Ruth 3

Ruth 3:1–18 NASB95

1 Then Naomi her mother-in-law said to her, “My daughter, shall I not seek security for you, that it may be well with you? 2 “Now is not Boaz our kinsman, with whose maids you were? Behold, he winnows barley at the threshing floor tonight. 3 “Wash yourself therefore, and anoint yourself and put on your best clothes, and go down to the threshing floor; but do not make yourself known to the man until he has finished eating and drinking. 4 “It shall be when he lies down, that you shall notice the place where he lies, and you shall go and uncover his feet and lie down; then he will tell you what you shall do.” 5 She said to her, “All that you say I will do.” 6 So she went down to the threshing floor and did according to all that her mother-in-law had commanded her. 7 When Boaz had eaten and drunk and his heart was merry, he went to lie down at the end of the heap of grain; and she came secretly, and uncovered his feet and lay down. 8 It happened in the middle of the night that the man was startled and bent forward; and behold, a woman was lying at his feet. 9 He said, “Who are you?” And she answered, “I am Ruth your maid. So spread your covering over your maid, for you are a close relative.” 10 Then he said, “May you be blessed of the Lord, my daughter. You have shown your last kindness to be better than the first by not going after young men, whether poor or rich. 11 “Now, my daughter, do not fear. I will do for you whatever you ask, for all my people in the city know that you are a woman of excellence. 12 “Now it is true I am a close relative; however, there is a relative closer than I. 13 “Remain this night, and when morning comes, if he will redeem you, good; let him redeem you. But if he does not wish to redeem you, then I will redeem you, as the Lord lives. Lie down until morning.” 14 So she lay at his feet until morning and rose before one could recognize another; and he said, “Let it not be known that the woman came to the threshing floor.” 15 Again he said, “Give me the cloak that is on you and hold it.” So she held it, and he measured six measures of barley and laid it on her. Then she went into the city. 16 When she came to her mother-in-law, she said, “How did it go, my daughter?” And she told her all that the man had done for her. 17 She said, “These six measures of barley he gave to me, for he said, ‘Do not go to your mother-in-law empty-handed.’ ” 18 Then she said, “Wait, my daughter, until you know how the matter turns out; for the man will not rest until he has settled it today.”

Introduction

We have come to the 3rd chapter of the book of Ruth, so I thought it would be helpful to review where we have been.

This account of a family of Hebrews is told to give us an understanding of the great work of God through His omnipotent sovereignty over the working out of our lives.

We are to read or listen to this passage and see it as a whole story.

This is important for us as we read books of the bible.

We recognize the hand of God, through the Holy Spirit and the men that He chose to author His word, that He uses the means of writing to give and preserve His Word to and for us.

And He has created, in His sovereignty, the tools of langauge and communication for that purpose.

Remember in our introduction to the first sermon, I said that we are all, as Bible students, students of ancient culture and language.

That is because God has chosen to give us His word in the form that we have it.

So that even the uneducated can be wise in the Lord.

He has given the church preachers and teachers in order to guide that understanding.

None of this is by accident.

So, I want today, to show that this particular book, is what we would call a narrative.

It is an account of a Hebrew family, at a certain time in history, written in a style that is very familiar to us, but especially familiar to another culture and time in history.

As we read narratives in the Bible, we can use the same tools and understanding that we use to understand narratives today, if we understand the people who it was written by and for.

God does this on purpose so that we can understand what He has for us.

This is my encouragement to you, to not just study Bible verse-by-verse (which is very important), but to sit down and read big sections, or whole books at a time.

Ruth is only 4 chapters, and was intended to be read as a whole, and looked at paragraph by paragraph.

The book of Ephesians is clearly written in a very structured way by the educated and wise mind of Paul through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit.

So you can break it down easily into sections, but it was designed on purpose to be read aloud at once to the church.

And until you read the whole letter, you will not see or understand how those incredibly structured sections of ideas, build on one another to make a unified whole.

This is very important.

Back in our story of Naomi, Ruth, and Boaz, we can already see one of the main ideas of the story, that God is sovereign over how things go in our lives.

