10. Redeemed!

Posted on Posted in Sermon Audio 2015, October 2015 Tagged with , , , ,

Hymns: 108 I’ve Found a Friend 111 Only a Sinner 112 Redeemed

Under His Wings

– Redeemed!

 

1 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. 2 And he took ten men of the elders of the city, and said, Sit ye down here. And they sat down. 3 And he said unto the kinsman, Naomi, that is come again out of the country of Moab, selleth a parcel of land, which was our brother Elimelech’s: 4 And I thought to advertise thee, saying, Buy it before the inhabitants, and before the elders of my people. If thou wilt redeem it, redeem it: but if thou wilt not redeem it, then tell me, that I may know: for there is none to redeem it beside thee; and I am after thee. And he said, I will redeem it. 5 Then said Boaz, What day thou buyest the field of the hand of Naomi, thou must buy it also of Ruth the Moabitess, the wife of the dead, to raise up the name of the dead upon his inheritance. 6 And the kinsman said, I cannot redeem it for myself, lest I mar mine own inheritance: redeem thou my right to thyself; for I cannot redeem it. 7 Now this was the manner in former time in Israel concerning redeeming and concerning changing, for to confirm all things; a man plucked off his shoe, and gave it to his neighbour: and this was a testimony in Israel. 8 Therefore the kinsman said unto Boaz, Buy it for thee. So he drew off his shoe. 9 And Boaz said unto the elders, and unto all the people, Ye are witnesses this day, that I have bought all that was Elimelech’s, and all that was Chilion’s and Mahlon’s, of the hand of Naomi. 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. 11 And all the people that were in the gate, and the elders, said, We are witnesses. The LORD make the woman that is come into thine house like Rachel and like Leah, which two did build the house of Israel: and do thou worthily in Ephratah, and be famous in Bethlehem: 12 And let thy house be like the house of Pharez, whom Tamar bare unto Judah, of the seed which the LORD shall give thee of this young woman.

 

OUTLINE

  • The Redeemer’s Wisdom (v1-5)
  • The Redeemer’s Worth/Work (v6-12)

 

INTRODUCTION

The story of Ruth is about a stranger in a strange land. Ruth was taken care of by someone willing to pay the price for her safety and well-being. Boaz, a close relative, volunteered to pay this price even though he did not have to. Jesus, like Boaz, gives freely to redeem us with His own life.

Our continuing tells us that the next day, Boaz took the necessary step into the matter of kinsman-redeemer.

In the end, what started as an apparent family business turned into a beautiful romance – Boaz married Ruth. They had a son named Obed. Obed was the grandfather of David, the king of Israel.

This book begins with a famine and ends with blessings. Ruth’s love for Naomi, and her willingness to obey the Word of God were the source of joy and blessing. The decision she made in chapter 1 determined her future.

Two thoughts – (1) The Redeemer’s Wisdom (v1-5) (2) The Redeemer’s Worth/Work (v6-12)

 

(1) The Redeemer’s Wisdom (v1-5)

1 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. 2 And he took ten men of the elders of the city, and said, Sit ye down here. And they sat down.

It was at the peak season of harvesting that Boaz took time away on the work of redemption. He was indeed willing to sacrifice the time to drop everything to do this work. And he did so wisely. Boaz went to the gate of Bethlehem personally. It was the place where business and judgement are carried out. It followed the procedure closely so as not to jeopardize the process. Indeed, God was helping him for the closer kinsman walked by and he made a command that he “turn aside” from his own priorities to put God’s business first. It is interesting that the man’s name was not given, a discreet thing on Boaz’s part to graciously keep him from shame.[1]

Notice also he gathered 10 witnesses – 10 men of the elders of the city. Although two is sufficient to be witness, he ensured that this transaction would be properly handled. He was publicly done so that it is a clear testimony of righteousness.

3 And he said unto the kinsman, Naomi, that is come again out of the country of Moab, selleth a parcel of land, which was our brother Elimelech’s: 4 And I thought to advertise thee, saying, Buy it before the inhabitants, and before the elders of my people. If thou wilt redeem it, redeem it: but if thou wilt not redeem it, then tell me, that I may know: for there is none to redeem it beside thee; and I am after thee. And he said, I will redeem it. 5 Then said Boaz, What day thou buyest the field of the hand of Naomi, thou must buy it also of Ruth the Moabitess, the wife of the dead, to raise up the name of the dead upon his inheritance.

 It is wise for Boaz to ask for the redemption of the land before he mentioned the redemption of Ruth. Because when faced with the decision to include Ruth in his life, the man shrunk from the commitment.

