Verse 1 Naomi the matchmaker. It seems the kindness of the Lord has lit a spark in her. Isn't that all it takes for you, too. The world can seem like it is absolutely crashing down around me, and one glimpse of the Lord's hand on my life is all it takes to turn that around. The amazing thing is, the Lord's hand is always on my life; I just have to open my eyes!
Verse 2-5 I think it is interesting that we don't have much explanation of the customs of this time. What Naomi asks Ruth to do seems forward and strange. But as weird as I think it was, imagine how Ruth would have felt about it! She was in a foreign land, with strange people, food and customs. She probably fell somewhere between a little unsure and a lot freaked out at the idea of going to Boaz at night. But she loved and trusted Naomi. And she loved and trusted the Lord. Maybe we don't have an explanation of this strange custom, so that we can more easily put ourselves in Ruth's place.
"All that you say, I will do." What a woman!
Verse 9 "Spread your covering over your maid." Symbolizes his protection as a husband.
Verse 10 Don't you know that the Lord sent her to the perfect man for her!! He is endeared to her because she chose him over a younger man. He doesn't see her as a burden. He sees her as a prize!
Look at what he says to her in verse 11: "...for all my people in the city know that you are a woman of excellence. That must have made her feel so safe and secure. Was it true that the whole city thought so highly of her? Maybe it was. But there is nothing like hearing something like that from a good man. I bet she was praising God in her heart.
Verse 13 He wants her, but wants what is right more.
Verse 14 He is protective of her honor.
Verse 17 He is respectful of her family.
Verse 18 He is determined.
What a man! I never realized before what an honorable man Boaz was. Every other time I've read this, I've gotten bogged down on the idea that he was old...Who cares! It doesn't even say that he was old, only that he saw himself that way. This is the kind of man by whom we could measure the worthiness of a potential mate. Wow.
Next time: Chapter 4 (Could we be at the last chapter ready?)
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