Special Blessings, The Story of Ruth
Lesson 5 (Kinsman Redeemer)

Galatians 3:10-14 “10 For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them.

11 But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith.12 And the law is not of faith: but, The man that doeth them shall live in them.
13 Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree:14 That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.”

Handout: The Story of Ruth
Lesson 5 (Kinsman Redeemer)


Last week, we left the story and Boaz and Ruth were waiting out the long night before they could see what the future had in store for them.  Ruth had gone to the threshing floor and lay at the feet of Boaz and had pretty much laid out her heart to him in hopes that he would accept her.  She needed him to step in and redeem back what widowhood had stolen from her.  She needed her kinsman redeemer because The Law required it! 

Deuteronomy 25:5-10 “5 If brethren dwell together, and one of them die, and have no child, the wife of the dead shall not marry without unto a stranger: her husband's brother shall go in unto her, and take her to him to wife, and perform the duty of an husband's brother unto her.
And it shall be, that the firstborn which she beareth shall succeed in the name of his brother which is dead, that his name be not put out of Israel.7 And if the man like not to take his brother's wife, then let his brother's wife go up to the gate unto the elders, and say, My husband's brother refuseth to raise up unto his brother a name in Israel, he will not perform the duty of my husband's brother.
Then the elders of his city shall call him, and speak unto him: and if he stand to it, and say, I like not to take her;9 Then shall his brother's wife come unto him in the presence of the elders, and loose his shoe from off his foot, and spit in his face, and shall answer and say, So shall it be done unto that man that will not build up his brother's house.10 And his name shall be called in Israel, The house of him that hath his shoe loosed.”

A kinsman redeemer was a male relative who, according to various laws found in the Pentateuch, had the privilege or responsibility to act for a relative who was in trouble, danger, or need of vindication.  He had to be able to meet all the criteria to redeem back the land of the relative who was deceased.  (Leviticus 25)



Qualifications of a Kinsman Redeemer:

1. He had to be near of kin
2. He had to be able to redeem
3. He had to be willing to redeem

Boaz met all the qualifications.  He was a near relation, he was able to redeem Ruth, and he was willing, however, there was a nearer kinsman that stood in his way.  If that man met all the qualifications then Boaz would have to step aside.  With this knowledge, I imagine that Ruth nor Boaz got much sleep that night at the threshing floor.  Don’t you think it was a long, dark night wondering what would happen?   In the last lesson we looked at how Ruth must have been eager to hear from Boaz and how the night may have been very long for her to wait, but I believe it was a long night for Boaz as well.  The dark hours surrounded them before they could start this redemption process.  They would just have to wait it out.

Ruth 3:10-13 “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.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. 12 And now it is true that I am thy near kinsman: howbeit there is a kinsman nearer than I. 13 Tarry this night, and it shall be in the morning, that if he will perform unto thee the part of a kinsman, well; let him do the kinsman's part: but if he will not do the part of a kinsman to thee, then will I do the part of a kinsman to thee, as the Lord liveth: lie down until the morning.”
There was a long, dark night in our own Kinsman Redeemer’s story as well. Do you remember?  In the garden of Gethsamane.  The dark hours surrounded Him before the day came that HE would finally finish what HE had begun.  Come morning HE would pay the redemption price with His very own life’s blood.  For you, and for me.    

