by Jen | Sep 10, 2024 | 1-18, DISO studies, Ruth 3
NEW TO THIS STUDY? START HERE.
Hello, again. I’m glad you’re here, my friend! This has been a busy two weeks, and I haven’t had as much time as I’d like to devote to our Ruth study. But I’m committed to do what I can. I know God sees me in my overcommitments and understands my weakness—yours, too. Even a little time in His Word is so refreshing!
Last Week’s Work
MY PRAYER
This prayer is going to sound really familiar: I’m plagiarizing the one I wrote last time, which was pretty close to the one I used in Ruth 1:
Thank You, Lord and Father God, for another chance to dig into Ruth. Thank You for sending the Holy Spirit to help me see, understand, and apply the principle You have for me now. Remove the scales from my eyes, the plugs from my ears, and unburden my heart so I can grasp all You want me to discover here. Give me wisdom to recognize Your good counsel and courage to follow it no matter what. In Jesus’s name I pray. Amen.
HUH? and WOW! MOMENTS
Next, I slowly read through the study text, focusing on my reactions, and noting the parts that caught my attention. Here are my responses:
- HUH? I wonder if there’s significance/symbolism in Ruth’s uncovering Boaz’s feet and lying there (3:7-8)?
- WOW! Ruth tells Boaz to spread his wings over her because he’s a redeemer (3:9). I’m sure this is poetic, and it reminds me of what he said to her about God in 2:12, but doesn’t this seem pretty bold on her part-?
- WOW! In Ruth 2:1, the narrator refers to Boaz as a worthy man. In Ruth 3, Boaz tells Ruth she is a worthy woman (3:11). What a pair!
- HUH? In verse 10, Boaz tells Ruth, “… you have made this last kindness greater than the first…” Guessing “the first” refers to Ruth’s pledge to stay with Naomi-?
- WOW! Boaz is so principled! Though it’s clear he likes her from his treatment of Ruth at mealtime (Ruth 2:14-16), he’s willing to let her go if the “nearer” redeemer decides to take her.
Dig-In Challenges
Next week, I plan to:
- PRAY: Read my prayer before studying this passage.
- MINE: Identify which aspect of this study I feel the Spirit leading me to dig deepest into right now. It could be one (or more) of the Huh? and Wow! Moments I wrote about this week, or some other item the Spirit hasn’t yet called to my attention.
- MINE: Focus specifically on the setting of the scene in Ruth 2 (who’s involved, where and when did the action take place), and note anything the Spirit emphasizes.
I hope you’ll check back with me next week!
GO TO WEEK 3 >
by Jen | Sep 17, 2024 | 1-18, DISO studies, Ruth 3
NEW TO THIS STUDY? START HERE.
Welcome back! I can’t wait to share what I’ve discovered this week:
Last Week’s Work
MY PERSONAL TREASURE
In this chapter, I believe the Spirit is leading me to dig further into verses 10-13, and especially Boaz’s willingness to subordinate his claim on Ruth to the other redeemer. I believe the Spirit is drawing me to this because I am so not that way. My inclination is to cling tightly to anything I don’t want to lose. The very antithesis of trusting God, right? I’m looking forward to the Spirit’s help in overcoming that mindset!.
WHO (CHARACTERS)
Naomi, Ruth, and Boaz are the main characters in chapter 3:
- Naomi appears at the beginning, instructing Ruth to seek out Boaz (verses 1-4). And she reappears at the end, expressing confidence that Boaz will handle the redemption business that same day (verses 16-17).
- Once again, Ruth is willing to follow Naomi (verses 5-9). I love her response to Boaz in 9,
“I am Ruth, your servant. Spread your wings over your servant, for you are a redeemer.” Sounds a bit like what Boaz said to her in the field (2:12).
Remembering that she was Moabite, I wonder how much of this redeemer concept she understood. I recall Naomi referenced the redemption provision in Jewish law back in 1:11-13 when she lamented not having other sons. Apparently, though, the obligation extended beyond just brothers to other male relatives (i.e., uncles? cousins?) of the deceased man. We know Boaz was a relative (Ruth 2:1, 3:2), and I wonder based on his statement about young men (3:10), if he might have been a lot older than Ruth. He called her daughter in 2:8.
