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Third Presbyterian Church Tuesday Bible Study Old Testament Tour - Ruth Lesson 48 – Ruth Meets Boaz

Ruth 2:1-23 (NIV) 1 Now Naomi had a relative on her husband's side, from the clan of Elimelech, a man of standing, whose name was Boaz. 2 And Ruth the Moabitess said to Naomi, "Let me go to the fields and pick up the leftover grain behind anyone in whose eyes I find favor." Naomi said to her, "Go ahead, my daughter." 3 So she went out and began to glean in the fields behind the harvesters. As it turned out, she found herself working in a field belonging to Boaz, who was from the clan of Elimelech. 4 Just then Boaz arrived from Bethlehem and greeted the harvesters, "The LORD be with you!" "The LORD bless you!" they called back. 5 Boaz asked the foreman of his harvesters, "Whose young woman is that?" 6 The foreman replied, "She is the Moabitess who came back from Moab with Naomi. 7 She said, 'Please let me glean and gather among the sheaves behind the harvesters.' She went into the field and has worked steadily from morning till now, except for a short rest in the shelter." 8 So Boaz said to Ruth, "My daughter, listen to me. Don't go and glean in another field and don't go away from here. Stay here with my servant girls. 9 Watch the field where the men are harvesting, and follow along after the girls. I have told the men not to touch you. And whenever you are thirsty, go and get a drink from the water jars the men have filled." 10 At this, she bowed down with her face to the ground. She exclaimed, "Why have I found such favor in your eyes that you notice me--a foreigner?" 11 Boaz replied, "I've been told all about what you have done for your mother-in-law since the death of your husband--how you left your father and mother and your homeland and came to live with a people you did not know before. 12 May the LORD repay you for what you have done.

May you be richly rewarded by the LORD, the God of Israel, under whose wings you have come to take refuge." 13 "May I continue to find favor in your eyes, my lord," she said. "You have given me comfort and have spoken kindly to your servant--though I do not have the standing of one of your servant girls." 14 At mealtime Boaz said to her, "Come over here. Have some bread and dip it in the wine vinegar." When she sat down with the harvesters, he offered her some roasted grain. She ate all she wanted and had some left over. 15 As she got up to glean, Boaz gave orders to his men, "Even if she gathers among the sheaves, don't embarrass her. 16 Rather, pull out some stalks for her from the bundles and leave them for her to pick up, and don't rebuke her." 17 So Ruth gleaned in the field until evening. Then she threshed the barley she had gathered, and it amounted to about an ephah. 18 She carried it back to town, and her mother-in-law saw how much she had gathered. Ruth also brought out and gave her what she had left over after she had eaten enough. 19 Her mother-in-law asked her, "Where did you glean today? Where did you work? Blessed be the man who took notice of you!" Then Ruth told her mother-in-law about the one at whose place she had been working. "The name of the man I worked with today is Boaz," she said. 20 "The LORD bless him!" Naomi said to her daughter-in-law. "He has not stopped showing his kindness to the living and the dead." She added, "That man is our close relative; he is one of our kinsman-redeemers." 21 Then Ruth the Moabitess said, "He even said to me, 'Stay with my workers until they finish harvesting all my grain.'" 22 Naomi said to Ruth her daughter-in-law, "It will be good for you, my daughter, to go with his girls, because in someone else's field you might be harmed." 23 So Ruth stayed close to the servant girls of Boaz to glean until the barley and wheat harvests were finished. And she lived with her mother-in-law.

