Ruth 3:7
After Boaz had finished eating and drinking and was in good spirits, he went to lie down at the end of the heap of grain. Then Ruth went in secretly, uncovered his feet, and lay down.
After Boaz had finished eating and drinking and was in good spirits,

The harvest season brought relief, celebration, and thanksgiving for the Lord’s provision. Boaz’s contentment reflects neither drunkenness nor carelessness, but the satisfaction of a successful harvest and a generous heart. His peaceful disposition prepares the way for his gracious response to Ruth.

1Sa 25:36 When Abigail returned to Nabal, there he was…
Est 1:10 On the seventh day, when the king’s heart was merry…
Gen 43:34 When the portions were served to them from Joseph’s table,…

he went to lie down at the end of the heap of grain.

As the owner of the field, Boaz remained near the grain to protect the valuable harvest from theft. The threshing floor, where grain was separated from chaff, becomes the setting for a decisive moment in God’s providence. The abundance surrounding Boaz testifies to the blessing God had given him.

Rut 2:17 So Ruth gathered grain in the field until evening.…
2Sa 24:18 And that day Gad came to David and said to him,…
1Sa 26:7 That night David and Abishai came to the troops,…

Then Ruth went in secretly,

Ruth obeyed Naomi’s instruction with humility and courage. Her quiet approach protected both her own reputation and Boaz’s, since an open nighttime encounter could have invited misunderstanding. She came not to act improperly, but to appeal to Boaz as a near kinsman who could provide redemption and security for Naomi’s family.

Jos 2:1-2 Then Joshua son of Nun secretly sent two spies…
2Ki 11:2 But Jehosheba daughter of King Joram, the sister of Ahaziah…
1Sa 19:2 My father Saul intends to kill you. Be on guard…

uncovered his feet, and lay down.

Ruth’s action placed her in a posture of dependence and petition. By lying at Boaz’s feet, she appealed for his protection and for him to fulfill the role of kinsman-redeemer. Though the law concerning levirate marriage did not directly govern Ruth’s situation, her request was consistent with God’s concern that a family’s inheritance and name not be lost. Her faith and Boaz’s integrity would soon reveal the Lord’s purpose to bring redemption through their union.

1Sa 24:3 Soon Saul came to the sheepfolds along the road, …
2Sa 11:8 Then he said to Uriah, “Go down to your house…”…
Luk 7:38 As she stood behind Him at His feet weeping, she began…

Persons / Places / Events
1. Boaz
A wealthy landowner in Bethlehem, a relative of Naomi's deceased husband, Elimelech. He is a man of standing and integrity, playing a key role as a kinsman-redeemer.

2. Ruth
A Moabite widow and daughter-in-law of Naomi. She is known for her loyalty, faithfulness, and courage, as she follows Naomi back to Bethlehem and seeks protection under Boaz's care.

3. Naomi
Ruth's mother-in-law, who returned to Bethlehem from Moab after the death of her husband and sons. She guides Ruth in seeking Boaz's protection.

4. Bethlehem
The setting of the account, a town in Judah, which is significant as the future birthplace of King David and Jesus Christ.

5. Threshing Floor
A place where grain is separated from chaff, symbolizing a place of provision and potential transformation in the account.
Teaching Points
God's Providence and Timing
God's hand is evident in the timing and circumstances of Ruth's actions. Trust in God's perfect timing in your own life.

Courage and Initiative
Ruth's boldness in approaching Boaz demonstrates the importance of taking initiative when guided by wisdom and counsel.

Integrity and Honor
Boaz's response to Ruth's actions reflects his integrity. Uphold honor and righteousness in all relationships.

Redemption and Restoration
The concept of the kinsman-redeemer foreshadows Christ's redemptive work. Reflect on how Christ redeems and restores us.

Cultural Sensitivity and Obedience
Ruth's actions show her respect for cultural customs and her obedience to Naomi's guidance. Value wise counsel and cultural understanding.
Bible Study Questions
1. How does the concept of a kinsman-redeemer in Ruth 3:7 relate to the broader theme of redemption in the Bible?

2. In what ways does Ruth's approach to Boaz demonstrate faith and courage, and how can we apply this in our own lives?

3. How does Boaz's reaction to Ruth's actions reflect his character, and what can we learn from his example about integrity?

