Bible Question: How does the Old Testament develop the Idea of obligation? |
Bible Answer: Theme: The Family Redeemer 2:20; 3:9, 12; 4:1-10 Lev 25:23-55 Num 35:9-34 Isa 59:20 Jer 32:6-15 Matt 20:28 Rom 3:24-25 Eph 1:7 Titus 2:14 Rev 5:9 In the book of Ruth, the phrase "family redeemer" has a specific, technical meaning. Elsewhere, the underlying Hebrew term goel is translated "nearest relative" Num 27:11; 35:19, 24. According to the law, family redeemers had three main responsibilities in Israel: 1. Leviticus 25:23-34 stipulates that if an Israelite became so poor that he had to sell his land, a family member was to pay off the debt so the land would remain in the family. If no relative could purchase the land and the seller was unable to buy it back, the land still reverted to the seller or his heirs in the Jubilee (fiftieth) Year. Two examples of family redeemers buying land for their relatives are Boaz (4:1-12) and Jeremiah (Jer 32:6-15). 2. Similarly, if an Israelite became so poor he had to sell himself into debt-slavery, a family redeemer was to buy his relative from service to a non-relative (Lev 25:35-55). The poor Israelite would payoff his debt by working for his relative, who could be expected to treat him better than a stranger would. 3. The family redeemer was to pursue justice for an Israelite killed by another's hand, under conditions described in Numbers 35:9-34. The concept of the family redeemer reminds us that God is the true owner of all things, and he commands us to love our neighbor as ourselves (Lev 19:18; Matt 22:39-40). The NT presents Jesus as the perfect family redeemer, buying us from the slavery to sin and death into which we had sold ourselves (Matt 20:28; Rom 3:24-25; Eph 1:7; Titus 2:14; Rev 5:9; cp. Exod 6:6; 15:13; Ps 130:8; Isa 44:22; 59:20; 63:9; Jer 31:11). In the spirit of the OT family redeemer (such as Boaz) and following the example of our great Redeemer, we, too, are commanded to act with love and compassion toward others (Lev 19:11-18; Matt 5:43-48; 19:19; 22:37-40; Rom 13:8-10; Gal 5:14; Jas 2:8-9).(NLTStudyBible) |