Ruth: The Threshing Floor

Ruth – At the Threshing Floor

Ruth 3:1-18

1. Introduction – We are heading into the climax of the story now. We’ve seen tragedy, bitterness, loneliness…

a. But we’ve also seen integrity, loyalty, faithfulness…hard work.

i. We’ve seen God move and work in the seemingly mundane.

1. We’ve seen our main characters go from a bad situation, to a worse situation, to a slightly improved situation…to finding a bit of stability and sustenance in Bethlehem.

ii. However, there’s still one major issue…well 2 actually. Both Ruth and Naomi are still widows…there is no male heir to carry on the family name…

1. And their physical needs have been provided for, but there are still deeper issues that need rectifying.

b. I debated about spending a couple weeks in this chapter. There’s a lot here. As I reading and preparing this week, I think I made something clipped like 81 pages of notes this week.

i. But as I was preparing, I thought it was better to look at this scene all in one go – so that you better understand the flow of what is happening.

1. And let me tell you – there is a lot happening. I was so captivating this week by this chapter that I didn’t even realize I had made that many notes until I was done.

a. So this morning, instead of going into the nitty gritty detail of this chapter, we are simply going to hit the high points.

i. We’ll seek to understand the basic structure of what’s going on, and we’ll see how a chapter about a midnight rendezvous at a threshing floor can help us today.

c. But before we read this chapter together, first look at how it is structured.

i. It actually follows the same pattern as chapter 2.

1. It starts with a conversation between Ruth and Naomi.

a. In chapter 2, Ruth tells Naomi her plan to go out and glean in a field.

i. In chapter 3, Naomi tells Ruth about a plan to get Boaz to act.

1. After the initial conversation – there is then an encounter between Ruth and Boaz.

b. In chapter 2 there is an encounter in the field – where Boaz gives Ruth a bunch of instructions.

i. And in chapter 3, there is an encounter at the threshing floor…and we’ll see what happens there.

ii. And both chapters 2 and 3 end with a subsequent conversation between Ruth and Naomi as they recap all that took place.

1. So that’s how it is structure, now let’s read what it says. Hear God’s Word – Ruth 3:1-18

Ruth 3:1–18 ESV

1 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? See, he is winnowing barley tonight at the threshing floor. 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.” 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.” 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. 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.” 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. 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.”

d. So here’s what we’re going to do today.

i. We’re going to look at the 3 distinct sections of this chapter.

1. We’ll look at Naomi’s instructions to Ruth, we’ll study the threshing floor encounter between Boaz and Ruth, and we’ll look at the morning after.

2. Naomi’s Plan – If you’ll recall a couple weeks ago when we studied 2:17-23, we came across Naomi telling Ruth that Boaz was one of their redeemers.

a. We spend lats week discussing the implications of that.

i. Also a couple weeks ago we looked at the importance of v.23. Seven weeks after their initial introduction, for 7 weeks Ruth had been gleaning in Boaz’s field.

1. For 7 weeks Naomi knew that the possibility of redemption existed for them…it was so close at hand…

a. But nothing had happened for 7 weeks…so Naomi decided to take matters into her own hands and get the ball rolling on her redemption.

ii. As we dive into the details of Naomi’s plan for Boaz and Ruth, we have to realize that this was a dangerous plan.

1. The potential for disaster lurked around every corner…and the potential for success was actually very slim.

b. In vv.1-4, Naomi lays out a very detailed plan for what Ruth is to do. Obviously, Boaz wasn’t making any moves, so Naomi took it upon herself to get things going.

i. Right off the bat, I want you to notice this – Naomi gives these instructions purely so that Ruth can have a husband.

1. In those days, a husband could provide for Ruth for more than her widowed mother-in-law could.

a. Also notice, this wasn’t a selfish plan – a way for Naomi to secure an heir for Elimelech’s name.

i. Naomi was looking out for Ruth’s best interest.

2. What this shows is that Ruth and Naomi had a healthy relationship. In healthy relationships, you always look out for the best interest of the other person.

c. What did Naomi instruct Ruth to do? First, she gives her some instructions regarding her personal appearance.

i. First – she tells her to take a bath, to anoint herself, that is with scented olive oil…perfume if you will…and Naomi tells Ruth to put on her cloak.

1. Now, from a purely modern-day perspective, it looks as if Naomi is telling Ruth to get herself all gussied up in an attempt to seduce a man.

a. Now, there is a line of interpretation that sees this scene in this way.

i. This scene is full of tension, full of sexual tension…it is even full of innuendo.

1. However, I don’t think this chapter is describing an illicit sexual encounter because there is another way to interpret this.

ii. Instead of seeing this as Ruth preparing herself in order to have a sexual encounter with Boaz, it actually appears that Naomi is telling Ruth that her period of mourning over her widowhood is over and she is to get on with normal life.

1. We don’t know enough about ancient near eastern widowhood to know how long a widow stayed in her mourning clothes or how long she dressed like a widow…but it seems like here, Naomi is telling Ruth that it is time to get with life.

a. There is actually a similar scene in 2 Samuel 12:20. In that chapter David is mourning for his dying child.

