Ruth 4: From Redemption to Rejoicing

Ruth 4 reveals God’s faithful redemption through Boaz, pointing to Christ our Redeemer who restores, unites, and secures an everlasting inheritance.

God

Ruth 4 reveals God as the sovereign Redeemer who fulfills His covenant promises through providence and faithfulness. The same hand that guided Ruth’s steps to Boaz’s field now orchestrates the redemption that restores Naomi’s line and gives Ruth a future. The elders’ blessing in Bethlehem echoes God’s faithfulness to the covenant with Abraham, promising that through his seed all nations would be blessed (Ruth 4:11–12). God’s providence in this chapter culminates in the genealogy that leads to David, from whom Christ, the Redeemer of all, would come (Ruth 4:17–22).

Jesus Christ

Boaz, as the kinsman-redeemer, prefigures Jesus Christ, who became our near relative by taking on human flesh so that He might redeem us. Just as Boaz was willing and able to pay the price to redeem Ruth, Christ willingly paid the full price for our redemption with His blood (Ephesians 1:7). Ruth, once a foreigner, was brought into the covenant line through marriage to Boaz, foreshadowing how Christ brings Gentiles into the household of faith (Ephesians 2:13–19). The book concludes with the lineage of David, pointing to Christ as the greater Son of David, whose reign establishes eternal redemption and peace (Matthew 1:5–6).

The Holy Spirit

Though the Holy Spirit is not mentioned directly in Ruth 4, His work is evident in the faith, obedience, and righteousness of the people involved. It is by the Spirit that believers are guided into obedience and faith that reflect God’s redeeming grace. Just as Ruth acted with humility and Boaz with integrity, the Spirit produces fruit in God’s people that manifests love, kindness, and self-control (Galatians 5:22–23). The Spirit continues the same redemptive work by sealing believers in Christ, guaranteeing the inheritance secured by our Redeemer (Ephesians 1:13–14).

The Bible

This passage demonstrates the unity and consistency of Scripture. What began as a story of loss in Moab ends with redemption and restoration in Bethlehem, mirroring the grand biblical theme of redemption through Christ. Ruth 4 connects the promises made to Abraham, the laws given through Moses regarding redemption and inheritance (Leviticus 25:25), and the fulfillment of those promises in Christ. The Word of God reveals how history unfolds under divine design, emphasizing that no detail is accidental in His plan of salvation.

Angels

Although angels are not mentioned in Ruth 4, the unseen order of creation remains active in carrying out God’s redemptive purposes. Angels minister to those who inherit salvation (Hebrews 1:14), and the joy that fills heaven at redemption echoes in this chapter’s celebration of restoration. The same divine order that governs angelic ministry also orchestrates God’s plan for humanity, culminating in the lineage that leads to Christ, whom angels worship (Hebrews 1:6).

Man

Man’s role in Ruth 4 demonstrates responsibility, integrity, and faith under God’s sovereign hand. Boaz models righteousness by fulfilling the law’s requirements without self-interest, and the elders bear witness to his lawful act of redemption. Ruth displays faith and submission, showing that human obedience works in harmony with divine providence. Through Boaz’s example, the passage shows how men are called to act with integrity and self-sacrifice, reflecting God’s character in their dealings with others (Ruth 4:9–10).

Sin

Sin brought the family of Elimelech to ruin in Moab, but God’s redemption in Ruth 4 shows that sin never has the final word. Though the nearer kinsman refused redemption to protect his own inheritance, his self-interest reflects the sinful heart that seeks self-preservation rather than grace. Redemption required a price—a substitutionary act—pointing to Christ’s atonement for sin. Where sin caused separation, God’s grace restored blessing through the Redeemer’s obedience and faithfulness.

Salvation

Ruth’s redemption by Boaz illustrates salvation by grace through faith. Ruth had no legal right or power to redeem herself; she depended entirely on the mercy of her redeemer. Boaz’s act of taking Ruth as his wife symbolizes Christ’s redeeming of His bride, the Church. Salvation is both legal and relational—legal, because it satisfies the demands of justice; relational, because it restores fellowship with God. The redemption that began with Ruth’s faith finds its fulfillment in the grace that saves us through Christ’s blood and adoption (Galatians 4:4–5).

The Church

Ruth’s inclusion among God’s people pictures the Church, composed of both Jews and Gentiles united under one Redeemer. The elders’ blessing anticipates the fruitfulness of Christ’s redeemed people, who bear spiritual offspring through the gospel. The union of Boaz and Ruth forms a community of grace, where strangers become family through covenant love. Likewise, the Church exists as a redeemed family, bound together by faith in Christ and committed to bearing witness to God’s faithfulness (1 Peter 2:9–10).

Last Things

The genealogy at the end of Ruth 4 directs our gaze to the ultimate fulfillment of God’s redemptive plan in the coming of Christ, the eternal King. The story moves from emptiness to fullness, from death to life—anticipating the final redemption when God restores all things. The inheritance secured for Naomi’s line points to the believer’s eternal inheritance, kept in heaven by God’s power (1 Peter 1:3–5). Just as Boaz ensured Ruth’s future, Christ guarantees ours, promising resurrection and restoration when He returns to reign forever.

Conclusion

Ruth 4 displays God’s providence, grace, and redemption working through faith and obedience. The chapter concludes the narrative of sorrow and renewal with a vision of divine faithfulness that reaches its climax in Christ. It teaches that God’s redemption not only restores broken lives but also advances His eternal purpose to bring forth the Redeemer who blesses all nations.