Justin Houtz

Ruth 3, 1 John 5

DateVersionReading Plan
August 23, 2025ESV (2016)OT/NT Plan 2025 – 2027

Ruth 3

Observation & Interpretation

Ruth 3:1 – Naomi → Ruth whether she should not seek rest for Ruth, that it may be well with her.

  • Naomi was looking to Ruth’s best interest in setting her up with Boaz.
  • Since Ruth stayed with her, Naomi seeks a way to provide her with the safety and security of marriage. As a married woman, Ruth would be protected from exploitation and oppression. (FSB)

Ruth 3:9 – Ruth → Boaz to spread his wings over her because he was a redeemer.

  • The terms “wings” is also used by Boaz in speaking to Ruth in 2:12, “…under whose wings (the Lord’s) you have come to take refuge!”
  • There is a play on words here; this term is also found in 2:12, where Boaz notes that Ruth has taken refuge under the wings of Yahweh and prays that Yahweh would bless her. Here, Boaz is able to fulfill that appeal as Ruth looks for shelter under his “wings”. (FSB)

Ruth 3:14 – Boaz spoke that no one should know that Ruth had come to the threshing floor.

  • Boaz wanted to keep discreet the fact that Ruth came to him at the threshing floor. Perhaps so that it would not impact the decision of the redeemer who was closer to her?
  • If it became widely known that Ruth had visited Boaz that night, people would wrongly assume that Boaz had taken Ruth as wife or that they were guilty of sexual impropriety. Boaz was unwilling to preempt his close relative who had first right of refusal to Ruth, so getting Ruth home before daylight kept wrong impressions from being formed. (CSB Notes)

Ruth 3:18 – Naomi → Ruth that Boaz would not rest until the matter was settled that day.

  • Boaz had sworn an oath to redeem Ruth if the closer redeemer would not. Naomi trusts that Boaz—a man of integrity—will act quickly to fulfill his oath. (FSB)

Application

Ruth 3:1-18 – [Boaz] acts neither self-protectively (i.e., by absolving himself of all responsibility because of the nearer kinsman) nor autonomously (i.e., by contravening Israel’s laws or customs to claim rights that are not his). Rather than seeking to avoid discomfort or exalt himself, Boaz seeks to comfort Ruth and exalt her ultimate benefactor, the Lord. (ESVEC – Response)

1 John 5

Observation & Interpretation

1 John 5:2-3 – John speaks of how we love the children of God, when we love God and obey his commandments and that the love of God is displayed by our keeping of his commandments.

  • Those who are truly saved will be characterized by a desire to do the will of God. Our love for God is expressed in willing obedience to His command. The Lord Jesus said, “If you love me, keep My commandments.” (BBC)

1 John 5:17 – John makes clear that all wrongdoing is sin but that there is sin that does not lead to death.

  • There are distinct differences in degrees of sin, and there are sins which are not of such a serious nature as to result in death. (BBC)

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