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THE REDEEMER ACTS (7 OF 8)

by Wyman Richardson

Scripture: Ruth 4:1-12
This content is part of a series.


The Redeemer Acts (7 of 8)
Series: Ruth: The Far Reach of the Love of God
Wyman Richardson
Ruth 4:1-12


Read Ruth 4:1-12

It is fitting that we are approaching the Lord's Supper table on this day when we also approach Ruth 4:1-12. That is because these verses speak of a bridegroom's redemption of his bride. That is also exactly what the Lord's Supper speaks of as well: a Bridegroom's redemption of His bride. As I hope to show, this text is where the bottom level story (the actual story of Boaz and Ruth) and the upper level story (the story of Christ and His Church) come closest to one another. As we read this text in preparation for the Lord's Supper, I would like to consider the fact that Boaz's purchase of his bride, Ruth, was eager, public, and legally binding. So is Jesus' purchase of His bride.

Eager. Public. Legally binding.

Eager. Boaz was eager to secure Ruth as his bride.

1 Now Boaz had gone up to the gate and sat down there. And behold, the redeemer, of whom Boaz had spoken, came by. So Boaz said, ''Turn aside, friend; sit down here.'' And he turned aside and sat down.

Chapter 3 ended with the startling events on the threshing floor that saw Ruth pledge herself to Boaz and Boaz assure her that he would redeem and marry her if at all possible. There was one problem: there was a relative closer to Naomi and Ruth than Boaz was and, by law, that relative was given the first option of redemption. Boaz would only be able to redeem Ruth if this other relative chose not to.

Our chapter begins with Boaz eagerly seeking to redeem Ruth. He went to the place where such business was handled: the city gates. And when did he go? The next morning, the morning after Ruth came to him and lay at his feet on the threshing floor. The night before Boaz had said to Ruth, ''Stay here for the night, and in the morning if he wants to do his duty as your guardian-redeemer, good; let him redeem you. But if he is not willing, as surely as the Lord lives I wil ...

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