Bible Women: Ruth - Part 2

The Book of Ruth

Ruth - Part 2

for Ruth Part 1 go here

In the first part of Ruth, we learned how Ruth came back to Bethelem-Judah with her mother-in-law Naomi after the death of her husband. Ruth was a Moabitess, and Naomi told her to go back to her family and to her land, but  Ruth stated "Entreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee: for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God:........."(Ruth 1:16) and Naomi and Ruth came to Bethlehem in the beginning of the barley harvest (In God's providential timing.) Ruth went to glean "in whose sight I shall find grace" and she was led (by the Lord) to glean in the field belonging to a man named Boaz, who was kinsman of Naomi's dead husband.  Boaz asked who Ruth was, and he provided care for her, and asked that she stay in his field through barley and wheat harvest, staying near his lady workers the whole time, instructing the men not to touch her, providing more food for her.  Ruth continued to dwell with Naomi, thus preserving her reputation as a virtuous woman.

When Naomi learned from Ruth that she was gleaning in Boaz's field, Naomi  recognizes that Boaz, as her near kinsman, has the right to marry Ruth and so she instructs Ruth what to do to obtain Boaz as her redeemer.

Ruth is instructed to wash herself, anoint herself, put on her garment and go to the threshing floor but not to make herself known to Boaz until he had finished eating and drinking.  Then, when he laid himself down, she was to go and lie down at Boaz' feet, and when he found her there, he would tell her what she should do.(Ruth 3:4) Ruth told Naomi that "all that thou sayest unto me I will do. And she went down unto the floor, and did according to all that her mother-in-law bade her. (Ruth 3:4-5) Ruth is obedient to Naomi. 




At midnight Boaz is awoken by this woman lying at his feet, and we will find out in verse 15 that Ruth is veiled, so as to be unrecognized by any who might see her.  Ruth requests that he be her redeemer "spread therefore thy skirt over thine handmaid; for thou art a near kinsman." (Ruth 3:9)  Ruth asks for Boaz to be her redeemer, just as we come, as it were, to the feet of the Lord Jesus, and receive Him as our Saviour.

Boaz is prepared to honour her request, just as the Lord Jesus receives those who come to Him by faith.  Boaz tells Ruth "Blessed be thou of the LORD, my daughter: for thou hast shown more kindness in the latter end than at the beginning, inasmuch as thou followedst not young men, whether poor or rich.  And not, my daughter, "fear not; I will do to thee all that thou requirest: for all the city of my people doth know that thou art a virtuous woman." (V10-11) Ruth has nothing to fear from Boaz, he is swift to assure her that her reputation will remain spotless.  And yet there is something that must be overcome, there is one who is a nearer kinsman than Boaz and it is necessary for Boaz to speak to him first.   The next morning Ruth rises before "one could know another. And Boaz said to her "Bring the veil that thou hast upon thee, and hold it." (V15) and she is given much barley, and she returns to Naomi, to tell her all that has taken place.  And Naomi gives Ruth excellent advice, something we should all remember when we have done all things possible regarding a certain matter "Sit still, my daughter, until thou know how the matter will fall: for the man will not be in rest, until he have finished the thing this day."(3:18)   When you have done what you can, leave the matter in the hands of the Lord and trust Him for the results.

And so Boaz goes to the gate of the city and waits for the person who is the nearer kinsman of Naomi and Ruth to come. There were ten elders there as well.  When you have a matter of importance to discuss, it is important to have witnesses so that the truth of the matter be known.

Boaz tells the man that there is a parcel of land that belonged to Elimelech, one that Boaz wished to own, but that was the right of the other to buy, because he was a nearer kinsman.  Boaz wishes the man to agree to purchase it in the presence of the elders..and at first the fellow agrees to do so.  But when Boaz tells him that he must also take Ruth "the Moabitess" and that it will be considered the inheritance of those who have died, the kinsman, in front of the elders, decides not to redeem it because he desires his own treasures instead of redeeming in the place of another.  What a treasure he has lost in Ruth but he does not know that.   As was the custom of the time, the kinsman took off his shoe and gave it to Boaz, thus giving Boaz the right to redeem the land and also Ruth.  And there are the witnesses that know that Boaz has honourably won the right to Ruth, and Boaz says to the elders that were present "Ye are witnesses this day, that I have bought all that was Elimalech's and all that was Chilion's and Maylon's, of the hand of Naomi.  Moreover Ruth the Moabitess, the wife of Mahlon, have I purchased to be my wife, to raise up the name of the dead upon his inheritance, that the name of the dead be not cut off from among his brethren, and from the gate of his place: ye are witnesses this day.  And all the people that were in the gate, and the elders, said, We are witnesses."..(4:9-11)




And so "Boaz took Ruth and she was his wife: and when he went in unto her, the LORD gave her conception, and she bare a son" (V13) we remember when Ruth was married to Mahlon and bore no children.  Truly God's timing is perfect, and children are given by the Lord.

"And the women said unto Naomi, Blessed be the LORD, which hath not left thee this day without a kinsman, that his name may be famous in Israel.....for thy daughter-in-law, which loveth thee, which is better to thee than seven sons, hath born him."

The child was named Obed, he was the Father of Jesse, who was the father of David,  that most beloved of God, King David.  Who also was the ancestor of Joseph who was the husband of Mary, who bore the Lord Jesus Christ.

vcg/September 2015