Accepting A Fresh Start

Accepting A Fresh Start

Typology is when something in the Old Testament that is a picture of Jesus. Things like, Noah’s Ark is a type of Christ; Jonah is a type of Christ Resurrection; Melchizedek is a type of Christ eternal nature. In Ruth, the widow’s Kinsman Redeemer, Boaz, is a type of Christ.

1. See

• Ruth 3:1, Ruth is young and impoverished. Naomi is sure Ruth will marry again, but she wants a say in who Ruth marries.
• The actions “wash” “anoint” fresh clothes are a sign that mourning is over. It is the same steps David took in 2 Samuel 12:20 after grieving the death of his son.
• Ruth 3:4, uncover his feet. This is a quiet way of waking him. Uncovering part of the body might wake a person without startling them.
• Ruth represents us well. She is broke, destitute, a foreigner to both Israel and the Scriptures. She is outside the House of the Covenant. Scripturally, we are “lost” and “dead in transgression and sin.” (Eph. 2:1)

2. Hope

Naomi tells Ruth: We can put our hope in this man Boaz.

• The threshing floor would be an elevated platform outside the city. They would use a winnowing fork to throw the straw up, and the breeze would carry away the chaff and the grain would fall into the pile.
• Ruth 3:9 I am Ruth your “ama” servant. A different type of servant than she identified herself as in the field, a “seraph” (Ruth 2:13) which is a slave, or possession. A nothing. An Ama is a woman of rank; worthy of marriage. She is humble, but not a doormat.
• A “kinsman redeemer” is the Hebrew “goal” (redeemer.)

Law of the Liverite marriage: Deuteronomy 24:5-7.

• Redeem property once owned by a family member, but sold.
• Redeem impoverished clan relatives, forced to sell themselves into servitude.
• To act as the blood redeemer. Lit: Kinsman redeemer of the blood.” Avenge.
• Act as recipient of money paid as restitution against a relative now deceased.
• Assist a relative in a lawsuit.
• To redeem the wife of a deceased. In order to redeem the name and property.
• To redeem or restore a clan widow facing old age alone with no one to care for her.
• There was no obligation to do so.

Boaz is pictures of Jesus: (Typology)

* He’s a “Goal” the Kinsman Redeemer. Requirements:

• Had be near of kin. Family. (Jesus human)
• Able pay price.
• Had be willing.

* Wings are important in the book of Ruth:

• In the field, Boaz told Ruth she come under the “wings” of the Lord. (2:12) His Protection.
• Now Ruth is drawn under Boaz Wings. Garment. Prayer Shawl.
• Mal 4:2: Sun righteousness rise healing in his wings. This has messianic overtones.

* Feet:

Beyond just waking him, why did Naomi tell Ruth to uncover Boaz’s “feet”? Some see a sexual reference here. Though the entire scene is full of sexual tension, there is nothing to suggest they engaged physically in sexual relations. In fact, Boaz declares her a “righteous” woman.

There are also no examples that I could find of feet actually referring to sexual activity in the Old Testament. (Or New Testament.)

Here’s my answer:

• Boaz is from the tribe of Judah. Feet are directly related to Judah’s Covenant Blessing. See Genesis 49:8-10. Specifically, the promise that the king “the scepter” would not depart from Judah, and the rulers staff from “between his feet.” Naomi knew that the ruler would come from the Tribe of Judah, and that the blessing was marked on the tribes feet. So by laying at his feet, Ruth affirms the covenant of Judah.
• Feet were also part of the conquest covenant. (Deuteronomy 11:22-24) In fact, In Joshua, feet are used often to symbolize war and dominion over the land. When the priest feet come to the edge of the Jordan, the sea stops flowing. After defeating five kings, the leaders put their feet on their necks before executing them.
• Judges also uses Feet as Conquest terms. (Judges 5:24-27) Notice that Sisera sank at Jael’s “feet.”

By laying at his feet, Ruth puts herself in the covenant not only with Israel, but the Tribe of Judah.  She joins the conquest of Israel, and identifies no longer with the Moabites who cursed Israel, but with the Hebrews.

3. Trust him

• Boaz did not mock Ruth’s request. In fact, he’s obviously attracted to her. Strikingly, he is not taken by surprise. He’s already checked into Ruth’s situation and how she might be redeemed. He’s figured out the details already! In a similar way, you did not plan your redemption; Christ figured out every detail before you were born.
• He gave you a deposit. She goes home and has sixty pounds of barley! Why did he give her barley? It was a deposit; a sign of good faith that he would do what he promised. Christ has put a deposit in us. 2 Corinthians 5:5 calls the Holy Spirit in us a “deposit.”