Series: Ruthless
Message: Redefining the Status Quo
Preacher: Jessyka Albert
Refresh: Open with prayer. Read or listen to Psalm 37:21-26.
Read: Ruth 3 - As you read in the Message paraphrase, what did you discover new about God’s character?
Reflect: Scholars debate on what it meant for Ruth to “uncover his feel and lay down.” Many will say that Naomi’s instructions were for her to sleep with Boaz, while others will say it was symbolic of Boaz’s redemption for Ruth through a marriage proposal. Regardless of the situation, Ruth’s actions and words are bold. She says to Boaz when he awakes, “Spread the corner of your garment over me, since you are a guardian-redeemer of our family.” Earlier in chapter two, Boaz mentioned being covered by God’s wing when he said, “May the Lord repay you for what you have done. may you be richly rewarded by the Lord, the God of Israel, under whose wings you have come to take refuge.” (Ruth 2:12).
Ruth is looking for fulfillment of Boaz’s words that the Lord repays her for what she has done and that she might find physical refuge under the wings of Boaz all the while finding spiritual refuge under the wings of God.
In Warren W. Wiersbe’s commentary on the book of Ruth, he outlines the importance of Boaz being a kinsman to Naomi and Ruth to be able to redeem them. He parallels this story with the story of Christ: Not everybody could perform the duties of a kinsman-redeemer. To begin with, he had to be a near kinsman (Lev.25:25). This was the major obstacle Boaz had to overcome because another man in Bethlehem was a nearer relative to Rut than he was (Ruth 3:12-13). When you see this as a type of Jesus Christ, it reminds you that He had to become related to us before He could redeem us. He became flesh and flood so He could die for us on the cross (Heb. 2:14-15). (62).
Recalibrate:
Respond: Pray for comfort.
Research: Look up the Hebrew word go-el used to describe Boaz.