Reading: Ruth Chapter 4

Summary/Context: The first five verses of Ruth, set the tragic scene for how Naomi had come to a point of desperation outside of God’s land. Her husband died, her married sons died, and she was left in an extremely dark and patriarchal society that would not be spiritually, physically or emotionally welcoming to a widow. Full of grief and in a desperate situation, the widow decided to return to Bethlehem. Ruth, the daughter-in-law from which the book takes it name, chose to follow Naomi back to the Promised Land of God; though in her grief and pain Naomi called herself bitter.

In Chapter 2, when Naomi repented and sought redemption, the Lord brought Boaz into the life of Ruth. He was a known as a goel, or kinsmen-redeemer. A goes is a close relative able to perform and fulfill the responsibilities of a lost husband in order to restore, maintain and preserve a family heritage and the land of Israel.

Chapter 3 brings the dramatic scene of Ruth offering to marry Boaz, but the equally dramatic reality that there was a closer kinsmen or family redeemer (3:12). The Book of Ruth is not primarily a romance story, but like a good romance, Chapter 3 leaves the reader wondering exactly whom Ruth will marry the next day.

The literary types throughout the Book of Ruth become much more clear in Chapter 4 and help us understand the grand narrative of God’s story being displayed in it’s characters. Consider that Naomi (who’s name means My delight) is a type of Israel. This makes Ruth a type of the Gentile church who left all behind, seeking to come under the covering of a Redeemer (2:11-12). The closer kinsman of 3:12 who desired to redeem Ruth but was ultimately unable to buy her back is a type of the law (4:4, 4:6). This, of course, makes Boaz a type of Christ the Redeemer as he honored the closer kinsman, but fulfilled what he could not.

Subject: The Redeemer

I. Chapter 4:1-8, God’s Plan

Note: The gates of the city were the place the esteemed men of the city gathered to publicly do business. When Boaz called the closer kinsmen to himself, it was in the presence of the town elders. It is likely that Ruth and Naomi were nearby, so at the end of Verse 4, it could seem the love story was ending when the closer kinsman agreed to redeem the land. When Boaz mentioned Ruth of Moabitess the closer relative said, “I can’t redeem it myself, or I will ruin my own inheritance.” According to Deuteronomy 5:9, Ruth had the right to spit in the face of the kinsman who disgraced her, but likely did not because Boaz was then free to redeem her.

1. How does the closer kinsman-redeemer appear to be like the law, and why can’t he redeem Ruth?
2. Do you think Boaz purposely withheld the information that the land redemption included Ruth of Moabitess? Why or why not?
3. Hebrews 2:14-15 says Jesus Christ became flesh: how does that make Him similar to our kinsman-redeemer?

II. Ruth 4:9-12, God’s Redemption 

Note: Redemption can be defined as “setting free by paying a price no other could pay”. There was no way for Naomi and Ruth to pay the price needed for redemption. Just as only Boaz could redeem Ruth, only Jesus can redeem humanity. Similarly, just as the death of Jesus was redemptive and public, so was the marriage of Ruth and Boaz.

1. Read Ephesians 2:1-3 and explain what Jesus redeems His followers from.
2. What do you make of elders and witnesses blessing Ruth by praying she be like Rachel and Lea?
3. What other ways do you see Boaz to be a type of Christ and Ruth to be a type of the Church?

III. Ruth 4:13-22, God’s Blessing

Note: It is significant that Verse 13 records, “…the LORD granted conception to her, and she gave birth to a son.” Not only are children never an accident, but the line of Boaz and Ruth were specially planned by Yahweh. It was through this that a Gentile woman was brought into the line of David, and thus into the line of the ultimate redeemer, Jesus Christ (Matthew 1:5).

1. Why do you think Verses 14 to 17 seem to focus on the experience of Naomi? What may have Naomi thought to hold her grandchild? How was this grandchild a blessing to Naomi and a fulfillment of the wishes of the elders and the people?
2. Where do you see the grace of God in the life of Ruth?
3. Why is it important to know the Lord grants conception?

Deeper questions and resources:

1. Noel Vincent’s blog, Apologia Veritas: Defending the Truth has an informative article called "Concept of Goel: Kinsman-Redeemer” which includes more information on the literary typologies displayed in the Book of Ruth.
2. The law of the kinsman-redeemer is given in Leviticus 25:23-34 and Deuteronomy 25:5-10.
3. How will the Book of Ruth change you?
4. Pastor David Guzik’s commentary on Ruth 4