{"id":2833,"date":"2020-10-11T08:00:23","date_gmt":"2020-10-11T15:00:23","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/mvcog.org\/wp\/?p=2833"},"modified":"2020-10-15T00:50:46","modified_gmt":"2020-10-15T07:50:46","slug":"ruth-31-5-bridal-preparations","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/mvcog.org\/wp\/2020\/10\/11\/ruth-31-5-bridal-preparations\/","title":{"rendered":"Ruth 3:1-5 Bridal Preparations"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed-youtube wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Sunday Service at Mountain Valley Church of God - Ruth 3:1-5 Bridal Preparations\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/LBjP5OcVbVk?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-file\"><a href=\"http:\/\/mvcog.org\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/Ruth-3v1-5-outline.pdf\">Ruth-3v1-5-outline<\/a><a href=\"http:\/\/mvcog.org\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/Ruth-3v1-5-outline.pdf\" class=\"wp-block-file__button\" download>Download<\/a><\/div>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\"><p><strong>3:1 Then Naomi her mother-in-law said to her, \u201cMy daughter, shall I not seek&nbsp;security for you, that it may be well with you?&nbsp;<\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p>This word security means a <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">resting <\/span>place, a permanent home.&nbsp; It\u2019s a synonym of the word she used back in chapter 1 vs.9 <strong>May the Lord grant that you may find rest, each in the house of her husband.\u201d<\/strong>, and so we see again that Boaz is being used by God to <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">answer <\/span>a prayer.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>When she says that she wants <strong>Ruth to be well-situated, that it may be well with<\/strong> her, she\u2019s using a common idiom associated with <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">blessings <\/span>from God, and especially those blessings which come from <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">keeping <\/span>our covenant with Him, just as there are benefits in marriage of keeping our covenant with our <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">spouse<\/span>.&nbsp; For example (Jer 7:23, Deut4:40,Deut 5:16).&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In their culture, it was customary for parents to <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">arrange <\/span>marriages for their children, and so Naomi is treating Ruth as her <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">daughter<\/span>, by making sure that she finds security in the house of her husband.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\"><p><strong><sup>2&nbsp;<\/sup>Now is not Boaz&nbsp;our&nbsp;<sup>[<a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblegateway.com\/passage\/?search=RUTH+3&amp;version=NASB#fen-NASB-7175b\">b<\/a>]<\/sup>kinsman, with whose maids you were?<\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p>Everything that Naomi is going to say from now on, <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">hinges <\/span>on the fact that Boaz is their close kinsman.&nbsp; We can\u2019t help but smile at her <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">excitement<\/span>\u2014this is a pretty big change for someone who wanted everyone to re-name her <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">bitter <\/span>only one chapter ago.&nbsp; Now, we see <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">matchmaker <\/span>Naomi.&nbsp; Naomi is going to make sure that whatever relationship has built up between Ruth and Boaz <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">continues<\/span>.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Now was a convenient time to remind Boaz of his family <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">obligations<\/span>.&nbsp; It is Boaz\u2019 demonstration of character over the past couple of months that has encouraged Naomi to <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">hope <\/span>that he would fulfill his obligations.&nbsp; And she is looking for one thing from Boaz at this juncture\u2014<span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">commitment<\/span>!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\"><p><strong>Behold, he winnows barley at the threshing floor tonight.&nbsp;<\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p>Winnowing grain is the process where the grain was <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">threshed <\/span>by pulling a heavy sled over it with bumps or stones laid into the bottom, so that it would crush the grain.&nbsp; Although they started harvesting barley, then moved on to harvesting wheat, they\u2019re <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">still <\/span>finishing up the barley winnowing after all the wheat has all been harvested\u2014meaning they had a lot more barley than wheat to harvest.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Israel was growing <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">a lot<\/span> more barley than wheat at this time in their history.&nbsp; Because Israel had <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">failed <\/span>to drive out all of the tribes that God had intended them to, they didn\u2019t have access to some of the more fertile lands in Israel, where the more nutritious wheat would grow.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In our own lives, we may not always understand why God is telling us to do something or not to do something.&nbsp; But, we should always <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">obey<\/span>.&nbsp; God knows what He is talking about, and will not steer us wrong.&nbsp; The only thing we can do wrong is <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">fail <\/span>to obey God.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Winnowing time was traditionally considered a time of <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">celebration<\/span>, since it was the last step that had to be accomplished in order to bring the <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">harvest <\/span>in.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\"><p><strong>3 Wash yourself therefore, and anoint yourself and put on your best clothes, and go down to the threshing floor; but do not make yourself known to the man until he has finished eating and drinking.<\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p>Naomi has four commands that Ruth must accomplish<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Wash yourself<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Now our Lord Jesus accepts us and asks us to come to him as we are. When Ruth met Boaz, she was sweaty and <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">working <\/span>hard in the field\u2014that\u2019s how they met.&nbsp; But Ruth was now wanting a <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">deeper <\/span>relationship with Boaz.