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Ruth Chapter Three (ESV)
5 And she replied, “All that you say I will do.” 6 So she went down to the threshing floor and did just as her mother-in-law had commanded her. 7 And when Boaz had eaten and drunk, and his heart was merry, he went to lie down at the end of the heap of grain. Then she came softly and uncovered his feet and lay down. 8 At midnight the man was startled and turned over, and behold, a woman lay at his feet! 9 He said, “Who are you?” And she answered, “I am Ruth, your servant. Spread your wings over your servant, for you are a redeemer.” 10 And he said, “May you be blessed by the Lord, my daughter. You have made this last kindness greater than the first in that you have not gone after young men, whether poor or rich. 11 And now, my daughter, do not fear. I will do for you all that you ask, for all my fellow townsmen know that you are a worthy woman. 12 And now it is true that I am a redeemer. Yet there is a redeemer nearer than I. 13 Remain tonight, and in the morning, if he will redeem you, good; let him do it. But if he is not willing to redeem you, then, as the Lord lives, I will redeem you. Lie down until the morning.” 14 So she lay at his feet until the morning, but arose before one could recognize another. And he said, “Let it not be known that the woman came to the threshing floor.”
REFLECTION:
- The exact meaning of Naomi’s counsel to her daughter-in-law to “uncover his feet” after Boaz had retired for the night is not clear to us now. However, Boaz understood the request to be covered by his garment as a proposal of marriage.
- Because of Ruth’s faith in the Hebrew God and because of her loyalty to her mother-in-law, Boaz praised Ruth as a “worthy woman”. This loyalty was demonstrated in her daily labor in the fields and her acts of kindness. Ruth’s submission to the advice of Naomi teaches us that our spiritual formation is rooted in a posture of obedience. This response of obedience to the commands of God is one of the injunctions that bridges the Old and New Testaments.
PRAYER:
Lord, the drama of this chapter points beyond itself to the greatest drama of Your creative and redemptive work on behalf of the people upon whom You have set Your love. Like Ruth, let me be obedient to the role You call me to play.
HYMN:
Teach Me to Obey – youtu.be/F2Jt5C1qm-E
