Week 11 Outline• Quick review of Naomi’s Plan

(Ruth 3:1-5) from week #9• Summary of go’el and

levirate marriage laws from last week

• Focus this week: Examination of Ruth 3:6-18

• Case Study: Steven, a single young man

• Looking ahead: Ruth 4 (Weeks 12 & 13)

Naomi’s Instructions to Ruth1. Ruth is to take a bath2. She is to apply perfume3. Ruth is to put on her simla/dress

On the analogy of 2 Sam 12:20, it appears Naomi is advising Ruth to end her period of mourning over her widowhood and get on with life

4. Ruth is to go down to threshing floor where Boaz is working

5. Lurking incognito, Ruth is to observe carefully where Boaz finally lies down

6. Ruth is to uncover his “feet” (literally, “lower limbs”) and go and lie down herself

7. Finally, she is wait for further instructions from Boaz

• Abduction – Naomi put Ruth in real danger because threshing floors lay outside the town and she could have been abducted on the way and never made it to Boaz

• Mocked – Boaz could mock her request for marriage to him – a wealthy and powerful Israelite landowner – as a vain attempt at social climbing for a poor widowed “Moabitess”

• Adultery – Since Ruth is still technically the wife of Mahlon (4:5,10), Boaz could charge her with failing in her family responsibilities, branding her an adulteress

• Maligned – Though a man of standing, Boaz could use the night’s opportunity for his sexual pleasure, bringing on her great humiliation, and then malign her (charging her with entrapment) or even charge her with prostitution

• Appearance of Evil – Someone could have awakened and seen Ruth at Boaz’s feet; she could then be branded as a prostitute by others (cf. Hosea 9:1)

Naomi’s Plan not Brightest of Ideas

• No suggestion in Naomi’s tone or intention that her words should be interpreted sexually–While Naomi shows signs of compromising

theologically, the picture that narrator paints of Naomi is consistently virtuous

• In addition, both Boaz and Ruth are characterized throughout as people of unsurpassing integrity and nobility

Misreading Sexual Overtone in Naomi’s Directions

Ancient Family Laws• In every Israelite family, two issues

were paramount: the survival of the family name and keeping family land in family hands

• The family of Elimelech ran into trouble on both counts:– Famine drove them off their land– The deaths of Elimelech and his

two sons threatened the family with extinction

• Mosaic law, however, carried provisions to save a dying family and to protect ownership of “their” land

• The levirate law addressed the situation where a man died without an heir– Under this law, his brother was required to marry and

impregnate his widow– The son born from this union would carry forward the line of the

deceased; as an added benefit, the widow would be sheltered– This was the duty of a brother-in-law, and great shame and

dishonor fell on the man who refused to fulfill this family obligation

• The kinsman-redeemer law focused on the land and encompassed a wider range of relatives– When a man fell onto hard times and was forced to sell his land,

his nearest relative (or kinsman-redeemer) was called to step in and purchase the land (or buy it back from an outsider)

– This was done to keep his relative’s property from coming under the ownership of someone outside their tribe

Summary

Both laws were costly and involved enormous sacrifice

Levirate Implications

• Since a father’s estate was divided among his sons, when one son died childless, the surviving brothers’ inheritance automatically increased

• The family pie was sliced into fewer (and therefore larger) pieces• The levir whose duty it was to marry the widow was spoiling his

own inheritance if he succeeded in fathering a son by her• The newborn would replace his deceased brother – and those

lovely larger pieces of pie would shrink in size again because now there was one more heir to include in dividing family property

According to these calculations, becoming your brother’s keeper is a losing proposition

But it is the hesed-way of doing things

Gospel of the Old Testament

Both laws were costly and involved enormous sacrifice

Kinsman-Redeemer Implications

• The kinsman-redeemer faced a similar conflict of interest, for rescuing his relatives’ property involved the outlay of large sums of money

• The price of a field was calculated by the number of harvests until the Year of Jubilee – a national celebration every 50 years where the land would automatically revert to the original owner

• So a man could be paying for one year’s harvest or fifty, depending on where they were on the nation’s calendar

• In the process of redeeming his relative’s land, the kinsman-redeemer was siphoning off financial resources from his own estate, so his sons would inherit less

The law wasn’t simply a legal code, but a heart-piercing call to a higher way of living

