Redeeming Love - Studies in the Book of Ruth
10 - Love Triumphs Over the Law
In our study so far we have seen that Ruth has appealed to Boaz to be her kinsman-redeemer. She has approached him according to the cultural practice of the day which was to uncover his feet and lie down there. Boaz knew immediately the meaning of what she did. As a near relative he was being asked to act for the family to ensure that the name of Elimelech would continue through the first born son of this new relationship.
There was a problem, however. Boaz says in chapter three verse twelve, “Although it is true that I am near of kin, there is a kinsman-redeemer nearer than I”. Boaz was under obligation to give the immediate next of kin the opportunity to discharge his duty and become the family redeemer. Chapter four takes up the story as Boaz meets the legitimate next of kin. He calls the elders of the town and presents his case. We read his words in verses three and four, “Naomi, who has come back from Moab, is selling the piece of land that belonged to our brother Elimelech. I thought I should bring the matter to your attention and suggest that you buy it here and in the presence of the elders of my people. If you will redeem it, do so. But if you will not, tell me so that I will know. For no one has the right to do it except for you, and I am next in line”. Now the next of kin saw a good opportunity here. He must have reasoned in his own mind that Naomi was passed childbearing age, so the land could be passed on to his own son. He says, “I will redeem it”. Then Boaz brings in his masterstroke and says, “On the day you buy the land from Naomi and from Ruth the Moabitess, you acquire the dead man’s widow, in order to maintain the name of the dead with his property”. Ruth was presented as joint owner of the land with Naomi.
Although Naomi was passed childbearing age, Ruth was not. The next of kin saw the implication of this and realised that Ruth could bear him a son. The land would then pass to her to maintain the name of Elimelech’s son, her deceased husband Mahlon. In other words, he would spend a large sum of money and in the end receive no benefit from it. We read his response in verse six: “Then I cannot redeem it because I might endanger my own estate. You redeem it. I cannot do it”. The next of kin then removed his sandal and gave it to Boaz. This was the custom when someone refused to act as a kinsman-redeemer for a family. Verse seven gives us some background to this custom: “Now in earlier times in Israel, for the redemption and transfer of property to become final, one part took off his sandal and gave it to the other. This was the method of legalising transactions in Israel”.
There appears to have been a much more relaxed approach at this time in Israel’s history. In Moses time when this law was introduced, it was shameful thing to refuse to act as a kinsman-redeemer. In Deuteronomy chapter twenty-five verses eight and nine we read, “If he persists in saying, ‘I do not want to marry her’, his brother’s widow shall go up to him in the presence of the elders, take off one of his sandals and spit in his face and say, ‘This is what is done to the man who will not build up his brother’s family line’”. That attitude was not apparent here. Boaz was next in line and he received the sandal and so took full responsibility to act as the redeemer. He says, “Today you are witnesses that I have bought from Naomi all the property of Elimelech, Kilion and Mahlon. I have also acquired Ruth the Moabitess, Mahlon’s widow as my wife in order to maintain the name of the dead with his property, so that his name will not disappear from among his family and from the town records”.
Once again Boaz can be seen as a picture of our Lord Jesus Christ in his relationship with his people. The thing to notice here is that love triumphed over the law. It is possible to apply the law but to have no love in its application. It is also possible to have love but to take no account of the law - this is called antinomianism. True love applies and keeps the law in a just and loving manner. Keeping the law does not redeem the believer. We are not capable in ourselves of keeping God’s law. Our salvation is all of God’s grace through faith in Christ. Where the law of God is concerned, Christians seek to keep it out of love for Christ, not in order to be saved. We read in James chapter two verse eight, “If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, ‘Love your neighbour as yourself’, you are doing right”. Galatians chapter six verse two says, “Carry each others burdens, and in this way you will fulfil the law of Christ”. The law of Christ is the law of love.
Boaz did not have to act as the kinsman-redeemer. He did so, not because the law required it, or because he was under obligation and duress. He could have walked away, and let them all sort it out among themselves. He did not do this, but acted in love. He went out of his way so that he could redeem the property and provide for Ruth and Naomi. In love he placed himself under the law and fulfilled its requirements. This was redeeming love. It is the same with the lord Jesus Christ. We were in debt to God, burdened with our sin, helpless and hopeless, with no means to pay the debt ourselves. We read in Ephesians chapter two verses three and four, “Like the rest, we were by nature objects of God’s wrath. But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions; it is by grace you have been saved”. Christ died for us because He loves us. He had deep compassion for us and in redeeming love He met all the demands of God’s law for us. He lived a perfect life, without sin and fulfilled the Father’s will in all that He did. We read in Galatians chapter four verses four and five, “God sent his Son, born of a women, born under the law, to redeem those under the law, that we might receive the full rights of sons”. Redeeming love took the Lord Jesus to the cross to bear the wrath of God against our sins - to take our place.
The mercy, grace and love that Boaz showed to Ruth was nothing compared to the display of love and grace shown at Calvary by our great kinsman-redeemer, the Lord Jesus Christ. He paid the ultimate price for you and for me. He faced death on the cross, and separation from God his Father during those dark hours as He hung there. He was truly God’s sacrificial lamb who has taken away your sin and mine, and of all who will believe. There is a Redeemer, Jesus, God’s own Son.