Trinity Baptist Church June 24, 2007
Ruth: God redeems
A bold request
Ruth 3:1-18
Marriage proposals come in all shapes and varieties. From the stories I’ve heard, many proposals don’t happen soon enough for one or the other person in the relationship! I have to admit -- before Patty and I were engaged, a friend of ours had to give me a
not-so-gentle shove to get me off the dime to ask my beloved if it wasn’t time that we got married….I’ll leave the other embarrassing details for another time.
I heard a story of one guy who really put things off. He’d been going with a young woman for six years and still nothing by way of proposal. Isn’t it amazing how we can get so comfortable with the status quo in our lives?? Anyway, one evening, she decided she’d do something! They sat down at a favorite Chinese restaurant and got ready to order dinner. When the waiter asked the woman, “how do you want your rice?” she simply said “thrown!”
We’re in Act 3 of the drama in the OT book of Ruth. If you’ve done your homework, you’ve seen the masterful job the writer did of setting up the drama. Chapter 1 opened with tragic circumstances. Naomi and her husband ran off to Moab to find food during a famine. Instead of trusting God, they trusted their own instincts. That’s always a lethal plan. Husband Elimilech and both his sons died in that pagan country. The boys left behind two young widows. One stayed in Moab, and one returned with Naomi to her land and people -- and to the God of Israel, in Whom she now obviously believed.
We read how Naomi and Ruth returned to Bethlehem as poor beggars. But then, in chapter 2, suddenly, there arose the possibility of resolution in their circumstances. Ruth went out to glean in the barley fields and there met the God’s good and righteous man, Boaz. At the beginning of chapter 3, Boaz is mentioned immediately -- so it becomes apparent to the reader that God -- in His goodness and providence -- is about to do something great through this man.
Chapter 3 begins the love story which is a key component of this book. The love that begins between Ruth and Boaz reminds us of what the book is about. Ruth is a story of redemption. Redemption has to do with being rescued or delivered. We’ll talk more about that as we think about the concept of the kinsman-redeemer in this chapter.
So let’s look at chapter 3 chronologically. I want to spend some time on each of the characters in the account. First, we have Naomi’s role (3:1-4) When chapter 3 opens, Naomi is a concerned mother-in-law with a plan. And as you read the details of her plan, you might have some trouble with it.
Are her actions right or wrong? Is she just scheming -- just taking things into her own hands and acting in a very human way again? Or is this a good approach -- is it the way things ought to be done?
When examine the chapter, we can make a good case that Naomi has been changed since the end of chapter 1. She’s no longer stewing in her bitterness like she was doing when she made the trip back. And of course, there’s good reason for that. We saw it in chapter 2.
The hero of the book -- the Lord Who is King, proved Himself to Naomi. He’s shown that He is more than capable of providing for two widows.
So as chapter 3 opens -- Naomi has hope again.
Bitterness and hope are mutually exclusive. That’s because when we’re bitter, self is the focus of our attention. Biblical hope has a very different object -- the Psalm says it -- soul, hope in God! Hope’s object is always God.
There’s good evidence in Naomi’s words that her faith and hope in God have been revived.
She’s no longer just thinking of herself and her harsh experiences. She witnessed God in action, providing and protecting the two of them. So now she’s thinking of how God might work to provide for her daughter-in-law long-term. And when the chapter closes, we’ll see that God is pleased to take Naomi’s and Ruth’s faith and their risk -- and reward them.
3:1 -- My daughter, shall I not seek security for you, that it may be well with you? Now is not Boaz our kinsman, with whose maids you were? Behold, he winnows barley at the threshing floor tonight. (Ruth 3:1) She instructs Ruth to -- take a bath -- and put on her best dress -- use some perfume and go to that threshing floor; when you she arrives she should simply wait in the shadows until Boaz lies down and then approach him.
First, a little about this place where she’s sending Ruth. A threshing floor was where the last work of the harvest was finished. Threshing floors were usually up on a hill. They were usually large circular areas -- either a tamped-down hard surface of clay, sometimes even an outcropping of bedrock. The grain has been cut, then gathered into bundles hauled up to the threshing floor.
Then the harvesters would thrown down the heads of grain on the hard surface and guide a team of oxen pulling a sled over them. That would crack open the heads of grain and separate the kernels from the husks. Then the workers would then take pitchfork-like tools and throw the grain and chaff and husks up in the air. Since it was on a windy hilltop, the chaff and husks would blow away and the grain would fall back to the floor.
That process continued until all junk was gone and just the grain remained. It was pushed into piles where it would later get bagged.
Families and workers help with that whole process and the harvest and winnowing would end in celebration and praise. When the feasting and drinking was over, the women and children would leave and the men would sleep around the piles of grain to protect it from theft.
