Ruth: Lesson 3

Posted by Lisa Laree to Beer Lahai Roi

Ruth: A Blogged Bible Study
Beerlahairoi.blogspot.com

Syllabus

5/20/08 Introduction

5/27/08 Chapter 1: Losses and Gains

6/3/08 Chapter 2: Gleaning

6/10/08 Chapter 3: Redemption Requested

6/17/08 Chapter 4: Redemption Manifested


NOTE: I am indebted to Angie Smith for sharing insights on threshing in her blog this week. If you haven't read Bring the Rain, be sure to drop by, and click on the archives to read the story from the beginning. You will be awed and humbled and moved. Make sure you've a box of Kleenex handy...


Redemption Requested

Ok, I'll freely admit this is the most difficult chapter of Ruth to discuss. To our modern thinking, it is just plain weird. But as Mr. Scofield points out in the footnotes on this passage, all of it has to be 'interpreted in the light of the customs of that day,' and none of those customs involved romance or seduction. It was all about the inheritance.

Naomi, of course, was the catalyst. She knew the customs, and she knew her family. And she'd watched Ruth follow Boaz's workers around to all the fields and taken note of the treatment she received from him. She could see that he was an honorable man, and she knew what that would mean...that he would recognize his duty as well as Ruth's. So after the harvest was done, when it was time to thresh the grain, she sat Ruth down and had a little heart-to-heart chat with her. Here was a chance for Ruth to have a place, and provision, for the rest of her life. Also, Elimelech's name and inheritance would go to the first son Ruth bore to Boaz. Naomi's instructions were, as bizarre as they sound to us, an honorable way for Ruth to request that Boaz redeem her and her deceased husband's inheritance. Ruth agreed; dressed and perfumed herself and went down to the threshing floor.

The threshing floor is a place of separation...grain from chaff; what is valuable from what is worthless. But it is also a place of celebration. The harvest is gathered, and the goodness is collected. There is feasting. And Boaz feasted. Verse 7 says that he had 'finished eating and drinking and was in good spirits.' The men slept at the threshing floor to guard and protect the harvest (although how much protection a bunch of guys who had eaten and drunk themselves into 'good spirits' would really be is kind of open to speculation), and Boaz found himself a spot at the far end of the grain pile...a rather secluded spot that worked well for Ruth's purpose.

I honestly do not know if there is a custom associated with uncovering his feet, or if that was just the way Ruth got his attention. Because if you're sleeping soundly and your feet get uncovered and chilly, you'll wake up. Boaz woke up...and found a woman at his feet!

Ruth immediately asked him to spread the corner of his garment over her. He was a kinsman-redeemer, and he had the right to do that. Protecting her, protecting the inheritance.

Boaz is even more impressed with Ruth. (Note that he calls her 'my daughter' again...). By 'this kindness' he speaks of her willingness to do whatever needs to be done to secure the inheritance for her family. She could have left Naomi and gone after a young husband to suit herself, but she did not. She could have kept her commitment to Naomi for the rest of Naomi's life, then pursued her own agenda. But she raised her own level of commitment; instead of just being committed to Naomi, now she is committed to Naomi's family. She went to the one who could maintain the lineage of the family she had married into. Boaz recognized and respected that. The whole village had been impressed with Ruth's character.

But wait...there's a slight problem...Boaz is NOT the closest relative. He cannot just take her as wife; the other fellow must have an opportunity to do so first. But he promised Ruth that, one way or another, she would be redeemed. If the other guy wasn't willing, Boaz would take care of it.

So she stayed at his feet till morning, and arose before dawn to return to Naomi. Boaz didn't want any hint of scandal; so he sent Ruth away very early, but he filled her shawl with barley to take back to Naomi.

Naomi was no doubt waiting for her to return; she may not have even gone to sleep. When Ruth came in, Naomi wanted to know what happened. Naomi could not have been happier... the grain was a good will gift, and she recognized that things were in motion now to bring about a resolution to their situation. One way or another, the inheritance would be redeemed...and Ruth would be redeemed as part of that inheritance.

As Angie pointed out in her post, it is significant that this took place on the threshing floor...the place of separation. If Ruth is going to commit herself raising up an heir, she will not marry some young dashing fellow her own age; she will be bearing children to a man old enough to be her father. Yes, she was giving up something; make no mistake. She had begun to give up those things when she decided to follow Naomi and dedicate her life to her service; now that service meant going as wife to Boaz. The winnowing of her heart was completed here. But when that chaff was blown away, she was left with what was good: a place of blessing; a place of honor; a place in the lineage of kings.

Closing thoughts: How highly do I esteem the inheritance? Do I esteem it enough to make it a priority in my life? In what ways do I go to my Redeemer and ask Him to spread the corner of His garment over me? Am I willing to go to the threshing floor and allow my motives to be winnowed? What might that entail?