Satisfaction – Boaz redeems Ruth
Ruth 4:1- 10
Jan 15 2011
Today we start the fourth and final chapter of the book of Ruth, a book that opened with a drought and three funerals and ends with overflowing tears of joy in a wedding and a new birth. It would be nice if all of life’s stories could go this way, and they lived happily ever after, the sad reality is most do not but as Christians we can take heart that God still writes the last chapter for our lives. Because of this one little fact, as a Christian, we do not have to be afraid of what the physical future might hold,
This chapter focuses on three persons: a bridegroom, a bride, and a baby. Today I want us to focus on the bridegroom also known as the kinsman redeemer.

1. The bridegroom (Ruth 4:1–10)
The Kinsman redeemer during the time of Israel in the Old Testament was one of significance. The ultimate purpose of the kinsman redeemer was to protect the property of the families and to preserve the family names of Israel.
The law of the kinsman redeemer is given in Leviticus 25:23–34, 48 – 49 and the law governing levirate marriage is found in Deuteronomy 25:5–10.
Let’s take quick look at the Heart of the Law of Kinsman redeemer.

1. Redemption of Land

Leviticus 25:23 – 25     23 “Land must never be sold permanently, because the land is mine. To me you are strangers without permanent homes. 24 People must always have the right to buy their property back. 25 If your brother becomes poor and sells some of his property, then the one who can assume responsibility, his nearest relative, must buy back what he sold.

1. Redemption of Poor

Leviticus 25:48 -49     48 After he has sold himself, he has the right to be bought back. One of his brothers may buy him back. 49 His uncle, his cousin, or some other relative could also buy him back. If he becomes rich, he could buy his own freedom.

1. Redemption of Name

Deut. 25:5 – 6     5 When brothers live together and one of them dies without having a son, his widow must not marry outside the family. Her husband’s brother must marry her and sleep with her. He must do his duty as her brother-in-law.   6 Then the first son she has will carry the dead brother’s name so that his name won’t die out in Israel.

God owned the land and didn’t want it exploited by rich people who would take advantage of poor people and widows. When obeyed, these laws made sure that a dead man’s family name did not die with him and that his property was not sold outside the tribe or clan.
The reason that we see the nation of Israel having so much trouble throughout their history is they failed to do what God requested of them. The prophets had to step in and rebuke the rich from stealing from the less fortunate (1 Kings 21; Isa. 5:8–10; Hab. 2:9–12).  and even the result of the famine that we see at the beginning of Ruth that sent Elimelech and his family into Moab was due to a drought due to not giving the land the rest god required it to have.(2 Chronicles 36:21)
Why is all this so important to understand?
Psalm 24:1
1     The earth is the Lord’s, and all its fullness, The world and those who dwell therein.

The meaning of redemption.
The word redeem means “to set free by paying a price.”
In the case of Ruth and Naomi, Elimelech’s property had either been sold or was under some kind of mortgage, and the rights to the land had passed to Ruth’s husband Mahlon when Elimelech died. This explains why Ruth was also involved in the transaction. She was too poor, however, to redeem the land.
The marks of the redeemer.

1. Not everybody could perform the duties of a kinsman redeemer. To begin with, he had to be a near kinsman (Lev. 25:25).

In essence a Cousin could not redeem if there was a nephew willing to do it and a nephew could not be a redeemer if there was an Uncle willing to be a redeemer.
This was the major obstacle Boaz had to overcome because another man in Bethlehem was a nearer relative to Ruth than he was (3:12–13).

1. In order to qualify, the kinsman redeemer also had to be able to pay the redemption price. Ruth and Naomi were too poor to redeem themselves, but Boaz had all the resources necessary to set them free.

1. There was a third qualification: The kinsman redeemer had to be willing to redeem. As we shall see in this chapter, since the nearer kinsman was not willing to redeem Ruth, Boaz was free to purchase both the property and a wife. The nearer kinsman had the money but not the motivation: He was afraid he would jeopardize his own family’s inheritance.

The method of redemption.

1. The Witness’.

Ruth 4:1 – 4
Boaz went to the city gate and sat there until the close relative he had mentioned passed by. Boaz called to him, “Come here, friend, and sit down.” So the man came over and sat down. 2 Boaz gathered ten of the elders of the city and told them, “Sit down here!” So they sat down.
3 Then Boaz said to the close relative, “Naomi, who has come back from the country of Moab, wants to sell the piece of land that belonged to our relative Elimelech. 4 So I decided to tell you about it: If you want to buy back the land, then buy it in front of the people who are sitting here and in front of the elders of my people. But if you don’t want to buy it, tell me, because you are the only one who can buy it, and I am next after you.”
The close relative answered, “I will buy back the land.”

In ancient times, the city gate was the official court where judicial business was transacted in the presence of the elders (Deut. 21:18–21; 2 Sam. 15:2; Job 29:7ff). When Boaz arrived at the gate, waits for the nearer kinsman -  another evidence of God’s providence—and Boaz hailed him, then he gathered ten men to witness the transaction.

