The Reason For My Faith

We see in todays study that Naomi is somewhat of a matchmaker, doing her best to manipulate things that will put everything in order. It is not a bad characteristic to have, especially in a male dominated World where women are property and seldom have rights. Yet, in Israel, GOD made provisions for the poor, the lots, and the forgotten. In Naomis case, that provision it the law of the Kinsman Redeemer, and Naomi understood it, and knew she had to use a law put in place by what GOD HIMSELF to set everything in place so that the p[rovision would be honored. She cannot force Boaz to do naything, but she has made sure that Ruth is in the best position so that the proviosion GOD created would be used properly.

1. NAOMI’S ADVICE TO RUTH vs 3-5

1. In vs 3 we see Naomi is motivated by motherly love for Ruth

1. Naomi loved Ruth as a daughter, she could have said,

“You will never find a man as good as my son was”, but she wanted only happiness for Ruth

2. Naomi shows concern Ruth’s security and well-being

1. Customary for parents to arrange marriages, looks of things today, we should consider the wisdom of it

2. We start to see the circumstances of Divine providence affecting Naomi’s thinking also

1. As I pointed out in chapter 2, we see Boaz is a relative

1. Naomi knows that he could fulfill the law of the kinsman redeemer

2. Maybe Naomi interpreted Boaz’s kindness towards Ruth as more then just interest in a needful person

2. Naomi knew Boaz would be winnowing barley at the threshing floor that night

1. Threshing floors were located on a hill; this one outside the city

2. Naomi knew Boaz would spend the night there to protect his crops from thieves

3. We see Naomi is now setting things up for Boaz to fulfill the requirements of the law

1. Ruth is told to wash, anoint herself, and put on her best garment

2. Ruth is told to wait until Boaz has eaten and fallen asleep

3. Ruth is told to uncover Boaz’ feet and lie down, and await his response

1. Many secularists try to imply that Ruth went and tempt Boaz into sexual immorality

2. This would be completely opposite of what we have learned about Naomi & Ruth’s character

3. The actual text suggests that nothing indecent happened

4. The scriptures are full of stories of immoral behavior, if something happened it would have been recorded

1. Lot and his daughters

2. Abraham & Sarah’s handmaid Hagar

3. The slaughter of all the men of Shechem by Jacobs sons over the rape of their sister Dinah

4. Judah sleeping with his daughter-in-law whom he thought was a prostitute

5. King David getting Bathsheba and then his ordering the execution of her husband Uriah

6. Scriptures are replete with stories of immoral behavior, if something happened it would have been reported

5. No, only those who want to believe today’s values are condoned in the Bible see something immoral here

2. RUTH AT THE FEET OF BOAZ vs 6-15

1. Ruth follows Naomi’s advice

1. Ruth goes down to the threshing floor

2. Ruth does according to her mother-in-law’s instructions

1. She waits until Boaz had eaten and gone to sleep

2. She softly uncovers his feet and lies down

2. Boaz is startled by her presence

1. At midnight Boaz is startled by a woman lying at his feet

2. Upon inquiry, Ruth identifies herself and makes her plea

1. This is a symbol that denotes protection for one who is vulnerable

1. I’m reminded the words of our Lord as He spoke of Jerusalem

“O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the one who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing!

2. This is possibly the first time Boaz is informed that he is a close relative of Ruth’s deceased husband

1. Being that he could fulfill the Levirate law of marriage, he lets her know that another is closer

3. Boaz is truly grateful for her kindness to him and her deceased husband

1. She could have married a younger wealthy man and forgotten all about Naomi and her dead husband

2. We see Boaz is concerned about preserving her honor and promise to fulfill the role as her redeemer

1. However, he must first give a man who is a nearer relative first chance at being her redeemer

1. Boaz swears to perform the duty, if the other person does not

2. Boaz preserves her reputation

1. By having her stay until morning, rather than leaving during the night

2. He could have let it be known she was there,

3. He could have made sure no other man would want her,

4. Thus guaranteeing that Ruth would be his bride and Naomi’s land would be his

3. Boaz is an honorable man who allows for God to take care of the situation

3. He even makes sure she does not go empty handed

1. He gives her enough barley to last a month and a half

2. The significance of this gift is uncertain, but some have offered the following ideas

1. Maybe it was like payment in kind, like a bridal price?

2. Or a message intended for Naomi, recognizing her part in the arrangement or to secure her consent?

3. Maybe it was to give cover for Ruth, lest someone might see her leaving the threshing floor.  They may think she was working late to glean in the fields to gather grain?

4. Or maybe it was simply a gift from a man in love to the young woman he hoped to marry?

3. RUTH RETURNS TO NAOMI vs 16-18

1. Ruth returns and tells Naomi everything

1. Like a dutiful daughter, Ruth lets Naomi know how things went

2. She lets Naomi know that the barley was a gift from him

2. NAOMI ADVISES RUTH…

1. Confident that Boaz will act upon her request, Naomi assures Ruth that he will do all he promises

2. In the garden before His arrest, Jesus prayed to the Father and one of the things he said was

“I have finished the work which You have given Me to do” 

John 17:14

3. Then when He was on the cross and they pressed a sponge with sour wine to His lips.  He said

“It is finished” 

John 19:30

4. That is when our redemption was complete.  He paid the penalty for our sins to such an extent that we cannot lift a finger to add to our salvation.  He has done it all. When we claim Him as our redeemer, that’s all he asks us to do, the work of redemption is His work.  And that is what Naomi is telling Ruth here.  Boaz will not rest until the task is complete and she and Naomi are fully redeemed.