Calendar

PROVIDENCE, CHOICES, AND FAMILY LIFE (8)
LORD’S DAY, AUGUST 11
Ruth 3:6-13

Genesis 38:12-26

 

“And Judah said,
Let her take it to her,

lest we be shamed…”

 

PROVIDENCE, CHOICES, AND FAMILY LIFE (8)
 
The necessity of always maintaining a sober mind in life is clearly illustrated in this account. Life may throw to us unexpected opportunities to make life-changing decisions without notice. Boaz went about the feasting and drinking not knowing that Ruth (who was yet unrecognised, as Naomi had instructed) was observing him. The sequence of events that followed as the story unfolded would place on him the duty and responsibility of making decisions that would be critical, especially for the future of Ruth and Naomi. The world often talks about getting lost in the moment, without warning against what might be lost with the moment. The Bible exhorts us to be sober at all times.
 
“…he went to lie down at the end of the heap of corn…” (Ruth 3:7). It is noted by some commentators that it was not uncommon for immoral practices to occur during harvest periods due to the Canaanite worship of fertility gods and its practices. This, coupled with the eating, drinking and merry-making, would make it the most common recourse for depraved man. This was the picture in Genesis 38:20-23, as Judah sent the kid he had pledged to Tamar, thinking she was a prostitute. As he sent his pledge, his friend asked for the “temple prostitute” who sat openly as Judah went to sheer his sheep. Boaz, on the other hand, is introduced as taking a different course of action. He went to lie down when his heart was merry. Naomi had told Ruth that “he will tell thee what thou shalt do” (Ruth 3:4). By this she left Ruth in the hands of Boaz, trusting that once Ruth had done her part as directed, Boaz would do his part in the matter. McGee observes that, “Ruth could have gone before the elders of the city and demanded that he do it, and she would have been within her legal rights. But the method adopted by her, at the suggestion of Naomi, was a quiet and reticent manner of proceeding.” We must remember that all this took place at the threshing floor which was a public and social place, without much privacy as both men and women slept there. Despite all the activities taking place at the threshing floor, Ruth had stuck to her mission and observed where Boaz lay.
 
THOUGHT: Moderation is a virtue and duty for every Christian.

PRAYER: (Use Proverbs 30:8-9.)

Search