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QUESTIONS

1. After a devastating loss or tragedy in a person’s life, why is it so difficult to get back to work? Is getting back to work as soon as ruth did a bad thing? Some may question her love for her dead husband by her seemingly moving on so soon to creating a normal life again…what are your thoughts? Is it a certain time that has to expire before your love for your dead spouse is not questioned? 2. I believe Ruth showed faith to God in clinging to God and not being paralyzed by her situation and God rewards that faith. Share with the group an instance where you just trusted God above the pain of your circumstances and God rewarded that faith in Him. 3. What character traits of Ruth stand out to you that you have or are working to acquire? 4. It was not chance that led Ruth to the field of Boaz. It was the sovereign power of God. God was guiding Ruth, working all events out for good—all because she loved God and was totally committed to Him. Share with the group an instance that you look back and know you were being led by God and God worked a situation out for your good and God’s glory. 5. Boaz was a Kinsman-Redeemer - a person who buys back, redeems, saves, rescues a family member. In ancient days, it was the responsibility of the nearest relative to provide for the family and to protect the rights of all family members. The nearest relative was known as the redeemer or kinsman (goel). The kinsman-redeemer was responsible by law to save his relative from any trouble the relative faced. A. In our society today we don’t have such laws but at times some family members act like this law is in effect. How are you able to show love with helping and rescuing a family member without being taken advantage of? How are you able to show love without becoming an enabler? B. The spirit of the “kinsman-redeemer” is still alive. How have you been a help/rescuer for a family member and it was a truly appreciated blessing? How did that make you feel? How did God respond to your kindness? 6. How could you demonstrate your thankfulness to the Lord for His provision for you? 7. What can you do in the next few days to help a friend who is struggling to make ends meet?

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RUTH: DIVISION I

C. Ruth Seeks Food and Meets Boaz: A Picture of God's Guidance, Arousing the Hope for Redemption, 2:1-23

(1:6-22) Introduction: poverty is a terrible thing. A poverty-stricken person often has little or no food to eat or decent clothes to wear. And far too often the poor person has no roof over his or her head or else lives in inadequate housing. A person who has no money or goods to barter or to swap for the necessities of life is destitute. The person has to live without the most basic necessities of life. Impoverished people have difficulty surviving in this world. Some are even forced to become the garbage people of the world, scavenging for food in the very garbage dumps of our cities. And others, including children, are forced to become sewage dwellers, living under the major cities of the world. They simply have no other place to turn for warmth and protection at night. This is a horrible scene and a terrible indictment against society as a whole, but in particular against the corrupt, greedy leaders of the world.

Naomi and Ruth were poor, utterly destitute. But this was not the only problem they faced: they were also widows and childless, left all alone in this world to fend for themselves in a male-dominated society. There was no reasonable work, no good paying job for them to secure in order to feed themselves and provide for their necessities. The difficulties they faced were compounded by the fact that Ruth was a foreigner who was looked upon suspiciously by Naomi's neighbors. But in the midst of all their problems, God cared for them. Ruth had just made a total commitment to the Lord to follow Him with her whole heart. Because of her genuine commitment to God, she was placed under the wings of God. God was taking care of Ruth and Naomi, moving events in order to protect and meet the needs of these two dear believers. God's care, guidance, and provision are the important subjects of this important passage of Scripture. This is: Ruth Seeks Food and Meets Boaz: a Picture of God's Guidance, Arousing the Hope for Redemption, 2:1-23.

1. The introduction of Boaz: a suggestion that a savior's redemption might lie just over the horizon (v.1).

2. The strong initiative of Ruth in seeking food: a picture of being diligent, not slothful, in seeking to meet one's need (v.2-3).

3. The unusual care shown by Boaz for Ruth: a picture of the care of Christ for us (v.4-16).

4. The stirring of great hope in Naomi and Ruth: a picture of hope, the hope for redemption (v.17-23).

1. (2:1) Boaz— Naomi: Boaz is introduced, so it seems, out of nowhere. There has been no mention, not even a hint, that a new character was to appear on the scene. And only Boaz's name and a few facts about him are given at this time (2:1). He does not yet enter the lives of Naomi and Ruth. This verse only introduces him to the reader, suggesting that he will soon become a part of their lives, a significant part.

The name Boaz most likely means, in him is strength or son of strength. However, the word could have an Arabic root meaning "lively" or "vigorous." Boaz was a man of wealth or standing (gibbor) in the community of Bethlehem. The Hebrew word has a wide range of meanings such as warrior (Judges 6:12; 11:1); a well-to- do man of property and wealth (2 Kings 15:20); a distinguished, honored man. This means that Boaz was a man of considerable position and influence in Bethlehem. P a g e | 4

Boaz was a relative, a kinsman of Naomi's husband, Elimelech. This fact—plus the fact that he was a wealthy, honorable man—is a strong suggestion that Boaz will soon become the savior of Naomi and Ruth. In fact, this is the very purpose for introducing him at this time in the story.

