by John O’Malley
“And he said, Blessed be thou of the Lord, my daughter: for thou hast showed more kindness in the latter end than at the beginning, inasmuch as thou followedst not young men, whether poor or rich” (Ruth 3:10).
With emotions collected and fears abated, Boaz’s reply indicated he fully understood Ruth’s petition, even though he had been awakened from sleep at midnight. His words must have sent a calming peace to Ruth’s waiting soul. Boaz’s response to the precious handmaiden lying at his feet came with a three-part message; he spoke a message of divine reward, daughterly reassurance, and deep reflection. Imagine Ruth’s delight in knowing Naomi was right; he did know what to say.
Boaz began, “Blessed be thou of the Lord.” Her arrival heralded the Lord’s blessing to Boaz; he desired God’s blessing for her. You may recall when Boaz first came to the harvest field, the reaper’s reply to Boaz’s salutation was “The Lordbless thee.” Now, with her arrival, the lord of the harvest was offering her the same greeting. This greeting signaled to her that she was in a spiritual company and should feel protected. The human mind would love to take a scene such as what is before us and read into it far more than what occurred. The opening reply is hardly the way an illicit and immoral meeting would begin.
Without stopping for a breath, Boaz declares a message of daughterly reassurance. Ruth came to Boaz for protection. He responded, “My daughter.” It brought reassurance to her heart that she was accepted by Boaz. Ruth’s position at his feet indicated her submission to his will; Boaz’s words to her disclosed that he accepted her. Never before had Ruth been so vulnerable in one moment and secure in the next moment. Boaz had called her “my daughter” upon her arrival to his harvest field; now, with her arrival to the threshing floor of his heart, he announced the same as an answer to her request for a kinsman-redeemer. His words gave her the reassurance that she was accepted and appreciated.
Boaz’s words also reveal that he had given deep reflection to this moment prior to her arrival. His words were not an instant assessment at midnight; rather, they were the summary of moments of deep reflection. It is clear that, in the previous chapter, God had fully shown Boaz matters relating to Ruth. Perhaps he had thought about himself being able to be a kinsman-redeemer to Ruth, yet wondered why she would choose him, seeing there were younger men in whom she might have an interest. How this must have elevated Ruth's emotions! He knew the right things to say. His rewards, reassurances, and reflections were all deposited in the bank of Ruth’s heart for safekeeping and appraisal.
He cherished Ruth’s preparation of the heart and positioning of herself at his feet. He stated that she had shown him more kindness than even at the beginning of their relationship by choosing him over any available younger man, in spite of their economic status. The focus of this book has been on Boaz’s kindness to Ruth, yet the focal point of Boaz was on her kindness to him.
Certainly, Ruth’s heart embraced Boaz’s words; she had not realized how her actions had been received as kindness to him. He was kind to her first; it was fitting for her to be kind to him. Ruth’s kindness at the beginning toward Boaz possibly occurred when she chose to stay in his fields and not go elsewhere. Ruth also had stayed through the barley harvest to the reaping of the corn. Yet her arrival now was perceived as a greater kindness than the aforementioned deeds.
Boaz saw what Ruth did for him as kindness, an act of mercy. It would be easy to overlook how Boaz received Ruth’s heartfelt actions toward him. She merely sensed his kindness toward her and gratefully responded. Even at this midnight hour, he, with clarity, remembered her kindness to him at the beginning and stated that this kindness in requesting him to be kinsman-redeemer was even greater. Boaz’s mercy overshadowed anything Ruth possibly could have done for him, yet he mentioned that he did not overlook her heart’s devotion to him from the beginning.
The child of God would do well to consider I John 4:19: “We love him, because he first loved us.” Our Eternal Boaz extended grace and mercy to us, yet have we ever considered how He interprets our responses as acts of kindness to Him? Yes, He loved us first. The reciprocity of our love to Him does not go unnoticed. It is rather appreciated.
How do you love Him? When last did you place yourself at the feet of your Eternal Boaz and bask in His love for you? What was the last loving thing you did for Him?