2 Samuel 12:20 ESV

20 Then David arose from the earth and washed and anointed himself and changed his clothes. And he went into the house of the Lord and worshiped. He then went to his own house. And when he asked, they set food before him, and he ate.

i. And after being informed of his son’s death…David bathed, he anointed himself, but on his cloak…the same word that is used in Ruth 3:3…and he went to the Temple to worship.

iii. So, it may well be that Ruth always ore the clothes of widowhood – of mourning – even while she was working in the field.

1. And perhaps this is why Boaz didn’t make any moves – he didn’t want to violate a woman’s right to grieve.

a. So, instead of seeing this as Ruth dressing to kill, or dressing to seduce or wearing a dress that hit her in all the right places…

i. Naomi instructs Ruth to put off the clothes of widowhood…thus letting Boaz know that she is read to return to normal life…and marriage, should that be a possibility.

d. The next set of instructions that Naomi gives instruct Ruth about where to go and what to do when she gets there.

i. She was to go to Boaz’s threshing floor. Now, it may seem a little odd that Boaz was spending the night there…but at winnowing time, landowners would actually sleep at their threshing floors in order to guard the fruits of their labour.

1. They were there to protect it against thieves.

a. So Ruth, was to go out there incognito – and she was to observe.

i. She was to wait…wait for Boaz to finish working, wait for him to finish eating and drinking.

1. And while Boaz most likely had some wine to drink, the test makes no mention of Boaz drinking excess or being drink during this encounter.

b. Boaz had a bountiful harvest…he had a full stomach after his meal…and he lay down at the threshing flesh satisfied, and ready to protect his harvest.

ii. Ruth was to observe all of this – and when he went to sleep…

1. She was to go over to him, uncover his feet and lie down herself.

e. Here’s what we need to understand about this plan that Naomi cooked up – the potential for disaster lurked around every corner.

i. The fact that there is a way to interpret this whole thing sexually – means that it could have gone sideways in any number of ways.

1. The location itself was dangerous. Believe it or not – during winnowing season, the threshing floor became a hot bed of prostitution.

a. Men working long and hard hours – spending consecutive nights away from one…prostitutes would make their way out and offer their services.

i. Especially in the spiritual dark day of the Judges…this was known to happen.

1. So the look of this plan – if they were discovered – it would look like Ruth was a run of the mill prostitute offering her services.

ii. The plan really put Ruth in harm’s way – she had to travel under the cover of night out to the threshing floor.

1. There was no guarantee that she would make it there safely in the first place.

a. This plan trusted that Boaz would not take advantage of Ruth or misinterpret what she was doing.

i. It was fraught with disaster – it was almost guaranteed to fail – with only a slim chance of success.

3. The Encounter – That’s the plan…and in the next section from vv.6-13, we are told that Ruth executed the plan to perfection…although it seems she improvised a little bit.

a. She bathed, anointed, got dressed, went to the threshing floor, observed where Boaz went to sleep…

i. Uncovered his feet and she lay down. The text doesn’t explicitly say that Ruth lay down next to Boaz, but that she simply uncovered his feet and lay down.

1. Apparently after she did all that, Boaz was to take it from there…and that’s exactly what happened. Although a little suspense is also introduced.

b. Ruth uncovers Boaz’s feet – and eventually a groggy Boaz wakes up – most like from the cool night air on his skin…

i. And he discovers a woman sleeping at his feet…so he asks a logical question…who are you?

1. Are you a prostitute who has come to offer her services? Who is this woman?

a. Ruth answers the question, but then she improvises and deviates from the plan a little bit.

ii. She was to let Boaz take the lead, but instead Ruth speaks, answers Boaz’s question – and then lays her intentions all out on the table.

1. She is bold and forthright – something unheard of in those days. Right there on the threshing floor…Ruth proposes marriage.

a. The phrase she uses ‘take me under your wing…’ is a phrase we’ve seen before in Ruth.

iii. In their first encounter in the field, Boaz blesses Ruth and prays that she would find comfort and protect under YHWH’s wings.

1. Well, the phrase – while it is a metaphor and image of God’s protection of his people – is also a symbol of marriage.

a. Here Ruth is requesting…maybe even demanding…that Boaz take responsibility for her security.

iv. The gesture of a man covering a woman with his garment was a symbolic act.

1. In the ancient near east – it symbolized the start of a new relationship and the symbolic declaration of a husbands to provide for his future wife.

a. So right there – against all customs and social norms of the time – Ruth the Moabitess – proposes marriage to Boaz – a man of wealth and standing in Bethlehem society.

i. This could have gone terribly wrong for Ruth – but it didn’t.

c. Once again, Boaz commends Ruth for her kindness and commitment to Naomi.

i. And at the end of v.11 – Boaz uses an interesting phrase. He says – you are a worthy woman…Ruth 3:11

Ruth 3:11 ESV

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.