That His sovereignty includes all things, the good things and the bad things, and although we haven’t got to the end of the book, if you were to sit down and read the whole book, you would see that even the bad things work out for our ultimate good and His glory.

God writes straight stories with crooked pens.

So there is my reminder and encouragement to read God’s word.

Christian, read big sections or whole books at a time.

Look for the big ideas that God has put in there for you to find.

Then go back and read smaller sections, and mine for the gold truth that God has left there for us.

Then when the dark and bitter providences come, like they did for Ruth and Naomi, you will have tools and wisdom to wait out the storm for the Sun of God’s goodness to shine again.

And we can see that in the progression of the passages we have looked at.

We saw the have trust and faith in God through the bitter providences that come to us in our lives in chapter 1, as Naomi and Ruth did when they lost their husbands.

In chapter 2, we saw the provision of God, even in those times of bitter providence.

Remember when Ruth just happened to glean from Boaz’s field.

So today we are going to move slightly from looking at the lives of our fore-goers in the faith through the lens of God’s sovereignty, and start to look at them through the reality of human responsibility.

We have seen God act in their lives, no we will see Hos God gives them wisdom and courage to act in light of His sovereignty in their lives.

Also, we will note that God’s providence includes the laws, cultures, and character of Naomi, Ruth, and Boaz as He works out His great plan of redemption through the lives of His people.

So let’s go back to our text as we see that…

Every Believer Must Recognize the Interaction Between God’s Providence and Their Responsibility.

By Taking Bold Initiative Like Naomi v.1-5

Ruth 3:1–5 NASB95

1 Then Naomi her mother-in-law said to her, “My daughter, shall I not seek security for you, that it may be well with you? 2 “Now is not Boaz our kinsman, with whose maids you were? Behold, he winnows barley at the threshing floor tonight. 3 “Wash yourself therefore, and anoint yourself and put on your best clothes, and go down to the threshing floor; but do not make yourself known to the man until he has finished eating and drinking. 4 “It shall be when he lies down, that you shall notice the place where he lies, and you shall go and uncover his feet and lie down; then he will tell you what you shall do.” 5 She said to her, “All that you say I will do.”

There is a bad idea going around in our culture, well honestly there are more than one, but this one spans believers and unbelievers.

The unbeliever justifies themselves by blaming their lack of resources and easy life on being a victim of something outside of themselves.

How many people are just going through life, sitting around watching tv and playing video games, blaming their outcomes on the working man just can’t get ahead in this economy.

Or the politicians on the other side are the reason why I act the way that I do or the reason I don’t have what I want.

Then there are believers, who have the same mindset, but maybe with a slightly different focus.

Philip has been addressing this towards the end of Ephesians, especially in the section on the armor of God.

We are not called to wait around for the need to gird our loins or put on the breastplate of righteousness, but we are to take up the whole armor and stand firm.

We are to act with what God has given us.

You see, God is in ultimate control, but He has decided to use us in working that out in real time, in real life.

And here we see that Naomi is observing the hand of God working in Ruth’s life, and will take bold initiative to work in those circumstances.

And God will use that initiative to work his plan of redemption out through their actions.

What an amazing God!

First, we see Naomi’s desire to seek the good of Ruth and the name of her family.

Ruth 3:1 NASB95

1 Then Naomi her mother-in-law said to her, “My daughter, shall I not seek security for you, that it may be well with you?

This has been her goal back from chapter 1, but she did not see a way for that to be fulfilled.

Remember.

Ruth 1:11 NASB95

11 But Naomi said, “Return, my daughters. Why should you go with me? Have I yet sons in my womb, that they may be your husbands?

But now, because of the providence of God, she sees an opportunity to see her desire for Ruth’s joy and security in Boaz.

Boaz was a kinsman redeemer, who had the opportunity to rescue Ruth from her distress and poverty, and God had placed Ruth directly in his path.

So she makes a plan and explains to Ruth exactly what she must do.

She tells Ruth prepare herself to request redemption.