Mark 14:32-41 “32 And they came to a place which was named Gethsemane: and he saith to his disciples, Sit ye here, while I shall pray.33 And he taketh with him Peter and James and John, and began to be sore amazed, and to be very heavy; 34 And saith unto them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful unto death: tarry ye here, and watch.
35 And he went forward a little, and fell on the ground, and prayed that, if it were possible, the hour might pass from him.36 And he said, Abba, Father, all things are possible unto thee; take away this cup from me: nevertheless not what I will, but what thou wilt.37 And he cometh, and findeth them sleeping, and saith unto Peter, Simon, sleepest thou? couldest not thou watch one hour?
38 Watch ye and pray, lest ye enter into temptation. The spirit truly is ready, but the flesh is weak. 39 And again he went away, and prayed, and spake the same words.40 And when he returned, he found them asleep again, (for their eyes were heavy,) neither wist they what to answer him. 41 And he cometh the third time, and saith unto them, Sleep on now, and take your rest: it is enough, the hour is come; behold, the Son of man is betrayed into the hands of sinners.”
Understanding that Boaz is a type and shadow of JESUS CHRIST, notice that Boaz and JESUS both waited through a long night before the time to Redeem came.  Note also that Ruth was instructed to stay at the feet of Boaz and wait for the morning, the disciples were told to watch and pray and then finally they were so tired Jesus just told them to sleep on…but they like Ruth were to rest near The Redeemer.  There’s nothing like staying close to the One that keeps you.  The one that loves you, the one that saved you….Nothing like being in the presence of The Redeemer…JESUS. 
Finally, morning had come.  Before the sun came up, Ruth went back to Naomi with six measures of barley that Boaz had given to her.  I’m thinking soon as he could, Boaz went to take care of business!
Ruth 4:1-6 “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.
And he took ten men of the elders of the city, and said, Sit ye down here. And they sat down.3 And he said unto the kinsman, Naomi, that is come again out of the country of Moab, selleth a parcel of land, which was our brother Elimelech's:
And I thought to advertise thee, saying, Buy it before the inhabitants, and before the elders of my people. If thou wilt redeem it, redeem it: but if thou wilt not redeem it, then tell me, that I may know: for there is none to redeem it beside thee; and I am after thee. And he said, I will redeem it.”
Boaz laid out the situation at hand, he had placed his cards on the table so to speak.  There was one man standing in the way and if he met the qualifications then that would be the end of him and his beloved Ruth.  The Bible doesn’t tell us the other man’s name, but after hearing what Boaz had to say, the man says sure I’ll redeem the property.  Then in a very clever and wise move, Boaz drops a bomb on him.  Perhaps that is why Boaz was so wealthy and prominent, he clearly was a very wise business man!  He didn’t mention the part about marrying Ruth the Moabite as part of the deal to begin with.  He was saving that information for last.  With this news, the other man wasn’t as hasty as he was to begin with when he thought that the property was the only thing he was to gain.  Not saying he was a bad man, but he simply wasn’t “The Man” who could be the redeemer, he simply could not do it.

Ruth 4:5-6 “.  5 Then said Boaz, What day thou buyest the field of the hand of Naomi, thou must buy it also of Ruth the Moabitess, the wife of the dead, to raise up the name of the dead upon his inheritance.
And the kinsman said, I cannot redeem it for myself, lest I mar mine own inheritance: redeem thou my right to thyself; for I cannot redeem it.”
(Score 1 for Boaz, 0 for “What’s His Name” Whoop, whoop! J )  Ruth and Naomi, call your gal pals, book the chapel, and start picking out dresses because there’s gonna be a wedding!  Yes! Yes! Oh Yes!

My niece is soon to be married next month and we are all so excited, it’s a very happy time.  On her cell phone when you call her ring tone is this song…it says and repeats, “Going to the chapel and we’re gonna get married, going to the chapel and we’re gonna get married, going to the chapel and we’re gonna get married, going to the chapel of love.”  Perhaps a song like this would have been the very type of song Ruth and Naomi would have been singing as they did a “ring around rosey” skipping dance when they heard the good news!  What Joy!
As joyous as that day was for everyone, you and I have even MORE to rejoice over!  We too have been redeemed from the law, from sin, from death, and from an eternity away from GOD in hell!  Hallelujah!  We could not redeem ourselves, we were a slave to sin and the law demanded perfection!  JESUS CHRIST was The ONLY ONE that met all the qualifications in order to redeem us.  HE was a near Kinsman, GOD made it happen!  He came in the form of human flesh, born of a virgin who was over shadowed by GOD’S Holy Spirit.  JESUS was able in that HE was perfect and sinless meeting all the demands of GOD’S Holy Law that we could not meet, and Thank GOD HE was willing, Praise HIS HOLY Name! 
Romans 5:6 “For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.

Hebrews 2:14-15 “14 Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, He also Himself likewise took part of the same; that through death He might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil;15 And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.”
Hebrews 7:24-25 “24 But this man, because He continueth ever, hath an unchangeable priesthood.25 Wherefore He is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto GOD by Him, seeing He ever liveth to make intercession for them.”
Romans 8:1-4 “There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.3 For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh:4 That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.”
JESUS CHRIST our kinsman Redeemer, left the splendor of Heaven, He humbled Himself as a servant, came to this old sinful world to show HIS kindness, compassion, and favor toward you and I.  The KING of Kings and THE LORD of Lords, the most powerful one, the one able to call thousands of angels to come to His rescue…the one who could have just spoke the word and crushed His enemies, He in great strength, willingly laid Himself down on a cross, bearing our shame, our sin, and our separation from GOD because we could not.  HE took our punishment and our guilt, and it was nailed to that old cross.  HE who is EVERYTHING Good, became nothing for you and for me.  Even before we knew who HE is, HE loved us, before we even first believed, HE paid the price in our place on the cross.  HE paid your sin debt, and mine.  HE hung between the heavens and the earth, a bridge between GOD and humanity so that we could be reconciled, so that we could have everything that had been stolen away by sin.  How did HE do that?  Because HE was Immanuel, GOD with us.  Praise The LORD! 

