09WK18- RUTH -CHOOSING A HUSBAND

RUTH – CHOOSING A HUSBAND
KEY VERSE: 10 “The LORD bless you, my daughter,” he replied. “This kindness is greater than that which you showed earlier: You have not run after the younger men, whether rich or poor. RUTH 3:10-11

SCRIPTURE LESSON: RUTH 3
3:1 One day Naomi her mother-in-law said to her, “My daughter, should I not try to find a home for you, where you will be well provided for?
2 Is not Boaz, with whose servant girls you have been, a kinsman of ours? Tonight he will be winnowing barley on the threshing floor.
3 Wash and perfume yourself, and put on your best clothes. Then go down to the threshing floor, but don’t let him know you are there until he has finished eating and drinking.
4 When he lies down, note the place where he is lying. Then go and uncover his feet and lie down. He will tell you what to do.”
5“I will do whatever you say,” Ruth answered.
6 So she went down to the threshing floor and did everything her mother-in-law told her to do.
7 When Boaz had finished eating and drinking and was in good spirits, he went over to lie down at the far end of the grain pile. Ruth approached quietly, uncovered his feet and lay down
8 In the middle of the night something startled the man, and he turned and discovered a woman lying at his feet.
9 “Who are you?” he asked. “I am your servant Ruth,” she said. “Spread the comer of your garment over me, since you are a kinsman-redeemer.”
10 “The LORD bless you, my daughter,” he replied. “This kindness is greater than that which you showed earlier. You have not run after the younger men, whether rich or poor.
11 And now, my daughter, don’t be afraid. I will do for you all you ask. All my fellow townsmen know that you are a woman of noble character.
12 Although it is true that I am near of kin, there is kinsman-redeemer nearer than I.
13 Stay here for the night, and in the morning if he wants to redeem, good; let him redeem. But if he is not willing, as surely as the LORD lives I will do it. Lie here until morning.”
14 So she lay at his feet until morning, but got up before anyone could be recognized; and he said, “Don’t let it be known that a woman came to the threshing floor. “
15 He also said, “Bring me the shaw1 you are wearing and hold it out. “When she did so, he poured into it six measures of barley and put it on her. Then he went back to town.
16 When Ruth came to her mother-in-law, Naomi asked, “How did it go, my daughter?”
Then she told her everything Boaz had done for her
17 and added, “He gave me these six measures of barley, saying, ‘Don’t go back to your mother-in-law empty-handed.”
18 Then Naomi said, “Wait, my daughter, until you find out what happens. For the man will not rest until the matter is settled today.”








For The Teacher…
BACKGROUND
In Jewish society the law required a man to marry the childless widow of his dead brother. The first son born of that union would bear his late brother’s name and inherit his property (Dt. 25:5-10; Lev. 25:23-28). It was called the law of the “Levirate” marriage, from the Hebrew word for “brother.” If no brother was available, a more distant relative could be asked to fulfill this duty. But the widow would have to let him know that he was acceptable to be her “goel,” as they called it, her kinsman-redeemer and provider. It was in this situation that Ruth found herself as she encountered Boaz.)

