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“For The Record Scratch Moments” • 11.2.14
• Calvary Christian Fellowship, Sunday Morning Service
Intro.
- Ruth's story began when she met a Jewish
family in her Moabite suburb. She eventually married one of the boys and began
a new life.
- As it turned out, this new life was not what
she expected, as her Father-in-Law, brother-in-law and husband, all died within
a few years of each other!
- Left to pick up the emotional pieces, it was
too much for her to lose her Mother-in-law as well, who had determined to
return to Israel.
- Leaving with her meant leaving her gods
behind and trusting in the God of Israel. It was close to the river Jordan when
she made that decision.
- Since then, God has blessed her amazingly,
leading her to a great place of work, providing abundantly for her, as well as
Naomi's needs. It even seems that there is a budding romance!
- As Christians, the Lord moves us along in His
way and it's a joy. That doesn't mean that there aren't surprises along that
way that test our resolve and cause us great concern.
- What do we do when there are bumps in the
road? How do we handle perspective and actual disappointment? How are we to
respond when our heart races to figure out the next steps?
- That's what our chapter is about today! Let's
take a look at verse 1.
Text
• Ruth
3:1-5 : "Then Naomi her
mother-in-law said to her, 'My daughter, shall I not seek security for you,
that it may be well with you? Now Boaz, whose young
women you were with, is he not our relative? In fact, he is winnowing barley tonight
at the threshing floor. Therefore wash yourself
and anoint yourself, put on your best garment and go down to the threshing
floor; but do not make yourself known to the man until he has finished eating
and drinking. Then it shall be, when he lies down,
that you shall notice the place where he lies; and you shall go in, uncover his
feet, and lie down; and he will tell you what you should do.' And she said to her, 'All that you
say to me I will do.'" : Naomi is now beyond personal
recovery and sees a chance for Ruth to have the security of a marriage
relationship.
- Harvesting barley and wheat brought about a
good amount of seasonal work but only a very select and specialized worker
sustained year round employment.
- This is why Naomi is insistent and persistent
in seeking security, literally "rest," now for Ruth, the end of which
would be Ruth's reason to rejoice, not just a momentary sigh of relief!
- She lays out her plan without any subtlety. "Boaz
is our Kinsman Redeemer!"
- After the barley and wheat had been collected
into storage barns, the men would go about separating the actual barley seed
from the inedible portions of the stalk.
- There are varying styles of threshing floors,
from enclosed areas to large stone circles that bordered the valuable grain.
The other variable was wind, which effectively separated the parts.
- This was where Boaz was going to be all
night, so it was the perfect time for Ruth to annouce her intentions by
preparing herself to go down to the threshing floor.
- Naomi instructs Ruth to bathe and perfume
herself and to put on her outer wrap for the evening. Ruth needed to change out
of her mourning clothes and signal her availability to Boaz.
- She was to go and wait until everyone was
finished with the party to reveal herself as available for marriage.
- Ruth needed to make sure that she knew where
he settled in for the night because she wouls essentially be moving in the dark.
When all was quiet, she make her move and lie down at his feet.
- This was symbolic gesture representing a
request for Boaz to take his right as the Redeemer. The spreading of the
garment over the woman would signal acceptance of that responsibility.
- After Boaz awakened, she was to await her
Redeemer's instruction, which she promised Naomi that she would do.
•
Ruth 3:6,7 : "So she went down to the threshing
floor and did according to all that her mother-in-law instructed her. And after Boaz had eaten and drunk,
and his heart was cheerful, he went to lie down at the end of the heap of
grain; and she came softly, uncovered his feet, and lay down." : The sight of a harvesting party was a jovial one, as the
reapers celebrated the measure of their haul.
-
Boaz couldn't be more content. He had taken his evening meal and his heart was
full of joy. We don't relate as well, but the harvest was a long hoped for
event.
-
It was a lengthy process, which at times, was threatened by weather and other
variables that called into question the success of the season.