Naomi, who had suffered so much throughout her life, and Ruth, her daughter-in-law who had accompanied Naomi back to Bethlehem, were destitute. They were both widows, left all alone to fend for themselves in a male-dominated world. They even lacked the money to buy food, the most basic necessity of life.

But here is Boaz thrust upon the scene, introduced as a wealthy, honorable man. The implication or suggestion is clear: God appears on the scene to save these desperate, needy widows. Boaz will be their savior. He will rescue, deliver, and redeem them from their distress and sufferings. Their hopelessness will be turned to joy. Keep in mind that Boaz was the son of Rahab, the prostitute who was saved. This means that Boaz and his mother (Rahab) were to become a part of the lineage of Jesus Christ (Joshua 2:1-24; Matthew 1:5).

However, note this fact: Naomi and Ruth were totally unaware that God was about to save them from their desperate plight. But this was not to be all: God was also planning to use them to fulfill His great promise to Abraham, the promise of the promised seed—the wonderful promise that the Savior or Messiah would come through the descendants of Abraham. Ruth was to become a part of the lineage of the Lord Jesus Christ. The sovereign power of God was moving the events surrounding Naomi and Ruth in order to fulfill His promise made to Abraham centuries before. Naomi and Ruth were to play an important part in fulfilling God's great promise to send the Savior into the world. As stated, they were totally unaware that God was preparing to use them in His great cause to save mankind.

2. (2:2-3) Initiative, Example of— Diligence, Example of— Need, How to Meet— Gleaning, Example of— Guidance, of God— Sovereignty, of God— Provision, of God: Ruth demonstrated a courageous initiative in seeking food. This is a clear picture of being diligent, not slothful, in seeking to meet one's need.

A severe crisis confronted Ruth and Naomi: they had no food, none whatsoever. In fact, they faced several critical problems:

⇒ They lived in a male-dominated society, which meant that few jobs were available for women, especially well-paying jobs.

⇒ They were poverty-stricken.

⇒ They were both widows with no son who could secure employment and provide food.

⇒ Naomi was obviously too old or too sick or too depressed to seek employment from her former neighbors (1:19-21).

⇒ Ruth was a foreigner, a Moabite who was to be carefully, even suspiciously, watched.

Despite the mounting problems confronting Ruth and Naomi, Ruth showed courageous initiative. She suggested that she go and pick up leftover grain in the fields that had just been harvested (2:2). Remember that Naomi and Ruth had only recently returned from Moab to Bethlehem just as the barley harvest was beginning (1:22).

God had made wonderful provision for the poor among His people. When the farmers of the land reaped their harvest, whatever was left over was to be left for the poor. No field, vineyard, or tree was to be harvested a P a g e | 5 second time. The gleanings that had been left were to remain for the poor. Note how clearly God's commandment had spelled this out:

"And when ye reap the harvest of your land, thou shalt not wholly reap the corners of thy field, neither shalt thou gather the gleanings of thy harvest. And thou shalt not glean thy vineyard, neither shalt thou gather every grape of thy vineyard; thou shalt leave them for the poor and stranger: I am the Lord your God" (Leviticus 19:9-10).

"And when ye reap the harvest of your land, thou shalt not make clean riddance of the corners of thy field when thou reapest, neither shalt thou gather any gleaning of thy harvest: thou shalt leave them unto the poor, and to the stranger: I am the Lord your God" (Leviticus 23:22).

Somehow, Ruth was aware of this law. Just how, Scripture does not say. But in suggesting that she glean behind the harvesters, she was demonstrating enormous courage and strength. The very least she could expect as a foreigner would be an icy reception. Being ridiculed and run out of the field, even being physically abused and raped, were also very live possibilities. Nevertheless, Ruth and Naomi were desperate; they needed food. So Ruth took the initiative to get up and walk out to the fields. She began to glean behind the harvesters (2:3). And note where she was gleaning: she happened or found herself working in a field that belonged to Boaz.

