[Ruth] Remaining in the Covenant RelationshipNäide

A Rapid Response (Part One)

When we ask something of God—our Redeemer—we can expect Him to respond. He might not respond the way we expect Him to, or at the time we want Him to, but He will respond.

Naomi tells Ruth to go to Boaz on the threshing floor and make herself available to him. Ruth obeys Naomi but does things differently. She asks Boaz, with humility, to be her goel, her redeemer. She asks him to take his covering and put it over her, so she can take refuge under his wing.

The request has been made. Now we get a chance to see Boaz's response and the parallels between Boaz, the kinsman–redeemer, and Christ, the Redeemer.

Boaz gives an incredible response of kindness to Ruth, a response of loyal love. He recognizes that every blessing comes from the Lord. The Lord showed His kindness to Boaz by giving Him fruitful fields; he then takes that kindness and shares it with Ruth, and Ruth takes it and shares it with Naomi.

Boaz fulfills her immediate need for protection by telling her not to fear. He elevates her, recognizing, before everyone, that she is a virtuous woman. Boaz wants to do things the right way. A closer relative might want to marry her, so he has to sort that out first.

He gives Ruth food so she will not have to return to Naomi empty-handed. He reiterates the covenant responsibility of the goel and covers his pledge with a vow, "as the Lord lives."

This is the way the hesed works.Hesed is a Hebrew word meaning "kindness" and "loyal love." When we realize how blessed we are, the loyal love of the Lord overflows onto others!

When I come across people, do I respond to them like Boaz? Do I respond with kindness? Do I respond with loyal love?