Our Kinsman Redeemer | Pastor Cody Harlow, November 16th, 2025- Ruth 4:1-12

Put it in a nice bow, place it under the Christmas tree as we move on from there. And then the week after that, Thomas

Is going to be preaching. And so if you've never heard Thomas preach, just get ready. It's going to be great. We u we are heading out after Denny Johnson's funeral. One quick thing that I want to kind of make you aware, actually two quick things. As you guys have heard, Denny's passed away earlier this week. And so we're going to be hosting a reception after the memorial service. And if you want to help out with that, Gwen, where are you? Where where you at? Can you just wave real quick? She's over there. There you go. All right. She's she could use help with finger food. She's got a whole list of finger foods and you can just kind of talk to her about how you can assist in making that an awesome ministry to bless that family. And secondly I was made aware that some of our friends okay are having some problems backing out from the church. And so for our friends that have issues backing out of the church, please take your time. Don't try to zip out. This is a busy highway and folks that just kind of throw it in reverse and say good luck everybody else. [laughter] please don't do that. Okay. So if you're wondering is it me? It might be you. So God bless you. I love you. Be responsible. Okay. Before today I want to talk about this twist from last week. This truth that there is another Redeemer for Ruth. Boaz, he doesn't tell Ruth who the other Redeemer is, but it is where Ruth chapter 4 begins. And so just to summarize Ruth for you, Ruth is a Moabitete woman. Which means that she comes from a land of lying and sexual immorality and idolatry and pure paganism. But she married into a Israelite family who then themselves were walking in disobedience as they were in the land of Moab and she lost

Her husband, her brother-in-law, her father-in-law. She has devoted herself to Naomi. She has said, "Your people will be my people and your God my God." And she has been working hard ever since she got to Bethlehem, that is the house of bread. She has been working hard for a man named Boaz who has protected her, who has provided for her, and he continues to prove himself to be, as the Scriptures describe him, a worthy man. Naomi, she gets this wonderful idea that, hey, this man, he's a relative, which means he can be a Redeemer. So, you two should link up and get married. Now, remember that word Redeemer in the Hebrew is the Hebrew word goel. A goel is a family member who can purchase a family member's property. They can purchase family members out of slavery. They can seek out justice. If someone is murdered, they are the blood relative that will redeem that blood with blood. They could fulfill the obligations of what c what is called a lever marriage. A lever marriage was a marriage where if a husband passed away, then a husband's brother or another close relative could marry that widow and could produce offspring on that brother's behalf so that his name would not disappear out of the lineage of Israel. And so being a Redeemer, being a goel was a big responsibility kind of I guess in today's terms maybe like as an executive of a will. And Ruth, she comes to Boaz in the night. She gets low. She humbles herself and she asks Boaz to be her Redeemer. And Boaz, he agrees. He's like, "Yeah, I'll be your Redeemer." But he informs her that someone else has a better legal right than he does and that they should be given the opportunity to fulfill that obligation first. And what he wants to do is he wants to make sure that everything is

Legal, that everything is right. And so there are two potential redeemers here. And both of these men, they have the right, they have the standing, they have the ability, but only one of them will ultimately redeem Ruth. One Redeemer protects himself, the other Redeemer sacrifices for her behalf. One hides behind excuses, and the other one joyfully pays the cost to redeem Ruth the Moabitete. And it's through all of this that the Lord is teaching us about the true Redeemer of our souls, Jesus Christ, the one who stepped forward for us. And we're also going to be learning about false redeemers, too. So, please stand with me if you're able in honor of God's word as we read Ruth 4:es 1-2. God's word. It says this. Now Boaz had gone up to the gate and sat there. And behold, the Redeemer of whom Boaz had spoken came by. So Boaz said, "Turn aside, friend. Sit down here." And he turned aside and sat down. And he took 10 men of the elders of the city and said, "Sit down here." So they sat down. Then he said to the Redeemer, "Naomi, who has come back from the country of Moab, is selling the parcel of land that belonged to our relative, the Limc." So I thought I would tell you of it and say, "Buy it in the presence of these elders here and in the presence of the elders of my people. If you will redeem it, redeem it. And if you will not, tell me that I may know. For there is no one besides you to redeem it, and I come after you." And he said,"I will redeem it." Then Boaz said, "The day you buy the field from the hand of Naomi, you also acquire Ruth the Moabitete, the widow of the dead, in order to perpetuate the name of the dead in his inheritance." Then the Redeemer said, "I cannot redeem it for myself, lest I impair my own inheritance. Take my right of redemption yourself, for I cannot redeem it." Now this was the custom in