This is a strong suggestion of God's sovereignty, of His moving events and guiding the life of Ruth to a very special purpose. Ruth had made a strong commitment to God, a total, unshakable commitment (1:14-18). And God had accepted her commitment. Now He was taking care of her, guiding and providing for her. Moreover, God had chosen Ruth to become a part of the great genealogy of the Promised Seed and Savior of the world. By leading Ruth to the field of Boaz, God was moving events to fulfill His great promise to Abraham, the promise of the Promised Seed. Ruth was to be an ancestress of the promised Messiah and Savior of the world.

Happening to find herself in the field of Boaz was no accident. Ruth had been guided by the Lord. But note this fact: if Ruth had not shown strong initiative in seeking food—if she had been slothful instead of diligent—God could not have guided her. She never would have found herself in the field of Boaz.

Thought 1. There are at least three strong lessons for us in this experience of Ruth:

1) We must be diligent, show strong initiative in meeting our needs. We must not depend upon others when we are able to work and earn a living ourselves. If we are physically and mentally able, we must be diligent, show strong initiative in providing for ourselves and meeting the necessities of life.

"Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life" (Proverbs 4:23).

"He becometh poor that dealeth with a slack hand: but the hand of the diligent maketh rich" (Proverbs 10:4).

"The hand of the diligent shall bear rule: but the slothful shall be under tribute" (Proverbs 12:24).

"The slothful man roasteth not that which he took in hunting: but the substance of a diligent man is precious" (Proverbs 12:27). P a g e | 6

2) We must not be slothful, lazy, sleepy-eyed in work and responsibility. This is the strong exhortation of Scripture:

"That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises" (Hebrews 6:12).

"For we hear that there are some which walk among you disorderly, working not at all, but are busybodies" (2 Thessalonians 3:11).

"Give not sleep to thine eyes, nor slumber to thine eyelids" (Proverbs 6:4).

"Go to the ant, thou sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise" (Proverbs 6:6).

3) It was not chance that led Ruth to the field of Boaz. It was the sovereign power of God. God was guiding Ruth, working all events out for good—all because she loved God and was totally committed to Him.

So it is with all who love God and are committed to Him. He works all things out for our good. God works behind the scenes for us even when we are not aware of His working.

"And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose" (Romans 8:28).

"And the man bowed down his head, and worshipped the Lord. And he said, Blessed be the Lord God of my master Abraham, who hath not left destitute my master of his mercy and his truth: I being in the way, the Lord led me to the house of my master's brethren" (Genesis 24:26-27).

"He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters" (Psalms 23:2).

3. (2:4-16) Care, Example of— Concern, Example of— Employer, Relations with Employees— Poor, Duty to— Giving, Duty— Boaz, Type of Christ— Types, of Christ: Boaz demonstrated unusual care for Ruth. His concern for her is a striking type of the Lord's care for us. Ruth was not only poor, but she was also a widow and a foreigner in a strange land. But God was about to change her circumstances—significantly so. Ruth had totally committed her life to God, and God always looks after His people. God was moving events that would change her life forever, that would create a relationship with Boaz to meet her every need.

A relationship was being created between Boaz and Ruth, a relationship that was being worked out by the hand of God. Boaz left the city of Bethlehem and traveled out to the fields where the workers were harvesting the crops. As he arrived, he spotted Ruth picking up the leftover grain behind the women who were tying the grain into sheaves or bundles.

Note that Boaz and the workers greeted one another in the name of the Lord. This gives some indication of the character of Boaz, that he was a kind, godly man. He was an employer who respected his workers and had an excellent relationship with them. How unlike so many working relationships today! P a g e | 7

1. Something about Ruth obviously attracted Boaz, for he asked the foreman about her (2:5). The foreman identified her as the Moabite who had returned with Naomi (2:6). He added that Ruth had requested permission to glean behind the harvesters and that she had worked diligently and steadily all morning (2:6-7).

