“Ruth’s Redeemer”
Ruth 3:1-18
As residents of the state of Arkansas we are perhaps more aware than many American’s of the residents of Dogpatch. Dogpatch was a theme park from 1968 until 1993 located in northwest Arkan-sas between the cities of Harrison and Jasper. The park was based on the comic strip “Li'l Abner,” created by cartoonist Al Capp and set in a fictional village called “Dogpatch.”
In the comic strip Hekzebiah Hawkins, the mayor of Dogpatch has a daughter named Sadie that was so ugly that he despaired of ever seeing her married. In desperation he decreed a “Sadie Hawkins Day.” On that day all the unmarried men in Dogpatch had to line up and were given a ten-second head start, after which Sadie and all the unmarried women of Dogpatch would chase them. The man that each woman caught was then taken before “Marryin Sam” for a shotgun wedding. Apparently Sadie was as quick as she was ugly and caught her man. But the ladies of Dogpatch liked it so much that it became an annual affair cherished by the women and dreaded by the men. [W. Gary Philips. “Judges, Ruth” Holman Old Testament Commentary. (Nashville: Holman Reference, 2004) p. 335]
Although beginning as a made-up holiday but ended up turning into an American folk event. An event which is celebrated annually and on this day, it is traditionally for women to ask men out on a date.
In our Biblical story of Ruth we see “a servant demanding that the boss marry her, a Moabite making demands of an Israelite, a woman making demands of a man, a poor person making demands of a rich person.” [Daniel I. Block. “Judges, Ruth.” The New American Commentary. (Nashville: Broadman & Holman, 1999) p. 692]
The story of Ruth and Boaz is a love story but beyond the scenes is the real love story of how God loves us and provides for our redemption.
First, A Plan For Redemption. (3:1-4)
• The Problem. (v. 1)
“Then Naomi her mother-in-law said to her, “My daughter, shall I not seek security for you, that it may be well with you?”
The Hebrew for “security” (manowach) (v.1) is the same word translated “rest” in Ruth 1:9. Naomi hoped that her daughter-in-law would find “rest” or “security” in the home of a new husband. For us this “rest” portrays what we as lost sinner find when we enter into a relationship with Jesus.
• The Summary. (v. 2a)
“Now Boaz, whose young women you were with, is he not our relative?...”
Although the Bible does not tell us of Boaz’s exact relationship to Elimelech, Jewish tradition suggests that he was Elimelech’s nephew and therefore the cousin of Ruth’s husband (Mahlon). Boaz’s father being Elimelech’s brother. [Mark Robinson. “Ruth and Boaz: The Story of the Kinsman Redeemer.” Israel My Glory. (Feb./March 1993.) pp. 12-14]
• The Prescription. (vv. 2b-5)
? Ruth is told to wash, anoint herself,
and put on her best garment – (3:2b-3)
“…In fact, he is winnowing barley tonight at the threshing floor. 3 Therefore wash yourself and anoint yourself, put on your best garment and go down to the threshing floor;”
Daniel Block in his commentary sees a parallel to the actions of David recorded in (2 Sam 12:20). When David’s son finally died, he washed himself and put on perfumed oil and put on his “best garment” (it is the same Hebrew word used here to as “best garment”) and entered the Temple to worship. All of David’s actions were indicative that his time of mourning was over. It may well be that until this time Ruth had always worn the garments indicating that she was a widow. Similarly, it may be Ruth’s preparation would indicate that her formal mourning period is over. This is also a possible explanation for Boaz’s lack of reserve in the romance department. Now Ruth change in personal appearance would be a visual indication that she was ready to return to normal life, including the possibly of marriage. [Block. p. 684]
? Ruth is told to wait until Boaz has
eaten and fallen asleep then uncover his feet and lie down, and await his response – (vv.3b-4)
“…but do not make yourself known to the man until he has finished eating and drinking. 4 Then it shall be, when he lies down, that you shall notice the place where he lies; and you shall go in, uncover his feet, and lie down; and he will tell you what you should do.”