1. And with that phrase – Boaz and Ruth are finally put on a level playing field.

a. Remember back when we were first introduced to Boaz – the narrator said he was a worthy man. Ruth 2:1

Ruth 2:1 ESV

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

i. Well, Boaz now uses the exact same phrase about Ruth…

2. She is no longer Ruth the Moabitess, or Ruth the gleaner…she is Ruth – the worthy woman…a woman of character…a woman of substance.

d. But then Boaz introduces a little bit of tension. Ye he is a redeemer for Naomi – but there is someone close in relation.

i. He would be first in line to redeem the family.

1. Boaz reassured Ruth that everything will be OK. Because either this other relative will take on the role of redeemer…or he will.

a. Either way – Naomi and Ruth’s days of struggling are over – they have the hope of redemption waiting for them just around the corner.

e. As per Boaz’s request, Ruth stayed the night there at the threshing floor – and Boaz promised to take care of the family redeemer business in the morning.

i. Now, let’s put this to rest – was this an illicit sexual encounter? Well, the overwhelming evidence points to no.

1. It doesn’t seem like Ruth got herself all dolled up in order to seduce Boaz.

a. How could Boaz praise Ruth’s actions and call her worthy if she was acting like a prostitute – trying to seduce him?

i. Besides – 2 worthy and righteous people don’t have sex on a threshing floor before marriage.

ii. This whole plan – from his conceiving to its execution to its acceptance – thought it was fraught with danger and disaster – was nothing but a display of love and faithfulness towards other people.

1. It was an act of faith and trust that God would provide.

4. The Morning After – And before dawn broke – Boaz sends Ruth off – so no one would recognize her…and no one would get the wrong impression.

a. But he sends her off with a guarantee – a down payment of his commitment.

i. 6 measures of barley…how much is that? About 8 pounds…another generous gift.

1. Add the chapter ends like it began…with a conversation between Naomi and Ruth.

a. Naomi instructs Ruth to wait and see what happens.

5. For Us Today – Now, understand there’s a lot more we could look at. We could do a deep dive into the imagery of this chapter. Honestly, we’ve only scratched the surface.

a. We’ve looked at what this chapter says and what happened…but how does a potentially illicit encounter at the threshing floor help us today?

i. Well, there are 2 specific words I want to draw to your attention this morning.

b. The first word is integrity. Let’s not deny that even though this wasn’t an illicit sex story – let’s not the fact that there would have been sexual tension.

i. Even though it wasn’t some clandestine sex meeting – it also wasn’t completely innocent – the charged nature of this encounter – would have made it easy for Ruth and Boaz to succumb to temptation.

1. But they acted worthily – they acted with integrity.

a. One misstep…one miscalculation and this could have gone sideways in a hurry.

i. But each one acted with integrity.

ii. Our world seems to lack this characteristic. In fact, any movie you watch where there is a sexually charged scene – characters are praised and applauded for giving in to their feelings.

1. But Ruth and Boaz weren’t interested in personal gratification or one night of passion…

a. They were interested in redemption – in kindness, in honouring God with all they did and said.

iii. So we too should follow this example. Life is always neat and clean. Sometimes we find ourselves in vulnerable and potentially compromising situations.

1. But Ruth and Boaz provide us with an example of integrity…of being God honouring and God glorifying…even in potentially dangerous situations. This passage teaches us about integrity.

c. The second word is love. Now, a lot of people think that the book of Ruth is a love story. A romance novel.

i. Some see that there’s a flame of passion burning between Ruth and Boaz from the time they meet and it finally erupts into flame in this passionate declaration of love at the threshing floor.

1. But, I hope you’ve seen that there isn’t really a whole lot of romance here.

a. But don’t get me wrong…this is a love story – not a story about romantic or erotic love…but of biblical love.

i. A love that isn’t based primarily on lovey, dovey feelings, but a love that looks out for the best interest of others.

ii. And what we see in this scene is 3 people acting in the best interest of others – sacrificing personal well-being and position out of kindness towards another.

1. Naomi didn’t have to find a husband for Ruth, but she did in order to help Ruth out.

a. Ruth didn’t have to go along with Naomi’s plan, but she did in order to redeem Naomi.

i. Boaz didn’t have accept Ruth’s proposal, but he did in order to set up to the plate.

iii. No one was obligated to do anything for anyone…but out of love they acted sacrificially toward each other.

1. And that’s the kind of love we are called to have as God’s people…not acting out of obligation, but acting sacrificially and maybe at great personal cost.

a. Jesus said – there’s no great love than this – that one lays down his life for his friends.

d. Love and faith are always expressed in concern for the well-being of other people.

i. And even though this is a story about people in Bethlehem a long time ago – the principle of the story stands true…

1. It shows us that love and loyalty are rooted in actions. Love is displayed in loving actions that promote another person’s well-being.

a. I’ll close with one of my favourite verses that sums up the thrust of this whole scene.

i. Philippians 2:4 – each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interest of others…

Philippians 2:4 ESV

4 Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.

1. That is what true biblical love looks like.