Redeeming Love - Studies in the Book of Ruth
9 - Helpless and Hopeless
Ruth and Naomi are beginning to settle down in Bethlehem. One thing that has helped is the concern of Boaz for Ruth’s well being. He has shown her much kindness and Ruth has expressed her gratitude to him. She said to Boaz, “You have given me comfort and have spoken kindly to your servant, though I do not have the standing of one of your servant girls”. (Ruth chapter 2 verse 13) Naomi sees Boaz’s dealings with her daughter-in-law as significant. She says in verses nineteen and twenty, “The Lord bless him! He has not stopped showing his kindness to the living and the dead. That man is our close relative”. Naomi believed that since Boaz was a close relative, he could become their kinsman-redeemer. What was a “kinsman-redeemer”? This refers to an ancient Jewish law and practice that began in the time of Moses. If a man died leaving a widow, then his brother, or a close relative, was required to continue his name by marrying the widow and having children by her. The idea was that the first son born would carry the name of the dead man so that his name would not be forgotten. You can read about this in Deuteronomy chapter twenty-five verses five and six. So, as a close relative, Boaz was qualified to become the kinsman-redeemer of Elimelech’s family.
In Ruth chapter three, Naomi gives Ruth instructions on how she should make it clear to Boaz that she desires him to become her kinsman-redeemer. This is what Naomi said to her, “Is not Boaz ... a kinsman of ours? Tonight he will be winnowing barley on the threshing floor. Wash and perfume yourself and put on your best clothes. Then go down to the threshing floor, but do not let him know you are there until he has finished eating and drinking. When he lies down, note the place where he is lying. Then go and uncover his feet and lie down. He will tell you what to do”. So Ruth went down to the threshing floor and did just as Naomi had instructed her. We need to understand the custom here. Some have misunderstood this act. It has been suggested that Ruth was guilty of sexual immorality when she did as she was told and uncovered Boaz’s feet and lay down there. Was she acting wrongly when she said to Boaz, in verse nine, “I am your servant Ruth. Spread the corner of your garment over me, since you are a kinsman-redeemer”? No, Ruth was not throwing herself at Boaz like a loose-living woman. This was the custom in that culture and at that time. It was the way a woman would let the male relative know that she wanted him to act as her kinsman-redeemer. An expert in Middle Eastern culture says, “The custom of a man placing the corner of his garment over a maiden as a token of marriage is known among the Arabs today”. Also we see Boaz confirming Ruth’s high moral character in verse eleven: “I will do for you all that you ask. All my fellow townsmen know that you are a woman of noble character”. He saw what she did as practising a well-known custom, and he confirmed her integrity. In the early hours of the morning Ruth returned to Naomi and told her all that Boaz had said. Naomi’s response is found in verse eighteen, “Wait, my daughter, until you find out what happens. For this man will not rest until this matter is settled today”.
We have seen in previous studies how Boaz’s attitude and behaviour towards Ruth is an illustration of the Lord Jesus Christ and his dealings with his people. This event in Ruth’s life is a picture of our salvation in Christ. As Ruth said to Boaz, so we say of the Lord, “You have given me comfort and have spoken kindly to your servant”. If you are a true Christian, there was a time when you heard of the love of God in sending the Saviour. You heard how that love was demonstrated on the cross. You marvelled at his grace and mercy. Paul describes this in Romans chapter five verse eight, “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us”. You responded to his love declared in the Gospel, and recognised that He died for your sins. As the hymn writer puts it, “guilty, vile and helpless we, spotless Lamb of God was He”. What did you do? You took up that position of humility and, as it were, lay down at his feet and yielded to Him. You asked Him to be your “kinsman-redeemer” and to do what you could not do for yourself, which was to deliver you from sin’s penalty and power.
Ruth acknowledged her total dependence on the goodness and intervention of Boaz, that without his intervention she was helpless and hopeless. So it is with all who would know God’s forgiveness for sins. Admitting your sin is the starting point of salvation. Realising the magnitude of your need and that that need can only be met by God Himself through the Lord Jesus Christ, you come to his feet and cast yourself on his mercy. He will respond to that cry. We read in John chapter six verse thirty-seven, “Whoever comes to me I will never drive away”. The Lord will forgive all your sins and accept you as his child as you come to Him in faith and in sincerity, turning away from your sin.
Ruth’s act was an appeal for protection. Ruth uncovered Boaz’s feet and she place his coat over her. Remember the words that Boaz spoke about Ruth’s position with God in chapter two verse twelve, “Under whose wings you have come to take refuge”. Well now she placed herself under the corner of his robe. She was appealing to him for his protection as the kinsman-redeemer. So when we come to Christ we are appealing to Him for his protection from the just anger of God towards our sin, because He bore that just anger for us on the cross. There He became our Redeemer. We find in the Lord Jesus our rock of ages. He becomes our safe hiding place. He is our place of safety and security. We read in Isaiah chapter twelve verses one and two, “I will praise you O Lord. Although you were angry with me, your anger has turned away, and you have comforted me. Surely God is my salvation; I will trust and not be afraid. The Lord, the Lord is my strength and song; He has become my salvation”.
I trust that your experience is the same as the hymn-writer Elisha A. Hoffman who wrote, “It was down at the feet of Jesus, O the happy, happy day! that my soul found peace in believing, and my sins were washed away ... It was down at the feet of Jesus, where I brought my guilt and sin, that He cancelled all my transgressions, and salvation entered in”.