READINGS IN THE BOOK OF RUTH
READINGS IN THE BOOK OF RUTH
As we have seen, Ruth claimed Boaz as a near kinsman; this lays the ground for the development of the truth of redemption. Ruth did not make this claim in her earlier history; that is, when she first met Boaz, but she had made progress, and as instructed by her mother-in-law she went down to the threshing-floor and sought his help on the ground of kindred. Boaz owns the relationship (although there was one nearer than he), and then [p. 364] the Spirit outlines for us in the most unmistakable way the leading thoughts in redemption.
The purchase of the field of Machpelah by Abraham helps us in considering the subject of redemption (see Genesis 23). The land belonged to God, and was given in purpose to Abraham; yet the patriarch had to buy a burying-place for his wife. This showed that the land had passed into alien hands. Abraham would not accept the field as a gift from Ephron; he would pay for it. This was an act of faith, for it recognised the consequences of sin; that is, that although the land was God’s, yet it was to be held on the ground of purchase. The cave and the field were made sure to Abraham for the full price. A leading thought in this transaction was that the money paid was current; “four hundred shekels of silver, current money with the merchant”, Genesis 23:16. The only money current for redemption is the blood of Christ. We are redeemed “with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot”, 1 Peter 1:18,19.
In the book of Ruth we learn that those to whom the land belonged have to be redeemed as well as the land itself. Ruth was purchased by Boaz. Ruth is a type of the remnant of Israel, and hence we learn that the nation as well as the land shall stand related to Christ on the ground of redemption.
The first great thought here is that the redeemer must be a kinsman to those needing redemption. As we have seen, Boaz recognised Ruth’s claim of kinship, but there was a nearer than he, and the claim of this nearer relative must be owned. There can be no doubt that the allusion is to the law. The law was not a person, of course, but it was set in relationship with men, and what came to light was that it possessed no ability to meet man’s case as sold under sin. “If there had been a law given which could have given life, verily righteousness should have been by the law”, Galatians 3:21. The nearer kinsman here admits his inability, and then Boaz takes up his right to be redeemer. He had the means of redemption, for he was a mighty man of wealth. In this respect he is a striking type of Christ. Becoming man, Christ stood related to men, and hence had the right of redemption. But this was not all. He had the power to do so, for He is a divine Person — the Son of God. The Lamb that had been slain is the Lion of the tribe of Judah (Revelation 5), “the mighty man of wealth”, Ruth 2:1. To Him the myriads of the redeemed ascribe all praise.
Now we come to the great transaction itself, as foreshadowed here. It takes place in the most public place — that is the gate of the city. Redemption was a public transaction. Redemption is in Christ, and is presented for faith in the gospel, but it was accomplished in the presence of the universe. Another great feature in this chapter is that all was done legally. The claim of the nearer kinsman was owned, and then the custom in Israel concerning redeeming and changing was fully observed, Ruth 4:7. If we take “the custom ... in Israel” as pointing to God’s requirement (which the Old Testament clearly teaches to be death), the plucking off of the shoe points to death. Death lay upon man and on the inheritance, and hence clearance can only be by death. The whole sacrificial system pointed to the fact that redemption could only be by the death of another, for without shedding of blood there is no remission.
From Abel onwards there was the persistent testimony on the part of God to faith, that His own Son should die for man’s redemption. Now all is accomplished and Christ is risen from the dead and in glory; redemption is announced as in Him for all. The believer is justified freely by God’s grace “through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus”, Romans 3:24. And christians are said to have redemption in Him, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of God’s grace, Ephesians 1:7. As redeemed ones Christ only has title to us. If we recognise this we shall be kept free from the authority of evil. It is very important that saints should recognise that there is no one in the whole universe that has claim to them but the Lord Jesus Christ. We are His by right of redemption. This principle is seen in God laying claim to Israel in the firstborn ones, the firstborn being representatives. Subsequently, instead of the firstborn he took the tribe of Levi. He established His right to the people as having redeemed them. Then further on, in Exodus 30, another thought appears, namely, that each believer cost the Lord the same price. The rich was not to give more and the poor was not to give less than half a shekel. The Lord has given Himself for us. You may appear insignificant in your own eyes, but the Lord gave Himself for you. And we are told further that the silver thus given was used to make sockets for the tabernacle. The whole divine structure rests upon that on which our souls rest, on the death of Christ. How secure we are!
As redeemed we are not our own. We have been bought with a price, so that “they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again”, 2 Corinthians 5:15. This leads us to what was indicated in the name given to the son born to Boaz and Ruth — Obed. He was a worshipper, or servant, one with whom God had His full place. Such an one is the glorious result of redemption. In him the name of the dead is raised up upon his inheritance. This shall be seen in Israel in the future, and it is worked out in the believer now. The book of Ruth introduces what the book of Judges called for — a king. Obed was the father of Jesse, the father of David.