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[a] 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.
Throughout the book of Ruth, we have and will continue to encounter the word hesed, covenantal love. This is the love of God for His people but it is also the love
that is to exist within the relationships that are experienced by His people. We have seen example after example of this kind of love in Naomi, Boaz and especially in Ruth.
Hesed love is that which comes from God and has the Lord at its center and focus. Those who love this way fiercely seek the good of the one loved and yet is always
pointed toward the Lord Himself. We see the Christ centered focus of love throughout the Bible. You can finish each of these verses in your mind:
Husbands love your wives as…
Wives submit to your husbands as…
Children obey your parents…
Their focus is all relationships for us is the Lord Himself and when we do this, hesed, covenantal, God honoring love is how we will love others.
3:12-13. 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.”
Interestingly, Boaz doesn’t say, I am going to make this work no matter what. There is another person, who will remain unnamed throughout the narrative, who has what
we might call, ‘first dibs’ on Ruth, another who has the role of redeemer as well. Boaz is going to do this the right way. He doesn’t allow “self” to emerge, or the spirit of, “I have to have what I want…” No, he will do things the right way and trust the
Lord.
Whenever we find ourselves saying, “I have to have this or I have to do this,” we need to be careful, an idol could be lurking. St. Augustine said that an idol is
simply a love out of balance, or a love not rightly ordered. That is why good things can often become bad things, not because it is in and of itself a bad thing, but because it becomes too important.
Boaz is in love with Ruth, but he does not idolize love. Oftentimes we don’t “say” I have to have this, but in our heart, we want what we want, and by golly we are
going to get it come what may! We manipulate people, and try to control circumstances so that our wants become reality. We can even do this while speaking pious sounding, spiritual words, but in reality, we are seeking ourselves.
What we love, what we worship will become the focus of our lives. Our loves direct our behavior, desires and therefore our future. Jesus tells us, where your treasure
is, there your heart will be also. Therefore, it is wise to take stock of ourselves and ask, “What do I treasure?” When you boil it all down, what is it that you really, really, want?
When Boaz tells Ruth to lie down until morning, he purposely uses a non-sexual Hebrew word. We might translate the word as “lodge”. We notice how this situation is
sexually and romantically charged, and so Boaz continues to show his integrity by using a word that suggests no such intention. And then Boaz sends her off.
3:14-15. 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.” 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.
Author Paul Miller takes the time to once again show us that Boaz is demonstrating his integrity by caring for Ruth:
~Her reputation; sending her off in the dark
~The gift of grain is generous and enough that if someone sees her, they would think she has beenwinnowing during the night.
~The gift also is something of a symbol of his intentions; he intends to redeem her if at all possible.
The character of Boaz is beginning to emerge and men should all stand in awe. He desires Ruth, but he will not pursue his desires unrighteously. He will honor the
cultural law of the order regarding the kinsman redeemer, but more importantly, he will put his desires in their proper place and show true love and concern, not for himself, but for Ruth. Her reputation, her purity, her sustenance is more valued by Boaz than
is anything he might desire for himself.
The character of Messiah is shining through. Boaz becomes more and more a type of Christ. The Spirit that will be seen in fullness in Jesus the Redeemer, is seen in
a mere mortal who has given himself to the ways, commands and purposes of Yahweh. This is what all of God’s people are called to seek and become. God’s ways bring blessing, they set us above reproach but most importantly, when all is said and done, we are
left with our mouths agape at what the mercy and grace of God works in us!
Prayer: Gracious Father, I implore you to work in me, that I might be conformed more and more to the image of Jesus my Savior. Forgive me for fighting against your
Spirit and for pursuing my own desires and wants above your commands and pleasure. Restore to me, the joy of my salvation that I might love You and Your ways above all that the world, the flesh and the evil one might offer up to me, through Jesus Christ my
Lord, Amen
Hymn Wake Awake the Night is Flying
