Read | Ruth 3:1–12
Ruth’s mother-in-law Naomi said to her, “My daughter, shouldn’t I find rest for you, so that you will be taken care of? Now isn’t Boaz our relative? Haven’t you been working with his female servants? This evening he will be winnowing barley on the threshing floor. Wash, put on perfumed oil, and wear your best clothes. Go down to the threshing floor, but don’t let the man know you are there until he has finished eating and drinking. When he lies down, notice the place where he’s lying, go in and uncover his feet, and lie down. Then he will explain to you what you should do.”
So Ruth said to her, “I will do everything you say.” She went down to the threshing floor and did everything her mother-in-law had charged her to do. After Boaz ate, drank, and was in good spirits, he went to lie down at the end of the pile of barley, and she came secretly, uncovered his feet, and lay down.
At midnight, Boaz was startled, turned over, and there lying at his feet was a woman! So he asked, “Who are you?”
“I am Ruth, your servant,” she replied. “Take me under your wing, for you are a family redeemer.”
Then he said, “May the LORD bless you, my daughter. You have shown more kindness now than before, because you have not pursued younger men, whether rich or poor. Now don’t be afraid, my daughter. I will do for you whatever you say, since all the people in my town know that you are a woman of noble character. Yes, it is true that I am a family redeemer, but there is a redeemer closer than I am.
Click here to listen to the Scripture in ESV.
Focus
View this work of art, titled Ruth’s Inheritance, by Madelynne Jones, connected to Sunday’s sermon passage.
As you look at this piece, take a few quiet moments to go through a three-step process. First, observe what you see in the image, from colors to composition to recognizable elements, without trying to understand what it is supposed to mean. Then read about the work, using these details to help you interpret the work of art. Ask God what he might be saying through the image, and listen for his insight in your thoughts, feelings, or prayers.
Commentary:
Downtown Campus congregant Madelynne Jones created this painting with many hidden visual symbols. The yellow pattern in the background is reminiscent of bricks, a reminder of Egypt and exile. In iconography, red is a color that represents creatureliness, while blue represents holiness or divinity, and is often associated with priests. Green is a color of sacrifice and martyrdom, and it is also a color representing fertility and rebirth. Here’s an excerpt from her artist statement:
Everything Ruth had was taken away from her. She had no claim to anything but her devotion to Naomi, yet she approaches her work in the fields with dignity. She works quietly, yet boldly, moving with determination and humility. In a beautifully biblical plot twist, Ruth advocates for the duty that is owed to her. The voices of the alien, orphan, and widow are one in Ruth. With the same courageous spirit as Deborah the Judge, Ruth approaches Boaz not as his subordinate or slave but as his rightful wife, claiming a shared inheritance. Through this act, Boaz sees Ruth’s righteousness, recognizing that his duty is to protect the outsider before him. He’s reminded of the covenant of his ancestors, and he sets out to make it right. He works not just to restore her, but also to bring her to a place of honor as his wife.
I wanted to paint that moment when they saw each other as equals—co-laborers in the harvesting of nations. At the end of the story, we see the gathering of all that Ruth lost on the threshing floor: her security, her dignity, her family, her legacy. Her inheritance is woven into a holy story of sacrament: she becomes the great-grandmother of a king.
This work will be a part of an exhibit entitled, “Who is this man, Jesus?” which opens at the Leawood Campus gallery in August 2026.
Art Source: Ruth’s Inheritance, Madelynne Jones, 2026. Used by permission.
Pray
Consider your devotion to your Savior and those entrusted to your care, using Ruth’s example of faith and concern for others. Ask God to increase your faith in him and your capacity to care for others.
Going Deeper
If you are also following the BibleProject’s One Story That Leads to Jesus reading plan, complete today’s reading.