&nbsp; In the Old Testament, the law required ceremonial <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">washings <\/span>and taking a bath and changing <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">clothes <\/span>often was done before a special event.&nbsp; (e.g. Gen 35:1-2, Exo 19:10-11)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If we want to enter into a deeper relationship with the Lord, we must (2<sup>nd<\/sup> Corinthians 7:1) <strong>\u201cTherefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all defilement of flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.\u201d&nbsp; <\/strong>Or as James 4:8 tells us<strong> Draw near to God and He will draw near to you Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded.&nbsp; <\/strong>Or, as Jesus says in John 17:17 <strong>Sanctify them in the truth; Your word is truth.&nbsp; <\/strong>We are cleansed and washed as we read the Word and apply it to our lives.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Anoint yourself<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>So Ruth is going to <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">anoint <\/span>herself with oil.&nbsp; Oil, in Old Testament and New Testament times was <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">rubbed <\/span>on the skin for refreshment.&nbsp; It was a sign of abundance, so we read verses like Ecclesiastes 9:7-8 <strong>7Go, eat your bread with joy, and drink your wine with a cheerful heart, for God has already approved your works: 8\u201cLet your clothes always be white, and never spare the oil for your head.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Put on your best clothes<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>We also need to understand that Ruth is getting washed and dressed like someone getting <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">married<\/span>.&nbsp; She\u2019s putting on her <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">best <\/span>outer garment, not her work clothes.&nbsp; She\u2019s going to <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">present <\/span>herself to Boaz and let him know that she wants him to be her kinsman redeemer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>go down to the threshing floor;<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>She was to go down to the threshing floor where Boaz was, but she had to be careful:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>but do not make yourself known to the man until he has finished eating and drinking.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>So, Naomi wanted to make sure that Boaz was in <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">good <\/span>spirits, after having a great meal and <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">celebrating <\/span>the harvest.&nbsp; She was giving her plan the best chance possible to succeed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>&nbsp;4 It shall be when he lies down, that you shall notice the place where he lies,<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Naomi says that Ruth will <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">carefully <\/span>notice the place on the threshing floor where Boaz lays himself down to sleep.&nbsp; Remember that this was before flashlights, and she couldn\u2019t very well light an oil lamp if she doesn\u2019t want to be <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">seen <\/span>by everyone.&nbsp; Everyone looks pretty much the <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">same <\/span>in the dark when they\u2019re bundled up sleeping.&nbsp; I\u2019m sure she did note carefully where Boaz laid himself down.&nbsp; After-all, she wouldn\u2019t want to <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">propose <\/span>marriage to the wrong person!&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>and you shall go and uncover his feet and lie down;<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>By uncovering his feet, she\u2019s probably making sure that, as the night got colder, he would <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">wake up<\/span> after everyone else was asleep, so that they could talk.&nbsp; But this also has another meaning.&nbsp; Remember, that everyone slept in their outer garments.&nbsp; This is why, in Exodus 22:26-7 God commands the Israelites that if they take a man\u2019s outer garment as collateral for a loan <strong>If you ever take your neighbor\u2019s cloak as a pledge, you are to return it to him before the sun sets, 27 for that is his only covering; it is his cloak for his body. What else shall he sleep in? <\/strong>&nbsp;When you put your outer garment over someone and <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">covered <\/span>them with it, it meant that they were under your <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">protection<\/span>\u2014that you were taking them in\u2014keeping them from the cold, as it were.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>5 She said to her, \u201cAll that you say I will do.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>These instructions to Ruth are quite <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">risky<\/span>.&nbsp; Naomi is trusting in the <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">character <\/span>of Boaz, that he will not take unfair advantage of Ruth.&nbsp; She\u2019s trusting Ruth to follow her instructions <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">carefully<\/span>, so that Boaz knows exactly what\u2019s being asked of him.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>We\u2019re talking today about how Ruth prepared to meet the groom Boaz, and of course it calls to mind how we, throughout our Christian life are <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">preparing <\/span>ourselves, as a member of the Bride of Christ, to meet our <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">Redeemer <\/span>someday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>We wash with the <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">water <\/span>of the Word<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>We anoint with <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">oil <\/span>of the Holy Spirit<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Put on our best clothes\u2014covering us with the <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">righteous <\/span>acts of the saints as a garment<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Go through the <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">threshing <\/span>floor of this life until we meet Jesus<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>But <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">God <\/span>is the one who ultimately gives us this ability to prepare to meet Jesus.&nbsp; These bridal preparations that Ruth goes through, and this preparation that we go through in our Christian lives is only made <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">possible <\/span>by God.&nbsp; (Ezek 16:8-10).