Ruth is to wash herself and dress up, she is to wait for him to finish dinner.

The circumstances and timing that are in their control, are wisely and boldly used for the purpose they are seeking.

She is going to go and ask for Boaz’s marriage.

In order to do so, she dresses for the occasion.

This is a simple idea, but notice the wisdom in this.

She is not going to work in the fields to glean, she is going to propose marriage, so she prepares for this wisely.

Naomi then instructs Ruth on exactly what to do in order to ask for Boaz’s care.

All of this is an illustration of 2 things.

Naomi isn’t waiting around and Naomi’s wisdom.

We are to seek wisdom from our experience and the experience of others.

This is the pattern of scripture, the the adults are supposed to instruct the children, and the older are supposed to guide the younger.

Those who have experienced the working of God in their lives are supposed to reassure and encourage the ones who are still early on the path through this life.

Paul teaches that this is to be the way things are in the church for men and women.

Titus 2:3–5 NASB95

3 Older women likewise are to be reverent in their behavior, not malicious gossips nor enslaved to much wine, teaching what is good, 4 so that they may encourage the young women to love their husbands, to love their children, 5 to be sensible, pure, workers at home, kind, being subject to their own husbands, so that the word of God will not be dishonored.

This is being flipped on its head in many ways in our times.

But Naomi is the one encouraging Ruth to recognize the hand of God, and take action according to the opportunity that He has made for her.

Be bold in your life!

Don’t just sit back and let it happen to you!

How many have family or friends who are not believers, pray that God gives opportunity for the gospel, and when you see the opportunity, boldly take it!

Do you realize that the modern American way of life gives you more opportunity than almost any other time?

If you are enjoying retirement, use that time to study God’s word! Use the time to minister to your brothers and sisters in Christ! To encourage and evangelize your family.

Even the poorest in finances in the sound of my voice today is extremely wealthy compared to different time periods and other countries, leverage the blessings of God’s providence in your life for His glory.

Take bold initiative, like Naomi.

Second, we recognize our responsibility in light of God’s sovereignty…

By Showing Courage in Action Like Ruth v.6-9

Ruth 3:6–9 NASB95

6 So she went down to the threshing floor and did according to all that her mother-in-law had commanded her. 7 When Boaz had eaten and drunk and his heart was merry, he went to lie down at the end of the heap of grain; and she came secretly, and uncovered his feet and lay down. 8 It happened in the middle of the night that the man was startled and bent forward; and behold, a woman was lying at his feet. 9 He said, “Who are you?” And she answered, “I am Ruth your maid. So spread your covering over your maid, for you are a close relative.”

This is a strange story to our ears.

We don’t have a frame of reference for what in the world is happening here.

If we are not careful, we can read back into the text our modern cultural ways and make a huge mistake with what is going on here.

But we are scholars of Ancient Near Eastern manners and customs as students of the Bible, so we will not make that mistake.

In our culture, the man proposes to the woman, there is a period of engagement, and then there is a wedding.

Well, I should say generally, that is how it should go, and that is becoming less and less what our culture actually practices.

Men, if you have proposed to your girlfriend, do you remember how it was when you planned for it, saved for the ring, maybe had to nervously ask the Father for permission, and then actually followed through with it?

I remember planning for our engagement.

I didn’t do to great of a job.

We were living in Jacksonville, FL and I had planned a whole day.

We would go out to eat, then drive to St. Augustine to Anastasia Island State Park where there was a beautiful beach.

I would then get down on one knee and ask her if she would be my wife.

The problem was, I was a poor college student and didn’t have any experience making reservations at a nice restaurant.

The restaurant I had planned to go to, happened to be closed on that day, which I found out when we pulled up to the door.

We ended up going to a Panera Bread instead.

But you already know the end of the story, she said yes in spite of my oversight!

The whole ritual took a good bit of courage! What if she said no?

But the custom in the Old Testament times was completely different.

First of all, it was usually agreed to by the parents.

Secondly, there was a bride price that the suitor would make to the woman’s father, because he would be losing a worker when the were wed.

