8. Jesus In Ruth

4/28/2024

Introduction

This morning we will be partaking of communion together. In 1 Corinthians 11:24 we are told to do it in remembrance of Jesus. As we prepare for communion then, we are going to consider a few aspects of how the book of Ruth points us to Jesus and His work of redemption. In the past we have looked at how all the books before this one in the Old Testament are doing this. So we are continuing on to see how different books of the Bible help us remember Christ and our salvation.

Overview

To do that, it would be helpful to have an overview of what is going on in the 4 chapters of Ruth. That will help us better understand how it leads us to Christ. It will also help us have a better point of reference for the connections that occur to the New Testament.

First, though, we should note how prominent the theme of redemption is in the book. A version of the specialized word for a redeemer is used 116 times in the old Testament, and 22 of those times (almost a fifth!) are found in the last 3 chapters of Ruth. However, depending on the translation that you use, not all of the uses of this word are obvious. A number of times in the NASB they simply translate it as a “relative” despite it not being one of the more generic words for a relative or family member. The KJV does the same thing using the word “kinsman,” and the NET Bible uses “guardian.” The ESV, CSB, and LSB translations are the ones that have the simplest and clearest translation. They all consistently translates this word as “redeemer.” So when you read the book of Ruth, read it in one of those translations to more clearly see the redemption elements that are present. It really is a dominant theme for the whole book. That being said, let’s take a look now at our overview of the book.¹

In the first chapter we meet a family who moved from Bethlehem to the neighboring foreign country of Moab during a famine. Elimelech, the husband, dies. Then the two sons marry Moabite women. After about ten years they also both die. Noami, Elimelech’s widow, decides to return to Bethlehem after hearing that the famine was over. At first her two daughters-in-law follow her, but she tells them to go back to their parents and ultimately their gods. They should remarry there since she will not have any more children to give to them to continue the family line. One of them, Orpah, leaves. But the other, Ruth, determines to stay with Naomi until death. She covenants to follow Naomi’s God and become part of her people until she herself dies. So they return to Bethlehem together and arrive at the beginning of the barley harvest. The chapter closes with a bitter Naomi. She blames God for her returning as a widow bereft of her children and with no grandchildren to continue the family.

In the second chapter we see Ruth’s character in determining to provide for them. She went to work gleaning to provide food. Gleaning was a provision in the law which allowed poor people to harvest the edges of fields and pick up what was overlooked from harvests. She ended up in the field of Boaz, a relative of Naomi’s. He noticed her, protected her, provided for her, and had her continue to follow his reaping crew as she gleaned during the rest of the harvests. He had appreciated Ruth’s care for Naomi and wanted God to bless her and to provide a wing of protection for her.

In the third chapter we see Naomi’s sordid plot to get a husband for Ruth and long term security for them both. Naomi wanted to lure Boaz into being the kinsman redeemer and marrying Ruth. So she orchestrated a night time encounter with him after a day threshing barley. A kinsman redeemer was the closest male relative who had the responsibility to marry a childless widow and enable their family inheritance to continue in that family line through the first son that was born.² Perhaps because Ruth was a foreigner, or perhaps because the nearest relative was not an honorable man and did not want to support them this was not happening. So Noami plotted to make it happen when she saw a possible opportunity.

Ruth did what Naomi said, but her character is seen in that she did not take things in a sensual direction. Instead, she asking Boaz to be her kinsman redeemer and provide a wing of protection for her like he had earlier asked God to do in his blessing of her (Ruth 2:12). Thus she made their encounter about a righteous request in light of God (cf. Ruth 2:12 with 3:9).

Boaz’s character is likewise seen in his self-control and honor as he did things the right way. He was not the closest relative to them. So he protected Ruth’s honor, gave her a gift of barley immediately, and promised to take care of the fuller issue the next day. He also committed to marrying her and redeeming the land for Naomi’s family line if that was his right and ability.