The former times in Israel concerning redeeming and exchanging. To confirm a transaction, the one drew off his sandal and gave it to the other. And this was the manner of attesting in Israel. So when the Redeemer said to Boaz, "Buy it yourself," he drew off his sandal. Then Boaz said to the elders and all the people, "You were witnesses this day that I have bought from the hand of Naomi all that belonged to IMC and all that belonged to Keillion and Melon. Also, Ruth the Moabitete, the widow of Melon, I have bought to be my wife, to perpetuate the name of the dead in his inheritance, that the name of the dead may not be cut off from among his brothers and from the gate of his native place. You are witnesses this day." Then all the people who were at the gates and the elders said, "We are witnesses. May the Lord make the woman who is coming into your house like Rachel and Leah who together built up the house of Israel. May you act worthily in Ephtha and be renowned in Bethlehem. And may your house be like the house of Perez whom Tamar bore to Judah because of the offspring that the Lord will give you by this young woman. Let's pray. And so, Father, we do thank you for your word. We thank you for the time that we get to have together. And we thank you that you did empty yourself and paid that full price. You humiliated yourself. You suffered upon that cross so that you could redeem the souls of men and women that are separated from you. Lord, we were on a one-way road to hell and you by your divine will and good pleasure and your love sought to redeem us and you plucked us out of there when we were faced down dead in our sins. And yet you brought us to life and you set us on that narrow path to follow Christ. Thank you for it, God. And if there's anyone here that they don't know that today, they don't know you. I pray that today would be that day that they're

Born again to a living hope that's found in Christ. We thank you for your word. We pray that you would move among us. Father, just as a little segue, we want to lift up to you Vern Johnson, and we just want to pray for comfort for him. We want to pray for peace. We pray that you would just overwhelm him with your presence. God, help him to experience the fullness of joy by fixing his eyes on you. Father, we want to pray for Josh and Christie. We thank you for them. We pray that you would just continue to give them comfort. For Jack and Sam and Micah, we just want to lift them up to you as well. Help them to experience the goodness of God during the valley of the shadow of death. We love you in Jesus name. Amen. Well, chapter 4, it begins with Boaz taking care of business. He stayed up late working at the threshing floor and he promised Ruth that he would redeem her. And Naomi knowing the kind of man that Boaz is, she said, "Wait, my daughter, until you learn how the matter turns out, for the man will not rest, but will settle the matter today." Boaz, he goes straight up to the gate of the city. Now, the city gate is the most important structure in a iron age city like Bethlehem at this time. This was built into the wall with towers and chambers and benches with guarded rooms. It was a courthouse. It was a town hall. It was a community center. And this is where the elders of the city would sit and they would make decisions. And this is where the witnesses they would gather and this is where official business took place. And so by going to the gate, what Boaz is doing is he's stepping into the place of law and justice. And he is performing this redemption publicly for everyone to see. He's not trying to hide Ruth. He's not trying to hide the situation. He is being public about his intentions and