- In 3:2, Naomi tells Ruth Boaz is winnowing barley at the threshing floor. I wanted to better picture this, so I looked up threshing and winnowing in the Bible Gateway Encyclopedia of the Bible. I learned threshing is the removal of grain from the stalk by pressing it out on the threshing floor. Once separated, the stalks were removed, and the grain was winnowed or tossed in the air in front of a fan or into the wind to separate the grain from the chaff. Winnowing usually took place toward the end of the day. I imagine after it was done there was a party to celebrate the end of the harvest season. That would explain Boaz’s drinking and having a “merry” heart.
The encyclopedia also indicated family members would sleep near the grain after winnowing to ensure its safekeeping. Ruth 3:7 indicates Boaz did this.
What happened next sounds a little scandalous to me: Ruth snuck in, uncovered his feet, and laid down near him. At midnight, he woke up, discovered her, and she suggested he redeem her. He says he’s willing, but there’s another guy with that right, also. He also told her to spend the night there, gave her more grain before she left, and promised he’d settle it that day (3:13, 15).
WHERE (LOCATIONS)
The locations for this chapter were the threshing floor where Boaz was winnowing barley (3:2) and the city (3:15), where Ruth lived with Naomi (2:23).
WHEN (TIMEFRAMES)
I noticed these timeframes:
- Tonight (3:2): when Naomi said Boaz was threshing barley; when Boaz instructed Ruth to remain with him (3:13).
- Midnight (3:8): when Boaz awoke and noticed Ruth lying at his feet.
- In the morning (3:13): when Boaz promises to let her be redeemed by the other relative or redeem her himself.
- Before one could recognize the other (3:14): when Ruth arose, Boaz gave her grain and sent her home to Naomi.
- Today (3:18): when Naomi says Boaz will settle the redemption matter.
Dig-In Challenges
I hope you’ve discovered some interesting facts this week, and it makes you want to work through more of this process. Here’s what I’ll be doing this week:
- PRAY each time I start to study using my prayer from last week.
- MINE: Look for repeated concepts in this passage and, if I find any, consider their relevance to Boaz’s decision to allow the other man first choice to redeem Ruth.
- MINE: Locate any special statements (blessings, commands, curses, prayers, promises, requests, and/or warnings) connected to Boaz’s conduct.
- MINE: See if I can find any related lists (3 or more similar items mentioned in the text).
See you next week!
GO TO WEEK 4 >
by Jen | Sep 24, 2024 | 1-18, DISO studies, Ruth 3
NEW TO THIS STUDY? START HERE.
Hello! I hope you are enjoying your dig into Ruth. It never gets old for me, and I pray it’s the same for you, too! Here’s what my digging uncovered:
Last Week’s Work
REPETITION
I found only one repeated term: redeem/redeemer. It appears in verses 9, 12, and 13.
I love how Ruth reveals herself to Boaz at midnight on the threshing floor when he wakes and she’s next to him. She says, I am Ruth, your servant. Remember, in 2:13, she also called herself your servant in her response to his blessing her and praying for her full reward… by the LORD, the God of Israel, under whose wings you have come to take refuge (2:12).
But that’s not all. She also reminds him of that blessing when she says, spread your [Boaz’s] wings over your servant [Ruth], for you are a redeemer (3:9). If he has any memory of their previous interaction, there’s no question who has come to visit him there!
And how does he respond? He blesses her again and promises he’ll do anything she asks (3:11). But the plot thickens. There’s another redeemer, nearer than Boaz. I’m guessing he’d already checked into that situation: how else would he know that after threshing and winnowing barley, then partying half the night?
Yet, here’s how much of a stand-up guy he was: in verse 13, he tells her he’ll redeem her, but only if the nearer redeemer rejects her. Even though he’s clearly enamored with her, he’s more committed to doing the right thing than getting what he wants.
Did you notice Boaz has repeatedly provided for Ruth and Naomi, although he’s not the closest redeemer? In chapter 2, he gave Ruth food during the meal she subsequently shared with Naomi and told his men to help her glean. And in 3:15, he gave Ruth more of the grain.
