Ruth chapter 4:   “Marriages Of Boaz And Ruth, Christ And The Church”

By

Jim Bomkamp

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1.      INTRODUCTION

 

1.1.                     In our last study, we looked at chapter 3 of the book and we saw that now at the end of the harvest that Ruth, at the prompting of her mother-in-law Naomi, comes to Boaz and asks him if he will fulfill the role of the kinsman redeemer for her, which he agrees to do.

 

1.2.                     In our study today, we are going to conclude the book of Ruth, studying chapter 4, and we are going to see the consummation of the marriage of Boaz to Ruth as well as the redeeming of the inheritance of land belonging to Naomi.

 

1.2.1.  In our study, we have seen that Naomi, the wife of a man named Elimelech, who once served the Lord and lived in Israel, had moved to Moab when famine drove her and her family to Moab.  In Moab, Naomi’s sons had married Moabite women.  However, first Naomi’s husband died, followed by the death of her two sons.  Naomi was grief stricken, and then upon hearing that there was again abundance in Israel, she decides to move back to Israel.  Ruth, one of Naomi’s daughters in law decides to move back to Israel with Naomi and to have Naomi’s people be her people and Naomi’s God be her God.  Upon arriving in Israel, Naomi realizes that her inheritance of land now belongs to another. 

 

1.2.2.  Naomi, we have seen, symbolizes Israel who was dispersed to the nations in 70 AD but who has in recent years returned to the land of Israel. However, though Israel is now back in the land, she has not as yet returned to the Lord and thus like Naomi she does not yet have back her inheritance in the Lord.  However, during the 7 Year Tribulation of the book of Revelation Israel as a nation will return to the Lord, discover Jesus Christ as her Messiah and Lord, and thus be restored to her inheritance as well as all of the covenant promises made to her patriarchs.

 

1.2.3.  Ruth, we have seen, symbolizes the church who was called according to the sovereign foreknowledge and foreordination of the Lord, when Israel rejected Jesus Christ as her Messiah.  After returning to Israel with Naomi, Ruth had gleaned in the fields of Boaz all during the harvest season.  Then, on the night of tribulation and gleaning at the conclusion of the harvest (the night symbolizes the 7 year tribulation period), she came and laid herself down at the feet of Boaz and requested that he be to her a kinsman redeemer and purchase the land of Noami and take her, Ruth, as his wife.  Boaz agreed and determined in the morning to do whatever it took to redeem Ruth to himself.

 

1.2.4.  Boaz, we have seen, symbolizes Jesus Christ our kinsman redeemer.  Boaz was a near kinsman to Naomi, probably being the brother of Elimelech, Naomi’s deceased husband, and, he was single and wealthy.  Jesus Christ is our kinsman redeemer, the One who being God partook of human nature in order to be able to purchase a people and an inheritance for us, Jew and Gentile alike.

 

1.2.5.  In Leviticus chapter 25, there are three laws relative to a kinsman redeemer provided for in the law of Moses, two of them we have already seen, however each of these laws will come into effect in our story today when Boaz redeems Ruth and the land of her inheritance:

 

1.2.5.1.      We already saw from Lev. 25:23-28 that if for some reason a person were to sell off his inheritance of land that he would automatically get it back at the year of Jubilee, but since that event only occurred every 50 years that there was provision that he could always buy his land back, “23 The land shall not be sold for ever: for the land is mine; for ye are strangers and sojourners with me. 24 And in all the land of your possession ye shall grant a redemption for the land. 25 If thy brother be waxen poor, and hath sold away some of his possession, and if any of his kin come to redeem it, then shall he redeem that which his brother sold. 26 And if the man have none to redeem it, and himself be able to redeem it; 27 Then let him count the years of the sale thereof, and restore the overplus unto the man to whom he sold it; that he may return unto his possession. 28 But if he be not able to restore it to him, then that which is sold shall remain in the hand of him that hath bought it until the year of jubile: and in the jubile it shall go out, and he shall return unto his possession.”

 

1.2.5.1.1.           Notice from Lev. 25:23 that the Lord tells the Israelites that the land actually doesn’t belong to them, it belongs to Him.  Because the land belongs to the Lord, no one can actually lose his inheritance forever, though he may sell it to another for a period of time.

