Verse 1-2
Now that their physical needs have been met through the kindness of Boaz and the hard work of Ruth, Naomi wants to see Ruth provided for. She says to Ruth in verse 1, “My daughter, should I not seek rest for you, that it may be well with you?” This word “rest” is not necessarily referring to a physical rest but a place of security. What Noami wants for Ruth is for Ruth to find a husband and have a family to truly have a place she can call home. And Naomi has a specific man in mind–the man who has been showing extraordinary kindness to Ruth. And so Naomi says, “isn’t Boaz one of our relatives?” And the reason it is significant that he is a relative is because as Naomi told Ruth in chapter 2 Boaz one of their family redeemers.
Now what does that mean?
A family redeemer, also known as a kinsman-redeemer, is the closet male relative who, according to various laws of the Old Testament, had the privilege or responsibility to act on behalf of a relative who was in trouble, danger, or need.
God built this relationship into the family structure of Israel to help provide for people and families. It shows God’s heart for the family unity and God’s desire for family to care for its own.
And so the kinsmen-redeemer would have the responsibility, if they chose (it wasn’t a requirement) to buy a relative out of slavery or to be the ‘avenger of blood’ making sure someone who murders a family member pays for the crime. The redeemer could buy land that was lost. A redeemer could also marry a widow and carry on the name and family line of the widow’s husband.
When Naomi mentions in chapter 2 that Boaz is a redeemer (a close male relative) it was a recognition that this man who could act on their behalf. He could buy Naomi’s widow’s land and it could stay in their family. He could marry Ruth and the line of Elimelech could continue.
The reality of Boaz as redeemer brought hope to Naomi. Maybe they could have a hope and a future? And so Naomi devises a plan to appeal to Boaz as their redeemer. And as we hear about this plan it might seem a little unorthodox, a little peculiar and even dangerous.
Verses 3-5
What is essentially happening here is a marriage proposal. In this plan, Ruth would be bringing herself before Boaz and be asking “would you be my redeemer and marry me. In this culture, this would have been a bold move and potentially a move that could damage Ruth’s reputation. Who is this young women presenting herself in this way?
But not only initiating marriage would have been bold but the manner that Naomi is suggesting could even be dangerous. She is telling a young foreign widowed woman (who has no husband or father) to lie at the feet of an older man in the middle of the night. Why would Noami put Ruth in such a vulnerable and potentially compromising situation?
It could be that there would have been no other way for a young woman of no means to approach an older man of influence to discuss this topic. The only way to have this conversation would be at night where no one else would see them. Now while this is probably not the example a young woman should follow to pursue a man, I believe Noami is trusting the character of Boaz, she trusting that fact that Boaz has demonstrated himself to be a godly man which is why she says, “he will tell you what to do.”
But it is one thing to suggest this. It’s another thing for Ruth to go along. And I think Ruth also trust Boaz’s character and I also believe as we saw in chapter 1 that Ruth has entrusted herself to Naomi. And she has entrusted herself to Naomi’s God.
Ruth says, “all that you say I will do.” I don’t think this just blind or naïve trust in Naomi. I also believe that Ruth recognizes that the hand of God in this. Over the last couple of months she has seen God provide, God protect, and God bring hope out of hopelessness. She is seeing the hand of God and she is simply saying, ‘I’ll do it.” It is once again a beautiful picture of faith in the life of Ruth who doesn’t have all the answers figured out but is trusting the God of Israel to provide and protect.
Verses 6-9
A startled Boaz wakes up to find a woman at his feet and Ruth identifies herself. And unlike Naomi’s instructions of “he’ll tell you want to do” Ruth is very direct. She says, “I am Ruth, your servant. Spread your wings over your servant, for you are a redeemer.”
It is a very direct request. What Ruth is saying is, “take me as your wife.” Spread your wing over me and take into your house.
If you recall, this is not the first time this imagery of coming under someone’s wings is used in this book. When Boaz met Ruth for the first time he said, “The Lord repay you for what you have done, and a full reward be given you by the Lord, the God of Israel, under whose wings you have come to take refuge!”
In the book of Ezekiel this same language is used as God is describing His relationship with Israel like a marriage relationship. He says in Ezekiel 16:8, “When I passed by you again and looked upon you, indeed your time was the time of love; so I spread My wing over you and covered your nakedness. Yes, I swore an oath to you and entered into a covenant with you, and you became Mine,” says the Lord GOD.
The New Living Translation speaks of that oath in Ezekiel as marriage vows. And so to come under the wings of the Lord is a very intimate picture of a bride giving herself to her groom in a marriage relationship. Boaz uses that language to describe Ruth’s relationship with the Lord. You have made a commitment to the God of Israel. And then Ruth uses this language to describe the relationship she desires with Boaz.
The language is poetic but the language is also very clear. Boaz, take me as your wife. But it is more than a marriage proposal. She is appealing to his role as a family redeemer. Would you rescue my family?
Now typically, a surprise marriage proposal especially outside of a dating relationship would seem shocking. It can leave you speechless and trying to figure out how to respond. But Boaz isn’t left speechless. He gives a hopeful response.
