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Ruth, Kinsman Redeemer

Throughout the history of Israel, no matter how bad things seemed, there has always been a remnant that truly follows God. After the book of Judges it may seem like nothing is as it should be. God's people refuse to listen and repeatedly fall into sin. The covenant appears to be in shambles. 

The book of Ruth is a reminder that not everyone ignored God's commandments during this time. Just because a large majority of Israel did whatever they wanted doesn't mean nobody was left that followed God. The book of Ruth is also an answer to the lament in Judges that there is no king. Ruth shows that God was working to bring about a good king during this time.

Background

Once again we do not know who wrote the book of Ruth. Whoever it was was probably alive during the reign of David, since they know his lineage. Tradition points to Samuel, but again the book itself doesn't say. 

Interestingly the book of Ruth does not appear in the same place in the Hebrew Bible (the Jewish version of the Old Testament). There it appears as part of the wisdom literature and not as part of the historical books (or prophets as they are called there). 

Themes

The main character of the book of Ruth isn't Ruth. The central figure is Naomi. The book is about her journey from despising God to finding joy in God again. Ruth is the instrument God uses to bring about this change of heart.

Now most of us have never looked at this book that way before. We tend to view Ruth as a love story between Ruth and Boaz. While this is certainly an element of the book, it primarily serves to bring Naomi back to God.

Consider this; at the beginning of the book Naomi's husband and sons die. Her daughter-in-laws, Ruth and Orpah, long to stay with her, but Naomi refuses. She insists that they go home to Moab instead of joining her in Israel.

Naomi would rather have these women go back to their pagan idols than come to Israel and know God.

It is heartbreaking to see. When Ruth begs Naomi to let her stay she says the now famous line, "Your God will be my God." We see this as a grand declaration of loyalty, but Naomi is initially resistant. She doesn't want God to be Ruth's God. Naomi thinks that all hope for redemption is lost.

This is where the other primary theme comes in; the kinsman redeemer. Remember how not everyone had abandoned God's laws? Well Boaz is one of those people. When he sees Ruth and learns of her and Naomi's plight, he sets out to keep them safe and redeem them. It is in the Law that the closest male relative redeem the lands of the deceased in order to ensure that the widows and orphans are taken care of.

Theological Point

In truth we are a lot like Naomi. We have all turned our backs to God in some way or another and are in need of a redeemer. Fortunately we have one. The idea of the kinsman redeemer anticipates Christ. He is our kinsman redeemer. When we were destitute in sin, he bought us back. It is because of him that we can once again follow God.

Conclusion

Ruth is a short book with a lot of meat. We see a journey of repentance, adoption as one of God's people, redemption, and anticipation of a godly king. 

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