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Ruth 3-4: Embracing the Role of the Kinsman Redeemer
May 13, 2026 · 12 min
Explore the heartwarming journey of Ruth and Naomi in God's providence through Boaz as a redeemer.
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Naomi's Plan and the Threshing Floor Encounter 0:00 Good morning. Welcome to Stand on the Word. Thanks for joining this morning as we complete the heartwarming book of Ruth, looking at chapters 3 and 4 today. Verse 9 of chapter 3, and he said, who are you?0:12 So she answered, I am Ruth, your maidservant. Take your maidservant under your wing, for you are a close relative. Now as we read this chapter, it's clear that Naomi was not0:24 passive in seeing her prayers answered. Seeing that door had opened with Ruth gleaning in the field of Boaz, and he gave favor toward Ruth, Naomi0:35 gives direction to Ruth for next steps. Verse 1. Then Naomi, her mother-in-law, said to her, my daughter, shall I not seek security for you that it may be well with you? The the word security there0:47 meaning a home, a place of rest. Verse 2. Now Boaz, whose young women you were with, is he not our relative? In fact, he is winnowing barley tonight at the threshing floor. Right? Before0:59 we go on, let me, let me go back to the chapter 2 in verse 20. We read something. I didn't unpack it yesterday. But it says, blessed be he of the Lord1:11 who has not forsaken his kindness to the living and the dead. And Naomi said to her, this man is a relation of ours, 1 of our close relatives. Now there are other translations depending on what1:23 translation of the Bible you have. Some, interpret this or translate it as close kinsmen, but more accurately, the word is redeemer. The Hebrew word, which we actually encountered1:35 back in Leviticus, is goel, which is kinsman redeemer. The kinsman redeemer was, as we looked at Leviticus, the avenger of blood when someone was, when when somebody1:47 killed somebody. Remember? They would, flee to 1 of the cities of refuge because the avenger of blood, the, the near relative, the kinsman redeemer, was1:58 responsible restoring that2:10 which was lost. So in this case, there was a parcel of land that, belonged to Elimelech that had to had to be redeemed, but the deal included a widow,2:23 Ruth. So as we see in this passage, there was 1 who was closer than Boaz in terms of relationship to the family, but that man refused the deal2:35 when he realized that a widow was a part of the bargain. So back to our story. As Naomi gives direction to Ruth to put feet to her faith, in this case, she also has her put2:46 perfume to her prayers. Look at verse 3. Therefore, wash yourself, anoint yourself, put on your best garment, and go down to the threshing floor, and do not make yourself known to the man until he has finished eating and2:58 drinking. Then it shall be when he lies down, that you shall notice the place where he lies, and you shall go in, uncover his feet, and lie down, and he will tell you what you should do. And3:09 she said to her, all that you say to me, I will do. So she went down to the threshing floor and did according to all that her mother-in-law instructed her. And after Boaz had eaten and3:21 drunk, his heart was cheerful, and he went to lie down at the end of the heap of grain. And she came softly, tiptoed, uncovered his feet, and lay down. Now it happened at3:33 midnight that the man was startled and turned himself, and there a woman was lying at his feet. Yeah. I guess that would startle you a bit. But listen to what he is said here. Verse 9. And he said, who3:45 are you? So she answered, I am Ruth, your maidservant. Take your maidservant under your wing, for you are a close relative. Now this is so good. Alright? Don't miss this. Let's go back to chapter 2 verse3:57 12, which I said don't forget what we read back there. Look at the blessing that Boaz speaks to Ruth. The Lord repay your work, and a full reward be given to you by the4:09 Lord God of Israel, under whose wings you have come for refuge. Remember that? So Ruth had chosen to follow and serve the lord God, to come under4:20 his wings for refuge. How does God often accomplish his plans and purposes? Through people. So Ruth takes4:32 the very blessing that Boaz had spoken over her and says, take me under your wings. She was essentially saying to Boaz, you can fulfill that4:44 blessing that you spoke over me. I think of what, James said, you do not have because you do not ask. Alright. Verse 10. Then he said,4:56 blessed are you of the lord, my daughter, for you have shown more kindness at the end than at the beginning, and that you did not go after young men, whether poor or rich. And now, my daughter, do not fear. I will do for5:08 you all that you request, for all the people of my town know that you are a virtuous woman. Alright? They know that she had a good reputation. Now it is a true it is true that I am a close5:19 relative. However, there is a relative closer than I. Stay this night, and in the morning, it shall be that if he will perform the duty of a close relative for you, good. Let him do it. But if he5:31 does not want to perform the duty for you, then I will perform the duty for you. As the lord lives, lie down until morning. Now I I take it by Boaz's response here that that that this was something he5:43 had thought about. He knew the situation, but it also tells me that he was a godly man. Why? Because he knew the very provisions contained in the word of God that Ruth was referencing, and he5:55 was willing to do what was required. Now