It was a call to sacrifice; it is the gospel in the OT

Gospel of the Old Testament

Ruth 3:6-18

• Listening to National Public Radio while driving to work in DC

• Maeve Binchy short story about a couple on the eve of their wedding day

• Boaz also got cold feet … but not from nerves

Classic Case of Cold Feet

6So she went down to the threshing floor and did just as her mother-in-law had commanded her. 7And when Boaz had eaten and drunk, and his heart was merry, he went to lie down at the end of the heap of grain. Then she came softly and uncovered his feet and lay down. 8At midnight the man was startled and turned over, and behold, a woman lay at his feet! 9He said, “Who are you?” And she answered, “I am Ruth, your servant. Spread your wings over your servant, for you are a redeemer.” 10And he said, “May you be blessed by the LORD, my daughter. You have made this last kindness greater than the first in that you have not gone after young men, whether poor or rich. 11And now, my daughter, do not fear. I will do for you all that you ask, for all my fellow townsmen know that you are a worthy woman. 12And now it is true that I am a redeemer. Yet there is a redeemer nearer than I. 13Remain tonight, and in the morning, if he will redeem you, good; let him do it. But if he is not willing to redeem you, then, as the LORD lives, I will redeem you. Lie down until the morning.”

Ruth 3:6-13

6So she went down to the threshing floor and did just as her mother-in-law had commanded her. 7And when Boaz had eaten and drunk, and his heart was merry, he went to lie down at the end of the heap of grain. Then she came softly and uncovered his feet and lay down. 8At midnight the man was startled and turned over, and behold, a woman lay at his feet! 9He said, “Who are you?” And she answered, “I am Ruth, your servant. Spread your wings over your servant, for you are a redeemer.”

Ruth 3:6-9

Why did Boaz spend the night at the threshing floor? Why was Boaz in good spirits? Why do you think Naomi sent Ruth to make this request rather than Naomi asking Boaz directly?

• Verse 7 mentions that Boaz lies down to sleep “at the [far] end of the heap of grain” – this minor detail is suggestive

• Earlier Ruth “happened” to come to the field of Boaz (2:3)• Then Boaz “happened” to come to his field just as Ruth was leaving (2:4)• Now we see Boaz as he “happens” to lie down at the opportunistic corner of

the threshing floor where these actions and conversation can transpire without interruption or misinterpretation

• How did Boaz know there was a woman lying at his feet? • Given spiritual climate in the period of the Judges, an average Israelite might

have welcomed the night visit of a woman, interpreting her presence as an offer of sexual favors … but not Boaz

• Ruth’s Moabite origins have been emphasized a number of times in the text so far. Why do you think Ruth did not identify herself as a Moabitess in verse 9?

• What does Ruth do after all of the preparation activities are accomplished?• All of Ruth’s anxieties, apprehensions, fears, wonderings, and emotions

culminate with these two words• She had lost her husband, left her family, moved to a foreign country,

inserted herself in the fields, submitted to her mother-in-law, journeyed to the threshing floor, and now, after all this time, she must simply lie down

• She had cast her life, her future, even the legacy of her deceased husband, at the feet of Boaz; there was nothing to do now but rest and wait

4But when he lies down, observe the place where he lies. Then go and uncover his feet and lie down, and he will tell you what to do.”

9He said, “Who are you?” And she answered, “I am Ruth, your servant. Spread your wings over your servant, for you are a redeemer.”

Ruth 3:4 vs. 3:9

Look again at Naomi’s instructions to Ruth at the end of Ruth 3:4 and compare them to what Ruth actually did in 3:9

• Did Ruth follow Naomi’s instructions or not?• How did Ruth's actions diverge from her mother-in-law's instructions?

Ezekiel 16:8 – “When I passed by you again and saw you, behold, you were at the age for love, and I spread the corner (kanap) of my garment over you and covered your nakedness; I made my vow to you and entered into a covenant with you, declares the Lord GOD, and you became mine.”

Ruth 3:9 – “He said, “Who are you?” And she answered, “I am Ruth, your servant. Spread your wings (kanap) over your servant, for you are a redeemer.”

Ruth 2:12 – The LORD repay you for what you have done, and a full reward be given you by the LORD, the God of Israel, under whose wings (kanap) you have come to take refuge!”

Kanap – Corner/Wings of Garment

The Hebrew word kanap is used in both Ruth 3:9 and earlier in Ruth 2:12• What does the linguistic connection between these two verses reveal about

Ruth’s request? • What does it teach us about how God often answers prayer?

