December 11, 2011
 
CLC Text Message
Exploring the Bible One Text at a Time
 
 
Advent 2011

Under The Bethlehem Star—Hope, Peace, Joy
Pastor Julie Rogness

Ruth 3   Naomi her mother-in-law said to her, ‘My daughter, I need to seek some security for you, so that it may be well with you. Now here is our kinsman Boaz, with whose young women you have been working. See, he is winnowing barley tonight at the threshing-floor. Now wash 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. When he lies down, observe the place where he lies; then, go and uncover his feet and lie down; and he will tell you what to do.’ She said to her, ‘All that you tell me I will do.’  So she went down to the threshing-floor and did just as her mother-in-law had instructed her. When Boaz had eaten and drunk, and he was in a contented mood, he went to lie down at the end of the heap of grain. Then she came quietly and uncovered his feet, and lay down. At midnight the man was startled and turned over, and there, lying at his feet, was a woman! He said, ‘Who are you?’ And she answered, ‘I am Ruth, your servant; spread your cloak over your servant, for you are next-of-kin.’ He said, ‘May you be blessed by the LORD, my daughter; this last instance of your loyalty is better than the first; you have not gone after young men, whether poor or rich. And now, my daughter, do not be afraid; I will do for you all that you ask, for all the assembly of my people know that you are a worthy woman. But now, though it is true that I am a near kinsman, there is another kinsman more closely related than I. Remain this night, and in the morning, if he will act as next-of-kin for you, good; let him do so. If he is not willing to act as next-of-kin for you, then, as the LORD lives, I will act as next-of-kin for you. Lie down until the morning.’  So she lay at his feet until morning, but got up before one person could recognize another; for he said, ‘It must not be known that the woman came to the threshing-floor.’ Then he said, ‘Bring the cloak you are wearing and hold it out.’ So she held it, and he measured out six measures of barley, and put it on her back; then he went into the city. She came to her mother-in-law, who said, ‘How did things go with you, my daughter?’ Then she told her all that the man had done for her, saying, ‘He gave me these six measures of barley, for he said, “Do not go back to your mother-in-law empty-handed.” ’ She replied, ‘Wait, my daughter, until you learn how the matter turns out, for the man will not rest, but will settle the matter today.’

Introduction:  Naomi doesn’t know if her dream of a redeemer will really come true.  But she tells Ruth to “wash and prepare herself” to meet a usband—a gift.  Do we expect too little from God?  Are we afraid to let God take control of our lives?  Are we too afraid of failing to risk serving God?    In fear, Ruth takes a risk and asks, “Will you  redeem me?”  Boaz, the kinsman-redeemer, provides all that she asks for:  a husband, a child, a home, and complete redemption.  Our salvation is free in Jesus Christ.  We long to feel God’s protection and care, which God provides in Jesus Christ.   It is about 500 years before the birth of Christ.  Ethnic cleansing would have been the watchword.   Only those who were racially “pure” were welcome.  It was unsettled times.  Naomi knows that it is not safe for Ruth, she is a Moabite, a foreigner.   But it is harvest time and that is the best time for those who are less fortunate in the society. The farmers were forbidden to go back over a harvested field to gather what grain may have fallen.  What fell in the field and was left at the edges was for “gleaning” by the poor. Elimelech, Naomi’s husband, was a relative of Boaz and he notices Ruth as she works in his field gleaning and he protects her.  With this Naomi develops a plan and sends Ruth down to the threshing floor to sleep at Boaz’s feet in hope that he will show mercy.  And he does, he sends Ruth away with a basket full of barley and best wishes to Naomi.  Boaz now has a plan.  He knows there is another relative first in line for Naomi’s property.  Boaz goes to speak to him and tells him of Ruth, the Moabite woman who comes with the property.  The relative will have nothing to do with a foreigner and so Boaz is free to take Ruth as his wife.  But there is more to the story……(next week)
 
Food for Thought
 
Do we expect too little from God?
Are we afraid to let God take control of our lives?
How does God bless Ruth through the lives of others in the story?
What is the difference between an immigrant and a refugee?
 
 
 
Additional Reading
 
Galatians 4:3-7
Hymn  “There’s a Wideness in God’s Mercy” 
 
There’s a wideness in God’s mercy,
Like the wideness of the sea;
There’s a kindness in his justice
Which is more than liberty.
 
For the love of God is broader
Than the measure of one’s mind;
And the heart of the Eternal 
Is most wonderfully kind.
 
If our love were but more simple, 
We could take him at his word;
And our lives would be more loving
In the likeness of our Lord.
 
Frederick W. Faber—1854