The Nearer Kinsman is a type of the Law. 509 - 4 - 6

The Kinsman-Redeemer had to be a near kinsman, able and willing to perform, and must assume all the obligations.

Something of a surprise as I was researching the Hebrew term Goel, an equivalency to Kinsman-Redeemer. Often as I have read the Book of Ruth I never made the connection to the Kinsman-Redeemer being the avenger. The Kinsman-Redeemer was the loving Boaz, the Kinsman of Naomi. As the Kinsman-Redeemer Boaz redeemed Naomi who represents Israel and Ruth as the Gentile Bride. In this sweet but prophetic love story Boaz is a type of Christ but not called upon to be an avenger.

“Goel: Kinsman-Redeemer –Law of Redemption Lev 25:47-50 –Law of Levirate Marriage In Hebrew, the participle of the verb _gaal_, "to redeem." It is rendered in the Authorized Version "kinsman," Num. 5:8; Ruth 3:12; 4:1,6,8; "redeemer," Job 19:25; "avenger," Num. 35:12; Deut. 19:6, etc. The Jewish law gave the right of redeeming and repurchasing, as well as of avenging blood, to the next relative, who was accordingly called by this name.”

[http://www.dictionary.com/browse/goel]

The above definition suggested something deeper. We serve a loving God; however, He is a righteous God. Jesus came the first time as the suffering Messiah. Jesus is our Kinsman Redeemer who provided propitiation before a righteous God who cannot abide any degree of sin. God sees those of us who are in Christ through the purity of Jesus rather than in our fallen state. Without the gift of grace from Jesus, our near kinsman, we would be condemned. Jesus was able and willing to perform even to an excruciating death on the cross thereby assuming all the obligations of sins. Jesus cried out to God who wouldn’t even look at him as He was sin for us, “My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?” Psalm 22:1.

While in His earthly walk, Jesus quoted Isaiah 61. Luke 4:18-19, “18 The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, 19 To preach the acceptable year of the Lord.”

Jesus stopped quoting Isaiah 61 at a comma and omitted “and the day of vengeance of our God.” At His second coming Jesus, will come as the blood avenger. Revelation 19:15, “And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.” The sword is the Word.

We have the promise found in Job 19:25-26, “25 For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth: 26  And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God.”