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Additional rough notes on Ruth (undated and unformatted)
The scene is “the gate” (Ruth 4:1) – the centre of
city life, for conversation, business and justice. C.f. King Zedekiah sitting by
the Benjamin Gate (Jeremiah 38:7); injustice at the gate (Amos 5:12 A.V.);
condemnation and stoning at the gate (Deuteronomy 22:15,24).
Family duties in Ancient Israel.
The land was God’s, and Israel held it in trust. A man could only sell land
for a short time if there was hardship. When times improved, he had to buy it
back personally, or a kinsman-redeemer buy it back for him. This was the duty of
the nearest relative. If the man had died childless, the kinsman redeemer had to
marry the widow to raise up children for the dead man, and therefore keep his
family going and preserve his name.
The kinsman redeemer for
Elimelech’s family was required to buy back the land that Naomi was being
forced to sell, and marry Ruth, because Mahlon had died without children. Boaz
found out that the nearest relative to Naomi, who ought to have been the kinsman
redeemer, was prepared to buy the land, but did not want to marry Ruth. Boaz was
next in line, and in front of witnesses (10 of them, for 10 was the perfect
number, necessary later for the synagogue) it was agreed that Boaz would be
kinsman redeemer.
Picture here of God’s
redemption of His people Israel. I will redeem you with an outstretched arm (Exodus
6:6). He saved them from the hand of the foe; from the hand of the enemy he
redeemed them (Psalm 106:10). God Most High was their Redeemer (Psalm
78:35).
Also the completion of the
Redemption picture in the New Testament, redemption through His blood. In him
we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance
with the riches of God's grace (Ephesians 1:7). The basic idea is the same
– the redeemer delivers someone through payment of a price. There is a cost
for the Redeemer. Our redemption cost God effort and strength and cost Christ
His life.
The son of Boaz and Ruth was
named Obed, meaning “servant”. And he was the ancestor of the greatest
Servant of all. C.f. the four Servant Songs, especially Isaiah 53. The title was
also applied to Christ in the New Testament. He made himself nothing, taking
the very nature of a servant (Philippians 2:7). The God of our fathers,
has glorified his servant Jesus…. God raised up his servant (Acts 3:13,
26). Stretch out your hand to heal and perform miraculous signs and wonders
through the name of your holy servant Jesus (Acts 4:30). And in Matthew
20:28 we find both roles, that of Redeemer and Servant, used of Christ: the
Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a
ransom for many.
Ideal family pictured here.
Strong family bond because of the Kinsman Redeemer’s work. The Lord gave them
offspring, and the praise went to God. The women said to Naomi: "Praise
be to the Lord, who this day has not left you without a kinsman-redeemer” (Ruth
4:14). They brought blessing to Naomi in her old age.
Children are the Lord’s gift. Sons are a heritage from the Lord, children a reward from him (Psalm 127:3). They are entrusted to parents to train for Him. This underlying principle is applicable today - family life centring on the Lord, His will and purposes. Family love, mutual support. We can see around us that much of the decline in society is due to neglect of family loyalty, and neglect of children and the aged. Christian marriages and homes are to be distinctive. Christ should be the head of the home. Family worship, and instruction for children – ought not just to be left to the church and the Sunday School teacher.
A record of the genealogy of Jesus Christ the son of
David…. Boaz the father of Obed, whose mother was Ruth, Obed the father of
Jesse, and Jesse the father of King David (Matthew 1:1ff). The genealogies
of the New Testament might make difficult reading because of the difficult names
– but they are wonderful at showing us the working out of God’s purposes,
how he orders and controls history, individuals, marriages and families.
He directs our paths, and His purposes go from generation to generation. He sees the end from the beginning. We do not see the total picture. We think we are unimportant, but we are vital links in the chain, and also in God’s purposes. He uses the despised and the unknown. As long as we are walking with God, and are obedient to His will, he can use us mightily – though we may not know how He did it till the last day.
