King James Bible Study – [Mark 8:34 And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.]
Date: Thursday, April 07, 2022
Chapters: Book of Ruth
Study: My Kinsman Redeemer
Hello My Friend,
Every time I read through the Book of Ruth, it reveals something even more incredible in regards to salvation and how Jesus purchases us through our faith alone in Him, regardless of what family we are born into. When you stop to think about the fact that Jesus descended in the flesh through Judah, who himself got himself caught up in a mess when he mistook his own daughter-in-law for a prostitute and had a child with her, [Genesis 38], you come to understand that God is not a respecter of persons, and gives all the opportunity to get saved, [Tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Gentile; But glory, honour, and peace, to every man that worketh good, to the Jew first, and also to the Gentile: For there is no respect of persons with God. – Romans 2:9-11]
The Book of Ruth contains four chapters, the author is unknown, but is probable to be Samuel as he wrote the Book of Judges. The timeline for these events is approximately 1300 -1290 BC. The purpose of the book was to show Israel and everyone else that God is not a respecter of persons, He will redeem and accept anyone who comes to Him, [And the women said unto Naomi, Blessed be the LORD, which hath not left thee this day without a kinsman, that his name may be famous in Israel. – Ruth 4:14]
Ruth was a Moabite, Moab despised Israel, and the feelings were mutual. It was full of idolatry, and known for sacrificing children to their god. This was around the time that the civil war was taking place between Israel and the Benjamites, the tribe of Judah being the first to go up against them and lose twenty thousand men. A terrible famine hit the land, a man of the tribe of Judah, named Elimelech, thought the best thing to do for his family was to leave until things got better, and ended up in the land of Moab.
[Now it came to pass in the days when the judges ruled, that there was a famine in the land. And a certain man of Bethlehemjudah went to sojourn in the country of Moab, he, and his wife, and his two sons. And the name of the man was Elimelech, and the name of his wife Naomi, and the name of his two sons Mahlon and Chilion, Ephrathites of Bethlehemjudah. And they came into the country of Moab, and continued there. And Elimelech Naomi’s husband died; and she was left, and her two sons. And they took them wives of the women of Moab; the name of the one was Orpah, and the name of the other Ruth: and they dwelled there about ten years. And Mahlon and Chilion died also both of them; and the woman was left of her two sons and her husband. – Ruth 1:1-5]
[that there was a famine in the land.] Many people criticize Elimelech for leaving the country and taking his family into Moab, but he did what he thought was the right thing to do, and apparently, they took God with them because Ruth did not want to stay in Moab when Naomi decided to go back home to Bethlehem.
[And Naomi said unto her two daughters in law, Go, return each to her mother’s house: the LORD deal kindly with you, as ye have dealt with the dead, and with me. The LORD grant you that ye may find rest, each of you in the house of her husband. Then she kissed them; and they lifted up their voice, and wept. And they lifted up their voice, and wept again: and Orpah kissed her mother in law; but Ruth clave unto her. And Ruth said, Intreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee: for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God: Where thou diest, will I die, and there will I be buried: the LORD do so to me, and more also, if ought but death part thee and me. So Naomi returned, and Ruth the Moabitess, her daughter in law, with her, which returned out of the country of Moab: and they came to Bethlehem in the beginning of barley harvest. – Ruth 1:5-9,14,16-17.22]
[the LORD do so to me, and more also] You do not have to be a Christian to know that some things are just wrong and that there truly is only one living and Almighty God. However, God will only reveal Himself to true believers, and there is no difference between the reprobate and religious nut who thinks they believe in God, by following every command of their religion. Why? They trusted their religion over the truth written in the Word of God. Anyone that does not believe in Christ alone, is an unbeliever, [He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son. But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death. – Revelation 21:7-8]
Remember, when God gave the law concerning birthright and the inheritance of the father being passed down to the first born son? If the eldest son died before they had children, the next eldest son would marry the widow, then the first male child born to them would receive the inheritance, thus preserving the family name, [If brethren dwell together, and one of them die, and have no child, the wife of the dead shall not marry without unto a stranger: her husband’s brother shall go in unto her, and take her to him to wife, and perform the duty of an husband’s brother unto her. And it shall be, that the firstborn which she beareth shall succeed in the name of his brother which is dead, that his name be not put out of Israel. – Deuteronomy 25:5-6]
When Naomi returned, she thought that God had taken everything away that mattered to her, and although she was bitter, she had a newfound hope that her husband’s name would be preserved, and his name was Boaz, a cousin to Elimelech. Boaz was a very wealthy man, and owned part of the crops in Bethelehem, Naomi sent Ruth to the part of the field that belonged to him, where she began to glean the barley (corn), with everyone else. Needless to say, Boaz spotted her right away.