Exactly what he is doing in order to fully redeem Ruth. He is a righteous man and he wants everything done right. Now, if you go to Bethlehem today, they still have a gate that's from the time of Christ. We don't know if it's the same gate or not. It's called the Alzar Arch. Yeah, it's believed to be the archway that Mary and Joseph entered into Bethlehem on. This is hundreds of years before that event. But this gives us an idea of what the size and the scale would be. I would encourage you to go and look it up. Now while Boaz is here, he sees the other goel, the other Redeemer coming into the city and Boaz asks him to come by and sit down. He makes it clear by calling him friend that this is not some sort of personal issue that they need to resolve between one another. What he is saying is that there is a legal issue that needs to be resolved. And Boaz, he gets 10 elders of the city. These are leaders. These are decision makers. These are men of wisdom, of good reputation. Just like when we have elders in our church. That's what they're there for. They're there to lead. They're there to make decisions. They are have all those qualifications just like these men have here. And what they're there for is to sort out the issue and to bear witness to this issue that's at hand. Now, the Redeemer is interesting because the writer of Ruth intentionally hides the other man's name. It actually goes out of the way in the Hebrew. I'm going to try to do this right. It's Paloni Almani. Okay, which is which is similar to us saying Mr. Soandso. Okay, we have these this is a u kind of a rhyme kind of like when we say heebie-jebie or hocus pocus or helter skelter or yada, right? It doesn't mean a whole lot. It's just kind of there as a filler. And that's what it

Is. And Mr. Soandso, he sits down and he hears about Naomi. He hears about her desire to lease out this parcel of land. It's not a permanent purchase that would violate the Mosaic law. They were not allowed to permanently purchase land but to lease it out until that year of Jubilee. So the land would remain his as long as Ruth didn't have any other offspring. And so this is a lowcost highreward really lowrisk investment for Mr. So and so and so he agrees immediately. He says yeah I will redeem that land. I will I will totally do that. And that's when mi Boaz hits Mr. So and So with the with a big curveball. It's like, well, when you redeem this land, you also get a wife. You acquire Ruth the Moabitete, the widow of the dead, in order to perpetuate the name of the dead in his inheritance. He's reminding him of the responsibility of a goel. It's not just all benefit for you. You have a moral responsibility because you are a part of the people of God to produce offspring that will be IMCS in order to perpetuate the name of the dead. So if he continues down this road, Naomi, she will be provided for. She will have protection, maybe even a grandson. But what happens to Ruth in this situation? Well, this man, he could wind up resenting her. I can't believe she had a son. That's that's where my naturalborn son, you know, he's cutting into his inheritance at this point. The grandson might live unhappily where the father, he hates the price that he has to pay. And so, Mr. So and so, he might be angry about his inheritance being ruined. And Naomi's security would be rooted in duty and in not in love. But the risks, they outweigh the reward. And so here's what he says. He says, "Yeah, I'll do it." Wait a second. No, I won't. [laughter] Wait, my dog. Oh, where is that? That's

Going backwards. Yeah. >> Yeah. There we go. The Redeemer said, "I cannot redeem it for myself, lest I impair my own inheritance. Take my right of redemption yourself for I cannot redeem it. Twice he says it. I cannot redeem it. I can't do it. He walks it back quick. So Mr. So and so he was first in line legally but he is defined by self-preservation and dereliction of duty not sacrificial love. And so this leads us to our first point today which is the Redeemer who steps forward. You see Boaz he stepped forward to address this situation and he did so well. He is a what theologians would call a type a type in the Old Testament means that he is pointing to a greater Redeemer Jesus Christ. You see Christ is the greater Boaz who stepped forward in our need. Adam failed, Israel failed, the kings failed, the priests failed, everything failed. But Christ is the one who set his face to go to Jerusalem. Christ, he's the one who chose to redeem us at tremendous cost to himself, the cost of his own life. And like Boaz, Jesus, he did it joyfully. He did it joyfully, not because of the pain, but because of the purpose to redeem sinners like you and I. Look at what it says here. Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight and sin which so which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfector of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. And he did it willingly for you. The good shepherd laid down his life for the sheep. It goes on to say, "For this reason, the