-
The harvest then was a time of joy and a time to finally and fully breathe in a
sigh of relief and out a heart felt praise to the Lord.
-
There were piles of grain that the reapers slept by as a measure of security.
They are living in the time of the Judges, so neighboring people groups were
great threats.
-
Incidently, I really like Boaz for being an involved leader. He came out to the
field personally to greet his workers in chapter 2 and here, he sets himself for an evening watch.
-
There was real danger involved and Boaz wasn't content to throw his workers
into an environment that he himself wasn't willing to endure.
-
As he lay down for the night, Ruth came to him softly, not wanting to rouse the
other reapers. She brought the blanket up and laid down.
•
Ruth 3:8,9 : "Now it happened at midnight that
the man was startled, and turned himself; and there, a woman was lying at his
feet. And he
said, 'Who are you?' So
she answered, 'I am Ruth, your maidservant. Take your maidservant under your
wing, for you are a close relative.'" : You have
to wonder how long she laid there! It was dark and quiet and Ruth was alone
with her thoughts.
-
I wonder if her heart raced as she considered the possibility of being Mrs.
Boaz or how she would handle any misunderstanding!
-
The only women that remained in such a place, a rented threshing room, were
prostitutes! On the other hand, she might have sensed great danger, as Boaz was
likely armed against raiders.
-
This could go a lot of ways and some of them would not be very good!
-
Boaz didn't notice her until something startled him from his rest. The word
speaks of a trembling fear, justifying the thought that staying there was an measure
of security.
-
When Boaz turned around, he knew someone was there and discovered Ruth's
presence. Ruth, at this point, wanting simply to survive and avoid
misunderstanding, just let the words out.
-
"Place me under your wing, for you are a redeemer." There is no doubt
that Boaz knew of his relationship and the potential responsibility, but it
wasn't his to assume.
-
We're meant to understand that Ruth's query was to come first. She was to make
this request to be taken under his wing, a word speaking of his skirt and
metaphorically, a protective wing.
•
Ruth 3:10,11 : "Then he said, 'Blessed are you of
the Lord, my daughter! For you have shown
more kindness at the end than at the beginning, in that you did not go after young
men, whether poor or rich. And now, my daughter, do not fear. I will do for you all that
you request, for all the people of my town know that you are a virtuous woman.'" : Ruth is asking Boaz to perform duties similar to that of a
married man toward her. She is seeking his assistance, which will certainly be
a costly endeavor.
-
In our minds, we would likely hit the pause button and call for security!
-
His response tells us something else. He seems genuinely surprised and as a
perfect gentleman, blessed her in the Lord. There in the dark, his character
shone brightly!
-
He believes this action in her loyal choice to Naomi's family was as great as
her choice to leave her nation behind! In our self-absorbed culture, we rarely
consider the thought of posterity.
-
Israel was not like that and lived under legal standards to avoid the loss of a
family name .
-
This is why the daughters of Zelophedad could only marry within their own
tribe, why Levirate marriage was practiced and why even after 50 years, land
would be returned in the year of Jubilee!
-
Ruth did not owe this to Naomi's family. Her sister-in-law was well within her
rights to go back under her Father's wing. But this was extraordinarily kind
for Ruth to seek this out.
-
Naomi wanted this for Ruth, but Ruth also wanted this for Naomi! It was a
tremendous gesture and Boaz is flattered and promises to do everything that he
can for her.
-
He is actually quite surprised that she didn't seek out after other guys! He didn't
believe himself to be a candidate!
-
He counted it a privilege to join himself to her, given her profoundly good
character, the word he uses being a female equivalent to the word "man of
valor!" There's just one little complication.
