Chapter 3 of the book of Ruth is a beautiful picture of faith in action. In verses 1-4 (below) we find Naomi concocting a plan to deliberately reach out in faith to their near kinsman-redeemer, Boaz. This reaching out for security for her daughter-in-law, Ruth, is based on the covenant promises of God to them, as widows. Boaz, as a near kinsman-redeemer, had a covenant obligation to raise up offspring for Elimelek (Naomi’s deceased husband). Naomi is calling in this implicit promise. (See Deuteronomy 25:5-10)
Beloved…Our faith is also grounded in the covenant promises of God to us that are found in His word. Faith is a conscious decision on our part to reach out to God and trust Him to do what He has promised. AND we know that all of God’s promises are yes and amen in His Son. (2 Corinthians 1:20)
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 relative? 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."—Ruth 3:1-4
In verse 5 Ruth agrees to do all that Naomi has asked. Faith obeys.
And she said to her, "All that you say to me I will do."—Ruth 3:5
In verses 6-9 (below) we see Ruth going down to the threshing floor and doing all that Naomi instructed her to do. Ruth abandons all other securities and does something very risky by going unaccompanied after dark to a harvest threshing-floor full of “relaxed and off-duty” men. The book of Ruth takes place in the time of the Judges, when men did what was right in their own eyes. Can you feel her vulnerability as you read? She, as a foreigner and a widow, truly has no other hope for not only her own survival but Naomi’s as well. So in doing what Naomi says, Ruth lets go of whatever vestiges of safety and security she may have been holding on to and entrusts herself to Boaz…a near kinsman redeemer…believing that he will protect, provide and act rightly toward her.
Again, it is the same for us when we first come to Christ. We abandon all other avenues of help, safety and security and place ourselves completely into His care.
For when God made a promise to Abraham, because He could swear by no one greater, He swore by Himself, saying, "Surely blessing I will bless you, and multiplying I will multiply you." And so, after he had patiently endured, he obtained the promise. For men indeed swear by the greater, and an oath for confirmation is for them an end of all dispute. Thus God, determining to show more abundantly to the heirs of promise the immutability of His counsel, confirmed it by an oath, that by two immutable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we might have strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold of the hope set before us.
This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, and which enters the Presence behind the veil, where the forerunner has entered for us, even Jesus, having become High Priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.—Hebrews 6:13-20
Beloved…this aspect of faith is the most difficult for me. Trust makes us vulnerable. But God is faithful. He who promised it will do it.
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?"
So she answered, "I am Ruth, your maidservant. Take your maidservant under your wing, for you are a close relative."—Ruth 3:6-9
Verses 8-15 (below) picture faith as very personal…what happens at the far end of the threshing floor after midnight between Ruth and Boaz, her near kinsman redeemer, is just between them. Again, it is the same for us when we come to Christ. No one else is there, no one else sees and no one else can do it for us. We open our heart to Him and enter into the Kingdom of the Son of His love privately and personally.
This chapter began with Ruth exhibiting obedience by telling Naomi she would do whatever she says. Boaz here in these verses promises that he will do for Ruth all that she asks. Beloved…Jesus will do the same for us as we live obediently in surrender to His will for us. He is faithful. He will always fulfill His covenant promises. Mark 1:40-41 says this.
Now a leper came to Him, imploring Him, kneeling down to Him and saying to Him, "If You are willing, You can make me clean."
Then Jesus, moved with compassion, stretched out His hand and touched him, and said to him, "I am willing; be cleansed."—Mark 1:40-41
True faith is effective because God keeps His promises.
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?"
So she answered, "I am Ruth, your maidservant. Take your maidservant under your wing, for you are a close relative."
Then he said, "Blessed are you of the LORD, my daughter! For you have shown more kindness at the end than at the beginning, in that you did not go after young men, whether poor or rich. And now, my daughter, do not fear. I will do for you all that you request, for all the people of my town know that you are a virtuous woman. Now it is true that I am a close relative; however, there is a relative closer than I. Stay this night, and in the morning it shall be that if he will perform the duty of a close relative for you—good; let him do it. But if he does not want to perform the duty for you, then I will perform the duty for you, as the LORD lives! Lie down until morning."
So she lay at his feet until morning, and she arose before one could recognize another. Then he said, "Do not let it be known that the woman came to the threshing floor." Also he said, "Bring the shawl that is on you and hold it." And when she held it, he measured six ephahs of barley, and laid it on her. Then she went into the city.—Ruth 3:8-15
Now we reach the last few verses of chapter 3 which began with Ruth and Naomi together and now ends with them back together once again.
When she came to her mother-in-law, she said, "Is that you, my daughter?"
Then she told her all that the man had done for her. And she said, "These six ephahs of barley he gave me; for he said to me, 'Do not go empty-handed to your mother-in-law.'"
Then she said, "Sit still, my daughter, until you know how the matter will turn out; for the man will not rest until he has concluded the matter this day."—Ruth 3:16-18
(You will have to read Chapter 4 for the beautiful conclusion of this story. 😃)
Now comes the waiting…I hate waiting but more often than not trusting God involves it. But here is the thing. Our faith rests on the character of our Redeemer. Ruth was waiting on Boaz, who was purportedly a man of excellent character, but we wait on Christ Jesus, the perfect Son of the Living God who will perform all that He has promised us in Christ.
For all the promises of God in Him are Yes, and in Him Amen, to the glory of God through us.—2 Corinthians 1:20
In the day when I cried out, You answered me,
And made me bold with strength in my soul.—Psalm 138:3
Though I walk in the midst of trouble, You will revive me;
You will stretch out Your hand
Against the wrath of my enemies,
And Your right hand will save me.
The LORD will perfect that which concerns me;
Your mercy, O LORD, endures forever;
Do not forsake the works of Your hands.—Psalm 138:7-8
Be merciful to me, O God, be merciful to me!
For my soul trusts in You;
And in the shadow of Your wings I will make my refuge,
Until these calamities have passed by.
I will cry out to God Most High,
To God who performs all things for me.
He shall send from heaven and save me;
He reproaches the one who would swallow me up.—Psalm 57:1-3
Beloved…By faith we who believe, deliberately and intentionally reach out to our Redeemer and trust Him to perform what He has promised. He is our betrothed. In Him, we look forward to the redemption of our bodies and ultimately to the marriage supper of the Lamb.
For I am jealous for you with godly jealousy. For I have betrothed you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ.—2 Corinthians 11:2
Not only that, but we also who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for the adoption, the redemption of our body. For we were saved in this hope, but hope that is seen is not hope; for why does one still hope for what he sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we eagerly wait for it with perseverance.—Romans 8:23-25
Let us be glad and rejoice and give Him glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His wife has made herself ready." And to her it was granted to be arrayed in fine linen, clean and bright, for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints.
Then he said to me, "Write: 'Blessed are those who are called to the marriage supper of the Lamb!'" And he said to me, "These are the true sayings of God."—Revelation 19:7-9
Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying,
"Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away."
Then He who sat on the throne said, "Behold, I make all things new." And He said to me, "Write, for these words are true and faithful."—Revelation 21:2-5
Now may the God of peace who brought up our Lord Jesus from the dead, that great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, make you complete in every good work to do His will, working in you what is well pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.—Hebrews 13:20-21
