Journal: Journal for Biblical Manhood and Womanhood
Volume: JBMW 18:2 (Fall 2013)
Article: One Beautiful, Scandalous Night: How God Brings Redemption Through A Foolish Plan, A Faithful Woman, And A Righteous Man (Ruth 3:1-18)
Author: David Schrock

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JBMW 18:2 (Fall 2013) p. 23

One Beautiful, Scandalous Night: How God Brings Redemption Through A Foolish Plan, A Faithful Woman, And A Righteous Man (Ruth 3:1-18)

David Schrock

Associate Editor, Journal for Biblical Manhood & Womanhood

Senior Pastor

Calvary Baptist Church

Seymour, Indiana

Then Naomi her mother-in-law said to her, “My daughter, should I not seek rest for you, that it may be well with you? Is not Boaz our relative, with whose young women you were? See, he is winnowing barley tonight at the threshing floor. Wash therefore and anoint yourself, and put on your cloak and go down to the threshing floor, but do not make yourself known to the man until he has finished eating and drinking. But when he lies down, observe the place where he lies. Then go and uncover his feet and lie down, and he will tell you what to do.” And she replied, “All that you say I will do.”

So she went down to the threshing floor and did just as her mother-in-law had commanded her. And when Boaz had eaten and drunk, and his heart was merry, he went to lie down at the end of the heap of grain. Then she came softly and uncovered his feet and lay down. At midnight the man was startled and turned over, and behold, a woman lay at his feet! He said, “Who are you?” And she answered, “I am Ruth, your servant. Spread your wings over your servant, for you are a redeemer.” (Ruth 3:1-9)

Sometimes things are not as they appear. For instance, the Trojan Horse came as an outstanding gift but contained inside a vengeful army. In politics the promising candidate turns out to be another self-interested bureaucrat. And the friend who seemed so trustworthy reveals his true colors when he overspends your credit card.

It is a sad fact of life, we often cannot trust the ‘goodness’ of those around us. But conversely, we cannot always trust the ‘badness’ of things either. Sometimes an apparent scandal is nothing more than a lack of understanding or a premature conclusion. And sometimes, God works in a mysterious way to bring light out of darkness, life out of death.

A perfect example of this is the story of the midnight encounter between Boaz and Ruth. In this chapter the author of Ruth inches closer to resolving Naomi’s plight and Ruth’s protection, but not without passing through one of the most scandalous nights in the Bible. Or at least, Ruth 3 looks like one of the most scandalous nights in Holy Scripture.

JBMW 18:2 (Fall 2013) p. 24

Under the guise of unrighteousness, God is at work to unite Boaz and Ruth and...

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