Verses 10-13
When Boaz first met Ruth he blessed her because of her kindness to Noami. In verse 10, he again makes a statement of blessing because of her kindness to her mother-in-law. This word kindness is not a casual word like we sometimes use we word kindness. The word kindness used here in verse 10 is a word that denotes “loyal love”.
Ruth had showed her loyal love to Noami by leaving behind her homeland, her family and committing herself to Naomi, her land and her God. This is what so impresses Boaz–her loyal love to her mother-in-law. This is the first kindness Boaz is referencing.
But then he says this act right here in chapter 3 is a greater kindness. What makes it greater? Why is asking Boaz to marry her a greater kindness? Boaz explains when he says, “you could have gone after a younger man.” Ruth could have gone out and find a young guy her age and stated a new family with him. But instead she seeks to marry Boaz, the family redeemer in order to continue and honor the name of her deceased father-in-law and continue his lineage. This is a sacrificial act of love toward Naomi. And Boaz recognizes it. And he blesses her because of her loyal love.
After praising Ruth, he says, “do not fear.” Why would she fear?
The fear may be that this young woman has essentially thrown herself at this older man asking him to be her husband. He could reject her in a humiliating way. He could spread this around town. Did you hear what that poor, widowed, Moabite woman did last night? She has been working in my field as a servant and now she think I will marry her.
And so Boaz says, “do not fear.” Once again, Boaz is displaying such tenderness and concern for Ruth. And not only does he tell her not to fear but said, “you have such a strong reputation among the towns people. People know that you are a worthy woman.” What wonderful things to say to Ruth who may not know how this thing is going to turn out.
Ruth is trying to honor the God of Israel and she is trying to honor her mother-in-law. I imagine she doesn’t hear a lot of affirmation. There probably are not a lot of people building her up. As a poor, widowed, foreign woman she has the lowest social status. She may feel like she is insignificant. Even invisible.
And now here is a man of great influence saying to this young woman: Can I tell you about your reputation in this community? You are highly thought of. You are a worthy woman. You are a woman a man would want to marry. And then he says, “I will do everything you have asked of me.”
I love these words of affirmation. I believe this is God’s kindness to Ruth. I believe this is God honoring and blessing her loyal love and faithfulness. I believe this God saying, “I see you Ruth, I see how you are living. And I want you to know the blessing of this faithfulness.”
Galatians 6:9 says, “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.”
That is such an appropriate verse for Ruth especially because she was demonstrating faithfulness while working in the harvest. The encouragement of Galatians 6:9 and the example of Ruth is to not give up being faithful even if you are not seeing the fruit of the faithfulness. Do not give up pursuing godliness when it only seems to lead to persecution. The sowed seed of perseverance will produce a harvest in the Kingdom of God.
You may not see the fruit of your obedience and faithfulness now but there will be fruit. Galatians 6:9 says do not give up in walking in righteousness.
Verses 12-13
Noami and Ruth might have assumed that Boaz was their closest relative or they might have just assumed that any close relative could redeem them. And maybe within that culture and during that period where not many people where living according to the desires of God, that people were loose with the law. But Boaz knew the law, he knew God’s desire in this area and it was important to do this in a manner that honored the Lord.
And so here is the amazing thing: I believe Boaz wants this woman and Ruth wants this man. They both want to enter into this marriage relationship. But the problem is Boaz also knows that there is a redeemer that is closer. He is the one who should have the first option to redeem.
Boaz is saying I will do this but I will not do this outside of God’s plan. And if that means that I have to give up marrying this woman that everyone is talking about, this woman who is known to be a worthy woman then I will give that up because I will not do this in a manner that dishonors God or dishonors the other redeemer.
This takes us back to Galatians 6:9 which challenges and encourages us to not become weary in doing good, in doing what is right, and in being obedient in all circumstances.
And Boaz is even able t to say, if another man marries you and provides for you then that is “good” as he says in verse 13. Boaz is so concerned about the protection of Ruth that is he recognizes that if another man is willing to redeem her and honor the name of Elimelech and provide security and rest for Ruth and Naomi then that is a good thing. He is able to love her with a sacrificially love which is by the way the same way Ruth is loving Naomi.
He could have easily just skirted this custom. Apparently Naomi didn’t realize the laws. Later we are going to see that the closer relative didn’t know anything about Ruth. They could have gotten married and probably no one would have thought anything about it. But Boaz says I will only do this in a manner that honors God. And in doing so, he allows Ruth to honor God. He protects the integrity of Ruth. Even if it means giving up what he desires.
What I find so interesting about the actions of Boaz is that it is the very opposite of Elimelech who chose to leave the protection of the Lord during the famine even if he felt like he could justify it because he was providing for his family. And that disobedience and that justification led to great pain in his families life. But now Boaz is making the hard decision to continue to honor the Lord and through it he will be deeply blessed.
When we are in seasons of pain, our question should always be, “what is my place of obedience? How is it that God is calling me to walk by faith?” That is where we will experience the blessing even in bitterness.
Ruth lives her life with a sacrificial love. Boaz models sacrificial integrity.
And there actions will ultimately lead to a great blessing not only to their own lives and to the nation of Israel but to entire world. In their persevering faithfulness and righteousness, they experienced God’s harvest.