Boaz is one of the most beautiful characters in the Bible, and he is an unmistakable type of our Lord Jesus Christ. He was the great-grandfather of king David, and his story is told in the book of Ruth-where he is seen as the great redeemer, and then as the loving husband of Ruth. In our present study we shall trace a number of ways in which Boaz depicts our Lord, and we trust we shall be led into a fuller understanding of our own Great Savior, and a fuller love for Him.
We are first introduced to Boaz in Ruth chapter two, where he is described as A MIGHTY MAN OF WEALTH (Ruth 2:1) That is a very suggestive title, and no doubt many Bethlehemites would have held him in very high esteem on that account. While we do not know the exact extent of his holdings, there is much in the story that shows how considerable they were. He evidently employed many reapers to gather in his harvests, and later it seemed no problem to him to purchase the threatened fields of his late relative Elimelech. It is evident also that he loved to share his abundance with others, and many around would have testified, "Of his fullness have all we received" (John 1: 16).
The next glimpse we have of Boaz is of one who is A BELOVED MASTER TO HIS WILLING SERVANTS This, we would say, is particularly beautiful. When Boaz went out to his fields he greeted his happy reapers with, "The Lord be with you", and they answered him, "The Lord bless thee" (Ruth 2:4). The verses that then follow illuminate still further the loving relationship binding them together. Those reapers had a loving master, and they loved him in return. Here, most certainly, was a master-servant relationship seldom seen in our days.
The early apostles of Christ gave similar testimonies in relation to the service they rendered. Paul said, "For the love of Christ constraineth us" (2 Cor. 5:14), and that, surely, was the secret behind all those labors described in such passages as 2 Cor. 6:4-10 and 2 Cor. 11: 23-31. And Peter was just the same. Behind his labors would have lain his avowed confession of John 21: 15-17, -"Lord, thou knowest that I love thee". As for John, he revealed his motivations when he wrote, "We love him, because he first loved us" (1 John 4:19). Boaz was a much-beloved master to his servants, and so is Christ to those who serve Him.
The next picture we have of Boaz is actually central and basic to the whole story we are now considering. It begins to appear in chapter two where Boaz is seen as: ONE WHO HAS COMPASSION ON THE STRANGER (Ruth 2:5-17). The scene here is extremely beautiful. Boaz, coming out to his fields, sees the stranger who is gleaning behind his reapers, and he inquires as to who she is (v.5). He is told, she is "the Moabitish damsel that came back with Naomi out of the country of Moab"(v.6); in other words, one who would normally be a very despised foreigner.
Perhaps we need to pause here and recall some of the early history of the Moabites, for it is a particularly dark one; so much so that Moabites were permanently banned from entering into the congregation of the Lord, -"even to the tenth generation" (See Deut.23: 3; Neh.13: 1 etc.).
Boaz would certainly have known this history, and yet we hear him addressing the timid outcast as "My daughter" (v. 8), and then proceeding further to make every provision for her welfare! He even offered her a place among his own chosen reapers (v.14); something deeply significant in itself! Ruth herself was quite taken aback by this wholly unexpected favor, and could only fall on her face and say, "Why have I found grace in thine eyes that thou shouldest take knowledge of me, seeing I am a stranger" (v.10). This surely touches deep chords within us all, and takes our thoughts back immediately to our Greater Boaz, the Lord Jesus, of Whom it is written that He "can have compassion on the ignorant, and on them that are out of the way" (Heb.5: 2). Here, very clearly is Christ our Lord, Who reaches out even to us.
All this was clearly prefigured in Boaz, and in his gracious dealings with Ruth. And how appropriate to our story is the word in Deut. 10:18, "He doth execute the judgment of the fatherless and widow, and loveth the stranger, in giving him (her) food and raiment".
