RUTH: GODLY COURTSHIP IN AN UNGODLY ERA

V. Applying Godly Protection

(Ruth 1-4)

I. Introduction

A. We live in the latter days of Church History as seen in the exponential growth of sin in society. Thus, the concern can arise as to how godly believers might obtain godly marital partners in our era.

B. The courtship of godly Boaz and Ruth occurred in the apostate era of the Judges (Ruth 1:1), so we study the book of Ruth on godly courtship for our era, noting in this lesson the value of applying godly protection.

II. Applying Godly Protection, Ruth 1-4.

A. Boaz and Ruth met in a dangerous era of the period of the Judges (Ruth 1:1 with Judges 19:1-21:25), what required especially Boaz to exert protective measures for Ruth. However, Ruth was also protective of Boaz.

B. We view the godly protective initiatives that both Boaz and Ruth exerted for one another in their courtship:

1. Boaz applied a variety of godly protective measures for Ruth, Ruth 2:8-9, 14-17, 21; 3:11, 13-15; 4:1-13:

a. When Ruth unknowingly chose Boaz’s field to begin her gleaning work, Boaz realized that the Lord had led her to his field, and he told her to keep gleaning at his field for her physical protection, Ruth 2:8-12.

b. Boaz further physically and economically protected Ruth by having her join his work crew at lunch that she not need to leave his protection in the middle of the day, and he ordered his harvesters to leave portions of harvested grain for her to use not only for food, but to trade for general livelihood needs that she and her mother-in-law Naomi needed, Ruth 2:14-17.

c. Boaz then prolonged Ruth’s physical and economic protection, telling her to stay close to her protective harvesting young men (and maidens, Ruth 2:8b) through all of his grain harvests, Ruth 2:21.

d. When Ruth heeded Naomi’s counsel and asked Boaz to act as her kinsman-redeemer, he protected Ruth emotionally by telling her that his people viewed her as a woman of noble character, Ruth 3:11 NIV.

e. Boaz also protected Ruth mentally and emotionally by vowing in God’s name to make sure that she was protected by marriage either to the nearer kinsman or to himself, Ruth 3:12-13a.

f. Meanwhile, Boaz twice told Ruth not to leave the threshing floor when she visited him there due to the danger of her trying to return to Naomi in the dark at that time in Israel (cf. Judges 19:25-28), Ruth 3:13b.

g. To protect Ruth from gossip, Boaz told her not to tell anyone (except Naomi, of course) that she had come to the threshing floor that night, Ruth 3:14.

h. Boaz also emotionally and mentally protected Ruth and Naomi by giving Ruth much grain to take to Naomi as assurance that he would quickly settle the issue of Ruth’s request to him, Ruth 3:14-15.

i. Ultimately, Boaz permanently protected Ruth and Naomi’s livelihood and social status by keeping his vow to take Ruth as his wife and by her to sire Obed in preserving Elimelech’s line, Ruth 4:1-13.

2. Ruth applied godly protection to protect Boaz’s reputation, Ruth 3:1-9, 14a; 4:1-13:

a. Naomi had advised Ruth to wash and anoint herself, to put on fine clothes along with a warm night cloak and to go to the threshing floor, but not to make herself known to Boaz until he had reclined and gone to sleep by his grain pile, Ruth 3:1-4a. Naomi had then advised Ruth to uncover Boaz’s feet, what would eventually cause him to awaken due from the cold, and then he would recognize her and she could make her petition to him, Ruth 3:4b. This was all planned to protect Boaz and Ruth from unwanted gossip about Ruth’s making a night rendezvous with Boaz at the threshing floor!

b. Ruth heeded Naomi’s advice, protecting Boaz while seeking to be presentable to him, Ruth 3:5, 6-9.

c. Though Ruth heeded Boaz’s directive that she lay at his feet until the next morning, she arose before anyone could discern her presence, guarding Boaz and herself from unjust gossip, Ruth 3:14a.

d. When Ruth returned to Naomi with a gift of grain from Boaz, Naomi realized that the gift was Boaz’s signal that he that day would address the legal matter of Ruth’s request of a kinsman-redeemer. Naomi thus told Ruth to sit still and let Boaz handle the matter, Ruth 3:16-18. Ruth heeded Naomi, staying at her residence and waiting for Boaz to act on her behalf in court before the town leaders, Ruth 4:1-13. In this way, she protected Boaz’s leadership role as her potential future husband instead taking her case before the town leaders and thus upstaging Boaz and violating his role as her rightful head! (cf. 1 Corinthians 11:3)

Lesson: Both Boaz and Ruth exerted godly protection of each other in their courtship experience.

Application: May believers in their courting experience exert wise protective actions toward one another.