Ruth 3:8-13; 4:13-17

“Redemption”

When Naomi found out that Boaz was showing his kindness to Ruth, she encouraged Ruth to stay with the women working in his field. Naomi said to Ruth,  “That man is our close relative; he is one of our guardian-redeemers.

I read this…..Because widows were usually destitute in biblical times, God provided for their well-being through Levirate law, in which the nearest relative would marry and care for a widow (Deut. 25:5-10).

Let’s read Ruth 3:8-10

8 In the middle of the night something startled the man; he turned—and there was a woman lying at his feet! 9 “Who are you?” he asked. “I am your servant Ruth,” she said. “Spread the corner of your garment over me, since you are a guardian-redeemer of our family.” 10 “The Lord bless you, my daughter,” he replied. “This kindness is greater than that which you showed earlier: You have not run after the younger men, whether rich or poor.

Boaz was working, winnowing barley on the threshing floor and sleeping there at night.

I read that winnowing means the workers use a shovel to throw the mixed material up into the evening breeze where the light chaff blows away in the wind, the mid-weight straw falls to the side, and the heavy barley seeds drop straight back down to the floor to be collected.

He was sleeping their at night to guard his crop against thieves, which was common in that day as we see in 1 SAMUEL 23:1 Then they told David, saying, “Look, the Philistines are fighting against Keilah, and they are robbing the threshing floors.”

So, Naomi comes up with a plan to find a home for Ruth where she will be well provided.

This is the plan………….tonight he will be winnowing barley on the threshing floor. Wash, put on perfume, and get dressed in your best clothes. Then go down to the threshing floor, but don’t let him know you are there until he has finished eating and drinking. When he lies down, note the place where he is lying. Then go and uncover his feet and lie down. He will tell you what to do.”

I share this, Naomi instructed Ruth to go in, uncover his feet, and lie down at the appropriate time. Some might think this was a provocative gesture, as if Ruth was told to offer herself sexually to Boaz. This was not how this gesture was understood in that day. In the culture of that day, this was understood as an act of total submission. In that day, this was understood to be the role of a servant – to lay at their master’s feet and be ready for any command of the master. So, when Naomi told Ruth to lie down at Boaz’s feet, she told her to come to him in a totally humble, submissive way.

In short, Ruth offered herself to Boaz as a wife.

Boaz’s response in verse ten is a praise for Ruth’s character.

He says that Ruth has shown greater kindness now than she showed earlier when she promised to leave her homeland to care for Naomi.

 What does it mean when Boaz said to Ruth, “You have not run after the younger men, whether rich or poor.”

This tells us that there was an age difference between Ruth and Boaz and he considered himself not so appealing to Ruth. While Boaz was definitely interested in Ruth, he realistically didn’t think he had a chance with her.

Rather than chasing after some young handsome man that may or may not provide for her,  Ruth chose family responsibility, continuing her promise to care for Naomi, rather than personal romance or wealth. Once again this shows her true character.

Let’s read Ruth 3:11-13

11 And now, my daughter, don’t be afraid. I will do for you all you ask. All the people of my town know that you are a woman of noble character. 12 Although it is true that I am a guardian-redeemer of our family, there is another who is more closely related than I. 13 Stay here for the night, and in the morning if he wants to do his duty as your guardian-redeemer, good; let him redeem you. But if he is not willing, as surely as the Lord lives I will do it. Lie here until morning.”

Boaz agrees that he is a guardian-redeemer to Ruth but before he can marry her there is one little legal matter that has to be taken care of and that is to talk with the one other person who is more closely related and has the legal precedence to redeem Naomi's land and marry Ruth.

Boaz does make this promise…..But if he is not willing, as surely as the Lord lives I will do it.

While this was probably upsetting for Ruth to hear, Boaz tells her not to worry and to lie here tonight and he will take care of it in the morning.

In Ruth 4 we see how Boaz orchestrates this entire event.

I share this………..

Boaz goes to the town gate which is the traditional place for legal and business transactions—and sits down to wait for the closer relative.

Then he said to the guardian-redeemer, “Naomi, who has come back from Moab, is selling the piece of land that belonged to our relative Elimelek. I thought I should bring the matter to your attention and suggest that you buy it in the presence of these seated here and in the presence of the elders of my people. If you will redeem it, do so. But if you will not, tell me, so I will know. For no one has the right to do it except you, and I am next in line.”

The more closely related man says…. “I will redeem it,

The man is simply looking at the land and not thinking about what else comes along with the deal, so Boaz reminds him and says…………….

 “On the day you buy the land from Naomi, you also acquire Ruth the Moabite, the dead man’s widow, in order to maintain the name of the dead with his property.”

When the man finds out that Ruth comes along with the land, he quickly says…… I cannot redeem it because I might endanger my own estate. You redeem it yourself. I cannot do it.”

And with that Boaz has a clear and legal right to redeem Ruth.

Let’s read Ruth 4:13-17

13 So Boaz took Ruth and she became his wife. When he made love to her, the Lord enabled her to conceive, and she gave birth to a son. 14 The women said to Naomi: “Praise be to the Lord, who this day has not left you without a guardian-redeemer. May he become famous throughout Israel! 15 He will renew your life and sustain you in your old age. For your daughter-in-law, who loves you and who is better to you than seven sons, has given him birth.” 16 Then Naomi took the child in her arms and cared for him. 17 The women living there said, “Naomi has a son!” And they named him Obed. He was the father of Jesse, the father of David.

Boaz and Ruth became husband and wife, and their love for each other produced a son.

If you remember when we started this lesson a few weeks ago, Naomi was a women with no hope after losing her husband and two sons. But now she holds a child in her arms and cared for him.

I read this; The ladies in the neighborhood gave the baby the name Obed, which means "worshipper" or "servant" as the women of the town tell Naomi that this baby will renew her life and care for her in her old age.

Notice that everyone is praising the Lord because they know that this son comes from the Lord’s blessings from their marriage as God provided a guardian-redeemer in Boaz who will renew their life and sustain them.

“Redemption” is the act of saving, freeing, or buying back someone or something from sin, debt, or a bad situation.

I read this, Ruth was a Moabite—an outsider excluded from the assembly of Israel by law. Boaz showed her unmerited favor and integrated her into his family. Christ extends salvation to the Gentiles (the spiritual outsiders) and brings them into the family of God.

Galatians 4:4-6  But when the set time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those under the law, that we might receive adoption to sonship. Because you are his sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, “Abba, Father.”

Because of Jesus Christ, we are brought into the family of God.