The Kinsman Redeemer, who married a foreign widow to redeem her from a life of struggle. Another redeemer does the same to us - an offers us a promise of peace with him.
Today's Bible verse is Ephesians 1:7, from the King James Version.
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Speaker 1: Let us pray in him. We have our redemption through
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Speaker 1: his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses according to the
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Speaker 1: riches of his grace Ephesians one seven. Dear Heavenly Father,
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Speaker 1: with hearts full of gratitude, we approach your throne of grace,
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Speaker 1: acknowledging the immense love you have shown us. In your son,
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Speaker 1: we have redemption. We thank you Lord for this divine
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Speaker 1: act of redemption. Your mercy is beyond our comprehension, and
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Speaker 1: your grace abounds more than our transgressions. We are forever
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Speaker 1: indebted to the sacrifice made on the Cross, where love
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Speaker 1: was displayed in its purest form. May your spirit empower
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Speaker 1: us to live out our faith boldly and unashamedly. Guide
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Speaker 1: our thoughts, words, and actions to be pleasing in your sight.
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Speaker 1: Help us to extend your grace to us others as
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Speaker 1: a testament to your love. In Jesus's name, we pray, Amen.
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Speaker 1: Thank you for praying with me today. Stay tuned now
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Speaker 1: for another episode of Stories of the Messiah with Rabbi Schneider.
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Speaker 2: Ruth and Naomi's life had been marked with hardship. Their
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Speaker 2: husbands had passed, and tragedy prompted them to leave Moab
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Speaker 2: and venture back to Naomi's hometown of Bethlehem. Naomi, sullen
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Speaker 2: and filled with grief, refused to speak to anyone but
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Speaker 2: her sweet daughter in law Ruth. Ruth, quiet yet strong,
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Speaker 2: knew if her Naomi were going to survive, she had
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Speaker 2: to work. She gleaned in the fields of a landowner
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Speaker 2: known for his generosity, Boaz. Ruth ventured to Bows's fields,
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Speaker 2: laboring tirelessly under the merciless sun provide for herself and
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Speaker 2: her mother in law. Loyalty propelled her forward. Devotion strengthened
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Speaker 2: her arms, but hard work would only last so long.
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Speaker 2: Naomi and Ruth needed more. If they were going to survive,
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Speaker 2: someone to pay their debts and restore their dignity. They
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Speaker 2: needed a redeemer.
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Speaker 3: Hello and welcome to another episode of the Jesus Podcast.
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Speaker 3: I'm your guide through this journey Ethan from pray dot com.
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Speaker 3: If you've been following this podcast and found it a blessing,
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Speaker 3: follow and subscribe so you never miss an episode, and
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Speaker 3: remember to download pray dot com to hear the Bible
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Speaker 3: come to life. We've been traversing the peaks and valleys
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Speaker 3: of the Bible's greatest stories, stories of tragedy, triumph, faith,
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Speaker 3: and failure. Each episode is showcased a different Biblical hero
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Speaker 3: whose life ultimately points to the greatest hero of all, Jesus.
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Speaker 3: We've learned how Jesus is the greater Adam, Cain, Noah, Abraham, Jacob, Isaac, Joseph, Moses, Joshua,
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Speaker 3: and Samson. Now we're turning our attention to a more
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Speaker 3: humble hero, someone who quietly and faithfully extended a hand
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Speaker 3: of love, provision, and redemption to someone in need. The
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Speaker 3: story of Boaz is typically eclipsed by the bravery, devotion,
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Speaker 3: and loyalty of Ruth. Her inner strength and love toward
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Speaker 3: her mother in law is a reflection of Christ in
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Speaker 3: and of itself. However, Boaz plays a crucial role in
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Speaker 3: the Biblical narrative. Amid tragedy. He acts as a picture
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Speaker 3: of redemption, hearkening to a greater redeemer. Let's immerse ourselves now.
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Speaker 3: In a cinematic retelling of Ruth and Boaz's love story.
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Speaker 2: Boaz made his usual rounds amongst the laborers, blessing them
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Speaker 2: with a large, genuine smile and words of good will.
