THE PROMISE OF REST (Ruth 3:1-18)
INTRODUCTION:
As we get into our passage this morning, we are going to see the kinsman-redeemer become a larger part of this history of Ruth as we continue to see God’s sovereignty as He orchestrates all that takes place between Ruth and Boaz to bring about His purpose for Ruth and His plan of redemption for the world.
Another theme that is explored in the chapter that we will be in this morning is the promise of rest. Rest is an essential part of our life if we want to be healthy and alert. Unlike God who has no need for rest, we on the other hand require it, we cannot go on indefinitely. Sooner or later our reserves of energy will run out, and without rest we will not be able to go on. This is why we should have days off and this is why we take vacations, to change our routine and to rest. Both the Old and New Testament are clear that rest is a part of God’s good intention for us, and there is even a proper place for planning for it. Wise people plan vacations. Sensible people go to bed at a reasonable hour to give themselves the best chance of a good night’s sleep.
The full understanding of Biblical rest is much richer and deeper than a vacation or a good night’s sleep. In Scripture, rest is a journey’s end, the fulfillment of a promise, and the celebration of completion. It was the promise of rest in the promise land that sustained the Israelites during their forty years of wandering in the wilderness, and the entry into that rest was celebrated annually in the Feast of Tabernacles. This rest was not their own achievement, and certainly not a reward for faithfulness as they had not remained faithful in the wilderness, no, this rest was a pure gift from God. In a similar way the rest of the Sabbath day was not simply relief from labor or a reward for it, but an opportunity to remember and celebrate God’s finished work of creation and redemption. In the New Testament in the book of Hebrews we are told of an even greater rest that awaits us in Heaven (Hebrews 4:1-10). A rest that we can already begin to enjoy when we accept Christ as our Savior and lay our burdens down at His feet. Jesus said in Matthew 11:28-30, “Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” (Matthew 11:28–30, NASB95)[1] Such rest is a blessing of God to His children.
Rest is a central theme of the third chapter of Ruth. This theme is seen in the beginning of the chapter with Naomi seeking rest for Ruth and ends with the confidence that Boaz will not rest until he has provided rest for Ruth. As we will see, this promise of rest in this chapter is actually a gift of God, who is sovereignly overruling all things for the good of those involved. Let’s pray and then read our passage for this morning.
--PRAY--
SCRIPTURE:
Turn in your Bibles to Ruth 3:1-18, our passage for this morning. Please, if you are able, stand in honor of the reading of God’s Word.
Ruth 3:1-18,
“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 is not Boaz our kinsman, with whose maids you were? Behold, he winnows barley at the threshing floor tonight. 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. 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.’ She said to her, ‘All that you say I will do.’ So she went down to the threshing floor and did according to all that her mother-in-law had commanded her. When Boaz had eaten and drunk and his heart was merry, he went to lie down at the end of the heap of grain; and she came secretly, and uncovered his feet and lay down. It happened in the middle of the night that the man was startled and bent forward; and behold, a woman was lying at his feet. He said, ‘Who are you?’ And she answered, ‘I am Ruth your maid. So spread your covering over your maid, for you are a close relative.’ Then he said, ‘May you be blessed of the Lord, my daughter. You have shown your last kindness to be better than the first by not going after young men, whether poor or rich. Now, my daughter, do not fear. I will do for you whatever you ask, for all my people in the city know that you are a woman of excellence. Now it is true I am a close relative; however, there is a relative closer than I. Remain this night, and when morning comes, if he will redeem you, good; let him redeem you. But if he does not wish to redeem you, then I will redeem you, as the Lord lives. Lie down until morning.’ So she lay at his feet until morning and rose before one could recognize another; and he said, ‘Let it not be known that the woman came to the threshing floor.’ Again he said, ‘Give me the cloak that is on you and hold it.’ So she held it, and he measured six measures of barley and laid it on her. Then she went into the city. When she came to her mother-in-law, she said, ‘How did it go, my daughter?’ And she told her all that the man had done for her. She said, ‘These six measures of barley he gave to me, for he said, “Do not go to your mother-in-law empty-handed.”’ Then she said, ‘Wait, my daughter, until you know how the matter turns out; for the man will not rest until he has settled it today.’” (Ruth 3:1–18, NASB95)[2]
