Ruth - Kinsman Redeemer

(1.1,2) Now it came to pass in the days when the judges ruled, that there was a famine in the land. And a certain man of Bethlehemjudah went to sojourn in the country of Moab, he, and his wife, and his two sons. And the name of the man was Elimelech, and the name of his wife Naomi, and the name of his two sons Mahlon and Chilion, ... And Elimelech Naomi's husband died; and she was left, and her two sons. ...

The sons each took a wife in the land of Moab, Orpah and Ruth. In time, Elimelech died, then, the sons died and their wives were left with only the mother inlaw, Naomi.

Naomi had no means of income and no way to make a living so she went back to Bethlehem. She told the daughters inlaw who were of Moab to go back to their people. Orpah - BUT

(1.16) And Ruth said, Intreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee: for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God:

When Naomi realized how much Ruth loved her, she was certain to thank God for that love in the loss of her two sons. So, Ruth and Namoi continued on their journey back to Bethlehem, “the house of bread.”

When they returned to Bethlehem, Naomi's friends, whom she had left ten years before (1.4), did not recognize her because of the grief she had suffered. She told them (1.20, 21)) the Almighty hath dealt very bitterly with me. I went out full and the Lord hath brought me home again empty...

At the time, Naomi did not see that the Lord had given her Ruth, so she really wasn't alone or empty...

Ruth and Naomi had to eat, and the custom in those days was to take the leftovers from a kinsman's field. So, Ruth went into the fields and “gleaned ears of corn.”

One day Boaz came to his field and saw Ruth. When he asked who she was he was told “The Moabitish damsel that came back with Naomi out of the country of Moab.” It was also told to Boaz that she had asked to “glean and gather after the reapers among the sheaves.” In other words she humbly asked permission before she took even the leftovers.

Boaz was so mesmerized or taken by her beautiful, humble manner he approached her and reassured her she could take as much as she needed. Ruth, realizing who she was speaking to, i.e., the Master of the field, said (2.10) “...Why have I found grace in thine eyes, that thou shouldest take knowledge of me, seeing I am a stranger?”

Boaz proceeded to tell Ruth he had heard of her kindness to her mother inlaw in the death of her husband. How she had left all to care for this widow. Not only did he tell her of the things he knew of her but sent her home with far more than she could've gathered on her own. (2.11-17)

Because of Ruth's great love and kindness to Naomi, Naomi wanted to give back to Ruth. With her years of wisdom and according to the laws of her people, she instructed Ruth to go to the threshing floor in the evening where Boaz would be. After he fell asleep, Naomi told Ruth to lay down at his feet until he awoke and then he would tell her what to do... (3.1-8)

Ruth's simple act of obedience and humility was about to be honored more than she could've ever imagined.

Boaz recognized Ruth's virtuous character and wanted to marry her but under the customs of their law, their was a nearer kinsman than he – he told Ruth to go back home and wait.

He also had to wait until the other relative was notified that Naomi's land could be sold to the nearest relative. You see, Boaz honest and righteous man that he was, knew he wasn't the nearest kinsmen to Naomi. So He sat down with the other relative and 10 other witnesses to prove the matter.

He told the man about Naomi's land. At first the man said, okay. But Boaz told him that if he agreed to buy the land then he must also marry Ruth, the Moabite woman and any children born to her would be part of the inheritance. The man did not want to share any of his lands with Ruth or their children, he selfishly wanted to keep it all for himself.

So, he told Boaz he would not marry Ruth.

Then the man took off his sandal and gave it to Boaz as a legal representation of the agreement. Another unusual custom among the Jews.

Boaz was then free to take Ruth for his own.

(4.13-17)

So Boaz took Ruth and she was his wife: ...and she bare a son..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...

...And the women...(said) There is a son born to Naomi; and they called his name Obed: he is the father of Jesse, the father of David.”

You see, by providing Naomi with the Kinsmen the redeem her from the death and poverty all around her, the Lord gave her life and hope for tomorrow by giving her the “Kinsmen Redeemer.” The blessing she could have never forseen through Ruth was to be the great, great grandmother of Israel's greatest king, King David.