2. Hearing this, Boaz took the initiative and spoke to Ruth. He addressed her as "my daughter," indicating that she was perhaps younger than Boaz. He immediately sought to help her by inviting her to glean in his fields and in his alone. Remember, as the men harvested the crops, the servant girls followed along behind tying the grain into bundles. Thus, Boaz was showing very special favor to Ruth. He was inviting Ruth to follow along behind the servant girls picking up whatever grain they had missed.

3. But this was not all that Boaz did for Ruth: he also promised to protect and provide for her (2:9). He informed her that he had instructed his men not to touch her and that she could drink water from the very jars provided for his workers.

4. Boaz then encouraged Ruth by acknowledging her newfound faith in the Lord and pronouncing a blessing upon her (2:10-13). Ruth was utterly surprised, even shocked at the promise of Boaz to protect and provide for her. At his words, she knelt down before him in humility. With her face to the ground, she asked how he could favor her so much—her a foreigner?

Boaz responded that he had heard about Ruth's abandonment of her former life. He had heard about the total commitment she had made to Naomi and to God and His people (2:11). Keep in mind that Bethlehem was a small city. This meant that practically everyone in the city would have known Ruth's story. They would have known that she had forsaken her own people to take care of Naomi, desiring to follow God and to become identified with God's people.

Boaz then pronounced a blessing upon Ruth, acknowledging her newfound faith (2:12). He declared that she had taken refuge "under God's wings." This is the picture of a small bird snuggling under the wings of its mother for provision and protection (Deuteronomy 32:11; Psalms 91:4; Matthew 23:37). Warren W. Wiersbe says that "God's wings" can refer to the wings of the cherubim in the Holy of Holies (Psalms 36:7; 61:4). Thus, Ruth not only had accepted God, but God had placed her under His wings in the very Holy of Holies, placed her under His personal provision and protection (Ephesians 2:11-22).

Ruth responded to this most unusual favor of Boaz by acknowledging his goodness and her unworthiness (2:13). And she requested his continued favor as she gleaned in his fields in order to feed Naomi and herself.

5. Note how abundantly Boaz provided for Ruth (2:14-16). When lunchtime came, he invited her to share the noon meal with himself and his reapers. Interestingly, he himself served her, and she ate until she was filled. He then gave special orders to his workers regarding her (2:15-16). They were to let her gather among the sheaves, not rebuking or stopping her. He even ordered the workers to drop some stalks for her to pick up.

Thought 1. Boaz's treatment of Ruth is a striking picture of the concern and care of Christ for us.

1) Boaz spotted Ruth working in his fields. So the Lord sees us and knows exactly where we are and what our needs are. Nothing is hid from God. He sees every need we have.

"Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him" (Matthew 6:8). P a g e | 8

"Nathanael saith unto him, Whence knowest thou me? Jesus answered and said unto him, Before that Philip called thee, when thou wast under the fig tree, I saw thee" (John 1:48).

"To him the porter openeth; and the sheep hear his voice: and he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out" (John 10:3).

2) Boaz took the initiative to speak to Ruth, seeking to help her. So the Lord has always taken the initiative in seeking to help us. He has spoken to us in His Holy Word, giving us promise after promise, seeking to help us and to meet our needs. But God has spoken not only in the Holy Scriptures, He has spoken to us through His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. By sending Christ into the world, God has shown us exactly how we are to live. a) God has spoken, revealed Himself to us through Christ.

"In him was life; and the life was the light of man" (John 1:4).

"The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly" (John 10:10). b) God has spoken to us through His written Word, the Holy Bible. He has given us His Word to show us how to live.

"Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth" (2 Timothy 2:15).

"For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost" (2 Peter 1:21).

"Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path" (Psalms 119:105).

3) Just as Boaz promised to protect and provide for Ruth, so the Lord protects and provides for us. a) The Lord promises to protect us.

"But there shall not an hair of your head perish" (Luke 21:18).

"For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind" (2 Timothy 1:7).