In the fourth chapter we see that the closer relative did not want to redeem the land if it included having to marry Ruth and raise up descendants for Naomi and Elimelech. So Boaz redeemed the land and married Ruth with the blessing of the city elders. God gave the previously barren Ruth a son, Obed, and redeemed their family line from extinction among Israel. God indeed blessed them. The book ends noting that Obed was the father of Jesse, and Jesse the father of David. This is the same David who became the famous king of Israel. Thus in His perfect plan God preserved the family line of Judah yet again. David and His descendants would be enabled to rule over Israel. Given all that:

How Then Does The Book Of Ruth Point Forward To Christ And Help Us Remember His Sacrifice?

The book of Ruth is one of the rare books in the Old Testament that has no direct quotations in the New Testament. However, Ruth is mentioned once in the New Testament in the genealogy of Jesus. We see that in Matthew 1:5-6.

Matthew 1:5-6a Salmon was the father of Boaz by Rahab, Boaz was the father of Obed by Ruth, and Obed the father of Jesse. 6 Jesse was the father of David the king.

That genealogy of course is very similar to the genealogy at the end of Ruth 4, but the mentions of Rahab and Ruth are absent in the Ruth list. Likewise, David is not called “the king” there. So it is not a direct quote. However, it is a clear acknowledgment and verification of the Ruth narrative. Given that genealogies did not usually mention the mothers this inclusion of Rahab and Ruth in Matthew makes the effort to specifically include them rather important. Their conversions from being pagan foreigners to followers of God are not something to be ashamed of. Jesus wanted everyone to know of their inclusion in His family line and heritage. God had redeemed them and included them in His own story and purposes.

So the first way that the book of Ruth points forward to Christ’s work of redemption is that Ruth is in the family line of Jesus. Think about God’s gracious work in her life and the reality of her situation.

First, she was a barren woman who had not been able to have children in the ten years of marriage before her husband Mahlon died. Second, she was a widow, a daughter-in-law of a widow, and a sister-in-law to a widow. There were no immediate male family members left to protect them or provide for them. Third, she was a Moabite woman who had married into an Israelite family. While she was in Moab that would have put her apart from her own people. When a woman got married she left her family clan and joined her new husbands clan. Then, when she made the decision and covenant not to return to her father’s family, her father’s god, her father’s protection, and her father’s provision she was consigning herself to an unknown fate with an older widowed woman. They were going to what was for Ruth a foreign land. She would not have any of her old family around in emergencies. She would not have anyone else around to help her, protect her, or avenge her if she were wronged. She could only trust in God to provide and care for her. This is what her decision actually entailed. It was no light thing. She was going to care for Naomi to the best of her ability and would not abandon her. Likewise, she would not abandon her new God. She would leave everything else behind and trust in Him for her life and entire future.

Frankly, that is the reality for every single one of us who have truly trusted in Jesus as Lord and Savior. Our situations are also helpless, hopeless, and powerless before God. We are foreigners estranged from God by our sin. We cannot fix the situations on our own. We cannot bring the dead back to life and bring true hope. We cannot undo our sin. We are beset on every side by the reality of the oppression of sin and the looming death that it brings. The only hope that truly exists for us is in God’s redemption. Thus we turn from our previous worship of false gods, whether that be the pursuit of money, pleasure, power, selfishness, knowledge, or anything else. We cling to Jesus alone. We trust Him as our Lord and Savior. We trust Him to do what is right and best for all of our future as we become pilgrims in a foreign land.

Another aspect of Ruth’s situation that has a parallel for many of us is that she was a foreigner who was included in God’s plan of redemption. She was not Jewish. She was not originally part of God’s chosen people that He had made His covenants with. Yet, God brought her near and adopted her into the covenant family of believers. Similarly, the good news of God’s redemption from sin in Jesus is for all peoples. As John 3:16 says, “God so loved the world….” Ephesians 2:11-22 beautifully describes this.

Ephesians 2:11-22 Therefore remember that at one time you Gentiles in the flesh, called “the uncircumcision” by what is called the circumcision, which is made in the flesh by hands— 12 remember that you were at that time separated from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. 13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. 14 For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility 15 by abolishing the law of commandments expressed in ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace, 16 and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility. 17 And he came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near. 18 For through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father. 19 So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, 20 built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, 21 in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. 22 In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit.

God chooses us and makes us a part of His family. We become fellow citizens with one another. Similarly to Ruth, God brings those who were far off near. God saves us from our sin. He redeems us when we come to Him by faith—as the earlier part of Ephesians 2 talks about.

