Ruth 3 – A Love Story

Ruth 3 – A Love Story                                        June 2, 2018

What we have covered

A Jewish man moved his wife and 2 sons to the country of Moab from the famine in Judah.

The father and 2 sons died, leaving his wife, Naomi and 2 daughter-in-law’s left.  Naomi and Ruth moved back to Judah at the beginning of the barley harvest. 

Ruth told Naomi;  Your people will be my people, and your God, my God.

Ruth had to go out to the fields and glean grain so her and Naomi to live.

Boaz told Ruth to continue gleaning only in his fields, gathering grain until both the barley and wheat harvests were complete.

We did covered: Called “the Levirate Marriage.” He had to meet three conditions to make it work. Kinsman-Redeemer, means:  A male, blood relative.  

·      First, he had to be a near kinsman.

·      Secondly, he had to be able to perform.

·      Thirdly, he had to be willing; it was not required.

·      If he chose not to, he had to give her his shoe, a symbol of shame; he had failed to do the kinsman’s part.

Redeemer means:  A person who redeems.  Jesus redeems us.

*Titus 2:14 who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works.

Also, we will cover Law of Redemption: Redeeming a Poor Man or land

Ruth and Boaz at the Threshing Floor, her resting and obedient faith

Ruth 3:1 Ruth's mother-in-law Naomi, told her, "My daughter, should I not make inquiries about your financial security, so you'll be better off in life?

Naomi was faced with three issues:

1)     How could the name of Elimelech be maintained among the tribes of Israel since both her sons were now dead?

2)     What steps should be taken to protect her inheritance, which Elimelech had left in Naomi’s trust?

3)     How could she provide rest and security for her faithful daughter- in-law?

A marriage between Ruth and Boaz would solve all three problems. This

also meant that Naomi would renounce her own claim to Boaz as the close

relative and give it to Ruth, the younger widow.

Ruth 3:2 Isn't Boaz one of our close relatives? You've been associating with his women servants lately. Look, he'll be winnowing barley at the threshing floor tonight.    A1

Naomi’s reminded Ruth that there was an important custom in Israel - goel, sometimes translated kinsman-redeemer and Boaz was their family goel.

Winnowing: separating grain from chaff at the Threshing Floor.

The harvest involved harvesting the grain and preparing it for market. The threshing floor was a large, flat parcel of ground where there was a prevailing wind. 

After the grain had been ground, they would throw the grain up in the air and the wind would cause the grain to fall a little bit downwind and the chaff would fall further downwind.  It was often done in the late afternoon, when the breeze had picked up after the day's heat.  The process used a pronged fork on a long handle by which the threshed grain was tossed into the air.

If done properly, one would end up with two piles, the closer one being good for market, and the further one would be burned as trash or used as fodder.

The threshing floors were typically prominent places. David purchased the threshing floor, which later became the site of the Temple.

This was not only a time of work, but also a time of celebration. Typically the afternoon was spent threshing the grain and that night they would have a party (Isa 41:14-16).  So the owners and the seniors would sleep there to prevent theft of the grain

Ruth 3:3 So get cleaned up, put on some perfume, dress up, and go to the threshing floor, but don't let him see you until after he's finished eating and drinking.

The perfume mentioned is made up of scented oils that would be used at festive occasion.

These are four steps that are essential for the sinner.

Step 1: Wash Thyself – get cleaned up

*Titus 3:5 not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit,

So Naomi tells Ruth, “You’ve been working hard out in the field. Wash thyself therefore.” Now that’s the first step that she is to take.

Step 2: Anoint Thyself - put on some perfume

*1 John 2:20 But you have an anointing from the Holy One, and you know all things.

*1 John 2:27 The anointing you received from God abides in you, and you do not need anyone to teach you this. Instead, because God's anointing teaches you about everything and is true and not a lie, abide in him, as he taught you to do.

*John 14:26 But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and remind you of everything that I have told you.

That’s the only way in the world we can ever understand the Word of God. The Spirit of God must teach us.

And so Ruth’s second step was important. She was to wash herself and then to anoint herself.