 

1.2.5.1.1.1.               Because the land belongs to the Lord, we understand the scripture that tells us that “the earth is the Lord’s and the fullness thereof” (Psalm 24:1) as well as the significance of Christ open the seals to the “Title Deed of the Earth” in Revelation chapter 5. 

 

1.2.5.1.2.           Notice from Lev. 25:23-28 that the price that the person would have to pay to purchase back his land would be pro-rated based upon how many years there were left until the next year of Jubilee.   Sales of someone’s land were also based upon a pro-rated amount factoring in the number of years until the next year of Jubilee.

 

1.2.5.1.3.           In our story, Boaz will purchase the land that belonged to Naomi and her husband Elimelech, and this will become his land upon which Boaz will raise up children to Ruth.

 

1.2.5.2.      We also discussed the law regarding a man who was married and died, not having a son to carry on his name, and that his brother in that case would be required to take his widow as his wife and raise up children to his deceased brother (see Lev. 25:27-55).

 

1.2.5.2.1.           In our story, Boaz will take Ruth, the daughter-in-law of Naomi, to be his bride and thus fulfill the requirement to raise up children to his deceased brother who died not having a son to carry on his name.

 

1.2.5.3.      A third law we haven’t yet discussed involved the buying of oneself out of slavery.  We read in Lev. 25:47-50 about this law and how that if a man sold himself to be a slave in order to get out of debt that at any time he could buy his freedom for a certain amount, “47 ‘Now if the means of a stranger or of a sojourner with you becomes sufficient, and a countryman of yours becomes so poor with regard to him as to sell himself to a stranger who is sojourning with you, or to the descendants of a stranger’s family, 48 then he shall have redemption right after he has been sold. One of his brothers may redeem him, 49 or his uncle, or his uncle’s son, may redeem him, or one of his blood relatives from his family may redeem him; or if he prospers, he may redeem himself. 50 ‘He then with his purchaser shall calculate from the year when he sold himself to him up to the year of jubilee; and the price of his sale shall correspond to the number of years. It is like the days of a hired man that he shall be with him.”

 

1.2.5.3.1.           Ruth as a symbol of the church, was a Moabite and as such was cursed by the law (there was to be no Moabite or Ammonite allowed in the congregation), being poor and having no substance of her own she was of the status of a slave, and, being without hope in this world she was a stranger and an alien to the covenant in Israel:

 

1.2.5.3.1.1.               In Gal. 3:10, 13, we read that we all were under a curse because of the law, “10 For as many as are of the works of the Law are under a curse; for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who does not abide by all things written in the book of the law, to perform them.”… 13 Christ redeemed us from the curse of the Law, having become a curse for us—for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree””

 

1.2.5.3.1.1.1.                    The law required constant and continuous keeping of the law and any breach of that law abrogated a person from being able to be justified before God based upon the law. 

 

1.2.5.3.1.1.2.                    Because no one was ever able to keep the law, and all were therefore under the curse of the law, we read that the law became our tutor (Gal. 3:24) to lead us to Jesus Christ where we could be justified before God not based upon our works in keeping the law but upon faith in Christ and His completed work on the cross to redeem us.

 

1.2.5.3.1.2.               In Rom. 7:9-12,14 we read about the fact that each of us were once a slave, sold under sin, until Jesus redeemed us, “9 I was once alive apart from the Law; but when the commandment came, sin became alive and I died; 10 and this commandment, which was to result in life, proved to result in death for me; 11 for sin, taking an opportunity through the commandment, deceived me and through it killed me. 12 So then, the Law is holy, and the commandment is holy and righteous and good…14 For we know that the Law is spiritual, but I am of flesh, sold into bondage to sin.”

