‘One day Naomi said to Ruth, “My daughter, it’s time that I found a permanent home for you, so that you will be provided for. Boaz is a close relative of ours, and he’s been very kind by letting you gather grain with his young women. Tonight he will be winnowing barley at the threshing floor. Now do as I tell you—take a bath and put on perfume and dress in your nicest clothes. Then go to the threshing floor, but don’t let Boaz see you until he has finished eating and drinking. Be sure to notice where he lies down; then go and uncover his feet and lie down there. He will tell you what to do.” “I will do everything you say,” Ruth replied. So she went down to the threshing floor that night and followed the instructions of her mother-in-law. After Boaz had finished eating and drinking and was in good spirits, he lay down at the far end of the pile of grain and went to sleep. Then Ruth came quietly, uncovered his feet, and lay down. Around midnight Boaz suddenly woke up and turned over. He was surprised to find a woman lying at his feet! “Who are you?” he asked. “I am your servant Ruth,” she replied. “Spread the corner of your covering over me, for you are my family redeemer.” “The Lord bless you, my daughter!” Boaz exclaimed. “You are showing even more family loyalty now than you did before, for you have not gone after a younger man, whether rich or poor. Now don’t worry about a thing, my daughter. I will do what is necessary, for everyone in town knows you are a virtuous woman. But while it’s true that I am one of your family redeemers, there is another man who is more closely related to you than I am. Stay here tonight, and in the morning I will talk to him. If he is willing to redeem you, very well. Let him marry you. But if he is not willing, then as surely as the Lord lives, I will redeem you myself! Now lie down here until morning.” So Ruth lay at Boaz’s feet until the morning, but she got up before it was light enough for people to recognize each other. For Boaz had said, “No one must know that a woman was here at the threshing floor.” Then Boaz said to her, “Bring your cloak and spread it out.” He measured six scoops of barley into the cloak and placed it on her back. Then he returned to the town. When Ruth went back to her mother-in-law, Naomi asked, “What happened, my daughter?” Ruth told Naomi everything Boaz had done for her, and she added, “He gave me these six scoops of barley and said, ‘Don’t go back to your mother-in-law empty-handed.’” Then Naomi said to her, “Just be patient, my daughter, until we hear what happens. The man won’t rest until he has settled things today.”’ Ruth 3:1-18(NLT)
‘Who can find a virtuous and capable wife? She is more precious than rubies. Her husband can trust her, and she will greatly enrich his life. She brings him good, not harm, all the days of her life. She finds wool and flax and busily spins it. She is like a merchant’s ship, bringing her food from afar. She gets up before dawn to prepare breakfast for her household and plan the day’s work for her servant girls. She goes to inspect a field and buys it; with her earnings she plants a vineyard. She is energetic and strong, a hard worker. She makes sure her dealings are profitable; her lamp burns late into the night. Her hands are busy spinning thread, her fingers twisting fiber. She extends a helping hand to the poor and opens her arms to the needy. She has no fear of winter for her household, for everyone has warm clothes. She makes her own bedspreads. She dresses in fine linen and purple gowns. Her husband is well known at the city gates, where he sits with the other civic leaders. She makes belted linen garments and sashes to sell to the merchants. She is clothed with strength and dignity, and she laughs without fear of the future. When she speaks, her words are wise, and she gives instructions with kindness. She carefully watches everything in her household and suffers nothing from laziness. Her children stand and bless her. Her husband praises her: “There are many virtuous and capable women in the world, but you surpass them all!” Charm is deceptive, and beauty does not last; but a woman who fears the Lord will be greatly praised. Reward her for all she has done. Let her deeds publicly declare her praise.’ Proverbs 31:10-31(NLT)
In the book of Ruth, we learn about a godly woman who desires marriage. We also see Boaz, a godly man of integrity who desires the will of God. We see God put a marriage together through the life of Ruth and Boaz. I encourage you to read it, especially chapter 3, which gives us the opportunity to think about decisions that are made regarding marriage.
Let’s go through characteristics and qualities that we see in both Ruth and Boaz that we can apply to our lives. Ruth and Boaz were individuals who were known in the city as people of virtue and integrity
In the MacArthur Study Bible, there is a comparison of Ruth and the Proverbs 31 virtuous woman. Each was…
· Devoted to her family
· Delighting in her work
· Diligent in her labor
· Dedicated to godly speech
· Dependent on God
· Dressed with care
· Discreet with men
· Delivering blessings.
Ruth was loyal, virtuous, and pure.
Boaz had the Lord firmly before his mind and expressed the love and kindness of God in his affection for Ruth. He was a protector who protected Ruth’s reputation. No one really loves you if they’re willing to do something that would harm your reputation in the Lord or if they are leading you into sin. When someone loves you, they want to protect your testimony.
Boaz was also a provider who took care of Ruth. This is something that is lost in our culture, but I’m absolutely confident and stand on firm Biblical ground that it is the husband’s God-given responsibility to supply the material needs of his family.
Although Boaz wanted to be married, he would not violate the Word of God. There’s a higher priority than love for a person, and that’s love for the Lord. That is the foundation for a great marriage. It’s not love for each other first, but loving God supremely. If you don’t love the Lord more than you love the person you’re marrying, you’re off on the wrong foot right away. If you would violate the Word of God to marry that person, then you don’t love the Lord more than you love them.
from Christian Courtship And Dating