The Book of Ruth describes an ancient Jewish redemption tradition regarding family obligations after the death of a married man. If the widow had not yet given birth to a son for her now-deceased husband, the Kinsman Redeemer would marry her with the intention to have a son who would carry the name of the deceased husband (citation here, para 25). As I read more about it, I discovered there are several financial obligations of the kinsman redeemer, too, along with a call to avenge a wrongful death.
I must admit, this tradition in Jewish law seems strange to me. I did, however, hear about it before this study of the Book of Ruth. Several months ago, probably over the summer, I was looking for a nice movie that I could stream, something of the Hallmark variety, not so much the intense kind of thing that is usually found in theaters these days. Anyway, I happened to find myself watching the story of a Jewish family. The older generation followed the strictest of adherence to all aspects of Jewish law, even the obligations of the kinsman redeemer, although they only referred to the marriage part, and didn’t call it by name.
Anyway, there was a young woman in the family who had been married to a rabbi, and he died. The rabbi’s brother did not necessarily share the commitment of the older generation to all aspects of strict Jewish law, but he was still a faithful man. The widow was understanding of his hesitation and agreed to help him pretend to pursue a relationship with her, even though he didn’t believe in it. That way both sets of parents would believe they were considering marriage. I’m sure you can guess how that went. Of course there was the typical movie happy ending when they actually fell in love with one another.
I enjoyed that glimpse of a faith different from my own. Their devotion was inspirational and made me wonder if I am as dedicated to my faith as the characters in that story. At the same time, while the story was certainly a work of fiction, it had to be based on a realistic depiction of modern-day Orthodox Judaism. That said, I suppose the tradition of a kinsman redeemer is still practiced by some Jewish people today.
But the term, redemption, can mean many things. When I think of that word, especially with respect to the Bible, I think about receiving God’s grace and mercy. Certainly, the Book of Ruth is full of God’s redemption, too. At the beginning of the story, Ruth and Naomi are facing difficult times. A widow, at that time, would have no real means of financial support without male family members to help.
Similarly, Boaz was an older man with no family of his own. God’s guidance to bring Ruth and Boaz together led them both to the joy of a happy family and a prominent place in the genealogy of Jesus. I imagine the Book of Ruth has been used for thousands of years as an example of lives worthy of redemption.
I really love the fact that neither of them were in terribly extraordinary situations, but they led their ordinary lives in extraordinary ways, showing love and devotion to others as God calls us all to do. That is what makes this story so meaningful for us. It illustrates that God’s grace is poured out to everyday people living everyday lives. All we have to do is share God’s love with those around us and strive to do what is right.
Lord God, we come to you today in this moment of our everyday lives, reveling in the ordinary circumstances we all share. Guide us to find opportunities in the small details of life to share Your love with the people around us. Help us to recognize and appreciate Your grace and mercy as you give it so freely to us.