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Ruth 3:8-13 – A Marriage Proposal

Boaz cries out in verse nine – “Who are you?” Ruth responds with these lovely words: “I am Ruth, your servant. Spread your wings over your servant, for you are a redeemer.” It was a clear picture, a clear proposal of marriage. Protect me, keep me warm, take me under your wing. We see her humility. She doesn’t come as Boaz’s equal. She comes as a woman making a marriage proposal, which is unusual enough even in our generation. But she comes as a much younger woman and also one of a different social class. Boaz is an older man who is a noble man. He was a man who sat at the gate with the elders of the city; he was a man who had a say in the administration of the city. He was a man who had harvesters who worked under him. Ruth is a widow of the poorest in Bethlehem. Here she is coming, asking him to marry her. She asks him take responsibility for her. Give me security. Why? Because you are a close relative. You are my kinsman redeemer. You’ve already shown to me kindness. Show to me this further act of kindness.

Boaz responds with a blessing. This is a man who delights in blessing people. He says in the end Ruth is showing even more kindness than at the beginning. She has not gone after the young men, whether poor or rich. Ruth was an attractive woman. She was young, she was eligible, she could have had her pick of all the young men if she had wanted. But she hasn’t done this. She has gone to the close relative of her mother-in-law.

Boaz is willing to help. But in verse twelve he admits that there is a spanner in the works. There’s someone more closely related than he is. There is someone who is first in line to perform this duty. Now Boaz could have said go and ask him. But Boaz doesn’t do that. Rather, Boaz is saying, I will sort this whole matter out. You don’t have to concern yourself about it anymore.

Questions

  1. How did Ruth show humility in this situation?
  2. How did Boaz respond?

Prayer Points

  1. Pray that you would have a humble heart.
  2. Use prayer points from your congregation.
  3. Pray for family matters.