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PROVIDENCE, CHOICES, AND FAMILY LIFE (5)
THURSDAY, AUGUST 8
Ruth 3:1-5

1 Peter 3:1-6

 

“…that women adorn themselves
in modest apparel, with

shamefacedness and sobriety…”

 

PROVIDENCE, CHOICES, AND FAMILY LIFE (5)
 
Naomi’s plan of action was both lawful and decent. It adhered to the laws of the land and its social bonds. Ruth probably might not have understood all that was required of her, but she knew her mother-in-law and she dutifully submitted herself to follow her mother-in-law’s guidance. Naomi asked her to prepare herself for the task that she was to do that evening.
 
“Wash thyself therefore, and anoint thee, and put thy raiment upon thee…” (Ruth 3:3). Ruth had been working in the fields as a gleaner. She had worked through the barley and the wheat harvests. Then, Naomi told her to “put thy raiment upon thee.” In our culture today (and probably in any culture known), what Ruth was asked to do might imply a desire to get others to “take notice of me.” However, from the characters presented both of Ruth and of Boaz from the beginning of the Book of Ruth, we may confidently assert that there was nothing immoral or indecent in the plan. Though Ruth had been working hard, and her work had yielded great rewards, Naomi did not advise her to procure or look for new clothes, but rather that she “put thy raiment upon thee.” And so, Ruth cleaned up and changed her clothes as instructed by Naomi.
 
“…and get thee down to the floor…” (Ruth 3:3). J. Vernon McGee notes concerning going to the threshing floor that, “They feasted and sang psalms and hymns and thanked God for an abundant harvest. Several of the feast days of Israel – the Feast of Firstfruits and even Pentecost – were identified with that threshing floor. Every night the families came up and camped around the threshing floor, and they would eat a big meal together. After the feast was over, the men would sleep around the grain to protect it from looters or thieves who might break through the circle and steal their harvest.” Hence, that Ruth was sent to the threshing floor was not out of ordinary practice. It would make it easier for her to fulfil the second part, which was to “make not thyself known unto the man.” Noting where Boaz would be sleeping was also possible because the men slept at the threshing floor to secure their produce.
 
THOUGHT: (Read Ephesians 5:17.)

PRAYER: Help me, Father, to walk with wisdom for Thy glory.

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