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Speaker 2: He assessed the needs of his workers determining who needed
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Speaker 2: any extra assistance. It was late in the day. As
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Speaker 2: he walked down the amber valleys of grain in the
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Speaker 2: golden rays of dusk, his eyes landed on Ruth, who
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Speaker 2: was standing aloof from the other women. He watched her
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Speaker 2: work harder than the others and with more desperation. He
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Speaker 2: pulled aside his overseer and asked, who's that new woman
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Speaker 2: working by herself? That, sir, is Ruth.
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Speaker 4: The overseer replied, the young Mobi to return with Naomi.
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Speaker 4: She's been toiling relentlessly since dawn. She works to provide
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Speaker 4: for her and her mother in law. Boaz, struck by
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Speaker 4: Ruth's determination yet concerned about her solitude, decided to approach her. Shaloon,
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Speaker 4: Boas said with a smile.
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Speaker 2: His voice was deep and comforting.
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Speaker 5: I am Boaz, I am Ruth, she replied, I have
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Speaker 5: come to glean for me and Naomi. Is that all right?
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Speaker 2: Ruth's gentle voice was deceiving, for Boaz could tell that
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Speaker 2: there was a deep strength within her. He nodded and replied,
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Speaker 2: of course, Ruth, do not glean him any other field.
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Speaker 2: Keep close to the other women and they'll show you.
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Speaker 1: How to get the most out of the reaping.
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Speaker 2: I will command the other young men to stay away
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Speaker 2: from you. When you are thirsty, they will give you
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Speaker 2: a drink. There was a long pause. Boaz took a
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Speaker 2: single step forward and said, you are safe here, he reassured.
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Speaker 2: As Boaz spoke, Ruth was overcome with emotion. She held
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Speaker 2: back tears and bowed to Boaz in gratitude.
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Speaker 5: Why have I found so much favor in your.
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Speaker 2: Eyes, she asked, with a quivering voice.
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Speaker 5: I am a foreigner. You do not know me.
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Speaker 2: Boaz gently lifted Ruth up to her feet and stepped back.
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Speaker 2: I heard what you did for your mother in law
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Speaker 2: since the death of your husband. I pray that the
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Speaker 2: Lord would repay you for your kindness, and that a
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Speaker 2: full reward would be given to you by the God
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Speaker 2: of this land. It is under him you take refuge,
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Speaker 2: not me. You are very kind Boas Ruth replied. She
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Speaker 2: wiped a single tear from her eye and smiled.
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Speaker 5: I have found favor in your eyes, and for that
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Speaker 5: I am comforted. You speak kindly to me, even though
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Speaker 5: I am not part of your household.
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Speaker 2: Boaz nodded and left. He also allowed her to have
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Speaker 2: an extra portion for her Naomi. Unbeknownst to Ruth, as
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Speaker 2: she observed Boaz's kindness towards all his workers, her heart
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Speaker 2: began to warm towards him. As the sun dipped below
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Speaker 2: the horizon, Ruth returned home to Naomi with her day's
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Speaker 2: gleanings and Boaz's gifts. Naomi, surprised by Ruth's fortune, asked
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Speaker 2: about her benefactor. Ruth replied, all the while focused on
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Speaker 2: the grains on the table.
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Speaker 5: It was Boas.
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Speaker 2: Naomi looked at Ruth with twinkling eyes.
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Speaker 5: God bless boas he is our kinsman.
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Speaker 2: She brought her daughter in closer and smiled, saying.
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Speaker 5: More importantly, he is kinsman redeemer, a protector appointed by
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Speaker 5: our family.
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Speaker 2: Boaz was an appointed member of the tribe with the
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Speaker 2: ability to settle debts on behalf of the impoverished, or
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Speaker 2: marry a widow in need of a family. Ruth kept
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Speaker 2: this in mind, and over the ensuing weeks, continued to
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Speaker 2: work in Boaz's fields, growing more and more secure under
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Speaker 2: his protection. As both of them stole glances and slowly
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Speaker 2: warmed up to one another. One evening, Ruth washed her hair,
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Speaker 2: put on fresh clothes, and departed gleefully to the threshing floor,
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Speaker 2: where people were winnowing the barley. She worked and laughed
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Speaker 2: alongside Boaz and the rest of the workers. The entire
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Speaker 2: house ate together afterwards, and the people began to retreat
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Speaker 2: to their beds to sleep. Boaz was the last to
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Speaker 2: leave the dining hall. He stumbled around the candle lit
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Speaker 2: room and rested his eyes on a heap of grain.