The next thought that is emphasized about Boaz is similar to what we have just been saying, but by no means identical. The narrative goes on to show (and very carefully) that Boaz was not only a qualified redeemer, but also A WILLING REDEEMER
We note that Boaz says to Ruth, "Fear not; I will do to thee all that thou requirest; ...then will I do the part of a kinsman (redeemer) to thee" (Ruth 3:11, 13). And it is clear he spoke with a studied and full understanding of the great personal cost that would be involved (See ch. 4:5). Already qualified, he was also WILLING. It is very important for us to notice the great difference between "qualified" and "willing", something carefully brought out in the unfolding events of our story. We are told that, in this particular case, there was another "kinsman" who was equally qualified, and who was, in fact, given the first option to exercise his right. For certain reasons, however, he declined the opportunity, and left the door open to Boaz. His words were, "I CANNOT redeem... lest I mar mine own inheritance" (Ruth 4:6). Much, perhaps, might be said about that, but our simple point, for the moment, is to show that there is a world of difference between "qualified redeemer" and "willing redeemer"; and only Boaz was both qualified AND willing. We read how he stood before the elders of the city and formally declared this; stating, in fact, his complete readiness to fulfill all the associated responsibilities. He was prepared to proceed whatever might be the cost.
This, surely, brings our own Glorious Redeemer into clearest light. As Perfect Man He was qualified to redeem, but the marvel is, HE WAS ALSO WILLING! Boaz took a costly way, no doubt, (involving marriage to a despised daughter of Moab), but what was that compared with the costly way which OUR Redeemer took for us? With awe and gratitude, we recall the words of Peter, "Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, ...But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot" (1Pet.1: 18,19). When fallen men so desperately needed a Redeemer, the ready answer of our Savior was, "Here am I; send me" (lsa.6:8). The Scriptures make it so plain that our Lord went willingly to the Cross-for our sakes. He Himself said, "I lay down my life... No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself" (John 10:17,18). We read in Isaiah, "He... is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth" (lsa.53: 7). Indeed, each one of us can say, He "loved me, and gave Himself for me" (Gal.2: 20).
We now move on to what must be the most precious thought concerning Boaz, and where we see him as THE LOVING BRIDEGROOM
The text reads very simply;-"So Boaz took Ruth, and she was his wife" (Ruth 4:13). We have no details of any special celebrations that would have marked the occasion, but, in one way or another, it would have been a memorable time indeed for the whole Bethlehem community. Even back in verse 11, where but a few of the citizens were witnessing Boaz give his legal consent to the union, there was an outburst of happiness, and we read, "And all the people that were in the gate, and the elders said, We are witnesses. The LORD make the woman that is come into thy house like Rachel and like Leah, which two did build the house of Israel". That was perhaps an indication of the rejoicing that later marked the marriage day itself. Be that as it may, it was certainly a marriage made in heaven-God had planned it, and God had done it, and that is always the secret of highest happiness. It was all a part of God's ongoing purpose. Boaz the redeemer was now Boaz the bridegroom.
Here, without a doubt, we have a beautiful picture of Christ and His Church; woven deep into the texture of both Old and New Testaments. It is God's eternal purpose that His Son should be both the Redeemer and the Husband of His people. The final pages of our Bibles are taken up with what is called "the marriage-supper of the Lamb" (Rev.. 19:9), and we read, "Let us be glad and rejoice,... for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready" (Rev. 19:7).
We now come to our final thought concerning Boaz. In Ruth 4:15 we have the words, "And may he be to you a restorer of life and a nourisher of your old age; for your daughter-in-law, who loves you, who is better to you than seven sons, has borne him."
Those words, we know, referred primarily to Obed, who was later born to Boaz and Ruth, but we suggest they can apply equally to Boaz himself. After all, the little baby Obed was but anew expression of Boaz his father, and, what is more, Boaz had already shown himself to be a "restorer" and a "nourisher" to many, not least to Naomi and Ruth, when they returned in their sorrow from the land of Moab. And, most certainly, he would continue to do so, right till the end.
All this reflects the continuing and never ending care which our Lord Jesus bestows on those who are His own. Having loved them, He loves them "to the end" (John 13: 1). And He has said, "I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee" (Heb. 13:5). We remember how the Lord promised. His disciples that He would NOT leave them comfortless, but would come to them, and be in them; and be in them forever (John 14:18,16). He is our Greater than Boaz, and He is prepared to be the Nourisher of our Old Age! As we read in Isaiah, "Even to your old age I am he; and even to hoar hairs will I carry you" (Isa. 46:4). We would say it is one of the glories of the Christian Gospel that believers may not only know Christ as their personal Savior, but also as their perpetual Strength.