Step 3: Put Thy Raiment Upon Thee – dress up

*Revelation 19:8 And to her it was granted to be arrayed in fine linen, clean and bright, for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints.

*Isaiah 61:10 "I will heartily rejoice in the LORD, my soul will delight in my God; for he has wrapped me in garments of salvation; he has arrayed me in a robe of righteousness, just like a bridegroom, like a priest with a garland, and like a bride adorns herself with her jewels.

*Ezekiel 16:9-10 I (Lord God) bathed you (Israel) with water, rinsed your own blood from you, and anointed you with oil. (10) Then I covered you with embroidered clothing, clothed your feet with leather sandals, wrapped you with fine linen, and dressed you in silk.

If all this time she had been wearing the clothes of widowhood and mourning, it would explain why Boaz had not moved to court her, for he would not impose himself on her as long as she was still in a time of mourning.

Being poor she probably did not have a “best dress,” and so, this might mean to exchange her clothes of mourning and widowhood for regular clothes with an outer garment or cap which protect her from the chill of the night.

Naomi was preparing Ruth for her wedding and then told her the actions that she was to perform

Step 4:  Stake Your Claim - go to the threshing floor,

Have you “staked your claim” with your Kinsman-Redeemer

Ruth 3:4 When he lies down, be sure to notice where he is resting. Then go over, uncover his feet, and lie down. He'll tell you what to do."

She was to take the servant’s position in which the servant lies diagonally at his master’s feet. The position was a lowly one; it represented Ruth as a petitioner.  In this culture, this was understood as an act of total submission.

Ruth 3:5 Ruth replied, "I'll do everything you've said."

Notice, Ruth humbly and wisely received the counsel of her mother-in-law.

Ruth 3:6 So she went out to the threshing floor and did precisely what her mother-in-law had advised.

Ruth 3:7 After Boaz had finished eating and drinking to his heart's content, he went over and laid down next to the pile of threshed grain. Ruth came in quietly, uncovered his feet, and lay down.  A2 

Boaz would lie down in his assigned traditional area by one heap of his grain, and his servants would be scattered in other areas of his property guarding the heaps of grain there, thus affording a measure of privacy for Boaz and Ruth.

The heaps of grain would be at the edge of the threshing floor (other individuals would be using it also), for the center was reserved for the threshing itself. Being at the edge of the floor with his pile and separated from the others would provide a further measure of privacy.

Ruth 3:8 In the middle of the night, Boaz was startled awake and turned over in surprise to see a woman lying at his feet.

Ruth 3:9 He asked her, "Who are you?" She answered, "I'm only Ruth, your servant. Spread the edge of your garment over your servant, {Why} because you are my related redeemer."

Boaz was indeed startle, knowing someone was out there, but not being able to see clearly because of the darkness and the sleep in his eyes.  I am glad we have night lights in the house.  She said she was Boaz’s servant.

Ruth presented herself as one who was eligible for marriage.  This refers to the corner of the garment, and it refers to the fact that a man spreads this over his wife, as well as himself.  She just said, she is a widow, take me as your wife.

Do not misunderstand this passage. In our culture it would seem that she is propositioning him, but there is much more going on here. So when Ruth says this to Boaz; she is making a claim on him to put her to wife because he is obligated under the Law of the Levirate marriage. No matter how much Boaz loved Ruth, he had to await her move!  Is Jesus waiting for our move?

But by invoking the Goel (means redeemer), the kinsman-redeemer custom, on her own initiative Ruth’s gave up her own happiness (family) by providing Naomi with an heir.

In this request to a near kinsman, Ruth seems to depart from Naomi’s specific instructions and add something of her own. This is significant, since again it shows Ruth’s devotion to Naomi.  

Naomi only wanted to obtain a husband for Ruth, a concern of the older widow for the younger widow throughout the book. 

The bottom line is, Ruth was letting a near kinsman (goel) know that he had, not only the right but also the request to proceed with the legal steps necessary to the exercise of his responsibility.  Ruth conduct was above reproach is indicated in Boaz’s reception, protection and agreement with the evaluation of her character (vv 10-11).

