KINSMAN-REDEEMER

     The idea of a "kinsman or kinsman-redeemer" comes from the Old
Testament.  Entwined in the Books of Leviticus,Numbers, and
Deuteronomy a Levitical Law given from God develops.  We can see
this Law's nature in Duet 25:5--10.  This  becomes real life in the
story of Ruth and Bo'az in Ruth 4:1--22.  Something very important
came out of this in a the way of a lineage. 

Ruth 4:21,22      "And Solomon begat Bo'az and Bo'az begat Jesse
                   and Jesse begat David. "

The importance of this lineage will become clear in a minute. It
has a part in what is said in Rev 5:5

     "And one of the elders saith unto me, Weep not: Behold, the
      Lion of the tribe of Juda, the Root of David hath prevailed
      to open the Book and to loose the seven seals thereof." 

This could be said to be part of the parallel between the kinsman-
redeemer of the Old Testament and the Lord Jesus in the New
Testament.  The law of the kinsman-redeemer was very simple in its
form but very demanding and profound. When holdings such as
property were lost or sold, sometimes due to debts or death, a
scroll was prepared listing all the things needed to redeem or
purchase back the property.  This scroll was then sealed.  On the
outside two things were listed.  One, the details of what was
inside and secondly a list of who could be considered qualified to
act as a kinsman-redeemer.  Out of this study it can be noted that
three ABSOLUTE QUALIFICATIONS HAD TO BE MET IN ORDER TO QUALIFY. 
This was very strictly enforced.  Read Ruth 4 & 5 to see some of
the problems Bo'az had.  First one is that he had to be a near
relative.  Secondly, he had to be willing to take action.  And
lastly, he had to be willing and able to pay the price for
redemption. 
    Take time to think on who redeemed you, and what the TOTAL
PRICE was.  This, I think will more than show the first parallel
to salvation and redemption and, just as importantly, the
worthiness to break the seals and open the book. In Rev 5:6 we see
part of this

   "stood as a Lamb slain."

From this parallel we can see that God in His eternal ways NEVER
CHANGES from the story in the Old Testament giving of the Law, the
story of Ruth and Bo'az to the almost very end in the Book of
Revelation.