Ruth 3:1-18

Ruth 3:1–5 (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.”

Introduction:

We should seek rest in the Redeemer.

Matthew 11:28 (ESV)

28 Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

Rest is experiencing the provision of God for your need.

Augustine

You have made us for yourself, O Lord, and our heart is restless until it rests in you.

Naomi has placed Ruth in a compromising position.

This is not a good plan.

Ruth looks like a woman of the night.

Coming to Boaz after everyone else is gone. After he had filled his belly eaten and drank. When he was at ease.

Boaz could reject such gestures and dismiss her.

God’s grace rescues despite our sinful decisions.

Ruth 3:6–13 (ESV)

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.”

Spreed your wings - or garments - Was a phrase that was connected to marriage. She was asking Boaz to marry her.

Ezekiel 16:8 (ESV)

8 “When I passed by you again and saw you, behold, you were at the age for love, and I spread the corner of my garment over you and covered your nakedness; I made my vow to you and entered into a covenant with you, declares the Lord God, and you became mine.

Ezekiel tells us about God taking a bride His People.

Ruth spells it out so that Boaz knows exactly what she wants him to do.

gāʾal - Redeemer who carries out the responsibility of the next of kin to protect the interests of the clan.

Dictionary of Deities and Demons in the Bible (Goʾel)

Dictionary of Deities and Demons in the Bible (Goʾel)

What did the go el do?

He acted as the next of kin to buy up or buy back property to prevent its being lost from the group (Lev 25:25);

he could redeem, or pay off, the debt of a kinsperson who had fallen victim to debt slavery (Lev 25:47-49)

He bore the responsibility of securing an heir to continue the name of a deceased head of family who had died without male offspring (Deut 25:5–10);

He was responsible for blood vengeance within the clan (Num 35:31-34)

Remember this is a peace of puzzle in the story of redemption.

How do we get Messiah out of the mess of Judges?

Graeme Goldsworthy’s

Preaching the Whole Bible as Christian Scripture

“I can think of no more challenging question for the preachers self-evaluation and to ask whether the sermon was a faithful exposition of the way the text testifies to Christ.”

Ruth fully trusts in her redeemer.

Ruth invites the redeemer to redeem her.

Trust in the redeemer

Invite him to redeem you.

Ruth 3:14–18 ESV

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.”

Ruth rested in the work of the redeemer.

Will you rest in what Christ has done for you.

Will you trust him to provide the righteousness needed and protect you from the wrath of God.