Ruth 3:10
7 then she came quietly, and uncovered his feet and lay down.8 And it came about in the middle of the night that the man was startled and sat up feeling around; and behold, a woman was lying at his feet. 9 And he said, “Who are you?” And she answered, “I am Companion (Ruth) your maid. So spread your covering over your maid, for you are a family guardian.”
10 Then he said, “May you be blessed by YHWH, my daughter.
You have made your latest lovingkindness better than the first
by not going after young men, whether poor or rich.
Introduction
Our text this morning continues our study of the book of Ruth.
Now remember Naomi has a plan to secure her family’s wellbeing and Ruth has implemented it exactly. Ruth has gone to the threshing floor and once Boaz is asleep she has uncovered his feet and laid down there. Why? To do so is a formal and culturally recognized request for marriage, which is the whole point of the whole plan.
Well when Boaz wakes up and finds a woman lying at his feet, he is baffled. All he can think/manage to do is ask, “Who are you”?
Ruth responds, I am Companion your maid. So as you return the covering over your feet, cover me as well. In other words, as a family guardian, redeem you kinsman’s line by marrying me, his widow.
Well so far so good. But how will Boaz respond? Will he reject her request? Will he leave Naomi and Ruth destitute? Will he run Ruth off and publically humiliate her? Regardless, Ruth is about to find out.
In our text this morning we hear the first part of Boaz’s response.
Verse 10
Notice at once, as Ruth breathlessly waits for Boaz’s response, verse 14 tells us that the first thing Boaz says, is May you be blessed by YHWH. Importance: notice at once the absolute relief Boaz’s initial response provides: first, Boaz’s reply indicates that he has understood exactly what Ruth is asking and why. Notice then, there are no questions or requests for clarification. However, given that, Boaz does not rebuke her, or run her off, or even worse seek to disgrace her. Instead, he blesses her. Notice then the scene: with everything on the line and the weight of the world on her shoulders, Boaz’s reply must have taken Ruth’s breath and immediately brought tears of relief to her eyes. That said, notice the specific blessing Boaz gives: in a book that is all about names, it is very significant that Boaz does not give Ruth a generic blessing or simply wish her well. Instead, this man of devout faith (who’s words count) specifically asks YHWH (the covenant God of Israel) to bless Ruth. Importance: notice this is the second time in the book that Boaz has asked YHWH to bless Ruth (the first time was back in his field on the very first day they met- 2:12). In both cases (then and now), his blessings indicate that Boaz knows of Ruth conversion as well as her outstanding character. In other words, Boaz specifically asks YHWH to bless Ruth because he knows that Ruth is YHWH’s child. Not only that, here in verse 10, with all the uncovering of feet going on, Boaz’s blessing acknowledges that Boaz knows that Ruth (this child of YHWH) is marriage eligible.
Next, notice that Boaz concludes his blessing by saying May you be blessed by YHWH my daughter. Importance: at once, the expression “my daughter” is a term of affection and tenderness. In other words, Boaz’s blessing conveys his heart and disposition towards Ruth and her request. Notice then, verse 14 does not depict Boaz being polite, but making excuses or looking for a way out. Instead, Boaz responds positively and with favor to what Ruth has asked. However, that’s not all. In fact, there is far far more going on here than just tenderness. Remember, the book of Ruth is a book all about legal transactions. And right now we are in the heart of one of those transactions as it is unfolding. As such, words here count and carry significance. Notice then, when Boaz calls Ruth “my daughter” he is not just being tender and nice. Instead, Boaz is also acknowledging (and affectionately embracing) his patriarchal relation and obligation to Ruth. Simply put, in just two kind words, Boaz confirms that this woman, who is requesting that he serve as a kinsman redeemer is a member of his family who has a claim on his care. Notice the result: in one simple blessing Boaz has validated every detail of Ruth’s request: she is a child of God and thus marriage eligible; he has embraced her request with favor and affection; and rather than disputing her claim he has acknowledged his familial relation/obligation. Notice then the scene: as Ruth tries but fails to fight back the tears, her uncontrollable sobbing announces (in a messy and embarrassing manner) that YHWH has blessed her endeavor in every way. In fact, this has been God’s plan and God’s doing all along.