 

1.2.5.3.1.3.               In Eph. 2:12-19 we read about how that each of us was once a stranger to the covenant of promise and without hope or God in this world, “12 remember that you were at that time separate from Christ, excluded from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. 13 But now in Christ Jesus you who formerly were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. 14 For He Himself is our peace, who made both groups into one and broke down the barrier of the dividing wall, 15 by abolishing in His flesh the enmity, which is the Law of commandments contained in ordinances, so that in Himself He might make the two into one new man, thus establishing peace, 16 and might reconcile them both in one body to God through the cross, by it having put to death the enmity. 17 And He came and preached peace to you who were far away, and peace to those who were near; 18 for through Him we both have our access in one Spirit to the Father. 19 So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints, and are of God’s household.”

 

1.2.6.  Before we go any further, we need to establish the fact that the word “redeem” used throughout this book means to buy back or purchase something. 

 

1.2.6.1.      In our study today, we are going to consider not only how Boaz redeemed Ruth and her inheritance of land but also how that Jesus Christ has also redeemed us, purchasing us for Himself when He died upon the cross of Calvary for our sins.

 

1.2.7.  According to the law, to be a kinsman redeemer, one had to meet three conditions:

 

1.2.7.1.      He had to be a near kinsman (brother, uncle, or uncle’s son of the deceased man:  Lev. 25:48-49).

 

1.2.7.1.1.           Boaz symbolizes Jesus Christ as our kinsman redeemer, and in order for Jesus to qualify to redeem us He had also to become a near kinsman. 

 

1.2.7.1.1.1.               In many scriptures in the New and Old Testament we read about how that Jesus Christ was God from all eternity who became man in the flesh, in all ways as we are, in order that He might be able to also redeem us, for instance:

 

1.2.7.1.1.1.1.                    John 1:1-3,14, “1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being. … 14 And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth.”

 

1.2.7.1.1.1.2.                    Heb. 2:14-17, “14 Therefore, since the children share in flesh and blood, He Himself likewise also partook of the same, that through death He might render powerless him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, 15 and might free those who through fear of death were subject to slavery all their lives. 16 For assuredly He does not give help to angels, but He gives help to the descendant of Abraham. 17 Therefore, He had to be made like His brethren in all things, so that He might become a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people.”

 

1.2.7.1.1.1.3.                    Phil. 2:6-8, “6 who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. 8 Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.”

 

1.2.7.1.1.2.               Belief in the virgin birth of Jesus Christ then is an essential doctrine of the Christian religion, for if Jesus was not God from all eternity who came and was born of a woman through the work of the Holy Spirit, then Jesus also did not qualify to become the redeemer of mankind.

 

1.2.7.2.      He had to be able to redeem (a man of means enough to come up with the purchase price for the redemption):

 

1.2.7.2.1.           Just as Boaz was a wealthy man and able to purchase the inheritance of land that belonged to Naomi, so Jesus Christ in order to be qualified to be our redeemer also had to be able to pay the price to make satisfaction for our sins upon Calvary’s cross.

 

1.2.7.2.1.1.               Jesus Christ lived a sinless life and thus His blood was able to redeem sinners.

 

1.2.7.2.1.1.1.                    The lambs for sacrifice in the Old Testament had to be without spot or blemish in order to qualify to be sacrificial animals, and this pointed to the fact that Jesus Christ would also one day live a sinless life and be called, “The Lamb of God that takes away the sin of the world” (see John 1:29).

 

1.2.7.2.1.1.2.                    There are many scriptures in the New and Old Testament that tell us that Jesus Christ never committed a single sin, including:

 

1.2.7.2.1.1.2.1.                        1 Peter 2:21-22,  “21 For you have been called for this purpose, since Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example for you to follow in His steps, 22 who committed no sin, nor was any deceit found in His mouth.”

 

1.2.7.2.1.1.3.                    2 Cor. 5:21, “21 He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.”

 

1.2.7.2.1.2.               Jesus Christ had to not only take on humanity, He also had to be God in order to be able to pay for our sins, and this is because there was an infinite debt of sin for mankind that had to be paid.