A PLAN FOR REST (Ruth 3:1-5)
Naomi was excited when she heard that the man that Ruth had worked with in the field was Boaz and as the weeks of harvest went by Naomi began to form in her mind a plan for her daughter-in-law Ruth. So, this third chapter opens with Naomi asking Ruth, “My daughter, shall I not seek security for you, that it may be well with you?” (Ruth 3:1b, NASB95)[3] The word translated in my Bible as “security” is the Hebrew word for “rest.” The rest that Naomi seeks for Ruth is marriage, a home, the possibility of children and raising a family, which would integrate Ruth even more into Israelite society, plus this would mean rest for Naomi as well. Even though we only see what Naomi is planning, the fact that she has witnessed the LORD’s lovingkindness in the direction things have begun to take suggests that she has a confidence in God that He will bless her efforts. There’s an important principle that should be noted here. Properly understood, a belief in God’s sovereignty does not lead to inactivity or the mindset that because God is sovereign what happens will happen with or without me. The truth is a belief in the sovereignty of God should do just the opposite by providing us with hope and the confidence to move forward. That is certainly the effect it has on Naomi in this chapter. Moving into this new chapter the harvest is over and now the winnowing begins, which brings the threshing floor as the center of activity. The threshing floor was either some elevated bedrock or hardpacked earth where the harvested barley would be beaten or trodden under the feet of oxen to separate the grain from the barley stock, then once this was done the winnowing would take place, throwing the grain into the air and the wind would blow away the chaff and the heavier kernels of grain would fall back to the threshing floor where it would then be piled in preparation to transport it back into the city for storage. Often a city or town had one threshing floor so turns had to be taken to thresh your grain. Naomi has learned that this particular evening Boaz was winnowing his barley. When this process was taking place, the men winnowing would spend the night at the threshing floor, guarding their grain from those who might steal it or from animals. Naomi knows that Boaz will camp there with his men to protect his crop. She explains to Ruth that this is a perfect opportunity to approach Boaz under the cover of darkness, hopefully without anyone knowing. This does involve some risk, danger to Ruth’s person in a nighttime situation like this and with other men being around. Second, there was the risk of scandal, for prostitutes too saw nights like this as opportunities and were known to ply their trade at threshing floors. Telling Ruth to approach Boaz in such a place puts Ruth at considerable risk. But the fact that Ruth is young and has already attracted Boaz’s attention, plus the signs that God is sovereignly involved have convinced Naomi that the risk is worth taking.
Naomi instructs Ruth in her plan. She tells Ruth to bathe and to anoint herself with perfume and put on her best clothes. The word translated best clothes is a word that means cloak and referred to an outer garment that was used by poor people as a blanket at night. Since Ruth was a poor person going to spend the night in the field, she will need this cloak to keep warm. Naomi is instructing her to enhance her feminine attractiveness, but in such a way that is consistent with the impression she has already made on Boaz as a practically minded young woman of good character. Then Naomi instructs Ruth to go to the threshing floor but do not let Boaz see her until he has eaten and drunk and then she is to note where he lies down to sleep for the night. Then she is to go quietly to where he is lying and uncover his feet, lie down herself, and wait until he stirs and tells her what to do. It is a bold move and can hardly be seen as anything other than an invitation to love and a proposal of marriage. Given what we have already been shown of Boaz’s and Ruth’s character it would be going too far to see this as a crude seduction scene as some have said. It is not instant sexual gratification that Ruth is after and Naomi would never have suggested that to Ruth. Ruth, by Naomi’s instructions, is looking for a commitment to marriage and the secure future this would provide for her. Uncovering his feet was the best way to ensure that he would stir in the coolest, early morning hours and notice her. Boaz will understand what is being asked of him by all that is done. Naomi and Ruth certainly discussed the plan, but it was Naomi’s plan, and it shows how cleverly her mind was working and how determined she is to make the most of the opportunity God has given her to secure the “rest” for Ruth that she feels bound to provide. Ruth, resolute as ever, promises to do everything that Naomi has told her to do.
