Summary: Ruth Cleaving (Chapter 1)
· "In the days the judges ruled…"
· Famine drives family to Moab
– Elimelech ("God is my King")
– Naomi ("Pleasant" (Land?)
– Mahlon ("Unhealthy"; "to blot out")
– Chilion ("Puny"; "to perish")
· Naomi discourages daughters-in-law from following
– Orpah ("Fawn") [Ultimately returns]
– Ruth ("Desirable") [Remains with Naomi]
Background: The Hem, the Kinsman-Redeemer, and Ruth's Request
I. The Hem Represented Authority and Protection
- In Bible times, the hem (or edge) of a person's robe represented their identity, authority, and covenant relationship. It wasn't just part of their clothing—it symbolized who they were.
- David cutting off Saul's hem (1 Samuel 24) symbolized taking the king's authority.
- Israelites wore tassels on their garments as a reminder to obey God's commands (Numbers 15:38–39).
- In Ezekiel 16:8, God says, "I spread My wing (or garment) over you," describing His covenant love, protection, and care for Israel.
- When the woman with the issue of blood touched the hem of Jesus' garment, she wasn't reaching for magical fabric—she was reaching out in faith to the Messiah, believing He alone could heal her (Matthew 9:20–22).
Application: God's covering isn't just protection—it's a relationship. Jesus invites us to come under His care and authority.
II. The Kinsman-Redeemer
· According to Deuteronomy 25:5–10, a kinsman-redeemer had the opportunity to preserve a deceased relative's family by marrying the widow and continuing the family line.
· To qualify, he had to meet three requirements:
– He had to be a close relative.
– He had to be able to redeem.
– He had to be willing to redeem; it was not required.
· If he refused, he publicly surrendered his right by removing his sandal—a symbol that he had declined his responsibility.
Read Ruth 3:1-18
RUTH: LOVE'S Appeal
Ruth 3:1-18 – Ruth makes an Appeal
Big Idea: God brings clarity to those who humbly trust Him and obediently follow His direction.
1) Point 1 - Clarity Comes Through Wise Counsel
[1-2a] "Security for Ruth through a kinsman. 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?'"
a) Then Naomi her mother-in-law: After the barley and wheat harvests, Ruth and Boaz had spent weeks working alongside one another. They weren't "dating" as we think of it today. Instead, they observed each other's character in the context of everyday life and community.
i) There is wisdom in this. True character is revealed over time and in how people treat others—not just how they treat someone they hope to impress. Ruth respected Boaz because she had watched him consistently live with integrity.
b) Naomi wanted Ruth to find a home of rest and security (manowach). She recognized that Boaz was God's provision for Ruth's future.
c) Naomi's plan was not an attempt to manipulate Boaz. It was based on God's Law concerning the goel, or kinsman-redeemer. As a close relative, Boaz had both the right and the responsibility to redeem Elimelech's family by protecting their inheritance, preserving the family name, and caring for Ruth.
d) Boaz points us to Jesus, our true Kinsman-Redeemer, who redeemed us, gave us a new family, and provides eternal rest and security.
Principle 1 - God often reveals His direction through godly people.
[2b-5] "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."
e) Wash yourself…anoint yourself…put on your best garment…[wait] until he has finished eating and drinking: Naomi instructed Ruth to wash, apply perfume, and put on her best clothes. She also told her to wait until Boaz had finished eating before approaching him. These instructions reflected wisdom, patience, and respect rather than manipulation. Ruth was to approach Boaz with dignity and good judgment.
i) Put on your best garment: The Hebrew word is simlah; which refers to an outer garment or cloak.
(1) Being poor, Ruth may not have owned a "best dress." Instead, Naomi was likely telling her to remove her widow's clothing and dress in normal clothes.
(2) In the Bible, changing clothes often symbolized the end of morning and the beginning of a new season (see 2 Samuel 12:20 – David completing his mourning for his son).
