Cold feet and abundant wheat
Ruth 3
Main Idea: Because the Lord is a trustworthy redeemer, we can hope in patience and righteousness.
I. A Risky Plan (3:1-5)
The events recorded in chapter 2 infuse Naomi with hope (cf. Ps. 42:5) for her and Ruth’s future in Bethlehem. She desires “rest” that it may be “well” (‘full’) for Ruth, meaning marriage, a home, children, and full integration into Israelite society.
The sheer fact that Naomi has a strategy teaches us something. People who feel like victims don’t make plans. As long as Naomi was oppressed; as long as she could only say, “The Almighty has dealt very bitterly with me,” she conceived no strategy for the future. One of the terrible effects of depression is the inability to move purposefully and hopefully into the future. Strategies of righteousness are the overflow of hope. When Naomi awakens in 2:20 to the kindness of God, her hope comes alive and the overflow is strategic righteousness. She is concerned about finding Ruth a place of care and security, and she makes a plan.
~ John Piper, “Ruth: Strategic Righteousness”
Naomi comes up with a plan of action because the harvest has ended (2:23) and Boaz has yet to act decisively toward Ruth. She proposes Ruth clean herself up to be physically presentable (cf. 2 Sam. 12:20), discreetly meeting Boaz at the “threshing floor” where winnowing would take place with the evening breeze.
Believing in sovereign providence does not stifle but stimulates human action. Belief in a sovereign God who orders all things does not enervate you but energizes you to action.
~ Dale Ralph Davis, “Cold Feet and Redemption”
This is a risky plan for a few reasons:
Ruth is vulnerable to assault by traveling at night (cf. 2:8-9; book of Judges)
Threshing floors were known for promiscuity (cf. Hos. 9:1), and her presence could be misinterpreted
She has no idea how Boaz will respond to this bold action
II. A Redeeming Promise (3:6-13)
Ruth follows through exactly on Naomi’s covert plan, “startling” Boaz at midnight. She immediately states her intentions to ensure there is no misunderstanding: “I am Ruth, your servant. Spread your wings (cf. 2:12) over your servant, for you are a redeemer,” asking Boaz to be the answer to his own blessing over her.
‘Spread your wings’ was a phrase used at times as a request for marriage (Eze. 16:8), and was used more broadly to speak of provision and protection (cf. 2:12; Ps. 57:1; 61:4; Mt. 23:37). Ruth calls Boaz to “redeem” her, appealing to the principles of Levirate marriage in Deut. 25:5-10. Though Boaz is not legally obligated to fulfill this role, Ruth is asking him to honor the spirit of God’s protection for the destitute as a kinsman-redeemer.
Boaz’s honorable response reveals why there may have been hesitation to initiate this relationship:
He is older than Ruth (2:10)
He is aware of a “nearer” kinsman-redeemer (2:12)
In his promise, Boaz is a picture of God’s “redemption” of Israel in the OT, and a picture of Christ’s redemption of the “household of God” in the NT. Christ is our “near kinsman-redeemer” who in his incarnation has been “made like his brothers in every respect” (Heb. 2:17) and is “not ashamed to call us brothers” (Heb. 2:11) as he delivers us from our dire situation, places us under his protection, and grants us ongoing provision as his bride (Eph. 5:32).
III. A Restful Patience (3:14-18)
To preserve Ruth’s dignity and reputation, Boaz sends her home early in the morning before others will see her. He ensures that she does not leave “empty-handed,” a reminder once more of the gracious reversal of Naomi’s “empty” situation (1:21) upon returning home.
This gift served multiple purposes:
It was a means of provision, a tangible picture of spreading his ‘wings’ over this family
It was an act of generosity toward Ruth and Noami
It was a “down payment” of something greater to come
In certain respects the widows’ situation as scene 3 ends resembles believers’ situation here and now, in the aftermath of the biblical storyline’s climactic (but not culminating) action. That is, on account of the life, death, and exaltation of the Lord Jesus Christ, believers presently enjoy salvation’s firstfruits but must await salvation’s full outworking (1 Jn. 3:1–3). We live in the already and not yet and look to the Lord’s second coming, when God will resolve all remaining tension and consummate his every promise. In the meantime, our redeemer encourages us by giving us a pledge. Boaz graciously guarantees his oath with six measures of barley, but the Lord Jesus guarantees his oath by giving us the Holy Spirit (2 Cor. 1:20–22). God’s gift of the Spirit demonstrates his trustworthiness and serves as the down payment of our inheritance until we obtain full possession of it (Eph. 1:13–14).
~ Mary Willson Hannah, “Ruth” (ESV Expository Commentary)
Psalm 130:5-8: I wait for the Lord, my soul waits,
and in his word I hope ;my soul waits for the Lord
more than watchmen for the morning,
more than watchmen for the morning.
O Israel, hope in the Lord!
For with the Lord there is steadfast love,
and with him is plentiful redemption.
And he will redeem Israel
from all his iniquities.
