Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
The following writing by the Puritan author, Thomas Boston, is a good summation of what has already been presented in this series on redemption. Wrote Boston:
"Now, there were four things the kinsman-redeemer was to do for his kinsman, unable to act for himself; all which Christ the second Adam undertook in the covenant.
1. He was to marry the widow of his deceased kinsman, to raise up seed to his brother. Hereof Boaz was put in mind by Ruth, chap. 3:9, "I am Ruth thine handmaid; spread therefore thy skirt over thine handmaid, for thou art a near kinsman." Compare ver. 10-13; chap. 4:10; and Ezek. 16:8. I spread my skirt over thee – and thou becamest mine." Our nature was in a comfortable and fruitful condition, while the image of God impressed thereupon in Adam, remained with it; but that image being removed, in the spiritual death caused by his sin, there ensued an absolute barrenness, as to the fruits of holiness, in our nature thus left. But our Kinsman-redeemer consented to marry the widow. Being to take to himself a human nature he undertook to take on our human nature in particular, taking his flesh of Adam's family. Thus it was provided, that his body should not be made of nothing, nor of anything whatsoever that was not derived from Adam as its original. It was a low match indeed for him; and would have been so, even if the family of Adam had been in its primitive state and splendour: but now it was considered as in the depths of poverty and disgrace. Yet, being necessary for our redemption, he consented thereto, as our Kinsman-redeemer. Accordingly, in the fulness of time, he was made of a woman, a daughter of Adam's family, Gal. 4:4, and so was a son of Adam, Luke 3:23-38. Thus was a foundation laid for the mystical marriage of believers with him; which mystical marriage doth not belong to the condition and making of the covenant properly so called, but to the promise and administration of it, being a sinner's personal entrance thereinto. And the great end, in subordination to the glory of God, for which this more intimate union and match with our nature was gone into by our Kinsman-redeemer, was to render it again fruitful in the fruits of true holiness: and without it our nature had for ever remained under absolute barrenness in that point, even as the nature of fallen angels doth.
2. He was to redeem the mortgaged inheritance of his poor kinsman, Lev. 25:25, "If thy brother be waxen poor, and hath sold away some of his possession, and if any of his kin come to redeem it, then shall he redeem that which his brother sold;" or rather, "then shall come in his kinsman-redeemer, that is near unto him; and he shall redeem that which his brother sold." Our father Adam waxing poor through the deceitful dealing of the tempter with him, quite sold away the inheritance of eternal life for a morsel of forbidden fruit: and his children waxing poorer still, through their own personal fault, had set themselves farther and farther from it. They could not have raised amongst them all, what would have redeemed so much as one man's part of it. Howbeit, except it was redeemed, they could never have had access to it. Wherefore the second Adam, as Kinsman-redeemer, took the burden of the redemption on himself, and agreed to pay the price of that purchase; "dying for us, that we might live together with him," 1 Thess. 5:10.
3. He was to ransom his poor kinsman in bondage, paying the price of his redemption: Lev. 25: 47, "If thy brother wax poor, and sell himself," ver. 48, "After that he is sold, he may be redeemed again; one of his brethren may redeem him." Ver. 52, "According unto his years shall he give him again the price of his redemption." Being sold in the loins of our first father, we were brought into bondage under the curse of the law. So we are by nature the law's bond-men, and consequently slaves to sin and Satan, never to have been released without a ransom, the full worth of so many souls. This ransom was stated in the covenant; to wit, that the Kinsman-redeemer should give himself a ransom for his poor kinsmen: and he agreed to it, for purchasing their liberty, 1 Tim. 2:5, 6. The ransom was great, soul for soul, body for body; a person of infinite dignity for his poor kinsmen in bondage. But he consented to take on him the form of a servant, that he might be set free; to have his ear bored at the law's door-post, that they might be delivered out of their bondage.