 

1.2.7.2.1.2.1.                    Had Jesus been just a man and lived a perfect life and never sinned, then His blood would only have qualified to redeem one man.  In order to redeem all mankind, an infinite price would be required, and thus the redemption blood had to come from One who Himself was in all ways very God of very God from all eternity.  In the New and Old Testament we can read several verses about how that Jesus Christ came to earth and took a body to Himself so that His blood would cover all of our sins, including the following:

 

1.2.7.2.1.2.1.1.1.     In Heb. 10:4-7, “4 For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins. 5 Wherefore when he cometh into the world, he saith, Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, but a body hast thou prepared me: 6 In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin thou hast had no pleasure. 7 Then said I, Lo, I come (in the volume of the book it is written of me,) to do thy will, O God.”

 

1.2.7.2.1.2.1.1.2.     1 Peter 1:18-19, “18 knowing that you were not redeemed with perishable things like silver or gold from your futile way of life inherited from your forefathers, 19 but with precious blood, as of a lamb unblemished and spotless, the blood of Christ.”

 

1.2.7.2.1.3.               We see in the scriptures many instances declaring that Jesus did in fact pay the price for our redemption:

 

1.2.7.2.1.3.1.                    We see this when upon the cross Jesus cried out, “It is finished!” (John 19:30) and breathed His last.  He wasn’t saying that He was finished, what was finished was the full payment for our sins, our redemption.

 

1.2.7.2.1.3.2.                    We see in 1 John 2:1-2 that Jesus Christ is the “propitiation” for our sins, which was a term that was used in business to mean “paid in full”, “1 My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous; 2 and He Himself is the propitiation for our sins; and not for ours only, but also for those of the whole world.”

 

1.2.7.2.1.3.2.1.                        This verse and others indicate that when Jesus died upon the cross and paid for our sins that He was paying the full price to cover all of our sins of the past, present, and future.  All of mankind’s sin was “paid in full” upon Calvary.

 

1.2.7.2.1.3.3.                    We were bought with a price as 1 Cor. 6:20 tells us, “20 For you have been bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body.”

 

1.2.7.3.      He had to be willing to redeem (no man was forced to be a kinsman redeemer).

 

1.2.7.3.1.           Just as Boaz was willing to redeem Ruth as his free will choice, so Jesus Christ also had to be willing to function as a kinsman redeemer for mankind.  

 

1.2.7.3.2.           There are many scriptures in the New Testament which tell us that Jesus was willingly laying down His life for mankind, including the following:

 

1.2.7.3.2.1.1.                    John 10:15;  15:13, “15 even as the Father knows Me and I know the Father ; and I lay down My life for the sheep …13 “ Greater love has no one than this , that one lay down his life for his friends.”

 

1.2.7.3.2.1.2.                    Luke 19:10, “10 “For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.””

 

2.     VS 4:1-2  - “1 Now Boaz went up to the gate and sat down there, and behold, the close relative of whom Boaz spoke was passing by, so he said, “Turn aside, friend, sit down here.” And he turned aside and sat down. 2 He took ten men of the elders of the city and said, “Sit down here.” So they sat down.” -  Boaz goes to the city gates and waits until the nearer kinsman showed up and then he calls a quorum of the elders of the city to decide the matter of Ruth’s inheritance

 

2.1.                     The gates of the cities in this day were such that this was where government business was held as well as many other business transactions.  All of the important and influential people came to the gates of the city each day.  Boaz knew that if he went and just waited at the gates of the city that both the nearer kinsman would show up as well as a quorum of the elders of the city so that he could have his civil lawsuit settled before them.

 

2.2.                     Boaz we see here was a mighty man in the city of Bethlehem.  It has even been asserted that he may have been the mayor of the city.  Boaz must have been important in the city for at his very words both the nearer kinsman as well as a quorum of the elders were hailed by and then immediately assembled with him.

 

2.3.                     The sitting down of Boaz, Ruth’s kinsman redeemer is symbolic, for in this same way  Jesus Christ, whom Boaz symbolizes, when He had conquered all of the principalities and powers in the heavenly places on the cross of Calvary, ascended up to heaven to sit down at the right hand of the Father.  Jesus Christ is now seated at the right hand of the Father.

