Author: Dr. David E. Daisley - November 26, 2007
Boaz allows Ruth to sleep at his feet on the threshing floor before daylight. He sends her away before anyone can recognize that a woman had been there. Are Ruth and Boaz's actions appropriate because they are unmarried? If not, why did Boaz send her away before anyone would notice?” This is a very challenging question. I am sure it comes from a seeker who is looking to ascertain whether or not the implication in this narrative is one of lawlessness, i.e. being together with someone outside the context of marriage (living together as the world's concept). Certainly there is no condoning of such behavior in this scriptual setting. It is clear that the very motive of Ruth in her actions were revealed in verse 11 - 'thou art a virtuous woman." What such woman would be looking for a "one night stand?" Then she certainly could not be a virtuous woman. Those who today practice such behaviours have no virtue attached to them, but rather the satisfaction of their flesh. So Ruth was not a worthless woman in her actions. We need then to get the spiritual significance.
Naomi had told Ruth of Boaz the kinsman redeemer, the one with the right to redeem her, and encourages her to state her claim on Him – “mark where He shall lie down." where He is at rest. Note where she is told to take her place, at his feet, the place of submissiveness, the place of instruction. Ruth responds and takes the initiative and goes in for all that is available to her in the realm of spiritual wealth. What she does, she does quietly. At midnight, that is the time in which we (the assembly) are presently. We must keep this truth before us or else we would only be looking at what is natural. So it is midnight, and he loves to discover that there is a response to himself in his night of aloneness. Boaz (Christ) being startled is but an indication of his delight to be assured that there is one who is available to him in the night season of his rejection. Ruth has an exercise that His skirt be over her, and this is on the basis that He has the right to redeem her. She is demonstrating His right to her as well as her affections for him. How sweet indeed is her approach, how appealing to Him who alone has the right to redeem her.
Ruth is identified as a virtuous woman and she is known as such in a public way – in all the gate of my people. She has pure and clean motives and fills out the character of the virtuous woman of Prov. 31.. She is certainly not a type of the worldly women today whose aspirations are like those of the three women mentioned in Proverbs - The evil woman , Prov. 6:24; The strange woman, Prov. 7:5; and The foolish woman, Prov. 9:13. These features set her out in impeccable distinction that makes this incident superior to this world's concept of living together outside the marriage bond.
So too is Boaz for he is a wonderful type of Christ. He is a man of impeccable character and moral excellence. He is superior to what is of nature and of the flesh. He will not, he could not for one moment tarnish these features by indulging in the pleasures of self gratification. Remember, it was Boaz who said to her that he had charged the young men not to touch her chap. 2:9. If he is so guarded as to her purity, would he not himself remain pure towards her? Christ is the answer to this type in Boaz: He knew not sin, 2 Cor. 5:21, did not sin, neither was guile found in His mouth, 1 Peter 2:22, in him sin is not, 1 John 3:5, and yet He was made sin for us. How humbling and yet how beautiful.
Ruth is encouraged to remain at His feet all night while He ascertains His right to redeem her. There was a kinsman that was nearer than Boaz and he must first wait to see if he will exercise his right to redeem her. That kinsman is the law (Romans 7) and the law is nearer to us naturally than is Christ (Boaz). The law only awakened man’s conscience to what is right and wrong holding us responsible to do what is right, but in no way could actuate the result in us. The law was only our tutor (schoolmaster) up to Christ (until Christ came) Gal. 3:24. What the law could not do, for it was weak through the flesh, God having sent his own Son … condemned sin in the flesh, Rom 8:3. How heart warming that there should be such a one like Ruth who can stand with him (Christ) in the night of His rejection while He finishes the task at hand. The law could exercise no right to redeem us because it was absolutely incapable of so doing. The redemption of a soul is precious (costly), and it ceaseth for ever. Psalm 49:8. Ruth remains until the morning. What a glorious day dawned on her heart. It is the morning when all things will be fully completed, the transaction is finished - "till all redemption's toil was done; Oh, matchless mystery of love!" Boaz alone could exercise the right to redeem and he has done so perfectly.
Boaz sends Ruth away discretely instructing her not to "let it be known that a woman came into the floor." Looking at it naturally, Boaz knows that there will be those who will readily take occasion to speak disparagingly and accusingly and bring them both into open shame. Spiritually, he wants her to shun all appearances of evil and not giving anyone who cannot appreciate the transaction of redemption, anything to talk about or besmirch their character. It shows the loftiness of our true redeemer that He does not put anything before the world that cannot appreciate His actions of love towards His own.
There is a wonderful compensation for Ruth in all of this. "She returns home enriched and having with her all the evidences of His full approval in what she was pursuing."