Remember, the kinsman-redeemer was responsible for

·      Buy a fellow Israelite out of slavery (Lev 25:48)

·      Avenger of Blood; the murderer of a family member answered for the crime (Num 35:19)

·      Buy back family land that had been sold or lost by the owner (Lev 25:25)

·      To carry on the family name by marrying a childless widow (Deut 25:5-10)

Basically he was responsible to safeguard the persons, property and posterity of the family.

Ruth 3:10 He replied, "May you be blessed by the LORD, my daughter. You've added to the gracious love you've already demonstrated by not pursuing younger men, whether rich or poor.

The younger men would have only benefited Ruth and not Naomi.  Boaz was an older man, Ruth considered her own happiness as secondary.  Why could Boaz marry a Moab, who was his mother? 

*Matthew 1:5-6 Salmon fathered Boaz by Rahab, Boaz fathered Obed by Ruth, Obed fathered Jesse, (6) and Jesse fathered King David. David fathered Solomon by the wife of Uriah,

Ruth 3:11 Don't be afraid, my daughter. I'll do for you everything that you have asked, since all of my people in town are aware that you're a virtuous woman.

Boaz made Naomi look brilliant in her advice to Ruth. The plan worked perfectly.  Boaz was attracted to Ruth because she was a woman of godly Character. 

Ruth 3:12 It's true that I'm your related redeemer, but there is another related redeemer even closer than I.

There is someone closer who would have first right. Remember, under the  Law of God, the duty fell upon the closest male relative, unless he waved his rights towards Ruth.

Ruth 3:13 Stay the night, and if he fulfills his duty as your related redeemer in the morning, that will be acceptable. But if he isn't inclined to do so, then, as the LORD lives, I will act as your related redeemer myself. So lie down until morning."

Think what Ruth mind went throughout the night.  The plan is spelled out next, and its beginning shall be in the morning. 

Boaz promised to resolve the issue the very next day. It will not be allowed to linger indefinitely any longer, and the whole issue would be settled within a day.  He knew that if it was really of the LORD, then it could be done orderly and in a proper way.

Then Boaz puts himself under the oath: as YHWH lives. Then came his final instructions: lie down until the morning.

Ruth 3:14 So she lay down at his feet until dawn approached, then got up while it was still difficult for anyone to be recognized. Then he told her, "It shouldn't be known that a woman has come to the threshing floor."

Wondering, were both awake all night.  Aside from the natural desire to preserve the reputation of both Ruth and Boaz, he was anxious not to jeopardize the legal matters of the following day by any sign of immorality.

Ruth 3:15 So he said, "Take your cloak and hold it out." She did so, and he measured out six units of barley and placed them in a sack on her. Then she left for town.

The six units of barley are a code. Boaz gave it for Naomi, not Ruth

Ruth 3:16 When Ruth returned to her mother-in-law, Naomi asked her, "How did it go, my daughter?" Then she related everything that the man had done for her.  {anxious to find out what happen, will affect their lives}

Ruth 3:17 Ruth also said, "He gave me these six measure of barley and told me, 'Don't go back to your mother-in-law empty-handed.'"

How much is 6 measures to carry, if 6 what we have been covering, would be far too much for her to carry.  Boaz may just have used shovelfuls or double handfuls.  Who really knows.  It just does not say what measurement. 

Verse 17 accomplishes two things:

1. This verse provides a transition for Ruth’s exit from the story, and from this point on she plays a passive role.

2. It puts Boaz and Naomi on center stage, since from this point on they are the active players in the story

Ruth 3:18 Naomi replied, "Be patient, my daughter, until you learn how this works out, because the man won't rest until he finishes everything today."   {Naomi and Ruth were anxious to know what will happen}

When Boaz gives six measures to Naomi, she understands that he is saying that he won’t rest until the matter is resolved. 

You know you are going to be married, but to who.  This was a time of considerable worry for Ruth and Naomi. She had claimed her right to marriage, and would be married. The only question was to whom would she be married? Would it be to Boaz, or to the nearer goel? The issue would be decided that very day.