Get Ready to Meet Boaz Ruth 3:3 - Equipped for Battle

The preparations for Ruth advancing her relationship with Boaz are being made. Naomi knows that Boaz is a kinsman redeemer and if Ruth makes herself available to him, he might fulfill the obligation not only to marry her, but also provide for her a family. Naomi has instructed Ruth as to where Boaz is located, she now tells Ruth how to prepare herself in chapter three and verse three where we read:

Wash yourself therefore, and anoint yourself, and put your raiment upon you, and get down to the floor: [but] make not yourself known unto the man, until he shall have done eating and drinking.

First Naomi says, “Wash yourself therefore, and anoint yourself.” To put it simply Naomi told Ruth to take a bath and put on some perfume. To make herself attractive to Boaz, Ruth was to clean her body and wear a pleasing odor. Those who care to have relationships usually prepare their bodies to meet one another. The value of the relationship is worth the time to prepare, and those who are wise know the advantage of getting themselves ready to engage.

Next Noami adds, “and put your raiment upon you.” The idea here is to dress nicely. Although outward appearances are not what God sees as the most beneficial part of us, people do observe the outward appearance. Ruth was to be clean, perfumed and dressed nicely before she encountered Boaz who would possibly be her future husband.

In addition to her outward appearance, Naomi guides Ruth to “get down to the floor.” In other words, Ruth was to go to where Boaz was. It would be a great waste of time and effort if Ruth only prepared herself to go and then never went. Ruth was to take action by going to the threshingfloor where Boaz entertained himself with work.

Finally Naomi said, “but make not yourself known unto the man, until he shall have done eating and drinking.” Notice that Ruth was not to interrupt Boaz until the timing was right. So often beautiful relationships can be spoiled by wrong timing. Boaz would be with others who were dining with him, and to expose her quest before them might ruin any possibility of her desired end. Naomi was wise in the ways of men, and her instructions, if kept, would put Ruth in a place of advantage rather than shame.

So how may we apply this lesson? There are hints throughout the scripture as to a bride adorning herself for her husband. We who are believers in Jesus may wash ourselves as Ruth with the “washing of the water of the word”. We may perfume ourselves with the “sweet savor” of praise and sacrifice before our Savior's throne. We may “come before his presence with thanksgiving”, and as Isaiah wrote in chapter forty-nine and verse eight:

Thus saith the LORD, In an acceptable time have I heard you, and in a day of salvation have I helped you: and I will preserve you, and give you for a covenant of the people, to establish the earth, to cause to inherit the desolate heritages;

May we all be busy preparing ourselves to meet Jesus Christ our kinsman redeemer and groom.

Next time we see Naomi give Ruth specific instructions for how to engage Boaz, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow...there is more...

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