Ruth 3:14-4:6 ~ she did so

Ruth 3:14-4:6 (New Revised Standard Version)

So she lay at his feet until morning, but got up before one person could recognize another; for he said, "It must not be known that the woman came to the threshing floor." Then he said, "Bring the cloak you are wearing and hold it out." So she did so, and he measured out six measures of barley, and put it on her back; then he went into the city. She came to her mother-in-law, who said, "How did things go with you, my daughter?" Then she told her all that the man had done for her, saying, "He gave me these six measures of barley, for he said, 'Do not go back to your mother-in-law empty-handed.'" She replied, "Wait, my daughter, until you learn how the matter turns out, for the man will not rest, but will settle the matter today."

No sooner had Boaz gone up to the gate and sat down there than the next-of-kin, of whom Boaz had spoken, came passing by. So Boaz said, "Come over, friend; sit down here." And he went over and sat down. Then Boaz took ten men of the elders of the city, and said, "Sit down here"; so they sat down. He then said to the next-of-kin, "Naomi, who has come back from the country of Moab, is selling the parcel of land that belonged to our kinsman Elimelech. So I thought I would tell you of it, and say: Buy it in the presence of those sitting here, and in the presence of the elders of my people. If you will redeem it, redeem it; but if you will not, tell me, so that I may know; for there is no one prior to you to redeem it, and I come after you." So he said, "I will redeem it." Then Boaz said, "The day you acquire the field from the hand of Naomi, you are also acquiring Ruth the Moabite, the widow of the dead man, to maintain the dead man's name on his inheritance." At this, the next-of-kin said, "I cannot redeem it for myself without damaging my own inheritance. Take my right of redemption yourself, for I cannot redeem it."

Several of my friends have teenagers, we seem to talk a lot about the dating choices being made. Proverbs talks a lot about guarding your heart. This is a great passage in the bible, there isn't a chaperone, both Ruth & Boaz could be harmed in this exchange. Ruth proposes to a man, she knows him to be kind and will help Naomi, her elderly dependant. She goes out of her way to propose in an era when parents arrange a marriage - worrying for Naomi. Ruth & Boaz have two tremendous character traits in common, they are compassionate without looking for a reward - loving kindness - and they are people who do what they say they will. This is an excellent start for a relationship and the basis for true intimacy. Boaz looks out for Ruth's happiness and tries to find her a younger man, looking out for the happiness of the other makes a happy marriage.

Another bonus for the youth of today, there could have been a night of premarital sex (Ruth has been married before) to see if they are sexually compatible, but these two people want this to be lasting and important. The Bible is very upfront about who "knew" whom. This is a romantic story that would be told to their children and grandchildren. Their grandson, David, probably thought about it as he watched over the family flocks. David's grandmother was not a pure blooded child of Israel, in a culture where this is worth fighting and dying over. This is not a neat parentally arranged marriage. His grandfather was more concerned with her heart, her kindness to the elderly, than her credentials when women were not regarded as more than possessions. David's grandparents were quietly heroic in ways that were not popular or flashy. Actions and words matter, guard your heart.

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