Ruth Does What She's Told

[Read Ruth 3:6-15]

There’s a song that was pretty popular a few years ago, and I want to read the lyrics to begin this morning’s message: “Saturday morning jumped out of bed And put on my best suit Got in my car and raced like a jet All the way to you Knocked on your door with heart in my hand To ask you a question 'Cause I know that you're an old-fashioned man, yeah Can I have your daughter for the rest of my life? Say yes, say yes 'cause I need to know You say I'll never get your blessing 'til the day I die Tough luck, my friend, but the answer is 'No' Why you gotta be so rude? Don't you know I'm human too? Why you gotta be so rude? I'm gonna marry her anyway Marry that girl Marry her anyway Marry that girl Yeah, no matter what you say”

This song is quite a contrast to what we just read in Scripture—yet the song is VERY symbolic of what the world sees as romantic. This is a seen as a romantic song, right? These two people love each other SO MUCH that nobody is going to get in their way. It doesn’t matter if the parents disapprove. It doesn’t matter. They’re going to get married anyway. And, anyone who says anything differently is RUDE. And, as people hear the song, they have this natural tendency to think, “Oh, how romantic. Look at how much they love each other. Love is so powerful.” 

Yet, as we read this portion of Ruth, we see a very different description of romantic love. And, don’t miss this important point. This story IS ROMANTIC. It’s beautiful. But, many in our culture would not see Boaz’s actions as romantic. Nobody is writing songs about this. It’s not the plot line of a Hallmark movie. It’s a deeper romance than the world knows. 

Last week, we took a look at Naomi’s plan. This week, we watch her plan in action. And, as we begin reading the passage, we see everything going as planned. We read, “So she went down to the threshing floor and did just as her mother-in-law had commanded her. 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.” (Ruth 3:6–7, ESV). So, Ruth got dolled up and went to the threshing floor, just as Naomi planned. Boaz ate and drank, and feeling good, laid down at the end of a heap of grain. Then, Ruth tip toed in, uncovered his feed, and laid down. Literally, everything went as Naomi had planned. Like I mentioned last week, Naomi had thought everything through and things went smoothly. 

I have to say, I LOVE the next part of the story. I laugh every time. We read, “At midnight the man was startled and turned over, and behold, a woman lay at his feet!” (Ruth 3:8, ESV). BEHOLD, a woman is laying at his feet! LOL. Can you imagine? Have you ever had this experience as a parent? You’re startled in the middle of the night, and groggily you open your eyes to see two little eyes staring back at you. Behold! A child is in your room! Multiply that feeling by 10 if you were to find someone else laying at your feet! 

So, Boaz does what any normal person would do: “He said, “Who are you?”” (Ruth 3:9, ESV). Make sure you understand the picture rightly. Boaz didn’t calmly and collectedly ask, “Ma'am, who might you be?” It was more like a groggy, sleepy: “What in the world? What are you doing? Who are you?”

And Ruth is ready with her answer, “I am Ruth, your servant. Spread your wings over your servant, for you are a redeemer.” (Ruth 3:9, ESV). Interestingly, this wasn’t part of Naomi’s plan, was it? Naomi never told Ruth to say anything. She was just supposed to go it, uncover his feet, lay down, and do what he tells her. Yet, as many commentators pointed out, Ruth isn’t just a puppet. Yes, she is obedient and listens to Naomi. Yet, she isn’t a puppet or a robot. She is fully capable of handling things. So, when Boaz asks her s question, she answers and lays everything out—saying THIS IS WHY I’M HERE. 

And, Ruth’s response gives us the answer to many questions. Last week, I mentioned the ambiguity, the tension, and uncertainty about what was going to happen and WHY Naomi’s plan included certain things—especially uncovering his feet. What was that all about? Was this a practical thing? Some commentators said she uncovered his feet so that the cool breeze would wake him up. Was this a sexual thing? I mentioned those speculations last week. The answer to both questions is: NO. We know that because of Ruth’s response. 

