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).
The matter of Ruth’s redemption should not be discussed without fully appreciating this moment. This simple meeting in the gate of Bethlehem-judah will affect generations to come. Its effect will be seen in Jewish wedding ceremonies and blessings. Reaching farther abroad, their meeting will restore the line of the Messiah. This one simple conversation will do more than redeem a woman; it will make way for the redemption of the world.
Boaz’s seat in the gate gives a wonderful picture of the Old Testament society. The gate of the city provided the venue for all matters social, legal, and official. Boaz was not a stranger in this place; however, though he may have come here previously for matters of the harvest, he had never been here for matters of the heart.
The nearest kinsman was spotted by Boaz as he entered the city. He called out to him, “Ho, such a one! Turn aside, sit down here.” The nearest kinsman is not specifically named in our text; this protected him and his family from potential embarrassment of not providing redemption for Ruth. The very invitation by Boaz brought together the one who could be kinsman-redeemer and the one who would be.
The nearest kinsman had every legal right to the land and the ladies of Elimelech's family. The decision was to be fully the nearer kinsman's. There was no debate that it was his choice to do so, but would he? What the nearest kinsman decided is known fully. However, can you see this powerful image in your mind? The nearest kinsman and the near kinsman sat together discussing the hope and the heritage of the family of Elimelech.
Their meeting is more than a reunion. It is a meeting of redemption. The nearer kinsman is a picture of the law. Boaz is a picture of grace. Together they sit in the gate of the city.
The very image of Boaz and his relative sitting together casts a shadow to the cross. It was the day where the Law of Moses and the grace of God met together. They met just outside the gate of a city on a hill called Calvary. The outcome of their decisions affected the line of the Messiah and the redemption of the world.
The Holy Spirit saw to it that the picture of Boaz and the kinsman would have its New Testament explanation.
“For the law [Ruth’s nearest kinsman] made nothing perfect, but the bringing in of a better hope did [Boaz]; by the which we draw nigh unto God” (Hebrews 7:19).
“For the law [Ruth’s nearest kinsman] having a shadow of good things to come [Boaz], and not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect” (Hebrews 10:1).
Rejoice today in the gracious provision of redemption by the Eternal Boaz. His redemption is not limited to one family, Ruth’s, but for the whole world. Have you accepted His gracious redemption?
Think about it...