"The Lord shall fight for you, and ye shall hold your peace" (Exodus 14:14). b) The Lord promises to provide for us, to meet our every need.

"Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they" (Matthew 6:26).

"But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you" (Matthew 6:33).

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4) Just as Boaz encouraged Ruth when she was in desperate need, so the Lord will encourage us in our desperate moments.

"O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not" (Matthew 23:37).

"The eternal God is thy refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms: and he shall thrust out the enemy from before thee; and shall say, Destroy them" (Deuteronomy 33:27).

5) Boaz provided abundantly for Ruth. So the Lord will provide abundantly for His people.

"The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly" (John 10:10).

Thought 2. Boaz was definitely a type of Christ. Warren W. Wiersbe says this:

Bible students have seen in Boaz a picture of our Lord Jesus Christ in His relationship to His bride, the church. Like Ruth, the lost sinner is outside the covenant family of God, bankrupt, with no claim on God's mercy. But God took the initiative and provided a way for us to enter his family through faith in Jesus Christ. (See Ephesians 2:10-22.)

What a picture of the grace of God! The master became like the servants that he might show his love to a foreigner. Ruth had no idea that Boaz had commanded his workers to be generous to her, but she believed his word and found that her needs were met. Jesus Christ came to this earth as a servant (Philippians 2:1-11) that He might save us and make us a part of His family. He has shared with us the riches of His mercy and love (Ephesians 2:4), the riches of His grace (Ruth 2:7), the riches of His wisdom and knowledge (Romans 11:33), His riches in glory (Philippians 4:19), and yes, His "unsearchable riches" (Ephesians 3:8, NIV). We, undeserving "foreigners," are members of the family of God and have all of His inheritance at our disposal.

4. (2:17-23) Hope, Example of— Redemption, Type of— Type, of Redemption— Kinsmen-Redeemer, Example of— Hope, Source of: there was the stirring of great hope in Naomi and Ruth. Boaz's interest in Ruth aroused the hope of rescue, the hope that Naomi and Ruth might be saved (redeemed) from a life of poverty and destitution. Unknown to them, the wonderful day of redemption, salvation, and rescue was rapidly approaching.

1. Great hope was aroused in Ruth because of Boaz's gracious provision (2:17). Ruth continued to glean, to gather all the grain she could throughout the afternoon and up until the early evening. Then she threshed the barley she had gathered, which amounted to about an ephah (three quarters of a bushel). No doubt, great hope and joy flooded Ruth's heart as she labored throughout the afternoon, for Boaz had assured her that she could continue to glean until the end of the harvest season (2:8, 23).

2. Great hope—a renewed hope—was aroused in Naomi (2:18-19). As soon as Ruth returned to Naomi, she showed how much grain she had gathered. And she gave Naomi the leftovers from her lunch (2:18). Knowing that two-thirds of a bushel was far more grain than what was usually gleaned by the poor and that the poor were never given food by the landowners and his workers, Naomi was utterly surprised. Somewhat shocked, but overjoyed, she questioned Ruth: Where had she been gleaning and working? And she blessed the man who had taken notice of Ruth and had been so generous to her. P a g e | 10

Excitedly, Ruth shared her story and experience, identifying the man as Boaz (2:19). Keep in mind the bitter life that Naomi had lived, the terrible sufferings she had borne through the hand of God's chastisement. She had lost her husband and both sons and had been gripped by the depths of grief and discouragement. Her life had been empty and tragic ever since her marriage. But now, a renewed hope was aroused within her. Hearing the name of Boaz stirred within her the hope of being rescued, redeemed from a life of poverty and hopelessness.

3. Great hope was aroused because Boaz was the kinsman-redeemer of Naomi (2:20-23). This is a striking picture of Jesus Christ, the believer's Kinsman-Redeemer. When Naomi heard the name Boaz, she immediately exclaimed, "That man is our close relative; he is one of our kinsman-redeemers" (2:20). This fact meant a most wonderful thing to Naomi. In Jewish society, the kinsmen-redeemer was just that, a near relative who could redeem or rescue a needy family member. (See Deeper Study #1—Ruth 2:20 for more discussion.) Note that this great hope of the kinsman-redeemer had four wonderful effects upon Naomi and Ruth:

⇒ This great hope of the kinsman-redeemer stirred Naomi to praise the Lord (2:20).

