Ruth 3

Introduction

Naomi saw the goodness that Boaz had shown to Ruth. Here Naomi tells Ruth her plan to get Boaz to redeem her.

I’m thankful that Jesus is our kinsman redeemer and he redeems those who no one else wants. Boaz looked at Ruth from the very beginning as a child of God and not as a Moabites woman who would’ve been kept out of the congregation of the Lord.

Before we Got saved we were enemies of God, but Jesus Christ still died for us even though we were his enemies.

The plan vs 1-5

Naomi told Ruth after the barley harvest that it was time to seek rest so it can be well with her vs 1

The word rest here is talking about the security provided in marriage

She asks Ruth isn’t Boaz our kindred or our family whose handmaiden you were during the barley harvest. vs 2

It was important that Boaz was their kinsman so that he could redeem Ruth and Naomi.

She then tells Ruth that he will be down winnowing barley in the threshingfloor

winnowing - Separated from the chaff by wind; sifted; examined.

Threshing floor typically would’ve been a large open hard area of earth or stone on the downwind side of the village where the grain would’ve been loosened from the straw.

Naomi then tells ruth to go get cleaned up

Tells her to go wash up

anoint thee- look her best

Put thy raiment on

Raiment would’ve been a large outer garment to provide warmth and modesty

Go down to the floor but don’t tell Boaz your’e there until he is done eating and drinking.

When he goes to lie down (he would’ve done this to protect his harvest) go in and uncover his feet and lie down at his feet.

After you do that he will tell you what to do

One of the commentaries on this passage said this “The act suggested by Naomi was the custom of the day. There was nothing immodest about what she did. By waiting until everyone had settled down for the night, she could approach BNoaz discreetly. Others were in close proximity and therefore the setting would’ve been inappropriate for any form of intimacy.”

6. Ruth again goes back to what she told Naomi at the end of chapter 1 and does what her mother in law asks vs. 5

The proposal vs.6-9

Ruth went to the threshing floor and did everything Naomi bade or told her too vs 6

After Boaz had eaten and drunk, his heart was merry vs. 7

Henry Morris said this “He was not in a drunken state but rather “a feeling of satisfaction of a job well done, followed by a good meal and a sense of thankfulness for God’s blessing”

After he eats he comes in and lays in a heap of corn for the night. vs. 7

When he laid down Ruth came in uncovered his feet and laid down at his feet. vs.7

At midnight Boaz wakes up and is afraid because there is a woman at his feet. vs. 8

Have you ever woken up in the middle of the night and you look down at the end of your bed and there is one of your kids who climbed in the bed and you aren’t expecting it and you get scared because you weren’t expecting them to be there.

I’m sure that is a little how Boaz felt here.

Boaz asks who she is

She answers that it is ruth his hand maid

She makes a request

Spread therefore thy skirt over thy handmaid

This would have been an appeal for watch-care by way of marriage.

The she reminds him that he is a near kinsman

This would remind him that he has the right to redeem

The problem vs. 10-13

He starts by commending her again for the things he has heard about her

How she took care of her mother in law

left her family

left her country

He then commends her for not following young men, whether they are rich or poor, but rather taking care of her mother in law.

He tells her he will do everything necessary to redeem her

He speaks to her integrity

for all the city of my people know that you're a virtuous woman

Prov 31:10 “Who can find a virtuous woman? For her price is far above rubies.”

Prov 12:4 “A virtuous woman is a crown to her husband: But she that maketh ashamed is as rottenness in his bones.”

He gives her the good news and the bad news

The Good news, He says its true that I am a near kinsman.

The Bad News, there is a kinsman nearer than me.

He tells her to stay here until the morning and he will go figure it out with the nearer kinsman.

Boaz says if he will do the kinsman part, then let him do it

If he refuses then Boaz would take on the role

Being a Kinsman was a big deal

Deut 25:5-10

What was the role of a kinsman redeemer. In cases where a man died without an heir, the kinsman redeemer had a duty to marry the widow of the deceased in order to provide an heir to carry on the family name and inherit the property. This practice was a way to ensure that the family lineage and inheritance would continue .

The precaution vs. 14

Boaz tells Ruth not to tell anyone that a women came a laid in the floor

Boaz was telling Ruth to leave as discreetly as she came in order to not advance the issue ahead of him to the other redeemer or for the sake of both their reputations.

The provision vs. 15-17

He tells ruth to bring the veil (probably a sheet of some sort) and he gave her six measures of barley.

She goes back to the city to meet up with her mother in law and tells her what happened

Ruth shows her the six measures of Barley and tells her Boaz sent her with it so she didn’t go empty to her mother in law.

He was providing for them.

The persistence vs. 18

Naomi tells ruth to stay still, because she knows that Boaz won’t rest until he takes care of the other redeemer that day.

Conclusion

We need to do all we can to be found faithful and trust God to work the details of life. Ruth had done all she could and now it was time for her to stand till and see the salvation of the Lord

Ex. 14:13 “And Moses said unto the people, Fear ye not, stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord, which he will shew to you to day: for the Egyptians whom ye have seen to day, ye shall see them again no more for ever.”

Psalm 46:10 “Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.”