Read Ruth 2:19b–20
WHODUNNIT?
Throughout this chapter, Ruth has been on the receiving end of Boaz’s
spectacular kindness. But at this point in the story, Ruth doesn’t yet know
what we know: that this Boaz is actually a relative of her dead father-in-law
(2:1)!
Similarly, whilst Naomi can see that Ruth has hit the jackpot gleaning in
the fields of Bethlehem, she doesn’t yet know who is the source of this rich
blessing. Consequently, she eagerly asks Ruth, ‘Where did you glean today?
Where did you work? Blessed be the man who took notice of you!’ (v. 19).
Delightfully for us as readers, it’s only in today’s passage that they both
‘join the dots’ – and so the extent of the Lord’s loving providence dawns
upon them both.
JOINING THE DOTS
Even as Ruth reveals the name of the man who has looked after her, she’s
herself none the wiser to its significance (v. 19). Maybe Ruth would be
wondering if Naomi has even heard of this guy.
But obviously Naomi has! As she hears Ruth utter his name, Naomi is
awestruck, exclaiming, ‘The Lord bless him!’ (v. 20).
Unsurprisingly, this reaction requires an explanation for Ruth. And so
Naomi spells it out for her: ‘That man is our close relative; he is one of our
guardian-redeemers’ (v. 20).
COULD THIS BE OUR REDEEMER?
This phrase ‘guardian-redeemer’ was a technical term. It described a male
member of the wider family who was obliged to ‘rescue’ a relative if they got
into a predicament.
As we’ve seen previously, this act of ‘redeeming’ was built into Old
Testament law. For example, a dead man’s brother would act as a ‘redeemer’
by marrying his brother’s widow. This would be a commitment to provide
for her and, if necessary, to seek to produce an heir to continue the dead
man’s family line.
Every male family member was therefore a potential redeemer. As Paul
Miller puts it, redeeming was more than providing advice or finances. A
redeemer was to actually ‘own the problem’.
5Redeeming love was a sacrificial
decision to take the other person’s helplessness upon yourself.
GRACE THAT DARES US TO HOPE
For Naomi, a glimmer of hope has now burst through into her helplessness.
Although she probably knew of Boaz’s existence, perhaps she assumed her
own wandering past, not to mention Ruth’s ‘foreigner’ status, would put
Boaz off from getting involved. Now, as she hears of Boaz’s lavish kindness,
she dares to hope again.
For what if Boaz’s actions were motivated by more than him just taking a
fancy to Ruth? What if they’re an initial indication that he might be willing
to redeem his dead relative’s family? Judging by Naomi’s comment, she
seems to think so. She concludes, ‘He has not stopped showing his kindness
to the living and the dead’ (v. 20, my italics; the literal meaning here is: ‘he
does not abandon…’).
But there is a delightful ambiguity to Naomi’s comment too. Who is the
‘he’ that she is talking about? Instinctively, we think of Boaz, and yet we can’t
help but also see that it is the Lord who is at work through these events. He
does not abandon his people, whether in life or in death.
REFLECTION
Do you remember when you first glimpsed the gracious character of God? He
has not stopped showing kindness to his people – and we’ll still be enjoying his
lavish grace into eternity. Even the grave does not stop his kindness. He takes
our helplessness upon himself. Take a moment to reflect on his character and
‘dare to hope’ again.
Listen to ‘Come Light Our Hearts’ by Sandra McCracken
Discipleship
Discipleship