New Life and New Hope Through Jesus
With the help of data accumulation, data storage, computer access and DNA science, many people are identifying their ancestral tree and finding their roots. From the New Testament book of Luke (Luke 3:31b-32) and the Old Testament book of Ruth (Ruth 4:9-17), we are able to see the connection of Jesus’ to His ancestral lineage. And within the story of the redemption of Ruth and Naomi from the darkness of death and barrenness into the light of new birth and new life, we see a precursor to our story of redemption and salvation. Just as Boaz becomes the kinsman who redeems Naomi and Ruth, so too does Jesus become our kinsman redeemer who provides us with salvation and new life. I pray that we will rejoice in our redemption, salvation and restoration, just as the women of Bethlehem rejoiced over the great blessing Naomi experienced of a son who brought her new hope and new life. Amen
Then Boaz announced to the elders and all the people, “Today you are witnesses that I have bought from Naomi all the property of Elimelek, Kilion and Mahlon. I have also acquired Ruth the Moabite, Mahlon’s widow, as my wife, in order to maintain the name of the dead with his property, so that his name will not disappear from among his family or from his hometown. Today you are witnesses! ” Then the elders and all the people at the gate said, “We are witnesses. May the LORD make the woman who is coming into your home like Rachel and Leah, who together built up the family of Israel. May you have standing in Ephrathah and be famous in Bethlehem. Through the offspring the LORD gives you by this young woman, may your family be like that of Perez, whom Tamar bore to Judah.” (Ruth 4:9-12)
Boaz made the announcement before a host of witnesses at the city gate, of his intention to become the kinsman redeemer of Naomi and to marry Ruth. Under Mosaic law, the brother of a man who died without any males to continue the family’s lineage, was obligated to help preserve that lineage by taking the widow as his wife and conceiving a son that would carry on that family’s name (Deut. 25:5). Also the nearest kinsman was expected to redeem (buy back) what a poor family member had lost because they were forced to sell it (Lev. 25:25). Boaz was praised by those elders that witnessed his announcement, for stepping up to this responsibility as kinsman redeemer. They pronounced a blessing over Boaz that he would experience fame in Bethlehem and that his family would experience the fruitfulness of sons as Rachel and Leah (Rachel was barren like Ruth was barren for many years). Additionally, the blessing called for Boaz and Ruth to have the same success of preserving the lineage that Tamar and Judah experienced by conceiving their son Perez.
So Boaz took Ruth and she became his wife. When he made love to her, the LORD enabled her to conceive, and she gave birth to a son. The women said to Naomi: “Praise be to the LORD, who this day has not left you without a guardian-redeemer. May he become famous throughout Israel! He will renew your life and sustain you in your old age. For your daughter-in-law, who loves you and who is better to you than seven sons, has given him birth.” Then Naomi took the child in her arms and cared for him. The women living there said, “Naomi has a son!” And they named him Obed. He was the father of Jesse, the father of David. (Ruth 4:13-17)
God immediately fulfilled the blessing that had been prayed by the witnesses to Boaz’ announcement. Ruth had been barren for all of the years of her marriage to her deceased husband. But now with Boaz, she gave birth to a son, whom they named Obed. The women in Bethlehem had seen Naomi return from Moab in bitterness and brokenness, but now they praised God for her restoration and new hope. They praised Naomi for having a daughter-in-law who had been a great blessing to her (“greater than seven sons!) and had given Naomi a “son” (grandson) to preserve her family lineage. The final verse reveals that out of God’s faithfulness and act of redemption, the child Obed, would become the grandfather of King David.
Now Jesus himself was about thirty years old when he began his ministry. He was the son, so it was thought, of Joseph, the son of Heli,
the son of David, the son of Jesse, the son of Obed, the son of Boaz, the son of Salmon, the son of Nahshon, (Luke 3:31b-32)
Jesus was Joseph’s son, whose ancestral lineage goes back to David, Obed and Boaz. Thus we see Luke drawing the connection between the story of Boaz, who became a kinsman redeemer, restoring hope and giving new life to a family, and the life and mission of Jesus, who became our kinsman redeemer to give us salvation and new life.
As we enter the Advent Season and begin in earnest to prepare our hearts in hope for Jesus’ arrival, we can look back to the kinsman redeemer story of Boaz in the book of Ruth and be encouraged by God’s restoration of hope and new birth through the child Obed. In the book of Ruth, we see God beginning a new direction in the redemption story, a lineage that will run from Boaz and Ruth’s son Obed, through King David and ultimately through the Eternal King Jesus. It is Jesus who became our kinsman redeemer and gave us new hope, new life and salvation. Out of the barrenness and bitterness of this world, God still offers new hope and new life through Jesus our redeemer. And that is why we look forward in the hope and anticipation of Advent. We prepare our hearts and minds for Jesus’ arrival and the blessings of peace, hope, joy and love that His arrival will usher into the world!
Blessings, Rev. Glenn
“For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given:
and the government shall be upon his shoulder:
and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God,
The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.
Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end,
upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom,
to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice
from henceforth even for ever.” ~ Isaiah 9:6-7
