The Price of Redemption

We finished our study of Ruth with a moving meditation on redemption. David reminded us that the root meaning of “redeem” is to purchase. But when we read that Boaz “redeemed” Ruth, does that mean that he “purchased” her? Certainly not in the same way he purchased Naomi’s land. No, the price he paid was much more significant and points us to the way Christ redeems each of us at the cost of his own life:

Boaz might not pay to purchase Ruth. But he himself was the ransom. He gave up himself and his enterprise in order to save the name, the family, and the property of his dead brother. I believe this suggests the true meaning of “redemption.”