Ruth 3:1-18
1One day Naomi said to Ruth, “My daughter, it’s time that I found a permanent home for you, so that you will be provided for. 2 Boaz is a close relative of ours, and he’s been very kind by letting you gather grain with his young women. Tonight he will be winnowing barley at the threshing floor. 3 Now do as I tell you—take a bath and put on perfume and dress in your nicest clothes. Then go to the threshing floor, but don’t let Boaz see you until he has finished eating and drinking. 4 Be sure to notice where he lies down; then go and uncover his feet and lie down there. He will tell you what to do.”
5 “I will do everything you say,” Ruth replied. 6 So she went down to the threshing floor that night and followed the instructions of her mother-in-law.
7 After Boaz had finished eating and drinking and was in good spirits, he lay down at the far end of the pile of grain and went to sleep. Then Ruth came quietly, uncovered his feet, and lay down. 8 Around midnight Boaz suddenly woke up and turned over. He was surprised to find a woman lying at his feet! 9 “Who are you?” he asked.
“I am your servant Ruth,” she replied. “Spread the corner of your covering over me, for you are my family redeemer.”
10 “The Lord bless you, my daughter!” Boaz exclaimed. “You are showing even more family loyalty now than you did before, for you have not gone after a younger man, whether rich or poor. 11 Now don’t worry about a thing, my daughter. I will do what is necessary, for everyone in town knows you are a virtuous woman. 12 But while it’s true that I am one of your family redeemers, there is another man who is more closely related to you than I am. 13 Stay here tonight, and in the morning I will talk to him. If he is willing to redeem you, very well. Let him marry you. But if he is not willing, then as surely as the Lord lives, I will redeem you myself! Now lie down here until morning.”
14 So Ruth lay at Boaz’s feet until the morning, but she got up before it was light enough for people to recognize each other. For Boaz had said, “No one must know that a woman was here at the threshing floor.” 15 Then Boaz said to her, “Bring your cloak and spread it out.” He measured six scoops of barley into the cloak and placed it on her back. Then he returned to the town.
16 When Ruth went back to her mother-in-law, Naomi asked, “What happened, my daughter?”
Ruth told Naomi everything Boaz had done for her, 17 and she added, “He gave me these six scoops of barley and said, ‘Don’t go back to your mother-in-law empty-handed.’”
18 Then Naomi said to her, “Just be patient, my daughter, until we hear what happens. The man won’t rest until he has settled things today.”
This morning’s reading reminds me of the one about a priest and a pastor who went on a walk one day. After they were walking for a while and because it was such a hot summer day, they decided to go skinny dipping in a lake nearby. They swam a long and refreshing swim. When they returned to the shore, they found their clothes were missing. Bu they both decided to risk it and rushed home as fast as possible. Well, as luck would have it, they ran into a group of people along the way. Instinctively, the priest covered his genitals while the pastor covered his face. The people walked by, giggling a bit at the scene. Finally, the priest turned to the pastor and asked him, “What was that supposed to be??” To which the pastor smiled and responded, “Well, my friend, my community recognizes me by my face.”
Ah yes, another dig at the inappropriate sexuality of our Catholic brothers! I wonder how long it’ll take to shame them out of celibacy and the warped sexuality that comes out of it. Poor, poor priest mocked for his indecent exposure yet again. Not like the decent exposure of Boaz by Ruth on that night long ago. Maybe a little awkward given the power differential between Ruth and Boaz but certainly not indecent between two consenting adults. Ruth and Boaz were moved to connect intimately and well, ya can’t connect intimately without exposing private parts! But certainly one of the more scandalous stories in scripture with its rather graphic descriptions.
But likening Boaz’s decent exposure to the indecent exposure of the priest is less important than the similar risks taken by Ruth and the clergymen. Both Ruth and the two men showed extreme risk-taking in their circumstances. I don’t know about you but walking through town naked is probably the most embarrassing thing I can think of! And imposing my body on someone with significant power over me? Just about as embarrassing! I know, I know, probably not likely to happen as a man in today’s society but you never know…women are getting more and more powerful with each passing year. Perhaps one day men will be reduced to using their bodies as sexual commodities just as women have since, well, since the beginning of time! Both situations are rather embarrassing and have potential for great shame. Of course, the pastor greatly minimized that potential by covering his face. And Ruth, well, Ruth hadn’t approached someone who would use his power to shame her. No, Boaz was a good man and Ruth knew it. She knew he wouldn’t shame her for her bold action of presenting her body to him that night. Even if he didn’t want her body, he wouldn’t shame her for presenting in the first place. So in a sense, Ruth wasn’t taking all that much risk by approaching Boaz that night but still, I imagine it is a presentation that few women are comfortable doing, offering your body in exchange for security and protection.
Yes, we can’t minimize the risk that Ruth took in presenting her body to Boaz that night. It had to have been quite scary and uncomfortable. I suppose she could take comfort in the fact that it wasn’t her idea but Naomi’s. Naomi had suggested Ruth lie with Boaz and we know how important it was for Ruth to obey and honor her. At the same time, I think her courage came from knowing our God. I think the Spirit moved through Naomi and Boaz and Ruth as well and the Spirit can empower us to do mightily courageous deeds. Recall the words of Paul given to Timothy in his second letter, “For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline.” (1:7) God gave that same spirit to Ruth. She had great power, love, and self-discipline in her situation. She was in control of her fate and the people around her knew it. Heck, Boaz knew how much control she had to be able to flee her homeland to follow Naomi and to work tirelessly in his fields to glean the leftover crops. She had already proven how fearless she was! She no doubt adhered to the wisdom of Proverbs that says, “trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding.” (3:5) Her whole life was built on trust—trusting Naomi and trusting God! Oh, and trusting Boaz too! Ruth was a powerful woman to be honored and respected.
Next week we’ll close out Ruth’s story. Fate does indeed reward her for her fearlessness and risk-taking. After that we’ll look at the fearlessness and risk-taking of yet another great woman in scripture, Esther. It is important to take risks in this life and in this world. It is important to step out of our comfort zones, into the unknown, because it is there that we meet with God. Sometimes we have to allow God to have his way with our lives. We have to trust that He’ll use our lives for good and that He’ll protect and guide us. What is that catchy phrase…”let go and let God?” Well, Ruth’s life is a testament to that phrase. Sure, she was mostly concerned with obeying Naomi, but God was working through Naomi so it was really God she was obeying. Recall God’s words spoken to Joshua just as we was tasked with leading the Israelites into the Promised Land. “This is my command—be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” (1:9) Let us be confident that our God is with us, too. Let us be strong and courageous in all we do just as Ruth was strong and courageous. And let us give thanks to the source of our strength and courage. Thanks be to God!
In the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
