Jesus in the Old Testament is a series of posts that will offer my readers a chance to consider pictures or shadows of Jesus in the Old Testament. As mentioned in the introduction to this series, some may be obvious, some may be not so obvious, and some may simply be a facet of the Lord those reading may not have considered previously.

I hope as we venture through this series, we will see the Lord in many wonderful pictures throughout the Old Testament.

In the book of Ruth, one would think she is the important character, the one who is spoken of, noted, and referred to the most. It’s all about her!

Or is it?

Yes, Ruth is the reciever of blessing, but in a strictly quantitative review of the book, Ruth, by name is only referred to 13 times. Boaz, on the other hand is referred to more than twice that! Twenty-eight times!

Boaz is not only described as a worthy man, an obedient Jew, a Kinsmen Redeemer, a Redeemer of all, expressing acts of kindness, providing for the less fortunate, accepting a foreigner for a wife, a judge and the resurrector of a families hopes, but his name is referred to more than twice Ruth’s is. He is the one who is preeminent in this book, that rises to the top.

In reading the book of Ruth, I find great comfort in seeing Boaz as a type of Christ, and Ruth as a type of the church. As the church, we are the widow who is rescued, the poor who is provided for. We are the recipients of all of our Boaz’s great qualities and His acts of kindness.

Boaz is the preeminent name in the book of Ruth.

Jesus in the preeminent name in the church, and throughout creation.

Come join us at Considering the Bible