Ruth 3 - Sermon #3 in Ruth Series

This week was the 3rd week I have been preaching a series out of the book of Ruth. 1 chapter of Ruth per week. Below is the sermon I preached last Sunday.

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Preached 4/26/08 FCC

Today we are looking at Ruth chapter 3. But before we get to that, let’s quickly review so I can get anyone who has missed a week up to speed on where we are at.

In Ruth 1 we learned about Elimelech who moved his wife Naomi and two sons from Bethlehem to Moab in search of a better life. The two sons find Moabite wives, Ruth and Orpah, and then all three men die. This leaves Naomi, Ruth and Orpah in a bind. Orpah ends up going back to her people in Moab, but Ruth clings to Naomi and covenants to Naomi to go where she goes, to die where she dies, and to follow Naomi’s God, the God of Israel. Naomi and Ruth go back to Bethlehem because they’ve heard through the grapevine that there is food there, and Naomi still has some relatives there. Throughout the first chapter of Ruth we are reminded by the author of the sovereignty of God – that God is in charge, in control, and is looking out for Ruth and Naomi, and is looking out for us as well.

In Chapter two we get a new important character introduced to the story, a man named Boaz. Ruth goes out into the fields to glean, which was the Old Testament version of the Food Shelf. Boaz sees Ruth in his field, and takes an interest in her. He tells his men that she’s not to be touched, and he arranges for her to be able to collect a significant amount of food, far more than the average person could have gleaned. Boaz feeds Ruth, gives her left-overs to take home, and offers her a steady job through the rest of the harvest season. As a reminder of God’s sovereignty, near the end of Ruth chapter 2, Ruth learns that Boaz is a relative of Naomi’s.

That brings us to Ruth Chapter Three. Why don’t you all open to page ___ or page ___ in large print and we’ll get started. I’ll pray while you find Ruth Chapter 3. God bless this time together. Bless this message. May you send your Holy Spirit down to anoint my words and the ears of all who listen. Amen. Let’s dig in. We start with Naomi talking to Ruth:

^{RU 3:1} One day Naomi her mother-in-law said to her, "My daughter, should I not try to find a home for you, where you will be well provided for?

Now up until this point, Ruth has basically been taking care of Naomi. Naomi has faded into the background of the story a little bit, but now she becomes an active player again. I mentioned last week that this was turning into a love story. The story last week ended with Ruth working in Boaz’s fields for the duration of the harvest. Then, like today, the harvest took some time. The story tells us that this was actually two harvests, the barley and the wheat harvest. So in all likelihood, Ruth had been working in Boaz’s fields for 6-8 weeks at the point where chapter two ends and chapter 3 begins. One thing we always have to be mindful of when reading scripture is that the authors of the Bible used time to emphasize or de-emphasize things. The original readers of this story, the people it was initially written for, would have known things like the length and time of the harvest. They would have known about the customs of gleaning and drawing water like I explained last week. This is why it is good for us to dig in like we are and to examine these passages closely. They come alive when we understand the details they contain. And often, what is left unsaid is as important as what is said. Boaz was showing some interests last week in Ruth, but here we are 6-8 weeks later. And nothing else has happened. Sure Ruth has been protected and provided for, but Boaz for whatever reason has failed to take the next step, he’s failed to close the deal. Every day Ruth had been walking to those fields, working hard, seeing Boaz roll by in his F-350 chariot. Ladies, how would this make you feel? He never calls, he said he’s interested…you get the picture. Now Ruth is somewhat limited by the social norms here, as to what she can do. She can’t just outright pursue Boaz. Being a Moabite carried some baggage as well. She was poor, widowed, no longer a virgin, and at the lowest level of society. She likely didn’t get the chance to look her best every day working in the hot, dusty fields. Ruth has to be wondering what is going on. Is it me? Did I do something? Does my butt look big in this robe? So Naomi becomes active in the story again, and decides to help Ruth make her play for Boaz. Verse 2:

² Is not Boaz, with whose servant girls you have been, a kinsman of ours?

This is just a form of speech that we don’t use in English. Both Ruth and Naomi obviously know Boaz is Naomi’s relative. Naomi is just reminding Ruth of this connection, setting the stage for her plan. Continuing with verse 2:

Tonight he will be winnowing barley on the threshing floor. ³ Wash and perfume yourself, and put on your best clothes.

Ruth, tonight Boaz will be wrapping up the last things from the harvest. He’ll be separating out the seeds from the chaff on the threshing floor. We have to make our move now. Here’s what you are going to do – go take a bath, clean off that grime from working in the fields. Put on your good going to church dress and grab those cute shoes and handbag that match. Run to the salon and get your hair and nails done. Put on some lipstick and some eye shadow. A couple of splashes of Chanel too while you are at it.

Here’s the deal – Naomi knows that Boaz has shown some interest in Ruth, but he’s never seen her done up. He’s only seen her in her sweaty-stinky-nasty work clothes. Ever worked in a field? Ever spent every day there for weeks on end? Those of you who have, you know its dirty work. Manure for fertilizer, dust everywhere, bugs, deodorant hasn’t been invented yet, it’s blazing hot so you know she’s sweating up a storm. She’s poor so likely doesn’t have a lot of changes of clothes. Boaz hasn’t seen Ruth at her finest hour. And Naomi tells Ruth, go get gussied up. More of verse 3:

Then go down to the threshing floor, but don't let him know you are there until he has finished eating and drinking. ⁴ When he lies down, note the place where he is lying. Then go and uncover his feet and lie down. He will tell you what to do."

