A King's Ransom

When we left Ruth, she was sitting still, waiting on word from Boaz (her hopeful go'el - - Hebrew for kinsman-redeemer), waiting on God.  Today's text is Ruth 4.

The climax of the Ruth story is full of suspense.
In verse 1 Boaz goes to where he knows he will encounter the closer kinsman than he, that place being the city gates.  Once he sees that person, he invites him to have a chat.  Boaz then goes on to convene a group of 10 witnesses, godly Jewish men whom he knows, to listen in on the conversation.

Now, let's stop for a moment.
As I've mentioned in previous posts, Boaz is in this historical account a "type" (forerunner, representative) of Jesus Christ.  Ruth is a "type" of the Church, the Bride of Christ.  So, who, then, would the other characters in the story represent?
Some theologians believe the "other, nearer kinsman" represents the sin nature.1  Others believe he represents satan, from whom Jesus took the keys of Hell and Death, after His death and before His resurrection.  The latter group believes this entire transaction is a forerunner of what Jesus did when His spirit descended to Hell during those three days his body was in the grave (1 Peter 3:18-20).

Most agree the 10 witnesses were chosen to overhear so that no one could come back later and claim the transaction was false or flawed (4:9).  The Hebrew word for a group of this type was "minyan", a group which settled legal disputes.  Some think that the number 10 represents the 10 Commandments, or the Law, which has no ability to bring salvation, since "there is salvation in none other" than Jesus Christ (Acts 4:12).  This is pictured by Boaz telling both the nearer kinsman and the 10 witnesses to "sit down" in verses 1 and 2. 
In verses 11-12 the witnesses prophesy over Boaz and Ruth, after the deal was done.  Similarly, the Law points to Jesus Christ, finding its fulfillment in Him.  The utter following of the OT Law, the Torah, in this story, this obedience - - how beautifully it points to and foreshadows the ultimate Love Story of the Bible, that love story between the final Kinsman-Redeemer and His Beloved, His Church.

Ok, back to the story:
At first, the nearer kinsman wants to BE that guy, to redeem Ruth.  And, we're thinking, "No, no!  This is NOT how we want the story to go!"  You know, like when you read a great book and it looks like the hero is not going to triumph, to win, right?  But then, we see the the nearer relative is not willing to make the sacrifice that Boaz is willing to make.  And, indeed, satan would never had died for us, even if he could've.  His "love" for us is a complete counterfeit.  In stark contrast, Jesus' love for us is perfect.

Don't miss this:
Ruth was married to Mahlon for 10 years, and yet was childless.  Stop to grasp the significance of that.  Boaz was willing to marry Ruth, suspecting full well that their union might not produce an heir.  There is no record that Boaz had any other wives (i.e. heirs either).  So, he was willing to sacrifice his (genealogical) "all" to redeem Ruth.  Not many men of that day would have done the same, since "carrying on the family name" was paramount, a huge deal.
Boaz recognized that Ruth was a "hidden treasure" of Matthew 13:44 (ESV) - - - and the price he paid for her was dear, a king's ransom, you might say.

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.

Jesus made His supreme sacrifice for all mankind, knowing that not all would receive it, or Him.  No other Savior.  Hallelujah!

18For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your ancestors,19but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect. 20He was chosen before the creation of the world, but was revealed in these last times for your sake. 21Through him you believe in God, who raised him from the dead and glorified him, and so your faith and hope are in God.

22Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for each other, love one another deeply, from the heart.^b 23For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God.

1 Peter 1:18-23 (NIV)

Oh praise God, Who, in His divine providence, opened Ruth's womb.  She did indeed bear children to Boaz.  One of them, the first, was Obed, whose name means "servant".2

A precious and utterly amazing ending of the story is the snippet of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, given in 4:12, 18-22, and the character, Perez.  In the next post, our last Ruth post, we will take a look at that.

Sources:

1    http://www.oudesporen.nl/Download/OS2040.pdf

2    http://www.hebrew4christians.com/Holidays/Spring_Holidays/Shavuot/Ruth/ruth.html