Ruth 4:1-17
REDEEMED! HOW I LOVE TO PROCLAIM IT!
Intro: The little book of Ruth begins with a series of tragedies.
In Chapter one, there is a Famine, there is a backslidden
Family, there are three Funerals, there is great Fear and
there is a Final goodbye. We are introduced in chapter 1 to a
young widow named Ruth. She is from the land of Moab.
Therefore, she is a woman under a curse, Deut. 23:3. She
was no doubt born into idolatry. Yet, by the providence of
God, she marries into a family of Israelites. These people,
though they are backslidden, introduce young Ruth to
Jehovah. Ruth, after the death of her husband, follows her
mother-in-law Naomi back to the land of Israel. There, they
proceed to try and make a living as best as they can, 2:2.
This first portion of Ruth is a sad spectacle. It presents in
graphic detail just what happens in lives that are lived outside
the will of God! Thankfully, God had plans to help Naomi and
Ruth!
Because their husbands were dead, these women had no
way of reclaiming the family land. You see, when the children
of Israel went in and possessed Canaan, the land was divided
up among the 12 tribes. Within these allotments, the land was
divided up by families. No man was allowed to sell his land
outside his tribe. In the case of financial difficulty, a man might
be forced to mortgage his land. In this case, he lost all rights
to the land until it had been redeemed by paying off the
mortgage, or until the Year of Jubilee, when all debts were
cancelled anyway. Apparently, this is what had happened to
the land that belonged to Elimelech. As women, Naomi and
Ruth had no way of getting back the land that had belonged to
their husbands. Thankfully, where man fails, God prevails!
Even though these women were helpless, God had already
made provision for them.
Here is where the law of the Kinsman-Redeemer comes
into play. The Kinsman-Redeemer was a relative who
protected the needy members of his family. There were three
things that the Kinsman-Redeemer could redeem, or buy back.
1. A relative sold into slavery - Lev. 25:47-49.
2. Preserve the lineage of the family by marrying the widow of
a deceased relative and providing an heir to the family
possessions - Deut. 25:5-6. Children produced from such
a union were considered to be the offspring of the
deceased man.
3. Land that had been sold outside the family - Lev. 25:25.
It is against this backdrop of tragedy and trials that we are
introduced to a man named Boaz. He is a near kinsman to
Naomi's dead husband. In this short, but powerful book, we
get to watch as the Kinsman-Redeemer works on behalf of
these two poor widows. He willingly exercises the rights and
duties of the Kinsman-Redeemer. He makes the difference in
their lives and presents for us a thrilling picture of a great
Kinsman-Redeemer, the Lord Jesus. In order for a person to
be a Kinsman-Redeemer, he had to have three qualifications:
1. He had to be a near relative.
2. He had to be willing to redeem.
3. He had to be able to redeem.
Boaz fulfilled all of these requirements. And, as we shall
see, so did the Lord Jesus, our heavenly Redeemer!
Let's focus in a few of the events of this wonderful little
book as we think on the idea of Redeemed! How I Love To
Proclaim It!
I. V. 4 BOAZ HAD THE RIGHT TO REDEEM
A. His Right As A Member Of The Family - (His Right By
Lineage) - This Kinsman-Redeemer had to be of near
kin unto the needy relative. Boaz fulfilled this
obligation, 2:1; 2:20; 4:4. Since he was a near
kinsman, Boaz had every right to intervene for these
women.
(Ill. Jesus, our Kinsman-Redeemer possesses this right
on behalf of the sinner. Why? Because He is near of
kin unto us. 2,000 years ago, in the same little town of
Bethlehem, Jesus, the Second Person of the Trinity,
spoke His goodbyes to the Father in Heaven and came
to this world, not to live as a God among men, but to be
born as a man, John 1:1; 14; Phil. 2:5-8. As a
member of the human family, Jesus has the right to be
our Redeemer!)
(Ill. Note: There was one of nearer kin than Boaz, 4:3-6.
However, he refused to do his duty as a redeemer
because he did not want to marry Ruth! He knew she
was a cursed woman from a cursed people. He knew
she had absolutely nothing to offer him. After all, she
was poor! This man had the right, but he could not do
the job!
So it is with humanity. There are other things
around us that promise redemption. Things like the
Law and religion, but these things can never deliver!
They are powerless to help to powerless! When the
Law sees the sinner, it merely amplifies our
inadequacies. When Religion sees the sinner it merely
looks at us for what we can give to it. Neither can
redeem!
Boaz, on the other hand, knew who Ruth was, 2:6.
He knew her past. He knew her condition. He knew
what she had to offer. He knew about the curse that
was on her people. However, he didn't care! You see,
unlike the other kinsman, Boaz was like Ruth! Look
back at his lineage, 4:21; Matt. 1:5. When you look at
thins, it becomes clear that Boaz wasn't concerned
about marring his inheritance, his own mother was a
woman of unclean birth. His mother was Rahab the
harlot, Joshua 2!
