SEEKING REST UNDER THE WINGS OF THE REDEEMER

Naomi’s Plan (Verses 1-5)

What was Naomi’s plan for Ruth?

In this process grain was separated from the husks by being trodden out by animals. Then the mixture was thrown into the air against a stiff breeze, so that the wind blew the chaff away while the heavier grain fell more or less straight down. Threshing-floors were usually situated in exposed positions, so that they could catch the breeze. It is said that in summer the wind blows from about four or five o’clock until a little after sunset. But after work ceased the grain must be guarded. This is why they would spend the night at the threshing floor.

What motivated Naomi to come up with this plan?

Ruth 1:9 “The Lord grant that you may find rest, each of you in the house of her husband!” Then she kissed them, and they lifted up their voices and wept.”

Philippians 2:3–5 “Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus,”

1 Timothy 5:8 “But if anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for members of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.”

Do you think Naomi was trying to get Ruth to do anything immoral?

We need to ask some questions here. Is Naomi encouraging Ruth to pursue immorality? At the beginning, it seems like that is a possibility. But as you go through the passage, you see that nothing could be further from the truth. Ruth is being forward, but is doing it in a discreet way. She isn’t compromising her virtue. She is guarding it. As a matter of fact, Boaz recognizes that she is behaving in an honorable way, and he goes out of his way to further guard her honor. She is simply trying to claim her rights under God’s Law for Israel. This isn’t a scandalous act, but a private act designed to keep disgrace and shame away from them both. This seems to be the only way they can deal with this privately. And in doing it privately, it guards them both from manipulation, coercion, shame, and disgrace.

Would it have been okay for Ruth to give in to immorality to pursue the greater good of providing for herself and Naomi?

Romans 6:1–2 “What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it?”

Romans 3:8 “And why not do evil that good may come?—as some people slanderously charge us with saying. Their condemnation is just.”

See Genesis 38...

Ruth’s Plea to Boaz (Verses 6-9)

What was the purpose of Ruth’s actions?

Ruth is asking Boaz to take her under his redemptive wings to protect her. The spreading of his garment over her is symbolic of that protection, security, and provision. We see language like this in many places in Scripture. Ruth is asking Boaz to marry her and fulfill the role of a kinsmen-redeemer. Here are several passages that illustrate this idea.

Ruth 2:12 “The Lord repay you for what you have done, and a full reward be given you by the Lord, the God of Israel, under whose wings you have come to take refuge!””

See Psalm 61:1-5...

See Psalm 91:1-4...

Matthew 23:37 ““O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it! How often would I have gathered your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not willing!”

See Ezekiel 16:1-14...

Do you think this was hard for Ruth to do? What are some things that would make this difficult for her?

The Response of Boaz (Verses 10-15)

What was Boaz’s response to Naomi’s plea?

This is the second time that Boaz pronounced a blessing on Ruth.

See Ruth 2:11-12...

What was the first and last kindness that Boaz was talking about?

See 1 Corinthians 13:4-8...

Boaz was known as a worthy man, and Ruth had earned the reputation of a worthy woman.

Ruth 2:1 “Now Naomi had a relative of her husband’s, a worthy man of the clan of Elimelech, whose name was Boaz.”

The order of the books in the Hebrew canon is different from that of the English Bible. In the Hebrew canon, the book of Ruth follows the book of Proverbs. In the very last section of Proverbs, the author asks the question, literally: ‘A worthy woman who can find?’ (Prov. 31:10). Who can find such a woman, of whom it can be said that ‘her works praise her in the gates’? (Prov. 31:31). The answer arrives immediately in the Hebrew canon: Boaz found ‘a worthy woman’!

Proverbs 31:10 “An excellent wife who can find? She is far more precious than jewels.”

Proverbs 31:30–31 “Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised. Give her of the fruit of her hands, and let her works praise her in the gates.”

Ecclesiastes 7:1 “A good name is better than precious ointment, and the day of death than the day of birth.”

What was the one obstacle to Boaz redeeming Ruth?

Leviticus 25:47–49 ““If a stranger or sojourner with you becomes rich, and your brother beside him becomes poor and sells himself to the stranger or sojourner with you or to a member of the stranger’s clan, then after he is sold he may be redeemed. One of his brothers may redeem him, or his uncle or his cousin may redeem him, or a close relative from his clan may redeem him. Or if he grows rich he may redeem himself.”

Why do you think Boaz was so discreet and secretive in sending Ruth back to Naomi?

1 Thessalonians 5:22 “Abstain from every form of evil.”

What was the purpose in Boaz giving a gift to take home to Naomi?

Naomi’s Growing Confidence (Verses 16-18)

What was Naomi’s response when Ruth told her what happened?

Do you see any difference or change in Naomi since the first chapter?

What is the cause of this change?

Isaiah 26:3–4 “You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you. Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord God is an everlasting rock.”

2 Corinthians 5:7 “for we walk by faith, not by sight.”

What are some of the main things we should take away from this chapter?