SPECIAL STATEMENTS
I found:
- Fifteen Commands:
Naomi to Ruth: Wash . . . anoint yourself, put on your cloak, go . . . to the threshing floor, [don’t reveal] yourself until [Boaz] has finished eating and drinking (v3); observe . . . where he lies, go uncover his feet and lie down (v4), wait my daughter (v18).
Ruth to Boaz: Spread your wings over your servant (v9).
Boaz to Ruth: do not fear (v11), remain tonight, lie down until morning (v13), bring [your] garment . . . hold it out (v15).
- One Blessing: Boaz to Ruth: May you be blessed by the Lord (v10).
- Three Promises:
Boaz to Ruth: I will do all that you ask (v11), as the Lord lives, I will redeem you (v13)
Naomi to Ruth: the man will not rest, but will settle the matter today (v18)—you might not consider this a promise since it’s not in Naomi’s power to fulfill it. I noted it anyway, though, because she has remarkable confidence that Boaz will do what he says he’ll do. Previously, Naomi identified Boaz as a close relative (2:20). It’s clear she knew him and what he was like, I’m guessing from personal experience before she and her family left Bethlehem (1:1).
LISTS
This time, the Spirit didn’t reveal any lists to me beyond the special statements listed above.
Dig-In Challenges
Next week, we’ll wrap up Step 3 by looking for three more elements:
- PRAY: As always, start with the prayer we wrote for Step 1.
- MINE: Read through the passage again to see if the Spirit reveals any comparisons. The quickest way to locate these is to look for phrases containing the words like or as, as well as more than/ less than and better than/ worse than. Do you find any comparisons that connect directly with your personal focus area?
- MINE: Next, look for causes or motives. The best way I’ve found to do this is to locate these key words or phrases:
because, for*, in order to, lest, since*, so*, so that, that*, to*, therefore.
Finding them almost always means you’ll find an action phrase (noun + verb) with the reason for that action, too. The *exceptions are for, since, so, that, and to—when these are used as other parts of speech (like prepositions or articles), you won’t find an action or a reason.
Next, look for the action (what’s being caused). With most of these words/phrases, you’ll find the action before the key word/phrase, and the reason will be after it.
For example, I went to the store because I was out of milk.
The action = I went to the store
because
The reason = I was out of milk.
Occasionally you may see the order of the statements reversed, but the reason will still follow the key word or phrase: Because I was out of milk, I went to the store.
However, with therefore and its synonyms so and hence, the action appears after these key words:
Here’s an example using the same reason and action as above, just changing the key word:
I was out of milk; therefore, I went to the store.
Same reason = I was out of milk [but different location!]
therefore
Same action = I went to the store.
Try it, I think you’ll see it’s easier than all these words make it seem (and, of course, feel free to reach out to me at [email protected] if you have questions)!
- MINE: Finally, see if you can find any conditions/methods required for something to happen. For example, does the text say if or when a certain condition is met, some outcome will happen (e.g., whatever you ask in prayer, you will receive, if you have faith (Matt 21:22)? Or does he describe a particular method by which something happens—for example, specific steps taken to achieve something, or more generally by or through attributes or actions (e.g., saved by grace, through faith (Eph 2:8)? Does he use any adverbs (-ly words) that describe how action was accomplished?
These exercises are more involved, but I know you can do this—give it a try and check back with me next week. I hope you’ll join me then!
GO TO WEEK 5 >
by Jen | Oct 1, 2024 | 1-18, DISO studies, Ruth 3
NEW TO THIS STUDY? START HERE.
Hello again. This week, I’m praying for restoration for those adversely impacted by Hurricane Helene in the Southeast U.S. May God comfort and strengthen them for the road ahead and bless the efforts of all who help them. And I ask this in the name of Jesus, who’s mightier than any force of nature. Amen.
Here’s what I discovered from comparisons, causes, and conditions in Ruth 3.
Last Week’s Work
COMPARISONS
This time, I found three comparisons, all in the comments Boaz made to Ruth:
- Verse 10: … you have made this kindness greater than the first…
He views her request for redemption a greater kindness than all that [she had] done for [her] mother-in-law (Ruth 2:11).