⇒ This great hope of the kinsman-redeemer also assured continued provision for Naomi and Ruth (2:21). Ruth told Naomi that Boaz had invited her to continue gleaning as long as the harvest season lasted.

⇒ This great hope of the kinsman-redeemer assured ongoing protection for Ruth as she continued to glean throughout the season (2:22). In someone else's field, Ruth could easily have been physically abused or harmed. But in Boaz's field, she was guaranteed his protection.

⇒ This great hope of the kinsman-redeemer stirred Ruth to continue gleaning in the field of Boaz until the end of the harvest season (2:23).

DEEPER STUDY #1 (2:20) Kinsman-Redeemer (goel)

DEEPER STUDY #1

(2:20) Kinsman-Redeemer (goel): a person who buys back, redeems, saves, rescues a family member. In ancient days, it was the responsibility of the nearest relative to provide for the family and to protect the rights of all family members. The nearest relative was known as the redeemer or kinsman (goel). The kinsman-redeemer was responsible by law to save his relative from any trouble the relative faced. The kinsman-redeemer…

• was to avenge the death of a murdered relative (see outline—• Numbers 35:9-29 and note—• Numbers 35:9- 29; Numbers 35:19).

• was to redeem or buy back land that had been sold by a family member (Leviticus 25:25; see outline—• Leviticus 25:23-34 and note—• Leviticus 25:23-34 for more discussion).

• was to buy back a family member who had been sold as a slave (Leviticus 25:47-49; see outline—• Leviticus 25:35-55 and note—• Leviticus 25:35-55 for more discussion).

• was to look after any family member who faced a critical need and was helpless to meet the need himself (Leviticus 25:35; see outline—• Leviticus 25:35-55 and note—• Leviticus 25:35-55 for more discussion). P a g e | 11

• was to marry the wife of a dead brother who had no children (see outline—• Deuteronomy 25:5-10 and note— • Deuteronomy 25:5-10 for more discussion ).

• was to help family members secure justice in legal disputes and in the courts of the land (Proverbs 23:11).

Simply stated, the kinsman-redeemer took care of weak family members who faced critical or hopeless situations. This was the law of the kinsman-redeemer, a law established by God Himself. It was the principle of redemption that guaranteed the rescue or salvation of His people from helpless, hopeless situations.

Thought 1. Jesus Christ is our Kinsman-Redeemer. It is He who redeems, rescues, and saves us from the impossible, hopeless situations of life. No matter what the critical problem may be, the Lord Jesus Christ will redeem and save us. Our Kinsman-Redeemer will save and rescue the…

• widowed• childless• elderly• lonely • depressed• empty• purposeless • sorrowful

• diseased• suffering• backslidden• lost• poor • desperate• grief-stricken• orphaned

• unsaved• sinful who repent

The Kinsman-Redeemer of the universe, the Lord Jesus Christ, will redeem (rescue and save) any person who calls out to Him for help. In fact, Jesus Christ Himself became poor in order to redeem us and make us rich. He left the very glory and riches of heaven to come to this sinful, poverty-stricken earth to redeem us for the glory of heaven itself.

"Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus" (Romans 3:24).

"Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?… Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Romans 8:34-35, 37-39).

"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 8:9).

"Who gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father" (Galatians 1:4).

"In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins" (Colossians 1:14).

"Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation [conduct, behavior] received by tradition from your fathers; But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot" (1 Peter 1:18-19). P a g e | 12

"But I am poor and needy; yet the Lord thinketh upon me: thou art my help and my deliverer; make no tarrying, O my God" (Psalms 40:17).

"Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness" (Isaiah 41:10).

Preacher's Outline and Sermon Bible - Commentary - The Preacher's Outline & Sermon Bible – Judges, Ruth.