4. Lastly, He was to avenge the blood of his slain kinsman on the slayer: Deut. 19:12, "The elders of his city shall send and fetch him thence, and deliver him into the hand of the (Goel) avenger of blood, that he may die." Our Kinsman-redeemer saw all his poor kindred slain men. And the devil was the murderer, John 8:44. He had ministered poison to them in the loins of their first parent; yea, he had smitten them to death, killed them with an arrow shot through the eye. But no avenger of their blood could be found, till the second Adam, as their Kinsman-redeemer, did, in the second covenant undertake the avenging of it. Meanwhile, the murderer had the power of death, Heb. 2:14; and "the sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law," 1 Cor. 15:56. Wherefore there was no disarming and destroying of the murderer, without taking the sting out of death which he had the power of. And that was not to be done, but by removing the guilt of sin, whereby sinners were bound over to death: neither was this to be done, but by satisfying the law, whose awful sanction of death strongly kept fast the guilt of death on the sinners. These were the iron gates to be broke through, ere the Kinsman-redeemer, the avenger of blood, could get at the murderer. But the mighty Redeemer undertook, by his own death and sufferings, to satisfy the law; and by that means to remove the strength of sin; and by this means again, to take away the sting of death; and thus to avenge the blood of his slain kinsman upon him, Heb. 2:14. So did Samson, a type of our Kinsman-redeemer, avenge Israel of the Philistines their oppressors, pulling down the house on the Philistines, and dying himself to destroy them, Judg. 16." (“A View of the Covenant of Grace” by Thomas Boston. Focus Christian Ministries Trust, 1990. pp 40-44, see here)
These words by Boston are a good summary of what has been presented thus far in this series. Let us now look further into how a "redeemer" in ancient times was a vindicator and one who renders justice.
The Lord Avenger
A slave's first concern is to obtain freedom. Secondly, he will be concerned with having his property restored to him. Finally be will be concerned about being avenged, seeing justice measured out on those who mocked, scorned, persecuted and mistreated him and his family while he was in a state of servitude.
All these aspects of redemption are important. Notice these verses on the Lord being "avenger," and this as part of his duty as a kinsman redeemer.
"That no man go beyond and defraud his brother in any matter: because that the Lord is the avenger of all such, as we also have forewarned you and testified." (I Thess. 4:6)
By "avenger" (εκδικος — ekdikos) is meant one who a "righter" of wrongs, or who "sets things right." An avenger is a vindicator, an executor of justice and righteous vengeance. He brings retribution by arresting and bringing to trial, a just retaliation. Inflicting punishment is the duty of the just avenger, and such is the "kinsman redeemer."
Moses testified:
"Rejoice, O ye nations, with his people: for he will avenge the blood of his servants, and will render vengeance to his adversaries, and will be merciful unto his land, and to his people." (Deuteronomy 32:43)
"Say to them that are of a fearful heart, Be strong, fear not: behold, your God will come with vengeance, even God with a recompence; he will come and save you." (Isa. 35:4 KJV)
Joel 3 ends with Yahweh saying, “I will avenge their blood, blood I have not avenged.”
"Rejoice over her, thou heaven, and ye holy apostles and prophets; for God hath avenged you on her." (Rev. 18:20 KJV)
"For true and righteous are his judgments: for he hath judged the great whore, which did corrupt the earth with her fornication, and hath avenged the blood of his servants at her hand." (Rev. 19:2 KJV)
Paul saw the Apocalypse of Christ as a time when Christ acts as the avenging redeemer. He wrote:
"Seeing it is a righteous thing with God to recompense tribulation to them that trouble you; And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power." (II Thess. 1:6-9 kjv)
Notice those words "recompense tribulation." He executes "vengeance" and sees that the enemies of his people "get their reward," or "get what's coming to them." He sees to it that the guilty are "punished." All this occurs as the function of Christ being Redeemer, Lord, and Judge; And, it is all connected with his being "revealed from heaven with his mighty angels," with the time of his Apocalypse and second coming.
