The Law CANNOT Redeem
The end of Ruth is filled with strange twists and turns. It seems Boaz and Ruth are headed to wedded bliss when he stops short. Boaz knows the law. He knows there's a nearer relative who has the Levarite right to redeem Naomi by producing an offspring for her with Ruth. This law was set in place with Moses so ensure that a man's name and inheritance would not be cut off from Israel.
Deuteronomy 25:5–6 (ESV) “If brothers dwell together, and one of them dies and has no son, the wife of the dead man shall not be married outside the family to a stranger. Her husband’s brother shall go in to her and take her as his wife and perform the duty of a husband’s brother to her. 6 And the first son whom she bears shall succeed to the name of his dead brother, that his name may not be blotted out of Israel.
Ruth 4:1–4 (ESV) Now Boaz had gone up to the gate and sat down there. And behold, the redeemer, of whom Boaz had spoken, came by. So Boaz said, “Turn aside, friend; sit down here.” And he turned aside and sat down. 2 And he took ten men of the elders of the city and said, “Sit down here.” So they sat down. 3 Then he said to the redeemer, “Naomi, who has come back from the country of Moab, is selling the parcel of land that belonged to our relative Elimelech. 4 So I thought I would tell you of it and say, ‘Buy it in the presence of those sitting here and in the presence of the elders of my people.’ If you will redeem it, redeem it. But if you will not, tell me, that I may know, for there is no one besides you to redeem it, and I come after you.” And he said, “I will redeem it.”
Lots of important details here. Boaz comes to the "gate" of the city, the place of governmental authority. He also brings 10 elders from the city to attest to the conversation. The man who is the nearest redeemer is propositioned concerning the land owned by the now deceased Elimelech. The nearest redeemer wants the land but then he hears about Naomi and Ruth and denies his right.
Ruth 4:6 (ESV) Then the redeemer said, “I cannot redeem it for myself, lest I impair my own inheritance. Take my right of redemption yourself, for I cannot redeem it.”
Ruth 4:9–10 (ESV) Then Boaz said to the elders and all the people, “You are witnesses this day that I have bought from the hand of Naomi all that belonged to Elimelech and all that belonged to Chilion and to Mahlon. 10 Also Ruth the Moabite, the widow of Mahlon, I have bought to be my wife, to perpetuate the name of the dead in his inheritance, that the name of the dead may not be cut off from among his brothers and from the gate of his native place. You are witnesses this day.”
Now of course for us today none of this is particularly "romantic". It is the ancient world and a totally different culture based on honor and shame. Yet the shame of Naomi is eliminated through the honor of Boaz.
This is a picture of our redemption in Christ. There are reasons for the details of this event. The gate represents the courtroom of heaven by which we come legally into the kingdom of God. The 10 elders represent the law who testify to our hopeless estate apart from the loving actions toward us in Jesus. Of course, Boaz represents Christ who at His own cost and through the testimony of a perfect life under the law, comes to our rescue.
The chapter reminds us that the law cannot redeem. The law will not redeem. The law can only testify to our spiritual and moral poverty. Christ comes to our rescue, redeems us and produces in us fruitful living and secures that our names will not be blotted out from the book of life.
Jesus is the loving Redeemer of sinners who have no hope. If you feel lost, if you feel disconnected, if you know you haven't lived the life you should and the law reveals that internal rejection in your soul, look to Christ! He comes to bring you back to God. Not at your cost, but at His own. He will turn your mourning into dancing.
Deuteronomy 25:5–6 (ESV) “If brothers dwell together, and one of them dies and has no son, the wife of the dead man shall not be married outside the family to a stranger. Her husband’s brother shall go in to her and take her as his wife and perform the duty of a husband’s brother to her. 6 And the first son whom she bears shall succeed to the name of his dead brother, that his name may not be blotted out of Israel.
Just when things are looking really good for Ruth and Boaz, he makes the sudden announcement to her that there is a nearer redeemer and according to the law this other man must be offered the right of first refusal.
Now Boaz goes about setting up the opportunity for this man in a very careful deliberate way.
Ruth 4:1–4 (ESV) Now Boaz had gone up to the gate and sat down there. And behold, the redeemer, of whom Boaz had spoken, came by. So Boaz said, “Turn aside, friend; sit down here.” And he turned aside and sat down. 2 And he took ten men of the elders of the city and said, “Sit down here.” So they sat down. 3 Then he said to the redeemer, “Naomi, who has come back from the country of Moab, is selling the parcel of land that belonged to our relative Elimelech. 4 So I thought I would tell you of it and say, ‘Buy it in the presence of those sitting here and in the presence of the elders of my people.’ If you will redeem it, redeem it. But if you will not, tell me, that I may know, for there is no one besides you to redeem it, and I come after you.” And he said, “I will redeem it.”
Lots of important details here. Boaz comes to the "gate" of the city, the place of governmental authority. He also brings 10 elders from the city to attest to the conversation. The man who is the nearest redeemer is propositioned concerning the land owned by the now deceased Elimelech. The nearest redeemer wants the land but then he hears about Naomi and Ruth and denies his right.
Ruth 4:6 (ESV) Then the redeemer said, “I cannot redeem it for myself, lest I impair my own inheritance. Take my right of redemption yourself, for I cannot redeem it.”
It is at this moment Boaz steps up to do what this man will not do. He states before the elders of the city that he will be Naomi's redeemer and produce offspring through Ruth for her.
Ruth 4:9–10 (ESV) Then Boaz said to the elders and all the people, “You are witnesses this day that I have bought from the hand of Naomi all that belonged to Elimelech and all that belonged to Chilion and to Mahlon. 10 Also Ruth the Moabite, the widow of Mahlon, I have bought to be my wife, to perpetuate the name of the dead in his inheritance, that the name of the dead may not be cut off from among his brothers and from the gate of his native place. You are witnesses this day.”
Now of course for us today none of this is particularly "romantic". It is the ancient world and a totally different culture based on honor and shame. Yet the shame of Naomi is eliminated through the honor of Boaz.
This is a picture of our redemption in Christ. There are reasons for the details of this event. The gate represents the courtroom of heaven by which we come legally into the kingdom of God. The 10 elders represent the law who testify to our hopeless estate apart from the loving actions toward us in Jesus. Of course, Boaz represents Christ who at His own cost and through the testimony of a perfect life under the law, comes to our rescue.
The chapter reminds us that the law cannot redeem. The law will not redeem. The law can only testify to our spiritual and moral poverty. Christ comes to our rescue, redeems us and produces in us fruitful living and secures that our names will not be blotted out from the book of life.
Jesus is the loving Redeemer of sinners who have no hope. If you feel lost, if you feel disconnected, if you know you haven't lived the life you should and the law reveals that internal rejection in your soul, look to Christ! He comes to bring you back to God. Not at your cost, but at His own. He will turn your mourning into dancing.
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