Rut Lesson 6

RUTH
LESSON #6

MEMORY VERSE: PSALMS 16:9

RUTH TRUSTED IN GOD TO PROVIDE FOR HER AND NAOMI IN THE SAME WAY WE TRUST IN GOD TOPROVIDE FOR US.

THE CHRISTIAN LIFE IS A LIFE OF FAITH (2COR 5:7), BECAUSE WITHOUT FAITH IT ISIMPOSSIBLE TO PLEASE GOD. (HEB 11:6)

IN OUR LAST LESSON WE SAW THAT BOAZ WENT BEYOND THE GLEANING LAW TO PROVIDE ABUNDANTLYFOR RUTH JUST AS JESUS CHRIST GOES BEYOND THE LAW TO PROVIDE FOR US.

WE DO NOT EARN OR DESERVE GOD’S BLESSING. THEREFORE, WE LIVE BY GRACE. (EPH 2:8)

IN OUR LESSON TODAY WE WILL DISCUSS HOW THE CHRISTIAN IS SUPPOSED TO LIVE IN HOPE.

READ RUTH 2:17-23

THE ABUNDANT SUPPLY:

WHEN RUTH CAME HOME FROM THE FIELD OF BOAZ DURING THE BARLEY HARVEST, SHE HAD AN EPHAHOF BARLEY. EN EPHAH WAS ABOUT 1.1 BUSHELS (40 LITERS). THIS WAS A LARGE AMOUNT FOR A WIDOWTO GLEAN IN ONE DAY. IN FACT, IT WAS SO MUCH THAT NAOMI WAS VERY SURPRISED AND QUESTIONEDHER ABOUT IT.

RUTH TELLS NAOMI ABOUT BOAZ. UP TO THIS POINT IN THE STORY, RUTH DOES NOT KNOW BOAZ ANDNAOMI ARE RELATED. HOWEVER, AS SOON AS RUTH TELLS NAOMI ABOUT BOAZ, NAOMI IMMEDIATELYKNOWS WHO HE IS AND GIVES PRAISE TO GOD (20).

WHAT DOES NAOMI KNOW THAT RUTH DOES NOT KNOW?

NAOMI KNOWS ABOUT THE LAW OF THE KINSMAN-REDEEMER THAT WAS UNIQUE TO THE JEWS.

WHAT WAS THE LAW OF THE KINSMAN-REDEEMER?

READ LEV 25:23-25, 47-48

THE HEBREW WORD FOR KINSMAN-REDEEMER IS “goel”. IT IS A UNIQUE PART OFJEWISH CULTURE ESTABLISHED BY GOD EARLIER IN THE OLD TESTAMENT (LEV 25:25-55). IT IS ASTRANGE CUSTOM TO US TODAY BECAUSE WE DO NOT HAVE ANYTHING LIKE IT. IT WAS GOD’S WAYOF TAKING CARE OF HIS PEOPLE IN THAT DAY AND THAT TIME.

I HAVE EXPLAINED OTHER PARTS OF JEWISH CULTURE IN OUR STUDY:

THE LAW OF THE LEVIRATE MARRIAGE (BROTHER-IN-LAW)

THE LAW OF GLEANING

THE LAW OF THE KINSMAN-REDEEMER, HOWEVER, IS VERY IMPORTANT TO OUR STORY.WITHOUT AN UNDERSTANDING OF THIS LAW,

1. YOU CANNOT UNDERSTAND THE REST OF THE BOOK OF RUTH.

2. YOU CANNOT UNDERSTAND FULLY WHAT THE NEW TESTAMENT MEANS WHEN WE CALL CHRIST OURREDEEMER.

3. YOU CANNOT UNDERSTAND REVELATION 5.

THREE ASPECTS OF THE LAW OF THE KINSMAN-REDEEMER

(LEV 25:25-55)

1. IT OPERATES IN CONNECTION WITH REDEEMING LAND.

(LEV 25:25-34)

2. IT OPERATES IN CONNECTION WITH REDEEMING POOR PEOPLE. (LEV 25:35-55)

3. IT OPERATES IN CONNECTION WITH REDEEMING WIDOWS.

(DEU 25:5-10 FULFILLING THE LEVIRATE MARRIAGE LAW)

THE MEANING OF THE WORDS:

THE WORD “REDEMPTION” = THE DELIVERANCE OR FREEDOM FROM SOME EVIL BY THEPAYMENT OF A PRICE.

