Ruth’s loving loyalty and Boaz’s act of redemption reverse all the despair and desperation of chapter 1 for Naomi. It is also the beginning of Israel’s rescue from lawlessness and godlessness, and later still, of Christ’s redeeming of the world. Our kinsman-redeemer replaces death with life, emptiness with fulness, homelessness with a home to come etc.

Pastor Paul Rogers preached on how Boaz was the kinsman redeemer for Ruth.

There is a contrast of Boaz with the other kinsman who wants the land but not the obligations that go with Ruth’s hand in marriage. Boaz knows the Law and uses it well, but goes beyond the letter of the law to the spirit of it, acting in Ruth, Naomi and the clan’s interest, not his own. He ensures Ruth is fully welcomed into the nation of Israel (vv11-12). As Christ had no need to give up his rights for our sake, so we should live lives of love which go beyond obligation to self-sacrificial love. Christ perfectly fulfilled the Law, so we are now freed from its restrictions to live by the Spirit and the law of love (Galatians 5).

Ruth courageously takes the initiative, and behind the scenes, God is also at work to provide. God wants us to welcome the outsider and care for the vulnerable.

Mark Gibson - 22/10/23.

The continuation of our series on the book of Ruth looking at "Beauty for Ashes" with guest speaker Ellie Hart, sharing a sermon titled The Return.

Ellie Hart - 15/10/23.