As you go through this Bible study, take your time to think about the questions and put yourself in the place of each character in the story to get an idea of where they are coming from. Allow the Holy Spirit to teach you what the scriptures are saying. I read from the King James Version, but you may have a different version. Just use the one you have and ask God to help you understand what you are reading.
I am excited to reach out to the kids in my Children's Church class from Indiana. I hope that kids and adults can follow along with me each Wednesday and we can learn and grow as we break the bread together.
Ruth is in the Old Testament sandwiched between Judges and 1 Samuel. There are only four chapters in Ruth. This is a great book to study to see the hand of God leading Ruth to a new location she had never lived in, and to see how God continues to bless Ruth as she trusts in God.
In chapter three, Naomi is concerned for Ruth. She wants to help Ruth. She wants to repay her kindness. Naomi wants to help Ruth find a new husband. Naomi's son is gone and will never come back. Sometimes it is painful to face that realization that someone we love is gone. We see that Naomi has come to terms with her losses and recognized her blessings. She says to Ruth, "My daughter, shall I not seek rest for thee, that it may be well with thee?" The NIV says it like this, "My daughter, I must find a home for you, where you will be well provided for."
Naomi is playing the matchmaker a little here. She reminds Ruth that Boaz is one of their kinsmen redeemers. She tells Ruth, "Boaz is winnowing barley tonight in the threshingfloor." She is going to give Ruth some advice on how to present herself to Boaz so he will know she is interested in him.
Verse three, Naomi tells Ruth to get washed up, anoint herself, put on her nice clothes and go to the floor where Boaz will be. But, she cautions Ruth to not interrupt him. She says wait until he is done eating and drinking, and goes to lay down, and then you can let him know you are there. She tells him to uncover his feet and lay down and wait for Boaz to tell her what to do next.
Question: Has anyone ever tried to be a matchmaker for you? Do you think Ruth ever thought of Boaz as a husband? Would you listen to Ruth's advice?
Ruth could have resisted Naomi's help. She could have remained with Naomi, as she had when Ruth's husband died. Remember, Ruth has great respect for Naomi. She listens carefully to all that her mother-in-law instructed her to do, and she obeyed fully. Ruth said, "All that thou sayest unto me I will do."
Boaz was a man that loved God. He was a kind and generous man. He protected Ruth in his field from his workers and anyone that might want to harm her. He wanted to protect her innocence and be a gentleman. Boaz would be sleeping, so it was important for Ruth to be careful of how she presented herself. She was not to lie down beside him because that could have been misunderstood as something inappropriate. She was to uncover his feet, which would have woken him up. Then lay at his feet, in a place of humility and respect.
The Bible does not tell us when Boaz went to lay down. We are not sure how long Ruth had to wait for the precise moment to make her presence known. The Bible does tell us though, that at midnight, Boaz was afraid, which we would translate as being startled, because there is a woman laying at his feet.
When you get jerked awake like that, and no one was at your feet before you laid down, with sleep still in your eyes, it would be hard to know who was laying there. He asks, "Who are you?" She tells him, "I am Ruth thine handmaid." She asks him to spread his skirt over her because he is the one that has the right to redeem her family.
Question: What do you think is going through Ruth's mind right now? Have you ever been like Ruth, feeling really vulnerable and risk being rejected? She knew Boaz was a kind man and would not have expected harshness from him, but what if he says no? Do you think she had prepared her for the worst? Do you think she even considered she might be rejected?
Boaz blessed her! He said this kindness that she showed him at this moment was even greater than she had shown him earlier. He commends her on not pursuing younger men whether they were rich or not. Instead of desiring to find a husband closer to her age, she had not even given it a thought.
Isn't this such a beautiful picture of when God writes the love story? Two sweet, kind people who were considerate of others, and wanted to bless others, find each other and God gives them a wonderful opportunity to live and love together.
Boaz tells Ruth not to worry. He said that he will do everything she had asked of him. He tells her that reputation around town is very good. He tells her that everyone knows she is a virtuous woman. But there is a small hitch. Every good love story has to have a hiccup, right? This story is no different.
Boaz tells Ruth it is true that he is one of the near kinsmen redeemers, but there is a relative that is closer to her than he is. I am sure his heart sank to realize this. He had to be honest with her. The man that was a closer relative had the option to marry Ruth if he wanted to!
Boaz instructs Ruth to wait there that night. He did not want her to go out into the streets late at night alone. He tells her to wait until the morning. Then Boaz reassures her that he will marry Ruth if the other man refuses. He promises it will happen as the LORD lives!
Ruth lay at his feet until the morning. The Bible says she gets up in the morning, really early before it is easy to tell one person from another. He wants to protect her reputation. He said, "Let it not be known that a woman came into the floor."
Boaz cannot let Ruth go away empty handed. Her heart was full, but he wanted to give her something. He was always wanting to bless her. He tells her, "Bring the veil that thou hast upon thee, and hold it." And when she held it, he laid six measures of barley on her. Then Ruth went into the city.
My goodness! I have butterflies, don't you? Ruth goes back home to Naomi and she wants to hear all about it. I can just imagine the giggles and excitement as she tells Naomi. She tells of what he had promised her and given to her. Ruth said, "For he said to me, Go not empty unto thy mother-in-law."
Ruth must have been a little quiet, maybe preoccupied by the thought of another man having the opportunity to marry her. She may have started to worry about how things would go. She had come to love Boaz. He was so kind to her. He protected her. He provided for her over and above the others. He accepted her. She wanted to marry Boaz!
Naomi must have noticed Ruth's concern. She said, "Sit still, my daughter, until though know how the matter will fall: for the man will not be in rest, until we have finished the thing this day." Naomi reassures Ruth that Boaz will not be able to rest until he takes care of that issue first. He cared too much for Ruth to put it off!
Question: What do you think Ruth is thinking about? Can you imagine feeling excited in one way because the man you love has promised to marry you? Can you imagine the sick feeling in your stomach at the thought that your future was held in the balance of whether the nearer relative wants to marry you?
What a great way to end this chapter! A cliffhanger, right? Wow!! Such a beautiful story. I have read this story so many times before, but I can hardly wait for next week to see how this story unfolds!
I would love it if you leave me a comment below and let me know if you are following along with this series. I am really excited about this book! I am so glad Ruth is the one God prompted me to start with.
I hope something I have shared today has been encouraging to you. May you find strength for your journey and light for your way. God bless you!
~Bridgett Owens
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