Is life a comedy or a tragedy? Are we the hero or the victim? Or maybe the villain? Is the world descending into chaos and dystopia or are we on a path of ever-increasing prosperity and progress? The stories we tell orient us to our place in the world and our role in the story.
The Bible tells the story of a loving God and a messy people. There is a beginning and an end. Major themes of creation, redemption, and sanctification trace the arc of this grand narrative. And Jesus Christ is the center of it all – the great hero of the story who comes incognito to rescue and redeem his broken creation.
Invocation
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Invitation
O Lord, your scars are your trophies, proof of your unfailing love for me. I am haunted by the guilt of my past, the sins of my present, and my fear of the future. Lord, at the cross you said, “It is finished.” So I stop my worry. I rest in you. You have done it all. Amen.
Confession
“Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” Lord, forgive my fugitive ways. I turn and run from you. Forgive my criminal acts of hypocrisy and self-righteousness. Forgive my violations of arrogance and selfishness. Forgive me for denying you, ignoring you, and disregarding you. I am the one at fault. I have no other help but to turn my face to you and plead, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.”
Word: Ruth 3:9
“At midnight the man was startled and turned over, and behold, a woman lay at his feet! He said, ‘Who are you?’ And she answered, ‘I am Ruth, your servant. Spread your wings over your servant, for you are a redeemer.’”
Meditation: Love as Extraordinary Trust and Respect by Megan Roegner
I am not an expert in ancient Near Eastern marriage rituals, but I am an expert in the marriage rituals of Jane Austen novels. And what the two cultures have in common is the subtlety and tension that ensues when a culture enforces strict rules for interactions between men and women. People can attempt to communicate a lot of meaning with small, or strange, gestures when they are not allowed to just say what they want to say, like, for instance, “Hey, I think you’re pretty neat. Want to get married?” In an Austen story, we might swoon over a brush of gloveless hands or a lingering look. In the Book of Ruth, it’s a lady creeping onto the threshing floor at night and uncovering a guy’s feet.
There is quite a bit of Jewish and Christian scholarship unpacking what is happening in this moment on the threshing floor. The two largest questions seem to be what exactly happened between Ruth and Boaz (in other words, is “uncovering feet” a euphemism that implies sexual activty?) and whether or not Ruth is requesting a customary levirate marriage, which was when a man married his widowed and childless sister in law in order to continue his brother’s lineage. The answer to the first question seems to be straightforward: When Ruth uncovers Boaz’s “feet,” she really uncovers his feet in order to let the cool, night air wake him up. That’s it. Jane Austen-approved. The second question is harder to answer, and pursuing the answers leads us to understand more about the characters of Ruth and Boaz.
The arguments against Ruth and Boaz’s marriage as levirate center upon the fact that Boaz is not Ruth’s brother in law, so there would be no expectation for him to marry her. But even if it were the custom of levirate marriage for any male relative to marry a childless widow, the practice was not seen as a matter of course; it was not a legal expectation but rather a moral one. Either party could refuse to go through with it, and many did. In fact, the most well-known example of levirate marriage in the Bible involves the failure of Judah’s sons to provide for the widowed Tamar in this way.
Boaz and Ruth’s marriage was not a matter of obligation. It was a matter of radical trust and respect. Naomi trusts and respects Boaz enough to send a vulnerable woman to him at night. Ruth trusts and respects Naomi and Boaz enough to actually follow through with Naomi’s wild advice to adorn herself as a bride and lie down at Boaz’s feet, a request for provision and protection. Boaz trusts and respects Ruth’s character enough to perceive this request as an honor, calling it a great “kindness” and Ruth a “worthy woman” (Ruth 3:11).
Imagine a community filled of Ruths and Boazes. Imagine a community where people don’t just follow the letter of the law but the spirit of it, where strength is used to protect the vulnerable, where kindness and respect are truly valued. Imagine a community where everyone sees one another as equals, regardless of their age, gender, ethnicity, or socio-economic status.
When Ruth pleads for Boaz’s protection as a kinsman redeemer, we should remember the words of their distant descendant: “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God” (Matt. 5:7-8).
Redeemer, help us to let love and respect guide our interactions with our neighbors. Help us to trust our brothers and sisters. In all things, let us be guided by you. Amen.
Benediction
Now may the God of peace who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant,equip you with everything good that you may do his will, working in us that which is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen. (Heb. 13:20-21)