She asks Boaz to spread his wings over her. The word “wings” could also mean garment or the corner of a garment. So, the act of uncovering Boaz’s feet was symbolic of what Ruth was asking. She uncovered his feet, and spread the corner of his garment over her. Then, when he noticed what was going on, she didn’t wait for him to recognize the symbolism, she just laid it out for him: “I’m lay her at your feet, with the corner of your robe over me, because I want you to give me refuge under your wings—I want you to redeem me—marry me.” 

The act of spreading the corner of a garment over someone was part of the marriage proposal. We see that in another passage in the Old Testament. In this passage God is describing his relationship with his people—a relationship often described as the relationship between husband and wife. In that passage we read, “When I passed by you again and saw you, behold, you were at the age for love, and I spread the corner 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.” (Ezekiel 16:8, ESV). So, in the imagery of this passage, God spread the corner of his garment over his people as a pledge of his commitment to us—as a way of entering into covenant with us. By doing so, he declared that we are his people and he would be our God. In a similar way, Ruth is asking Boaz: “Take me in as your wife. I’m willing to commit myself to you, if you’re willing to commit yourself to me. Enter into a covenant with me. I will be your wife, and you will be my husband.” 

Now, this wasn’t how things normally went. So, there’s some tension building as Ruth lays out her request. How will Boaz respond? He responds Godly, graciously, and with joy. He says, “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.” (Ruth 3:10, ESV). He prays a blessing over Ruth for her kindness—her steadfast love. He says that this act of steadfast love is greater than her first act of steadfast love. What act was that? It was when she committed herself to Naomi. Now, Ruth is showing a greater steadfast love by committing herself to Boaz. She is not marrying for youth—she didn’t go after the young men—she isn’t marrying for “love”—she didn’t settle for a poor man—and she isn’t marrying for money—she isn’t seeking “riches.” She’s marrying out of faithfulness to Naomi and to God. By marrying a family redeemer, she is able to provide an heir for Naomi AND she’s following the guidelines laid out by God. 

Then Boaz gives Ruth even higher praise. He says, “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.” (Ruth 3:11, ESV). Here he accepts Ruth’s request and gives some reasoning for it. Everyone in town knows Ruth is a worthy woman. Isn’t that fitting? Boaz has already been described as being a WORTHY man. Now, he is pointing out that Ruth is a WORTHY woman. A worthy man marrying a worthy woman seems like a good plan. 

There’s even more to this statement about Ruth being a worthy woman. It comes from a well-known passage in Proverbs—Proverbs 31. It begins by saying, “An excellent wife who can find? She is far more precious than jewels.” (Proverbs 31:10, ESV). Guess how you could also translate the word “excellent” in this passage? WORTHY. It’s the same Hebrew word. So, Boaz recognizes that Ruth is this type of woman. She’s worthy. As you read through Proverbs 31, you’ll notice how perfectly it describes Ruth. The worthy wife is described as being a hard worker, committed to her family, trustworthy, generous, caring, etc. As Boaz sees all of these characteristics in Ruth, he recognizes that she would be a Proverbs 31 wife—and excellent wife, far more precious than any wealth he could ever find. 

So, you would expect him to follow the song from the beginning, right? I’m gonna marry this girl, no matter what anyone says. She’s perfect. That would be the romantic thing to do, right? No. Instead, Boaz says, “And now it is true that I am a redeemer. Yet there is a redeemer nearer than I. 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.” (Ruth 3:12–13, ESV). For many, this seems VERY unromantic. They scream, “Wait! What?! This woman lays it all out there for you, takes a risk, takes the initiative and you tell her that you’re going to give someone else the chance to marry her!!! And only if he doesn’t, THEN you’ll redeem her!!! Come on, man! That’s so unromantic!” 

Yet, in all honesty, there is a deeper romance to what Boaz is doing here. First off, notice that Boaz didn’t say this right away. The first words out of his mouth were praise of Ruth AND his answer, “I will do for you all that you ask…” (Ruth 3:11, ESV). This lets Ruth know that he is interested and would love to have her as his wife. However, Boaz is a man of integrity. He isn’t going to take matters into his own hands. He’s going to follow the paths God has given them to marriage. He recognizes there’s another man in town who is a nearer relative AND must give Boaz permission before he makes his move. He isn’t going to bypass that. He doesn’t want to start their marriage off on the wrong foot—by taking matters into their own hands. Also, notice how he ends this statement, he says, “But if he is not willing to redeem you, then, as the LORD lives, I will redeem you.” (Ruth 3:12–13, ESV). He swears an oath that he will redeem Ruth. He makes a commitment to her. 