- Verse 10: I also think there’s an indirect comparison between Boaz and other men in verse 10 when he says she hadn’t gone after young men, whether poor or rich. This makes me think Boaz was older than Ruth—maybe a lot older.
- Verse 12: … a redeemer nearer than I…
From the context in verse 13, this impacts his ability to redeem her: the nearer relative apparently gets first choice in the matter.
CAUSES/MOTIVATIONS
Of the nine cause statements I discovered in this passage, only two seem really relevant to Boaz’s promise to redeem Ruth if he can:
- Ruth’s request: spread your wings over your servant for [because] you are a redeemer in verse 9; and
- Boaz’s promise: I will do for you all that you ask for [because] you are a worthy woman (verse 11).
CONDITIONS/METHODS
I especially noticed two conditions in this chapter: Boaz describing Ruth as a worthy woman (verse 11), and his statement that the other redeemer was nearer (verse 12). These conditions highlight to me the conflict that makes this story so compelling: Ruth deserves to be redeemed. Even though she’s a foreigner, her remarkable kindness to Naomi and respect for Boaz (and even his servants!) make her desirable to Boaz. But there is another male relative of Elimelech’s who has a superior claim to her. If this scenario were set in our culture, we’d practically expect Boaz to just do what he wanted and marry her without even checking with the other man. Instead, he explains the process to her and indicates he will abide by the other man’s decision.
Dig-In Challenges
Now that we’ve collected all these facts, we need to make sure we’re viewing them the same way Ruth’s author and his audience would have interpreted this story.
Here’s how I’ll be working toward that this week:
- PRAY. Of course!
- REFINE: Next, let’s reread Chapter 3. We’ve already determined the overall writing type in Ruth is narrative, so now we’re just looking for instances of instruction, law, letter, poetry, and/or prophecy.
- REFINE: After that, let’s review the historical context of this book: We know from our earlier research that this story is set in the days when the judges ruled, and everyone basically did what they wanted to do. All the more reason that Boaz’s behavior is unusual!
We also know no author is named for this book, but the mention of King David in Chapter 4 indicates it was written after 1010BC. I would like to do a little research to see if I can find anything that further explains Boaz’s statement about a nearer redeemer.
REMEMBER: if you decide to research historical context like this, stick with factual, historical resources and avoid commentary.
- REFINE: Finally, let’s examine key words and/or phrases (I’ll look at verses 10-13, plus anything the Spirit flags from the law) using an interlinear Bible, and note what the Spirit reveals. Interlinear Bibles are available on several study websites (I’ll be using the Blue Letter Bible Interlinear tool), and show a verse in the original Hebrew or Greek providing details about each word, including its meaning in context. As usual, I encourage you to log anything the Spirit illuminates from this exercise.
This “refining” step is more involved than the “mining” we did earlier, but I encourage you to use these tools and dig as much as you can this week. I pray the Spirit will bless your efforts, my friend!!
GO TO WEEK 6 >
by Jen | Oct 8, 2024 | 1-18, DISO studies, Ruth 3
NEW TO THIS STUDY? START HERE.
Welcome back, my friend! If you’re in or keeping a watch on central Florida, please pray with me for protection over those who haven’t even recovered from Hurricane Helene as Milton threatens to make landfall later this week. Thankfully, this path is projected to vary widely from Helene’s deadly stomp through Georgia, the Carolinas, and Tennessee, but two major storms in as many weeks has us wondering what will the next seven weeks be like? God knows, He sees, He is here with us. I’ll praise Him in the storm!
Last Week’s Work
WRITING TYPES
The narrative we identified in Ruth 1 continues here in chapter 3. I also noticed three instructions in verses 11 and 13, all of which were spoken by Boaz to Ruth:
- Do not fear (v11)
This one seemed particularly appropriate to the weather and other things out of control in this world right now!
- Remain tonight (v13)
- Lie down until the morning (v13).
