A Humble Appeal

When I was nineteen, a woman at our church asked if we could meet together weekly. This was my first experience with discipleship or mentoring. Vicki was in her mid to late twenties. She was married with a baby daughter. She had previously been involved with a campus ministry, but now she and her husband were helping with our church’s youth group as was I. We met together for about a year. She walked with me through some of the spiritual disciplines like studying Scripture on my own, praying, and memorizing Scripture, but she also modeled a godly wife and mother. She was quick with a smile, kind, and humble. I wish I could say I always heeded the wise instruction she gave me, but of course I haven’t. Like most, I thought there were times I knew better. There were also times I did heed her wise instruction. I am thankful for the time she took with me, and I have tried to carry what she modeled to me into my relationships.

As I’ve been studying the book of Ruth, Chapters 1 and 2 have been relatable – not in the sense of my own experience, but as far as not being a stretch to understand the customs and the story line. Even Chapter 4 (which hopefully we will get to after Thanksgiving) is not all that foreign. There is another custom coming into play, but [spoiler alert] Boaz and Ruth get married. We can relate to weddings. But then Chapter 3 stands out in the middle of all this, and if we don’t understand the background, it’s just weird. Who uncovers another’s feet and lies down? It’s certainly not how I would direct any of the girls in my youth group to act.

When I studied the book of Ruth years ago, I learned some of the background and meaning of chapter 3, but this past week as I studied it again, I got excited. There is so much more to learn from than just a seemingly strange marriage proposal. Let’s continue through the account of Boaz, Ruth, and Naomi.

Then Naomi her mother-in-law said to her, “My daughter, should I not seek rest for you, that it may be well with you? 2 Is not Boaz our relative, with whose young women you were? See, he is winnowing barley tonight at the threshing floor. 3 Wash therefore and anoint yourself, and put on your cloak and go down to the threshing floor, but do not make yourself known to the man until he has finished eating and drinking. 4 But 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.” 5 And she replied, “All that you say I will do.”

6 So she went down to the threshing floor and did just as her mother-in-law had commanded her. 7 And 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. 8 At midnight the man was startled and turned over, and behold, a woman lay at his feet! 9 He said, “Who are you?” And she answered, “I am Ruth, your servant. Spread your wings over your servant, for you are a redeemer.” 10 And 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. 11 And 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. 12 And now it is true that I am a redeemer. Yet there is a redeemer nearer than I. 13 Remain 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.”

14 So 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.” 15 And 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. 16 And 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, 17 saying, “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.’ ” 18 She replied, “Wait, my daughter, until you learn how the matter turns out, for the man will not rest but will settle the matter today.”[1]

You may recall that Chapter 2 ended with Ruth working the full barley and wheat harvests. We don’t have details, but likely Ruth and Boaz spent a couple months getting to know more about each other in this group, work setting. It is not uncommon to put your best self forward when you are dating. You don’t always get to know the real person until later, but one-on-one dating (as we know it) wasn’t a thing back in Boaz and Ruth’s day. I have a friend that I worked with back in my early twenties. She can probably testify to seeing all sides of the real Tara. There was no way I could work day in and day out with her and keep up a pretense. I am guessing that it wasn’t any different for Boaz and Ruth. They could witness how each other interacted with the other workers. They could observe the other’s true character.

Chapter 3 begins with the end of harvesting. Everything was ready to be threshed, and Naomi was ready to give Ruth some instruction. Naomi began with a question, “My daughter, should I not seek rest for you, that it may be well with you” (vs 1). The word for rest is the same word Naomi used in speaking to Ruth and Orpah about finding rest in a home with a new husband (vs 1:9). Naomi is speaking of a home as a place of rest and security, and this is what she desires for her faithful daughter-in-law.

Naomi next asked Ruth if Boaz is not a relative. Naomi is speaking of a Hebrew custom concerning a kinsman-redeemer or goel, also translated as redeemer. A goel carried specific responsibilities in the family life of an Israelite.

· “The kinsman-redeemer was responsible to buy a fellow Israelite out of slavery (Leviticus 25:48).

• He was responsible to be the “avenger of blood” to make sure the murderer of a family member answered to the crime (Numbers 35:19).

• He was responsible to buy back family land that had been forfeited (Leviticus 25:25).

• He was responsible to carry on the family name by marrying a childless widow (Deuteronomy 25:5–10).”[2]

The last responsibility is the one Naomi referred to. She is going to instruct Ruth in initiating this custom with Boaz – essentially asking Boaz to marry Ruth. This may seem forward to us, but it was common practice at the time. Naomi instructed Ruth in what was right.

