Redeeming Love

Ruth 4
(Program 2091, Airing on 03.21.10 & 03.28.10)

1. INTRODUCTION
1. The book of Ruth began with weeping; but in this fourth and final chapter, joy has come.
1. Psalm 30:5
2. Remember that Ruth is a picture of the church, the bride of Christ. Boaz is a picture of the Lord Jesus Christ, our kinsman redeemer.
3. The key word in Ruth 4 is redemption.
1. Ruth 4:4
4. In Ruth 4, we find three pictures of our Lord’s gift of salvation.
2. A PICTURE OF OUR REDEEMING LORD (Ruth 4:1-6)
1. Jesus is legally worthy.
1. There are two laws from ancient Israel that come into play in Ruth 4:
1. The law of the kinsman redeemer (Leviticus 25)
1. If a landowner went into bankruptcy and had to sell his land, a near relative (a kinsman redeemer) could redeem that land and buy it back.
2. The law of the Levirate marriage (Deuteronomy 25)
1. If a married couple had no children and the husband died, then the man’s brother was to take the man’s wife, who was now a widow, and marry her and endeavor to have children in order to keep the man’s name alive.
3. Three things were necessary in order for a man to be able to buy back the lost estate and marry the widow who came with the estate:
1. He had to have the legal qualifications.
2. He had to have the money to buy it back.
3. He had to be willing to buy it back.
2. Boaz, who represents our Lord, was legally worthy. (Ruth 4:6)
1. The nearer kinsman who could not redeem represents Adam.
1. In Adam, we all die.
2. The ten witnesses in Ruth 4:2 represent the Ten Commandments, who testify that our Adamic nature cannot save us.
3. Hebrews 2:14
4. Revelation 5:1-9
2. Jesus is lavishly wealth. (Ruth 2:1)
1. 1 Peter 1:18-19
2. 1 Peter 3:18
3. Ephesians 1:7
4. Revelation 5:9
5. Jesus paid a greater price than Boaz paid: Jesus bought us back with His blood.
3. Jesus is lovingly willing.
1. Boaz did not have to buy Ruth, nor did the Lord Jesus have to buy us.
2. We love Him because He first loved us. (1 John 4:19)
3. A PICTURE OF OUR RENEWED LIFE (Ruth 4:7-8)
1. Ruth had three major problems; and without Christ, we share those same problems, as outlined in Ephesians 2:12-13:
1. Her past was cursed.
1. She was an alien from the commonwealth of Israel.
2. Spiritually, she was born on the wrong side of the tracks.
3. Deuteronomy 23:3
2. Her present was crushed.
1. Ruth was a stranger to the things of God; she was without Christ.
3. Her future was condemned.
1. Her future, without God, was hopeless.
2. Ephesians 2:19
3. The word “redeem” can mean “to purchase”, “to buy back”. It can also mean “to buy out”, “to take off the market place”. It also means “to set free”.
1. When our Lord redeemed us, not only did He buy us, but He took us out of the market place; we are no longer for sale. This speaks to our eternal security.
2. We are set free in Christ.
4. As was the custom, the nearer kinsman, who could not redeem, took off his shoe and handed it to Boaz. (Ruth 4:8)
1. When Jesus paid for our sins, He took our place: He stands in our shoes. As Boaz stood in the shoes of the nearer kinsman, Jesus stood in our shoes and paid the penalty for our sins.
2. 2 Corinthians 5:21
4. A PICTURE OF OUR RESTORED LEGACY (Ruth 4:10-17)
1. Ruth received a family. (Ruth 4:10)
1. When we are saved, we become a part of the family of God.
2. Ruth received a fortune. (Ruth 4:10)
1. No longer is Ruth gleaning the fields; she owns the field. She shares in the wealth of Boaz.
2. As Christians, we are joint heirs with Jesus.
3. Ruth received fame. (Ruth 4:11)
1. Even today, the name of Ruth is spoken with reverence.
2. If we know Jesus, we will reign with Him forever.
4. Ruth received fruitfulness. (Ruth 4:11)
1. John 15:16
5. Ruth received the future. (Ruth 4:16-17)
1. Ruth’s son, Obed, was the grandfather of David, the ancestry of our Lord Jesus Christ.
5. CONCLUSION
1. Jesus bought us with a great price.
2. Just as Ruth was not ashamed of Boaz, neither should we be ashamed to proclaim that we belong to Jesus Christ.

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