(3) If Ruth had continued wearing garments of morning, Boaz would have respected her grief and would not have pursued a relationship with her.
(a) Naomi's instructed her to signal to Boaz that she was done mourning.
f) Uncover his feet, and lie down: Ruth was told to uncover Boaz's feet and lie down. While this sounds strange, it was not a sexual gesture in that culture. It was a symbol of humility, submission and trust.
i) By lying at Boaz's feet, Ruth came as a servant, placing herself under the care of her kinsman-redeemer. She was not demanding her rights but humbly trusting Boaz's character and asking him to fulfill his God-given responsibility. In essence, she was saying, "I trust you, and I place my future in your hands."
g) All that you say to me I will do: Ruth humbly and wisely received the counsel of her mother-in-law.
Principle 2 - Clarity requires obedient faith before complete understanding.
2) Point 2 - Clarity Comes Through Trusting God's Redeemer
[6-7] 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.
a) He went to lie down at the end of the heap of grain: Remember that these were the days of the Judges with much political and social instability in Israel. There was a high potentiality of thieves coming to steal all the hard-earned grain.
i) Boaz would lie down by on heap of grain, and his servants would be scattered in other areas of his property to guad the other heaps of grain.
(1) This would have provided some measure of privacy for Boaz and Ruth.
b) She came softly: Ruth did just as her mother-in-law Naomi had recommended.
i) Remember that we come to Jesus empty-handed. Grace is never earned…it is received.
Principle 3 – Humility positions us to receive God's grace.
[8-9] 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 [goel]."
c) It happened at midnight that the man was startled: Boaz was suddenly awakened at midnight, likely because his uncovered feet had become cold. As he stirred, he realized someone was lying at his feet. Since he was sleeping at the threshing floor to guard his grain from thieves, the unexpected presence would have initially concerned him. His initial alarm quickly turned to surprise when he discovered the visitor was Ruth and not a thief.
d) Take your maidservant under your wing, for you are a close relative: Maidservant is the Hebrew word amah; and thus she was presenting herself as one who was eligible for marriage.
e) Under your wing: Here, she boldly asked Boaz to take her in marriage. The phrase can also be translated as "spread the corner of your garment over me." This was a culturally relevant way to say, "I am a widow, take me as your wife."
[10-11] 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."
f) Blessed are you of the LORD, my daughter... you did not go after young men: Although Boaz was likely much older (40-50) than Ruth (20-30), he never presumed upon his position as her kinsman-redeemer. He patiently waited from Ruth's willingness and respected her freedom to choose.
i) Ruth, in turn, was drawn to Boaz not because of his appearance, but because of his godly character, integrity, and kindness.
(1) Biblical relationships are built on character, not chemistry; respect, not pressure; and commitment, not convenience.
g) STOP TRYING TO FIND THE ONE! There IS NOT "The One," there is ONLY "The One you pick."
(a) Stop finding and start becoming.
ii) All the people of my town know that you are a virtuous woman: Boaz was also attracted to Ruth because of her character. We don't really know how Ruth looked, but we do know that she was a woman of godly character.
(1) Literally, Boaz called Ruth a hah-yil woman. The basic meaning behind this Hebrew word is "strength; moral strength, good quality, integrity, virtue." This same word is used in a term for heroes in the Bible: A mighty man of valor. Just as courage and strength make a man a hero, so Ruth's courage and strength, shown in her virtue — make her a hero, in the Proverbs 31 kind of definition of a woman of virtue.