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Speaker 2: Ruth gracefully walked over to the foot of where Boaz lay.
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Speaker 2: Slowly and with great care, she uncovered the blanket from
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Speaker 2: Boaz's feet. Boaz opened his eyes and sat up immediately.
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Speaker 5: I am your servant, Ruth, she whispered, Please spread your
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Speaker 5: wings over me as a kinsman redeemer.
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Speaker 2: Her heart was beating fast and her hands sweat slightly
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Speaker 2: out of nervousness. Boaz was known as a kinsman redeemer.
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Speaker 2: In those days, Kinsmen redeemers could marry a widow in
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Speaker 2: place of a deceased relative in order to take care
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Speaker 2: of her. Ruth was truly asking if Boaz would want
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Speaker 2: to become her husband. Boas's smile could be seen in
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Speaker 2: the dim candlelight. Do not fear and take heart, because
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Speaker 2: everyone knows you are worthy and a beautiful woman. Boaz replied,
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Speaker 2: it could not be seen in the night, but Ruth
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Speaker 2: was blushing. Boaz took her hand and said.
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Speaker 1: I will redeem you, Ruth.
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Speaker 2: The two of them smiled at each other, with only
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Speaker 2: a dim candle and the crescent moon shining on their faces.
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Speaker 2: Ruth lay there at his feet until morning. Boaz sent
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Speaker 2: her off with more barley for her and them, and
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Speaker 2: then Ruth left early so no one would see her,
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Speaker 2: lest Boaz lose his honor. With the permission of the
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Speaker 2: other kinsman redeemer, Ruth and Boaz were wed within months,
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Speaker 2: and their love blossomed along with springtime flowers. The love
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Speaker 2: bore a son, Obed. Obed would bear a son named Jesse,
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Speaker 2: and Jesse would be the father of a young shepherd
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Speaker 2: boy named David, the future King of Israel.
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Speaker 3: Dozens of books could be written to capture the love
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Speaker 3: story of Ruth and Boaz. Their union came at the
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Speaker 3: perfect time for Ruth, who couldn't be on the threshing
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Speaker 3: floor forever. She and Naomi needed the kinsman redeemer. Now
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Speaker 3: what is a kinsman redeemer? You ask? The Law of
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Speaker 3: Moses gives us insight into this noble position. The term
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Speaker 3: kinsman redeemer is derived from the Hebrew term goal. The
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Speaker 3: concept is part of Israel's family law and has said
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Speaker 3: several implications. The first is land redemption. An ancient Israel,
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Speaker 3: land was considered a vital part of a person's identity
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Speaker 3: and heritage. If a person fell into severe poverty, they
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Speaker 3: might have to sell their land. A kinsman redeemer could
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Speaker 3: intervene to buy back or redeem the land and keep
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Speaker 3: it within the family, as prescribed in Leviticus chapter twenty five,
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Speaker 3: verse twenty five. If one of your fellow Israelites becomes
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Speaker 3: poor and sells some of their property, their nearest relative
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Speaker 3: is to come and redeem what they have sold. Secondly,
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Speaker 3: a kinsman redeemer was an avenger of blood. This means
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Speaker 3: they had the right to pursue and kill someone who
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Speaker 3: had killed their relative, thus avenging the relative's blood. As
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Speaker 3: per Numbers Chapter thirty five nineteen, kinsman redeemers had to
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Speaker 3: be brave, with strong convictions and an ability to enact justice.
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Speaker 3: The third role of a kinsman redemer was redemption of slavery.
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Speaker 3: If an Israelite became so poor that he had to
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Speaker 3: sell himself into slavery, a relative could redeem him by
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Speaker 3: buying him back. We know this from Leviticus chapter twenty five,
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Speaker 3: Verses forty seven through forty nine. The final role of
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Speaker 3: a kinsman redeemer was something called leverette marriage. If a
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Speaker 3: man died without having a son, his brother or nearest
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Speaker 3: male relative was to marry the widow and produce a
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Speaker 3: son who would carry on the dead man's name, ensuring
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Speaker 3: that his lineage would not die out. See Deuteronomy chapter
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Speaker 3: twenty five, Verses five and six. This is what Boaz
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Speaker 3: provided for Ruth. The ultimate goal of the kinsman redeemer
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Speaker 3: was to protect and provide for the vulnerable members of
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Speaker 3: their family. Yet we see the kinsman redeemer as something
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Speaker 3: even greater, the picture of a greater redeemer and foreshadowing
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Speaker 3: of Christ. Let's enter into the story of Christ now
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Speaker 3: where Jesus visits a widow bereaved of her son.