THE WORD “KINSMAN” = THE CLOSEST MALE RELATIVE BY BLOOD RELATIONSHIP WAS TOBE THE PROTECTOR.

THE “KINSMAN-REDEEMER” (goel) =

ANY CLOSE MALE RELATIVE COULD BRING DELIVERANCE OR FREEDOM TO A PERSON OR TO PROPERTYBY PAYING THE APPROPRIATE PRICE.

THE BIBLE DOES NOT SPECIFICALLY SAY WHAT THE BLOOD RELATIONSHIP WAS BETWEEN BOAZ ANDNAOMI’S HUSBAND, ELIMELECH. WE DO KNOW THAT BOAZ WAS NOT THE NEAREST MALE RELATIVE TONAOMI’S HUSBAND (RUTH 3:12). HOWEVER, HE WAS A CLOSE RELATIVE AND POSSIBLY A BROTHERTO ELIMELECH.

THE REQUIREMENTS OF A KINSMAN-REDEEMER:

1. HE MUST BE THE NEAREST MALE RELATIVE.

2. HE MUST BE ABLE TO PERFORM THE OBLIGATIONS.

3. HE MUST BE WILLING TO PERFORM THE OBLIGATIONS.

4. HE MUST FULFILL ALL THE OBLIGATIONS.

THE OBLIGATIONS OF A KINSMAN-REDEEMER:

1. IF A CLOSE RELATIVE WAS MURDERED, THE KINSMAN MUST BE THE “AVENGER OFBLOOD” WHO WOULD CATCH THE MURDERER AND KILL HIM. (NUM 35:6-34)

2. IF A CLOSE RELATIVE LOST HIS LAND THROUGH POVERTY, THE KINSMAN REDEEMER MUST PAY TOBUY IT BACK FOR HIM.

3. IF A CLOSE RELATIVE DIED AND LEFT A WIDOW WITHOUT CHILDREN, HE MUST MARRY THE WIDOW.THE FIRST CHILD WOULD BE CONSIDERED THE CHILD OF THE DEAD MAN. (LEVIRATE MARRIAGE LAW)

WHAT HAPPENED IF A CLOSE RELATIVE REFUSED TO PERFORM HIS DUTY AS KINSMAN-REDEEMER? INOTHER WORDS, IF HE WAS ABLE TO PERFORM BUT WAS UNWILLING.

IF THE MAN WAS A NEAR RELATIVE AND WAS ABLE TO PERFORM HIS DUTY, BUT HE WAS NOT WILLINGTO DO SO, HE MUST REMOVE ONE SHOE FROM HIS FOOT IN FRONT OF THE ELDERS OF THE CITY ANDGIVE IT TO THE PERSON HE WAS UNWILLING TO REDEEM. THE UNREDEEMED PERSON WOULD SPIT IN HISFACE. THEN THE UNWILLING RELATIVE MUST WALK WITHOUT ONE SHOE FOR A PERIOD OF TIME SO THATALL HIS NEIGHBORS WOULD KNOW HE WAS UNWILLING TO PERFORM HIS DUTY. IT WAS A SOCIALDISGRACE TO BE ABLE TO PERFORM THE DUTY BUT TO BE UNWILLING TO DO SO.

AFTER THAT, ANOTHER NEAR RELATIVE COULD DECIDE TO FULFILL THE OBLIGATION OFKINSMAN-REDEEMER.

NAOMI’S REACTION TO THE NAME OF BOAZ:

NAOMI PRAISES GOD THAT THE HOLY SPIRIT HAS LED RUTH TO BOAZ AND THAT HE GIVES HER HISFAVOR.

LIKE ANY GOOD JEWISH MOTHER-IN-LAW, SHE INSTRUCTS RUTH ON HOW TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THESITUATION. (22)

SHE TELLS RUTH TO GLEAN NOWHERE ELSE BUT ONLY IN THE FIELDS OF BOAZ SO THAT EVERY DAYBOAZ WOULD SEE RUTH THERE.

WHY IS AN UNDERSTANDING OF THE KINSMAN-REDEEMER IMPORTANT TO REVELATION 5?