Matthew 20:28 “Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.”
Adam the first man had disobeyed GOD in the garden, in the beginning.  Sin now ruled and reigned and humanity lost the gift that GOD had given.  The wages of sin is death. Who could redeem humanity and purchase back everything that had been lost?  Who met all the qualifications to do so?  Who would be near in relation to mankind?  Who would be able, and who would be willing?   Isaiah answered these questions in chapter 9.

Isaiah 9:6 “For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.”
The Apostle Paul explains it like this…

Romans 5:12-21 “12 Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:
13 (For until the law sin was in the world: but sin is not imputed when there is no law.14 Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over them that had not sinned after the similitude of Adam's transgression, who is the figure of him that was to come.
15 But not as the offence, so also is the free gift. For if through the offence of one many be dead, much more the grace of God, and the gift by grace, which is by one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many.16 And not as it was by one that sinned, so is the gift: for the judgment was by one to condemnation, but the free gift is of many offences unto justification.
17 For if by one man's offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.)18 Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life.
19 For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.20 Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound:21 That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord.

Hebrews 2:9-17 “9 But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man. 10 For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings. 11 For both he that sanctifieth and they who are sanctified are all of one: for which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren, 12 Saying, I will declare thy name unto my brethren, in the midst of the church will I sing praise unto thee.  13 And again, I will put my trust in HIM. And again, Behold I and the children which GOD hath given me.
14 Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, He also Himself likewise took part of the same; that through death He might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; 15 And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.
16 For verily He took not on Him the nature of angels; but He took on Him the seed of Abraham.17 Wherefore in all things it behoved Him to be made like unto His brethren, that He might be a merciful and Faithful High Priest in things pertaining to GOD, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people.”

Praise The LORD, by the virgin birth, death, burial, and resurrection of JESUS CHRIST, all those who believe and call upon HIS name have been redeemed from the sin’s death sentence!  HE is our Redeemer!  He did what we could not do for ourselves…HE IS AMAZING GRACE!  O death where is thy sting, o grave where is thy victory!  Rejoice all that are in Heaven and earth, The Redeemer is mighty to save! 
Ruth 4:11-15 “11 And all the people that were in the gate, and the elders, said, We are witnesses. The Lord make the woman that is come into thine house like Rachel and like Leah, which two did build the house of Israel: and do thou worthily in Ephratah, and be famous in Bethlehem:12 And let thy house be like the house of Pharez, whom Tamar bare unto Judah, of the seed which the Lord shall give thee of this young woman.
13 So Boaz took Ruth, and she was his wife: and when he went in unto her, the Lord gave her conception, and she bare a son.
14 And the women said unto Naomi, Blessed be the Lord, which hath not left thee this day without a kinsman, that his name may be famous in Israel.15 And he shall be unto thee a restorer of thy life, and a nourisher of thine old age: for thy daughter in law, which loveth thee, which is better to thee than seven sons, hath born him.”
When we began this study, Naomi had gone through so much grief in losing her husband and her children she was very bitter and she said that GOD had dealt bitterly with her. (Ruth 1:20-21)  However, at the end of this story, we see a great change in her attitude.  He is no longer bitter, instead she is blessing the name of The LORD. 
GOD is so amazing in HIS love for us, that even when we get angry or even bitter at times, HE keeps on loving us and working things out for our good.   HE doesn’t just forget about us even when we are harsh with HIM.  Even when we can’t see or understand what HE is doing, HE hasn’t cast us away, He is still very much GOD and HE is in control AT ALL TIMES! 
This next scripture could have been said of Naomi and of Ruth…
Isaiah 54:1-8 “Sing, O barren, thou that didst not bear; break forth into singing, and cry aloud, thou that didst not travail with child: for more are the children of the desolate than the children of the married wife, saith the Lord.
Enlarge the place of thy tent, and let them stretch forth the curtains of thine habitations: spare not, lengthen thy cords, and strengthen thy stakes; 3 For thou shalt break forth on the right hand and on the left; and thy seed shall inherit the Gentiles, and make the desolate cities to be inhabited.
Fear not; for thou shalt not be ashamed: neither be thou confounded; for thou shalt not be put to shame: for thou shalt forget the shame of thy youth, and shalt not remember the reproach of thy widowhood any more. 5 For thy Maker is thine husband; the Lord of hosts is his name; and thy Redeemer the Holy One of Israel; The God of the whole earth shall he be called.6 For the Lord hath called thee as a woman forsaken and grieved in spirit, and a wife of youth, when thou wast refused, saith thy God.
For a small moment have I forsaken thee; but with great mercies will I gather thee.8 In a little wrath I hid my face from thee for a moment; but with everlasting kindness will I have mercy on thee, saith the Lord thy Redeemer.”
Ruth 4:16-17 “16 And Naomi took the child, and laid it in her bosom, and became nurse unto it.17 And the women her neighbours gave it a name, saying, There is a son born to Naomi; and they called his name Obed: he is the father of Jesse, the father of David.”
GOD brought them full circle.  Ruth stepped out by faith, she loved, she lost, and was left a childless widow in mourning, but that wasn’t the end of her story.  Oh no, by GOD’S Grace and through her faith, GOD stepped in and she was once again loved and given a son, a legacy to carry on.  The most wonderful thing is that they didn’t even realize that one of the greatest kings that has ever lived was coming from this marriage, and even more wonderful, The KING OF Kings and LORD of Lords would later come!  What an amazing gift GOD gives to us, in that HE doesn’t need us to perform HIS mighty works, but HE allows us to be part of the miracle!  What a FATHER we have.  Ruth did not give up, she just kept living day by day stepping out on faith and that is what you and I must do.  Here is a summary of verses that could be said of Ruth and Naomi’s lives, and the same will be true of our lives if we trust HIM.