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Speaker 2: Jesus embarked on a journey to the humble town of Nine,
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Speaker 2: a large crowd of followers trailing behind him As he
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Speaker 2: made his entrance into the obscure town. Observers watched in
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Speaker 2: puzzled fascination. Nae was a town forgotten by time, insignificant
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Speaker 2: and irredeemable. What good could happen in nine Upon his arrival,
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Speaker 2: Jesus was met with a solemn procession emerging from the
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Speaker 2: town's gates. Adorned in mourning garments, the townspeople bore a
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Speaker 2: young man on a bed, the only son of a widow.
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Speaker 2: His life went too soon, leaving his widowed mother with
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Speaker 2: no one to care for her. Jesus's compassionate gaze fell
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Speaker 2: upon the bereaved woman. Her grief was a sad sight,
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Speaker 2: one that stirred deep wells of compassion within him. Jesus
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Speaker 2: approached and cradled the woman in his arms after in
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Speaker 2: comfort amidst her sorrow. His disciples looked in silence, puzzled
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Speaker 2: as to what Jesus would do next.
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Speaker 1: Do not weep?
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Speaker 2: He console. His voice was deep and comforting. Drawing himself
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Speaker 2: away from the grieving woman, Jesus approached the pallbearers. His
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Speaker 2: hands came to rest on the cold body of the
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Speaker 2: young man.
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Speaker 1: Young man, he murmured, I command you Horis.
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Speaker 2: Immediately the young man's chest began to rise and fall
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Speaker 2: with the rhythm of life. A shiver of holy awe
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Speaker 2: spread amongst the onlookers as they witnessed the once lifeless
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Speaker 2: young man rise and stride towards his mother. She collapsed
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Speaker 2: into his embrace, the tears of grief transforming into rivers
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Speaker 2: of ecstatic joy. With a gentle smile playing on his lips,
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Speaker 2: Jesus watched their joyous reunion, then, beckoning to his disciples,
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Speaker 2: he led them away from name. Jesus looked upon the
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Speaker 2: widow with compassion and love. The revival of her son
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Speaker 2: meant redemption from a life of struggle and heartache. Yet
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Speaker 2: he knew that there was a greater redemption needed. The
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Speaker 2: entire world needed a resurrection from death, redemption from sin, darkness,
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Speaker 2: and despair.
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Speaker 3: The widow in this story found herself in a similar
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Speaker 3: situation to Naomi and Ruth. Bereaved and without a husband
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Speaker 3: or a son as a covering. This childless widow would
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Speaker 3: have been doomed to a life of servitude or worse.
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Speaker 3: That's just how it was back then. However, Jesus redeemed
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Speaker 3: her by bringing her son back to life, and he
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Speaker 3: does the same thing to you and I. If we
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Speaker 3: look again at the role of a kinsman redeemer, we
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Speaker 3: see that Jesus fulfills all of those things for us.
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Speaker 3: When we were indebted to sin, Jesus paid the penalty
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Speaker 3: through his blood. Jesus is our avenger and the protector
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Speaker 3: of our souls. And when we were slaves to our sins,
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Speaker 3: Jesus paid for us and made us free. And finally,
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Speaker 3: when we were loveless and without any hope, Jesus gave
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Speaker 3: us a promise of redemption. He calls us his bride.
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Speaker 3: Because we, like Ruth, have been redeemed in all these ways,
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Speaker 3: we are confident that Jesus is the ultimate kinsman redeemer.
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Speaker 3: Jesus is the greater Boaz. Boaz has even more significance
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Speaker 3: than his role as a kinsman redeemer. Though he and
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Speaker 3: Ruth bore a son named Obed. Obed was the father
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Speaker 3: of a herder in Bethlehem named Jesse. Jesse's youngest son
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Speaker 3: would grow up to be a shepherd, a poet, a musician,
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Speaker 3: a giant slayer, a commander, an exile, and a king.
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Speaker 3: So join us next time for the long awaited episode.
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Speaker 3: Jesus is the Greater David
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