So it is with our Heavenly Boaz! His own mother
was a common sinner! Therefore, He has compassion
on the lost. The Law makes demands that we can
never meet. Religion promises that which it cannot
deliver. Jesus, on the other hand, provides what we
need, freely and fully!)
B. His Right As A Man Of Faith - (His Right By Law) -
Another Reason Boaz did what he did was because the
Law of God demanded it. It appears, from reading this
book, that Boaz was a godly man. His desire was to
carry out the will of God. He was a man of faith.
(Ill. Again, in this, He pictures the Lord Jesus Who came
to this earth willingly to take the place of sinners on the
cross. Did He have to? No! But, in the counsel halls of
glory, before the mud seals of this world were ever
fashioned, the Godhead knew there would come a day
when the world would need a redeemer. When the call
was made "Who will go for us?" Jesus Christ
responded with, "Here am I, send Me!" This is born out
by Rev. 13:8, which tells us that Jesus was already dead
in the mind of God before the foundation of the world.
You see, the Law demanded death for sin, Gen.
2:17; Rom. 6:23. Jesus went to the cross for us so that
He might discharge the Law of God. He had the right to
die in our place because He is family and because He
fulfilled the requirements of the Law!)
I. Boaz Had The Right To Redeem
II. V. 4-9 BOAZ HAD THE RESOLVE TO REDEEM
A. His Desire For The Task - Naomi knows that Boaz is a
near kinsman, she is then instructs Ruth to go to him
and to cover herself with his cloak. This was a woman's
way of asking a man to perform the duties of a Kinsman-Redeemer unto her. She was literally proposing
marriage to Boaz. Boaz reacts by expressing his joy at
being chosen by Ruth and by letting her know that he
would be delighted to redeem her and all her
inheritance.
(Ill. Jesus Christ did not have to be hog-tied and forced
to go to Calvary! The Bible says that He went there
without a word, Isa. 53:7. When He stood before Pilate,
Jesus never tried to defend Himself and get out of the
death that was coming, John 18:27. He desired the
death that He died because He wanted to pay the
redemption price for you and me, Heb. 12:2. The
sacrifice of Christ on the cross was of a willing nature.
He did it because He wanted to!)
B. His Devotion To The Task - 3:18 tells us that Naomi is
convinced that Boaz will get right to the business of
redemption. Chapter 4:1-4 bears this out. When the
morning comes, Boaz goes to the city gate. A place
where the elders congregate, where judgments are
made and where business is conducted. Boaz goes
there and begins the process of redeeming Ruth. It
appears that nothing would delay or stop Boaz from
completing his mission on behalf of Ruth.
(Ill. Again, the similarity between Boaz and Jesus is hard
to miss. The Bible indicates that Jesus was determined
to go to the cross and die, Isa. 50:7; Luke 9:51. The
Bible makes it plain that Satan tried to destroy our Lord
while He walked in this world, Matt. 2:16; Matt. 4:37-38.
There were other times when Satan tried to distract the
Lord from His appointed task, Matt. 4:1-11; John 6:15,
John 18:10-11. However, Jesus allowed none of these
things to sidetrack Him. He came for the purpose of
dying for sin and that is exactly what He intended to do!)
C. His Discharge Of The Task - 4:9 tells us that Boaz
stayed with the task until it was completed. He was able
to tell the elders at the gate that he had paid the
purchase price and that the redemption had been
accomplished! Now, all that had belonged to the family
of Elimelech belonged to Boaz. Now, Ruth was no
longer a widow doomed to a life of poverty. She was the
wife of a mighty and wealthy man!
(Ill. Jesus, our Heavenly Boaz, also stayed with the task
until it was perfectly completed. Outside the gate of
Jerusalem, in the presence of witnesses, He paid the
price by giving His life on the cross for you and me.
When the task had been fully accomplished, and the
Heavenly Father had been fully satisfied, Jesus
proclaimed an end to the transaction, John 19:30!
Thank God, redemption is fully paid for and complete!)
I. Boaz Had The Right To Redeem
II. Boaz Had The Resolve To Redeem
III. V. 9-10 BOAZ HAD THE RESOURCES TO REDEEM
(Ill. Chapter 2:1 makes it clear that Boaz was a wealthy man.
He had the financial resources to carry out the redemption.)
A. V. 9 The Resources To Purchase Ruth's Property - 4:9 tells us that Boaz purchased all that had belonged to
Elimelech, Chilion and Mahlon. In other words, Boaz
bought out the whole inheritance of this family, lock,
stock and barrel! Think for a minute about Orpah. She
went back to her family in chapter 1. If she had followed
Naomi back to Bethlehem, it seems clear that Boaz
would have redeemed her too!
(Ill. Like the family Ruth married into, you and I were
born into a family that was down and out! You see, our
father, Adam, sinned against the Lord and brought
death, destruction and damnation upon all his children.
