Untitled Sermon

Introduction

English Standard Version Chapter 3

3 Then Naomi her mother-in-law said to her, “My daughter, should I not seek rest for you, that it may be well with you? 2 Is not Boaz our relative, with whose young women you were?

So some time has passed and Naomi puts a proposal towards Ruth. We’re not sure how much time, but chapter 2 finishes with Ruth being at home with Naomi, and chapter 3 starts with Naomi seeking to find a home for Ruth.

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she’s keen to find ‘rest’ = safety and security of a home, benefits found through marraige in ancient Near East culture. Parents were involved in such Marriages, much closer than today. We could learn something here.

She wants her to find a place, not so “she’d be out of her hair” but so that “it may go well with her” that is, that she be provided for well.

She wakes up the next morning and she brings to rememberance this man Boaz. You can picture the scene of the two talking as Naomi mentions, in passing, “you know who’s a nice man…Boaz” You know Boaz…he’s a nice man. You know Boaz is one of our relatives? Fancy that… He’s a lovely man…And it turns out he’s out winnowing barley tonight Ruth...” “Is he now” Yes he is...” Such a lovely man, such a good worker…

She knows he’s a kinsmen, but whether she knows he’s NOT the closest or not is not certain. She seems to think that Boaz has been favourable towards Ruth, so Ruth shoudl capitalise on it.

Then any subtleties move to the way side and Naomi puts forth a plan for her daughter. “

English Standard Version Chapter 3

3 Wash therefore and anoint yourself, and put on your cloak and go down to the threshing floor, but do not make yourself known to the man until he has finished eating and drinking. 4 But when he lies down, observe the place where he lies. Then go and uncover his feet and lie down, and he will tell you what to do.” 5 And she replied, “All that you say I will do.”

Smell good, look good, and be good.

-> Notice that she chooses to be attractive but not seductive. There is a difference. There is a way to dress and get oneself ready that is open to mingle. There is also a way to

The ‘cloak’ she was to put on was not some skimpy outfit, but rather a heavy form of attire. The word “cloak” means the word “wing”.

Cloak - so we can pretend to be like birds - Emu’s who can’t fly but have wings.

Make sure you know where he goes to lie down, so when you come back later you don’t end up laying down at the feet of the wrong man.

And she frames it with a good motherly desire. “That it may go well with you”

The goal is that Boaz would recognise Ruth’s action as an appeal to marry her as next of kin even though technically she was not entitled to that being a daughter in law. m

What was this tradition?

Uncovering Feet

Levarite law regarding kinsmen

English Standard Version Chapter 3

6 So she went down to the threshing floor and did just as her mother-in-law had commanded her. 7 And when Boaz had eaten and drunk, and his heart was merry, he went to lie down at the end of the heap of grain. Then she came softly and uncovered his feet and lay down. 8 At midnight the man was startled and turned over, and behold, a woman lay at his feet! 9 He said, “Who are you?” And she answered, “I am Ruth, your servant. Spread your wings over your servant, for you are a redeemer.”

The scene is a threshing floor - a level place of smooth rocks locaed on a hill. And as the sea breeze picks up, the grain would be separated from teh chaff as it was taken away by the Mediterranean wind. The heavy grain fell to the ground and was collected.

-> He had eaten and drunk but was not drunk. That’s not implied here. he was at peace with thr world.

-> she uncovered his feet is not implying that they slept together although it was a forward movement to show interest.

I love the humanity of this story, real people, real characters, real place a real story! He was startled, I’d be startled too if you went to bed single and awake to find a woman laying at your feet. He replies, “who are you?”

Now what was Ruth told to do by naomi? Simply lay down and he will tell you what to do next. Here Ruth takes things into her own hands. She essentially puts a proposal to Boaz.

Cover me with your corner of your cloak - the ‘wings’ that he had prayed woudl cover her, she literally take shim up on his offer. Such a custom of placing the corner of a garmetn over a maiden as a symbol of marriage is known among the Arabs even today.

He’s much older

How does Boaz respond? Quite positively

English Standard Version Chapter 3

10 And he said, “May you be blessed by the LORD, my daughter. You have made this last kindness greater than the first in that you have not gone after young men, whether poor or rich. 11 And now, my daughter, do not fear. I will do for you all that you ask, for all my fellow townsmen know that you are a worthy woman.

He knows, that Ruth, could have any man she wanted and yet here she is choosing him. He sees the kindness of that.