IN DEPTH
RUTH 3:1 Naomi is concerned about the security of Ruth. Earlier in 1:9, She had raised a similar concern by asking God to provide her daughters-in-law the “rest” of marriage. Now she was determined to seek this rest for Ruth.
Naomi sought “security” (which in the Hebrew literally means “rest” --- (cf. Ge. 8:9; Ps 116:7; Lam. 1:3)) for Ruth by obtaining a Hebrew husband for her. In granting her success, God was answering her earlier prayer (1: 9) with much more than she had hoped.
VERSE 2 Kinsman is a word central to the narrative and message of this book. The concept is related to the cultural obligation of a family member whose kinfolk have suffered loss. It involved the capacity of one relative who may be qualified to “redeem” another relative from slave status or recoup property once owned but now lost by reason of indebtedness. The expression “Kinsman-redeemer” is often used for “relative,” seeking in English to convey the combination of a human relationship with a divinely appointed role of a recovered. See Lev. 25:25, 47-55. Winnowing refers to the practice of extracting grain from its surrounding husk. The grain was poured on the threshing floor and animals walked over them thus causing the outer husk to break. The mix was scooped up on flat, tray-like baskets. It was then winnowed, or thrown into the air at a location where a constant breeze would catch the lightweight husk (chaff) and blow it away, leaving the grain to fall back upon the tray. It was then poured into containers for storing. All this took place in the spring.
The threshing floor This was a cleared area where grain was winnowed – crushed or torn to separate the chaff, straw, and grains.
VERSE 3-8 Naomi’s direction and Ruth’s ensuring action may appear to be seductive and inconsistent with the spiritual dignity of the book. On the contrary, however, Boaz’s word’s, “You are a woman of noble character” (3:11), clearly shows that he believed her to be highly moral.
Uncover his feet At Naomi’s suggestion; Ruth was approaching Boaz with some boldness. But her purpose was to become engaged. Her answer (3:9) shows that she was not thinking of becoming pregnant outside wedlock. The obvious purpose was that the chill of the night would naturally awaken Boaz in time and thus discover her at his feet.
Lie down Ruth lies patiently at Boaz’s feet until he wakes (3:8-9); nothing unbecoming happens between them during the night (3:11).
VERSE 9 spread the corner of your garment over me This is a metaphor suggesting Ruth’s need for protection just as young birds would run under the wings their mothers to escape birds of prey. The culture of the ancient Middle Eastern world involved the practice of the casting of a garment over one being claimed for marriage (see Exe. 16:8), a tradition to which Ruth clearly belongs. Also a Jewish husband covers his bride with the end of his prayer shawl as a symbolic gesture that she is under his protection. Ruth’s humble request to Boaz is for his protection as a “close relative”. This is the most affectionate point of the story, and the most liable to misunderstanding. It does not imply anything inappropriate.
VERSES 10-11 Boaz understood that Ruth’s initiative in making marriage proposal was in keeping with the law and praise her for not seeking younger men to marry.
A levirate marriage would provide her deceased husband with an heir (Dt. 25:5-10). In the ancient Middle East, not having an heir was considered a tragedy for the family. The particular kindness that Boaz spoke of was Ruth’s loyal love toward Naomi in choosing to remain with her even though she faced poverty.
A woman of noble character This is the feminine equivalent of the Hebrews phrase translated a man of standing in 2:1. Ruth had risen from being a Moabite and servant to becoming attractive to Boaz as a possible marriage partner. The high praise of Boaz shows that Ruth, as a godly woman had not compromised herself.
VERSE 12 The suspense in the narrative increases when Boaz announces that there is a kinsmen-redeemer nearer than he. The nearest relative would have the opportunity to carry out responsibility first.
Kinsmen-redeemer The Hebrew word refers to a relative who acted as a protector or guarantor of the family rights. He could be called upon to perform a number of duties: (1) to provide an heir for a deceased brother by marrying that brother’s wife and producing a child with her; (2) to buy back a family member who had been sold into slavery due to poverty; (3) to avenge a relative who had been murdered by killing the murderer; and (4) to buy back property that the family had sold. Scripture calls God the Redeemer or the “kinsman-redeemer” of Israel (Is. 60:16), and Jesus the Redeemer of all believers (1 Pe. 1:18,19).
VERSE 13 Boaz wanted to take immediate responsibility for Ruth and Naomi, so he asked her to stay” with him so she would not be exposed to any danger by returning to her home in the middle of the night.
The statement as the LORD lives reinforces the resolve of Boaz to take acceptance of her.
VERSE 14 Ruth left at early dawn, in order to avoid anyone who might recognize her.
Don’t let it be known This precaution was to avoid the possibility of anyone getting the wrong idea about Ruth’s actions that night, just as they could be misunderstood today.
VERSE 15 The large measure (possibly 40 to 45 kgs., not unbearable for field workers) was not only an expression of Boaz’s will to provide abundantly for her future (3:17) but also it provided an apparent reason for Ruth’s presence. People would conclude she came to secure a supply of grain to carry home prior to the heat of the day. Boaz probably helped raise the barley to Ruth’s head in order for Ruth to carry it home to Naomi.
VERSES 18 Naomi was confident that Boaz would see the matter through to its conclusion the same day. Boaz had repeatedly demonstrated that he was an honest and kindhearted man by his continuing provision for the two women.

