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The Book of Ruth fulfills several purposes, including:
(1)
It reveals that even during the dark days of the Judges, there were some who lived their
simple lives in the fear of the Lord.
(2)
The example of utter faithfulness presented by the story of Ruth the Moabitess, stands
out boldly against the dark background of the times, and gives encouragement to us
in our own day of darkness and apostasy.
(3)
The Book supplies an important link in the genealogy of Christ as the Son of David.
(4)
The introduction into that genealogy of a Moabitess illuminates the character of the
God of all grace, prefiguring the acceptance of the Gentile, and indication
something of the gracious work of the Saviour.
(5)
Most important of all though this tiny Book reveals to us more clearly than any other
that most important typical figure, the Kinsman-Redeemer.
"In Whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according
to the riches of His grace" (Eph. 1: 7).
Here we have the Greek word "aphesis" which is translated forgiveness meaning
"setting free from bondage", "setting at liberty".
In verse 14 however, sin and bondage are not in view:
"Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased
possession, unto the praise of His glory" (Eph. 1: 14).
The figure here is an earnest, or a pledge, now, in view of a possession then, and as the
possession has been forfeited, redemption is essential.
In verse 7 is revealed redemption from bondage. In verse 14, redemption of a
possession. It is this second aspect of redemption that finds so beautiful an illustration in
the Book of Ruth, and makes its study so profitable.
The central and longest portion of the Book revolves around the figure of Boaz as the
kinsman-redeemer. The Hebrew word used here is "goel". Its derivatives are variously
translated by "redeem", "right to redeem", and "kinsman", and occur no less than twenty
times in these central chapters.
So we find in this Book that aspect of the work accomplished by the Lord Jesus Christ
when He came in the flesh to redeem His people from the bondage of sin and death, to
make them a purchased possession with a most glorious inheritance.
In the opening verse of the first chapter we read there was a famine in the land. This
was Canaan, the land when the Children of Israel came in to possess it which was
flowing with milk and honey. Here was one of the judgments God had threatened to
bring upon this people before they entered, should they forsake Him and His law.
"And if ye will not yet for all this hearken unto me, then I will punish you seven times
more for your sins. And I will break the pride of your power; and I will make your