The anonymous man VS Boaz

Now Boaz had gone up to the gate and sat down there. And behold, the redeemer, of whom Boaz had spoken, came by. So Boaz said, “Turn aside, friend; sit down here.” And he turned aside and sat down. And he took ten men of the elders of the city and said, “Sit down here.” So they sat down. Then he said to the redeemer, “Naomi, who has come back from the country of Moab, is selling the parcel of land that belonged to our relative Elimelech. So I thought I would tell you of it and say, a ‘Buy it in the presence of those sitting here and in the presence of the elders of my people.’ If you will redeem it, redeem it. But if you will not, tell me, that I may know, for there is no one besides you to redeem it, and I come after you.” And he said, “I will redeem it.” Then Boaz said, “The day you buy the field from the hand of Naomi, you also acquire Ruth the Moabite, the widow of the dead, in order b to perpetuate the name of the dead in his inheritance.” (Deut 25,5-10) Then the redeemer said, “I cannot redeem it for myself, lest I impair my own inheritance. Take my right of redemption yourself, for I cannot redeem it.”
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Then Boaz said to the elders and all the people, “You are witnesses this day that I have bought from the hand of Naomi all that belonged to Elimelech (Leviticus 25,25) and all that belonged to Chilion and to Mahlon. Also Ruth the Moabite, the widow of Mahlon, I have bought to be my wife, to perpetuate the name of the dead in his inheritance, that the name of the dead may not be cut off from among his brothers and from the gate of his native place. You are witnesses this day.”
_{Ruth 4:1-6; 9-10}

The contrast between the anonymous, unnamed man and Boaz points both to the insufficiency of the law for redemption, the total sufficiency of grace, the total commitment of God towards us in Christ, and the need for total commitment for the believer in response. The unnamed man is only willing or able to take redemption so far (the Law) Boaz brings full redemption (Grace in the sacrifice of Jesus). The unnamed man offers low commitment (other idols). Boaz offers complete commitment (Christ's preview) The unnamed man gives partial commitment to God, Boaz models the complete commitment of the true believer.

Simon Elliot, Everyday Church

HU