1. The Contract

 

Ruth 4:5  Then Boaz explained, “When you buy the land from Naomi, you must also marry Ruth, the Moabite, the dead man’s wife. That way, the land will stay in the dead man’s name.”
The other kinsman was willing to buy the land until he learned that Ruth was a part of the transaction, and then he backed out. His explanation was that, in marrying Ruth, he would jeopardize his own inheritance. If he had a son by Ruth, and that son were his only surviving heir, Mahlon’s property and part of his own estate would go to Elimelech’s family. The fact that Ruth was a Moabitess may also have been a problem to him. (Both Mahlon and Chilion had married Moabite women and died!)
Boaz was undoubtedly relieved when his relative stepped aside and opened the way for Ruth to become his wife. It’s worth noting that the nearer kinsman tried to protect his name and inheritance; but we don’t even know what his name was or what happened to his family! Boaz took the risk of love and obedience, and his name is written down in Scripture and held in honor. “He who does the will of God abides forever” (1 John 2:17, NKJV). This also explains why Orpah’s name is missing in Ruth 4:9–10.

1. The Closing

Ruth 4:7 Long ago in Israel when people traded or bought back something, one person took off his sandal and gave it to the other person. This was the proof of ownership in Israel. 8 So the close relative said to Boaz, “Buy the land yourself,” and he took off his sandal.
The custom of taking off the shoe probably relates to the divine commandment to walk on the land and take possession (Gen. 13:17; Deut. 11:24; Josh. 1:3). In years to come, the ten witnesses would be able to testify that the transaction had been completed because they saw the kinsman hand his shoe to Boaz. It symbolized the kinsman’s forfeiture of his right to possess the land. Boaz now had the land—and Ruth!
During the past few years, if you have paid attention to the trends in books, you will have noticed the ever increasing number related to self-help, “how can I deliver my-self from my current situation?”  There are shelves of books about addiction and codependence and how to find freedom. In a world that’s enjoying and wanting more political freedom than ever before, millions of people are in bondage to food, sex, drugs, alcohol, gambling, work, and dozens of other “masters.” While we thank God for the help counselors and therapists can give, it is Jesus Christ who alone can give freedom to those who are enslaved. “Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed” (John 8:36, NKJV).
As we closed out chapter 3 it was mentioned that Ruth had all that she and or Naomi could do to restore themselves back to the land of Israel. Both women were to poor financially to even buy food for their next meal let alone think about buying the property Elimelech had sold. It is that way today for people that are trying to restore, re-establish, re-connect or what-ever you want to call, back to God.
As a people there may be a small percentage that could have their way bought back to their former physical status, but as a people we are just simply too poor spiritually to even consider having that happen. When it comes to spiritual redemption, all people are in bondage to sin and Satan (Eph. 2:1–3; John 8:33–34) and are unable to set themselves free, thus the reason for Jesus Christ.
It has been mentioned before that Boaz is a picture of Jesus Christ, our Kinsman Redeemer; and this scene is no exception to that.
Comparisons and Contrasts
Boaz, like Jesus wasn’t concerned about jeopardizing His own inheritance; instead; They made someone a part of their inheritance (Eph. 1:11, 18).
Boaz, like Jesus made His plans privately, but They paid the price publicly;
Why did Boaz and Jesus do this? Because of their love for their bride.
However, there are also some contrasts between Boaz and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Boaz purchased Ruth by giving out of his wealth,
while Jesus purchased His bride by giving Himself on the cross.
Boaz didn’t have to suffer and die to get a bride.
Boaz had a rival in the other kinsman, with Christ there is no rival to challenge.
Boaz took Ruth that he might raise up the name of the dead (Ruth 4:10), While Christians raise the name of the living Christ.
Boaz’s witness are of earth to testify that Ruth belonged to Boaz (vv. 9–10), but Christ’s witnesses are from heaven, the Spirit, and the Word (1 John 5:9–13).
Boaz sat down to do the transaction; Christ sat down upon completion of the transaction.
In order for all of this to take place, it reminds you how Christ had to be related to us before He could redeem us. He became flesh and blood so He could die for us on the cross (Heb. 2:14–15). When He was born into this world, in human flesh, He became our “near kinsman”; and He will remain our “kinsman” for all eternity. What matchless love!
The key theme of this chapter is redemption. The words “redeem,” “buy,” and “purchase” are used at least fifteen times. There can be no redemption without the paying of a price. From our point of view, salvation is free to “whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord” (Acts 2:21, KJV); but from God’s point of view, redemption is a very costly thing.
When it comes to the redemption of sinners, nobody but Jesus Christ is rich enough to pay the price. Indeed, the payment of money can never set sinners free; it is the shedding of the precious blood of Christ that has accomplished redemption (1 Peter 1:18–19; see Ps. 49:5–9). We have redemption through Christ’s blood (Eph. 1:7), because He gave Himself for us (Titus 2:14) and purchased eternal redemption for us (Heb. 9:12).