Answered Prayer (Ruth #7)

Text: Ruth 3:1-5

Ruth’s commitment to Naomi is going to deepen now; that means it’s going to require more from Ruth. She’s going to go from a faithful stranger in Boaz’s field to a possible marriage relationship with Boaz that will bring new life to the family. Naomi instructs Ruth on how to approach the kinsman in order to get an answer from him. In the same way Ruth physically approached Boaz, you and I spiritually approach the Father in prayer.

She gets cleaned up

  • wash thyself…
  • Clean motives
  • James 4:3 and Psalm 66:18

She puts on some perfume

  • anoint thee…
  • You put on something that smells nice when you want to approach someone special or make an impression. You certainly try your best not to stink or be offensive in any way.
  • Think of that in context with prayer. I’m entering the king’s courts.
  • Gratitude is the attitude, not entitled.
  • Psalm 100:4 and Philippians 4:6

She dresses for the occasion

  • put thy raiment upon thee…
  • Get dressed for the occasion.
  • Ephesians 4:22-30, put on the new man

She goes to the place of separation

  • get thee down to the floor…
  • This is the threshing floor where Boaz is going to be. The threshing floor is where the chaff is separated from the wheat.
  • Get to the place the kinsman is working. It’s going to be the place of a decision like Luke 9:57-62.

She waits for him to address her

  • Make not thyself known unto the man, until…
  • You need to wait for him to make a move.
  • Psalm 37:7, 9, 34

She marks where the kinsman rests

  • …mark the place where he shall lie…
  • Set your eyes on where the kinsman rests when his work is done.
  • Hebrews 10:12-14 and Colossians 3:2-4

She gets his attention with a gentle spirit

  • Uncover his feet
  • What is Ruth doing to Boaz? She’s going to wait until Boaz is asleep then she’s going to take his blanket off him so he gets cold in the middle of the night.
  • 1 Peter 5:5-6 (humility, not pride)