Ruth 2: Beyond justice to...

If Judges is all about what was wrong with Israel, Ruth is a picture of what is right. We see in this passage that there is a place for a gentile, like Ruth, to experience the blessing that God has given Israel, that there are still Godly men in Israel like Boaz, and there is a system that God has established to provide for those, like Naomi who have experienced personal disaster.

Ruth displays her faithfulness to Naomi by going out to work to provide for both of them. God shows his faithfulness to Naomi and Ruth by establishing a law that farmers shouldn’t completely “maximize” their harvest, but leave gleanings for the poor to collect and enjoy. Boaz shows his faithfulness to God by noticing Ruth and going beyond the law, having his men leave extra gleanings, thereby demonstrating mercy and compassion to Ruth and Naomi.

Meeting Boaz introduces a new concept into the mix: the kinsman-redeemer. In each family, the kinsman-redeemer would be the closest person to one in need and would take responsibility for the land as well as the continued descent of that family line. In the case of Naomi, the family line of Elimelech was ready to end, with both sons lost. Boaz was one of a few men who were relatives of Elimelech who could take responsibility to purchase Elimelech’s land and to marry Ruth, and in so doing, “redeem” both the land of Israel and the family line in Israel.

When Naomi discovers how Ruth had stumbled upon Boaz and experienced his generosity, her hopes return, serving as a hinge point for the story. So what does this teach us about God? We could suggest many things, but may I suggest that the law of Israel and the heroes of Israel serve to go beyond justice to achieve the vision of a beautiful Hebrew term known as “hesed.” Hesed is many things but is best translated as ‘covenant faithfulness.’ This is a broad term that we see on display in Ruth’s loyalty, Boaz’s compassion and the law of God that really isn’t about justice in this situation, but rather blessing and how it extends from Israel to the world and from generation to generation.

If the goal of the law is to produce holiness, the goal of holiness is NOT to give a sense of moral superiority that we are so tempted towards, but rather to set us apart from the selfish gravity of the world and to free us from it in order that might joyfully display compassion, generosity, love—hesed.

Posted by Marc Lucenius