Agreed. He treated Ruth wonderfully before she was redeemed: common grace.
2. Ruth is any Christian or the Church as a whole.
Agreed. "any Christian": That she never worked for Boaz represents salvation not by works but grace. "the Church as a whole": the Bride of Christ.
3. The nearer kinsman redeemer is Satan, who has a claim on us because of sin.
Still puzzling over the sandal.
1. Naomi brings Ruth to Boaz - she could symbolize the Bible, Israel, or the already converted Church.
Excellent. In addition, her personal circumstances suggest post-holocaust modern Zionism.
2. Orpah is the one who rejects Naomi and Israel, despite her love. She lacks faith to follow her like Ruth, or maybe she trusts her own prospects.
Either way, she's looking doomed.
3. Obed - the child of their union—future Christians.
Yes!
Thanks for grappling with this and helping me to clarify my thoughts on it.
“3. The nearer kinsman redeemer is Satan, who has a claim on us because of sin.
Still puzzling over the sandal.”
Hah! No puzzle, part of Mosaic law.
Deuteronomy 25:5 If brothers are living together and one of them dies without a son, his widow must not marry outside the family. Her husband’s brother shall take her and marry her and fulfill the duty of a brother-in-law to her. 6 The first son she bears shall carry on the name of the dead brother so that his name will not be blotted out from Israel.
7 However, if a man does not want to marry his brother’s wife, she shall go to the elders at the town gate and say, “My husband’s brother refuses to carry on his brother’s name in Israel. He will not fulfill the duty of a brother-in-law to me.” 8 Then the elders of his town shall summon him and talk to him. If he persists in saying, “I do not want to marry her,” 9 his brother’s widow shall go up to him in the presence of the elders, take off one of his sandals, spit in his face and say, “This is what is done to the man who will not build up his brother’s family line.” 10 That man’s line shall be known in Israel as The Family of the Unsandaled.
It’s a sign of disrespect because the man wouldn’t do his duty to his brother.
Satan wants to hold on to us, but won’t do anything for us. He can’t give.
When Christ redeems us, we disrespect Satan.