Ruth 4:7-12 – Redeemed to pursue His presence

Boaz met the anonymous relative of Elimelech to settle the legal rights of the kinsman-redeemer. The latter had the first option since he was the closest relative. But he had declined the opportunity, since redeeming Elimelech’s land included marrying Ruth. Not wanting to jeopardize his own property, he surrendered his rights. The way they transferred the legal right was for him to remove his sandal and pass it on to Boaz. And he did so in the presence of the ten witnesses invited to witness the ceremony. So, Boaz boldly declared to all present that he had acquired from the hand of Naomi the estates of Elimelech and his two dead sons, Chilion and Mahlon. In so doing he had also acquired Ruth, the wife of Mahlon so as to fulfill the Levirate law of propagating descendants for him so that his name would not be erased from the land. 

Boaz did it cheerfully and so all the people at the gate affirmed his action and collectively resounded by saying, “we are witnesses.” They then pronounced a blessing first on Ruth, then on Boaz. They then prayed in unison for Yahweh to make Ruth as fruitful as Rachel and Leah, from whom the whole house of Israel came forth. Though Boaz was already rich and well known, they prayed for that to increase. They also prayed that he would be like Perez, the son of Judah. Why? It is because he was the offspring of a Levirate marriage. Perez was the child of Judah by a very unusual circumstance. For more detail do read Genesis 38.   

The way Boaz so willingly went about to redeem Ruth, reminds us of how willing Jesus also is to redeem us. For our redemption, Jesus set His eyes toward Jerusalem like a flint. Luke 9:51 said that he was determined to go to Jerusalem. He went willingly, deliberately and purposefully. According to Hebrews 12:2, Jesus “Who for the joy set before Him endured the cross….” He was pleased to go to the cross to ensure our redemption. Boaz also showed two reasons why he went about the task to secure the redemption. Firstly, it’s because he had a deep love for Ruth. Secondly, because he wanted to bring life out of death. Without Boaz being willing to be the kinsman-redeemer, Elimelech’s line would be wiped out. Boaz’ action preserved life, so also are we preserved because of Jesus our Kinsman-Redeemer. It is for the same two reasons,  His love for us and His desire to see our life preserve that Jesus our kinsman-redeemer came to redeem us. And like John said in his letters to the early church, “We love Him because He first loved us.” And He died to make us God’s children forever. In Christ, we are redeemed and liberated to pursue our destiny in Him. We do so by fixing our eyes on Him, the author and finisher of our faith. He was joyful to bring us into God’s presence, let us be willing and joyful to enjoy God’s presence.