[And Naomi had a kinsman of her husband’s, a mighty man of wealth, of the family of Elimelech; and his name was Boaz. And Ruth the Moabitess said unto Naomi, Let me now go to the field, and glean ears of corn after him in whose sight I shall find grace. And she said unto her, Go, my daughter. And she went, and came, and gleaned in the field after the reapers: and her hap was to light on a part of the field belonging unto Boaz, who was of the kindred of Elimelech. And, behold, Boaz came from Bethlehem, and said unto the reapers, The LORD be with you. And they answered him, The LORD bless thee. Then said Boaz unto his servant that was set over the reapers, Whose damsel is this? – Ruth 2:1-5]
[Whose damsel is this?] Do you see how everyone’s eyes are always open to those who are or say they are one of God’s? However, true Christians are spotted a mile away. If it is not fellow Christians watching us, it is the world, just waiting to catch us in the act of doing something they could accuse us of being a hypocrite, just like they did with Jesus, [By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name. But to do good and to communicate forget not: for with such sacrifices God is well pleased. Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you. – Hebrews 13:15-17]
Boaz was quite taken by Ruth, he commands the men to let her continue to glean in the field, only his field, and leave a little bit more than normal for her take home with her. When Ruth heard this she fell down on her knees in front of Boaz and literally asked him why we was being so good to her.
[Let thine eyes be on the field that they do reap, and go thou after them: have I not charged the young men that they shall not touch thee? and when thou art athirst, go unto the vessels, and drink of that which the young men have drawn. Then she fell on her face, and bowed herself to the ground, and said unto him, Why have I found grace in thine eyes, that thou shouldest take knowledge of me, seeing I am a stranger? And Boaz answered and said unto her, It hath fully been shewed me, all that thou hast done unto thy mother in law since the death of thine husband: and how thou hast left thy father and thy mother, and the land of thy nativity, and art come unto a people which thou knewest not heretofore. The LORD recompense thy work, and a full reward be given thee of the LORD God of Israel, under whose wings thou art come to trust. – Ruth 2:9–12]
[that thou shouldest take knowledge of me,] You know how it is when you feel like the black sheep? Everyone ignores you or avoids you like the plague. Jesus sees something in us that no outward appearance, sin, or bad reputation can hinder Him from come to us, a lost soul that needs Him. Let me tell you, I was in the restroom, when I walked up the sink to wash my hands there was a lady standing there, we talked for a second, then she stepped back and it was not a woman. Although I was a little shocked, the way things are today, all I kept thinking about was what we had been reading through Judges and how people do what is right in their own eyes. For the first time, I saw past a person’s sin, and saw a soul that needed to be saved. And this is exactly why we are out there, to preach the Gospel to those who only know to do what they think us right..
[For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things! – Romans 10:13-15]
When Naomi discovers that Ruth did have the favor of Boaz she thought it might be the opportune time. she encourages Ruth to doll herself up, go find Boaz, and when lies down, lay down at his feet, of all things, [Then Naomi her mother in law said unto her, My daughter, shall I not seek rest for thee, that it may be well with thee? And now is not Boaz of our kindred, with whose maidens thou wast? Behold, he winnoweth barley to night in the threshingfloor. Wash thyself therefore, and anoint thee, and put thy raiment upon thee, and get thee down to the floor: but make not thyself known unto the man, until he shall have done eating and drinking. And it shall be, when he lieth down, that thou shalt mark the place where he shall lie, and thou shalt go in, and uncover his feet, and lay thee down; and he will tell thee what thou shalt do. – Ruth 3:1-4]
[and uncover his feet, and lay thee down;] Naomi’s instructions may have been strange to us, but they were really quite simple. By laying at his feet she was humbling herself to him, pretty much asking him if he would marry her. Well, Boaz had quite a bit to drink that night, so, he ended up passing out on a heap of wheat, only to be frightened when he woke up to find someone laying at his feet..
[And when Boaz had eaten and drunk, and his heart was merry, he went to lie down at the end of the heap of corn: and she came softly, and uncovered his feet, and laid her down. And it came to pass at midnight, that the man was afraid, and turned himself: and, behold, a woman lay at his feet. And he said, Who art thou? And she answered, I am Ruth thine handmaid: spread therefore thy skirt over thine handmaid; for thou art a near kinsman. And he said, Blessed be thou of the LORD, my daughter: for thou hast shewed more kindness in the latter end than at the beginning, inasmuch as thou followedst not young men, whether poor or rich. And now it is true that I am thy near kinsman: howbeit there is a kinsman nearer than I. Tarry this night, and it shall be in the morning, that if he will perform unto thee the part of a kinsman, well; let him do the kinsman’s part: but if he will not do the part of a kinsman to thee, then will I do the part of a kinsman to thee, as the LORD liveth: lie down until the morning. – Ruth 3:7-10,12-13]
[howbeit there is a kinsman nearer than I.] Boaz, was quite taken by Ruth and would have married her in a heartbeat, but there was one problem, there was another man who was of nearer kin to Elimelech. If he agreed to marry her then there was nothing he could do. The very next morning he went to the elders and met up with the man who was the next eldest cousin.
