(Audio and Text Available)
Title: Ruth did WHAT?
Intro:
Why was Boaz lying at the grain?
- To protect his crop from thieves
- To make sure his servants had done the job correctly, in a non-wasteful way
“his heart was cheerful”
Was Boaz drunk?
J.I. Packer:
Boaz had been drinking, but was hardly drunk. After all the work and festivity of the day, Boaz went to “the far end of the heap of grain” a place where Ruth was able to meet him privately. God’s providence was clearing a path for her.
Three thoughts:
1. Boaz had indeed been drinking, but the scriptures make no mention of him being drunk, or in any way incapacitated. This (along with several other scriptures) makes the argument that “all alcohol is sin” irresponsible.
2. More likely, Boaz’s “cheerfulness” and celebratory mood is based on the fact that they have had a great harvest, that the Lord has blessed them, and they are enjoying the evening.
3. It seems that Boaz is already asleep when Ruth comes to lay down at his feet. He is startled sometime later (around midnight) and that’s when the conversation takes place.
Who are you?
Ruth’s Shocking Response:
(How many of you believe Ruth’s response is shocking? No? Let me try to convince you.)
“Take your maidservant under your wing”
Literally, “Cover Me”
Why is this such a striking thing for Ruth to say? We need to look at Ezekiel 16:8 for the answer:
“When I passed by you again and looked upon you, indeed your time was the time of love; so I spread My wing over you and covered your nakedness. Yes, I swore an oath to you and entered into a covenant with you, and you became mine,” says the Lord.
Packer: Covering a woman with one’s garment is symbolic of entering into marital relations. To “uncover” this relation is to violate it.
Deuteronomy 22:30 “A man shall not take his father’s wife, nor uncover his father’s bed.”
$10,000 question: Did Naomi tell Ruth to say this? To propose?
Naomi said, “…and you shall go in, uncover his feet, and lie down; and he will tell you what you should do.”
No. Ruth was now being bold on her own accord. Ruth flat out asks Boaz to marry her! Wow. Talk about putting yourself out there!
“For you are a close relative”
According to Jewish Law, Boaz is indeed in the role of the Kinsman Redeemer, but while the law suggested that marriage was a potential solution, it was neither required, nor was it particularly common. And the woman NEVER made that suggestion. The woman’s parents, maybe, the man, yes, but NEVER the woman.
POINT: Ruth’s boldness goes FAR BEYOND Naomi’s.
Why was she so bold?
(Take answers)
- Intuition? A woman knows? (Story of Ben and Mary while dating and Wendy’s server flirting)
- A Movement of the Spirit?
- An act of desperation?
- Others?
And what does Boaz say, how does he react? (You’ll have to come back next week to find out!)
pray/QA