Friday, October 1, 2010
God Is At Work - The Story of Ruth Part III - A Strange Proposal, Part 14 of 31
TEXT: "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 Boaz, whose young women you were with, is he not our kinsman? In fact, he is winnowing barley tonight at the threshing floor. Therefore wash yourself and anoint yourself, put on your best garment and go down to the threshing floor; but do not make yourself known to the man until he has finished eating and drinking. Then it shall be, when he lies down, that you shall notice the place where he lies; and you shall go in, uncover his feet, and lie down; and he will tell you what you should do.' And she said to her, 'All that you say to me I will do.' So she went down to the threshing floor and did according to all that her mother-in-law instructed her. And after Boaz had eaten and drunk, and his heart was cheerful, he went to lie down at the end of the heap of grain; and she came softly, uncovered his feet, and lay down. Now it happened at midnight that the man was startled, and turned himself; and there a woman was lying at his feet. And he said, 'Who are you?' She answered, 'I am Ruth, your maidservant. Take your maidservant under your wing, for you are a near kinsman' " (Ruth 3:1-9).
IDEA: Stories in the Bible describe actions but do not necessarily commend them.
PURPOSE: To help listeners be aware that they can draw bad lessons from a good story.
The story of Ruth has an evident application: "God uses common people doing uncommon things to achieve uncommon ends as they act unselfishly toward one another."
Does that sound reasonable to you? Does it sound like something you might hear in church?
I. The three main characters in Ruth's story care unselfishly for one another.
How does Ruth show this unselfish care for Naomi, her mother-in-law (Ruth 1:16 and all of chapter 2)?
In chapter 3 Ruth seemed to want to get Naomi to think favorably toward Boaz (compare the conversations in Ruth 3:15 and 3:17).
How did Boaz show unselfish care for the foreigner, Ruth (Ruth, chapter 2)?
How did Naomi show care for Ruth? She wanted to get Ruth married for Ruth's protection and future.
II. In spite of Naomi's good intentions, do you think she was being manipulative in her plan to get Ruth married?
Why did Naomi map out this secretive procedure to approach Boaz "at night"?
Do you think that this was the only time something like this happened in that culture? Or was it a custom of some sort?
Do you think a story like this should be in the Bible?
Do you think that Naomi didn't know that there was a closer Kinsman-Redeemer than Boaz?
Boaz knew of a man closer than he. Wouldn't Naomi have known of him?
She wanted to get Ruth married, and she really didn't care much which Kinsman-Redeemer married her.
III. What applications might be made from this story?
God helps those who help themselves.
The end justifies the means. Is that ever true?
People of noble character will do the proper thing no matter what the situation. Ruth and Boaz both reveal gracious and godly character in a compromising situation.
Do what you are commanded and don't ask questions.
Ruth responded, "I will do whatever you say." How did she regard Naomi's words? Did Ruth take them as a "suggestion" to be weighed or a "command" to obey, or something in between?
How do you feel about Ruth's response? No questions asked. No objections and no request for a fuller explanation.
Is Ruth's response similar to Mary's response to the angel of the Lord in Luke 1:38—"I am the Lord's servant . . . May it be to me as you have said."
Did the fact that Naomi made the "command" make it less "godly" than the angel's approach to Mary?
