Ruth 4

Ruth 4
Everything for poor Ruth the Moabitess depended upon Boaz, the mighty, and he had given her his word (chapter 3:13). But the kinsman nearer than he must be given his opportunity first. Just so for the poor, empty and needy sinner, everything depends on the mighty Saviour, and He has given His word,
The nearer kinsman is a picture of the law, and "the law, having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect." Heb. 10:11For the law having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect. (Hebrews 10:1).
"For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: that the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit." Rom. 8:3-43For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: 4That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. (Romans 8:3‑4).
Then we notice that this question of Boaz, and the nearer kinsman, must be settled openly, publicly, in the gate of the city. So God has fully shown through many texts, and many examples, in His Word, that "a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ." Gal. 2:1616Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified. (Galatians 2:16).
Ruth the Moabitess must be blessed, and, not alone the property of the dead Israelites, be redeemed. Here again, at the close of the book, in a blessed forecast of a future day we see a restored Israel, and the Gentile, blessed through Israel, who is no longer "bitterness", but again "pleasant". And Ruth's son is, Obed — "serving"—serving God will be the word in a coming day,—and Obed was the grandfather of David the king. From Matthew 1:5,5And Salmon begat Booz of Rachab; and Booz begat Obed of Ruth; and Obed begat Jesse; (Matthew 1:5) we are shown that Ruth and Boaz were of the royal line in which the Lord Jesus was pleased to come as a man. What exaltation for the lowly stranger! Yet "eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love Him" I Corinthians 2:9, 10.
Ruth's happy after-life came to an end, but we doubt not that she had a hope beyond the grave, through the work of a greater Kinsman than her husband.