In these ways then, Ruth herself pictures us in our helpless situations coming to God’s people and ultimately to God Himself for the help, rescue, protection, and deliverance that we need both for life and eternal redemption.

Have you seen yourself as you really are before God in your helpless situation? Have you seen your sin for what it has truly done to you and your relationship with God?
Sin leaves us dead spiritually before God. We have no relationship with Him other than being under His wrath until the time of our judgment. There is no way that we or anyone else or any other religion on this planet can fix that. No matter what we might attempt to do it will far woefully short. We cannot undo our sin nature. We cannot undo our sinful actions, words, and thoughts. We have no hope in ourselves or in any other religion. None of them can atone for our sin and make us righteous. Jesus is the only way that we can be righteously redeemed from this hopeless situation. Turn from your sin. Trust Him as your redeemer, Savior, and Lord. Be like Ruth, and not like Orpah. Do not have the way of truth, forgiveness, redemption, and life right in front of you and turn back from it. Forsake all else and trust in God for His way of redemption and life—regardless of what the circumstances might be that you face.

In addition to Ruth’s personal example of trusting in God and following Him, the biggest way that the book of Ruth points forward to Christ’s work of redemption is in the example of the kinsman redeemer that Boaz portrays.

It was not Boaz’s immediate responsibility to care for Ruth. It was not his responsibility to marry her and try to redeem her from the hopeless situation that she was in. It was the responsibility of the nearer relative who shamefully was not doing anything about it. Boaz could have pointed all that out and left it as it was. But he did not.

He could have blamed all of the problem on Elimelech’s choice to flee Israel during the time of famine rather than trusting in God during it. He could have said that it was all God’s judgment on Elimelech and his family for their disobedience, so he was not going to help. But he did not.

Boaz could have just taken advantage of the immediate physical situation and then turned his back on her as a foreigner who would not have anyone to fight for justice. But he did not.

Boaz did not just consider his own immediate best interests. He followed God’s plan and the spirit of the law for this kind of situation. He sacrificed of himself to do what was best for others. He took on the care and responsibility of Naomi and Ruth. He married a barren foreigner—perhaps seeming to also doom his own family line. He gave up some or all of his own inheritance prospects to raise up a child for another family line. He redeemed them financially and physically. He brought life to their ending family tree. He undeniably welcomed Ruth into the covenant family of God’s people.

Thus Ruth provides us a picture of a believer trusting in God for redemption. And Boaz provides us a picture of Jesus bringing redemption. Jesus perfectly followed the Father’s plan of salvation. Jesus sacrificed Himself to bring about our redemption. He paid the full price of our sin in His death on the cross. He died and was buried—seemingly dooming Himself. But then He rose, conquering sin and death.

Having paid the penalty for our sin in full, and having taking away our sin on the cross He gives us His righteousness. He redeems us from our former slavery to sin. He brings us back to life from our deadness in sin. He welcomes us into His very own family and gives us an eternal inheritance with Himself. He gave up experiencing the glories of heaven which He eternally deserves. He took the form of a servant, humbled Himself, and became obedient unto death, even death on the cross, to redeem us. Through death He brought victory and is now again exalted in heaven. One day all people will bow the knee to Him. Those He has redeemed will do it joyfully and with thanksgiving, and those who have refused Him will do it as they receive the judgment they deserve.

God’s Faithfulness In Ruth

All in all, the book of Ruth is not a prophecy foretelling Jesus. Nothing directly proclaims details of the coming Messiah. It is not quoted in the New Testament. But in the picture of Ruth and Boaz we do see many similarities between ourselves and what Jesus does for us. Thus we could call it a type or foreshadowing of Jesus and His work of redemption. Looking back to the book of Ruth we see physically in Boaz in miniature what Christ accomplishes physically and spiritually in totality and perfection.

Many people today look to the book of Ruth as a beautiful, maybe even romantic, love story. In reality it is much more than that, and the romance part is not even necessarily there! Rather, this is a beautiful “chesed” story. In Hebrew “chesed” is a word which signifies loyal faithfulness or loyal covenant love. Here we see God’s faithful covenant love to His people both in their faithfulness and despite their unfaithfulness. We also see this loyal faithfulness exemplified in Ruth and Boaz.

