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(1). Christ as the Kinsman-Redeemer.
(2). The typical meaning of the Kinsman nearer than Boaz.
(3). The declared purpose of this redemption, and its bearing upon the doctrine
of Redemption at large.
#2.
Immanuel, God with us.
pp. 113 - 115
Every occurrence of the word "Redeemer" in the A.V. Old Testament is a translation
of goel and means, as is Ruth, the Kinsman-Redeemer. The many passages in Isaiah
where the word occurs reveal most plainly that the Redeemer is Jehovah. He is called
"The Holy One of Israel", "Creator", "King of Israel", "Lord of Hosts", "The Lord Thy
God", "Him Whom man despiseth and the nation abhoreth", "The Mighty One of
Jacob", "The God of the whole earth shall He be called", "The Redeemer shall come to
Zion", "Thou Lord art our Father, our Redeemer from everlasting" (olam).
If we quote no further, we have given sufficient to cause the careful reader to think. If
Jehovah, the Creator, is at the same time Kinsman to the sons of Adam, then the
remaining testimony of Isaiah is absolutely necessary to make the revelation rational.
God must become flesh and blood. Isaiah names this mighty Redeemer, Immanuel, God
with us. Not only so, he reveals in plain terms that Jehovah was to be born of a virgin,
"Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call His name Immanuel". The
fulfillment of this remarkable statement is found in Matt. 1: 20-23. John, in the opening
verses of his Gospel, also reveals this mighty truth. "The Word was God", "The Word
became flesh . . . . . the only begotten of the Father." In Gal. 4: 4, 5 the apostle passes
from the question of the heir and the inheritance, to Christ as the Kinsman-Redeemer of
that inheritance:--
"When the fullness of time was come, God sent forth His Son, made of a woman,
made under the law, to redeem . . . . ."
Heb. 2: 14, 15 speaks of this kinship in strong terms:--
"Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, He also Himself
likewise took part of the same; that through death He might destroy him that had the
power of death, that is, the devil, and deliver them who through fear of death were all
their lifetime subject to bondage."
The office of the Kinsman-Redeemer is twofold, and that twofold character is plainly
indicated in Heb. 2: "Flesh and blood . . . . . destroy . . . . . deliver."
The very same word (goel) which we have looked at in the rendering
Kinsman-Redeemer is also translated, The Revenger, in the title "the revenger of blood"
(Numb. 35: 19, etc.). "The day of vengeance is in My heart, and the year of My