We are first introduced to Boaz in Ruth chapter two, where he is described as A MIGHTY MAN OF WEALTH (Ruth 2:1) That is a very suggestive title, and no doubt many Bethlehemites would have held him in very high esteem on that account. While we do not know the exact extent of his holdings, there is much in the story that shows how considerable they were. He evidently employed many reapers to gather in his harvests, and later it seemed no problem to him to purchase the threatened fields of his late relative Elimelech. It is evident also that he loved to share his abundance with others, and many around would have testified, "Of his fullness have all we received" (John 1: 16).
The next glimpse we have of Boaz is of one who is A BELOVED MASTER TO HIS WILLING SERVANTS This, we would say, is particularly beautiful. When Boaz went out to his fields he greeted his happy reapers with, "The Lord be with you", and they answered him, "The Lord bless thee" (Ruth 2:4). The verses that then follow illuminate still further the loving relationship binding them together. Those reapers had a loving master, and they loved him in return. Here, most certainly, was a master-servant relationship seldom seen in our days.
The early apostles of Christ gave similar testimonies in relation to the service they rendered. Paul said, "For the love of Christ constraineth us" (2 Cor. 5:14), and that, surely, was the secret behind all those labors described in such passages as 2 Cor. 6:4-10 and 2 Cor. 11: 23-31. And Peter was just the same. Behind his labors would have lain his avowed confession of John 21: 15-17, -"Lord, thou knowest that I love thee". As for John, he revealed his motivations when he wrote, "We love him, because he first loved us" (1 John 4:19). Boaz was a much-beloved master to his servants, and so is Christ to those who serve Him.
The next picture we have of Boaz is actually central and basic to the whole story we are now considering. It begins to appear in chapter two where Boaz is seen as: ONE WHO HAS COMPASSION ON THE STRANGER (Ruth 2:5-17). The scene here is extremely beautiful. Boaz, coming out to his fields, sees the stranger who is gleaning behind his reapers, and he inquires as to who she is (v.5). He is told, she is "the Moabitish damsel that came back with Naomi out of the country of Moab"(v.6); in other words, one who would normally be a very despised foreigner.
Perhaps we need to pause here and recall some of the early history of the Moabites, for it is a particularly dark one; so much so that Moabites were permanently banned from entering into the congregation of the Lord, -"even to the tenth generation" (See Deut.23: 3; Neh.13: 1 etc.).
Boaz would certainly have known this history, and yet we hear him addressing the timid outcast as "My daughter" (v. 8), and then proceeding further to make every provision for her welfare! He even offered her a place among his own chosen reapers (v.14); something deeply significant in itself! Ruth herself was quite taken aback by this wholly unexpected favor, and could only fall on her face and say, "Why have I found grace in thine eyes that thou shouldest take knowledge of me, seeing I am a stranger" (v.10). This surely touches deep chords within us all, and takes our thoughts back immediately to our Greater Boaz, the Lord Jesus, of Whom it is written that He "can have compassion on the ignorant, and on them that are out of the way" (Heb.5: 2). Here, very clearly is Christ our Lord, Who reaches out even to us.
All this was clearly prefigured in Boaz, and in his gracious dealings with Ruth. And how appropriate to our story is the word in Deut. 10:18, "He doth execute the judgment of the fatherless and widow, and loveth the stranger, in giving him (her) food and raiment".