Redeemer's Garments of Vengeance
"For he put on righteousness as a breastplate, and an helmet of salvation upon his head; and he put on the garments of vengeance for clothing, and was clad with zeal as a cloke." (Isa.59:17 KJV)
Barnes' Notes on the Bible says this about these words of the prophet:
For he put on righteousness - That is, God the Redeemer. The prophet here introduces him as going forth to vindicate his people clad like an ancient warrior. In the declaration that he 'put on righteousness,' the essential idea is, that he was pure and holy. The same image is used by the prophet in another figure in Isaiah 11:5
The statement that he was clad in the garments of vengeance means, that he would go forth to vindicate his people, and to take vengeance on his foes. It would not be for mere defense that he would be thus armed for battle; but he would go forth for aggressive movements, in subduing his enemies and delivering his people (compare Isaiah 63:1-6).
John Gill in his Commentary wrote:
For he put on righteousness as a breastplate,...Here the Lord is represented as a warrior clothed with armour, and as Christ is, and as he will appear in the latter day on the behalf of his people, and against their enemies, who is called faithful and true, and in righteousness will make war, Revelation 19:11, he will proceed according to justice and equity in righting the wrongs and avenging the injuries of his people; and both in saving them, and destroying their enemies, he will secure the honour of his faithfulness and justice, and the credit of his name and character; which will be preserved by his conduct, as the breast and inward parts are by the breastplate:
and an helmet of salvation upon his head; the salvation he will work out for his people will be very conspicuous; it will be seen by all, as the helmet on the head; and he will have the glory of it, on whose head are many crowns, Revelation 19:12. The apostle has borrowed these phrases from hence, and applied them to the Christian armour, Ephesians 6:14,
and he put on the garments of vengeance for clothing; or, "he clothed himself with vengeance as a garment" (k); he wrapped himself in it, and resolved to execute it on his and his people's enemies; the time being come to avenge the blood of his servants, by shedding the blood of their adversaries, with which his garments will be stained; and therefore is represented as having on a vesture dipped in blood, Revelation 19:13,
and was clad with zeal as a cloak; with zeal for his own glory, and the interest of his people, and against antichrist, and all antichristian worship and doctrine; and therefore his eyes are said to be as a flame of fire, Revelation 19:12.
When Christ returns and the Apocalypse occurs, Christ will assume the duties of his function as Redeemer, Judge, and Savior. He will be attired as a warrior, as an avenger, clothed in the "garments of vengeance." This is the way Christ is seen in the Apocalypse. The "day of redemption" is connected with "the day of vengeance" and executing justice is an act of redemption. This is seen in verses like Isaiah 63: 4 - "For the day of vengeance is in mine heart, and the year of my redeemed is come."
The Lord's Rewarding
"For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works." (Matt. 16:27)
"And the nations were angry, and thy wrath is come, and the time of the dead, that they should be judged, and that thou shouldest give reward unto thy servants the prophets, and to the saints, and them that fear thy name, small and great; and shouldest destroy them which destroy the earth." (Rev. 11:18)
"And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be." (Rev. 22:12)
Notice how the "reward" for believers will be good, but for unbelievers the reward will be evil. So wrote the prophet:
"Say ye to the righteous, that it shall be well with him: for they shall eat the fruit of their doings. Woe unto the wicked! it shall be ill with him: for the reward of his hands shall be given him." (Isa. 3: 10-11)
Rewarding Good
"Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ." (Col. 3:24)
For every believer God is trusted in as "rewarder of them that diligently seek him" (Heb. 11:6). "Rewarder" is from the Greek word "misthapodotēs" and is defined by Strong as "one who pays wages," or "renumerator," or "rewarder."