A PROPOSAL FOR REST (Ruth 3:6-8)
Verse 6 finds Ruth going out to the threshing floor. She follows Naomi’s plan exactly and kept out of sight until Boaz had eaten his evening meal and she noted where he laid down to sleep. Everything went according to plan—including Boaz waking up at midnight, when all his workers were asleep. My version says that Boaz was startled and that is what woke him in the middle of the night, the word translated “startled” can also mean “to tremble.” Whatever it was that woke him, the fact that he trembled because his feet were uncovered and cold or something startled him, he was awakened and turning he sees a woman lying at his feet. He asks, “Who are you?” Ruth answered, “I am Ruth your maid.” This is the moment that Naomi and Ruth had planned for and true to her instructions, Ruth had remained silent until she was spoken to by Boaz. Now though is the time to speak and express why he has found her lying at his feet. She speaks with respect and boldness and says, “So spread your covering over your maid, for you are a kinsman-redeemer.” (Ruth 3:9, NASB95)[4] Ruth is pointedly alluding to what Boaz had said to her in their first encounter, when he said, “May the Lord reward your work, and your wages be full from the Lord, the God of Israel, under whose wings you have come to seek refuge.” (Ruth 2:12, NASB95)[5] This is a proposal of marriage, and she is challenging Boaz to make his words spoken to her action by being the means by which the blessing he pronounced on her be fulfilled. The contrast between this scene and the one in chapter 2 is remarkable. Ruth no longer refers to her foreignness or to the fact that she is not like one of Boaz’s female servants. Instead, she refers to herself as his servant and uses the term that raises her up to the level of his servants. This is because she has learned something about Boaz that she did not know before, he is a kinsmen-redeemer and she is asking him if he is willing to redeem her, to take her as his wife, that is what is meant by spread your covering over your maid, it is a reference to rest and protection in the marriage covenant, it is the same words that Boaz used to refer to her taking refuge under the wings of God.
A PROMISE FOR REST (Ruth 3:10-15)
What Boaz may have never thought possible has become possible and he is clearly smitten. Instead of just brushing off her appeal as an embarrassment he responds by reaffirming his previous blessing addressing her again as “my daughter” and reiterating his high opinion of her by referring particularly to her lovingkindness. He says, “May you be blessed of the Lord, my daughter. You have shown your last kindness to be better than the first by not going after young men, whether poor or rich.” (Ruth 3:10, NASB95)[6] In saying this he refers to their first encounter when he had commended Ruth for the lovingkindness and remarkable loyalty she had towards her mother-in-law. This first kindness had made a powerful impression on Boaz, why does he regard Ruth’s appeal to him as a second, even greater kindness than her first? His answer reveals that he feels this lovingkindness more personally because it answers an unspoken desire of his own heart for a closer relationship with her. The way in which he refers to her kindness contains the first hint of a complication that is about to cast a cloud over all that is happening here. He refers to it as a kindness because there were alternatives—other men, younger than Boaz, who also know of Ruth’s fine qualities and whom she might have approached with hope of success. In mentioning these other men, Boaz is doing more than highlighting the extraordinary privilege he feels that Ruth has chosen to approach him. He is also moving toward a revelation that he dreads but knows must be made known—that is the existence of one particular man whose potential interest in Ruth must be dealt with. There is a kinsman-redeemer who is a closer relative to Ruth than Boaz himself.
