My Redeemer Lives!

Being bought doesn’t sound like a very romantic way to start a love story. It could certainly make one feel like wares in a dime store, to a certain degree: “Oh, we’ll take this one!” In the book of Ruth, however, the theme of redemption is central. Not only is it a crucial part of this small love story juxtaposed with the era of the Judges, but it is a central idea in Christian doctrine and living.

In ancient Israel, when the husband of a young woman died, leaving her a widow, it was the job of the nearest kin to take her as his wife, thus preserving the family name. However, there was a price that went along with it. Not only that, but the man could reject the woman, and though it would shame him, he would be free from marrying her.

Ruth, a stranger in Israel, is a Moabitess. This country is known by their gross, fleshly living (see Judges 3 for an example). Even their origin is wrapped up in sinful sensuality (Gen. 19:37). It is out of this land that Ruth comes to Bethlehem from with her mother-in-law Naomi.

Who would want such a woman? Everyone knows she’s a Moabitess – there are certain limitations on the offspring of such a marriage – and that she is a barren widow.
Yet she finds grace in the sight of Boaz, who not only shows her mercy, but pledges to take her as his own. The closer kinsman was unable to do it, and there was no one left but him; as a man ought then, Boaz, using his might, purchases Ruth to be his bride, not ashamed of the fact that she is a Moabitess indeed. She was redeemed from her state of barrenness and widowhood by this man, and the Lord blessed her with the lineage of kings.

This is a beautiful tale; but its value, its inclusion in the canon of Scripture, is not merely because it is a nice tale. The nature of this story is a picture of Christ and the gospel. We, Gentiles, foreign to the good graces of God, have found mercy in the sight of Jesus Christ. If we do know Christ as our Lord and Savior, we must not think this redemption a small thing nor salvation a petty act. It is incredible to me not just that we have been redeemed, but what we have been redeemed from.

1 Corinthians 6:20 tells us that we, as believers, have been purchased: “For ye are bought with a price…” This is not mere money we have been bought with either. Peter tells us “Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not bought with corruptible things, as silver and gold… but with the precious blood of Christ…” The enormous price that needed to be paid for our sin is incredibly large. We, as the kinsman who could not purchase Ruth, stand afar off and say, “I cannot do it!” And you would be right; for any man who thinks he could save himself does not know the deepness of the depravity of his soul. It took the very blood of God to save us.

But there is yet more to redemption. For we have not just been redeemed to get to heaven; we, in this life, have been saved from the power of the world, the flesh, and all the forces of darkness. Paul speaks in Colossians 1: 13 of Christ’s saving power, “Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son.” As Ruth was brought out of Moab, we have been snatched out of the power of darkness and sin and brought into Christ and His kingdom. No longer do we need to remain in Moab; we can walk free in our Lord Jesus!

How often then do we go on living flesh-led lives, abiding in the whore country Moab, giving ourselves to carnality and wickedness? We say “Amen” in all the right places, but there is no effect in our personal lives. Is it not time to come out of Moab unto our Lord, that He might have the rightful place in our lives? He had bought you; do not shame the purchase nor the price with which He bought you.

May we be a people, who stand alongside Job, and say, “My Redeemer Liveth.”