Compare Ruth’s request in verse 9 to Ezekiel 16:8• What did the LORD do in this passage? • What did this act signify?

• Kanap can be construed as a general plea for protection. By repeating the key word from his own lips, Ruth essentially asks Boaz to answer his own prayer!

• The term may also refer to the “corner of his garment” and hence be a more specific reference to the symbolic investment connected with marriage• The term marriage is not spoken, but the intentions of Ruth are clear• This “spreading of the hem” of one’s garment over a woman appears to

be a variant of the ceremonial covering of head of bride by the husband• Thus, “to spread one’s wings over someone” was idiom for marriage

6So she went down to the threshing floor and did just as her mother-in-law had commanded her. 7And when Boaz had eaten and drunk, and his heart was merry, he went to lie down at the end of the heap of grain. Then she came softly and uncovered his feet and lay down. 8At midnight the man was startled and turned over, and behold, a woman lay at his feet! 9He said, “Who are you?” And she answered, “I am Ruth, your servant. Spread your wings over your servant, for you are a redeemer.”

Ruth 3:6-9

• In what ways is Ruth’s request in verse 9 a bold and extraordinary one?

• What does Ruth’s boldness in approaching Boaz (a type of Christ) teach us about how we may approach God?

• Here is a servant demanding that the boss marry her• A Moabite making the demand of an Israelite• A woman making a demand of a man• A poor person making a demand of a rich man• Was this an act of foreigner naïveté, or a daughter-in-law’s devotion to her

mother-in-law, or another sign of the hidden hand of God?

What is the connection between Ruth’s request for marriage and Boaz’s status as go’el?

• The go’el was not required by Mosaic law to carry out the levirate law• Unless a kinsman-redeemer happened to also be the brother of a man who had

died and left behind a childless widow, he would not be expected to marry the widow for the purpose of perpetuating the family line

• Clearly, there was no legal obligation on Boaz to act in this way• However, what Ruth was asking Boaz to do was to act according to spirit of the

law of the kinsman redeemer, even though he was not under any legal obligation• She appealed to him to be the family member who, at his own cost, would act to

rescue those whose future was blighted, even though he didn't have to do so

10And he said, “May you be blessed by the LORD, my daughter. You have made this last kindness greater than the first in that you have not gone after young men, whether poor or rich. 11And now, my daughter, do not fear. I will do for you all that you ask, for all my fellow townsmen know that you are a worthy woman. 12And now it is true that I am a redeemer. Yet there is a redeemer nearer than I. 13Remain tonight, and in the morning, if he will redeem you, good; let him do it. But if he is not willing to redeem you, then, as the LORD lives, I will redeem you. Lie down until the morning.”

Ruth 3:10-13

How did Boaz react to Ruth’s request? What do Boaz’ comments tell us about his character?

What did Boaz mean when he told Ruth that her request was a “kindness” (hesed)? What was Ruth’s previous act of kindness that Boaz referred to? Why was her request to Boaz greater than this previous kindness?

What is implied by the fact that Ruth could have sought marriage with any of the men of the town?

• That she was under no legal obligation to become the wife of Mahlon’s close relative in order to raise up an heir for her dead husband (i.e., carry out the levirate as prescribed in Deut 25:5-10)

• And vice verse, the closest relative of Mahlon is not obligated to perform a levirate marriage – and apparently none of the relatives (close or otherwise) has given any thought to implementing a marriage to Ruth

10And he said, “May you be blessed by the LORD, my daughter. You have made this last kindness greater than the first in that you have not gone after young men, whether poor or rich. 11And now, my daughter, do not fear. I will do for you all that you ask, for all my fellow townsmen know that you are a worthy woman (eshet hayil). 12And now it is true that I am a redeemer. Yet there is a redeemer nearer than I. 13Remain tonight, and in the morning, if he will redeem you, good; let him do it. But if he is not willing to redeem you, then, as the LORD lives, I will redeem you. Lie down until the morning.”

Ruth 3:10-13

• What new information does Boaz reveal in verse 12?• Explain why Boaz agreed to carry out what is in essence a

levirate marriage when neither law nor custom required him to. • When had Boaz previously gone beyond the letter of the law in

order to fulfill the spirit of the law? • How was the saving work of Christ the perfect example of going

beyond the letter of the law in order to fulfill the spirit of the law?