But even more than that, in this case we have a levirate marriage.

Boaz would become the redeemer to Ruth.

He would be taking her into his care to take the place of her deceased husband.

He would have the responsibility of producing an heir in her husband’s name.

This was a big responsibility, and came at a cost.

He would be taking on the management of the inheritance, and when the heir would come of age, he would lose it to the heir.

He would be building the name of someone else, out of duty to his relative.

But this was normally undertaken under the light of the day, in the open, so why did Naomi instruct Ruth to go about it in the way that she did?

First, remember, they had just come out of a famine, and this was one of the first harvests.

Harvest time was always time for a party, but this one was especially happy.

She waited until after he was finished with the festivities, to when he fell asleep.

Then she came in and uncovered his feet and laid down below his feet.

This was a place of humiliation and supplication.

She was going to propose marriage to him, out of need and humbleness.

Then midnight comes, and you know what it’s like for the covers to get knocked off of your feet.

He wakes up startled, looks down at his cold feet, and (I love this)

Ruth 3:8 NASB95

8 …and behold, a woman was lying at his feet.

Look! There’s a woman here! Sleeping by my feet!

That’s not something you see every day…

I can imagine him rubbing his eyes and looking again to make sure he is seeing what he’s seeing.

He doesn’t recognize her yet, and he asks who she is.

Then Ruth, in her characteristic humility says,

Ruth 3:9 NASB95

9 …“I am Ruth your maid. So spread your covering over your maid, for you are a close relative.”

Spread your covering over me.

This is not what our modern mind generally goes to first.

The ESV translates it slightly different.

English Standard Version Chapter 3

Spread your wings over your servant, for you are a redeemer.”

Spread your wings over me! Protect me! I am in need of your help!

This langauge is used in other places to show God’s protection of Israel.

Psalm 91:4 NASB95

4 He will cover you with His pinions, And under His wings you may seek refuge; His faithfulness is a shield and bulwark.

But most clearly, and graphically in Ezekiel, when God illustrated His care for Israel.

Ezekiel 16:5–8 NASB95

5 “No eye looked with pity on you to do any of these things for you, to have compassion on you. Rather you were thrown out into the open field, for you were abhorred on the day you were born. 6 “When I passed by you and saw you squirming in your blood, I said to you while you were in your blood, ‘Live!’ Yes, I said to you while you were in your blood, ‘Live!’ 7 “I made you numerous like plants of the field. Then you grew up, became tall and reached the age for fine ornaments; your breasts were formed and your hair had grown. Yet you were naked and bare. 8 “Then I passed by you and saw you, and behold, you were at the time for love; so I spread My skirt over you and covered your nakedness. I also swore to you and entered into a covenant with you so that you became Mine,” declares the Lord God.

I know this is blunt, but do you see the beautiful picture that is used here to show the love and promise of God for His people?

This is what Ruth is asking of Boaz, rescue me.

You are a close relative, you can save me from the situation I am in.

She shows great courage, he could have said no!

He could have driven her out in the cold, she took the risk of rejection.

But she acted with courage.

What a beautiful story!

Naomi was bold in seizing the opportunity that providence had given, Ruth was courageous in acting on it, and Boaz was graciously generous.

By Being Graciously Generous like Boaz v.10-18

Ruth 3:10–13 NASB95

10 Then he said, “May you be blessed of the Lord, my daughter. You have shown your last kindness to be better than the first by not going after young men, whether poor or rich. 11 “Now, my daughter, do not fear. I will do for you whatever you ask, for all my people in the city know that you are a woman of excellence. 12 “Now it is true I am a close relative; however, there is a relative closer than I. 13 “Remain this night, and when morning comes, if he will redeem you, good; let him redeem you. But if he does not wish to redeem you, then I will redeem you, as the Lord lives. Lie down until morning.”

Boaz doesn’t turn her away, but he gives her a blessing.

Remember our discussion of hesed from last time, lovingkindness.

Boaz is wisely aware of the precarious place that Ruth is in, and gives her a blessing of comfort.

