Ruth 4:1-22 Summary

Summary of Ruth 4:1-22:

1. The Central Idea of the Text is that Boaz fulfilled his promise to Ruth and became her kinsman redeemer.
2. Boaz fulfilled his promise to Ruth by going to the city gate—where the elders of the city gathered and legal transactions took place—and approaching the kinsman redeemer who was closest to Naomi and Ruth and requesting he purchase Naomi’s land and take Ruth as his wife (Ruth 4:1-5). The nearest kinsman refused the offer claiming it would jeopardize land he currently owned, and then offered Boaz the option of buying the land and marrying Ruth (Ruth 4:6-8).  Boaz accepted the offer and purchased the land and took Ruth as his wife (Ruth 4:9-10).  All the witnesses present approved of Boaz’ actions and pronounced a blessing on him and Ruth (Ruth 4:11-12).  Boaz and Ruth married and she bore a son, named Obed (Ruth 4:13, 17).  The women of the city celebrated the Lord’s love for Naomi and pronounced a blessing on her and her new grandson (Ruth 4:14-15).  Naomi then cared for her grandson (Ruth 4:16-17).  The author—presumably Samuel—provided a genealogical record from Judah’s son, Perez, to David, showing both David’s connection with a Jewish patriarch, as well as the godly grandparents, Boaz and Ruth (Ruth 4:17-22).  God rewarded Boaz and Ruth who demonstrated sacrificial love to the needy.  God provides for His own people.  This includes Naomi who lost faith in God and became bitter, believing the Lord was against her, as well as Ruth and Boaz, who were committed to God, walked in His ways, and demonstrated sacrificial love for the less fortunate. 
3. Jesus is our redeemer (Mark 10:45; 1 Tim. 2:6; Tit. 2:14). All humanity is enslaved to sin (Rom. 5:6-10; Eph. 2:1-3), and we are too poor to pay the price for our own spiritual liberation (Isa. 64:6; Rom. 3:20; Gal. 2:16; Eph. 2:8-9; Tit. 3:5), but Jesus paid the price for our sin (1 Pet. 1:18-19; Rev. 5:9-10), and now we are free and able to walk with God and do His will (Col. 1:13-14; cf. Rom. 6:17-18; Eph. 5:8-10).