The possibility of misinterpretation of
this scheme is enormous. Naomi seems to be taking a huge gamble that Boaz may not interpret Ruth’s actions in the way in which she means.
He could awaken and willingly accept her actions as common prostitute. He could awaken and see her actions as proposition and as a virtu-ous man chase her away. Or Boaz could awaken and immediately understand the true nature of Ruth’s actions and respond favorably. ..For a purely human perspective the desired response was actually the least likely to occur. [Block. p. 587]
Some interpret "uncover his feet" and "lie down" as euphemisms for sexual activity – (Ezek. 16:25, Gen 19:32-35). Yet for Naomi to encourage Ruth to commit such an act of boldness and immorality is completely counter to what we know of Ruth (3:11). The actual text suggests that nothing indecent happened – (3:7-8).
Second, A Proposal for Redemption. (3:5-9)
• Her Resolve – (vv. 5-6)
“And she said to her, “All that you say to me I will do.” 6 So she went down to the threshing floor and did according to all that her mother-in-law instru-cted her.”
Her faithful obedience is evident in her
response, “I will do it!” (v. 5). When Ruth’s says this it is than just simple agreement. It is an acknow-ledgement of several things; it is acknowledge-ment that Ruth’s trust Naomi would not ask her to do something that was morally wrong; it is acknowledgement that Ruth’s trusts Naomi’s love for to not put her purity to undue risk; it is acknowledgement that Ruth trust Naomi’s judg-ment that this is the best way to approach the situation and it is acknowledgement that Ruth trusts Naomi’s assessment of Boaz’s character. [W. Gary Philips. Holman Old Testament Commentary. “Judges, Ruth.” (Nashville: Holman Reference, 2004) p.331]
But Ruth had faith not only in Naomi but in God. Faith is believing God enough to do what He tells us to do in His Word. She did not just believe there was a possibility that Boaz could be her goel; she believed enough to Do something about it. Faith is coming to the end of everything you can see and feel and then taking one more step.
• Her Request – (vv. 7-9)
“And after Boaz had eaten and drunk, and his heart was cheerful, he went to lie down at the end of the heap of grain; and she came softly, uncovered his feet, and lay down. 8 Now it happened at midnight that the man was startled, and turned himself; and there, a woman was lying at his feet. 9 And he said, “Who are you?” So she answered, “I am Ruth, your maidservant. Take your maidservant under your wing, for you are a close relative.”
This was an amazing scene. We can well imagine that Boaz was indeed “startled,” waking up in the night as he turned in his sleep, knowing that someone was out there but not being able to see clearly because of the darkness and the sleep in his eyes. Since Boaz had been there to protect against thieves, it must have given him quite a shock to wake up and know someone was there. But his shock quickly turned to wondering when he found out the visitor was a woman.
Ruth identified herself and made a simple request. In beginning with the words “your maid-servant,” Ruth again showed great humility and submission. She presented herself as Boaz’s servant.
When she asks that Boaz take her “under your wing” she is boldly asking Boaz to take her in marriage. The phrase can also be translated as “spread the corner of your garment over me.” This was a culturally relevant way to say, “I am a widow, take me as your wife.”