•
Ruth 3:12,13 : "Now it is true that I am a close
relative; however, there is a relative closer than I. Stay this night, and in the morning
it shall be that if he will perform the duty of a close relative for you—good;
let him do it. But if he does not want to perform the duty for you, then I will
perform the duty for you, as the Lord lives! Lie down until morning.'" : For those who have not spoiled themselves, you heard the sweet
orchestral notes sweeping ever closer to the climactic high note!
-
You can see the look in Ruth's eyes as her hopes are encouraged by what Boaz
opened with. You can hear her repeating certain phrases. "Blessed are
you." "I'll do this for you!"
-
And then the needle scratch: "There is a closer relative than I!"
What!? It turns out that Naomi really didn't know much about Elimelech's family
at all!
-
This would have had to have been an older brother of Boaz, as in the historical
account of Judah's brothers in Genesis
38. Er's younger brother Onan stepped in before Shelah was allowed.
-
Imagine this moment! Consider a non-emotionally tied Ruth, looking at this as
simply a cultural business deal. Even in this condition, there was an idea that
took getting used to.
-
But there was a budding romance and a deep mutual respect that existed between
the two people, not to mention Naomi's desire.
-
Imagine your thoughts as Boaz says, "If he'll perform the duty for you,
then good!" Good? How could that be good Bozo!?
-
I believe that when this had been said and they lay down to rest before
daybreak, Boaz not wanting Ruth to travel in the middle of the night, that Ruth
lay with her eyes wide open in the dark!
-
What was this other guy like? Did he have the same values that Boaz had? Was he
in the same economic situation? How would she explain this to Naomi?
-
I thought that God had brought us together? It must have been a fitful few
hours.
•
Ruth 3:14,15 : "So she lay at his feet until
morning, and she arose before one could recognize another. Then he said, 'Do
not let it be known that the woman came to the threshing floor.' Also he said, 'Bring the shawl that
is on you and hold it.' And when she held it, he measured six ephahs of barley,
and laid it on her. Then she went into the city." : She lay at his feet until morning. She didn't sleep. She simply
lay there and got up in the early morning hours, 3:30 o r 4 AM.
-
A person at that time is just a silhouette. You would not be able to discern a
man or a woman that was traveling toward you or around you.
-
He had wanted her to leave as early as possible so that she would not be
discovered.
-
He is protecting her reputation. Before she left he made sure that she went
away with 6 handfuls of barley. The word "ephah" is an insertion by
the translators, but would be far too heavy.
-
She went away with it tied to her garment and made her way home. Imagine that
walk home.
-
Just a chapter ago, she went away with a week's worth of food and a heart full
of joy and wonder. She had zero expectations and went away with way more than
she could have believed!
-
Now she has gone down to the threshing floor with too many expectations and is
leaving with the crushing blow of disappointment.
-
Had the night gone differently, those 6 handfuls would have been a joy to lift
and walk with. At this point, I believe it's as heavy a burden physically as
that which was carried emotionally!
• Ruth
3:16,17 :
"When she
came to her mother-in-law, she said, 'Is that you, my daughter?' Then she told her all that the man
had done for her. And she said, 'These six
ephahs of barley he gave me; for he said to me, ‘Do not go empty-handed to your
mother-in-law.’" : Naomi wonders at Ruth in
the same way that Bethlehem wondered about her! "Is that you, my daughter?"
-
You wonder what Ruth's countenance looked like and what Naomi expected to see.
This was not the greeting she expected to give.
-
Ruth conveyed the story, I'm certain, with some amount of shock and disbelief.
"This was not the way I thought that things would go!"
-
She lays out what Boaz had given her, which was both a concession and a signal
to Naomi, but what meant nothing to Ruth in this moment. Note again how the
human heart is meant for more.
-
She initially went out simply to provide food for the day. She received that
and then some.
-
But now, introduced to the possibility of an even greater reality, a hope for a
family and enduring security, the windfall of wheat, the barrel of barley, is
an empty victory!
-
At some level that was observable to Naomi, Ruth has hit her first crisis of
faith. Things hadn't gone to plan. She had added things up quite differently.
