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Outlines on the Book of Ruth
Written by Dr. Lester Hutson

Introduction: Boaz was a near kinsman of Ruth and had the power to redeem the lost inheritance of Naomi. The law required that he marry Ruth, and purchase back the inheritance. Ruth went to him to ask him to do these things. The question was, "would he do it?" As the following considerations will prove, he would mostly gladly do it.

4. Furthermore, the divine testimony (and who knows better the facts of what happened than God?) is that nothing immoral happened between Boaz and Ruth on that night she spent with him at the threshing floor. Verse7 says, when she came in she "uncovered his feet, and laid her down," and when Boaz waked up in Verse 8 she was "at his feet;" not at his side or in a posture that suggests immorality. Furthermore, they spoke together, and lay back down; and again "she lay at his feet until the morning," Verse 14. So throughout that entire night, there was no immorality or fornication between these two people.

B. Ruth was not there to make immoral love to Boaz; she was there to claim the promise of God:

1 . As soon as Boaz awoke, Ruth quickly pointed out her purpose in being there. Her words to Boaz in Verse 9 are, "thou art a near kinsman. "

2. Because of his kinsman relationship to her, Boaz had the right to redeem. Already he had shown kindness to her. Now she is asking him for his protective care on a much more permanent basis. When she asked Boaz to "spread therefore they skirt over thine handmaid," in Verse 9, she was in fact asking him to marry her. The same phraseology is used in Ezekiel 16:8 where the spreading of the skirt over Israel speaks of God's marriage relationship to her.

3. Boaz was not just another man. He was Ruth's near kinsman; and because of that relationship, there was a scriptural promise involved. Ruth was there to claim that promise: not to shatter the virtuous testimony she had already established.

 II. THE VERY FACT THAT RUTH WENT TO BOAZ TO CLAIM HER INHERITANCE IS A TESTIMONIAL TO HER SPIRITUAL STRENGTH AND CHARACTER:

A. Ruth was a lady who could have had about any man she wanted:

1. Boaz said in Verse 10, "Blessed be thou of the Lord, my daughter: for thou hast showed more kindness in the latter end than at the beginning, insomuch as thou followedst not young men, whether rich or poor."

2. This is praise from Boaz of a high order. He refers to her kindness "at the beginning." This refers to the fact that Ruth did not forsake Naomi, but gleaned to provide for not only her needs, but Naomi's also. Now, by coming to Boaz, Ruth has added a further evidence of her regard to family relationships. Here in "the latter end," Ruth has not followed natural inclinations by seeking a young man in marriage, but has shown a responsible attitude to the family in looking to her "goel" as her marriage partner. Boaz knew that had Ruth wished, she could have married a rich young man. There would have been no point in praising her faithfulness to family obligations otherwise. But Boaz says Ruth has shown "kindness," and here the word kindness includes the thought of faithfulness as well as that of benevolence. So by her choice of Boaz, more than physical attraction and riches was involved, for Ruth could have found these elsewhere.

B. By choosing Boaz, Ruth demonstrated her decision to claim the promises of God, and to accept whatever acclaim and riches that might be accompanied thereby:

1. When Ruth had said in Ruth 1:16, "Thy God [shall be] my God," she had meant it. She figured she'd be better off claiming the promises found in his law for her than she would be claiming the youth and riches of the world.

2. In this, what a beautiful foretype Ruth becomes of the faith and spiritual character every child of God should have:

a. This world holds an attraction, As Hebrews 11:25 says, there are "pleasures" in sin, even though they are but "for a season " Money, acceptance by your peers, the praise of men, a life of self gratification and ease, and a "do whatever you please" kind of life is at. tractive. And the devil will tempt you with these: offer them to you, just as he did to Jesus in Matthew 4:3,6,9. Furthermore, your friends and acquaintances will scorn, ridicule, and think you are dumb. if you don't dedicate your life to a frenzied effort to gain these things. As Peter put it, "they think it strange that ye run not with them to the same excess of riot, speaking evil of you," I Peter 4:4.

b. But let us, like Ruth, seek not the wealth and glories of this world; but let us seek the riches and wealth of our spiritual family. As Paul put it in I Timothy 6:17, let us not "trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God." The peace in the heart that results in knowing him as Saviour, and the joy that comes from doing his will is worth more than money. Claiming his grace that gives victory over hatred, bitterness, greed, lust, pride, envy, jealousy, fear, and a host of other enemies in life, is worth more than many riches. Many emperors would have given their kingdoms to have this grace, and many wealthy persons would have spent great fortunes to have it. Paul called it "the unsearchable riches in Christ," Eph. 3:8 and Moses thought it more valuable than all the treasures of Egypt, Heb. 11:26.

c. The riches in Christ must be claimed by faith; they are not visible to the natural eye. But, when we "walk by faith, not by by sight," II Cor. 5:7, God grants us "according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man, " Eph. 3:16. As Paul put it in Phil. 4:19, "But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus."

d. And all of this says nothing about the eternal inheritance and riches awaiting us in heaven. Consider I Peter 1:3-4.