Rewarding Evil
"He shall reward evil unto mine enemies: cut them off in thy truth." (Psa. 54:5)
"Reward her even as she rewarded you" (Rev. 18:6)
"The reward of unrighteousness" (II Peter 2: 13)
Participation of the Saints
"The righteous shall rejoice when he seeth the vengeance: he shall wash his feet in the blood of the wicked. So that a man shall say, Verily there is a reward for the righteous: verily he is a God that judgeth in the earth." (Psa. 58:10-11)
"Only with thine eyes shalt thou behold and see the reward of the wicked." (Psa. 91:8)
"Let the high praises of God be in their mouth, and a two-edged sword in their hand; To execute vengeance upon the heathen, and punishments upon the people; To bind their kings with chains, and their nobles with fetters of iron; To execute upon them the judgment written: this honour have all his saints. Praise ye the Lord." (Psalm 149: 6-9 KJV)
Wrote Spurgeon:
"The next jubilee blessing was the redemption of alienated possessions. Every man had his own plot of ground in the Holy Land, but through the pressure of the times it sometimes happened that a man forfeited his property. He was in need of ready money, his children might wanted bread to eat, and he, therefore, parted with his land. It was gone—the vines and the fig trees, the corn and the oil, passed over to another, but it was not gone forever. He had no power to sell beyond the year of jubilee. When this joyful morning dawned, he went back to his family estate. It was all his own again, clear of all encumbrances. The little homestead, and the farmyard, and the fields, and the garden, all had come back to him and none could dispute his right. Just so my Lord and Master declares to all who believe in Him that the estate which Adam forfeited is restored to all for whom the Second Adam died. The alienated heritage is our own again. The great Father’s love, and favor, and care, yes, all things, whether things present or things to come, or life or death, all are ours and we are Christ’s and Christ is God’s. If we are believers and we are of the true seed of Israel, this day the Lord Jesus proclaims to us a restoration of all the lost privileges and blessings which originally belonged to manhood. Behold, believers, all covenant blessings are yours—rejoice in them! Partake of heavenly blessings freely. Let your soul rejoice in its portion and delight itself in fatness."
Said Spurgeon:
"...there is appointed a day of vengeance for all the enemies of Christ and this will happen in that bright future day for which we are looking. Not merely for rejecters of His gospel will there be vengeance, but for all men and fallen spirits who dare to oppose His sway. Behold He comes a second time. Every winged hour hastens His advent and when He comes, it will be a great and a dreadful day to His foes. It will be to His saints the day of their revelation, manifestation, and acceptance, but to the ungodly, “the day of vengeance of our God.” “Enoch, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of these, saying, “Behold, the Lord comes with ten thousands of His saints to execute judgment upon all, and to convince all that are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have ungodly committed, and of all their hard speeches which ungodly sinners have spoken against Him.” Paul also bears witness the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with His mighty angels, “In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of His power; when He shall come to be glorified in His saints, and to be admired in all them that believe.”
Note the vengeance and the grace combined. The Prophet Isaiah saw our great champion returning from His last fight, and thus spoke concerning Him, “Who is this that comes from Edom, with dyed garments from Bozrah? This that is glorious in His apparel, traveling in the greatness of His strength? I who speak in righteousness, mighty to save; why are You red in Your apparel, and Your garments like Him that treads in the wine vat? I have trodden the winepress alone; and of the people there was none with Me: for I will tread them in My anger, and trample them in My fury; and their blood shall be sprinkled upon My garments, and I will stain all My raiment. For the day of vengeance is in My heart, and the year of My redeemed is come.” Observe, again, the connection between the day of vengeance and the year of the redeemed. At the Second Advent, Christ will come to be glorified in His saints and they shall be manifested in the fullness of their acceptance, but it will be an overwhelming day of vengeance for all those who have hardened their hearts and continued in their sins. “Behold, the day comes that shall burn as an oven; and all the proud, yes, and all that do wickedly, shall be stubble: and the day that comes shall burn them up, says the Lord of hosts, that it shall leave them neither root nor branch.” (PROCLAMATION OF ACCEPTANCE AND VENGEANCE, NO. 1369)
Very insightful brother. Enjoyed it.
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