His integrity comes out in deeper colours with what he says next.

He’s integrous, he’s unpretencious - getting in amongst hte word himself, he’s respectful, he’s thoughtful, he’s patient.

This is the kind of guy you’d want for your daugthers. Daugthers, this is the kind of guy you want ot be on the lookout for.

Someone who will respect you when you’re in vulnerable places. Someone who will be truthful and honest to you. Someone who will not only be kind to you, but considerate to others.

He’s words “do not fear” perhaps seek to alleviate any concerns she had for being so forward or presumptiously. He reassured her that all was okay, and that all would go ahead as she requested.

But there’s one slight hitch, one problem in this plan.

English Standard Version Chapter 3

12 And now it is true that I am a redeemer. Yet there is a redeemer nearer than I. 13 Remain tonight, and in the morning, if he will redeem you, good; let him do it. But if he is not willing to redeem you, then, as the LORD lives, I will redeem you. Lie down until the morning.”

Basically, I am not entitle dto you, and you are not entitled to me, so let me check first with this other closer relative who may be able to be your kinsmen redeemer.

Then he makes a vow, if he’s not down with it, I’m in!

She stays the night, and no sexual interaction is implied and leaves in the morning with a little gift.

English Standard Version Chapter 3

14 So she lay at his feet until the morning, but arose before one could recognize another. And he said, “Let it not be known that the woman came to the threshing floor.” 15 And he said, “Bring the garment you are wearing and hold it out.” So she held it, and he measured out six measures of barley and put it on her. Then she went into the city

We mustn’t force our 20th century assumptions of sexual culture onto this event. It is surprising how much of us would assume a night like this ended in sex. After all it’s what we see on tv, in movies, read about on social media and would have heard in the work place over lunch. There’s another narrative at play though. Ruth would have trusted Boaz to keep his word to consider as his bride and therefore not been inapprorpriate towards her and thus disgrace her reputation. It was quite taboo at the time to take advtange of a woman in such a way. There are othe rbiblical writers who use much more obvious and less conservative language towards instances of sexual encounters - that simply isn’t what is being put before us here. IF we read with sensitivity, it becomes clear that it is just the opposite. They acted virtuously. Such chastity was not as uncommon in the ancient world as it may be today.

I think this is why Boaz makes it clear, “make sure you leave in the mornign so they don’t know you were here” - who knows that a people can gossip? Yeah, people would put their own views on the topic.

English Standard Version Chapter 3

16 And when she came to her mother-in-law, she said, “How did you fare, my daughter?” Then she told her all that the man had done for her, 17 saying, “These six measures of barley he gave to me, for he said to me, ‘You must not go back empty-handed to your mother-in-law.’ ” 18 She replied, “Wait, my daughter, until you learn how the matter turns out, for the man will not rest but will settle the matter today.”

She came home. oh I bet Naomi was eager to hear how this encounter went. She comes in, from the night out, and she says, “Namoi…how’d it go!” So it looks promising, but Naomi is somewhat realistic. Let’s not count the chickens before they hatch. Let’s wait and see.

The Expositor’s Bible Commentary, Volume 3: Deuteronomy, Joshua, Judges, Ruth, 1 & 2 Samuel C. Ruth’s Return to Naomi (3:14–18)

An interesting suggestion by Sasson (in loc.) is that the question means “Who are you now?” i.e., “Are you still Mahlon’s widow or are you Boaz’s wife?

Boaz wanted her not to return ‘empty’ handed. THe very thing Naomi felt returnign back to bethlehem. She both literally would not feel ‘empty’ and metaphorically she would not feel empty with this upcoming news of prospective marriage. A kinsmen redeemer.

she advises, sit tight. stay put, see how the matter plays out. See if he texts you back. she leaves the matters in Boaz’s hands, and ultimately in God’s hands doesn’t she?

no more need for action. No stressing, no scheming, no planning or plotting. A simple, see how it plays out now. Naomi trusts in Boaz’s character to do what needs to be done. She trust boaz, and I think we’re beginning to see her trust God. SHe’s full, she’s experiencing God’s goodness.

let’s not overlook Namoi here, Ruth and Boaz are on centre stage here, Boaz becoming a more prominent character in this story.

Not sure what you’re first date looked like, but probably not this. Proposal. This text today puts us a bit on the edge of our seat concerning romance, relationship, intimacy etc.