"Those who interpret a sexual relation in the events reflect their 21st century cultural acceptance of sexual permissiveness. They fail to appreciate the element of Ruth's trust that Boaz would not dishonor her whom he wanted for his wife. They fail to appreciate the cultural taboos of Ruth's time that would have prevented a man of Boaz's posi-tion from taking advantage of Ruth, thereby des-troying her reputation and perhaps endangering his own. Biblical writers were not squeamish about describing sexual encounters, but the writer of Ruth has deliberately refrained from saying there was a liaison between Ruth and Boaz. If read carefully and with sensitivity, it becomes clear that he was saying just the opposite. Both Ruth and Boaz acted virtuously in a situation they knew could have turned out otherwise." [F. B. Huey, Jr. “Ruth” Expositor's Bible Commentary. Vol. 3 Deut.-2 Samuel (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1992) p. 538]
“For you are a close relative” reveals that this was not an inappropriate thing for Ruth to ask from Boaz. It was bold, but not inappropriate. Ruth understood this as she identified Boaz as her “close relative” (literally, you are a goel, a kinsman-redeemer). Though deceased, Elimelech had the right to have his family name carried on and as goel, Boaz had the responsibility to do this as a kinsman of Elimelech. This could only happen through Boaz marrying Ruth, and providing child-ren to carry on the name of Elimelech. Ruth boldly, yet humbly and properly, sought her rights.
The Requirements of a Kinsman Redeemer.
1. He must be willing to Redeem!
(Lev. 25:25, Gal. 4:4-5, Ruth 13b)
2. He must have the right to Redeem (be a kinsman). (Lev. 25:48-49, Heb. 2:11, Ruth 3:12-13)
The kinsman-redeemer had to be a family member; Jesus added humanity to His eternal deity so He could be our kinsman and save us.
3. He must have the power (means) to redeem. (John 10:11-18, Ruth 4:4-6)
The kinsman-redeemer had the duty of buying family members out of slavery; Jesus redeemed us from slavery to sin and death. The kinsman-redeemer had the duty of buying back land that had been forfeited; Jesus will redeem the earth that mankind “sold” over to Satan.
· Boaz, as kinsman-redeemer to Ruth, was not motivated by self-interest, but motivated by love for Ruth. Jesus’ motivation for redeeming us is His great love for us.
· Boaz, as kinsman-redeemer to Ruth, had to have a plan to redeem Ruth unto himself – and some might have thought the plan to be foolish. Jesus has a plan to redeem us, and some might think the plan foolish (saving men by dying for them on a cruel cross?), yet the plan works and is glorious.
· Boaz, as kinsman-redeemer to Ruth, took her as his bride; the people Jesus has redeemed are collectively called His bride (Ephesians 5:31-32; Revelation 21:9).
· Boaz, as kinsman-redeemer to Ruth, provided a glorious destiny for Ruth. Jesus, as our redeemer, provides a glorious destiny for us.
But it all comes back to the idea of Jesus as our kinsman-redeemer; this is why He became a man. God might have sent an angel to save us, but the angel would not have been our kinsman. Jesus, in His eternal glory, without the addition of humanity to His divine nature might have saved us, but He would not have been our kinsman. A great prophet or priest would be our kinsman, but his own sin would have disqualified him as our redeemer. Only Jesus, the eternal God who added humanity to His eternal deity, can be both the kinsman and the redeemer
for mankind!” [David Guzik. www.enduringword.com/commentary/ruth-4]
Third, A Pledge For Redemption. (3:10-15)
Boaz made Naomi look brilliant in her advice to Ruth. The plan worked perfectly.
• The Acceptance. (vv. 10-11)
? Boaz is grateful for her kindness (v. 10)
“Then he said, “Blessed are you of the LORD, my daughter! For you have shown more kindness at the end than at the beginning, in that you did not go after young men, whether poor or rich.”
First Boaz remarks on Ruth “kindness” this is again the word chesed. He says she has “shown more kindness at the end than at the beginning” that is that the kindness (chesed) that came “at the beginning” was that which Ruth had shown for Naomi by not forsaking her and for working to provide for her needs. Now she had shown kind-ness (chesed) to Boaz by choosing to look to her goel as a marriage partner.
She had demonstrated kindness that she did not just “go after young men” (implying that Boaz was older). Apparently, there was a considerable age difference between Ruth and Boaz. According to the rabbis, Boaz was about 80 years of age when he married Ruth. He is believed to have been a widower with no children at the time of their mar-riage. [Anderson. p. 13] It also seems that because of this, Boaz considered himself unattractive to Ruth and had therefore ruled out any idea of a romance between them.
