Nov 24 2019 Jesus and This Writer Expose our Bias, Prejudices, and Judgments

Ruth 3

One day Naomi her mother-in-law said to her, "My daughter, should I not try to find a home for you, where you will be well provided for? ² Is not Boaz, with whose servant girls you have been, a kinsman of ours? Tonight he will be winnowing barley on the threshing floor. ³ Wash and perfume yourself, and put on your best clothes. Then go down to the threshing floor, but don't let him know you are there until he has finished eating and drinking. ⁴ 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."

⁵ "I will do whatever you say," Ruth answered. ⁶ So she went down to the threshing floor and did everything her mother-in-law told her to do. ⁷ When Boaz had finished eating and drinking and was in good spirits, he went over to lie down at the far end of the grain pile. Ruth approached quietly, uncovered his feet and lay down. ⁸ In the middle of the night something startled the man, and he turned and discovered a woman lying at his feet. ⁹ "Who are you?" he asked. "I am your servant Ruth," she said. "Spread the corner of your garment over me, since you are a kinsman-redeemer."

¹⁰ "The LORD bless you, my daughter," he replied. "This kindness is greater than that which you showed earlier: You have not run after the younger men, whether rich or poor. ¹¹ And now, my daughter, don't be afraid. I will do for you all you ask. All my fellow townsmen know that you are a woman of noble character. ¹² Although it is true that I am near of kin, there is a kinsman-redeemer nearer than I. ¹³ Stay here for the night, and in the morning if he wants to redeem, good; let him redeem. But if he is not willing, as surely as the LORD lives I will do it. Lie here until morning."

¹⁴ So she lay at his feet until morning, but got up before anyone could be recognized; and he said, "Don't let it be known that a woman came to the threshing floor." ¹⁵ He also said, "Bring me the shawl you are wearing and hold it out." When she did so, he poured into it six measures of barley and put it on her. Then he went back to town.

¹⁶ When Ruth came to her mother-in-law, Naomi asked, "How did it go, my daughter?" Then she told her everything Boaz had done for her ¹⁷ and added, "He gave me these six measures of barley, saying, 'Don't go back to your mother-in-law empty-handed.'" ¹⁸ Then Naomi said, "Wait, my daughter, until you find out what happens. For the man will not rest until the matter is settled today."

That is an unusual story. I would just like to say – Chapter 3 of Ruth may be my favorite chapter in all of the Old Testament. It looks a little odd – there is a reason for that! It is supposed to! It is designed to make you ask, What is going on in this story?!

Because we believe that the Bible is the inspired word of God – we may have a tendency to forget or ignore that the Bible is written by people.

Years ago, I had this misunderstanding of how the Bible was written by God – as if the writers were in a trance, writing what God tells them.

But the inspiration process engaged and incorporated the personalities and perspective of the writers. That’s why we have 4 gospels! God very specifically wanted to engage different people in the writing of His books of the Bible. These writers were skilled, clever, creative – and used these skills to give God’s message in a life-transforming way.

This process of human writing with divine inspiration has created a work that is GENIUS – in every way possible.

I asked Cindy – when did they start teaching creative writing (Because I slept through most of high school!)

I told her that Ruth would make the perfect curriculum for Creative Writing.

She looked up what they look for – how it is crafted and structured.

As you read Ruth, you can go to the stories of Jesus – and see how the story of Ruth pops up over and over again – themes and patterns found in Ruth are found in modern movies. There is a big, huge one – a talented story writer will introduce a character we expect to act one way – and the character acts the opposite.

Think E.T. – the ALIEN was more HUMAN than the humans in the story!

My daughter – should I not try to find a home for you?

This is a turning point in Naomi’s life – where her attention goes from her own misery and bitterness to “I need to take care of Ruth” – this is a result of Ruth coming back with all the food in chapter 2

One day Naomi her mother-in-law said to her, "My daughter, should I not try to find a home for you, where you will be well provided for? ² Is not Boaz, with whose servant girls you have been, a kinsman of ours? Tonight he will be winnowing barley on the threshing floor. ³ Wash and perfume yourself, and put on your best clothes. Then go down to the threshing floor, but don't let him know you are there until he has finished eating and drinking. ⁴ 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."