Next, notice that Boaz (undeterred by female tears) adds that Ruth has made this latest act of lovingkindness better than her first one. In other words, far from rejecting Ruth’s proposal and running her off, Boaz blesses her and then praises her for what she is doing. Importance: at its root, the Hebrew word here for lovingkindness denotes to a loyalty and faithfulness in one’s obligation to another. As such, it denotes a kindness/favor that is rooted in and governed by commitment and love FN#1. Notice the result: if the book of Ruth is not a romance steered by passion, then here with the concept of lovingkindness, we are at the very heart of what motivates the book: it is commitment born of love and love profound enough to be committed and defined. Importance: it is this committed love (not transient passion) that not only serves as the basis of the book, but more profoundly, it serves as the true basis and foundation of every human relation FN#2. That said, when Boaz says that Ruth has made this demonstration of lovingkindness (her request for marriage) better than her first act of lovingkindness to what is he referring? What is this initial act? Remember the first time Boaz asked YHWH to bless Ruth, he praised her for her loyalty to Naomi. In 2:11 Boaz says that he knows the way that Ruth has left both her parents and the land of her birth in order to remain with and assist the mother of her faith. However, Boaz now says that Ruth’s request for remarriage is an even greater demonstration of her faith, commitment, and love. How? Listen:
Notice at once the reason Boaz gives for his assessment: Boaz says that Ruth has not gone after young men. Importance: the Hebrew word here for young men denotes males who are fully grown, in the prime of life, and yet remain unmarried. In other words, Ruth did not help Naomi for a while only to abandon her for her own betterment. Not only that, notice Boaz says that Ruth did not go after young men whether poor or rich FN#3. Importance: when Boaz says that Ruth did not chase after poor young men, he most certainly has in mind his young field workers behind whom Ruth gleaned every day. In other words, Ruth did not take what was an easy and prevalent opportunity to ease her loneliness by hooking up with a willing field worker for a quick fling. At the same time, neither did she attempt to escape the hardship of her situation by putting herself on the market in order to land a legitimate and wealthy husband. Instead, she remained committed to the mother of her faith. Notice then the point: in a book that is all about the future, Ruth’s first kindness dealt with the present. That is, Ruth left home and family to assist Naomi with the tasks of daily (or current) survival. However, in Boaz’s eyes Ruth’s latest act is greater than the first because in preferring to marry Boaz (a relative of her deceased father-in-law, Elimelech) rather than seeking another (however easy or advantageous), Ruth is endeavoring to provide an heir for Elimelech’s line and thereby secure the family’s place in the future of God’s people. But why? The reason is that God, His people, and their ongoing future matter more to Ruth than all these other things. In other words, Boaz has not merely heard of Ruth’s conversion, he sees the fruit of genuine faith/change in her character and choices. Not only that, notice amid all the talk of Elimelech’s line, that YHWH is quietly securing Ruth’s place as His child in this same future and line (through her marriage to Boaz).
Bottom line: In the very first words, of Boaz’s response he confirms Ruth’s conversion, her claim, and her character. Not only that, he also affirms his favor towards her request. However, as Boaz speaks his voice seems a thousand miles away. Ruth knows that what he is saying is good but it is all a blur. She can’t stop crying. Yet as the tears of relief stream down Ruth’s face, the goodness of YHWH, her God, washes over her. But Boaz is still talking, she needs to focus, she needs to pull it together, she needs to listen to what Boaz says next.
Footnotes
1] Note: the Hebrew word here kesed (חֶסֶד) is often translated kindness or lovingkindness). It occurs 3 times in the book of Ruth and numerous times throughout the whole of the Old Testament (look for the word lovingkindness in your reading). At its root it points to a loyalty and faithfulness to one’s obligation to another. In terms of God it denotes God’s faithfulness to His covenant by showing love, kindness, and favor to His people. As such, it is stronger than mere kindness. Instead, it denotes a kindness that is rooted in committed love. Therefore, I have translated it as lovingkindness to bring out this notion of benevolence and care that is born out of love’s commitment to another.
2] Notice then, lovingkindness is the very same word used throughout Scripture to describe YHWH’s disposition towards His people. In other words, central to the book of Ruth is the notion of the heart of man reflecting and moving in sync with the heart of God. Notice then this reflection: at the heart of the book of Ruth is the notion of legal transactions. In the same way, at the heart of God’s relationship with His people is the notion of covenant. In neither case (transaction or covenant) do we have a sterile and heartless legal obligation. Yet, at the same time, neither do we have a whimsical and transient act of fleeting passion. Instead, what we have is a commitment born out of love and a love profound enough to be committed and defined. Thus, it is this lovingkindness that is the true foundation of every human affection and virtue.
3] When Boaz says whether poor or rich, notice the reversal of the usual and expected order: normally one would place the most desirable and alluring option first, the one that poses the greatest temptation and thus demonstrates the greatest restraint. Then one would place the less enticing option last (thus we would expect Boaz to say, whether rich or poor). However, Boaz flips the order and says, whether poor or rich. Why? Boaz begins with the easiest, quickest, and most readily available option (hooking up with field hands). Afterwards, he follows with the harder, more involved, and more serious/permanent option (a legitimate and wealthy husband). In other words, Ruth did not seek cheap easy outs; nor did she go for the more involved long term solution that nonetheless would have abandoned her larger objective (providing for both the wellbeing and ongoing future of her family’s line)