Ruth – Part 1 , Ruth – Part 2 , Ruth – Part 3
The fourth episode of the book of Ruth (chapter four) brings the message of covenant redemption to its full flower. God redeems the prisoner. He sets the captive free. The emptiness of episode one becomes the fullness of episode four. And as we mentioned in episode one, the book of Ruth, in its message of covenant redemption, serves as a microcosm of the whole Bible. The Bible is about God’s redemptive purposes in the world. God’s good creation fell into sin, and God is doing the work of redeeming his world. His work of redemption in the plan of God happens through the person and work of Jesus Christ. The book of Ruth is a picture of the larger story of redemption.
In the fourth and final episode, we find three scenes: (1) Seeking the Redeemer (4:1-12). (2) The Restorer of Life (4:13-17). (3) The Lineage of David (4:18-22). We see episode four unfold as a continuation of episode three, where Boaz promised he would redeem Ruth in the morning. True to his word, the next day, Boaz goes to the city gate, the place of government and legal action, to redeem Naomi and Ruth. Boaz knows that there is a kinsman closer than himself. He confronts the man at the city gate to see if he will redeem the widows. When the man learns that he will have to redeem Ruth by marriage, he refuses. Boaz then claims redemption on the land and Ruth. The man gives Boaz his sandal to seal the deal (a custom in that day). Ruth and Boaz marry, and in the course of time, a son, Obed, is born to them. Naomi rejoices greatly at the child’s birth. She went out full but returned empty. The Lord has now brought her to the fullness of blessing. The book ends with a genealogy tracing Obed to David. The overarching story of God’s redemption moves forward.
In scene one (4:1-12), we see the principle of God’s faithfulness in his redeeming love. The point of the book’s storyline is to move from the pain and brokenness of episode one to the blessings of episode four. This movement happens through God’s faithful redeeming love. The Lord is faithful to redeem Ruth and Naomi, demonstrating his love for them. God is faithful in redeeming all his children.
God’s redeeming love often comes from the faithfulness of others. Ruth and Naomi receive God’s redeeming love through Boaz’s faithfulness. Boaz is faithful to be the kinsman-redeemer. He pursues the redemption of Ruth and Naomi until it is complete. The believer’s faithfulness is shaped by God’s faithfulness. The Lord was faithful to Boaz in the barley harvest and in Ruth, seeking him to be her redeemer. In episode three, we noticed that Boaz considered it an act of kindness on Ruth’s part for following the law of the kinsman-redeemer in choosing him rather than pursuing younger men. God is faithful to those who faithfully follow him.
In scene two (4:13-17), we see the principle of the blessing of God’s redeeming love. The second scene is a joyful scene. In the course of time, Ruth becomes pregnant and gives birth to a baby boy, Obed. Obed is called the restorer of life to Naomi. In the birth of Obed, we see the blessing of God’s redeeming love to Ruth, Boaz, Naomi, and all of Israel. Obed will be the grandfather of King David. God’s redeeming love brings fullness from emptiness, joyfulness from bitterness, and hope from despair. The emptiness, bitterness, and despair at the end of episode one now become fullness, joy, and hope in episode four. The Lord’s redeeming love blesses all who are recipients of his redemption.
In scene three (4:18-22), we see the principle of the impact of God’s redeeming love. Scene three is actually a genealogy. It is a genealogy from Perez to David. The history of this genealogy is the story of the faithfulness of God. God was faithful through generations to this point, and the genealogy shows how God will be faithful to the birth of David in the future.
But God’s faithfulness does not stop there. The rest of the story of the Bible is the story of God’s faithfulness in his redeeming love to bring the Messiah, the son of David, into the world to be the ultimate redeemer. Jesus came as the kinsman-redeemer we desperately needed. He redeemed us out of slavery to sin at the cross. Through repentance and faith, we are free to serve him. The book of Ruth displays the beauty of God’s redeeming love.