This shows something else wonderful about Boaz. He had the right to force himself upon Ruth as her goel, but he did not. He wasn’t going to just say, “There’s a woman I want, and I have her by right.” He was kind enough to not act as goel
towards Ruth unless she desired it.
It also shows the character of Ruth: She based her attraction to Boaz more on respect than on image or appearance. Tragically, many people fall in love with an image or an appearance, rather than with a person we can really respect. Boaz understood that Ruth could have had her pick of men who would be willing to marry her.
? Boaz compliments her (v. 11)
“And now, my daughter, do not fear. I will do for you all that you request, for all the people of my town know that you are a virtuous woman.”
Boaz compliments her saying, “All the people of my town know that you are a virtuous woman.” Boaz was also attracted to Ruth because of her character. We don’t really know how Ruth looked, (although according to the Midrash (ancient Jewish commentary) her beauty was outstanding “as that of a young girl) although she was about 40 years of age. [Anderson. p12] but we do know that she was a woman of godly character.
• The Complication. (v. 12)
“Now it is true that I am a close relative; however, there is a relative closer than I.
Apparently, though Boaz was a recogn-ized goel towards Ruth, there was another goel
closer in relation to her deceased father-in-law Elimelech. So, Boaz could not exercise his right as kinsman-redeemer unless this closer kinsman-redeemer relinquished his rights towards Ruth.
If he does not want to perform the duty for you, then I will perform the duty for you: Wonderfully, Boaz wasn’t willing to cut corners. He would do God’s will God’s way. He knew that if it was really of the Lord, then it could be done orderly and in a proper way.
• The Concern (vv. 13-15)
? Boaz Is Concerned For Ruth’s Reputation. (13-14)
“Stay this night, and in the morning it shall be that
if he will perform the duty of a close relative for you—good; let him do it. But if he does not want to perform the duty for you, then I will perform the duty for you as Lord lives! Lie down until morn-ing.” 14 So she lay at his feet until morning, and she arose before one could recognize another. Then he said, “Do not let it be known that the woman came to the threshing floor.”
His concern for her reputation was expres-ed by having her stay until morning, rather than leaving during the night and by instructing his workers to tell no one. It is not that Boaz and Ruth are trying to hide anything scandalous; it was just Boaz did not want the nearer kinsman to learn that Ruth was demanding her right to marriage to a goel before Boaz could talk to him personally.
? Boaz Gives Ruth A Gift. (v. 15)
“15 Also he said, “Bring the shawl that is on you and hold it.” And when she held it, he measured six
[ephahs] of barley, and laid it on her. Then she went into the city.”
Daniel Block in his commentary says that Hebrew says that he measured out six measures of barley but the text does not define what the mea-sure is. It could have been an ephah –six ephah’s would be about 180 to 300 lbs. depending on the size of ephah used. That is certainly too much for a woman to carry. It could have been a seah which would have been a third of an ephah or about 88lbs, still a lot for a woman to carry. It could have been an omer which was a tenth of an ephah but would have been less than amount she acquired in her day of gleaning the field. “Perhaps the best solution is to assume that the numeral “six” refers to “six scoops” either with both hands or some other handy utensil used on the threshing floor.” [Daniel I. Block. pp. 697-698]
The significance of this gift is uncertain and there are a number of possibilities.
1) A gift of grain as the bridal price? “literally mohar, …often given by the groom at the time of betrothal, not as a purchase price –(women are not seen as commodities to be bought and sold) but as a promise to prepare for the wedding in good faith.” [Block. p. 700]
2) A message intended for Naomi, recogn-izing her part or to secure her consent?
3) A "cover" for Ruth, should anyone see her, implying that she had been at work gathering grain?
4) Simply a gift from a man for the woman he hoped to marry?
