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Ruth 3:1-5

Lesson # Ruth. 3:1-5
Study Material - Ruth. 3:1-5

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Ruth 3:1-5

1 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? 2 'And now is not Boaz our kinsman, with whose maids you were? Behold, he winnows barley at the threshing floor tonight. 3 Wash yourself therefore, and anoint yourself and put on your best clothes, and go down to the threshing floor; but do not make yourself known to the man until he has finished eating and drinking. 4 And it shall be when he lies down, that you shall notice the place where he lies, and you shall go and uncover his feet and lie down; then he will tell you what you shall do.' 5 And she said to her, 'All that you say I will do.'

There are actions here and symbolism. The actions tell us what Ruth was about to do. The symbolism of her actions tell us that she had a conversation with Boaz regarding her desire to claim the law of redemption, that law concerning which she herself had a conversation with Naomi. Naomi tells her that Boaz will 'tell her what she must do.'

Not all of the conversations are documented here, but reference is made to the redemption process as specified on Deu. 25, and in Lev. 25. The former having to do with a brothers obligation to take the widow as wife, and the latter reference of a next of kin to buy property if a relative gets into financial straits. Naomi knows that Boaz will have a knowledge of the 'redemption' law, that Boaz will also know of the other kin, 'which is nearer' to Naomi, and what to do in order to get the intended result of the whole transaction, on Ruth's behalf.

Naomi is the owner of the piece of land which she intends to put up for sale. Typically a next of kin would be obligated to take her as wife in order to produce an heir, to inherit the land and thus perpetuate the family name into future generations. Naomi is old and incapable of having children, as she has stated in chapter one.

Any kin would know this and would probably be more than happy to purchase the land since his own family and heirs would not be affected by new potential heirs, which of course could not be born to Naomi. However in this case, Boaz will contrive a plan to disclose Naomi's intent, then place a burden on the land with a requirement to take Ruth as a wife. This would not sit well with someone who has a wife and children, therefore causing them to pass up on the obligation. This would free Boaz as next in line to take up Naomi on her conditions of sale.

Naomi has a discussion with Ruth. It is Naomi's right to either sell or not sell her land. She decides to place it up for sale, but she intends for Ruth to be happy in the process, 'that it might be well with you.'

Well is a word for rest, and this form of rest is in the form of completion of a thing. That is, something that is incomplete must be brought together with something else that is incomplete, such that they both might be 'well', or complete, therefore bringing 'rest' to the whole. And that is another picture of marriage.

There are a several of examples of 'rest', or 'completeness' in the Bible. The number seven is a reference to rest or completion. The seven spirits of Isa. 11 and Rev. 1 refer to the spiritual growth process to maturity, or that rest of God, which is made available to all believers who advance to spiritual maturity. The Israelites were to cross over into the land of milk and honey where they might find rest, and yet another reference to maturity and Gods provisions of the best life has to offer (milk and honey). The receipt of e resurrection body which will 'complete' our eternal makeup of body, soul and spirit. The picture of sex as a completion of a man and woman in being brought together as the two will become one. And here in our context, marriage, which is a completion of the man and the woman being brought together, having lived incomplete separate lives and are now, in marriage, made complete (symbolically).

All of these are pictures of mans inability to provide for himself, of mans incompleteness, and even mans inability to perpetuate himself. Death interrupted the family line and even terminated the family of Elimelech. The possessions that were once his would be lost forever unless there were a redeemer to enter into the picture and regain the property in the original family name. Jesus Christ is that ultimate redeemer, having eternal life thus there would never be any ownership interruption ever again. Christ has unlimited resources to purchase even from death the lives of all who seek redemption from Him through faith.

Ruth discussed this idea and agreed that it was what she wished. She would dress herself up in proper attire. She was not doing anything improper, nor was she going to engage in any type of premarital activity.

She was to wait until all the work of harvest was complete. We waited on Christ until His work on the Cross was complete. He provided a way for salvation at the Cross. Because of the cross, the good grain (believers) was separated from the chaff (unbelievers) - this is the winnowing process whereby the grain is tossed up into the air and the grain drops back into the pile, as the wind blows away the chaff. Furthermore, after the winnowing process is complete there is a screening process whereby any dirt and such can be screened out of the grain, and better grain can be separated into separate piles of varying grades of grain. The best grain of course makes the best flour. So the spiritual symbolism on the work being finished, correlates here with the winnowing separating process of the grain as related to the Work of Christ on the Cross as well as the process of gathering all believers throughout the generations of history up until the point of the marriage feast of Christ and the ultimate 'completion' of believers in Christ.

Going to Boaz, is a recognition of His wisdom. To let him know her desires and then to place the matter entirely into his hands for accomplishment. Then waiting for the events to unfold and end in the desired result. This is the picture of faith. Ruth was not to be involved in the discussion at the city gate. Typically a woman would be present to make her position known. Ruth will be absent.


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End Of Lesson

Study to show thyself approved (mature) unto God, a workman that needs not to be ashamed, rightly dividing (studying/discerning), the Word of truth.




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