 He wanted to make sure that it was clear why the man rejected the transaction. He was not willing to make the commitment to take care of Ruth. He wanted the land but he did not want the responsibility of doing so for the family of Elimelech for the sake of Mahlon’s posterity. It does not benefit him personally.

 

(2) The Redeemer’s Worth/Work (v6-12)

6 And the kinsman said, I cannot redeem it for myself, lest I mar mine own inheritance: redeem thou my right to thyself; for I cannot redeem it.

 This was the difference between Boaz and this nearer-kinsman. He was not willing to make a commitment because his own interest supersedes the interest of his dead brother.

 It can be seen that the near-kinsman did not want to jeopardize his own inheritance. It is a higher priority than his brother’s interest. He was concerned that Ruth’s child would get the property and make a claim even to his own property. If he had not any children, they his propety and the property he redeemed would be given to the child. The lines of inheritance will be encroached by this levirate marriage.[2]

 Ruth, being a stranger, and a poor widow and gleaner would indeed affect his own reputation and he certainly questioned whether Ruth, a foreigner, can have a legal claim in Israel.

Deuteronomy 23:3-6 An Ammonite or Moabite shall not enter into the congregation of the LORD; even to their tenth generation shall they not enter into the congregation of the LORD for ever: 4 Because they met you not with bread and with water in the way, when ye came forth out of Egypt; and because they hired against thee Balaam the son of Beor of Pethor of Mesopotamia, to curse thee. 5 Nevertheless the LORD thy God would not hearken unto Balaam; but the LORD thy God turned the curse into a blessing unto thee, because the LORD thy God loved thee. 6 Thou shalt not seek their peace nor their prosperity all thy days for ever.

He was not concerned with Mahlon’s name but his own gain. This was where Boaz was different. It was a selfless act in this redemption. He did not stand to gain at all. It was a no win deal for him.

7 Now this was the manner in former time in Israel concerning redeeming and concerning changing, for to confirm all things; a man plucked off his shoe, and gave it to his neighbour: and this was a testimony in Israel. 8 Therefore the kinsman said unto Boaz, Buy it for thee. So he drew off his shoe.

 And so, to reject his claim, the near-kinsman had to pluck off his shoe for a testimony. Boaz made sure that he had witnesses to seal this transaction. The shoe, like a contract, was a binding symbol of the actual transaction and the transfer of rights. If the owner would not surrender the lad, the shoe would be the contract, the proof of a valid transaction. It was a disgrace in Israel to be unwilling to redeem a relative. Walking barefoot testifies publicly of this disgrace.[3]

 9 And Boaz said unto the elders, and unto all the people, Ye are witnesses this day, that I have bought all that was Elimelech’s, and all that was Chilion’s and Mahlon’s, of the hand of Naomi. 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. 11 And all the people that were in the gate, and the elders, said, We are witnesses. The LORD make the woman that is come into thine house like Rachel and like Leah, which two did build the house of Israel: and do thou worthily in Ephratah, and be famous in Bethlehem: 12 And let thy house be like the house of Pharez, whom Tamar bare unto Judah, of the seed which the LORD shall give thee of this young woman.

Boaz was a worthy redeemer because he had a selfless purpose. Redemption for Boaz was a costly process. He puts his wealth at stake for this redemption.

In the same way our Lord Jesus, the Son of God, was willing to make the sacrifice for our redemption.

2 Corinthians 8:9 For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich.

 2 Corinthians 5:21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.

 It is exciting to know that this picture of Jesus can be seen in a man who was an ancestor of our Lord. The son born to Ruth and Boaz was named Obed. The son of Obed was Jesse, and the son of Jesse was David. The son of David was the famous king Solomon. From Solomon’s son the line of fathers and sons can be followed to Jesus. The Gospel writers Matthew and Luke trace the line of the Lord’s ancestors.

 As soon as Boaz received the sandal, he announced that he would purchase Elimelech’s property and marry Ruth the Moabitess. The crowd blessed Boaz, wishing him a posterity as numerous as that of Rachel and Leah. The mention of Perez, the offspring of Tamar by Judah, overlooks the sordid aspects of that story and concentrates on the fact that it was another case of levirate marriage involving an Israelite and a foreigner. (Believer’s Bible)

 

CONCLUSION

Praise God for a successful transaction. Ruth was redeemed! When Jesus said on the cross, “It is finished!” He completed the transaction for our redemption. Hallelujah!

 

[1] Sam Hadler, The Book of Ruth, Rose Publishing, 2014, 206.

[2] Ibid., 213.

[3] Ibid. 217.