Father loves me because I lay down my life that I may take it up again." Verse 18, "No one takes it from me." No one takes it, but he laid it down of his own accord. He did it to redeem you, to redeem your soul fully where you NO LONGER HAVE A BALANCE OWED. Your debts are paid in full by the blood of Jesus Christ. >> And he did it in love and walk in love as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and a sacrifice to God. And he didn't do this out of the feeling of duty and obligation. Why did he do it? Look at this is a messianic psalm. This is a psalm anticipating Jesus. Behold, I have come in the scroll of the book. It is written of me, the Messiah, Jesus. I delight to do your will. Oh my God. Your law is within my heart. And so Jesus, the greater Boaz, he redeemed us joyfully. He redeemed us willingly and lovingly and gladly. He paid the cost of our salvation because of the joy that was set before him. And he laid his life down for you. As Spurgeon, he said, with delight he gave himself for us and made a cheerful surrender of himself that he might be the ransom for many. In verses seven and 8, there's this land sale that takes place. Now, in the ancient Middle East of this time, when you set your foot on the land, just like when the Israelites were conquering the land of Canaan, the promised land, as they set their foot on the land, that was the way that they would claim the land. To remove your sandals was to renounce your claim. And to give your sandal over is your way of saying,"I have the right to tread the land, but I will not do it." So you're saying, "I'm relinquishing my claim. Now you go and walk on that land." Now, Christ is unlike that unnamed Redeemer, Mr. Soandso. He's the He was willing to

Help the poor as long as it didn't cost him. As long as it actually benefited Christ, he paid the cost out of a an abundant love for you. If ministry cost Mr. So and So anything, his attitude was one of ree rejection. I don't want to be inconvenienced with a molab bite. They don't look like me. They don't talk like me. They don't act like me. They're not my people. But what they didn't see was the person that was there. Someone that needed redemption, someone that needed hope, someone that needed a Redeemer. And we got a whole city full of Ruths. >> What's interesting is that in trying to preserve his name for his offspring, what happens? We don't know who the man is. He's lost to us, this Mr. So and so. But Boaz, when he responds and he does the thing that reflects the heart of the father, what happens is that he gains a place in God's story of redemptive history. Not only is he the great great great grandfather of King David, but he's also incorporated into that family line of the Redeemer, Jesus. Which brother PJ will go into next week. But this shows us point number two is that the Redeemer who pays the cost. Notice what Boaz says. You more witnesses today. He was waiting for that. He was waiting for that sandal, man. He was excited to do it. He was excited to take it. So that way he could say, "You are witnesses this day that I have bought from the hand of Naomi all that belonged to and all that belonged to Killion and Melon also Ruth the Moabitete." He doesn't say just his wife. He says, "Ruth the Moabitete, I have bought to be my wife." You can kind of see him kind of going, "Woo! She's a good woman to perpetuate the name of the dead that the name of the dead may not be cut off.

You are witnesses this day. Boaz paid the cost and Christ paid the cost in full. See, when Christ paid the price to redeem your soul, there was no further payment needed. What did he say on the cross? To Telststei, it is finished. Praise the Lord. When Christ paid the cross, he took the outsider, the bride, just as Boaz did. You and I, we were Moabites. We were alienated from God. We didn't have anything to do with the Lord. But he sent his only son and paid the price to redeem you. Boaz, he paid redemption with money. Christ paid with his very own blood. Look at what it says. Knowing you were ransom from the feudal ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ like that of a lamb without blemish or spot. You see, it was Jesus that paid the cost of your redemption. The only one that was ever perfect, the only one that was ever sinless, he died to redeem your soul. Imagine for a moment that you're drowning in the middle of the lake and the only one that can save you is a rescuer. He dives in after you, but in saving you, he perishes. So here's the question. How much did your rescue cost you? >> Nothing. Not one bit. But what did it cost the rescuer? Cost him everything. That is redemption. Redemption is one-sided. It's totally one-sided. God didn't get us 99% of the way there and say, "Hey, you got to make up that 1%." That's not how redemption works. He fully pray paid the price for you. One person pays, the other one receives life. And Boaz, he paid the cost so that

