5) The Virtuous Woman Series

10 And he said, Blessed be thou of the LORD, my daughter: for thou hast shewed more kindness in the latter end than at the beginning, inasmuch as thou followedst not young men, whether poor or rich.

How has Ruth showed more kindness in the latter end? And what was that lesser kindness that she had shown at the beginning? Well from the time that Boaz first met her back in Ruth 2:11, he was clearly impressed with the kindness she had shown her elderly mother-in-law. Remember what he said: It hath fully been shewed me, all that thou hast done unto thy mother-in-law since the death of thine husband: and how thou hast left thy father and thy mother, and the land of thy nativity, and art come unto a people which thou knewest not heretofore. That was her kindness at the beginning. But Boaz now says, you’ve outdone even that! How so?

It appears that Ruth’s youth, beauty and virtue would make her a prized wife for any eligible bachelor in Bethlehem. But, according to Jewish custom at that time, only a Kinsman Redeemer could raise up seed to continue the name of her departed husband. Boaz is a kinsman, but by no means a young man. And yet, Ruth is willing to forego all the handsome young suitors in order to assure Naomi that her dead husband’s lineage will not be lost forever. She is willing to marry a much older man who would very likely make her a premature widow again in just a few years. And although Ruth could not possibly know it, in so doing, she becomes the mother of an eternal heritage, an ancestress of the Messiah Himself! Through Ruth, a Savior will enter the world!

Boaz is really impressed that she followest not young men, whether rich or poor. She does not even keep company with them so as to avoid kindling any natural romantic affections that might sway her from her purpose. She is determined to bear a child by her aging Kinsman Redeemer so the baby can inherit the name and estate of Naomi’s late husband, Elimelech, as well as Ruth’s husband, Mahlon. It’s a determination every bit as strong as what she expressed to Naomi when she set out from Moab saying, “Your God will be my God, and may He strike me dead if I leave you!” We repeatedly see that once Ruth committed herself to something, there was no turning back for her.

So now, will Boaz accept the role of Kinsman Redeemer for Ruth, and more importantly, for Naomi who has no other hope for a decent future?

Of course, the Kinsman Redeemer is a picture of Jesus, the Redeemer of all mankind, who became the Elder Brother to the whole human race, first in line to redeem us all from the poverty and misery of sin. He is the Groom to His Bride, the Church. He is our Avenger to destroy the devil. He restores our dominion over the world that Adam lost. He delivers us from bondage to our sins.

And just as Ruth called upon Boaz to deliver her, all that any of us need to do is call upon the name of the Lord Jesus Christ to deliver us from all the miseries of sin and Satan

11 And now, my daughter, fear not; I will do to thee all that thou requirest: for all the city of my people doth know that thou art a virtuous woman.