READ REV 5:1-10 THE SCROLL

THE SCROLL IS THE TITLE DEED TO THIS EARTH. GOD GAVE DOMINION OVER THIS PLANET TO ADAM,BUT ADAM LOST THE DEED TO SATAN WHEN HE AND EVE SUBMITTED TO SATAN’S TEMPTATIONS INGENESIS. SATAN BECAME THE “GOD OF THIS WORLD” SYSTEM.

NOTICE THAT THE SCROLL IS WRITTEN “WITHIN AND ON THE BACK” (REV 5:1)

IN BIBLICAL TIMES, ON THE BACK OF A SCROLL WHICH WAS A LEGAL TITLE DEED TO PROPERTY, ITHAD THE CONDITIONS THAT A KINSMAN-REDEEMER MUST FULFILL TO REDEEM THAT PROPERTY.

JESUS CHRIST, THE SLAIN LAMB OF GOD, IN REVELATION 5 QUALIFIES AS THE KINSMAN-REDEEMER(SEE REV 5:9).

1. HE IS OUR NEAR KINSMAN IN THAT HE WAS COMPLETELY HUMAN WHILE HE WAS STILL COMPLETELYGOD.

2. HE WAS ABLE TO PERFORM AS OUR KINSMAN-REDEEMER IN THAT HE WAS WITHOUT SIN AND HADTHE POWER OF GOD IN HIM TO PAY THE PRICE OF OUR REDEMPTION ON THE CROSS.

3. HE WAS WILLING TO PERFORM AS OUR KINSMAN-REDEEMER. HE WAS WILLING TO SUFFER THECRUCIFIXION FOR US AND PAY THE PRICE.

4. HE SAID ON THE CROSS, “IT IS FINISHED” MEANING THAT HE HAD PAID THE FULLPRICE OF REDEMPTION AND FULFILLED ALL THE OBLIGATIONS OF A KINSMAN REDEEMER.

NOT REPRESENTED IN THE BOOK OF RUTH IS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE KINSMAN-REDEEMER TO BETHE “AVENGER OF BLOOD” REPRESENTED IN THE BOOK OF NUMBERS. (NUM 35:6-34)

JESUS CHRIST IS THE “AVENGER OF BLOOD”. SATAN BROUGHT DEATH UPON MANKINDTHROUGH ADAM’S SIN. JESUS CHRIST TAKES REVENGE ON SATAN IN REVELATION 20:10,14 WHENHE CASTS SATAN, DEATH, AND HADES IN THE LAKE OF FIRE FOR ETERNITY.

APPLICATION:

WE CAN SEE THAT BOAZ IS A PREFIGURE OR ILLUSTRATION OF THE KINSMAN-REDEEMER, JESUSCHRIST.

REMEMBER THAT BOAZ’ NAME MEANS = “IN HIM THERE IS STRENGTH”

HE IS ABLE AND WILLING TO PERFORM THIS DUTY.

DISCUSSION:

WHAT DOES THE WORD “REDEMPTION” MEAN TO YOU?

WHERE DOES “HOPE” FIT INTO THIS LESSON ON THE KINSMAN-REDEEMER?

REMEMBER WHAT NAOMI SAID BACK IN RUTH 1:21?

SHE FELT BITTER AGAINST GOD BECAUSE OF HER LOSS. SHE HAD NO HOPE THAT HER LIFE WOULDEVER GET BETTER.

WHEN NAOMI HEARD THE NAME OF BOAZ, SHE HAD HOPE THAT GOD WOULD MAKE THE SITUATIONBETTER FOR THEM.

WHAT IS BIBLICAL HOPE?

IT IS NOT THE IDEA OF MAYBE GOD WILL OR MAYBE GOD WON’T DO SOMETHING. BIBLICALHOPE IS AN INNER ASSURANCE THAT SURELY, WITHOUT A DOUBT GOD WILL PROVIDE WHAT HE PROMISED.

NOTICE THAT FAITH COMES FIRST IN THE CHRISTIAN LIFE. THEN COMES TRUSTING IN GOD’SGRACE. THEN AS YOU BEGIN TO SEE GOD PROVIDE BASED ON FAITH AND GRACE, YOU HAVE THE INNERASSURANCE OF HOPE FOR THE FUTURE THAT SURELY GOD WILL TAKE CARE OF YOU TO FULFILL HISPROMISES. (1TIM 1:1 1THES 1:3 COL 1:27)

READ 1PE 1:3