Meaning of Ruth 2:20

Naomi's exclamation, "The Lord bless him! He has not stopped showing his kindness to the living and the dead," reveals a profound recognition of Boaz's benevolent actions, extending beyond immediate needs to encompass the memory and legacy of her deceased husband and son. This blessing is not merely a polite social gesture but a deeply spiritual acknowledgment of divine favor manifested through human kindness. The identification of Boaz as a "close relative; he is one of our guardian-redeemers" introduces the concept of the go'el, a kinsman-redeemer, a crucial socio-legal and spiritual role within ancient Israelite society. This role entailed responsibilities such as redeeming land, avenging a wronged family member, and, significantly, marrying a widow to perpetuate the deceased husband's name and inheritance. Naomi's statement underscores the transformative power of unexpected generosity and the anticipation of divine restoration through the fulfillment of covenantal obligations, painting a picture of hope amidst hardship.

Context and Background

The verse occurs within the narrative of Ruth, a Moabite woman who has loyally followed her Israelite mother-in-law, Naomi, back to Bethlehem after the death of their respective husbands. Naomi is in a state of profound grief and poverty, having lost her husband and two sons. Ruth, seeking to provide for them, gleans grain in the fields of Boaz, a wealthy relative of Naomi's deceased husband, Elimelech. Boaz, upon learning of Ruth's virtue and loyalty to Naomi, instructs his reapers to leave extra grain for her and offers her protection and sustenance. This verse marks Naomi's awareness of Boaz's exceptional kindness, which goes far beyond the customary courtesies extended to a stranger or even a distant relative.

Key Themes and Messages

• Divine Providence: Naomi attributes Boaz's actions to God's blessing, seeing his generosity as a direct manifestation of divine care and intervention in their dire circumstances.
• Kinsman-Redemption (Go'el): The concept of the go'el is central. Boaz is identified as fulfilling this role, signifying a legal and moral obligation to care for and protect vulnerable members of the extended family. This role was divinely instituted to ensure the continuity of families and the preservation of ancestral land and legacy.
• Loyalty and Kindness: The verse highlights Boaz's steadfast kindness, which extends not only to the living (Ruth and Naomi) but also, in a symbolic sense, to the dead (Naomi's deceased husband and son) by honoring their lineage and ensuring their name would not be forgotten.
• Hope and Restoration: Naomi's blessing and identification of Boaz as a redeemer signal a turning point, injecting hope into her despair and suggesting the possibility of restoration and a future for her family line.

Spiritual Significance and Application

Spiritually, Boaz's actions serve as a foreshadowing of Christ, the ultimate Kinsman-Redeemer. Just as Boaz stepped in to redeem Naomi and Ruth, securing their future and lineage, Christ redeems humanity from sin and death, offering us new life and eternal inheritance. The kindness shown by Boaz, which benefits both the living and the dead, can be seen as a reflection of Christ's atoning work, which has efficacy for believers throughout history. For believers today, this verse encourages a recognition of God's provision through the actions of others and inspires them to embody similar selfless kindness and to act as instruments of God's grace in the lives of those in need, particularly within the community of faith.

Relationship to the Broader Biblical Narrative

The story of Ruth, and specifically this verse, is a crucial thread in the redemptive history of Israel, ultimately leading to the lineage of King David and, consequently, to Jesus Christ. The concept of the go'el is a recurring theme, notably in the book of Job, where Job expresses his hope that his Redeemer lives (Job 19:25), and it finds its ultimate fulfillment in Jesus. The book of Ruth demonstrates God's faithfulness to His promises even when His chosen people are scattered and in exile, highlighting His ability to work through seemingly ordinary individuals and circumstances to advance His redemptive plan.

Analogies

• A Lifeboat in a Storm: Naomi and Ruth are adrift in the storm of grief and poverty. Boaz, like a well-equipped lifeboat, arrives, offering safety, sustenance, and a path back to shore.
• A Broken Inheritance: The family inheritance has been fractured by death. Boaz, as the appointed guardian-redeemer, acts like a skilled restorer, piecing together the broken fragments to rebuild a secure future.
• A Bridge of Hope: Naomi, standing on the desolate shores of her past, sees Boaz as a bridge, connecting her to a future she thought was lost, a future secured by his redemptive actions.

Relation to Other Verses

• Leviticus 25:25: This Levitical law outlines the role of the kinsman-redeemer: "If any of your brothers become poor and sell some of their property, his nearest kinsman is to come and redeem what his brother has sold." Boaz's actions are a direct application of this law.
• Deuteronomy 25:5-6: This passage speaks of the levirate marriage, where a brother is obligated to marry his deceased brother's widow to preserve his name. While Boaz is not a brother, his role as a close relative (go'el) encompasses similar protective and legacy-preserving duties.
• Job 19:25: "But as for me, I know that my Redeemer lives, and he will stand upon the earth at last." This verse expresses Job's deep theological hope in a divine Redeemer, a hope that is foreshadowed by human redeemers like Boaz.
• Matthew 1:5: "Salmon the father of Boaz by Rahab, and Boaz the father of Obed by Ruth, and Obed the father of Jesse." This genealogy in Matthew explicitly links Boaz and Ruth to the lineage of Jesus, underscoring the redemptive significance of their story.