Ruth visits Boaz

Ruth Chapter 3

One day Naomi said to Ruth, “ My daughter, it is time to find a permanent home for you so you can be provided for. “ She suggested that Boaz was a close relative and had been kind by letting Ruth gather grain with his workers. She told Ruth that very night Boaz would be winnowing barley at the threshing floor. So she suggested Ruth take a bath and put on perfume and dress in her finest clothes and go to the threshing floor but don’t let Boaz see her until he finished his meal. Then Naomi told Ruth to notice where he lies down and go cover his feet and lie down there and let him tell her what to do.

Ruth agreed to do as Naomi advised and followed her instructions. After Boaz finished his meal and was in good spirits, he lay down beside the heap of grain and went to sleep. Then Ruth quietly uncovered his feet and lay down. “Who are you?” he demanded. “I am your servant Ruth,” she replied. “Spread the corner of your covering over me, for you are my family redeemer.”

“The Lord bless you, my daughter!” Boaz exclaimed. “You are showing more family loyalty now than ever by not running after a younger man, whether rich or poor. Now don’t worry about a thing, my daughter. I will do what is necessary, for everyone in town knows you are an honorable woman. But there is one problem. While it is true that I am one of your family redeemers, there is another man who is more closely related to you than I am. Stay here tonight, and in the morning I will talk to him. If he is willing to redeem you, then let him marry you. But if he not willing, then as surely as the Lord lives, I will marry you! Now lie down here until morning.”

So Ruth lay at Boaz’s feet until the morning, but she got up before it was light enough for people to recognize each other. For Boaz said, “No one must know that a woman was here at the threshing floor.” Boaz also said, “Bring your cloak and spread it out.” He measured six scoops of barley into the cloak and helped her put it on her back. Then he returned to town.

Naomi asked Ruth what happened and Ruth told her everything Boaz had done for her and showed her the six scoops of barley. Naomi said, “Be patient, my daughter, until we hear what happens. The man won’t rest until he has followed through on this. He will settle it today.”

BIBLE NOTES SHOW: As widows, Ruth and Naomi faced difficult times. But Naomi was wise and encouraged Ruth to see if Boaz would take responsibility as a family redeemer. A family redeemer was a relative who would take responsibility for the extended family. When a woman’s husband died, the law said she could marry a brother of her husband. But Naomi had no more sons, so in this case the nearest relative to the deceased husband would suffice. The nearest relative did not have to marry the widow and if he chose not to, the next nearest relative could take his place. If nobody chose to marry her, the widow would live in poverty.

Boaz spent the night on the threshing floor to prevent theft and to wait for his turn to thresh grain. This was done at night because the daytime hours were used to harvest.

Naomi was not giving seductive advice to Ruth when she told her to wear perfume and good clothes, she was merely giving her an advantage. It was a common practice for a servant to lie at the feet of his master and share a part of his covering. It was family business. This must have seemed like an odd custom to Ruth who was a foreigner, but she followed Naomi’s advice because Naomi was kind and trustworthy. Boaz must have already considered marrying Ruth because his answer shows he had been thinking about it. He could not consider marrying Naomi because she was too old to bear children. Naomi obviously thought that Boaz would follow through probably because he had a reputation for keeping his word and being reliable.

How does this chapter relate to us today? We have a Family Redeemer – he is Jesus Christ, who through God, came down to earth as a man in order to save us all. Didn’t you think of this connection when you heard the term “family redeemer”? I did too. And it made my heart warm.

Naomi was a wise and trustworthy woman. Haven’t you known such people? Perhaps a parent or trusted friend, someone who looks out for our best interests? Be wise like Ruth and be willing to listen to such a person. The experience and knowledge of such a person can be invaluable and can change your life. Isn’t this a wonderful love story? I would like to take Boaz and hug him tight for being such a responsible person. He apparently was flattered that Ruth would choose him, an older man. Clearly Ruth must have been a lovely woman for him to notice her in the fields. The Lord seems bound to make them man and wife.

Yours in Christ,
Mary

Prayer Requests are needed for:
HEALTH: Gabe, Wanda, Janice Long’s parents, Arlene’s nephew David, Lori (who suffered a terrible accident)and her family and my neighbor Al who is nearing the end of his life. And Barb who went in for back surgery and had a heart attack and stroke. Update on Stella: She is 10 weeks old and has her own room at the hospital. The doctors continue to experiment with respirators, but her parents can see progress in her lung activity. They need your prayers so badly. Let’s all raise our voices to God to hear our prayers.
SPIRITUAL UPLIFTING: Gail, Mary
RESTORATION OF FAITH: Al, John
LOVE AND SUPPORT: Claire, Hunter
SUPPORT: Haiti, Chile, those who need jobs, those who are about to lose or have lost their homes. Pray too, for our country’s leaders and our military people who die each day for our freedom.