The next thought that is emphasized about Boaz is similar to what we have just been saying, but by no means identical. The narrative goes on to show (and very carefully) that Boaz was not only a qualified redeemer, but also A WILLING REDEEMER
We note that Boaz says to Ruth, "Fear not; I will do to thee all that thou requirest; ...then will I do the part of a kinsman (redeemer) to thee" (Ruth 3:11, 13). And it is clear he spoke with a studied and full understanding of the great personal cost that would be involved (See ch. 4:5). Already qualified, he was also WILLING. It is very important for us to notice the great difference between "qualified" and "willing", something carefully brought out in the unfolding events of our story. We are told that, in this particular case, there was another "kinsman" who was equally qualified, and who was, in fact, given the first option to exercise his right. For certain reasons, however, he declined the opportunity, and left the door open to Boaz. His words were, "I CANNOT redeem... lest I mar mine own inheritance" (Ruth 4:6). Much, perhaps, might be said about that, but our simple point, for the moment, is to show that there is a world of difference between "qualified redeemer" and "willing redeemer"; and only Boaz was both qualified AND willing. We read how he stood before the elders of the city and formally declared this; stating, in fact, his complete readiness to fulfill all the associated responsibilities. He was prepared to proceed whatever might be the cost.
This, surely, brings our own Glorious Redeemer into clearest light. As Perfect Man He was qualified to redeem, but the marvel is, HE WAS ALSO WILLING! Boaz took a costly way, no doubt, (involving marriage to a despised daughter of Moab), but what was that compared with the costly way which OUR Redeemer took for us? With awe and gratitude, we recall the words of Peter, "Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, ...But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot" (1Pet.1: 18,19). When fallen men so desperately needed a Redeemer, the ready answer of our Savior was, "Here am I; send me" (lsa.6:8). The Scriptures make it so plain that our Lord went willingly to the Cross-for our sakes. He Himself said, "I lay down my life... No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself" (John 10:17,18). We read in Isaiah, "He... is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth" (lsa.53: 7). Indeed, each one of us can say, He "loved me, and gave Himself for me" (Gal.2: 20).
We now move on to what must be the most precious thought concerning Boaz, and where we see him as THE LOVING BRIDEGROOM
The text reads very simply;-"So Boaz took Ruth, and she was his wife" (Ruth 4:13). We have no details of any special celebrations that would have marked the occasion, but, in one way or another, it would have been a memorable time indeed for the whole Bethlehem community. Even back in verse 11, where but a few of the citizens were witnessing Boaz give his legal consent to the union, there was an outburst of happiness, and we read, "And all the people that were in the gate, and the elders said, We are witnesses. The LORD make the woman that is come into thy house like Rachel and like Leah, which two did build the house of Israel". That was perhaps an indication of the rejoicing that later marked the marriage day itself. Be that as it may, it was certainly a marriage made in heaven-God had planned it, and God had done it, and that is always the secret of highest happiness. It was all a part of God's ongoing purpose. Boaz the redeemer was now Boaz the bridegroom.
Here, without a doubt, we have a beautiful picture of Christ and His Church; woven deep into the texture of both Old and New Testaments. It is God's eternal purpose that His Son should be both the Redeemer and the Husband of His people. The final pages of our Bibles are taken up with what is called "the marriage-supper of the Lamb" (Rev.. 19:9), and we read, "Let us be glad and rejoice,... for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready" (Rev. 19:7).
We now come to our final thought concerning Boaz. In Ruth 4:15 we have the words, "And may he be to you a restorer of life and a nourisher of your old age; for your daughter-in-law, who loves you, who is better to you than seven sons, has borne him."
Those words, we know, referred primarily to Obed, who was later born to Boaz and Ruth, but we suggest they can apply equally to Boaz himself. After all, the little baby Obed was but anew expression of Boaz his father, and, what is more, Boaz had already shown himself to be a "restorer" and a "nourisher" to many, not least to Naomi and Ruth, when they returned in their sorrow from the land of Moab. And, most certainly, he would continue to do so, right till the end.
All this reflects the continuing and never ending care which our Lord Jesus bestows on those who are His own. Having loved them, He loves them "to the end" (John 13: 1). And He has said, "I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee" (Heb. 13:5). We remember how the Lord promised. His disciples that He would NOT leave them comfortless, but would come to them, and be in them; and be in them forever (John 14:18,16). He is our Greater than Boaz, and He is prepared to be the Nourisher of our Old Age! As we read in Isaiah, "Even to your old age I am he; and even to hoar hairs will I carry you" (Isa. 46:4). We would say it is one of the glories of the Christian Gospel that believers may not only know Christ as their personal Savior, but also as their perpetual Strength.
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