[Then went Boaz up to the gate, and sat him down there: and, behold, the kinsman of whom Boaz spake came by; unto whom he said, Ho, such a one! turn aside, sit down here. And he turned aside, and sat down. And he took ten men of the elders of the city, and said, Sit ye down here. And they sat down. And he said unto the kinsman, Naomi, that is come again out of the country of Moab, selleth a parcel of land, which was our brother Elimelech’s: And I thought to advertise thee, saying, Buy it before the inhabitants, and before the elders of my people. If thou wilt redeem it, redeem it: but if thou wilt not redeem it, then tell me, that I may know: for there is none to redeem it beside thee; and I am after thee. And he said, I will redeem it. – Ruth 4:1-4]
[And he said, I will redeem it.] At first, he was okay with it, but think about what a man would be sacrificing if he did this. The Law states this, [And if the man like not to take his brother’s wife, then let his brother’s wife go up to the gate unto the elders, and say, My husband’s brother refuseth to raise up unto his brother a name in Israel, he will not perform the duty of my husband’s brother. Then the elders of his city shall call him, and speak unto him: and if he stand to it, and say, I like not to take her; Then shall his brother’s wife come unto him in the presence of the elders, and loose his shoe from off his foot, and spit in his face, and shall answer and say, So shall it be done unto that man that will not build up his brother’s house. – Deuteronomy 25:7-9]
It really was a tough call for a man who had hopes of his own wife and family to marry a woman what was his brother’s, and on top of that, their first born son would not be recognized as his own. However, that was the Law and they needed to abide by it, unless they absolutely refused, then that is when the show ceremony took place. Although this was a cousin, he was still the next of kin, and the same Law applied, and this man gladly accepted the disgraceful title and let Boaz purchase Ruth.
[Now this was the manner in former time in Israel concerning redeeming and concerning changing, for to confirm all things; a man plucked off his shoe, and gave it to his neighbour: and this was a testimony in Israel. Therefore the kinsman said unto Boaz, Buy it for thee. So he drew off his shoe. And Boaz said unto the elders, and unto all the people, Ye are witnesses this day, that I have bought all that was Elimelech’s, and all that was Chilion’s and Mahlon’s, of the hand of Naomi. Moreover Ruth the Moabitess, the wife of Mahlon, have I purchased to be my wife, to raise up the name of the dead upon his inheritance, that the name of the dead be not cut off from among his brethren, and from the gate of his place: ye are witnesses this day. – Ruth 4:7-10]
[Buy it for thee.] I am sure that Ruth was not too happy about that news, but she patiently waited for Boaz to address the situation. In order for Ruth to become his wife, he would have to literally purchase Ruth from the kinsman. Is that not what Jesus does for us? [For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s. – 1 Corinthians 6:20]
[that I have bought all that was Elimelech’s,] Do you understand what Boaz did? Ruth was not a Jew, she had no inheritance, no heritage, no rights, when Boaz redeemed her, he not only paid the price to free her from a man that wanted nothing to do with her, he made her his wife.
[So Boaz took Ruth, and she was his wife: and when he went in unto her, the LORD gave her conception, and she bare a son. And the women said unto Naomi, Blessed be the LORD, which hath not left thee this day without a kinsman, that his name may be famous in Israel. And he shall be unto thee a restorer of thy life, and a nourisher of thine old age: for thy daughter in law, which loveth thee, which is better to thee than seven sons, hath born him. And the women her neighbours gave it a name, saying, There is a son born to Naomi; and they called his name Obed: he is the father of Jesse, the father of David. – Ruth 4:13-15,17]
[and they called his name Obed:] The name Obed means; [serving, servant, i.e. of Jehovah] There is not one thing we could ever do, even if we became the sacrifice ourselves, that could redeem our soul from hell. However, by Christ purchasing our soul, we become a free servant. Sound confusing? Think of it this way, [Art thou called being a servant? care not for it: but if thou mayest be made free, use it rather. For he that is called in the Lord, being a servant, is the Lord’s freeman: likewise also he that is called, being free, is Christ’s servant. Ye are bought with a price; be not ye the servants of men. – 1 Corinthians 7:21-23]
Today’s Prayer: God, I know and believe with all my heart that Jesus is Your Son, who died for my sins, was buried, and arose again on the third day, and I have accepted Him as my only way to You and Your Kingdom. To acknowledge this truth comes so naturally with great enthusiasm, boldness, and conviction, but the real test is when I publicly acknowledge these truths among those who do not agree with me. Lord, where You go, I go, no matter where you place me or what test You give me, and by Your grace, I know I can and will endure the things before me, and I will reap the rewards for my faithfulness. I ask this in Your name, Jesus. Amen.
God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina
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