 |  |
"It is true that I am thy near kinsman: howbeit there is a kinsman nearer than I . . . . . if
he will perform unto thee the part of a kinsman, well . . . . . but if not . . . . . then will I do
the part of a kinsman to thee" (3: 12, 13).
It is evident that the pity, the love, the riches, the willingness of Boaz could not avail
apart from the essential element of kinship. This little hitch brings into prominence the
law of God on the subject of redemption. So let us continue on into chapter 4: Boaz
calls the nearer kinsman to him as he passes the gate of the city and puts the case of
Naomi before him saying:--
"If thou wilt redeem it, redeem it; but if thou wilt not redeem it, then tell me, that I
may know: for there is none to redeem it beside thee: and I am after thee. And he said, I
will redeem it" (4: 4).
When however Boaz gave this kinsman to understand that the redemption of Naomi's
inheritance involved the marrying of Ruth because of the death of her husband, the
kinsman withdrew, and left the way clear for Boaz.
Redemption and the forfeited inheritance.
A.--Why was it necessary for the redeemer of the inheritance to marry Ruth?
B.--This is vital to the scriptural conception of redemption, and you will find a full
explanation in the law given in Deut. 25: 5-10, which you might read.
A.--(Reads):--
"If brethren dwell together, and one of them die, and have no child, the wife of the
dead shall not marry without unto a stranger: Her husband's next kinsman (margin) shall
take her to him for wife, and perform the duty of an husband's next kinsman unto her.
And it shall be, that the first-born which she beareth shall succeed IN THE NAME OF
HIS BROTHER WHICH IS DEAD, that his name be not put out in Israel."
B.--Boaz undertakes this as you will see:--
"Ye are witnesses this day, that I have bought all that was Elimelech's, and all that
was Chilion's and Mahlon"s, of the hand of Naomi. Moreover, Ruth the Moabitess, the
wife of Mahlon, have I purchased to be my wife, to raise up the name of the dead upon
his inheritance, that the name of the dead be not cut off from among his brethren, and
from the gate of his place" (Ruth 4: 9, 10).
Two important facts in the scriptural conception redemption are prominent here:--
(1). The kinsman-redeemer.
(2). The effect of that redemption--the type sets forth the entry into the lost inheritance
in resurrection life.
We will look a little more closely at the doctrine involved in the kinsman-redeemer.