Boaz is going to be celebrating a great harvest tonight. We know from Ruth 1 that there was a famine in the land prior to this time, so I have to imagine Boaz was throwing a big party to celebrate the end of the harvest. Everyone had worked hard, God’s blessing had returned to his land and to his people, and it was a night to celebrate and relax a little bit. So Naomi tells Ruth to go down there, but wait until after the party to make your move. Let him have a few beers and burgers with the guys and blow off some steam. Once things have wound down, and everyone else goes home, wait for Boaz to go to bed for the night. Before he blows out the lantern, take note of where he is laying. Once he is sleeping, make your way over to him, and uncover his feet and just lay there next to his feet. He’ll tell you what to do next.

^{RU 3:5} "I will do whatever you say," Ruth answered. ⁶ So she went down to the threshing floor and did everything her mother-in-law told her to do. (Isn’t Ruth the best daughter-in-law ever?!)

^{RU 3:7} When Boaz had finished eating and drinking and was in good spirits, he went over to lie down at the far end of the grain pile. Ruth approached quietly, uncovered his feet and lay down. ⁸ In the middle of the night something startled the man, and he turned and discovered a woman lying at his feet.

^{RU 3:9} "Who are you?" he asked.

"I am your servant Ruth," she said. "Spread the corner of your garment over me, since you are a kinsman-redeemer."

Spread your garment over me – this is Ruth making her move. She’s saying I’m your’s if you want me. She’s saying I’m into you, and I want to make this a permanent thing. Step up to the plate Boaz, I’m your’s if you just ask. Make me yours. Boaz replies:

^{RU 3:10} "The LORD bless you, my daughter," he replied. "This kindness is greater than that which you showed earlier: You have not run after the younger men, whether rich or poor. ¹¹ And now, my daughter, don't be afraid. I will do for you all you ask. All my fellow townsmen know that you are a woman of noble character. ¹² Although it is true that I am near of kin, there is a kinsman-redeemer nearer than I. ¹³ Stay here for the night, and in the morning if he wants to redeem, good; let him redeem. But if he is not willing, as surely as the LORD lives I will do it. Lie here until morning."

Who knows what Boaz was thinking, why he had gone through the harvest without pursuing Ruth any further. But here we see the interest is mutual, and he’s taking action. Boaz compliments her – calls her a woman of noble character. He offers a prayer for her, and he tells her to stay the night so she will remain safe. The dark streets of Bethlehem in the time of the Judges weren’t a place for a young, attractive, single gal to be out alone in. Boaz’s heart has to be pounding. I remember when I asked my wife to marry me, there was enough blood pressure rushing though my veins to power a tractor’s hydraulics! Boaz also says legally I am not the first in line for you, so we’ll have to take care of some business tomorrow before this can be official. Boaz has provided for her, blessed her, prayed for her, given her a steady job and income, food, protection, social standing, and treated her with respect. And now he hopes to close the deal, but he knows he must do it the right way. He is a man of honor. A man of good character.

^{RU 3:14} So she lay at his feet until morning, but got up before anyone could be recognized; and he said, "Don't let it be known that a woman came to the threshing floor."

^{RU 3:15} He also said, "Bring me the shawl you are wearing and hold it out." When she did so, he poured into it six measures of barley and put it on her. Then he went back to town.

In coming to Boaz in the night, Ruth had done nothing wrong, but Boaz realizes that it’s a small town, and people are going to talk if they see you going home from my place. So he sends her home at dawn, just as the stars and the moon are going back to bed. But before she goes, he says come here darling, there’s something I want send home you…” and he fills her shawl with barley – how romantic! Isn’t this what every woman dreams of…a shawl fully of barley?! What I think this means is two-fold: First he’s saying I’m still committed to what we talked about last night, and second he’s sending home a gift recognizing Naomi’s role in this. He’s continuing to bless them both. Just as our redeemer Jesus takes us under his wing and keeps his promises to us, so too is Boaz doing this for Ruth.

^{RU 3:16} When Ruth came to her mother-in-law, Naomi asked, "How did it go, my daughter?"

Then she told her everything Boaz had done for her ¹⁷ and added, "He gave me these six measures of barley, saying, `Don't go back to your mother-in-law empty-handed.' "

^{RU 3:18} Then Naomi said, "Wait, my daughter, until you find out what happens. For the man will not rest until the matter is settled today."

Wait my daughter. Wait! He’s working on it and won’t rest until it is finished. Wait! Ohhhh how waiting is the hardest part. You know what? Like Ruth you are going to have to wait. You’re going to have to wait one more week to hear how this great story ends.

I do have an assignment for you this week. As you leave today and go about your week, I want you to think about redemption. Boaz is actively redeeming Ruth. Jesus has actively redeemed us. Who else in your life has redeemed you in a way. Thank them. Who are you redeeming? Or Who should you be redeeming? Is there someone you can take under your wing this week, and make a difference in their lives? (PAUSE) Think about it. (PAUSE) Did a name enter your mind? Pray with me.
God I pray that each name that has entered into our minds you will burn upon our hearts with a burden. A burden to reach out to them, to make a difference in their lives, to make a difference for your Kingdom. God may YOUR will be done, here on Earth as it is in heaven. Give us the courage to take the next step, to reach out to that person on in our minds and on our hearts. Help us help them. Amen.