-
Listen now to the seasoned believer and find the wisdom of God's Holy Spirit.
•
Ruth 3:18 : "Then she said, 'Sit still, my
daughter, until you know how the matter will turn out; for the man will not
rest until he has concluded the matter this day.'" : Ruth looks at her Daughter-in-law and is in a place to offer
comfort. A few months ago, it might have been a different story. Gratefully,
the Lord had already been working in her heart.
-
Naomi spells out three instructions for Ruth that are profoundly helpful to
those who face disappointiment. First, she tells her to "Sit still."
-
Can you see Ruth pacing back and forth trying to slow her breathing? Can you feel her moving closer and
closer to a panic attack or something similar?
-
Naomi grabs her by the arms, looks into her eyes and tells her with all the
authority she can muster, "Sit still!" Stop moving and start sitting!
-
Our nervous movement triggers our anxious thoughts which in turn, fuels our
potential panic!
-
Silence and stillness begins the process of clear, faitfhul, Christian thinking.
This word here isn't just a momentary break into stillness. The word suggests
an abiding.
-
Abide. Dwell in. Sit down in the place that you have come to trust, in the case
of Ruth and in our case as well, sit down in the shadow, the protection of His,
the Lord's wings!
-
There may have been a change in plans, but it wasn't a surprise to the Lord,
who was sovereignly protecting Ruth! Trust in Him, especially when the
circumstances surprise you!
-
One cannot listen to this verse without thinking of Psalm 46, which speaks of all kinds of chaotic events, from war to
natural disasters and through it all, one truth remains solid and stable!
•
Psalm 46:10 : "Be still, and know that I am God;
I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!"
-
In that verse, to "be still" means to let go and refrain. Recognize,
know, that in the midst of chaotic change and difficulty, He is still who He
has always been and will do what He's always done!
-
His goal is to be exalted in your life and through your life! That will never
change!
-
Does that mean that as Christians, we just sit still and do nothing? Not at
all. We'll get to the action in a moment, but understand that we need to sit still
and recognize that God hasn't changed!
-
Notice now the duration of that sitting still: Until you know how the matter
will turn out!
-
We attach ourselves to connected dots that make sense to our control addicted
minds!
-
"If this happens, then I've got to do this and if that happens, then I'll
have to do this!" It's a mental game of chess, played with pieces that we
aren't sure are even on the board!
-
Ruth, Christian, let's wait to find out what does happen! Let's wait until we
know something! Don't make decisions based on what you think or hope will happen.
Wait to respond to what does!
-
Ruth needed to be told that nothing had happened yet and there was not a need
to overreact. The time would come to respond, but it wasn't in this moment.
-
At present, I would say, that we hear in the words "Sit still" the
call to refrain. In the words, "until you know," I consider the word
respond. Now, in our final portion, I hear the word remember!
-
"The man will not rest until he has concluded the matter this day!"
The name "Boaz," we have noted, means "Fleetness." He was
not a person to delay his business, much less this decision.
-
"This is the person that God led us to." Boaz was not one to drop the
ball. She needed to remember his character. This man is not one to leave things
lying unattended.
Conclusion
- Today, maybe it's best to remind you that you
need to refrain from exerting control, manipulating actions or calculating your
next move. Sit still and hear the Lord's voice. Trust. Obey.
- When something becomes evident, when your
next step is revealed, respond, move forward in faith, knowing that this is for
His glory and your good.
- Remember, this is just anyone that you are
trusting. His character is proven. His resources are sufficient. His intentions
are good and His track record is perfect!
- Ruth could trust this in a man shaped by God,
but we are trusting the God who took on a man's flesh and went to a Roman
Cross, to absorb in His body, all that we deserved!
- Jesus Christ did not rest until He cried out,
"It is finished!" He has never left anything undone and He never
will! Remember His character in the midst of your crisis and you'll stand
strong!
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