He remarked on her hesed, or kindness to Naomi, in the last chapter, now he recognizes her hesed to him.

Apparently, he wasn’t her only option, as there were other, more younger, men around that he believed would be a good match.

It seems that he is an older, unmarried man, and he wouldn’t think he would be Ruth’s first choice.

He is also complementing her to comfort her.

This guy is a keeper!

But he is also an honest man.

He responds that he will do what she asks and perform his duty as the redeemer, but let’s her know that their is someone closer in relation to her that has the first right.

Next time we will see how that goes down, but for now, agreeing to her proposal, he tells her to go back to sleep in piece.

He shows that he is a man of honor, with her, but I am sure that he covered his feet back up!

Next, in a surety of his future protection, he cares for her reputation and her immediate, physical needs.

Ruth 3:14–15 NASB95

14 So she lay at his feet until morning and rose before one could recognize another; and he said, “Let it not be known that the woman came to the threshing floor.” 15 Again he said, “Give me the cloak that is on you and hold it.” So she held it, and he measured six measures of barley and laid it on her. Then she went into the city.

He makes sure that she goes before lights out so no one can accuse them of impropriety, and he takes her cloak and gives her another load of barley.

We buy our future brides expensive diamond jewelry, Ruth got six measures of barley.

Now Ruth is traveling back to her and Naomi’s home, with a load of barley.

Imagine how Naomi must have been feeling all night.

Do you think she got any sleep?

The anticipation must have been great!

Would her plan work out? Was Ruth rejected?

I imagine she would have been pacing the floor of her house waiting for Ruth to come back.

You have to read this account like these were real people!

Ruth 3:16 NASB95

16 When she came to her mother-in-law, she said, “How did it go, my daughter?” And she told her all that the man had done for her.

Ruth comes in the door, and Naomi didn’t just calmly say, “How’d it go?”

The anticipation and emotions came pouring out… “How did it go? How did it go? What did he say???”

Ruth put the cloak full of the barley engagement gift down, hugged Naomi around the neck, maybe did that excited hand waving thing that women do, and told her the story of how he said yes!

Ruth 3:17–18 NASB95

17 She said, “These six measures of barley he gave to me, for he said, ‘Do not go to your mother-in-law empty-handed.’ ” 18 Then she said, “Wait, my daughter, until you know how the matter turns out; for the man will not rest until he has settled it today.”

I want you to consider the difference in Naomi.

Coming back empty from Moab, she told the people of her town to call her bitter, no one could just tell her to wait and see that God was going to take care of her.

But she has grown in her experience, and that is exactly what she is telling Ruth to do.

Wait, because God is going to take care of us through this man.

He’s just as excited as you are, and he’s not going to put this off until later.

Boaz had given them hope.

His loving response and gracious promise had completely turned Ruth and Naomi’s situation around.

He was the kinsmen redeemer and he was going to take this opportunity of God’s providence to show great character and generous grace.

Conclusion

Again, this is not just a beautiful love story.

This is a story that is supposed to point us to God’s amazing grace for us.

All of the things that our protagonists are living through, all of the decisions they make, and all of the blessings that will happen because of them are all orchestrated by a glorious God.

The tapestry of their lives, lived in the reality of God’s good providence and His bitter providence are being woven into a beautiful way to make this story so wonderful to read even thousands of years later.

And each one, unknown to them at the time, are being used as illustrations to us of God’s love for His church.

The whole system that God had set up, of allowing the poor to glean the fields, of levirate marriage, of men and women marrying at all, was set up with Ruth and Boaz in mind before the foundation of this world.

All to point at the generous grace of a loving God.

Christ is our goel, our kinsman redeemer.

We were like Ruth, hopeless and poverty-stricken, with absolutely no way to help ourselves.

But Christ became incarnate, lived as a man, so He could be closely related to us.

He lived the life that we couldn’t live and became a substitute for us, so God could graciously give us all things in Him.

There is no other name under heaven that we can call on in boldness, and be given salvation.

No other name is able to redeem us, except our goel, Jesus Christ in the gracious hesed of God.