Ruth, Chapter Three “The Midnight Meeting” (Part 2) Ruth 3:6-18

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.

At midnight the man was startled and turned over, and behold, a woman lay at his feet!

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.

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. 1

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. Ruth Submitted to Boaz (Ruth 3:6-9) Ruth came to the Threshing floor asking Boaz to obey the law of the kinsman- redeemer and take her as his

We might ask why Boaz did not “propose.”  First of all, he was an older man, and may have thought that he was out of the running. But, more likely, and we find the evidence of this later in the book, there was a nearer kinsman that he. So, when Ruth forced the issue, he had to deal with it and we will find that later.

“Life is full of rude awakenings!” a famous cartoon canine likes to say, and more than one biblical character would agree. Adam went to sleep and woke up to discover he’d been through “surgery” and was now a married man. Jacob woke up to discover he was married to the wrong woman. Boaz woke up at midnight to find a woman lying at his feet.

When he asked who she was, Ruth replied she was Ruth, but she did not call herself “the Moabitess.” Now she was the “handmaid” of Boaz.  She  was  seeking  a new beginning.

Wiersbe writes: “To spread one’s mantle over a person meant to claim that person for yourself, particularly in marriage. The word translated “skirt” also means “wing.” Ruth had come under the wings of Jehovah God (Ruth 2:12), and now she would be under the wings of Boaz, her beloved husband. What a beautiful picture of marriage.”

  1. Ruth listened to Boaz (Ruth 3:10-14) In the response of Boaz to Ruth, we see how the Lord responds to us when we seek to have a deeper fellowship with Him. Just as Boaz spoke to Ruth, so God speaks to us from His
  • He accepts us (Ruth 3:8-10) Our Heavenly Father  and our Redeemer are seeking for a closer relationship with us, and we should not be afraid to draw near and share His love.

If we could only realize in even a small way the great love the Kinsman-Redeemer has for us, we would forsake everything else and enjoy His fellowship.

  • He assures us (Ruth 3:11-13). The hymn writer wrote: “How firm a foundation, ye saints of the Lord. Is laid for your faith in His excellent Word.”

The 3rd. verse of “How Firm A Foundation” reads as follows:

Fear not, I am with thee, O be not dismayed, For I am thy God and will still give thee aid; I’ll strengthen and help thee, and cause thee to stand Upheld by My righteous, omnipotent hand.

The great concern of Boaz was the redemption of Ruth, even if another kinsman-redeemer had to do it.

  • Ruth received gifts from Boaz (Ruth 3:15-17) During her days as a gleaner, she had received generous treatment form

Boaz not only calmed Ruth’s fears and gave her assurance for the future, he met her present needs.

The question from Naomi in Ruth 3:16 as puzzled many. Why would Naomi ask Ruth who she was? Wiersbe writes: “The Authorized version translates the Hebrew text as it stands: ‘Who art thou, my daughter?” In Other words, ‘Are you still Ruth the Moabitess, or are you the prospective Mrs. Boaz?'”

 

Naomi could no longer say that her hands were empty (Ruth 1:21). Ruth’s faith and obedience had brought about a complete transformation in their lives, and now they were living by grace.

  1. Ruth waited for Boaz to Work. (Ruth 3:18) Heb. 6:12 says that it is “through faith and patience” that we inherit the promises of

I’m sure that “waiting” was no easier for Ruth and Naomi than it is for believers today. Patience is a virtue that we all need to work on.

Wiersbe writes, “Boaz was busy working for Ruth, and Naomi was confident that he wouldn’t rest until he had settled the matter.” “Being confident of this very thing, that he which has begun a good work in you will perform (complete) it until the day of Jesus Christ” (Phil. 1:6)

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