Then Boaz said to the elders and all the people, “You are witnesses today that I have bought from the hand of Naomi all that belonged to Elimelech and all that belonged to Chilion and Mahlon. Furthermore, I have acquired Ruth the Moabitess, the widow of Mahlon, to be my wife in order to raise up the name of the deceased on his inheritance, so that the name of the deceased will not be eliminated from his brothers or from the court of his birth place; you are witnesses today.” And all the people who were in the court, and the elders, said, “We are witnesses. May the Lord make the woman who is coming into your home like Rachel and Leah, both of whom built the house of Israel; and may you achieve wealth in Ephrathah and become famous in Bethlehem. Moreover, may your house be like the house of Perez whom Tamar bore to Judah, through the descendants whom the Lord will give you by this young woman.”

Ruth 4:9-12

Jesus fulfills the role of redeemer in our lives but in the life of Ruth, there was another who was in that place in a very immediate sense. Boaz rescued the widow Ruth from her state as one who had no rights, no property and no safety in a world that saw her as a foreigner. He was a partner who loved her and sought what was just and what was best for her above himself. Her child, Obed, became grandfather of King David and ultimately an ancestor of Jesus himself.

In our lives, we have the same kind of spiritual partner in Jesus. He rescued the Church from our engagement to sin and brought us in as His bride! Praise God for a spiritual partnership with our Redeemer, Jesus.

Ethan Kirl

Originally Published December 15, 2020