Ruth and Naomi, they could live. In Christ, he paid the cost so that you and I, we can live eternally with him in glory. And the people were witnesses that Mr. Soandso had waved his claim. And Boaz, she redeemed, he redeemed Ruth and Naomi and all that belonged to Imc. And he bought Ruth to be his wife. He didn't he didn't hide it. He did it for righteousness sake. She needed a hero. Kind of like Bonnie Tyler. She needed a hero and a white knight upon a fiery steed. Here comes Boaz, right? Boaz, he doesn't hide Ruth. He doesn't keep the marriage a secret. He doesn't view her as a shameful burden or an inconvenient obligation. He stands up in the most public place in town. He's at the city gate. There's bunch of witnesses there. The whole community is gathered and he says, "Ruth the Moabitete is my wife." Amen. And he claims her openly because redemption is not a private transaction. It is a public declaration of covenant love. Jesus did not die in secret. He died publicly for us to see. Therefore, we should live publicly for him. Christ, he does not hide his redeemed ones in the shadows. He stands before heaven and earth and he says,"I have paid for them with my blood. They are mine." Last point I want to point out is the Redeemer who secures the blessing. Everyone sees this and they agree that they are witnesses. They can testify to everything being handled openly legally. They pronounce a three-part blessing. The first blessing is for Ruth. Excuse me. Amber, do you have a water bottle? Mine's missing from up here. Well, [clears throat] that's okay. I think someone turned on the heater earlier, and that's why I keep it cold is because it when the heater's on, it messes with this. [clears throat] The first blessing is for Ruth to be

Like Rachel and Leah. Now, Rachel and Leah, they are Jacob's wives. Jacob is of course Israel. And they birthed together, Rachel and Leah, the 12 sons, the 12 tribes of Israel. And notice that this Moabitete woman, this outsider, this woman that is not a part of the covenant blessings, that was not raised among the Israelite people, she had no standing, no belonging. She only depended upon the grace that was given to her through Boaz. She is being compared and prayed for and blessed as the mothers of Israel. See here, she's given full covenant membership from the people of God and included in the highest blessings. They also [clears throat] pray for Boaz to be blessed with prosperity and a lasting name. That phrase may you act worthily is actually best translated if you have like an NASB. It says it this way as may you make worth or wealth and be famous in Bethlehem. Thirdly, they pray for Boaz's house to be like the house of Perez. Now, Perez, that's a whole scandalous chapter in Genesis chapter 38 where Judah was commanded to go actually one of the sons of Judah was commanded to go into Tamar and produce offspring, a lever marriage, and he refused to do that. And in the middle of this messy and broken and filled with sin chapter, you see Judah's failure. You see family dysfunction. You see deception. But God brought a blessing out of that entire situation. Perez, he became the ancestor of the tribe of Judah. And Judah became the ancestor of David who also David was the ancestor of Jesus or I should say Jesus was an ancestor. So when people pray may your house be like the house of Perez. They're asking for God to build through Boaz a royal line, a line that God is touching, a line from which kings will come. And

Naomi, she prayed for rest and security. And guess what? It happens. It is given. Ruth, she prays for Boaz to cover her and it's now granted. Boaz, she prays, he prays for Ruth to receive a full reward. And now that's been fulfilled. And this just shows, as we've talked about through this whole chapter, God's grace upon grace. Just as God has grace on the outsider, Ruth the Moabitete. You might be here and you might say, "I feel like an outsider, too." You might feel unloved. You might feel worthless. You might feel totally unworthy of God's grace. But let me tell you that God, he does love you. That he did pay the price and that his heart is for your redemption. The Scripture says this, that he is not willing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance. And that is the heart of God. His kindness is there not for you to violate. That's not why God is so long-suffering. It is for you to recognize and joyfully come under his authority. Just as Ruth came before Boaz and uncovered his feet and submitted herself to him. That's what we're supposed to do with Jesus. We come before him. We bow low and we say, "Lord, whatever you need, just cover me. Just make sure that I'm saved." And what I will do is I will walk faithfully before you all the days of my life. And you come to him as asking him to be your Lord and your master. And you see through all of this, we see God working through Boaz and through Ruth's life. Eventually, the house of Boaz is going to become the kingly house. But the blessing is ultimately that through all of this, Christ is going to be born in the same city many, many years later. And God, he is going to put on flesh and he is going to dwell among us for the singular purpose our redemption. See? Amen. >> You see, Jesus, he did not come to set an example. He wasn't just some type of