Next, the Spirit prompted me to notice a reference to Hebrew law again in Ruth 3:9, and 12-13 (see Ruth 2). More about that in the section called Historical Context, below. Last, in v9, I noted poetry again: this time Ruth references Boaz’s poetic expression from Ruth 2, in her statement, spread your wings over your servant. We know Naomi instructed Ruth to go to Boaz that evening (3:3-4), but the text says nothing about asking him to redeem her. In the Ruth 2 study, I loved how Boaz described her trek to Bethlehem (2:12) as coming under Elohim’s wings for refuge/protection. That she used similar language to ask for Boaz’s help couldn’t be coincidence. Did she do that to remind him of their previous conversation?
LITERAL CONTEXT
As I mentioned last time, Naomi and Ruth had no one to provide for them. They were able to eat during the barley harvest because Ruth gleaned. But once the harvest was over (as it would have been if Boaz was threshing and winnowing the grain), how would they survive?
HISTORICAL CONTEXT
From my research for Ruth 1, the author of Ruth is unknown and it was believed to be written about 1010 BC. In Ruth 2, I discovered Naomi and Ruth’s return from Moab could have taken place during a conflict between the two countries, and this term gā’al, translated redeemer, referred to a man who fulfilled certain next-of-kin obligations under Hebrew law, including:
- Levirate marriage, or marrying a brother’s childless widow and having at least one son by her who would bear the deceased relative’s name and perpetuate his lineage (Deuteronomy 25:5-6)
- Redemption, or purchase, of a poor relative who sold himself into slavery (Leviticus 25:47-49)
- Redemption of the field of a poor relative sold to raise money (Leviticus 25:25)
- Avenging the murder of a dead relative (Numbers 35:16-19).
As I consider these duties, especially the second one, I’m reminded of Jesus’s statements: everyone who sins is a slave to sin, and if the Son sets you free, you are truly free (see John 8:34-36 NLT). I’ve heard it said everything in the Old Testament testifies to Jesus. I know these characters appear in his genealogy (Matthew 1:5-16). It’s breathtaking how I find Jesus everywhere I look in these sixty-six books written by dozens of different men over 1500 years!
INTERLINEAR RESEARCH
I reviewed the interlinear text of several phrases in verses 11-13, but what really caught my attention was as the Lord lives in 3:13. I assumed this was probably an oath Boaz made to Ruth, but there was so much more in the detail around the word for lives (ḥay, H2416).
Here’s the definition I found at Brown-Driver-Briggs Lexicon on blb.org: of God, as the living one, the fountain of life (emphasis mine). The entry also included a reference to Job 19:25: For I know that my Redeemer lives, and at the last he will stand upon the earth. As I read Job 19, I realized this statement is made after Job’s lamentation about being abandoned by family. That made me think of Naomi, whose Israelite family died, and then half of her Moabite family abandoned her when she headed back to Bethlehem. Also, the word translated Redeemer in Job is the same Hebrew word (H1350 gā’al), we see throughout Ruth. From that, the Spirit reminded me of two promises: first, Boaz’s to Ruth that he would redeem her and save her life, sealed not only this oath, but also by his provision of food for her and Naomi throughout the harvest season (Ruth 2:21-23, 3:15). And second, Jesus’s promise to redeem all those who believe in him from eternal death, the punishment for unforgiven sin (see Romans 15:12-21).
What awesome revelations! Friend, this is the third time I’ve studied the book of Ruth inductively, and every time, I get a glimpse of new and amazing treasure here! Let’s keep digging!
Dig-In Challenges
This week, let’s wrap up the second half of our Refine step by examining cross-references and other translations.
- Don’t forget to begin with your prayer from Step 1.
- REFINE: Then consult a concordance or online cross-reference study tool (for v10, I’ll start at this blb.org page) to find and read through the available cross-references for the verses you’re most interested in and log what the Spirit shows you.
NOTE: if you’re interested in verses other than 10, follow the above link, then point to the TOOLS button to the left of the verse you want to study, and choose Cross-Refs from the menu.
- REFINE: Finally, compare at least a few other translations’ version of the same verses and write about what you find in your study journal. I’ll be comparing ESV, AMP, NIV, and GNT using this biblehub.com page. You can compare your own verses from that link by entering them in the Enter Reference or Keyword box at the top of the page and clicking the spyglass icon there.
Lord willing, I’ll be back next week to show you what I discovered. I hope you join me then!
GO TO WEEK 7 >
