Ruth 4:6-10: a reflection

6The near kinsman said, “I can’t redeem it for myself, lest I endanger my own inheritance. Take my right of redemption for yourself; for I can’t redeem it.” 7Now this was the custom in former time in Israel concerning redeeming and concerning exchanging, to confirm all things: a man took off his sandal, and gave it to his neighbor; and this was the way of formalizing transactions in Israel. 8So the near kinsman said to Boaz, “Buy it for yourself,” then he took off his sandal. 9Boaz said to the elders and to all the people, “You are witnesses today, that I have bought all that was Elimelech’s, and all that was Chilion’s and Mahlon’s, from the hand of Naomi. 10Moreover, Ruth the Moabitess, the wife of Mahlon, I have purchased to be my wife, to raise up the name of the dead on his inheritance, that the name of the dead may not be cut off from among his brothers and from the gate of his place. You are witnesses today.”

In the story of Ruth, a nearer kinsman had the first right to redeem Elimelech's property and take Ruth as wife; but he declined, fearing it would endanger his own inheritance: I can't redeem it for myself, lest I endanger my own inheritance. Boaz, however, willingly took on the cost. He redeemed all that had belonged to the family, and took Ruth to be his wife, to raise up the name of the dead. Where the nearer kinsman would not bear the cost of redemption, Boaz willingly did, bearing it himself to redeem what was lost and to restore what had been cut off. He became the redeemer who willingly paid the price.

Notice the difference between the two kinsmen. The nearer one would not redeem, because it would cost him something, might endanger his own inheritance; he counted the cost and declined. But Boaz willingly took on the cost of redemption, redeeming the property and taking Ruth as his wife, bearing the price to restore what had been lost. The redeemer was the one willing to bear the cost, to pay the price to redeem and restore. And in this, Boaz points beyond himself to a greater Redeemer, Christ, who willingly bore the cost of our redemption, paying the price to redeem us who were lost. The redeemer is the one who willingly bears the cost.

That is worth resting in, for we have a Redeemer who, like Boaz, willingly bore the cost to redeem us. We were lost, unable to redeem ourselves, needing a redeemer willing to bear the cost; and where nothing else could redeem us, Christ willingly took on the cost, paying the price to redeem and restore us, as Boaz redeemed what was lost. Our Redeemer did not decline the cost; he bore it himself, to make us his own. Do not despair of being redeemed because the cost was more than you could pay; Christ, like Boaz, willingly bore the cost to redeem you. Rest in Christ, your Redeemer, who willingly bore the cost of your redemption to make you his own, as Boaz willingly paid the price to redeem what was lost and take Ruth as his wife; for we have a Redeemer who did not decline the cost but bore it himself, paying the price to redeem us who could not redeem ourselves.

Lord, in the story of Ruth, a nearer kinsman had the first right to redeem Elimelech's property and take Ruth as wife; but he declined, fearing it would endanger his own inheritance: I can't redeem it for myself, lest I endanger my own inheritance. Boaz, however, willingly took on the cost. He redeemed all that had belonged to the family, and took Ruth to be his wife, to raise up the name of the dead. Where the nearer kinsman would not bear the cost of redemption, Boaz willingly did, bearing it himself to redeem what was lost. Show me the difference between the two kinsmen. The nearer one would not redeem, because it would cost him something; he counted the cost and declined. But Boaz willingly took on the cost of redemption, bearing the price to restore what had been lost. The redeemer was the one willing to bear the cost. And in this, Boaz points beyond himself to a greater Redeemer, Christ, who willingly bore the cost of our redemption. Let me rest in that, for I have a Redeemer who, like Boaz, willingly bore the cost to redeem me. I was lost, unable to redeem myself, needing a redeemer willing to bear the cost; and where nothing else could redeem me, Christ willingly took on the cost, paying the price to redeem and restore me. My Redeemer did not decline the cost; he bore it himself. Keep me from despairing of being redeemed because the cost was more than I could pay; Christ, like Boaz, willingly bore the cost to redeem me, Lord. Help me rest in Christ, my Redeemer, who willingly bore the cost of my redemption to make me his own.