 

3.     VS 4:3-6  - “3 Then he said to the closest relative, “Naomi, who has come back from the land of Moab, has to sell the piece of land which belonged to our brother Elimelech. 4 “So I thought to inform you, saying, ‘Buy it before those who are sitting here, and before the elders of my people. If you will redeem it, redeem it; but if not, tell me that I may know; for there is no one but you to redeem it, and I am after you.’ ” And he said, “I will redeem it.” 5 Then Boaz said, “On the day you buy the field from the hand of Naomi, you must also acquire Ruth the Moabitess, the widow of the deceased, in order to raise up the name of the deceased on his inheritance.” 6 The closest relative said, “I cannot redeem it for myself, because I would jeopardize my own inheritance. Redeem it for yourself; you may have my right of redemption, for I cannot redeem it.”” -  Boaz gives the nearer kinsman a chance to redeem Ruth and Naomi’s inheritance of land

 

3.1.                     This nearer kinsman to Elimelech than Boaz initially decided to do a favor to Naomi and redeem her inheritance of land for her.  However, when he was told that part of the deal had to involve also taking Ruth to be his wife and raising up children to Ruth, then he had to decline the offer.

 

3.2.                     The nearer kinsman tells Boaz that he cannot redeem Ruth and her inheritance of land because to do so would mean that he would jeopardize his own inheritance.  He qualified to be a redeemer because he had the means, but he fails to qualify when he claims that he was not able to redeem her.  This man may have had various motives for not redeeming Ruth:

 

3.2.1.  If he redeemed her, then she would become an immediate co-heir of all that he possessed, including the allotment of land for his family.

 

3.2.2.  If he redeemed her, then he may have had grown sons by now who would lose their inheritance as a result.

 

3.2.3.  It may be also that when Boaz mentions here that Ruth is a “Moabitess” that this man not only had prejudices against Moabites, but he probably was also concerned because the scriptures forbid marriage of a Jew to a Moabite.

 

3.2.3.1.      By the way, have you ever considered the fact that when Jesus Christ chose to redeem you that He was putting His reputation on the line in doing so?  He loved us so much that He was willing to put His reputation on the line in taking us as His children!!!

 

3.3.                     Who does this nearer kinsman symbolize in prophetic picture?

 

3.3.1.  Some have said that he symbolizes “the law.”

 

3.3.1.1.      It is true that we are all under the law and that the law has no power to redeem us.  The law is just like a mirror to us, it reveals the true nature of who we are concerning our true righteousness before God, yet it provides no means for making us righteous.  It has no power or ability to save or to redeem mankind.

 

3.3.2.  Better yet, others have suggested that he symbolizes “the seed of Adam.”

 

3.3.2.1.      There are two Adams found in scripture.  Jesus Christ is the second Adam.  The first Adam, who is our federal head, sinned and from him we have inherited our sin nature and thus we are from birth sinners separated from God because of our sin.

 

3.3.2.2.      No one can redeem another, nor redeem himself.  In the old nature inherited from Adam, there is no power over sin nor ability to do anything to satisfy a holy and just God for transgressions committed.   

 

4.     VS 4:7-10  - “7 Now this was the custom in former times in Israel concerning the redemption and the exchange of land to confirm any matter: a man removed his sandal and gave it to another; and this was the manner of attestation in Israel. 8 So the closest relative said to Boaz, “Buy it for yourself.” And he removed his sandal. 9 Then Boaz said to the elders and all the people, “You are witnesses today that I have bought from the hand of Naomi all that belonged to Elimelech and all that belonged to Chilion and Mahlon. 10 “Moreover, I have acquired Ruth the Moabitess, the widow of Mahlon, to be my wife in order to raise up the name of the deceased on his inheritance, so that the name of the deceased will not be cut off from his brothers or from the court of his birth place; you are witnesses today.”” -  Boaz takes the sandal of the closer relative of Elimelech as an assurance and proof before the elders of Israel that he has redeemed Ruth and the inheritance of land of Noami

 

4.1.                     We see here in these verses, that the nearer kinsman, having declined to take Ruth as his bride, followed the law of Moses and Jewish tradition and took off his sandal and handed it to Boaz as a public acknowledgement of his forfeiture to complete this redemption in behalf of his brother’s wife.  Since this nearer kinsman’s name has never been mentioned, some have called him, “Mr. Barefoot,” since he now had lost his sandal to Boaz.  Taking off his sandal was a humiliation in Israel for it indicated an unwillingness to redeem the wife of his deceased brother.

