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Hello again! I can’t believe we’re almost through with another study: they seem to go so quickly these days. I began studying Ruth just five months ago, and two weeks from today we’ll begin the last chapter, which will take us through to the end of the year.
In the meantime, let’s wrap up refining our understanding of Ruth 3.
Last Week’s Work
CROSS-REFERENCES
Remember at the start of this study, the Spirit helped me choose my wow! reaction to verse 13. I couldn’t believe Boaz was willing to let the other potential redeemer have Ruth. I really thought he cared about her, but he seemed to care even more about the letter of the law. That seemed a little backwards to me, but I realized I was applying my own interpretation (based on my Western, twenty-first century culture perspective). And, as God would have it, the first cross-reference (for Ruth 3:10) I encountered sufficiently adjusted my perception. It’s from 1 Corinthians 13:4-7, the love verses: Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things (emphasis mine).
I believe Boaz really did love Ruth, but he loved God enough to trust that whatever God’s law brought for them, it would be good. He did not insist on his own way; he rejoiced in the truth, that there remained two eligible men to care for Ruth (and Naomi), even if the closer relative chose to take Ruth away from him. Also, from the Ruth 3:13 cross-references, I discovered this in Jeremiah 4:2, …and if you swear, “as the LORD lives,” in truth, in justice, in righteousness, then nations shall bless themselves in him and in him shall they glory. I couldn’t help but think of Boaz in this description!
OTHER TRANSLATIONS
I compared the ESV, Amplified Bible, New International Version, and Good News Translation for verses 10 through 13. Like last time, I didn’t see much difference among these, though with verse 10, the NIV translation of what Boaz said to Ruth about other suitors rendered them younger men, which follows the comparison I thought might be there.
Also, I liked the verbiage the GNT used in verse 12: it is true that I am a close relative and am responsible for you… though last week I discovered Deuteronomy 25:5-10 (the levirate law) specifically identifies the brother-in-law as redeemer of the widow. But Ruth’s brother-in-law was dead. So, at least technically, it seems Boaz and the other kinsman could have just turned their backs if they didn’t want Ruth. Of course, that clearly wasn’t the case for Boaz: he’d gone over and above his obligation when Ruth first gleaned in his field and the night she went to the threshing floor. He definitely seemed to take responsibility for her there.
Dig-In Challenges
This week, let’s wrap up our study of Chapter 3 and align with what we’ve discovered here. I hope you’ll join me as I
- Read the prayer we created in Step 1.
- ALIGN: Review my study notes and other work, focusing specifically on what I’ve learned.
- ALIGN: Then, considering those “lessons learned,” I’ll give some thought to how the Spirit has convicted me through this study. In other words, where has He shown me misalignment between what I’ve discovered and how I practice my faith?
- ALIGN: Next, I’ll look to God’s Word for guidance to correct that misalignment. This is often—but not always—a verse either from the study text or from one of the cross-references.
- ALIGN: And finally, I’ll reflect on how I can change thinking or behavior to align more closely with the redeeming God I’ve discovered here. To really make this work, I commit to changing something and do my best to act on that commitment every day for at least three weeks.
That may seem like a lot to consider in one week. If you’re working with me, just do what you can when you can. It’s far better to take your time and really soak in what you’ve discovered than to run through it so quickly you don’t even have a chance to remember it a week from now.
I’m looking forward to sharing my findings with you next week!