THE REDEMPTION OF RUTH

Ruth 4:1

Morning Meditation 9/2/2015

"Then went Boaz up to the gate, and sat him down there: and, behold, the kinsman of whom Boaz spake came by; unto whom he said, Ho, such a one! turn aside, sit down here. And he turned aside, and sat down."

Boaz went up to the gate to intercede for Ruth. He was a man of might, wealth and influence. Now there was a kinsman closer than he. Boaz offers him the right to redeem but he declines and says that it would mar his own inheritance. So after this Boaz makes the purchase because he is the next one in line. It is the law of the kinsman redeemer.

This is a picture of our redemption. The one closest to man had the first right of redemption but he was unable to perform the duty of the kinsman redeemer. Jesus came, born of a woman, became our Boaz and redeemed. He was able in every way to do the work of the redeemer. Let’s notice the truths that come out of this story in chapter four.

HE ONLY COULD REDEEM

He had the right as kinsman; he had the power as a mighty man of wealth; he was also in the right condition to redeem, being alone; and now the redemption itself brings joy and satisfaction to his own heart.

Christ only can redeem. His incarnation made Him our kinsman, and gave Him the right to redeem. His divinity made Him mighty, and gave Him the power to redeem. We have redemption through His blood (1 Pet. 1:18-19).

THIS WAS A WILLING REDEMPTION

Boaz did not grudge the redemption money. How could he when his heart was set on the purchase of Ruth. He willingly offered the full price, although that price included the gift of himself.

So it was with Jesus, our princely Kinsman, who loved us and gave Himself for us, that He might give Himself to us. Nor did He hesitate to pay the awful price of sorrow, suffering, and blood, that He might redeem us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us.

THIS WAS A GRACIOUS REDEMPTION

Boaz was not ashamed to redeem Ruth, the poor stranger. The prince of wealth stoops to lift the poor helpless one, who cannot redeem herself. He has regarded the low estate of his handmaiden; he hath shown strength with his arm; he hath exalted them of low degree, he hath filled the hungry soul with good things, and now the soul of Ruth shall magnify her Lord.

The wealthy Prince of heaven is ashamed of none who look to Him for redemption. He invites the wretched, the miserable, the poor, the blind, and the naked to look to Him and trust in Him. He stoops in His redemptive work to lift the helpless from the horrible pit on to the Rock of Strength, to lift the poor and the polluted from the dunghill, to rank among princes, and to be co-heirs with Himself. He is not ashamed to call them brethren. So Ruth, the gleaner, through grace becomes an heir of His glory.

THIS IS A PUBLIC REDEMPTION

There were many witnesses to the fact that the price was paid; this thing was not done in a corner, but in the presence of the elders of all the people. When Moses smote the rock, it was in the presence of the elders. The Rock Christ was also publicly smitten, they put Him to an open shame. He suffered without the gate. As Boaz went up to the gate to finish the work in behalf of Ruth, in the sight of many witnesses, so Jesus went up to Calvary and finished the work the Father had given Him to do in behalf of His people. Afterwards, when the price was paid, He rose from the dead; and as Boaz, when the bargain was settled, “plucked off his shoe,” Jesus plucked off he grave-clothes as a token that the covenant was sealed and the inheritance redeemed; and the apostles says, “We are witnesses.” He was also seen of many others after His resurrection.

THE PURPOSE OF THIS REDEMPTION

Ruth 4:10, "Moreover Ruth the Moabitess, the wife of Mahlon, have I purchased to be my wife, to raise up the name of the dead upon his inheritance, that the name of the dead be not cut off from among his brethren, and from the gate of his place: ye are witnesses this day."

In Adam all have died unto God; but in Christ, through His redemption, all that believe are made alive unto God. Thus spiritual seed is raised, according to the gracious purpose of God. Boaz did not redeem Ruth to be his slave. He says, “Ruth have I purchased to be my wife.”

THIS WAS A PERFECT REDEMPTION

Boaz took Ruth, and she became his wife (vs 13). The prophecy of Naomi has now been fulfilled. “The man will not be at rest until he hath finished the thing” (3:18). Our Kinsman Redeemer shall likewise come and finish the thing by taking His purchased Bride home to be with Himself, for where He is there shall we be also.

Regeneration is perfect and so will the glorified body be perfect. There is nothing that thrills us more than to anticipate our Lord’s return for us. We long to be with Him and to experience the final act of redemption as we go up to meet Him in the clouds to ever be with the Lord.

May the Lord bless these words to our hearts.

In Christ

Bro. White