3. Too many of God's people today do not choose the spiritual wealth of the goel (redeemer). Instead they go after the world. May Ruth's example convince everyone, who knows the promises of God, to have the spiritual character and strength to claim by faith these promises.

III. BOAZ' RESPONSE TO RUTH'S REQUEST FOR MARRIAGE AND A REDEEMED INHERITANCE WAS THAT HE WOULD PERFORM ALL THAT THE LAW REQUIRED:

A. Boaz mentioned "a kinsman nearer than I, " whom we shall discuss in a later lesson; and promised that if that kinsman, who had first claim at redemption, would not redeem her and the inheritance, then he would. He said, "if he will not do the part of a kinsman to thee, as the Lord liveth," Ruth 3:13.

1. You can see from considering all of Verse 13 that the actual carrying out of the redemption was to be done "in the morning. "

2. Ruth had gone to Boaz in faith, claiming the promises of God; and Boaz (typical of our kinsman redeemer Christ) said yes.

3. Though it was night, dark outside, what a beautiful light must have shown that night in Ruth's heart.

a. She could wait the night out in patience, for now she had the hope within her that the next day, marriage and the inheritance would be hers. Paul said, "tribulation worketh patience (Ruth had experienced plenty of tribulation); and patience, experience; and experience, hope: and hope maketh not ashamed," Romans 5:3-5.

b. We Christians are living in a dark and sinful world; nevertheless because of the hope of our Lord's return and what he has in store for us, light shines in the heart of every believer. As Boaz told Ruth, "tarry this night, and it shall be in the morning, " Verse 13, likewise we wait until the morning of our Lord's return; and while we wait, we rejoice. In view of the word of our Lord, we wait with light in our hearts "until the day dawn" as Peter put it in II Peter 1:19. Hebrews 10:36-37 says, "For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise. For yet a little while, and he that shall come will come, and will not tarry." With that kind of promise Jesus could say, "I am the light of the world, he that fo//oweth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life," John 8:12.

B. As proof that he would redeem her, Boaz gave Ruth six measures of barley:

1. Ruth 3:15 says, "also he said, Bring the vail that thou hast upon thee, and hold it. And when she held it, he measured six measures of barley, and laid it on her: and she went into the city."

2. Throughout the Bible, the number "seven" is the number of completion. Six measures of barley stopped short of completeness, and symbolized there was more to come; that the remainder of the transaction was ahead. Furthermore, barley is inferior to wheat, so when Boaz gave Ruth "six measures of barley" instead of "seven" measures of "wheat" it simply symbolized and looked forward to the transaction that would restore the parcel that had been sold, and was a pledge that the parcel would be redeemed.

3. This thus typifies the "Holy Spirit of Promise, which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, " Eph. 1:13-14. God has "also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts," II Cor. 1:22. Though we already are "joint heirs" [Romans 8:17] of God with Christ, and have a great inheritance reserved for us, I Peter 1:3-4, we do not fully enjoy our inheritance now, and never will, until ,"mortality is swallowed up of life, " I Cor. 5:4. There must come a redemption of the mortal bodies as predicted in Romans 8:11. But the very fact that we already have the earnest of the Spirit, Eph. 1:14, assures our hearts that there will also come a "redemption of our body" Romans 8:23, at which time we will enjoy the "all things" of our inheritance as mentioned in Hebrews 1:2. As the six measures of barley were Ruth's token and promise of receiving the full inheritance, the Holy Spirit within us is our token, seal, and promise of our full inheritance in the Lord.

C. After he gave her the six measures of barley, Boaz sent Ruth away while it was still too dark to see:

1. Ruth 3:14 says, "she lay at his feet until the morning: and she rose up before one could know another. And he said, Let it not be known that a woman came into the floor."

2. This action was not taken because of any shame these two bore, for there was none; but rather because of the implications that would be placed upon the circumstances of that night, were they known to the public. Evil minded people would no doubt assume that immorality had occurred, and the testimonies and reputations of these two would be destroyed or seriously injured.

3. Fellow Christians, how well this foreshadows the fact that we cannot ignore what other people think of us. They may indeed get evil and wrong ideas about us, but let such evil thinking not be the result of negligence, carelessness, or guilt on our part. Colossians 4;5 tells us, "walk in wisdom toward them that are without, redeeming the time." Paul wrote, "See that ye walk circumspectly; not as fools, but as wise," Eph. 5:15. H. Frank Fort said, "a woman visiting a man at such a time would give just cause to make people wonder about his honor, as well as the woman, for a 'reason' is not worth much where the 'circumstances' are contrary to the accepted standard of propriety." Be careful what you do and how your conduct appears before other people, Paul said, "Let not then your good be evil spoken of, " Romans 14:16. Since others are watching your testimony, be careful to not let some innocent, yet careless, word or deed destroy it. Solomon said, "a good name is rather to be chosen than great riches, and loving favor than silver and gold, " Prov. 22:1. By sending Ruth away while recognition would be improbable, Boaz was protecting both his and Ruth's name from those who would make something evil out of something good.