Redeemer.
As you have been reading through our Bible Reading Challenge this week, you ran into some gross and complicated chapters of Judges - especially Judges 19-21. My guess is there was some confusion around these chapters, many questions, and just plain disgust; how could this happen among God’s people?
We need to have this backdrop in place as we progress to the next book on the list for the Bible Reading Challenge: the book of Ruth. I would like to offer a “BIG thanks” to the person who set up this progression for the Bible Reading Challenge because Ruth provides a stark, welcome and friendly contrast to the book of Judges. In Judges, it seemed like almost everything went wrong. In the Book of Ruth, the wrong and the hurts get wonderfully undone! Judges makes a mess of human life; Ruth shows that God does have a master plan that trumps human misfortune, poor decisions and torment. Judges ends with the sad reality of humans living their own way: “In those days there was no king in Israel. Everyone did what was right in his own eyes.” (Judges 21:25). Ruth has a better ending - God is their Lord and Master.
It is valuable to see that the contents of the Book of Ruth were operating at the very same time as the book of Judges: “In the days when the judges ruled there was a famine in the land . . .” (Ruth 1:1). The Book of Ruth describes God’s remnant: a small cross-section of the people who do operate according to God’s Word. This remnant fears God and loves God. This remnant is typified by Naomi, Ruth and a man named Boaz.
So continue journaling and discussing your frustrations relating to the book of Judges, but be ready to see good things happen by God’s design in the Book of Ruth! Much of what you see in Judges is errant and not working. That’s what happens when human flawed thinking rules the day. The Book of Ruth shows us that God is still active in those who seek Him.
You will see several strange customs in the book of Ruth. Don’t let that throw you. Some are prescribed by God (Levirate marriage, gleaning) and some are customs built off of the culture (elders at the city gate, uncovering feet for a marriage proposal, exchanging sandals to seal a deal).
Gleaning is one custom that God prescribed as a means for poorer individuals to earn a living. Gleaning involves gathering grain or grapes, etc. that are remaining after the main harvest has finished. “Now when you reap the harvest of your land, you shall not reap to the very corners of your field, nor shall you gather the gleanings of your harvest. Nor shall you glean your vineyard, nor shall you gather the fallen fruit of your vineyard; you shall leave them for the needy and for the stranger. I am the LORD your God” (Leviticus 19:9-10).
Gleaning is what brings Ruth to a happier ending. Ruth, it turns out, was just the type of person who would benefit from God’s kind law of provision (welfare); she was able to participate in the work of gleaning, she gained a sense of identity (Ruth 2;11-12 & 3:11) and gathered a profitable portion of food to take care of herself and her mother-in-law, Naomi (Ruth 2:17 & 3:15).
But the real connecting point to this story for Ruth and for us involves the term, kinsman redeemer. “And she answered, ‘I am Ruth, your servant. Spread your wings over your servant, for you are a [kinsman] redeemer’ ” (Ruth 3:9). A redeemer (or “kinsman redeemer”) is a male relative who has the duty to assist and support a relative in financial poverty or physical disaster.
Ruth has been gleaning in the fields of Boaz. Boaz talks with Ruth and is pleased that she is there in his field gleaning. He has heard good things about her from the townspeople; people talk. He treats her well and when she goes back to Naomi, it is obvious that Ruth has been shown good favor by Boaz. So Noami presents Ruth with a cultural opportunity that may turn their destitute condition into something better. In short, Ruth is going to make a proposal of marriage to Boaz because he is a kinsman redeemer.
“Then Naomi her mother-in-law said to her, “My daughter, should I not seek rest for you, that it may be well with you? 2 Is not Boaz our relative, with whose young women you were? See, he is winnowing barley tonight at the threshing floor. 3 Wash therefore and anoint yourself, and put on your cloak and go down to the threshing floor, but do not make yourself known to the man until he has finished eating and drinking. 4 But when he lies down, observe the place where he lies. Then go and uncover his feet and lie down, and he will tell you what to do.” 5 And she replied, “All that you say I will do.” (Ruth 3:1-5).
Ruth makes this proposal and Boaz is excited. But there is one obstacle in the way to their union: a closer kinsman redeemer. “And now it is true that I am a redeemer. Yet there is a redeemer nearer than I. 13 Remain tonight, and in the morning, if he will redeem you, good; let him do it. But if he is not willing to redeem you, then, as the Lord lives, I will redeem you” (Ruth 3:12-13).
Boaz goes to this relative and explains to him the position he is in as redeemer. This man is willing to redeem the land of Naomi until he finds out that Ruth is attached to the deal. This is where things go in Ruth’s favor. He is not willing to help out Ruth and Naomi if it involves being married to Ruth. Ruth’s situation has created a barrier for the man.
But Boaz is willing. Boaz is the true redeemer; he is willing to do what might be awkward or even socially uncomfortable in order to help Ruth. Boaz pre-figures Christ Jesus who will do what is uncomfortable and even socially awkward in order to redeem us.
Jesus, as our redeemer, makes his last days on earth not only awkward, but painfully difficult. As redeemer, the only way to win his people, his kin, out of our sin debt, was by suffering and dying the horrible death of crucifixion AND he had to be forsaken by God Himself. Jesus willingly agreed to this!
Boaz was thrilled to be the redeemer for Ruth and Naomi. Jesus was thrilled to be the ultimate Kinsman Redeemer for all of us.
“For I know that my Redeemer lives,
and at the last he will stand upon the earth.
26 And after my skin has been thus destroyed,
yet in my flesh I shall see God,
27 whom I shall see for myself,
and my eyes shall behold, and not another.
My heart faints within me!” (Job 19:25-27).
I hope you enjoy reading through the Book of Ruth, especially after tackling the Book of Judges. More than that, I hope you find a great sense of relief in knowing that Jesus did not turn down the opportunity to be your Redeemer - He welcomed it because He wanted to spend eternity with you. Let the Book of Ruth teach you about the love and commitment of the Redeemer, your Lord Jesus Christ!