&nbsp; God is the one who notices us, and spreads His skirt of <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">protection <\/span>over us, just like Ruth asks Boaz to do.&nbsp;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>3:1 Then Naomi her mother-in-law said to her, \u201cMy daughter, shall I not seek&nbsp;security for you, that it may be well with you?&nbsp; This word security means a resting place,&hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[5],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2833","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-services"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":2777,"url":"http:\/\/mvcog.org\/wp\/2020\/08\/16\/the-book-of-ruth-introduction\/","url_meta":{"origin":2833,"position":0},"title":"The Book of Ruth&#8211;Introduction","author":"Robert","date":"August 16, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"https:\/\/youtu.be\/XDsTYyqHizY Ruth-Introduction-OutlineDownload In the book of Ruth, we\u2019re going to see how God provides for us in hard times and in good times, how He can take bleak circumstances and turn them to joy.\u00a0 The book of Ruth is a story of love and redemption, which points, over and over\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Services&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Services","link":"http:\/\/mvcog.org\/wp\/category\/services\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/img.youtube.com\/vi\/XDsTYyqHizY\/0.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":2829,"url":"http:\/\/mvcog.org\/wp\/2020\/10\/04\/ruth-18-23-may-he-who-took-notice-of-you-be-blessed\/","url_meta":{"origin":2833,"position":1},"title":"Ruth 18-23:  May He who took notice of you be blessed.","author":"Robert","date":"October 4, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"https:\/\/youtu.be\/3a3VtQnMsgg Ruth-2-vs-18-23-OutlineDownload 18 She took it up and went into the city, and her mother-in-law saw what she had gleaned. She also took it out and gave Naomi what she had left after she was satisfied. Naomi\u2019s been worrying all day whether Ruth would come back at all, or whether\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Services&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Services","link":"http:\/\/mvcog.org\/wp\/category\/services\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/img.youtube.com\/vi\/3a3VtQnMsgg\/0.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":2800,"url":"http:\/\/mvcog.org\/wp\/2020\/09\/06\/ruth-114-21-choose-hope-not-despair\/","url_meta":{"origin":2833,"position":2},"title":"Ruth 1:14-21 Choose Hope, not Despair","author":"Robert","date":"September 6, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"https:\/\/youtu.be\/fuUp1zg002c Ruth-1-13-21-outlineDownload 14\u00a0And they lifted up their voices and wept again; and Orpah kissed her mother-in-law, but Ruth clung to her. At this point that Orpah agrees with Naomi, that the best course of action is for her to return to her people What Ruth does, goes above and beyond\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Services&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Services","link":"http:\/\/mvcog.org\/wp\/category\/services\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/img.youtube.com\/vi\/fuUp1zg002c\/0.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":2808,"url":"http:\/\/mvcog.org\/wp\/2020\/09\/13\/ruth-21-7-firstfruits-of-faithfulness\/","url_meta":{"origin":2833,"position":3},"title":"Ruth 2:1-7 Firstfruits of Faithfulness","author":"Robert","date":"September 13, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"https:\/\/youtu.be\/GzWmBEWak0I Ruth-2-vs-1-7-OutlineDownload 22\u00a0So Naomi returned, and with her Ruth the Moabitess, her daughter-in-law, who returned from the land of Moab. And they came to Bethlehem at the beginning of barley harvest. God uses the ___________________ of Ruth to __________ hope in Naomi\u2019s heart and life.\u00a0 Naomi returned with Ruth, arriving\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Services&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Services","link":"http:\/\/mvcog.org\/wp\/category\/services\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/img.youtube.com\/vi\/GzWmBEWak0I\/0.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":2861,"url":"http:\/\/mvcog.org\/wp\/2020\/11\/01\/ruth-314-18-six-measures-of-barley\/","url_meta":{"origin":2833,"position":4},"title":"Ruth 3:14-18  Six measures of Barley","author":"Robert","date":"November 1, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"https:\/\/youtu.be\/ksnsSr3jf7g Ruth-3-vs-14-18-outlineDownload Ruth she rested in the assurance that Boaz had given her.\u00a0 Ruth was awake and got up early in the morning, before it was fully light, before a person could recognize another. If they were found like this, it could ruin both of their reputations, regardless of how\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Services&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Services","link":"http:\/\/mvcog.org\/wp\/category\/services\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/img.youtube.com\/vi\/ksnsSr3jf7g\/0.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":2850,"url":"http:\/\/mvcog.org\/wp\/2020\/10\/25\/ruth-36-13-exactly-as-planned\/","url_meta":{"origin":2833,"position":5},"title":"Ruth 3:6-13 Exactly as Planned","author":"Robert","date":"October 25, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"https:\/\/youtu.be\/Z8LPxA9uc3s Ruth-3-vs-6-13Download 6 So she went down to the threshing floor and did according to all that her mother-in-law had commanded her. It was important that Ruth do things exactly as Naomi had told her, so that Boaz would understand that Ruth was asking him to be her kinsman-redeemer. This\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Services&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Services","link":"http:\/\/mvcog.org\/wp\/category\/services\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/img.youtube.com\/vi\/Z8LPxA9uc3s\/0.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_likes_enabled":false,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/mvcog.org\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2833","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/mvcog.org\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/mvcog.org\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/mvcog.org\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/5"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/mvcog.org\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2833"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"http:\/\/mvcog.org\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2833\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/mvcog.org\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2833"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/mvcog.org\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2833"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/mvcog.org\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2833"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}