Naomi’s idea is that Ruth go there, wait until dark, when the others have left and the men find their places to sleep. She should wait until Boaz lies down, then go to him.
As we will understand, Ruth’s approach includes the bold request that Boaz take her in marriage. And if you think that sounds much too forward, you should know that in the case of a widow like Ruth, her mother-in-law was doing precisely what God’s Law allowed. We’ll talk more about that.
We come to
Ruth’s actions (3:5-9)
You remember in chapter 1 that Ruth declared her steadfast loyalty to Naomi. She gave herself completely to Naomi, to her God and her people. She demonstrates again her faithfulness and submission to her mother-in-law.
We read, she did everything just as Naomi hand instructed. She went, waited until dark, when the men had feasted and drunk their fill and began to retire. Then she went to Boaz, verse 10, she uncovered his feet and lay down at his feet. Notice she didn’t cover herself nor did she cover his feet. It’s likely his feet eventually got cold. And notice, there’s
no indication that she’s throwing herself at him physically -- that she’s doing something immoral. She didn’t lie down next to him, she laid at his feet and there she waited for a response. She’s a woman of faith, who’s shown herself faithful -- and now she’s literally putting herself in God’s hands and then waiting for God to work.
When his feet got cold and Boaz awoke and discovered her, she’s ready to make a bold request in faith. That comes in the key verse -- verse 9. Look at it -- Boaz asks who are you? And she answers: I am Ruth, your maid. So spread your covering over your maid,
for you are a close relative.
Do you remember how Boaz prayed for Ruth in 2:12? He was deeply impressed by her loyalty and faithfulness and he blessed her -- he asked God to reward Ruth for her actions toward Naomi. In 2:12 he asked blessing from God, under whose wings you have come to
find refuge. Like I said last time, praying for others is dangerous -- because very often God uses you to help answer your own prayer.
In verse 9, Ruth boldly and in faith asks Boaz to answer his own prayer. She’s not saying, “it’s cold out here“. That phrase spread your cover or spread your garment over your maid can also be translated spread your wings.
Like Boaz had said, she’s sought refuge under God‘s wings. Now she asks for refuge under the wings of this righteous man. In the fields, Boaz gave her protection and provision. Now she says, not just protection, but also the refuge which a marriage relationship and a home offer. She says, “Make me your wife!”
It’s like in a modern Jewish wedding -- when the groom takes a cotton or silk cloak and spreads it from his shoulders to his bride’s and covers her. The symbol declares his responsibility to protect and provide for her from that day forward. Ruth indirectly but unmistakably has asked Boaz to take her as his wife.
Again, this is a huge risk of faith. She’s declared her heart and desire. But, remember, she’s a foreigner; he‘s Jewish. Culturally, she’d have been in the role of a servant -- he‘s a landowner and respected employer. She’s poor -- he’s rich. She’s the woman -- he’s the man. But there’s something both Naomi and Ruth have come to know about Boaz. Not only is he a kinsman, he’s a righteous man of faith. He lives out what He knows to be true about God. He proved that to both of them when he extended care, expecting nothing in return.
So let’s look at
Boaz’ response (3:9-15)
Again, like out in the fields, Boaz won’t consider taking advantage of Ruth. Faithfulness and integrity are character qualities common to both of them. He expresses humility -- shock -- even delight that Ruth has interest in him. He’s older; he says in verse 10, despite his age, she has not pursued some younger man. He’s of the opinion that there are both younger and probably better looking guys she could have gone after.
Then look at his words and actions. His first reaction in verse 10 is to bless her just like in chapter 2. May God bless you my daughter. You have shown your last kindness to be better than the first by not going after younger men, whether poor or rich.
His term for her kindness is the same word we talked about in chapter 2 -- it’s hesed -- the same faithfulness and kindness God demonstrates. That’s what he sees in her. She has displayed kindness and love to Naomi and now to him. He tells her not to fear. That means he will neither reject her nor will he cross the lines of propriety.
In verse 11 he promises to do whatever she asks -- and he tells her what a good reputation she has among all his people in the city -- she’s a woman of excellence.
We need to understand the concept of a Kinsman-redeemer. Ruth’s appeal to him has come on the basis that he is a relative and that he could fulfill this role for her and Naomi. But,. Boaz, says, there’s someone who is a closer relative.
What’s a kinsman-redeemer? Primarily the idea related to the fact that God assigned to each family in each tribe of Israel a parcel of land. That piece of land -- and the title to it were -- and still are -- extremely important in Israel. So to make sure the land stayed with the same family, the kinsman-redeemer law was instituted.
