Ruth - Chapter 3

Chapter 3

The symbolic change in Ruth’s appearance would signal to Boaz both her availability and her serious intentions.

Since robbers would sometimes visit the floor at threshing time the laborers slept there. 

The attraction between Ruth and Boaz was probably more than physical since Boaz implies that he is an older man. Nothing is ever said about Ruth’s beauty but she does catch his attention if not but for the simple fact that she is a foreigner and new to the area. Over those few short months they spent time around each other and probably asked about each other.  Boaz obviously asked the foreman and I am sure Ruth inquired tactfully of the women she was working with.  They got to see the heart of each other. Boaz showed her kindness and generosity which probably was like fresh cool water to a weary dry soul!

Naomi’s idea is risky.  Not only is there a risk of being rejected but she is asking Ruth to venture out by herself at night alone and sneak up on a sleeping man whose very reason for being where he is was to guard the grain from marauders!  He could very easily dispatched her there in the darkness not knowing who or what the shadow was at his feet.  He did, after all wake up because something startled him! 

Wisely, Naomi had instructed her to wait until the man, who had worked all day, had eaten, and drank, was lying down. He even had a little nap before Ruth approached him with her life-altering question.

Uncovering his feet and laying down was a symbol of submission. She was literally putting herself at his mercy and offering all that she was to him.  To ask him to cover her was to ask hm to redeem her, to marry her, to bring her under the covering of his household, his name and his protection.

A few thoughts : 

If Ruth came without dressing up etc. would he still have taken her? I think so.

Its tempting to fall for a religious line and say that if we want to be received or even heard we would need to cleanse ourselves, anoint ourselves, dress ourselves before approaching Jesus and hopefully he will fulfill His legal obligation and take us in.  But the truth is very different.  The blood of Jesus cleansed us already.  The Holy Spirit anoints us.  God clothed us in His very own righteousness. Our kinsman redeemer is not only justly so but passionately willing and ready to receive us!  Even if we feel like we are showing up smelling like a field hand covered in barley!  No, we cannot always come to Him completely alone (we can’t even go to the bathroom alone!) or shut the door to the crazy chaos around us for an hour.  Our worship may be to the veggietales cd with the kids running circles around us and we may only have those little moments between changing diapers, taking the crayon out of the little mouth, and waiting for the water to boil for macaroni to pray but it is what we have and it is us presenting ourselves to him and in His eyes we are beautiful! We are clothed in righteousness and we smell good and we look good and what we bring to Him is precious, costly.

Boaz, as a kinsman redeemer could have been sneaky and claimed her for himself right off and stole her.  He could have gotten the right to redeem rightfully and then came to her and forced her into marriage with himself.  But he did not.  You can tell he had been thinking about it and trying to work out how to go about it, all the while wondering if she would go for it.  He had found out who she was, who she was related to, who the closest kinsman redeemer was, where he entered the city each day, etc. Yet he had not yet acted on any of it.

Jesus is like Boaz.  He doesn't force himself on her. He pours out his favor and goodness and kindness and then Ruth comes to him and says I want you.

Boaz still protecting her reputation and preserving it should scandal meet the ears of the other redeemer. He has her get up and leave before anyone can see well enough to recognize anyone.  He says, “Don’t let it be known that a woman was here”. Assumptions could be made and her good reputation could be ruined. His protection goes further than just the property around the threshing floor.  He tells her to hold our her shawl and he pour in it 6 measures of barley.  This was the laborers share.  So even if she had been seen on the road on the way back anywhere it would have been assumed she was merely out collecting her wages and was on her way home. Again, not only is he protecting her but he is treating her as one of the laborers, not as a gleaning beggar or foreigner. 

The Kinsman Redeemer  (Go’el)

There were three areas or responsibilities of a Go’el;

1. Redemption of property - A destitute relative could sell inheritance land to pay debtors but landless people were effectively reduced to servitude. It fell to the go’el to redeem lands and family members by payment of outstanding debts.
2. Levirate Marriage - In the event of the death of a man without an heir, a surviving brother was obligated to redeem/marry the widow and raise up an heir for the deceased. This implied a financial and emotional commitment that not all brothers were willing to undertake. The go’er could seek legal exemption from the obligation but such exemption was considered a dereliction of duty and involved considerable disgrace.
3. Vengence for the wrongful death of a family member - The responsibility for executing a death sentencer the murder of a family member would fall to the go’el haddam or Avenger of Blood - in this response the word go’er takes the meaning “Avenger”.

Jesus is our kinsman redeemer.  He has disarmed the powers and authorities he made a public spectacle of them triumphing over them by the cross.  Jesus took back what was God’s and gave it to the rightful heir.  We were always meant to bear His image, wear His righteousness, and live in his kingdom and kings and priests. He bought back our birthright. And in doing so He also brought vengeance down on the enemy that had stolen it - that we had sold ourselves to - He got us back and avenged us.  Then he dragged that enemy out before us and said look! Look at this worm that I have defeated forever!  He will never own you gain!  He will never have power over you again.  He is completely stripped of power and authority.  You need no longer ever fear him.

One other thought.  Boaz had a plan.  It was pretty extensive.  It was as if he had considered many possible outcomes and strategized a plan.  What if someone sees her on the way home this early?  What if the other guy wants her? He is fair. He is just. He wants to marry her.  Like Jesus He is not just contractually obligated to intervene on our behalf, no, “The Lord LONGS to be gracious to you! He rises to show you compassion. For the Lord is a God of Justice.  Blessed are those who wait for him!” Is 30:18

“Wait until you see what happens. For the man will not rest until the matter is settled today.”