Psalm 126:3-6 “3 The Lord hath done great things for us; whereof we are glad.4 Turn again our captivity, O Lord, as the streams in the south.5 They that sow in tears shall reap in joy.6 He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him.”

There will be times of weeping, but weep while you sow the seed by faith.  Go ahead and cry and feel the pain you are in, but keep moving forward while you weep…it is possible to weep and move forward at the same time…just ask Ruth…she will tell you.

And they lived happily ever after…J

You know, Hollywood tries to come up with stories every day, but they have NOTHING on GOD and HIS WORD.  It’s so exciting and for we who are trusting in JESUS CHRIST by faith…we have a happily ever after coming too! 

As we end this series in Ruth, my heart is full and I’m so thankful that GOD allowed me to go on this journey with you.  Whoever you are, know that you are loved and CHRIST came to redeem you.  Yes this story is about Ruth and Boaz, but it’s your story too!  You and JESUS!  He longs to redeem you, won’t you step out by faith and let HIM make you HIS?  You will NEVER regret it, it will be the best decision you will ever make.  I’m sure as Ruth lay quiet in the nights following her baby’s birth, listening to her son and her husband breathing in peaceful sleep, she smiled and she knew that the wisest choice she ever made was leaving Moab and everything it represented, and making JEHOVAH her GOD.  The same will be true of you if you will leave your Moab behind and make that decision to follow JESUS.  He will never do you nothing but good!

Romans 10:9-13 “ That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth The LORD JESUS, and shalt believe in thine heart that GOD hath raised HIM from the dead, thou shalt be saved.  For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.  For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on HIM shall not be ashamed.  For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same LORD over all is rich unto all that call upon HIM.  For whosoever shall call upon The Name of The LORD Shall be Saved.”

Dear Righteous, Loving, Merciful Father,  

I praise and thank You for who You are.  I praise You and give You glory at what You have done in my life and in the lives of so many others.  Father I thank You for delivering me out of that horrible pit and for setting my feet on solid rock.  I thank You for Your divine healing and Your divine favor.  Father I ask today that You reach down to all those who may be suffering in a pit of darkness caused by Satan.  I ask You to revive their Spirits and remind them of who You are and that You can do all things no matter how impossible it seems.  Remind them that when all hope seems gone, You are Hope.  Father help the ones today to call out to You in faith and deliver them Lord for Your glory and Your honor.  Lord I ask that if there are any who are lost and don’t know You or Your son Jesus, send Your Holy Spirit to convict their hearts so that they will believe and come to know You through Christ.  Give that peace that surpasses all understanding and help us to continue in Your ministry.  Help us to spread the good news of the gospel to all the world.  Father I thank You for all the people You have placed in my life to encourage and help me along in the plans you have for me.  I ask that You help us to continue to serve You and to reach others for Your honor and Your glory.  I ask that You prosper this ministry Lord and keep us in Your divine favor so that we can further Your kingdom by the help and mercy of Your Son for Your Glory and Honor.  We ask all these things and we praise You and thank You for hearing and answering our cries to You.  In the Lovely name of Jesus we pray.  Amen.  Thank You Lord.  I praise You Forever! 

~*Cindygirl*~
December 5, 2021