Reflection
- (Rth 4:13 ESV) So Boaz took Ruth, and she became his wife. And he went in to her, and the LORD gave her conception, and she bore a son.
- (Rth 4:14 ESV) Then the women said to Naomi, “Blessed be the LORD, who has not left you this day without a redeemer, and may his name be renowned in Israel!
- (Rth 4:15 ESV) He shall be to you a restorer of life and a nourisher of your old age, for your daughter-in-law who loves you, who is more to you than seven sons, has given birth to him.”
- (Rth 4:16 ESV) Then Naomi took the child and laid him on her lap and became his nurse.
- (Rth 4:17 ESV) And the women of the neighborhood gave him a name, saying, “A son has been born to Naomi.” They named him Obed. He was the father of Jesse, the father of David.
Discussion
If you are a fan of superhero movies or stories, you know that the hero sometimes is not what you would expect. Sure, when they are in costume everything changes. When they are not in costume they seem like normal people and no one would expect they have an alter-ego:
Superman – A mild-mannered journalist
Batman – A business mogul
Mr. Incredible – An insurance agent
In the story of Ruth we do come across this ultimate redeemer for Naomi, but it is not at all who we would expect. It is the son that was born. Not Boaz, the one who redeemed them back to the family. The son, Obed, is the redeemer of the line of Elimelech. Obed would be the heir and would carry on that family line. Obed is ultimately the redeemer for the family to restore all things.
It is interesting to make connections to these characters. At the risk of stretch a little more…. Boaz, the benevolent father gives his only son to redeem and restore what was lost of his people. Does that sound familiar? It sounds a lot like the story of our Redeemer, Jesus, doesn’t it?
Connection
How does our Redeemer come in a form that no one expected?
How does our Redeemed restore His people who are lost?
What is our role as the collection of those restored, redeemed people?
How can our church focus on the truth of our status as the redeemed people of God?
Expansion
The Church Family
The church is both the universal and local people called by the Holy Spirit and redeemed by Jesus alone. Our citizenship is secure in heaven and our devotion on earth is the work of God. We are baptized into His body and led by men called of God to the roles of elders and deacons with the purposes of fellowship, worship, discipleship, evangelism, and ministry.
Jude 4, 8, 12, 13, 16, 1 Peter 2:9-12, Colossians 1:15-20, Ephesians 5:23-32, Acts 20:28, Colossians 3:15, 1 Corinthians 12:12-13, Ephesians 4:11-12, 1 Corinthians 12:28, 1 Timothy 3:1-7, Titus 1:5-9, 1 Peter 5:1-2, Hebrews 13:17, 1 Timothy 3:8-13, Acts 2:42-49. Matthew 22:37-39, Matthew 28:19-20