What do these closely related expressions (“man of character,” “worthy woman”) tell us about Boaz and Ruth?What was the source of Ruth’s nobility of character? How did Ruth achieve this reputation among the Bethlehemites, when just a few short weeks earlier she had been ignored and slighted as an insignificant foreigner? • Genuine praise of others builds them up in the faith; flattery is an attempt to

build up ourselves by mentally manipulating others for our benefit• Genuine praise is a virtue, but flattery is a sin condemned by God• Genuine praise glorifies God, but flattery glorifies man• Genuine praise promotes unity as it seeks to build others up, but flattery

promotes disunity because it leads to suspicion and mistrust when those who are being flattered realize that what was said to them was insincere

Boaz told Ruth that all of Bethlehem recognized her as eshet hayil, “a woman of noble character.” You may recall that in Ruth 2:1 Boaz was called gibbor hayil, “a man of standing.” What is the difference between flattery and sincere praise for others?

14So she lay at his feet until the morning, but arose before one could recognize another. And he said, “Let it not be known that the woman came to the threshing floor.” 15And he said, “Bring the garment you are wearing and hold it out.” So she held it, and he measured out six measures of barley and put it on her. Then she went into the city. 16And when she came to her mother-in-law, she said, “How did you fare, my daughter?” Then she told her all that the man had done for her, 17saying, “These six measures of barley he gave to me, for he said to me, ‘You must not go back empty-handed to your mother-in-law.’” 18She replied, “Wait, my daughter, until you learn how the matter turns out, for the man will not rest but will settle the matter today.”

Ruth 3:14-18

14So she lay at his feet until the morning, but arose before one could recognize another. And he said, “Let it not be known that the woman came to the threshing floor.” 15And he said, “Bring the garment you are wearing and hold it out.” So she held it, and he measured out six measures of barley and put it on her. Then she went into the city.

Ruth 3:14-15

• Why was it important to Boaz that Ruth’s presence at the threshing floor be kept secret?

• Notice that Boaz helps her pick up the load, whereas she was able to pick up an ephah unaided -- Six measures of barley comprised 80-100 pounds of barley!

• Perhaps it is also significant that Ruth received only six measures, not seven; in biblical symbolism, the number six sometimes stands for incompleteness, whereas seven stands for completeness

• Given the significance of the concept of "rest" in this chapter of the Book of Ruth (see 3:1), it may be that the narrator was signaling the fact that this generous gift of seed is, by itself, similarly incomplete

• Ruth is still looking forward to receiving the final installment of "seed" that will accomplish her rest!

• What was the purpose of the barley that Boaz gave to Ruth? What does this grain foreshadow? What is the significance of the six measure quantity?

16And when she came to her mother-in-law, she said, “How did you fare, my daughter?” Then she told her all that the man had done for her, 17saying, “These six measures of barley he gave to me, for he said to me, ‘You must not go back empty-handed to your mother-in-law.’” 18She replied, “Wait, my daughter, until you learn how the matter turns out, for the man will not rest but will settle the matter today.”

Ruth 3:16-18

• When Ruth arrived home, Naomi asked a question. It's not the question the ESV has, though: "How did you fare, my daughter?" Actually, she asked, "Who are you, my daughter?" That question has tended to puzzle translators and commentators alike.

• At first sight it doesn't seem to fit here. Doesn't Naomi know who Ruth is in the dark? But this question, exactly the same question that Boaz asked earlier in this chapter, is a question Naomi struggles with throughout the Book of Ruth.

• Who is this Moabitess? Is she a person of no significance, an outsider and outcast, as Naomi viewed her back in chapter 1? Or is she in fact rather more than Naomi had ever thought?

What does the word “rest” in verse 18 bring to mind?

• This dialogue between Ruth and Naomi comprises the last words that either of them utter in the story• Poised on the threshold of fulfillment, they both step aside with

Boaz taking center stage• His action will now dominate the story’s resolution

• Ruth 3 compels each of us to ask this question: "What am I willing to risk, and for what?" • People willingly face all kinds of perils in life, both small and

great. For the sake of having fun, or receiving a promotion, or having a family, people are willing to put up with all kinds of discomforts and potential costs. People climb mountains, cross seas, work long hours, and endure pain for all kinds of reasons. • What are we willing to risk, though, for the sake of the gospel?

