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Post by Leeza on Mar 19, 2015 4:05:52 GMT
I am now finishing the book of Ruth, which is one of my favorite books of the Bible. As I was reading chapter 3, I had a question on verse 4.
Here is the full context:
1Then Naomi her mother-in-law said to her, “My daughter, shall I not seek security for you, that it may be well with you? 2 Now Boaz, whose young women you were with, is he not our relative? In fact, he is winnowing barley tonight at the threshing floor. 3 Therefore wash yourself and anoint yourself, put on your best garment and go down to the threshing floor; but do not make yourself known to the man until he has finished eating and drinking. 4 Then it shall be, when he lies down, that you shall notice the place where he lies; and you shall go in, uncover his feet, and lie down; and he will tell you what you should do.”
I know that Boaz represents Christ, our Kinsman Redeemer, and Ruth represents the church. I was puzzled when I read where Ruth's mother-in-law, Naomi, told Ruth to wait until Boaz finished eating and drinking, then afterwards she instructed her to go to the place where he lies, and go in, uncover his feet, and lie down. What does that represent? I know that has to be symbolic of something. Was it an expression of respect? Submission? Or something else?
Thoughts?
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Post by elizabeth on Mar 19, 2015 8:22:39 GMT
Leeza, I found this regarding the third chapter of Ruth: 2. First let us note the instruction that Ruth receives from Naomi (vv. 1-5). Ruth learns the secret of rest in order that it may be well with her. First Naomi engages her thoughts with Boaz, telling her who he is, and what he is doing. She says, "he is of our kindred." She says as it were, "He is ours and we have a claim upon him." And we can say that Christ is ours, for has He not become flesh and dwelt among us, and died for us, and as risen He calls us His brethren? He can say to Mary, "Go to my brethren, and say unto them I ascend unto my Father and your Father; and to my God and to your God." Further, Naomi tells Ruth what he is doing: "Behold he winnoweth barley tonight in the threshing floor." And, if we may so say, all through the long dark night, our Kinsman, our Boaz, has been winnowing barley. The Lord Jesus is not occupied with the chaff today. He will deal in judgment with the chaff in a coming day, but at this moment He is occupied with His own, "He is winnowing barley." In other words He is sanctifying the Church, in view of presenting the Church to Himself not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing. The Lord on high is engaged with His own in view of the coming day. Having reminded Ruth of her claim upon Boaz, Naomi proceeds to instruct her as to the suited condition for the company of Boaz. Realising that we are of Christ's kindred that we belong to Him and He is for us we shall surely desire His company. The conscious sense of His presence, however, calls for a suited condition of soul set forth in picture by Naomi's instructions to Ruth, when she says, "Wash thyself therefore, and anoint thee, and put thy raiment upon thee." The first necessity to "wash thyself" — carries our thoughts to the feet washing of John 13. John must first have his feet washed before he can lean on Jesus' bosom. Feet washing must come before heart resting. The Lord had to say to Peter, "If I wash thee not thou hast no part with Me." Part in Him we have through His work, but to have part with Him to enjoy communion with Him in the home to which He has gone we must have our feet washed, and in this alas, we are so often careless. We allow the defiling influences of the world to creep in and drag our affections down to the things of the earth. Neglecting feet washing the defilements increase until our minds are so clogged, and our affections so dulled that communion with Christ becomes a rare or unknown thing. Let us heed the Lord's warning words, "If ye know these things happy are ye if ye do them." It would not have been enough for Ruth to accept the instruction to wash; she must carry it out. So too, the good of John 13 does not lie in the knowledge of the truth but in its practice. But more is needed: having washed, Ruth is to anoint herself. It is not enough to cleanse the mind from defiling influences, but we need to remember the Apostle's exhortation, "Whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are noble, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there by any praise, think on these things." Washing is negative; it removes defilement. Anointing is positive, it leaves a sweet odour. Not only do we need to have our minds and affections cleansed from defiling influences, but to have them occupied with the things of Christ that there may be about us an odour of Christ that is suited to the company of Christ. Following the anointing, Naomi says, "Put thy raiment upon thee." Does not this speak of the fine linen which is the practical righteousness of the saints? If the eighth verse of Philippians 4 speaks of the anointing, does not the following verse give us the answer to the raiment — the practical righteousness? There the Apostle says, "Those things which ye have both learned and received, and heard and seen in me do." The keyword in Philippians 4:8 is "think"; the keyword of verse 9 is "do". Had we a deeper sense of the loveliness of Christ should we not covet with more earnest desire His company and the conscious sense of His presence? And such desires would lead to more exercise that our thoughts and affections, our words and ways, might be kept from all defiling influences, and engaged with that which is suited to Christ. Having become suited to the presence of Boaz, Ruth's course is plain. She is to lie down at the feet of Boaz and listen to his words, as Naomi says, "He will tell thee what thou shalt do." Does this not carry us in thought to that lovely scene at Bethany described in Luke 10, where we read of Mary, that she "sat at Jesus' feet and heard His word." Is not this the great lack today! In the hurry and bustle of life there is little time for being alone with the Lord to hear His word. Nevertheless the Lord says it is the "one thing needful". May we hear the voice of the Lord through Naomi, and like Ruth answer, "All that thou sayest unto me I will do." Thus "washed", "anointed", and clothed may we sit in His presence and hear His word. To read the rest of the article, click here: www.stempublishing.com/authors/smith/RUTH.htmlfair use for educational and discussion purposes
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Post by Gr8tful on Mar 19, 2015 16:03:03 GMT
That's good Elizabeth what you posted! I thought laying at his feet was a show of submission as well as thought about foot washing. I always found it amazing how much Ruth trusted and obeyed Naomi! I love the term "Kinsmen Redeemer" there is something so beautiful in those words!
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Post by Leeza on Mar 19, 2015 16:18:15 GMT
Liz, what a great find, thank you! It explains a lot. I knew there was some deep meaning behind all of that.
It reminds me of what I was an SDA, and one of the things we used to do after receiving communion was to go into a hall and each one of us had a bowl of water and we would wash each other's feet. I thought that was such a beautiful way of showing humility by imitating what Christ did for the disciples.
Yes, Gr8tful, I love the term, "Kinsman Redeemer" myself.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 19, 2015 18:02:29 GMT
I enjoyed this too Elizabeth.
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Post by shiloh on Mar 19, 2015 22:10:12 GMT
Excellent post, Liz.
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Post by Benjamin on Mar 19, 2015 23:36:09 GMT
I'm not sure how a writer seeks to answer this without reference to the Old Testament. ...not that the answer above is wrong, necessarily, but it does miss the historical context of what Ruth was doing.
This all plays in to the role of the kinsman-redeemer, which is hugely significant both here in Ruth, and in terms of what Christ has done for His bride, and also in terms of His return.
This is the best answer I could find. Chuck Missler goes into this topic a bit too (this quote isn't his, though) in his studies in Ruth. Anyway. Quote from a random human online:
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Post by Leeza on Mar 20, 2015 0:46:05 GMT
Thanks for giving even more insight into this, Benjamin. I just found that gesture of uncovering his feet and laying down so interesting, and knew that it had to mean something significant.
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Post by Gr8tful on Mar 20, 2015 3:15:57 GMT
Very interesting Benjamin! Thanks for that!
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Post by shiloh on Mar 20, 2015 6:10:27 GMT
Well, both posts combined together were very good.
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Post by Leeza on Mar 20, 2015 16:45:30 GMT
Well, both posts combined together were very good. I thought so, too. It gave a lot of insight to my question. Thanks again!
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