In reality it is Naomi who has chosen Boaz for Ruth because it was Naomi’s plan. Ruth is just following her mother’s-in-law instructions. And it is Naomi who had been aware of the other possibilities, as we remember her words at the end of chapter 2. “Again Naomi said to her, ‘The man [Boaz] is our relative, he is one of our kinsman-redeemers.’” (Ruth 2:20, NASB95)[7] But in calling Ruth’s act a “kindness” Boaz indirectly declares his love for her and encourages her to make her choice of him her own and to hold to it in the face of this revelation that he feels bound to make known to her. He wants her to be his wife, but this disclosure shows us an aspect of his character that will be displayed more fully in the final chapter of this book. Boaz is noble, but he is also shrewd.
Boaz makes a promise to Ruth before their conversation is over. He promises to do for her whatever she asks, then he again compliments her on her character and discretion that is known throughout the city of Bethlehem, he says that all my people in the city know that you are a woman of excellence. He tells her to remain for the rest of the night, not wanting her to try and go back to the city by herself, again protecting her, knowing that not all men are like him. He promises to settle the matter the next day, if the closer kinsman-redeemer will redeem her then he will, but if he is not willing then Boaz promises I will redeem you as the LORD lives.
As morning dawns Ruth and Boaz rise before anyone can recognize anyone else. Boaz warns her not to let anyone know that she came to the threshing floor, imagine the gossip that could get started and the scandal that could result. Boaz also gives her six measures of barley in her cloak to take home with her.
A PERIOD OF NO REST (Ruth 3:16-18)
This chapter, like the chapter before it, ends with Ruth returning to Naomi. This time, however, she returns with even stronger grounds for hope. The most significant outcome of her nighttime visit to Boaz was his promise to her. He promised to settle the matter and with an oath, “As the LORD lives, I will redeem you.” These are not just idle words, but a solemn oath of commitment by Boaz to come to the aid of Ruth and rescue her (and also Naomi)from their plight. Promises are only as good as the character and capacities of those who make them. On both counts Ruth has firm grounds for confidence because Boaz is a worthy man with considerable resources at his disposal, and everything we have seen of him in chapters 2 and 3 has confirmed his good character. Here is a man whose word can be relied on and who has both the determination and means to do what he has promised. Nor did Boaz’s promise stand alone. He had sent a pledge with it when he poured out the six measures of barley into Ruth’s cloak.
So, Ruth returns home bursting with news and Naomi meets her and breathlessly asks, “Who are you, my daughter?” which my version translates, “How did it go, my daughter?” Naomi in asking here who she is she is wondering if she is the future Mrs. Boaz. Ruth tells her all that the man had done for her, and she particularly emphasized the six measures of barley that he gave her telling her she could not return to her mother-in-law empty-handed. Did Ruth grasp the larger significance of what Boaz has done? This word “empty-handed” is literally the word “empty,” the same word that Naomi used to describe her own condition (and by implication Ruth’s as well) when they arrived back in Bethlehem. So not only is Ruth no longer empty as she returns to Naomi this time, but neither is Naomi. Boaz’s promise to redeem Ruth effectively banishes the emptiness of both of them. They do not have the fullness of what was promised, but they have good reason to believe that they soon will have it. Naomi exhorts Ruth to just wait until you know how the matter turns out, for the man will not rest until he has settled it today. Boaz’s restlessness is the guarantee that the “rest” Naomi sought for Ruth will soon be hers. All she has to do is wait.
CONCLUSION:
As I said at the beginning of this message, a main theme in this chapter has to do with the search for rest. This is what the chapter opened with, Naomi seeking rest for her daughter-in-law. This search for rest is a search for wellness. “Then Naomi her mother-in-law said to her, “My daughter, shall I not seek rest for you, that it may be well with you?” (Ruth 3:1, NASB95)[8] Wellness is the opposite of emptiness and alienation. It is a search for acceptance, inclusion, provision, a future, and a life worth living. This search for rest is a search that every person goes on. In Ruth’s search we are shown two things that are fundamental to the success of this search for rest.
