Redeeming Ruth

Bible Passage: Ruth 4

Ruth is a story of romance and redemption and these two concepts come together in the idea of Hesed, which can be defined as ‘eager and ardent desire, zealous, committed loving kindness, covenant love’. In particular we focus on three relationships through the story: the relationship between Ruth and Naomi, the relationship between Boaz and Ruth, and the relationship between God and his people. Coming into chapter 4, there are loose ends to tie up in all three relationships.

Ruth’s Redeemer: Having made a covenant with Naomi, Ruth has been brought into something bigger than herself. God’s law had made provision for redemption of Elimelech’s land and family. This obligation fell on the nearest kinsman. This was a gracious protection in the law from the land being lost and the family becoming destitute, but it was a barrier to Ruth and Boaz’s relationship. Providing this redemption was costly, and the other kinsman didn’t want to meet the obligation when Boaz brought it up, so Boaz himself as next in line did so. In life we will have moments where we can bear a cost to bring some form of redemption to others, and this story paints an example for us.

Naomi’s Redeemer: Naomi’s situation was better than it was at the end of chapter 1, but was still desperate. She was living off the charity of Boaz, with no descendants of her own to care for her, and Ruth was barren so there seemed little prospect of this. She needed a miracle, and we are told that the Lord gave Ruth conception (this is one of only two occasions we are told of God being active in this book – the other is 1:6) – and the way the story is told is that this son is Naomi’s, for he would be the one to redeem her and provide for her in his old age. Obed was given as Naomi’s redeemer.

Our Redeemer: The story does not end with just Ruth and Naomi finding their own redemption. It has always been about something bigger than that. The book starts by saying, ‘In the days when the judges ruled’, which we know was a time where ‘there was no king In Israel; everyone did what was right in his own eyes’. It ends with: ‘Obed fathered Jesse and Jesse fathered David’. In a time when God’s people were far from him and chaos reigned, God worked through a girl from the margins of Moab and a worthy man of Israel, and through them brought redemption to all of Israel and a king after his own heart. And from David the line continued to our saviour. Jesus, the redeemer of the world was the descendant of Ruth and Boaz.

When we read Matthew’s genealogy of Jesus (Matt 1:1-16), a few names instantly jump out at us. Ruth is one of them; Tamar, Rahab and the wife of Uriah are the others. Including women in a family tree was not the done thing in that day, but by including these particular women, all of who were foreign, from the margins, and  carried brokenness, we see that God works where we would least expect it, and brings redemption and grace from those who others overlook.

Potential Applications:

• This chapter clearly highlights Jesus as the one the story of Ruth points to, and as the ultimate redeemer. You can invite people to put their trust in him for salvation.
• There is also a call to follow the example of Boaz in sacrificing for the redemption of others. Who are those around us who we can be involved in bringing freedom to?