Boaz is a kinsman that has an opportunity and responsibility. Ruth realizes that something is going on here.

Threshing floor – keep that in mind – when he lies down – note the place he is lying. For us – this is where it is getting a little odd. I’ll do a bit of reading here.

The story is given in such a way to give a sense of impropriety! The Hebrew language in verse 4 and other verses in this are very suggestive – intimating physical intimacy. The threshing floor plays a crucial role – in the Canaanite world, the threshing floor was the place of inappropriate practices that were for fertility! For women – they were not allowed on the threshing floor. There are also parallels to where Moab was born in Genesis 19 –

There was absolutely no impropriety between Boaz and Ruth. The writer uses the writing – because of the Moabites – to reveal and expose the bias, prejudice, and judgment of the ancient Israel audience. He is bringing them in – and exposes what was wrong with what they were thinking. A good book or movie will bring you in – and you realize – this is not about Ruth and Boaz – this is about YOU! You are the problem here. This is what every good storyteller will do. I think of M*A*S*H – what is it about? The Korean War? Wrong. It is a story set in the Korean War to be against the war in Vietnam and all war.

Ruth is a gospel story – we have been talking about that all along. The stories of Jesus expose the bias, prejudice, and judgment of the people. The Good Samaritan. The Tax Collector and Pharisee – The Immoral woman who anoints Jesus’ feet! Jesus is always telling stories to reveal something about our own bias and prejudices. TO be a fully devoted follower of Christ – our biases must be pulled out of us – to transform us.

¹⁰ "The LORD bless you, my daughter," he replied. "This kindness is greater than that which you showed earlier: You have not run after the younger men, whether rich or poor. ¹¹ And now, my daughter, don't be afraid. I will do for you all you ask. All my fellow townsmen know that you are a woman of noble character.

This is allowing the audience to think one thing – kindness = Chesed – this love and compassion that is given to people. Ruth is the shining example of Chesed and what a follower should look like! Like the Good Samaritan! NOT A SAMARITAN! It can’t be! But that is what Jesus is saying.

Going back to the story – when Naomi goes back to Israel – because of her loyal love, Ruth goes. This kind of love sticks with people. Ruth knew that it was going to be bad – that things would be bad if she went to Israel – but loyal love remains.

This type of loyalty should never be a form of manipulation. Any “Man in the High Castle” fans? The perfect example of how loyalty can be used for manipulation.

This love requires sacrificial service – and that is what gleaning is for Ruth – it is physical labor for little profit. But this kind of love is self-sacrificial and willing to step into the uncomfortable for the benefit of others.

Third – showing this love – is going to the threshing floor – risking her reputation – and even risking going out at night as a woman.

She keeps bringing Naomi into her prosperity – wherever she gains, she shares with Naomi. By this point – Naomi wasn’t doing much to help herself

“Don’t let it be known”

Boaz is concerned for reputation – and it indicates that there was no impropriety.

¹⁶ When Ruth came to her mother-in-law, Naomi asked, "How did it go, my daughter?" Then she told her everything Boaz had done for her ¹⁷ and added, "He gave me these six measures of barley, saying, 'Don't go back to your mother-in-law empty-handed.'" ¹⁸ Then Naomi said, "Wait, my daughter, until you find out what happens. For the man will not rest until the matter is settled today."

Kinsman-redeemer – we will read about that next week – a kinsman who are to redeem family when a husband has passed away. Boaz has committed himself to making sure it happens. What we see in this story – human initiative and energy are partnering with the invisible hand of God.

There has to be human initiative – there are people acting the entire time – and as people act, God works. Sometimes it is reverse order, but there is this blending of order – Work out your salvation (because God is at work in you!)

When we want something to change – we pray AND we act. We put something into action and then God works.

Naomi initiates the return to Bethlehem.

Ruth initiates loyalty to Naomi

Ruth initiates gleaning – and God places her in Boaz’s field.

Naomi initiates a plan to get Ruth married.

Ruth initiates by going to the threshing floor

Boaz acts to settle the matter. But it is all about God and humanity working together.

We are looking at bias and prejudice in this story – and we all have those. We ALL have those. We need to act to transform those – and then God will act to transform us!