The first thing is initiative—the ability to see an opportunity when it presents itself and the will to seize it. There is a proper place for planning and risk-taking in this, provided that we do not cross any moral boundaries. This is what we see Naomi and Ruth doing in the first half of chapter 3. Naomi sees the opportunity that is given in Ruth’s meeting with Boaz in chapter 2 and she seizes that opportunity when she knows that he is at the threshing floor winnowing his barley. She sees it as an opportunity not to be missed. But seeing the opportunity is only half of the initiative that is needed; there must also be a plan and action to carry out the plan. Naomi’s plan is a bold one, as we have seen. Even this, though, would not have been enough if Ruth had not been willing to take the risk of putting the plan into action.
There is a cooperation, a unity between these two women that was absent in the beginning of chapter 2. There Naomi was passive, and Ruth had to act alone. Naomi had no plan; all she was capable of was permitting Ruth to do what she proposed to do. The contrast here in chapter 3 is a very positive sign that Naomi is on the road to recovery. She has broken out of her depression and is now well enough herself to actively seek wellness for Ruth. She has become a woman with the initiative and energy necessary to make the most of the opportunity she has been given. She can see and think clearly. Combining this with Ruth’s own resolve and willingness to act, makes Naomi’s initiative a powerful motivation for change. Such initiative is healthy and liberating, and a very positive factor in the search for rest in this chapter.
It is not the whole story, however. It is only the beginning and the second thing that we can learn is if the persons are ever to arrive at the rest they are seeking, they must also know when to stop striving and begin waiting. In other words, they must learn to leave the outcome of their seeking in the hands of another. In this chapter Naomi’s search for rest would not have been successful if Boaz had not made a promise. And the peace of mind that Ruth and Naomi display at the end of the chapter would not have been reached if they had not trusted his promise. So, the second principle this chapter teaches us is rest, in the way the Bible speaks of it, is fundamentally a gift and cannot be achieved by striving alone. One must learn to trust.
Within this second principle there is even a greater truth that emerges when we read chapter 3 with chapters 1 and 2 in mind. On the road between Moab and Bethlehem, when Ruth had been given the opportunity to turn back, she decided to embrace Naomi’s God and people. In the words of Boaz in chapter 2, she had taken refuge in the LORD, the God of Israel. And at that time, she may not have even realized that the LORD had made provision in His law for just such persons and she and Naomi were—the widow, the poor, and (in Ruth’s case)the alien. More than just this, throughout chapters 1 and 2 there have repeated hints of God sovereignly moving to bring Ruth into contact with Boaz, the person God intended to use to meet their need. By the end of chapter 2 Naomi shows that she is aware of God sovereignly moving in their lives when she says to Ruth, “May he be blessed of the Lord who has not withdrawn his kindness to the living and to the dead.” (Ruth 2:20b, NASB95)[9] In other words, behind Boaz’s promise lies the commitment of God Himself to meet Ruth and Naomi’s need. To believe the promise of Boaz is in effect to believe the promise of God and to recognize that even the opportunity to seek this rest is God’s gift. Without His prior initiative there would be no rest to be found, and no redeemer to provide it.
Bear with me as I finish up here this morning, this truth in this chapter in its own subtle but powerful way bears witness to a truth that lies at the very heart of the Gospel. The Lord blesses all who seek Him and His promise to them is rest, rest from spiritual emptiness and alienation from Him. And the means of delivering that rest to them is a Redeemer whom He has provided. Only two things are necessary for our search for this rest to be successful, to seek it and to believe God’s promise to give it to us. Jesus said in a promise to us in Matthew 11:28, “Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest.” (Matthew 11:28, NASB95)[10] We can seek and find many other things without believing the promise of God, but we will never find this rest, this wellness, this wholeness by searching elsewhere or by human initiative alone. It is found in Christ alone, and the only strategy that we need in order to have it is to come to Him.
[1]New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update. La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation, 1995.
[2]New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update. La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation, 1995.
[3]New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update. La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation, 1995.
[4]New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update. La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation, 1995.
[5]New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update. La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation, 1995.
[6]New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update. La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation, 1995.
[7]New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update. La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation, 1995.
[8]New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update. La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation, 1995.
[9]New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update. La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation, 1995.
[10]New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update. La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation, 1995.