“Who are you?” he asked. “I am your servant Ruth,” she replied. “Spread the corner of your covering over me, for you are my kinsman redeemer.” (Ruth 3:9 NIV)
Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. (Psalm 32:1 KJV)
He (Christ) redeemed us in order that the blessing given to Abraham might come to the Gentiles through Christ Jesus, so that by faith we might receive the promise of the Spirit. (Galatians 3:14 NIV)
The Book of Ruth is about redemption. In Chapter 3:2-4, Naomi instructs Ruth to go to the threshing floor where Boaz will be sleeping. After he is asleep, Ruth is told to lie down at his feet. In the middle of the night, Boaz is awakened, and asks Ruth, “Who are you?” Ruth replies, “I am your servant Ruth. Spread the corner of your covering over me, for you are my kinsman redeemer.” (Ruth 3:9 NIV)
The words kinsman and redeemer are used interchangeably in the Bible. A redeemer is a relative, who is charged with the protection and defense of another relative. In many cases the kinsman redeemer claimed inheritances for poor family members, avenged wrongs against them, or married the widow of a male family member.
When we are saved, this is what we are asking Jesus to do. Jesus is our kinsman redeemer. He has the power to put his covering over us. What He is covering is our sin. Like Ruth, we come humbly, as servants prostrated at his feet, and Jesus lifts us up to the position of heirs, not of an earthly kingdom, but of a heavenly one.
In front of witnesses, Boaz claims to be a kinsman redeemer for Ruth and Naomi. The witnesses give the union between Ruth and Boaz their blessing and Boaz marries Ruth. Through Ruth, a Gentile, we receive the blessing given to Abraham. (Galatians 3:14) The story ends with a wedding.
Have you ever heard of the wedding supper of the Lamb? Our story also ends with a wedding. We are all invited, but not all accept the invitation. Revelation 19:9 (NIV) says: “Then the angel said to me, “Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding supper of the Lamb!” And he added, “These are the true words of God.”
On the day we are saved, Jesus claims us as His before witnesses, and when he comes again in glory, he will clothe us in fine linen, avenge the wrongs done to His church and open wide the doors of heaven for us to enter through them. (Revelation 19:11)
Dearest Heavenly Father,
You are the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. We are yours by your great mercy and grace. Thank you for redeeming us in this life and for securing a place for us in the next. What a joyful day it will be when the angels sing their thunderous Hallelujahs! As we enter into your kingdom, we ask that you cover us and protect us from our sins and from the evil one, till that day when we can claim our inheritance.
In the name of Jesus, our Kinsman Redeemer,
Amen