4. What role does Naomi play in guiding Ruth, and how can we seek and provide godly counsel in our own communities?

5. How does the setting of the threshing floor symbolize transformation and provision, and where do we see similar themes in other parts of Scripture?
Connections to Other Scriptures
Leviticus 25:25
This verse outlines the role of a kinsman-redeemer, which is central to the account of Ruth and Boaz. It provides the legal and cultural backdrop for Boaz's actions.

Proverbs 31:10-31
The description of a virtuous woman parallels Ruth's character, highlighting her diligence, loyalty, and strength.

Genesis 19:30-38
The origin of the Moabites, Ruth's people, provides context for her outsider status and the significance of her inclusion in the lineage of David and Jesus.
The Joy of HarvestJ.R. Thomson Ruth 3:7
People
Boaz, Naomi, Ruth
Places
Bethlehem
Topics
Approached, Ate, Boaz, Bo'az, Corn, Drank, Drink, Drinketh, Drinking, Drunk, Eaten, Eateth, Eating, Finished, Gently, Glad, Grain, Heap, Heart, Herself, Laid, Lay, Lie, Lieth, Mass, Meat, Merry, Pile, Quietly, Rest, Ruth, Secretly, Softly, Spirits, Uncovered, Uncovereth, Uncovering
Dictionary of Bible Themes
Ruth 3:7

     8328   quietness

Ruth 3:2-14

     4524   threshing-floor

Ruth 3:4-8

     5151   feet

Ruth 3:7-4:11

     5702   husband

Ruth 3:7-12

     5671   clan

Library
June 23 Evening
Shall I not seek rest for thee, that it may be well with thee?--RUTH 3:1. There remaineth . . . a rest to the people of God.--My people shall dwell in a peaceable habitation, and in sure dwellings, and in quiet resting places.--There the wicked cease from troubling; and there the weary be at rest.--They . . . rest from their labours. The forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus, made an high priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec. Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and
Anonymous—Daily Light on the Daily Path

September 4 Morning
Sit still, my daughter.--RUTH 3:18. Take heed, and be quiet; fear not, neither be fainthearted.--Be still, and know that I am God.--Said I not unto thee, that, if thou wouldest believe, thou shouldest see the glory of God?--The loftiness of man shall be bowed down, and the haughtiness of men shall be made low: and the Lord alone shall be exalted in that day. Mary . . . sat at Jesus' feet, and heard his word.--Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.--In returning and
Anonymous—Daily Light on the Daily Path

Whether Christ Received his Own Body and Blood?
Objection 1: It seems that Christ did not receive His own body and blood, because nothing ought to be asserted of either Christ's doings or sayings, which is not handed down by the authority of Sacred Scripture. But it is not narrated in the gospels that He ate His own body or drank His own blood. Therefore we must not assert this as a fact. Objection 2: Further, nothing can be within itself except perchance by reason of its parts, for instance. as one part is in another, as is stated in Phys. iv.
Saint Thomas Aquinas—Summa Theologica

Whether the Judicial Precepts Regarding Foreigners were Framed in a Suitable Manner?
Objection 1: It would seem that the judicial precepts regarding foreigners were not suitably framed. For Peter said (Acts 10:34,35): "In very deed I perceive that God is not a respecter of persons, but in every nation, he that feareth Him and worketh justice is acceptable to Him." But those who are acceptable to God should not be excluded from the Church of God. Therefore it is unsuitably commanded (Dt. 23:3) that "the Ammonite and the Moabite, even after the tenth generation, shall not enter into
Saint Thomas Aquinas—Summa Theologica

Jesus' Feet Anointed in the House of a Pharisee.
(Galilee.) ^C Luke VII. 36-50. ^c 36 And one of the Pharisees desired him that he would eat with him. [We learn from verse 40 that the Pharisee's name was Simon. Because the feast at Bethany was given in the house of Simon the leper, and because Jesus was anointed there also, some have been led to think that Luke is here describing this supper. See Matt. xxvi. 6-13; Mark xiv. 3-9; John xii. 1-8. But Simon the leper was not Simon the Pharisee. The name Simon was one of the most common among the Jewish
J. W. McGarvey—The Four-Fold Gospel

Ruth
Goethe has characterized the book of Ruth as the loveliest little idyll that tradition has transmitted to us. Whatever be its didactic purpose--and some would prefer to think that it had little or none-it is, at any rate, a wonderful prose poem, sweet, artless, and persuasive, touched with the quaintness of an older world and fresh with the scent of the harvest fields. The love--stronger than country--of Ruth for Naomi, the gracious figure of Boaz as he moves about the fields with a word of blessing
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament

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