Ruth’s Redemption Assured
November 30, 2019
Commentary
We don’t know a lot about the customs of the arrangements for marriage during this period. We do know that Ruth’s way of offering herself in marriage to Boaz followed the coaching of her mother-in-law (v. 1). Naomi explained to Ruth what she must do to show Boaz that she was interested in marrying him (vv. 2-4). Ruth followed Naomi’s instructions point by point (vv. 5-6). Boaz worked late threshing the grain and after he had eaten, he laid down to sleep near the piles of grain to guard them from being robbed. Naomi instructs Ruth to look her best and when Boaz went to sleep, she was to slip in quietly, uncover his feet and lie down at his feet (v. 7). About midnight Boaz woke up and was surprised to find Ruth at his feet (v. 8). Ruth was very direct as she reminded him that he was her “kinsman” and it was her desire to marry him (v. 9).
Boaz responded with pleasure and praise and seemed to be surprised that she would want to marry a man of his age (v. 10). He was very impressed by her and knew that she held great respect with the people in the community (v. 11). The only problem was that there was a closer kinsman that he must check with first which he promised to do the next day (v. 12). Boaz told Ruth to stay put until morning which she did (vv. 13-14). He sent her away in the morning with a gift of grain for Naomi which was to convince her that he intended to marry Ruth (vv. 15-17). Naomi told Ruth not to worry about what will happen because Boaz would not rest until everything is settled” (v. 18).
Application
Ruth had high respect for her mother-in-law and was careful to try to carry out her wishes. I need to always have respectfor my wife’s parents and allow God to bless my life as I seek to honor them in the days and years to come.
Ruth 3:1– 18 (NET)
1 At that time, Naomi, her mother-in-law, said to her, “My daughter, I must find a home for you so you will be secure. 2 Now Boaz, with whose female servants you worked, is our close relative. Look, tonight he is winnowing barley at the threshing floor. 3 So bathe yourself, rub on some perfumed oil, and get dressed up. Then go down to the threshing floor. But don’t let the man know you’re there until he finishes his meal. 4 When he gets ready to go to sleep, take careful notice of the place where he lies down. Then go, uncover his legs, and lie down beside him. He will tell you what you should do.” 5 Ruth replied to Naomi, “I will do everything you have told me to do.”
6 So she went down to the threshing floor and did everything her mother-in-law had instructed her to do. 7 When Boaz had finished his meal and was feeling satisfied, he lay down to sleep at the far end of the grain heap. Then Ruth crept up quietly, uncovered his legs, and lay down beside him. 8 In the middle of the night he was startled and turned over. Now he saw a woman lying beside him! 9 He said, “Who are you?” She replied, “I am Ruth, your servant. Marry your servant, for you are a guardian of the family interests.” 10 He said, “May you be rewarded by the Lord, my dear! This act of devotion is greater than what you did before. For you have not sought to marry one of the young men, whether rich or poor. 11 Now, my dear, don’t worry! I intend to do for you everything you propose, for everyone in the village knows that you are a worthy woman. 12 Now yes, it is true that I am a guardian, but there is another guardian who is a closer relative than I am. 13 Remain here tonight. Then in the morning, if he agrees to marry you, fine, let him do so. But if he does not want to do so, I promise, as surely as the Lord lives, to marry you. Sleep here until morning.” 14 So she slept beside him until morning. She woke up while it was still dark. Boaz thought, “No one must know that a woman visited the threshing floor.” 15 Then he said, “Hold out the shawl you are wearing and grip it tightly.” As she held it tightly, he measured out about sixty pounds of barley into the shawl and put it on her shoulders. Then he went into town, 16 and she returned to her mother-in-law.
17 She said, “He gave me these sixty pounds of barley, for he said to me, ‘Do not go to your mother-in-law empty-handed.’” 18 Then Naomi said, “Stay put, my daughter, until you know how the matter turns out. For the man will not rest until he has taken care of the matter today.”