Chapter 3
Vv. 1-5 Naomi sees that Boaz is treating Ruth with favor and decides that she needs to step in and orchestrate Boaz and Ruth getting together. She encourages Ruth to not go to see Boaz in her grieving widow clothes, but rather to get cleaned up and pursue her redeemer. Ruth, being the dutiful daughter-in-law, does so. We read that Naomi tells her to uncover and lie at Boaz’s feet. This is to show her dependence on him and would work, in a sense, as a marriage proposal.
What does Ruth getting washed, anointed, and changed mean on a deeper level than pure hygiene?
Vv. 6-13 Ruth does as Naomi had told her and she approaches Boaz to be married. She comes with the humility of a servant, and yet still shows her boldness by asking to be covered by his wings, which literally is her asking to be claimed in marriage by Boaz! Boaz was clearly interested because he reveals he had done his homework and he was the back up redeemer. He promises to approach the other relative to see if he is willing to redeem Ruth and if not he would gladly do so.
How is Ruth’s approaching Boaz different in chapters 2 and 3? Why does it matter?
Vv. 14-18 Boaz sends Ruth away in the morning, but only with six measures of barley so that Naomi may know that he will redeem Ruth. This is twice as much as she was able to gather in one day!
How does Boaz’s response to Ruth resemble that of God’s response to us?
Pastor’s Answers
Ruth gets all cleaned up and pretty to meet Boaz and approach him about fulfilling his role as redeemer. The act of getting washed up and changing clothes is significant in that it shows that her time of mourning is over. She has found a joy in Boaz her redeemer that replaced the sorrow she felt from losing her husband.
Ruth consistently combines humility and boldness throughout the entire book which endears her character to all who come across her. But, the major difference is that in chapter 2 she is referred to as a foreigner, whereas in chapter 3 she calls herself a servant. This is a change in location. A foreigner is someone without connection. A servant is a deeply connected individual to the master. She presents herself as being dependent on Boaz, while also being in a sort of give and take relationship. This is significant in our theology of our connection to God. We must recognize ourselves as servants of God in this sense; not a disconnected foreigner but a dependent servant of the Lord Most High.
Boaz and his response resemble God in many ways. The most prominent in my mind in the lavish gift Boaz pours out on Ruth. Not only is he accepting of her and willing to redeem her, but it is his desire to abundantly bless her. Likewise, not only do we have a God that is our redeemer, but he gives grace in abundance to those who live in him.