Naomi is not a picture of faithfulness at any point in the book. She left Israel with her husband when things got hard. When she lost her husband and children she blamed God. She did ask God to bless them, but then she counseled her daughter-in-laws to go back to their old ways. She basically told them to trust in their old gods, their old families, and a new Moabite husband for their future. Later on she herself trusted in her own conniving—even if it put people in situations that were possibly very compromising.

Yet, through it all God was faithful. He stopped Naomi’s mouth of complaining and blame. He showed her His faithfulness and provision. The end of the book of Ruth gives us no final word from Naomi. But it does give us a final word from the townspeople who exalt God, basically rebuke her unbelief, and point out God’s redemptive mercy and care. Naomi was no longer childless with a dying family tree. In God’s grace she had a grandson who brought them back from the brink of extinction. She had a daughter-in-law who cared for her. She had a physical redeemer who provided for her. God was the one who brought all that to pass and was indeed faithful. From this may we learn to trust in God’s gracious goodness despite the challenges of our circumstances. He will remain faithful. Trust Him.

This “chesed” loyal faithful love is also seen in Ruth’s love for Naomi. She did not abandon Naomi despite her attempts to send Ruth back to her false gods. She did not abandon Naomi even with her complaining, despair, or depression. She did not abandon her even with her sordid machinations. She stuck by her. She worked hard to provide for them both. She took risks that could have jeopardized her safety by gleaning and jeopardized her reputation by going to Boaz at night. She was faithfully loyal. Given God’s faithfulness to us, and our trust in Him may we similarly be faithful to serve and help others.

This “chesed” loyal faithful love is also seen between Ruth and Boaz. Ruth did not run after other quicker options. She did not pursue richer, younger, or more handsome men to try to get them to provide for her or marry her. She responded to Boaz’s initial fatherly protection and blessing by following his wisdom. She stayed with his workers throughout the harvest. She did come to him at night in obedience to Naomi’s dubious commands. Yet with her words, in the spirit of godliness and faithfulness, she solicited his help as redeemer in accordance with the law and in accordance with his earlier blessing from God upon her.

Meanwhile Boaz showed his faithful, loyal love by not taking advantage of her. He physically blessed her with food, and did things honorably and in the right way. He promised to marry her and redeem their land if the nearer relative would not. Then he quickly followed through on those words. He took care of all the issues justly. He redeemed the land. He married Ruth, and he provided for both Ruth and Naomi. Thus Ruth and Boaz were individuals of integrity who showed faithful loyal love to God and each other. Then God blessed them with a son to carry on their family name and inheritance. God showed his covenant loyal love to both Boaz and Ruth as they walked in obedience to Him. May we walk in integrity like this before God and others and continue to trust Him to take care of us.

Through all of this God also showed His covenant loyal love to the nation of Israel and the world. God had promised that through Judah the scepter of rule in Israel would come. This happened through the birth and reign of David. Ultimately it will come through David’s descendent Jesus who will rule all the nations with a rod of iron and bring justice and righteousness as Psalm 2 refers to. As Jesus finishes His work of redeeming individuals from our sin broken world then His work of justice and judgment will occur. He will bring in and establish His eternal kingdom.

Down through history, one generation at a time, God has been demonstrating His faithful, covenant, loyal love. He has been redeeming people from different nations. He has been rescuing them from their sin and the hopeless realities that it brings. He is a faithful God. We see an example of this through the actions of Boaz which point to the even greater work of Jesus which He did on the cross on the behalf of all those who come to Him by faith.

God has been faithful in the past, and will be faithful in the future. He was faithful with Naomi, Ruth, and Boaz to bring about their redemption. He was faithful with Jesus to bring about our redemption from sin. He will be faithful to come back and finish His redemption of this world. And this is what we remember as we partake of communion together. He is our redeemer. He is the only redeemer. He is faithful. He is coming back. May we rejoice in Him, and trust Him. Let’s pray and partake of communion. ³

© 2024, Kevin A. Dodge, All rights reserved.

Unless otherwise noted, Scripture quotations taken from the New American Standard Bible® (NASB),Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. www.Lockman.org

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Related Topics: Christian Life, Communion, Soteriology (Salvation)