An Excellent Woman - Ruth at the Threshing Floor

Boaz spoke, and no doubt his gently soothing tone comforted Ruth.  He said: "Blessed may you be of Jehovah, my daughter, You have expressed your loving-kindness better in the last instance than in the first instance, in not going after the young fellows whether lowly or rich." (Ruth 3:10) "The first instance" referred to Ruth's loyal love in accompanying Naomi back to Israel and caring for her."  "The last instance" was the present one. Boaz noted that a  young woman like Ruth might easily have sought a husband among much younger men, whether rich or poor. Rather, she wanted to do good not only to Naomi but also Naomi's deceased husband, to carry out the dead man's name in his homeland. It is not hard to see why Boaz was moved by this young woman's name in his unselfishness.

Boaz continued: "And now, my daughter, do not be afraid. All that you say I shall do for you, for everyone in the gate of my people is aware that you are an excellent woman." (Ruth  3:11) He was pleased at the prospect of marrying Ruth; perhaps he was not completely surprised  to be asked to be her repurchaser. However, Boaz  was a righteous man, and he was not about to act merely on his own preferences. He told Ruth that there was another repurchaser, one more closely related to the family of  Naomi's dead husband. Boaz would approach that man first and give him the opportunity to become Ruth's husband.

Boaz urged Ruth to lie down and rest until morning was near; then she could slip away unnoticed. He wanted to protect her reputation as well as his own, since people might wrongly assume that something had taken place..  Ruth lay near the man's  feet again, perhaps with a mind more at ease after he had responded to her petition so kindly. Then, while it was still dark, she rose. Boaz filled her cloak with a generous gift of barley, and she made her way back into Bethlehem. - Read RUTH 3:13-15.

How satisfying it must have been for Ruth to contemplate what Boaz  had said-that she was known among all the people as "an excellent woman"! No doubt her eagerness to get to know Jehovah and to serve him had much to do with that reputation. She had also shown great kindness and sensitivity toward Naomi and her people, willingly adapting to ways and customs that were surely unfamiliar to her.  If we imitate Ruth's faith, we will seek to treat others and their ways and customs with deep respect. If we do, we too may find that we develop a reputation for excellence. 

Next time: An Excellent Woman -A Resting Place for Ruth

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