Good teacher. He was born to be the atoning sacrifice of our sins. And he secured our inheritance so that we can have a new name and we can have a new identity. And he brings us into his new kingdom and we become a part of his bride, the church of God. You see, it is Boaz who redeems one family. But it is Christ who redeems the church. Boaz, he brings Ruth into Israel. And it is Christ who brings the nations to be God's people. Boaz, he builds a house. Christ, he builds a kingdom. Jesus is the greater Boaz. Head, heart, hand, head. God, he wants you to know that redemption depends completely on the Redeemer. His willingness, his sacrifice, and his claim on his people. And guess what? He willingly paid the price for your redemption. It's his sacrifice that satisfied the wrath of God that you and I deserve. He took our place and he satisfied God's justice so that we can be redeemed freely. Heart God, he wants you to believe that Jesus Christ is your Redeemer. He stepped forward for you. He paid the full cost for you and he gladly claims you as his own. So you can trust him today. You don't need me. You need the Holy Spirit. You don't need anyone except to go to God in Christ. Ask him to deal with your heart and you do business with him and he will redeem you. Listen to what the Scriptures say. Seek the Lord while he may be found. Call upon him while he is near. Let the wicked forsake his way and the unrighteous man his thoughts. Let him return to the Lord that he may have compassion on him and to our God for he will abundantly pardon. In hand God, he wants you to come to Christ in humble trust and rest in his redeeming care and live as one who belongs completely to him. And so God, we do ask that this day that you would continue to work in our hearts and in our lives. God, we

Know that it is only in you that we have redemption. And if there's anyone here that maybe they need to profess faith in Christ, I pray that today would be that day. If they need to do business with you, Lord, I pray that they would do that before they leave here. If anyone has questions, Lord, I pray that they'd find me or an elder or a deacon or someone after service and say, "I need I need Christ. I need him in my life right now." And I pray that no one would leave here without knowing that they know the Lord Jesus as their Savior and their Redeemer. We love you, Lord. We submit ourselves to you. As we respond in worship, may you work in our hearts in Jesus' name. Amen. Let's all stand. Let's worship together. In Christ [singing] alone my [music] hope is found. He is [singing] my light, my [music] strength. In my song, this cornerstone, this solid [singing] ground firm through the fiercest drought and [singing] storm. What highs of love [singing] of peace? When fears are still, when striving [singing] cease, my comforter, my [singing] all in all, here in the love of Christ, I stand. [music] In Christ [singing] alone who took on flesh, fullness of God in helpless bab. This gift of [singing] love and righteousness scorned by the ones he came to [singing] save. Till on that cross as [singing] Jesus died, the wrath of God was satisfied. [singing]

For every sin on him was [singing and music] laid. Here in the death of Christ I live. >> [music] >> There in [singing] the ground his body lay, light of the [singing] world by darkness lame. Then bursting [singing] forth in glorious state. Up from the grave he [singing] rose again. And as he stands in [singing] victory. Sin's curse has lost [singing and music] its grip on me. For I am his and [singing] he [music] is mine. Bought with the precious blood of Christ, [music] no [singing] guilt in life, no fear in death. This is the power of [singing] Christ in me. From life's first cry [singing] to final breath. Jesus commands my [singing] destiny. No power of hell, [singing] no scheme of man can ever blow me from his [singing] hand. Till [music] he returns or calls me [singing] home. Here in the power of Christ I'll stand. No power [singing] of hell, no scheme of man can ever love me [singing] from his hand. Till he returns or calls [singing and music] me home. Here in the power of Christ [singing] I'll [music] stand. And so Lord, we do thank you for the power of Christ in which we can stand. Thank you for redeeming us. Thank you for loving us. We pray that if there's anyone here that they need to respond

That today would be that day before they leave. Lord, we love you in Jesus name. Amen. Go in peace. Go back.