DCLM Daily Manna 10 April 2024 

TOPIC:  A Nearer Kinsman

TEXT: Ruth 4:1-12 (KJV) 
4 Then went Boaz up to the gate, and sat him down there: and, behold, the kinsman of whom Boaz spake came by; unto whom he said, Ho, such a one! turn aside, sit down here. And he turned aside, and sat down.

² And he took ten men of the elders of the city, and said, Sit ye down here. And they sat down.

³ And he said unto the kinsman, Naomi, that is come again out of the country of Moab, selleth a parcel of land, which was our brother Elimelech’s:

⁴ And I thought to advertise thee, saying, Buy it before the inhabitants, and before the elders of my people. If thou wilt redeem it, redeem it: but if thou wilt not redeem it, then tell me, that I may know: for there is none to redeem it beside thee; and I am after thee. And he said, I will redeem it.

⁵ Then said Boaz, What day thou buyest the field of the hand of Naomi, thou must buy it also of Ruth the Moabitess, the wife of the dead, to raise up the name of the dead upon his inheritance.

⁶ And the kinsman said, I cannot redeem it for myself, lest I mar mine own inheritance: redeem thou my right to thyself; for I cannot redeem it.

⁷ Now this was the manner in former time in Israel concerning redeeming and concerning changing, for to confirm all things; a man plucked off his shoe, and gave it to his neighbour: and this was a testimony in Israel.

⁸ Therefore the kinsman said unto Boaz, Buy it for thee. So he drew off his shoe.

⁹ And Boaz said unto the elders, and unto all the people, Ye are witnesses this day, that I have bought all that was Elimelech’s, and all that was Chilion’s and Mahlon’s, of the hand of Naomi.

¹⁰ Moreover Ruth the Moabitess, the wife of Mahlon, have I purchased to be my wife, to raise up the name of the dead upon his inheritance, that the name of the dead be not cut off from among his brethren, and from the gate of his place: ye are witnesses this day.

¹¹ 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 thine house like Rachel and like Leah, which two did build the house of Israel: and do thou worthily in Ephratah, and be famous in Bethlehem:

¹² And let thy house be like the house of Pharez, whom Tamar bare unto Judah, of the seed which the Lord shall give thee of this young woman.

KEY VERSE
“And Boaz said unto the elders, and unto all the people, Ye are witnesses this day, that I have bought all that was Elimelech’s… Moreover Ruth the Moabitess, the wife of Mahlon, have I purchased to be my wife, to raise up the name of the dead upon his inheritance…”
Ruth 4:9,10

DCLM Daily Manna Wednesday 10 April 2024

During World War II, a German businessman, Oskar Schindler, saved the lives of more than a thousand Jewish refugees by employing them in his factories. Schindler initially employed Jewish workers as a way to save money and increase his profits, but he eventually became deeply involved in their welfare and safety. He spent his money and risked his life to protect these helpless Jews from being sent to the Concentration Camp. When Schindler died in October 1974, many of those whose survival he facilitated – and their descendants – lobbied for and financed the transfer of his body for burial in Israel.

READ DCLM Daily Manna Tuesday 9 April 2024 – A Promise Fulfilled

Our passage reveals how Ruth worked in the fields of a wealthy landowner named Boaz, who showed her kindness and care as a stranger, not knowing at the time who she was. Meanwhile, when the mother-in-law got to know that it was Boaz, a near family member of Elimelech, her late husband, she was pleased and instructed Ruth on how to approach Boaz to become the kinsman-redeemer for them. Boaz eventually bought them out of their debt and took Ruth as his wife, acting upon his duty as outlined in the Mosaic Law to redeem an impoverished relative from his or her circumstances (Leviticus 25:47-49).

The whole of humanity is enslaved to sin. Jesus Christ, our Kinsman-redeemer came, paid the debt on the cross and redeemed us through His blood. If you are willing to accept him as your Lord and Saviour, He will redeem you from whatever debt of sin you owe.

Jesus cares for you beyond your imagination. He has paid the price for your total redemption and like Ruth, you can now enjoy total freedom, fruitfulness and fulfilment in life.444

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY: Jesus as our nearer kinsman has paid the price in full.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Psalm 61-67