let me read another comment from doctor Haley, just kind of a side note here, about where this encounter took place, which I think is very6:07 fascinating. Quote, about a mile east of Bethlehem is a field called the field of Boaz where tradition says Ruth gleaned. Adjoining is Shepherd's Field, where tradition6:19 says the angels announced the birth of Jesus. According to these traditions, the scene of Ruth's romance with Boaz, which led to the formation of the family that was to produce6:31 Christ, was chosen by god 1100 years later as the place for the heavenly announcement of Christ's arrival. Isn't that fascinating? And by the way, I should mention that6:43 that spot that spot, is in in around Bethlehem is, under Palestinian control and the Palestinian authority, and6:55 this is a part of the territory that is in Judea and is a part of those who are proposing the 2 state solution to give this land7:07 to, create a Palestinian state. The very heart of the biblical land, the identity of the Jewish people, and the origins of Christianity. Alright. In chapterRedemption at the City Gate 7:18 4, Boaz goes to the, the city gates where business is conducted. Verse 1. Now Boaz went up to the gate and sat down there, and behold, the close relative of whom7:30 Boaz had spoken came by. So Boaz said, come aside, friend. Sit down here. So he came aside and sat down, and he took 10 men of the elders of the city and said, sit down here, so that they sat7:42 down. Those were the witnesses. Then he said to the close relative Naomi, who has come back from the country of Moab, sold the piece of land which belonged to our brother Elimelech. And7:54 I thought to inform you saying buy it back in the presence of the inhabitants and the elders of my people. If you will redeem it, redeem it. But if you will not redeem it, then tell me that I may know,8:06 for there is no 1 but you to redeem it, and I am next after you. And he said, I will redeem it. Then Boaz said, oh, on the day that you buy the field from the hand of Naomi, you must also8:18 buy it from Ruth the Moabitess, the wife of the dead, to perpetuate the name of the dead through his inheritance. Now it's very interesting how Boaz8:29 approaches the situation. The focus of the conversation is on the property to be redeemed. Sounds like a good deal to this unnamed family member. Then Boaz said, oh,8:41 by the way, it comes with a little bit of a financial obligation. You'll need to take Imilek's daughter-in-law to ensure he has heirs. Well, that changed the8:53 situation. Verse 6. And the close relative said, oh, I cannot redeem it for myself, lest I ruin my own inheritance. You redeem my right of redemption for yourself, for I cannot redeem it. So9:04 Ruth and the relationship was the focus all along for Boaz. It was not about the property. The the man who was the closest kinsman who, as I9:16 mentioned, is never named here, totally missed out. He didn't want to mess up his own inheritance by fulfilling his legal obligations or showing compassion, so he passed on what put Boaz9:29 on the historical record. Verse 14, then the women said to Naomi, blessed be the Lord who has not left you this day without a close relative, and may his nameObed's Birth and Christ Our Redeemer 9:41 be famous in Israel. And may he be to you a restorer of life and a nourisher of your in your of your old age for your daughter-in-law who9:52 loves you, who is better to you than 7 sons has born him. Also, the neighbor women women gave him a name saying this was a son that was born to to Ruth.10:04 There is a son born to Naomi, and they called his name Obed. He is the father of Jesse, the father of David. So Boaz is a type of Christ, our10:16 kinsman redeemer. If we look at this whole account, Boaz initiates favor upon Ruth, who is a gentile. You know, as we talked about, widows were defenseless. They were vulnerable,10:28 especially a widow who was a foreigner, a stranger. So yielding, though, Ruth yielded to Naomi's directions. He responds to Boaz's favor and kindness and10:40 asked that he take her under his wing, and he does. We as Gentiles are on the outside, but god, by the redemptive work of his10:52 son, Jesus Christ, has brought us into the family. He has brought us under his wings. And not just any family, a family that has the riches of heaven where the table has been set for an11:04 eternal banquet of joy. He has shown us favor. We just need to respond. What a great picture of hope against the backdrop of the11:15 unfaithfulness of the book of Judges, which just serve to highlight the fallen nature of man. But coming right after that is the redemption provided by God. What an11:27 amazing story. Father, we thank you for your word, and we thank you for the redemption, the love that you have for us, the kindness, as Boaz just put gives us an11:39 illustration, a picture of your love for us. And, And, lord, what an amazing story. We thank you for your love. We thank you for Jesus. Thank you for redeeming us. And, lord, I pray that we would11:51 walk in faithfulness before you. We continue to ask the Holy Spirit to guide us and direct us on this journey, opening our eyes to the truths of your word and how they apply to our lives in this world in12:03 which we live. For we pray this in Jesus' name, amen. Alright. Thanks for being with me this morning, and until next time, keep standing on the word.In this video 0:00 Naomi's Plan and the Threshing Floor Encounter7:17 Redemption at the City Gate9:31 Obed's Birth and Christ Our Redeemer
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