 

4.2.                     So, Boaz completes the redemption of Ruth and her inheritance of property from Naomi.   

 

4.3.     This is a strange wedding ceremony here in these verses though.  In fact, the only one present is Boaz, Ruth is with Naomi.  In our culture in 21st century America, the bride is always the focus of all of the attention at a wedding.  This was not so in the Jewish culture, for there the groom was the center of all attention.  In the Jewish culture, after dark the groom’s men and his friends would parade through the streets to meet the bride.  Sometimes the party would be coming quite late and the bride and her attendants would at times fall asleep during the long wait.

 

4.4.     A few years ago now my wife and I attended a marriage weekend taught by David Hocking and his wife.  At the weekend, David was talking about Jewish weddings and mentioned that the groom was the center of attention in those ceremonies.  Then, he told an hilarious story about a big football player guy whom he had had in a Bible study where they discussed many things, including this custom in Jewish marriage.  David had been asked to do this guy's wedding at a certain point, and the guy pulled a fast one on David the day of the wedding.  Unbenounced to David, when the wedding began the bride was up front and then the attendants began coming in.  Then, the music started and a door opened up in back and the guy came marching down the aisle with his arms outstretched as if to say, "Hey everyone, look at me!" 

 

4.5.                     In the scriptures, it is significant that the wedding and wedding feast is always spoken of as the wedding feast "of the Lamb" not "of the church."  Its all about Him, you see. 

 

4.5.1.  We come to this marriage relationship totally unworthy of anything but God's wrath for we are sold under sin, accursed by the law, at enmity with God, by nature a child of wrath, a stranger and an alien to the covenants, and a sinner without God or hope.  Ruth (who symbolizes the church) is in this identical position with regard to Boaz (who symbolizes Jesus Christ our kinsman redeemer).

 

4.5.2.  We as believers in Christ are wed to the Lord only because of His mercy and grace.  But, the Lord would have been gracious to marry us in the sense of marriage to a concubine (or slave) in Old Testament times.  However, instead in our marriage contract we immediately become a joint heir with Christ, sharing in all of His inheritance.  These are truths too glorious and awesome to behold!!!

 

5.     VS 4:11-13  - “11 All the people who were in the court, and the elders, said, “We are witnesses. May the Lord make the woman who is coming into your home like Rachel and Leah, both of whom built the house of Israel; and may you achieve wealth in Ephrathah and become famous in Bethlehem. 12 “Moreover, may your house be like the house of Perez whom Tamar bore to Judah, through the offspring which the Lord will give you by this young woman.” 13 So Boaz took Ruth, and she became his wife, and he went in to her. And the Lord enabled her to conceive, and she gave birth to a son.” -  The witnesses take their oath and then pronounce a blessing upon Boaz and Ruth and their new family and life together

 

5.1.                     The people present in court on this day, along with the elders, give a blessing upon Boaz and Ruth.  The blessing involves the achievement of wealth and becoming famous in Bethlehem, just as happened to the house of Perez, son of Judah.

 

5.2.                     The blessing pronounced here was indeed fulfilled, for fame and wealth come to Boaz’s and Ruth’s descendants..  The child born to Boaz and Ruth becomes the grandfather of king David, born in Bethlehem.  This child was also in the very blood line of Jesus Christ Himself, also born in Bethlehem.

 

5.3.                     The book of Ruth began with a famine and deaths, yet here we see it ends with a beautiful marriage and the birth of a son.  Every portion of this story was intended by the Lord prophetically to picture and reveal the plan He had from all eternity for redeeming mankind, for as Rev. 13:8 says, He was “the Lamb slain before the foundation of the world.” 

 

5.4.                     As we have repeated throughout this study of the book of Ruth, the story of our redemption by Jesus Christ is a beautiful love story!  

