<\/div>\n

For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth:<\/em>\u00a0 Job 19:25<\/p>\n

Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer.<\/em>\u00a0 Psalm 19:14<\/p>\n

But now thus saith the LORD that created thee, O Jacob, and he that formed thee, O Israel, Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine.\u00a0<\/em> Isaiah 43:1<\/p>\n

All through the Old Testament there are references to redemption where someone or something was delivered from a bad situation through the intervention of someone else who was willing and able to do for them what they could not do for themselves. These various circumstances when redemption is mentioned can be grouped in basically 3 categories – redemption from involuntary bondage (slavery or war captivity), from voluntary indenture (financial difficulty, debt, etc.), and from trouble or death. Many of the Old Testament writers, especially Isaiah, make references to God as the Redeemer of His people. In the New Testament, Jesus is referred to as the One who redeemed us. These metaphors and what they symbolize are a beautiful picture of what He has done for us.<\/p>\n

redeemed from slavery and captivity<\/strong><\/p>\n

When the Israelites were slaves in Egypt, God promised that He would redeem them.<\/p>\n

Wherefore say unto the children of Israel, I am the LORD, and I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians, and I will rid you out of their bondage, and I will redeem you with a stretched out arm, and with great judgments:\u00a0<\/em> Exodus 6:6<\/p>\n

When they were oppressed and finally captured by their aggressive neighbors, He encouraged them with messages of redemption.<\/p>\n

Fear not, thou worm Jacob, and ye men of Israel; I will help thee, saith the LORD, and thy redeemer, the Holy One of Israel.<\/em>\u00a0 Isaiah 41:14<\/p>\n

For the LORD hath redeemed Jacob, and ransomed him from the hand of him that was stronger than he. \u00a0<\/em>Jeremiah 31:11<\/p>\n

We have all come under Satan’s control because of his aggression and subtlety. Some have gone further by choosing to give themselves more fully to him. We are his captives, his slaves.<\/p>\n

I am carnal, sold under sin.<\/em>\u00a0 Romans 7:14<\/p>\n

And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.\u00a0<\/em> 2 Timothy 2:26<\/p>\n

But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members.<\/em> Romans 7:23<\/p>\n

Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness? But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you. Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness. I speak after the manner of men because of the infirmity of your flesh: for as ye have yielded your members servants to uncleanness and to iniquity unto iniquity; even so now yield your members servants to righteousness unto holiness. For when ye were the servants of sin, ye were free from righteousness.<\/em>\u00a0 Romans 6:16-20<\/p>\n

While they promise them liberty, they themselves are the servants of corruption: for of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage.<\/em>\u00a0 2 Peter 2:19<\/p>\n

Jesus delivers us from the power of our oppressor – Satan – and his method of oppression – sin and death.<\/p>\n

Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage<\/em>. \u00a0Hebrews 2:14, 15<\/p>\n

And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.<\/em>\u00a0 Matthew 1:21<\/p>\n

redeemed from financial difficulty–<\/strong><\/p>\n

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.<\/em>\u00a0 Leviticus 25:25<\/p>\n

And if a sojourner or stranger wax rich by thee, and thy brother that dwelleth by him wax poor, and sell himself unto the stranger or sojourner by thee, or to the stock of the stranger’s family:\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0After that he is sold he may be redeemed again; one of his brethren may redeem him:\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Either his uncle, or his uncle’s son, may redeem him, or any that is nigh of kin unto him of his family may redeem him; or if he be able, he may redeem himself. \u00a0<\/em>Leviticus 25:47-49<\/p>\n

Then went Boaz up to the gate, and sat him down there: and, behold, the kinsman of whom Boaz spoke came by; unto whom he said, Ho, such a one! turn aside, sit down here. And he turned aside, and sat down. And he took ten men of the elders of the city, and said, Sit ye down here. And they sat down. And he said unto the kinsman, Naomi, that is come again out of the country of Moab, selleth a parcel of land, which was our brother Elimelech’s: . . . And Boaz said unto the elders, and unto all the people, Ye are witnesses this day, that I have bought all that was Elimelech’s, and all that was Chilion’s and Mahlon’s, of the hand of Naomi. Moreover Ruth the Moabitess, the wife of Mahlon, have I purchased to be my wife, to raise up the name of the dead upon his inheritance, that the name of the dead be not cut off from among his brethren, and from the gate of his place: ye are witnesses this day.<\/em>\u00a0 Ruth 4:1-10<\/p>\n

Jesus paid the price that delivered us from evil and death.<\/p>\n

For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.<\/em>\u00a0 Mark 10:45<\/p>\n

Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.\u00a0<\/em> Titus 2:14<\/p>\n

Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:\u00a0<\/em> 1 Peter 1:18, 19<\/p>\n

redeemed by a kinsman–brother, cousin, uncle<\/strong><\/p>\n

Many of the situations where redemption is referred to speak of a near relative, a kinsman, being the one who intervened. In fact, the meaning of the Hebrew word refers to both the act of redeeming and to being the kinsman who does the redeeming.<\/p>\n

After that he is sold he may be redeemed again; one of his brethren may redeem him: Either his uncle, or his uncle’s son, may redeem him, or any that is nigh of kin unto him of his family may redeem him; or if he be able, he may redeem himself.<\/em>\u00a0 Leviticus 25:48, 49<\/p>\n

And now, my daughter, fear not; I will do to thee all that thou requirest: for all the city of my people doth know that thou art a virtuous woman. And now it is true that I am thy near kinsman: howbeit there is a kinsman nearer than I. Tarry this night, and it shall be in the morning, that if he will perform unto thee the part of a kinsman, well; let him do the kinsman’s part: but if he will not do the part of a kinsman to thee, then will I do the part of a kinsman to thee, as the LORD liveth: lie down until the morning.<\/em>\u00a0 Ruth 3:11-13<\/p>\n

Jesus has taken on the responsibility to redeem us and has accepted the relationship of being our near relative – our brother – in order to accomplish this work.<\/p>\n

For both he that sanctifieth and they who are sanctified are all of one: for which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren,<\/em>\u00a0 Hebrews 2:11<\/p>\n

But he answered and said unto him that told him, Who is my mother? and who are my brethren? And he stretched forth his hand toward his disciples, and said, Behold my mother and my brethren! For whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother.<\/em> Matthew 12:48-50<\/p>\n

And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.<\/em>\u00a0 Matthew 25:40<\/p>\n

Our Heavenly Brother is worthy of all the honor and praise we can possibly express. He has done such great things for us when we could do nothing for ourselves. He paid an incredibly high price to redeem us.<\/p>\n

And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation; And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth. And I beheld, and I heard the voice of many angels round about the throne and the beasts and the elders: and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands; Saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honor, and glory, and blessing. \u00a0<\/em>Revelation 5:9-12<\/p>\n