And Naomi said to her daughter-in-law, Blessed be he of the Lord who has not ceased his kindness to the living and to the dead. And Naomi said to her, The man is a near relative of ours, one who has the right to redeem us. Ruth 2:20 (AMPC)
There was a law in Israel that if a person became poor and sold his property a close relative would redeem it back. This relative was called kinsman redeemer. Naomi’s husband and their only two sons had died – Ruth 1:1-5. Ruth had been married to one of the sons. Now Naomi was selling the family estate.Boaz a wealthy and influential man was a close relative to Naomi’s late husband. As a kinsman redeemer he bought back the estate. He also married Ruth to perpetuate the family line and keep the inheritance in the family Ruth 4.Unknown, gentile, widowed, poor Ruth became the beneficiary of this provision of redemption.We are the beneficiaries of a greater Redemption. Jesus Christ is our Kinsman Redeemer. He’s a close relative who shares in our humanity. He has redeemed us with His Blood and made us kings and priests in God’s Kingdom.