KINSMAN REDEEMEREXPRESSION OF GODS LOVING KINDNESS A story

KINSMAN REDEEMEREXPRESSION OF GOD’S LOVING KINDNESS A story of unfamiliar customs and cultures; An example of God working behind the scenes for the good of His faithful followers; There are no spectacular miracles or gripping gory details; The gracious provisions of God are to be found in the ordinary.

Can you find God’s provision for you in His story? I. The kinsman redeemer-God’s provision for the poor and the widow. A. God’s people were His hands and heart. Their job was to provide for the poor, widowed, and orphaned. B. Levirate marriage: “ husband’s brother”. • Designed to carry on a family line; • First-born son took deceased father’s name; • Successive sons belonged to the new husband; • Guaranteed preservation of the land within a family; • Protection and provision for the widow C. Redemption of property was also the kinsman’s responsibility if the family had lost land due to financial problems. Lev. 25: 25 -27

D. Criteria to be a kinsman redeemer: • • • a near relative; willing to perform the work of redemption; must possess the ability to redeem; must be free; must pay the value or price of redemption. E. Results: Redemption costs the redeemer; Redemption is for the benefit of the redeemed; The redeemer is acting like God. The widow benefits from the protection and provision of the kinsman redeemer. • The land remains with the clan as the promised inheritance from God. • •

II. Boaz the Kinsman Redeemer A. He is a faithful Israelite living in covenant obedience to God. B. He was a near kinsman to Naomi and Ruth. C. Boaz was willing; the other relative was not. He rejected Ruth and the land, clearing the way for Boaz. This was further evidence of Boaz’s godliness. D. Boaz had the financial means since he was a successful businessman and farmer with servants who respected him. E. Boaz was free. Neither he or his land were under any obligation to anyone else, even though there had been a drought for at least ten years. F. Boaz paid the full price for Naomi’s land for Ruth as his wife.

III. Boaz took seriously the responsibility to live obediently and faithfully to the covenant of the Law. A. Harvesters left grain as prescribed in the Law, but he had them leave extra for Ruth revealing his generosity. B. He remained pure and honored Ruth by sending her home before daylight. C. He was a man of prayer who blessed his workers and Ruth. D. He was an answer to his own prayer.

IV. Jesus Our Kinsman Redeemer- God’s Provision for the Poor in Spirit A. Boaz and Ruth were the great-grandparents of King David. B. Jesus is our ultimate Kinsman Redeemer and meets all of the criteria. Mankind is enslaved to sin, until we are redeemed by our Redeemer. • • • Jesus is a near kinsman to us because He is fully human. Heb. 2: 14 -17 Jesus was willing to perform the work of redemption. John 10: 18, Gal. 3: 13, Gal. 4: 5, Titus 2: 12 Jesus possessed the ability to redeem because He was sinless. 2 Cor. 5: 21 Jesus was free because He fulfilled the Law. Matt. 5: 17 -18 Jesus offered Himself as the price of redemption. Mark 10: 45

IV. Jesus Our Kinsman Redeemer- God’s Provision for the Poor in Spirit Cont. C. The ultimate redemption of man cost God dearly. John 3: 16 D. Like Boaz, Jesus took the Church as His Bride. E. The redeemed receive eternal life.

APPLICATION AND IMPLICATIONS 1. I know I am protected and provided for. I should live differently in light of this truth—as a pure virgin bride. 2. “Poor” outsiders can go boldly yet humbly to the Kinsman Redeemer asking for redemption from spiritual poverty. 3. Genuine faith, like that of Boaz, is expressed in devotion, grace, and kindness toward others. How am I doing? Do I express my faith in tangible and practical ways? Does my faith show? 4. Genuine faith, like that of Ruth, trusts God to always be working, even when one does not see His Hand. 5. God’s grace knows no limitations. I should never dismiss someone as beyond the reach of God’s grace.

6. God is at work in the lives of the faithful even in the darkest of times. I should trust Him even in life’s darkest times when I do not “see” or “feel” God. 7. God still seeks people of faith and kindness through whom He will work His plans. My life should be marked by these traits toward others. 8. God cares for the poor and the widow-the least in our society. I should align my heart to care about the less fortunate. 9. I should look for God’s provision as He works in the ordinary details of my life. 10. God still provides a Kinsman Redeemer to all who will come under His wings.