He left us spiritually destitute and without hope! Thank
God, that is where Jesus stepped in! Everything Adam
lost in the Garden of Eden, Jesus purchased back on the
cross. Adam gambled away fellowship with God, Jesus
bought it back. Adam gambled away life, Jesus bought
it back. Adam gambled away peace with God, joy,
blessing, righteousness, etc; but Jesus bought it every
bit back for us when He went to the cross and died for
us! Jesus has the resources to carry of a transaction of
this magnitude!)
B. V. 10 The Resources To Purchase Ruth Personally -
Boaz had the resources to be able to make Ruth his
wife. He wanted to buy back the property, but he also
wanted to buy the person!
(Jesus also has the resources to buy the person. When
a sinner trusts the shed blood of the Lord Jesus, that
sinner becomes a redeemed member of the family of
God. He is forever purchased and forever changed by
the blood of Christ. Jesus specializes in taking old, hell
bound sinners, saving them by His grace and
transforming them into the children of God. When He
pays the price, He purchases the whole person, 1 Cor.
6:19-20; Titus 2:14. Glory to God, I am glad that Jesus
is able to "save to the uttermost all that come unto
God by Him", Heb. 7:25.)
I. Boaz Had The Right To Redeem
II. Boaz Had The Resolve To Redeem
III. Boaz Had The Resources To Redeem
IV. V. 10, 13 BOAZ HAD THE REASONS TO REDEEM
(Ill. There are probably many reasons why Boaz did what he
did. However, looking at the text tells me of two very important
reasons that must not be overlooked. For Boaz, there was
more to his actions that keeping the Law, or just the fact that
he was a relative. He had two compelling reasons for
redeeming Ruth. These reasons also speak to our hearts this
evening.)
A. The Reason Of Giving Love - 2:5; 8-13; 14-17; 3:10-15
- All of these verses seem to indicate that Boaz has
fallen in live with Ruth. He loved here in spite of her
lineage. He loved her in spite of her poverty. He loved
her in spite of the fact that she had nothing to offer him
but herself. He loved her with a selfless love that sought
nothing but her best interests! He cares about her and
wants to provide for her needs. Therefore, he willingly
pays the price for her redemption and buys her unto
himself.
(Ill. This is just what motivated Jesus to do what he did
or you and me! He was born in this world, He lived in
poverty, He endured rejection and shame, He went to
the cross for one primary reason. And, that reason is
love - Rom. 5:6-8. He, like Boaz, loves us in spite of all
those things that we have against us. He loves us in
spite of all we do wrong. He loves us even though we
are poverty stricken and we have nothing to offer Him
but broken lives and shattered hopes. He loves us,
therefore He willingly paid the redemption price on the
cross!)
B. The Reason Of Giving Life - 4:5; 13 tell us that another
reason Boaz wanted to marry Ruth was to bring life out
of death. Without a Kinsman-Redeemer, the family of
Elimelech would die out. That family would perish from
Israel. Boaz cared about that family and wanted to
preserve life!
(Ill. This is why Jesus went to the cross. This is why He
suffered and died for us! His desire is to take those that
are dead in sins, Eph. 2:1, and who are headed to Hell,
Psa. 9:17, save them by His grace and bring life out of
death, John 5:24. He wants to give life to those trapped
in death! This is just what He does for every one who
received Him as their Savior and Lord. He provides
salvation full and free. He produces life in the place of
death. He makes dead men live! Ill. Like Lazarus,
sinners are trapped in death! Jesus comes to their
tombs and calls their names. When they hear Him and
respond, He gives them life eternal through faith.)
Conc: Notice verse 13. From chapter 2:1 until chapter 4:13,
Boaz is the center of attention. (Ill. Just like Jesus ought to
be!) However, this poor, heathen girl is now the bride of a
wealthy redeemer. She comes back into focus. My how things
have changed for Ruth! This book opens with a funeral and
closes with a wedding! I want you to notice one thing with me
right now. Notice in verse 13 what the Bible tells us about
these two and their relationship. It tells us that there is an
intimacy that is now possible. It tells us that Boaz is able to do
what he could not do in 3:10-14. Now, Boaz is able to take
Ruth into his arms and love her. You see, all the barriers that
were between them have been removed! They were
separated by race, social status, morals, etc. Now, they are
one flesh! She is as rich as he is! She is able to have
fellowship of the most intimate kind with Boaz. They have
been brought together in a intimate relationship!
That's what you have in Jesus this evening if you are
saved! You, who were once separated from Jesus by a gulf of
sin and poverty have now been brought near to Him. You are
as rich as He is. You are no longer separated, but are in an
intimate relationship with Jesus our Kinsman Redeemer! Now,
we are no longer doomed! Now, we are no longer poverty
stricken! Now, we are no longer as good as dead! Now we
live in Jesus. Now, we can rest in His bosom and we can
experience the intimacies of His redeeming love! Thank God
for redemption! Redeemed! How I love to proclaim it!
Redeemed by the blood of the Lamb. Redeemed through His
excellent mercies, His child and forever I am! Are you?
