Today's Reading: Ruth 4

 Not Without A Redeemer

After exercising his right of redemption, Boaz married Ruth.  By God’s gracious gift Ruth conceived and they had a son.  They named him Obed, which means "worshipping" or "worshipper."  After this amazing turn of events, the friends of Naomi began to worship the Lord.  They blessed the Lord because He had not left Ruth "without a redeemer," a declaration that could...

be understood in three ways.

The first way to understand this is that it is a reference to Boaz, the wealthy landowner who had exercised his right of redemption under Jewish law and custom.  By purchasing his deceased relative’s land, Boaz obtained to right to marry Ruth, the woman that he loved. Jesus once taught this parable, “The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and covered up. Then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field” (Matthew 13:44). Boaz purchased his relative’s field so he could obtain the treasure contained by the field – Ruth.  From that point on, Ruth was not without a redeemer, her husband - Boaz.

Secondly, this could be a reference to the birth of Obed, Ruth’s son, as her redeemer. Having a son was a form of security and protection for Ruth under Jewish custom.  If something ever happened to her husband, Boaz, she would still be under the care and protection of her son.  With Obed as her redeemer, Ruth was assured that she was out of trouble, danger, and need. From that point on, Ruth was not without a redeemer, her son - Obed.

Finally, this is a declaration of the coming future Redeemer (with a capital ‘R’).  It is a prophetic statement about the future Messiah.  Verse 17 of this chapter tells us that Obed would later become the father of Jesse, the father of David.  David, of course was promised by God that through his descendants would come Christ, the King, the Eternal Redeemer.  The prophets of ancient Israel looked for a day when this promise would be fulfilled in an ultimate descendant of David — the Messiah – who would rule over the nation. Jeremiah wrote, “Behold, the days are coming, declares the Lord, when I will raise up for David a righteous Branch, and he shall reign as king and deal wisely, and shall execute justice and righteousness in the land. In his days Judah will be saved, and Israel will dwell securely. And this is the name by which he will be called: ‘The Lord is our righteousness’” (Jeremiah 23:5-6).  From that point on, Ruth was not without a Redeemer, her great-great-great...grandson - Jesus of Nazareth. 

In a stunning move that could only be orchestrated by our Genius God, Ruth, the Moabitess, once an outsider and alien to God, became not only part of Israel but part of the lineage of Christ. Ruth was not left without a redeemer – in her husband, Boaz.  Ruth was not left without a redeemer – in her son, Obed.  And, ultimately, Ruth was not left without a Redeemer – in Jesus Christ, the Messiah-King of all.  Be sure of this, your Creator – the God who loves you – has not left YOU without a Redeemer.