Naomi’s desire for Ruth is understandable to us, but her instructions that come next are what may seem odd. Well, maybe cleaning up, smelling good, and dressing nice aren’t odd. Naomi understood and we understand that generally men appreciate these things. We can even understand the wisdom in waiting for Boaz to finish his meal. Naomi was teaching Ruth to be respectful in her timing, not putting her interest above Boaz’s.

But what is this that Ruth is to do? “But 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.” Again, this seems forward to us like Ruth is crawling into bed with Boaz in the middle of the night, but that is not at all what is going on. Uncovering and lying down at Boaz’s feet was a recognized, humble sign of submission. Servants did this. According to the custom, just like the law regarding gleaning, Ruth had every right to expect marriage from Boaz, but Naomi wisely counseled her not to go to Boaz demanding but approach him as a servant with a humble appeal for marriage. Naomi taught Ruth to show respect and trust Boaz.

I don’t know if these instructions sounded strange to Ruth or not since she was from Moab not Israel. What we do know is that Ruth heeded Naomi’s instructions (vs 5-6). She didn’t ask questions. Ruth simply followed the wise instruction Naomi gave her.

Remember that this is the time of the judges, and people doing what was right in their own eyes. It was wise of Boaz to sleep on the threshing floor where he could guard his crops. Given the possibility of thieves, it is no wonder Boaz was startled in the night not only to find someone there but that the someone was a woman laying at his feet.

In answer to Boaz’s question, Ruth humbly identified herself, “I am Ruth, your servant.” She continued with her humble appeal, “Spread your wings over your servant, for you are a redeemer.” Ruth asked Boaz to marry her according to the custom. Although she made a bold request, Ruth’s use of redeemer or kinsman-redeemerdemonstrates that she is not making an inappropriate request. Notice that she repeated that she was Boaz’s servant.

Boaz likewise had a humble response. He recognized that Ruth could have pursued younger men, but she chose him. It is obvious from the interaction Scripture has given us thus far, that Ruth respected Boaz, and Boaz was a man of godly character. Boaz’s character is further demonstrated in the fact that as a kinsman-redeemer, he could have just taken Ruth, but he was kind in making sure it was what she wanted. He also could have ignored the existence of a closer kinsman-redeemer, but he chose to do what was right. He chose to proceed God’s way.

Do you remember in chapter 2:1 that Boaz was described as a worthy man? Now here in verse 11, Boaz affirmed that Ruth was known as a worthy woman. “Literally, Boaz called Ruth a hah-yil woman. The basic meaning behind this Hebrew word is ‘strength; moral strength, good quality, integrity, virtue.’ This same word is used as a term for heroes in the Bible: A mighty man of valor. Just as courage and strength make a man a hero, so Ruth’s courage and strength, shown in her virtue—make her a hero, of the Proverbs 31 kind of definition of a woman of virtue.[3] Ruth’s character had not gone unnoticed by Boaz.

The chapter finishes with Ruth staying the night at the threshing floor but leaving before others awoke. Boaz was not trying to hide the fact that Ruth was there but was seeking to talk to the closer kinsman-redeemer before he heard about Ruth’s appeal for a kinsman-redeemer elsewhere. Boaz wanted to do things correctly. Boaz then compassionately gave Ruth a gift before she left. Ruth returned to Naomi and began the waiting for her future outcome.

Throughout this chapter we continue to see the character of Jesus reflected in both Boaz’s and Ruth’s character – humility, kindness, righteousness, worthiness. Ruth exhibits the character of a humble servant, but Boaz does too in his responses to Ruth. They direct us to Jesus who was the perfect humble servant in leaving heaven to take on flesh, suffer, and die in our place for our sins. In Chapter 3, Ruth made her humble appeal for a kinsman-redeemer to care for her as a husband and continue Elimelech’s line. In Jesus, we have the true Redeemer who purchased us with His shed blood and guarantees us an eternal home of rest and security with Him.

Reflection

1. Ruth wisely listened to instruction from Naomi. Do you have a mature Christian to mentor you? Are you heeding wise instruction from Scripture as well as others? Are you mentoring someone? God gave us others in the body to mutually encourage and build up, to pray for each other, and to hold each other accountable. Don’t miss out on this blessing and instrument in your sanctification.

2. Boaz and Ruth both reflected Jesus in their humble, kind, godly, servant character. What are specific ways you can reflect Jesus in these ways this week?

3. Spend time thanking and praising Jesus for being your Redeemer.

[1] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), Ru 3:1–18. [2] David Guzik, Ruth, David Guzik’s Commentaries on the Bible (Santa Barbara, CA: David Guzik, 2005), Ru 3:1–2a. [3] David Guzik, Ruth, David Guzik’s Commentaries on the Bible (Santa Barbara, CA: David Guzik, 2005), Ru 3:10–11.