My Kinsman Redeemer...

Our Kinsman Redeemer

Isaiah 41:14 - “I will help you,” declares the Lord, “and your Redeemer is the Holy One of Israel.”

Our Father’s Word, the Bible, is full to overflowing with precious truths, promises and revelations of His Love toward us.  The Old Testament reveals the character of our faithful, strong, sovereign, and holy God.  Throughout Scripture’s many words, in both Old and New Testaments, we are pointed to Christ Jesus - our Savior and our ‘kinsman redeemer’. 

The words ‘kinsman redeemer’ did not mean a great deal to me until  studying the book of Ruth more diligently.  As I read, I was struck by the women, Ruth and Naomi.  Not much is revealed about these ladies, yet, much can be drawn out by what is given to us.  Naomi must have been a kind, loving and faithful -to-her-God mother in law, because Ruth did not want to leave her after the death of her own husband, even when granted freedom to do so by Naomi.  Ruth saw something in Naomi that caused her to want to make Naomi’s people her people, and Naomi’s God - Yahweh - her God.  Ruth is also not described in great detail, yet we can sense her character by what we read of her actions:  loyal, servant hearted, hard working, humble, and obedient.  She turned from her idols to worship the one true and living God of the Israelites.  Her meek and gentle spirit flows towards me as I read the account of her life in the scriptures.

But more important than Ruth or Naomi is Boaz - the ‘kinsman redeemer.’ Redeemer means ‘one who buys back’; kinsman, of course, is family.  These two words together are a precious treasure to us, the children of God.  I didn’t realize this until God opened my heart and eyes to the story of Ruth in a way I’d never read it before.

Ruth married Naomi’s son.  Naomi’s husband, the patriarch, died.  Later, her son, Ruth’s husband died, as did his brother, the only other remaining male relative in the family.  This left Naomi without a husband or children, and it left Ruth without a male in that family line to give her children. Death had separated Ruth from being a part of the family lineage and from the special inheritance and blessings her offspring would receive through her husband's family.  Today’s culture does not give great significance to this situation, but throughout ancient history, the need of connection to a male heir and his inheritance were survival worthy concerns for a woman.

The women traveled back to live in a place where Naomi knew other distant family, one of them being Boaz.  Naomi revealed to Ruth that Boaz was a kinsman redeemer and that he could ‘buy back’ Ruth’s place into the family.  Ruth very humbly obeyed all of Naomi’s instructions regarding how to proceed with Boaz as she diligently gleaned his grain field’s edges for the provision the two women needed to live.  One night, at Naomi’s bequest, Ruth went to Boaz’s tent and privately lay at his feet as he slept.  When Boaz awoke to find Ruth there, he asked who she was. She replied, “I am Ruth, your maid servant, so spread your covering over your maid for you are a kinsman redeemer.” (Ruth 3:9)  Boaz did so, and then later went through the ‘legal’ and traditional process of properly redeeming Ruth “in order to raise up the name of the deceased on his inheritance.”  (Ruth 4:3)

As I read this historical account of Ruth, God revealed to my soul the deep significance of this image of the kinsman redeemer.  Boaz is a beautiful picture of Jesus Christ. Like Ruth, I was separated by death - and sin - from any inheritance offered by my creator.  Also, akin to Ruth, I needed to lay down my life humbly at the feet of Jesus and tell him I need to be redeemed by him.  Like Boaz, who was kind and compassionate to Ruth, Jesus, with great love and compassion, bought me back from sin and death.  He redeemed me by his blood - the highest price that can be paid for anything - and he covered me with himself, as Boaz covered Ruth when she lay at his feet.  Jesus bought me back into right standing with the heavenly Father; back into the family. I can now fully claim my inheritance to all the riches of glory in Christ Jesus.  He is my kinsman redeemer - deeply faithful to me, and precious beyond compare.

This simple four chapter book is replete with the legacy we have in Jesus. Ruth, a Moabitess that was quiet and humble, because of obedience and faithfulness is known throughout history and is part of Christ’s lineage.  To emulate her heart is a grand goal.  And Boaz - while his bloodline leads to the direct lineage of Jesus, his example as a kinsman redeemer points us to the exact role Jesus lives in our spiritual deliverance and salvation.  There is no simplicity in these vital and precious truths.  Precious beyond my ability to articulate.  I am in awe.

In Captivity

Do your thoughts ever run wild on you?  Seeming like a charging herd of buffalo running wildly across a prairie range?  Nothing is going to stop them?

Surely, I am not the only one in whom this activity of stomping through my mind takes place.  The powerful storm in the realm of our thoughts must be a common event since Scripture addresses it by the Apostle Paul as he admonishes the Corinthian church.  As he does spiritual battle on behalf of the people of Corinth, he details that he is taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ.  

In Phillipians, Paul again discusses 'mind control' by encouraging the residents of Phillipi to think true, just, lovely, valuble thougths when their hearts and minds are suffering anxiety.  

How does this help us, you and me today, when our thoughts run amuk?  

First, let's look at the anxious thinking 'cure'.  Anxiety is a major issue for a vast number of us.  Our thougths take us down roads that do not build us up at all.  We imagine scenarios of all sorts and get even more anxious as we consider the end result of those made up scenes in our minds.  We let fear ravage us.  We let our minds conquer our spirits.

But, what does Paul command us to do?  Practice this as I have taught you, he writes.  First, give thanks IN everything.  Commit your mind to knowing God is sovereign, give thanks for that truth, give thanks for His knowledge of every situation you are enduring.  With this thankfulness for his care, make requests to him.  Peace truly does come when you sit inside a situation fully accepting God's faithfulness in it.  Then, concentrate on a particular type of thinking - the list is easy - think on things that are lovely, true, pure, honorable, right, of excellence, great value, and worthy of praise.  Practice this kind of thinking, let it override the anxious thoughts, and peace will truly shroud your mind and heart.

The other mindset Paul mentions as he wages war in matters of faith is to actually take thoughts captive.  It is how he mininstered for and to the saints in the New Testament Church.  What does this mean, though?

I studied the word 'captive'. Its roots are Latin in foundation from 'captivus', meaning 'taken' or 'captus', meaning to take.  By definition, as an adjective, it means made or held prisoner, held prisoner in restraint, and dominated.  These words all create an ambience of power exerted over something else.  The imagery created in the mind seems to be battle, war, good vs. evil, fighting, a definite power struggle.  

So, taking thoughts captive seems to take some concerted effort on our part.  As I think on this, the word 'warrior' comes to mind.  I believe the best way to approach this idea is to consider myself a warrior, doing strong battle against any thought that takes me down wrong roads.

A precious friend always asks me, "Did you do the litmus test on that thought?  Does it build up or tear down in your life?"  

Right there is a good guage to let me know when I need to enter into battle for my mind's direction.  Approaching one's thinking as a warrior, taking the thoughts as prisoners restrained by self control, by redirection to truth, loveliness, purity, honor, goodness, is all work needing to be done, and effort that will bring results that bring peace to us and glory to God.  The action can be as simple as praising God, thanking him that He knows just what you are experiencing, thanking him for everything you can think of to give thanks for at that moment, and even just thinking on the wonderful love of Jesus.

Be a warrior.  When your mind begins the rollercoaster of madness, speak to yourself about being a mighty soldier, fighting a worthy battle for healthy thinking, peace, and calm.  Each of those is worth the work.  Your serenity is worth doing the work of the warrior for your mind's control.  Take thoughts captive, Warrior.  I'm cheering you on from the sidelines.