In Ruth 3:1-6 we see Naomi play a matchmaker. I am sure that Ruth was not aware of the Law of the Kinsman Redeemer. This law was a way to keep the family line and the land in the family. This is God's way of providing for the widow.
Naomi promises Ruth that she will take care of her. This meaning,"I am going to get you married." Naomi is going to play match maker. I am sure that Naomi has seen the evidence that Boaz likes Ruth. He has gone out of his way to provide extra barley for her and Naomi. Boaz has given Ruth protection as she works with his workers. This is not normal behavior for the land owner to give to the poor under the law of gleaning.
Naomi tells Ruth to wash up, put on some perfume, dress nice and go find Boaz. Ok, my words are a little less more to the point than how Naomi tells Ruth. Naomi knows that the Law of the Kinsman Redeemer is for the widow to enforce. You see the widow was to go to the nearest kinsman and seek to be claimed by him. The kinsman can marry her as the law allows are refuse her. The widow if refused can go before the elders and take the kinsman's shoe off and spit in his face. This is showing the people that he will not honor her late husband. So, Ruth must go to Boaz to seek his redeeming of the nearest kinsman, just as we must go and seek Jesus as our redeemer.
The Law of the Kinsman Redeemer is a picture of what Jesus Christ did for us, over 2000 years ago. Jesus Christ redeemed us of our sins by shedding His sinless and perfect blood on Calvary. He made a way for our sins to be forgiven. We are like Ruth, we must go and claim our Redeemer.
Ruth was told to do four things:
- Wash
- Anoint
- Put on raiment
- Get down to the floor
God to tells us the same for things when it comes to our Kinsman Redeemer Jesus Christ:
- WASH: "Wash me from my iniquity" Ps. 26:6, we need to go to Jesus Christ and ask for our sins to be forgiven, so that we are washed from our sins. We have our sins forgiven by simply," believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved." Acts 16:31
- ANOINT: "But the anointing which ye have received of Him.." I John 2:27, after we are saved, God will give us His Holy Spirit to dwell in us. The Holy Spirit is given to us so we can grow in Christ and follow Him.
- PUT ON RAIMENT: "Put on the whole armour of God..your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; Above all, taking the shield of faith...and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God." Eph. 6:11-17. God gives us an armour to protect us as we live in this world.
- GET DOWN ON THE FLOOR: "Praying always" Eph. 6:18, we need to stay bowed down before God, praying always. Praying for forgiveness of sin, praise to God for what He has done for us, and is doing for us. Praying for each other. Prayer is how God meets our needs, we ask and seek of Him, He answers and provides.
Ruth in the verses obeys Naomi never questing her and asking why, Ruth just obeys. Are we obeying God in the same way. Do we obey Him with out questioning or asking why?
Jesus wants us to be like Ruth in these verses obedient to His word. If you haven't went to Jesus Christ and seek the redemption that He wants to give you. I pray that you will do it today. Just as Ruth will go to Boaz and seek the Kinsman Redeemer, you must call on Jesus Christ to redeem you.
In Ruth 2:14-18, we find Ruth and Boaz talking in the field. We find a smitten Boaz. I believe that Boaz sees the beauty of Ruth's heart here. He knows that she is a precious jewel of the Lords. Boaz goes out of his way to make Ruth's work easy and peaceful.
In verse 14, Boaz tells Ruth to come and eat. This is not normal for a Hebrew man to talk to a woman, much less a stranger to the land. In the New Testament the woman at the well ask Jesus in John, Chapter 4, how should he ask her for drink for she was a woman of Samaria. These two stories paint a wonderful picture of love and acceptance. Boaz wants to meet Ruth's physical needs, Jesus wanted to meet the woman's spiritual needs. Boaz will later paint the picture of Jesus as our Redeemer as he comes to redeem Ruth in the later chapters of Ruth.
Boaz offers Ruth bread and vinegar for lunch. He reaches and gives Ruth the food to eat, showing his affection for her. The Bible tells us she ate till she was sufficed and left. In verse 18 we read where she saved her left overs and gave them to Naomi. Ruth ate till she was sufficed. This statement stands out to me for many reasons. The first of course is she was not a glutton, the second she was content. Ruth had no idea where her food was coming from day to day. She had to glean for their barley. Ruth had to wonder would she glean enough for them to have plenty? Ruth could have ate more to be sure that she was full and not have to worry about supper.No,not Ruth she was content. I believe that Ruth was so trusting in the Lord that she was content and knew that He would take care of her and Naomi's needs.
"Be content with such as ye have: for He hath said I will never leave thee nor forsake thee." (Hebrews 13:5) Ruth lived this verse, she was completely trusting in God. God was with Ruth, meeting her needs through Boaz. In verses 15-17, Boaz instructs his workers to let her glean in the area that they are gleaning in, and let some "handfuls of purpose" fall for her. Boaz wanted to make sure that Ruth had plenty to take home to meet her needs.
At the end of the day the Lord blessed her with an ephah of barley, which is about 4 to 7 gallons. God was doing exceeding abundantly above all that Ruth asked of Him. (Eph. 3:20). Are you sufficed in the Lord, are you content with the things that the Lord has blessed you with? Trust in the Lord to meet your needs. He will be there for you, He promises never to leave us or forsake us.