Case Study: Steven, a single young man

• You welcome him into your living room, thank him for coming, and invite him to share what’s on his mind. He tells you he’s met a wonderful Christian girl at Cedarville University where he attends, that they’ve been dating about a year, but that now he’s perplexed. Simply put, he’s fearful. He’s never seen a solid marriage up close. He was raised by a single mom and doesn’t even remember his dad who left when he was two.

• “I’m not sure what real love is,” Steve confesses. “I’ll be graduating in less than a year and so will Sue. We started talking about marriage last week and it scared me to death. I think I love Sue, but how can I know for sure, I mean, how can I know we should marry? I don’t want to repeat what happened to my parents. I’m just so confused.” At this point Steve stops talking and looks at the floor.

• Scenario: Steven, a 22-year-old young man, comes to see you. You’ve known Steve for about three years, since he started attending Redeemer after moving here from out of state. Steve, who professed faith in Christ as his Savior two years ago and demonstrated the evidence of God’s transforming grace since, now seems distressed about something.

• Steve first needs encouragement … “Steve, I’m so glad you came to see me and share this with me.”

• His coming to see us affords a wonderful privilege to help him develop a biblical understanding of love and marriage.

What would you say first to Steve?

• It also allows us to help him grow in his understanding of the goodness, wisdom, and grace of God

• It’s often tough for a young person to humble himself and seek godly counsel when facing important decisions

• “God is so good, Steve! He has given us everything we need for living the kind of life that pleases Him. I’d love to spend some time with you right now as we seek to discern what would please Him in your life. The first way I can help you is by listening. Would it be okay if I asked you a few questions?”

Case Study: Steven, a single young man

• Data gathering is vital for effective biblical counseling• Proverbs 18:13 says, “If one gives an answer before he

hears, it is his folly and shame”• One of the quickest ways to insure giving bad counsel

is to give counsel too quickly

What initial questions would you ask Steve?

• Asking good questions, followed by attentive listening and processing of the information shared, is non-negotiable

• Some questions we might pose for Steve: “Tell me about Sue. What’s she like?” “What do you think love is?” “How did the subject of marriage happen to come up last week?” “What makes you think you might repeat what happened to your

folks?” “What specifically about marriage scares you so much?”

Case Study: Steven, a single young man

• He needs our encouragement to think & act biblically as he makes decisions concerning his relationship with Sue

• Assure him that God’s Word has sufficient answers for all the problems of life (2 Peter 1:3-4)

• While we might not tackle all the pertinent questions this very night, we can establish a good starting point by addressing the issue of his fear

• The Scriptures teach that true love casts out fear (1 John 4:18)• As we learn what true love is and then put that knowledge into practice by

putting on love for God and others, fear’s power diminishes• Thankfully, true love comes from God (1 John 4:7) … we love because He first

loved us• In fact, if we know Christ the ability to love is guaranteed by the Holy Spirit who

lives in us• Galatians 5:22 indicates that the fruit of the Spirit is love; God enables us as His

children to do what we could not do naturally on our own• He supernaturally enables us to reflect His love by the ministry of His Spirit

Case Study: Steven, a single young manWhat does Steve need most from us in this conversation?

2 Peter 1:3-4 -- “His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence, by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire.”

• Steve is concerned that his past (his lack of seeing a God-honoring model of marriage by his parents) may limit his ability to experience a God-honoring, fulfilling marriage

• Tell him with joy what God mercifully did in and through Ruth’s life

• Ruth certainly had no God-honoring model to learn from either (her parents worshipped a pagan deity), but God’s grace was sufficient for her

• Indeed, God chose to incorporate her into the very lineage of His Son• Furthermore, the theme of God’s providence as illustrated in the book of

Ruth can provide Steve with reason for great hope• God has a proven track record of redeeming sinners who didn’t even

know His Word, let alone have role models of it, and turn them into marvelous trophies of His grace!

Case Study: Steven, a single young man

How might you use the story of Ruth to encourage Steve in this initial conversation?

• In order to give this brother hope about God’s good plan for his life, share one of the following promise-giving texts:

• Jeremiah 29:11 -- “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.”

• Exodus 15:13 -- “You have led in your steadfast love the people whom you have redeemed; you have guided them by your strength to your holy abode.”

• Though these Old Testament verses were originally given to Israel as God’s chosen nation, by way of application they reveal God’s heart towards believers today.

Case Study: Steven, a single young man

What other passages in God’s Word might you use to help Steve initially?

Back-up Slides