Fourth, A Prospect For Redemption. (3:16-18)
“When she came to her mother-in-law, she said, “Is that you, my daughter?” Then she told her all that the man had done for her. 17 And she said, “These six ephahs of barley he gave me; for he said to me, ‘Do not go empty-handed to your mother-in-law.’” 18 Then she said, “Sit still, my daughter, until you know how the matter will turn out; for the man will not rest until he has concluded the matter this day.”
The Fulfillment Of The Kinsman-Redeemer
At the feet of Boaz, Ruth’s life was changed. There she found a new family and a new future. And that is what we find a Jesus’ feet. The kinsman
-redeemer which we have been examining in the book of Ruth is prophesied in the book of Job. Job says, “For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth: And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God: Whom I shall see for myself, and mine eyes shall behold, and not another; though my reins be consumed within me.”
Job 19:23-27
Job says there are some things we can know about our Redeemer.
• I know He Lives.
Job says “for I know, that my redeemer liveth” literally it is “I even I know”
• I know He is Coming Back.
Job says, “he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth.” Jesus Himself promised, “Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father's house are many man-sions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.” (John 14:1-3)
At His ascension the Angels promised that His return will be literal, visible and physical. Acts 1:11 says. “this same Jesus… shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.”
The Apostle wrote, “For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore comfort one another with these words.” (1 Thess. 4:16-18)
He is able to do all that he has promised
“And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform.” (Romans 4:21)
“Ruth’s Redeemer”
Ruth 3:1- 18
First, A Plan For Redemption. (3:1-4)
Jewish tradition suggests that he was Elimelech’s nephew, Boaz’s father being Elimelech’s brother.
Second, A Proposal for Redemption. (3:5-9)
The Requirements of a Kinsman Redeemer
1. He must be willing to Redeem!
(Lev. 25:25, Gal. 4:4-5, Ruth 3:13b)
2. He must have the right to Redeem (be a kinsman). (Lev. 25:48-49, Heb. 2:11, Ruth 3:12-13)
3. He must have the power (means) to redeem.
(John 10:11-18, Ruth 4:4-6)
Third, A Pledge For Redemption. (3:10-15)
• The Compliment (v 11)
• The Complication. (v. 12)
• The Concern (vv. 13-15)
Fourth, A Prospect For Redemption. (3:16-18)
The Fulfillment Of The Kinsman-Redeemer (Job 19:23-27)
Some things we can know about our Redeemer.
• I know He Lives.
• I know He is Coming Back.
(Jn 14:1-3 Acts 1:11, 1 Thess. 4:16-18)
• I Know He Is Able To Do All That He Has Promised.
(Romans 4:21)
“Ruth’s Redeemer”
Ruth 3:1- 18
First, A ______ For Redemption. (3:1-4)
Jewish tradition suggests that he was Elimelech’s nephew, Boaz’s father being Elimelech’s brother.
Second, A __________ for Redemption. (3:5-9)
The Requirements of a Kinsman Redeemer
1. He must be _______ to Redeem!
(Lev. 25:25, Gal. 4:4-5, Ruth 3:13b)
2. He must have the _____ to Redeem (be a kinsman). (Lev. 25:48-49, Heb. 2:11, Ruth 3:12-13)
3. He must have the ______ (means) to redeem.
(John 10:11-18, Ruth 4:4-6)
Third, A Pledge For Redemption. (3:10-15)
• The Compliment (v 11)
• The Complication. (v. 12)
• The Concern (vv. 13-15)
Fourth, A _________ For Redemption. (3:16-18)
The Fulfillment Of The Kinsman-Redeemer (Job 19:23-27)
Some things we can know about our Redeemer.
• I know He _______.
• I know He is _____ ______.
(Jn. 14:1-3 Acts 1:11, 1 Thess. 4:16-18)
• I Know He Is ______ To Do All That He Has Promised. (Romans 4:21)
