for the kinsman-redeemer to rescue them both. (David Jackman, The Preacher's Commentary, Volume 7: Judges, Ruth, [Thomas Nelson Publishers, Nashville, 1991], 341)

At first glance, this might seem to be an ordinary and limited story of one family’s crisis. Yet it merits a whole book of the Bible, indicating that the revelation it contains is necessary to our understanding of the mind and purpose of God. The necessity and provision of redemption is at the very heart of God's plan. Not only that, it is the plan of His heart!

You cannot study the final chapter of Ruth without taking notice of the fact that Boaz, the "kinsman-redeemer," is the only possible solution to the problems faced by Ruth and Naomi. He takes the initiative in bringing about the act of redemption (v. 1). He pays the price (vs. 8–9). He publicly claims his own (vs. 9–10). He provides a name and an inheritance where before there was only ruin (v. 14). He restores and sustains Naomi, even in old age, through the birth of Obed (v. 15). Ruth and Naomi could have done none of these things themselves. They were entirely dependent on the covenant-faithfulness and personal compassion of Boaz, their "kinsman-redeemer." They were entirely dependent upon grace.

Through the lens of the New Testament, we can see that what God did for Ruth and Naomi through Boaz, He has accomplished for all of us who have received His mercy in Christ. We too, have suffered from the absence of a king in our lives. Actually, we have taken over the throne in our lives which rightly belongs to God alone. We too, need a redeemer as we suffer the just consequences of our sin and rebellion. We are equally unable to save ourselves, and no other kinsman could possibly meet our need. "But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law" (Gal. 4:4-5).

By His Incarnation, Jesus, the Son of God, became our kinsman so that by His sacrificial, atoning death, He might also become our Redeemer. All our needs and all our problems find their ultinate solution at the Cross of Christ, and in His glorious Resurrection. Christ Jesus is our "kinsman-redeemer." This is the ultimate lesson of the Book of Ruth.

Ruth 4:1-10 goes right to the heart of the matter—redemption. That is what this story is about—redemption. As the story resumes in Ruth 4:1, Naomi's prediction that Boaz is a man of immediate action (Ruth 3:18) is fulfilled, as he heads for the town gate. Indeed, the indication is that he did this as soon as he got back to Bethlehem from the threshing floor.

"The gate" (Ruth 4:1) was really the center of the community's life; there cases were heard and contracts were made. The "elders" (v. 2) dispensed justice, the poor waited for help, and the ordinary people met one another to exchange news at "the gate" of the city. It had much the same function as the village square in medieval Europe. Everyone had to pass through "the gate," so it was the obvious place to go in a small community if you wanted to be sure of meeting someone. (Ibid, 343)

For Boaz to fulfill the role of the "kinsman-redeemer" for Ruth and Naomi, he first had to find out the intentions of the closer relative (Ruth 3:12). So when he came by, Boaz asked him to sit with him (v. 1) and he gathered the elders (v. 2) to serve as witnesses. And so he presents his case in verses 3-4a, saying: "Naomi, who has come back from the country of Moab, sold (or "is selling") the piece of land which belonged to our brother (or "relative") Elimelech. And I thought to inform you, saying, ‘Buy it back in the presence of the inhabitants and the elders of my people. If you will redeem it, redeem it; but if you will not redeem it, then tell me, that I may know; for there is no one but you to redeem it, and I am next after you.'" The relative replied, "I will redeem it" (v. 4b). He must have thought that he would gain by buying the land. This seems to be somewhat of a surprise, but not to Boaz. He was prepared.

He goes on in verse 5 to remind this relative of the additional condition that must be met: namely, he must marry Ruth and provide an heir for Mahlon. He said, "On the day you buy the field from the hand of Naomi, you must also buy it from Ruth the Moabitess, the wife of the dead, to perpetuate the name of the dead through his inheritance" (v. 5). Boaz probably hoped to discourage the kinsman from buying the land by reminding him that the purchase of the land obligated the kinsman to marry Ruth, though he gave the kinsman every opportunity to do just that.

It turns out that this "closer relative" would have none of it. He replies, "I cannot redeem it for myself, lest I ruin my own inheritance. You redeem my right of redemption for yourself, for I cannot redeem it" (v. 6). In the end, he refused his right of redemption in the hearing of the elders. So, in keeping with the custom of the day, he "took off his sandal and gave it to (Boaz)" (v. 7) to confirm the agreement. Again he told Boaz, "Buy it for yourself" (v. 8).

Boaz then announces to all who are present: "You are witnesses this day that I have bought all that was Elimelech's, and all that was Chilion's and Mahlon's, from the hand of Naomi. Moreover, Ruth the Moabitess, the widow of Mahlon, I have acquired as my wife, to perpetuate the name of the dead through his inheritance, that the name of the dead may not be cut off from among his brethren and from his position at the gate. You are witnesses this day" (vs. 9-10).

With compassion and kindness, Boaz accepts the role of "kinsman-redeemer" with regard to Elimelech's property, which had passed to his sons, and he marries Ruth to provide a legal heir for the family. Only in verse 10, are we finally told that Ruth had been Mahlon's wife.

Boaz began and ended his remarks with the same words: "You are witnesses this day" (vs. 9a, 10b). It may be that the writer of the Book of Ruth wanted to suggest that if a mere human being could love an outcast, redeem her, and bring her into fellowship with himself, then God certainly could love all the outcasts of the world, redeem them, and bring them into fellowship with Himself. That is the heart of the matter—redemption!

We are the outcasts God seeks to redeem! If you will confess Christ Jesus as Lord, "and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved" (Rom. 10:9). Jesus shed His blood on the cross and died for your forgiveness. He rose again from the dead the third day to give you life, abundant and eternal. Just believe and trust in Him. Amen.