Kinsman Redeemer Series

KINSMEN REDEEMER

Ruth 4

Read at the beginning of the service:

Ephesians 1:7 (NIV)

7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace

INTRODUCTION

Today we conclude our series on the book of Ruth (give a recap of what we’ve talked about):

Ruth 1 – "The Velcro Effect" (God’s Faithulness)Naomi and Elimelech move to Moab to escape the famine in Israel

Naomi’s two sons marry Orpah and Ruth – Moabitess woman.Naomi’s husband and two sons dieNaomi decides to move back to Israel – Ruth and Orpah insist on going with her.Naomi convinces Orpah to return to her people.

Naomi cannot convince Ruth who clung to Naomi saying, "Your people will be my people, Your God my God, Where you go I will go, Where you stay I will stay"

Ruth 2 – "It Just Happened" (God’s Provision)Naomi had named herself Mara which means bitter – thinking God had given up on her.Ruth decides to go and gather some food – it just happened that she landed in the fields of Boaz – a kind man.Ruth brings some of the abundance back to Naomi and shares with her.

Ruth 3 – "Amazing Love" (God’s Love)The love of God is pictured by the love shown by Ruth and Boaz.

Naomi sends Ruth to Boaz who his a kinsmen reedemer to lay at his feet and seek his protection.

Boaz promises if He is able to Redeem Ruth.

READ RUTH 4

PRAY

Some of you may remember the days when you could collect soda bottles for the purpose of redeeming them at a store. You would take these bottles in and recover the deposit that had been paid on them.

Some of you may remember that there were some bottles that you collected that said on the back of them:

"NO REFILL - NO RETURN"

In other words this bottle is non-redeemable. Many of the bottles you buy in today’s stores have that phrase on them.

Naomi had thoughts and feelings the days of redemption were beyond her. Having her husband and sons die in the land of Moab, and being left with one daughter-n-law who was a foreigner, all seemed hopeless.

Old Testament Kinsman Redeemer

Today we see from the book of Ruth a story of God’s Redemption. From the land of Moab, gleaning in the fields of Boaz and to the threshing floor the story finds its purpose in the kinsman redeemer.

In the Old Testament the kinsman redeemers were relatives who protected the needy members of their extended family. They could redeem (buy back) . . .

A relative sold into slavery (Lev 25:47-49)

Preserve the family lineage of a deceased male by marrying his widow and providing an heir. (Deut 25:5-6)

Land a relative had sold outside the family. (Lev 25:25)

In order for the kinsman to redeem persons , land or lineage he must fit these qualifications.

Must be a blood relative.

Must be able to redeem.

Must be willing to redeem.

In the story of Ruth there is a kinsman nearer than Boaz, but he is not able nor willing to redeem. (Ruth 4:1-6)

Ruth 4:6 (NIV)

6 At this, the kinsman-redeemer said, "Then I cannot redeem it because I might endanger my own estate. You redeem it yourself. I cannot do it."

Boaz steps up to become the kinsman to redeem the land and lineage of Elimelech, Chilion, and Mahlon, Ruth’s deceased husband. Boaz being a blood relative is able and willing to redeem.

Christ Our Kinsman Redeemer

The story sounds ancient and the customs sound strange, but bear with me for this story has a parallel to our Kinsman Redeemer.

In the Old Testament writings we have types and word pictures of the person and work of Jesus Christ. When Moses lifted up the serpent in the Wilderness (Numbers 21:9) it is a word picture of the atoning work of Christ (see: John 3:14).

John 3:14-15 (NIV)

14 Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the desert, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, 15 that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life.

Boaz is a type of Christ in his role as kinsman redeemer. Knowing who the Kinsman can redeem … those sold into slavery (sin) and being blood related, able and willing we see the effective redeeming work of Christ.

Redeemer must be blood related … Christ became the incarnation that He might be the blood relative to redeem lost humanity.John 1:14 (NIV)14 The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.

Redeemer must be able … Christ was able1 Peter 1:18-19 (NIV)