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Ruth 3-4: Embracing the Role of the Kinsman Redeemer
May 13, 2026 · 13 min
Explore the heartwarming journey of Ruth and Naomi in God's providence through Boaz as a redeemer.
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In this video 0:00 Naomi's Plan and Ruth's Bold Faith7:27 Redemption Secured at the Gate10:23 From Obed to Our Kinsman Redeemer
Naomi's Plan and Ruth's Bold Faith 0:09 Good morning. Welcome to Stand on the Word. Thanks for joining me 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 are0:21 you? 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 Naomi0:33 was not passive in seeing her prayers answered. Seeing that the door had opened with Ruth gleaning in the field of Boaz, and he gave favor toward Ruth,0:45 Naomi 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 word0:56 security there 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 threshing1:08 floor. Right? Before 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 be1:20 he of the lord 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 translations1:32 depending on what 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 we1:44 actually encountered 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,1:55 when when somebody killed somebody. Remember? They would, flee to 1 of the cities of refuge because the avenger of blood, the, the near relative, the kinsman2:07 redeemer, was for avenging the blood of the 1 that was killed or murdered. But there's more to the kinsman redeemer, and that was redeeming of the inheritance or2:19 restoring that 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 included2:31 a widow, 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 man2:43 refused the deal 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,2:55 she also has her put 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 he3:06 has finished eating and 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 should3:18 do. And 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 after3:30 Boaz had eaten and 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. Now3:42 it happened at 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, and3:54 he said, who are you? So she answered, I am Ruth, your maid servant. Take your maid servant under your wing, for you are a close relative. Now this is so good. Alright? Don't miss this. Let's go back to4:06 chapter 2 verse 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 be4:18 given to you by the 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,4:29 to come under his wings for refuge. How does god often accomplish his plans and purposes? Through people. So4:41 Ruth takes the very blessing that Boaz had spoken over her and says, take me under your wings. She was essentially saying to Boaz, you can4:53 fulfill that blessing that you spoke over me. I think of what, James said. You do not have because you do not ask. Alright. Verse tense.5:05 Then he said, 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.5:17 I will do for 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 a5:28 close 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. But5:40 if he 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 was5:52 something he 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,6:04 and he 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 I6:16 think is very 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,6:28 where tradition 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 was6:40 to produce 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 should6:51 mention that that spot that spot, is in around Bethlehem is, under Palestinian and the7:03 Palestinian authority. And 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 this7:16 land to, create a Palestinian state. The very heart of the biblical land, the identity of the Jewish people, and the origins of Christianity. Alright.Redemption Secured at the Gate 7:27 In chapter 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 relative7:39 of whom 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 that7:51 they sat down. Those were the witnesses. Then he said to the close relative, Naomi, who has come back from the country of Moab, sold, country of Moab, sold the piece of land which belonged to our brother Elimelech.8:03 And 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, people. If you will redeem8:11 it, redeem it. But if you will not redeem it, then tell me that I may know, for there is no 1 but you to redeem it, and I am next after you. And he said, I will redeem it. Then Boaz8:23 said, oh, on the day that you buy the field from the hand of Naomi, you must also buy it from Ruth and Moabitess, the wife of the dead, to perpetuate the name of the dead through8:35 his inheritance. Now it's very interesting how Boaz 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, by8:47 the way, it comes with a little bit little bit of a financial obligation. You'll need to take Imilek's daughter-in-law to ensure8:59 he has heirs. Well, that changed the situation. Verse 6. And a close relative said, oh, I cannot redeem it for myself, lest I ruin my own inheritance. You redeem my right of9:11 redemption for yourself, for I cannot redeem it. So Ruth and the relationship was the focus all along for Boaz. It was not about the property. The the man9:23 who was the closest kinsman who, as I mentioned, is never named here, totally missed out. He didn't wanna mess up his own inheritance by fulfilling his legal obligations or showing compassion,9:36 so he passed on what put Boaz on the historical record. Verse 14. Then the women said to Naomi, blessed be the lord who has not left you this day9:47 without a close relative, and may his name be famous in Israel. And may he be to you a restorer of life and a nourisher of your in your of your old9:59 age for your daughter-in-law who loves you, who is better to you than 7 sons has born him. Also, the neighbor women women gave him a name saying this10:11 was a son that was born to to Ruth. There is a son born to Naomi, and they called his name Obed. He is the father of Jesse, the father of David.From Obed to Our Kinsman Redeemer 10:23 So Boaz is a type of Christ, our kinsman redeemer. If we look at this whole account, Boaz initiates favor upon Ruth, who is a gentile. You know, as we10:35 talked about, widows were defenseless. They were vulnerable, especially a widow who was a foreigner, a stranger. So yielding, though, Ruth yielded to Naomi's directions. He responds10:47 to Boaz's favor and kindness and asked that he take her under his wing, and he does. We as Gentiles are on the10:59 outside, but god, by the redemptive work of his 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 the11:11 riches of heaven where the table has been set for an eternal banquet of joy. He has shown us favor. We just need to respond. What a great picture of hope11:22 against the backdrop of the lawlessness and the unfaithfulness of the book of Judges, which just serve to highlight the fallen nature of man. But coming right after that is the11:34 redemption provided by God. What an amazing story. Story. Father, we thank you for your word, and we thank you for the redemption, the love that you have for us, the kindness.11:46 As Boaz just put give gives us an illustration, a picture of your love for us. And, lord, what an amazing story. We thank you for your love. We thank you for Jesus. Thank11:58 you for redeeming us. And, lord, I pray that we would 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 and12:09 how they apply to our lives in this world in 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.12:23 Today's study comes from the stand on the word bible reading plan available for free at f r c dot o r g slash bible. By following along in just a a few minutes a day, you12:35 can read through the entire Bible in just 2 years. Learn more and request the free reading guide at f r c dot o r g slash bible.93.9K followers
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