The law provided that if a man died and left a widow and no sons, the nearest relative received the opportunity to buy the land. He‘d also marry the widow so she could have sons who would carry on the name of the deceased. If land had been sold because of poverty, the relative would buy it back at his expense and keep it in the name of the original family.
The law did not require the relative to act. If the nearest one could not or would not redeem, the next closest could take on the redeemer role.
But there was one catch in the process. The kinsman-redeemer didn’t decide on his own to redeem the land and widow. He had to be asked by the widow to buy back her dead husband’s land. That’s what’s taking place here.
We don’t use the concept of redemption much anymore. A few decades, grocery stores had a system -- they’d hand out stamps every time you bought something. When you filled up a book with stamps you could turn them in -- you could redeem them -- for something valuable. The point is, redeemers cash in something for something more valuable. To redeem is to move from something lesser to something greater. To redeem is to make provision for the one who is redeemed. It means to pay someone’s debt -- it included buying someone out of slavery and setting them free.
Ruth offers Boaz the option of being the family’s redeemer. The role included taking the widow Ruth to be his wife. If he did, he would redeem her from poverty and aloneness and shame. That’s what redemption is all about; ours under Jesus Christ contains much of the same concept of kinsman-redeemer.
We’ll read the conclusion next time. But for now, what can we learn? Especially, what can we learn from the risky step Ruth took? Let’s think about a couple of lessons we can carry away and chew on.
One, 1. Growing faith requires risk. (Proverbs 3:5, 6)
Proverbs taught us, do not lean on your own understanding. Instead, it says, in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will direct your paths.
Faith is about pushing away from just human ideas and abilities and instead pressing out to trust God. Back in chapter 1, Elimilech and Naomi leaned fully on their own understanding. They did things their way; they forgot God; they forgot His promise and His principle of being their Provider -- they forgot it all and took off for a pagan country to find food.
In chapter 2, God reminded Naomi and Ruth of His kindness and His ability to provide for them. He showed them His kindness indirectly, by His good man, Boaz.
When you begin to grow in faith, when you begin to see God as God -- and if you want to keep growing, you’ll need to take some risks.
Maybe it’s in a job -- or even a relationship. Maybe it’s in taking some great strides of faith or letting God use you in a good way in evangelism or ministry to others -- the point is, if you want God to work in you and through you, you will come to the place where you have to take a step-- you’ll need to act in faith -- put yourself out there, like Ruth did. Her risk was, she’d seen God’s good hand, but she did not know how Boaz would respond.
Maybe you’ve want to be a vocal witness to people around you, but you just can’t seem to open your mouth. The way to grow in any area like that is to take a risk and begin. It‘s to get with people; it‘s to ask questions which lead you in the direction of a conversation about deeper things. It’s to step out in faith and trust that God will direct you to people whom He’s already prepared. When we get to the end of Ruth, we by rights should be dumbfounded at what God finally does through this woman.
We ought to be dumbfounded everyday by how God works when we’re simply willing to take a risk for Him. Then we find out that
2. When we step out, God responds.
Hebrews 11:6 says, and without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him. (Hebrews 11:6)
One thing we’ve learned in this book is -- God works in two ways. One is through direct, powerful intervention -- through miracles. In miracles, God reaches into space-time history and into situations and He alters them dramatically and supernaturally. There’s no explanation for miracles except God!
The other way, and the primary way is providence. It’s the way we don’t usually prefer, because it very often means I need to do something -- I need to obey -- I need to put one foot in front of the other -- put myself at risk -- and then watch God do what He wants to do.
Providence teaches us that God manipulates and orchestrates and weaves circumstances and people and events to serve His desires. Scriptures almost dares us --- to put ourselves into God’s Hands alone.
So, trust Him -- no matter what happens, and keep trusting Him. Believe that He is. Believe He is Who and What He says He is. And step out to follow Him, risk it all to do what you know is right to do. And God is so good -- He responds -- Hebrews says, He rewards faith. He delights in faith.
Steps I will take
I’ve thought a lot about a question, as I’ve thought about my faith and how much I avoid risks. Why don’t you jot it down and ponder it as you think about yourself: It’s this --
What might God do?
What might God do, if I were to aim at seriously growing in faith? Not content, but pressing on, pressing out, pressing forward….
What might He do, if I consistently lived out what I know is True about Jesus Christ? His grace, His power, His plan for people….
What might He do, if I simply stepped out and regularly took risks so I would grow and consistently make an impact for Him?
It’s so tempting to be satisfied. But what might God do if I never were content with the place to which He’s brought me, but always kept letting Him press, push and prod me forward, and kept trusting Him to do more?
Those who come to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him. I pray today that your vision of God is both informed and lifted by a simple woman from Moab who got to know God and was willing to trust Him. And I pray you and I will never again be the same.