Now, I don’t care who you are, THAT IS ROMANTIC! A man who knows his God, committed to his God, and is committed to doing things the right way—not taking advantage of a young girl in a vulnerable situation, patiently doing things in the right way at the right time. That’s romantic. Rushing in, doing things the way you want to do them, letting your emotions and hormones take charge, ignoring customs and commitments, and ignoring GOD’S plan/desire for you relationship IS NOT ROMANTIC. It’s FOOLISH and will not lead to a fruitful relationship. 

Besides, Boaz’s patience and integrity also point to his faith in God. Sinclair Ferguson points out, “The response of Boaz…is characterized by a deep-seated trust that God is well able to bring his purposes to pass in his own ways and in his own time” (Faithful God, p 88). He trusts that God has put these procedures in place for a reason. He trusts that God will accomplish his purposes. If God wants he and Ruth to be together, it will happen—and it will happen by going through the proper procedures and channels. Those who rush into things, refuse to do things the way God intends, ignore Godly advice, and refuse to be patient in their relationships, show their lack of trust in God. They don’t trust that God will accomplish his purposes through his processes. So, they take matters into their own hands and do things the way they want to do them. That’s not faith. That’s faithlessness…and faithlessness is NOT ROMANTIC. But a faithful, Godly, patient man is ROMANTIC. 

The part of the story ends with similar themes. We read, “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.”” (Ruth 3:14, ESV). Although what happened on the threshing floor that night was innocent and godly, BOTH Ruth and Boaz knew it wouldn’t look that way. Yet, it was too dangerous for Ruth to go home in the dead of night. So, Boaz told her to stay until the early morning hours, but leave before anyone could recognize that there was a woman there with him. He wanted to protect Ruth from both physical harm and repetitional harm. 

Then, Boaz shows his generosity again. We read, ““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 3:15, ESV). That’s somewhere between 60-95 pounds of grain—way more than last time. There could be many different reasons for this. First, Boaz has already shown his extreme generosity, so this doesn’t surprise us. Second, this could also help with cover to answer the question, “What was Ruth doing on the threshing floor? Getting grain.” 

However, I think there’s more to it than that. We’ll find out next week this grain is intended for Naomi. This is a sign going back to Naomi, letting her know he is going to take care of things. Ferguson even says this a subtle rebuke of Naomi, saying, “I understand the need and I understand the panic. I understand why you did this. I don’t approve. But by heart is open to you in grace, and this is a little message to you. Trust in the provision of that God will supply.” (Faithful God, p 99). 

But there’s more for us to see in this passage, than some good relationship advice. We’re to see the image of our relationship with our Savior. Like Ruth, we come to our Savior, lay ourselves at his feet, and say, “Jesus, I need you. I can’t do this on my own. I’m weak, I’m tired, I’m worn. Please, take me in. Please take care of me. Please protect me. Please save me.” That’s what faith looks like. We lay ourselves at the feet of Jesus BECAUSE we TRUST him to save us, BECAUSE we know there’s no where else to turn. 

And how did Jesus respond? “Our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works.” (Titus 2:13–14, ESV). Jesus GAVE HIMSELF—in life AND death—to redeem us. He protected us from our sin and provided us with salvation. But his provision and protection go beyond that initial salvation. We’re reminded: “He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things?” (Romans 8:32, ESV). He is willing to protect us and provide for our sins, why would we question whether he would provide and protect us in every other area of life? So, we life our lives trusting in Him. 

AND, as we live our lives trusting our God, we follow Boaz’s lead. We don’t rush in and do things the way we may want to do them. We don’t allow our emotions and hormones to lead the way. We live lives of integrity and trust our God. We trust that he will protect us and provide for us through the paths He has given us. We don’t try to find loopholes or detours. We trust our God, do things the way he told us to do them, and bring Him glory.