 

6.     VS 4:14-16  - “14 Then the women said to Naomi, “Blessed is the Lord who has not left you without a redeemer today, and may his name become famous in Israel. 15 “May he also be to you a restorer of life and a sustainer of your old age; for your daughter-in-law, who loves you and is better to you than seven sons, has given birth to him.” 16 Then Naomi took the child and laid him in her lap, and became his nurse.” -  The women in Bethlehem tell Naomi how blessed of the Lord she is because of this marriage of Boaz to Ruth

 

6.1.                     These verses tells us of the blessing that this grandson became to Naomi.  She takes this son as if he were her very own and even becomes his nurse.

 

6.2.                     The women in Bethlehem tell Naomi that Ruth is better to her than 7 sons.  Seven is a number which symbolizes perfection in Biblical numerology.  Therefore, what these women are saying is that Naomi was perfected by Ruth.  Israel is perfected by the church, you see.  Thus, it is so important that we the church help Israel to get into her land and return to her inheritance in the land (come to know Jesus as Lord and Messiah).  Again, as was previously mentioned we in the church are called to make Israel jealous by our serving the God of Israel and His Son Jesus Christ with fervent zeal and perseverance, and by being evangelists to the Jews telling them of the eternal plan of salvation through Jesus Christ.

 

7.     VS 4:17-22  - “17 The neighbor women gave him a name, saying, “A son has been born to Naomi!” So they named him Obed. He is the father of Jesse, the father of David. 18 Now these are the generations of Perez: to Perez was born Hezron, 19 and to Hezron was born Ram, and to Ram, Amminadab, 20 and to Amminadab was born Nahshon, and to Nahshon, Salmon, 21 and to Salmon was born Boaz, and to Boaz, Obed, 22 and to Obed was born Jesse, and to Jesse, David.” -  The genealogy from Judah to king David (and thus to Jesus Christ) is established

 

7.1.                     It is interesting here to see that the neighbor women named this son.  They called his name “Obed” which means “servant.”

 

7.2.                     It is important now to realize that perhaps the most important verses in the entire book of Ruth are found here in this little genealogy, verse 18-22.  They establish how that Jesus Christ was descended from the tribe of Judah.

 

7.3.                     Not only so but it is important to understand the significance of Perez being mentioned first in this list.  He was the illegitimate son of Judah whose sordid story we read about in the book of Genesis.  Tamar had married Judah’s son, however the son had died.  Then, instead of keeping his promise and giving Tamar to another sonto raise up children for Tamar, Judah did nothing.  Finally, Tamar took matters in her own hands.  She dressed up like a prostitute and stood alongside of the road where Judah was traveling.  Judah then stopped and went into her, thinking she was just another prostitute, and she conceived this child. 

 

7.3.1.  In Deut. 23:2, we read that an illegitimate son was not to enter the congregation of the Lord even to the tenth generation, “2 “No one of illegitimate birth shall enter the assembly of the Lord; none of his descendants, even to the tenth generation, shall enter the assembly of the Lord.”  Jewish tradition interpreted this to mean that a king in Israel could not be descended closer than 10 generations from an illegitimate son.  Well, from Perez there are exactly 10 generations until king David, therefore establishing the legitimacy of king David’s reign, as well as the genealogy of Jesus Christ descended from the tribe of Judah. 

 

 

8.     CONCLUSION:

 

8.1.                     Do you know Jesus Christ as your kinsman redeemer? 

 

8.1.1.  He paid the full price for your redemption.  Upon the cross of Calvary He was paying in full the debt of sin that every man, woman, and child to ever live would commit. 

 

8.1.2.  Your debt of sin was too great for any but the miraculous blood of the eternal Son of God who was born of a woman, lived a sinless life for 33 years, then died upon a cross to pay your price of redemption, all according to the predetermination of the Lord. 

 

8.1.3.  Come to Jesus and be saved.  He loved you so much that if you had been the only person to ever have lived that He would have died so that you might be saved.  This story of redemption is a love story for God loves you.

 

8.1.                     Let us daily prepare our hearts to be ready to be wed on that day when Jesus returns for the church and calls for the Wedding Feast Of The Lamb to commence.  Jesus is desiring a bride that is pure and undefiled to wed, and He also deserves one such as this, therefore let us purify our hearts and minds and eagerly await that glorious day!!!

 

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