Ruth

Ruth 4: God does not leave His people

Begin in prayer

Before we hear how Boaz redeems Ruth and God gives her a son, please thank Him for His goodness. Ask Him to help us see Christ, the Son of David and the Redeemer of His people, in these events.

But Yahweh’s loving kindness is from everlasting to everlasting with those who fear him, his righteousness to children’s children;

Psalm 103:17

Father in heaven, please give us understanding as we read about Boaz, Ruth and Obed. Show us that You do not leave Your people, and help us see Jesus, the Son of David and the Redeemer of His people. Make us more like Him, and bless our family as we listen and give You thanks. In Jesus' name, Amen.

See where we're going

Boaz sits at the city gate and calls the nearer kinsman, and ten elders sit with them as witnesses. He tells the man that Naomi is selling the land of Elimelech, and that the right to redeem it belongs first to him. The man agrees to buy the land, but when he learns he must also take Ruth, he refuses, to protect his own inheritance. He removes his shoe, a custom that confirms the sale, and Boaz buys all that belonged to Elimelech, Chilion and Mahlon. Boaz takes Ruth as his wife, and the LORD enables her to conceive, and she bears a son. The women bless the LORD, who has not left Naomi without a near kinsman, and they say the child will restore her life. Naomi takes the child and cares for him, and the family line runs from Perez through Obed to Jesse and David.

As you read Ruth 4, look for the answers:

Reflect together

Key truth

The LORD does not leave His people without a redeemer.

Boaz sits at the city gate, where the elders met, and brings the matter before ten of them (verses 1 and 2). The first kinsman gives up his right, so Boaz buys Elimelech's land and takes Ruth as his wife (verses 3 to 10). The people call her “the Moabitess” (verses 5 and 10), and that matters. The law kept Moabites from the LORD's assembly, since Moab gave Israel no bread or water (Deuteronomy 23 verses 3 and 4). Yet Ruth took the LORD as her God (Ruth 1 verse 16) and came to Him for refuge (Ruth 2 verse 12). Ruth had no claim on this place, so it is grace, which brings outsiders near through Christ's blood (Ephesians 2 verse 13). The LORD gives Ruth a son, and the women bless Him for not leaving Naomi without a near kinsman (verses 13 and 14). That child, Obed, becomes the grandfather of David (verse 17). Matthew's list of Jesus' family names Ruth and Boaz, and it reaches Jesus, the Son of David (Matthew 1 verses 1 and 5).

How does Ruth 4 show us that the LORD does not leave His people without a redeemer?

Boaz buys the family land and takes Ruth as his wife.

The nearer kinsman says he cannot redeem the land without harming his own inheritance (verse 6). Boaz buys the family's land and takes Ruth as his wife, to raise up the dead man's name (verses 9 and 10). The elders at the gate are witnesses that Boaz has bought all that was Elimelech's (verses 9 and 11). Jesus is the Redeemer who bought His people back with His own blood (1 Peter 1 verses 18 and 19).

God gives Ruth a son, and Naomi cares for him.

The LORD enables Ruth to conceive, and she bears a son (verse 13). The women bless the LORD for giving Naomi a near kinsman (verse 14). They say the child will restore her life, and Ruth is better to her than seven sons (verse 15). Naomi, who came home empty, now holds a child in her arms and cares for him (verse 16).

The LORD puts Obed in the family line of David.

The women name the child Obed (verse 17). Obed becomes the father of Jesse, and Jesse the father of David (verse 17). The family history traces the line from Perez to Obed, Jesse and David (verses 18 to 22). The same line leads on to Jesus, the Son of David (Matthew 1 verses 5 and 6).

Memorise

Blessed be Yahweh, who has not left you today without a near kinsman.

Ruth 4:14

Looking to Jesus in my life

Ask yourself in your heart, am I trying to pay my own debt instead of trusting Jesus?

Boaz tells the witnesses, “I have bought all that was Elimelech’s.” Then the women bless the LORD, who has not left Naomi without a near kinsman. A son is born, and the family line runs on to David.

Boaz paid a price to redeem what was lost, but Jesus paid the price for His people with His own blood. He carried the guilt of His people, and He gave His life for them on the cross. He rose from the grave and lives forever. The payment is complete, and it is enough to redeem all who trust Him.

You need this Redeemer, and He calls you to come. Please turn from your sin and trust Jesus, because He is the only Redeemer who can save a sinner. Everyone who trusts Him is forgiven, and He keeps His people forever.

Parent's note

Tell your children that Jesus is the Son of David, the Redeemer of His people. Please do not tell them they are saved just because they grew up in a Christian home. Call each child to turn from sin and trust Jesus, and pray that God would give them a new heart.

Pray together

Now please close your time together in prayer. Thank God for giving Ruth a redeemer and a son, and bring the heart question to Him. Every child can pray, so welcome a short prayer from any child who wants to pray.

He will redeem Israel from all their sins.

Psalm 130:8

Lord God, thank You for not leaving Your people without a Redeemer, and for giving Ruth a son in David's line. Please draw each child to turn from sin and trust Jesus, the Son of David. Teach our family to give You thanks this week and to care for one another. Amen.