iii) The Virtuous Woman (Proverbs 31:10–31)
– Fears the Lord
– Trustworthy
– Does her husband good
– Hardworking and diligent
– Wise steward of resources
– Industrious and productive
– Plans for the future
– Provides for her family
– Compassionate to the poor
– Strong and honorable
– Confident about the future
– Speaks with wisdom
– Kind in her words
– Watches over her household
– Not lazy
– Honored by her children
– Praised by her husband
– Beautiful because of her godly character
iv) The Virtuous Man (Ezekiel 18:5–9)
– Does what is lawful and right
– Worships God alone (rejects idolatry)
– Sexually pure and faithful
– Does not oppress others
– Returns what is pledged
– Does not steal
– Provides for the hungry
– Clothes the needy
– Does not exploit people financially
– Practices justice fairly
– Obeys God's statutes
– Walks faithfully with God
– Lives with integrity
h) Summary:
i) A Virtuous Woman is recognized by her godly character, wisdom, diligence, compassion, and fear of the Lord.
ii) A Virtuous Man is recognized by his integrity, justice, compassion, purity, obedience, and faithfulness to God.
(1) So, stop trying to find the virtuous woman/man, and start becoming a virtuous woman/man.
(a) This beautiful biblical picture of the kind of man and woman God desires to unite in marriage.
Principle 2 - God's timing always produces greater clarity than our impatience.
[12-13] "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."
i) There is a relative closer than I: The climatic potential tragedy. There is someone closer who would have first right. Under the Mosaic Law, the duty fell upon the closest male relative, unless he waved his right of priority. (This may explain why he did not make his own move earlier.)
[14-15] 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.
j) Do not let it be known: Boaz and Ruth were not trying to hide anything scandalous; it was just that Boaz didn't want this nearer kinsman to learn that Ruth was now demanding her right to marriage to a goel before Boaz could tell him personally.
k) He measured six ephahs of barley: The six measures of barley are a code. Boaz gave it for Naomi, not Ruth (cf. v.18).
[16-18] So 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."
l) Sit still, my daughter... the man will not rest until he has concluded the matter this day: "...will not be in rest": How long did it take God to create the earth? Six days (Gen 1 and Ex 20:11). And on the seventh day He rested. When Boaz gives six measures to Naomi, she understands that he is saying that he won't rest until the matter is resolved.
3) Chapter 3 Summary
a) The situation by the end of this chapter is that Naomi's prayer of Ruth (1:8, 9) is about to be answered. Ruth will find rest in marriage. The famine will no longer be a factor, since Boaz's gift assured the woman of plenty to eat. Ruth no longer identifies as the lower status of the Moabitess, but rather she uses her own name I am Ruth (vs. 9).
b) This was a time of considerable anxiety for Ruth. She had claimed her right to marriage and would be married. The only question was to whom would she be married? Would it be to Boaz, or to the nearer goel? The issue would be decided that very day.
4) Christ Connection
a) Boaz points us to Jesus.
(1) Boaz was willing…Jesus is willing.
(2) Boaz had the ability to redeem…Jesus alone has the power to redeem.
(3) Boaz gave Ruth security…Jesus gives us eternal security.
(4) Boaz covered Ruth…Jesus covers us with His righteousness.
Recall Questions
1) Why did Naomi seek security for Ruth?
2) What relationship existed between Boaz and Naomi's family?
3) What is the role of a kinsman-redeemer (goel)?
4) What instructions did Naomi give Ruth before going to Boaz?
5) Why did Ruth wait until Boaz had finished eating?
6) Where did Ruth lie down?
7) What request did Ruth make of Boaz?
8) How did Boaz describe Ruth's character?
9) What obstacle prevented Boaz from immediately redeeming Ruth?
10) What did Boaz send home with Ruth?
Application Questions
1) Who has God placed in your life to provide wise spiritual counsel?
2) Are you waiting for complete understanding before obeying God?
3) What step of obedience is God asking you to take today?
4) Where are you tempted to demand control instead of humbly trusting God?
5) What situation in your life currently lacks clarity?
6) How have you seen God work through delays in your life?
7) In what area do you need to wait instead of forcing a solution?
8) How does Boaz help you better understand Jesus as your Redeemer?
9) What promise of God can you hold onto while waiting for clarity?
10) This week, what practical act of faith will demonstrate your trust in God's timing?