For The Student…
THE WORD IN OUR LIVERS
It is important to understand that there is nothing immoral in this episode. This procedure was the custom of the day, and the record emphasizes the purity of it. In the secluded darkness of the threshing room, Boaz could have gratified carnal desires and no one but Ruth would have known it. He did not offer to violate her chastity, though he had all the opportunity at his disposal.

He was a godly, moral, self-disciplined, self-controlled man, and he kept his hands off. Scripture says that Ruth slept at his feet until morning (Ru 3:14) Furthermore, Ruth had the reputation of being a woman of excellence (Ru 3:11). She had sexual drives like any other normal woman, but she learned to claim God’s grace and strength to hold those drives in check until marriage. Boaz and Ruth both knew that God’s greatest blessing in marriage would require purity before marriage. Carelessness in this area would bring guilt, loss of self-respect, and suspicion. And it could leaves scars on their souls that would make their adjustment to each other in marriage most difficult.

The story implies the Boaz is much older than Ruth (cf 3:10). We do not know whether he was a bachelor or a widower, but we do know that he was a man of God. From this story we learn that one prerequisite for a successful marriage is that the man be a man of God. One reason why so many marriages are failing is because the husbands have not prepared themselves spiritually for their task. Some people could not think about anything but sex during their courtship days.

In our society, premarital sex seems perfectly acceptable. Many young people have experienced it before graduating from School, and very often couples who are engaged to be married indulge in sex with the excuse that they love each other and that they are going to get married anyway. But the point is, they only love to gratify their own bodily desires. If they loved each other, they would not subject each other to the hazards of disobeying God, noting he punishes all who ignore his standards (1 Th. 4:3-6).

It is not that God is a mean old judge who just wants to keep us from having fun. He simply knows that premarital purity will be best for us and for our marriages. Our society is paying the price for promiscuity by confusion in many marriages and innumerable broken homes with all the emotional trauma they bring. God’s way is always the best!

Boaz and Ruth did it God’s way. We are not surprised to see, finally, their successful marriage. Not much is actually said about their relationship with each other after the wedding, but from what we have already we may assume that their marriage was richly blessed of God. They became great-grand parents of King David and consequently the ancestors of the Lord Jesus Christ on the human side.

TEST YOURSELF
1. Why did Naomi advise Ruth to do what she did? (verses 1-4).
2. How did Ruth respond to Naomi’s advice? (verse 5).
3. Fill in the blacks: “I am your ………………….. Ruth,” She said. “Spread the ……………………… of your garment over me, since you are a …..” (Verse 9)
4. Quote Ruth 3:10.
5. “All my fellow townsmen know that you are a woman of noble character.” Who is being spoken of here? (verse 11).

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
1. (a) Ruth did not wait for Boaz to tell her what to do but, as Naomi had directed, she took the initiative and directly asked for marriage because practical is Ruth’s example in our Ghanaian society, where men normally propose marriage to women?
(b) What are some of the ways a woman can appropriately propose marriage to a man?
2. Read verse 10 again. (a) Discuss the challenges that younger women married to older men may face and vice versa.
(b) Discuss the situation in Africa where some parents marry off their under age daughters to older rich men as second, third, or even fourth wives.
3. Discuss the practice of Levirate / Inheritance marriage in Africa in the light of the HIV/AIDS menace. Is it to be encouraged in the light of modernity?
4. What are some of the qualities to look for in a good spouse?


BIBLE LESSON APPLICATION
Pray specially for young women who are preparing to marry. Focus on any one or two you know.

DAILY BIBLE READINGS
Monday I Corinthian 7:36-40 He must belong to the Lord
Tuesday I Timothy 5:9-15 Encourage young widows to marry
Wednesday Genesis 24:1-9 God will send his angel before you
Thursday Genesis 24:10-27 Seek God’s guidance
Friday Genesis 24:50-61 Don’t delay marriage when the
Indications care clear.
Saturday Hebrews 13:4 Purity and integrity in marriage