by John O’Malley
“Then went Boaz up to the gate, and sat him down there: and, behold, the kinsman of whom Boaz spake came by; unto whom he said, Ho, such a one! turn aside, sit down here. And he turned aside, and sat down” (Ruth 4:1).
Boaz swiftly went to the only place in the city of Bethlehem-judah where he was sure to meet this nearer kinsman: the gate of the city. The gate in the Old Testament times was of great significance to its citizens. The gate of every city was a place of commerce, trade, and legal decisions.
When one sought to buy or sell land, they would come here. If a servant in Israel wanted to serve his master forever, he would come to the city’s gate and tell the judges (Exodus 21:6). In turn, the master would take the servant to the door of the city. He would then drive an awl through the servant's ear to indicate this servant had volunteered to serve his master’s family forever.
Today, in many ways, he came to the city’s gate like a servant. He came voluntarily and committed to serve forever the family of Elimelech. He came fully surrendered to whatever the day would bring in the matter of redeeming Elimelech’s land and marrying Ruth.
Boaz was no stranger in the gate of the city. This day, Boaz would stand and confess his desire to redeem the darling of his harvest and heart. He would call upon another to do their part—one not called by name, but known only as “such a one.” “Such a one” had first claim to the land of Elimelech and to take to wife Ruth, the Gentile gem. If he would not, Boaz would stand at the door of the heart of Ruth and ask for the awl to mark his heart as hers forever.
Similarly, our Eternal Boaz took a voluntary journey for our redemption. When the law, which had first right to us, could not redeem us after thousands of sacrifices, He stood and said, “I will redeem them.” He took upon Himself our sin and substituted His righteousness as payment for the redemption of the world. The nail prints and piercing in His side reveal the mark of the awl as our Eternal Redeemer.
The redemption He provides is for all who will come by faith to Him. There is salvation in no other but Him. Any attempt to provide your own redemption will meet with failure and destruction. His offer of redemption stands today. Are you a “redeemed Ruth”? Rejoice today in the fact that our Eternal Boaz stood and redeemed us.
Think about it...