Was It Scandal on the Threshing Floor?
This week I was struggling with my thoughts for a bulletin article while rapidly approaching my own enforced deadline. I was weary after returning from Kentucky and still wrestling with time changes and getting my body back on schedule. Unexpectedly, I had two ideas and now a struggle deciding between the two. When I am up against deadlines like this, I keep going just a little further hoping something will happen during the day that will cause me to pause and think. The thought stopper this week came from an article that appeared from TGC (The Gospel Coalition). I found this article interesting because Bible students have asked about the situation and people wonder about the appropriate answer. The title of the article was, “What Happened on the Threshing floor?” My comments are not their comments, although a brief common introduction is necessary.
This reference loses otherwise diligent students. It refers to the night Ruth secretly visited Boaz after his hard day’s work, threshing wheat. After his supper and refreshments, he lay down to sleep. At the advice of her mother-in-law, Naomi, Ruth sneaked in, uncovered Boaz’ feet, and lay down with him. The looming question is, “What happened next? What happened on the threshing floor?” Unfortunately, a mind filled with prurient interests wants to believe this was a sexual encounter. This question intrigued me because of an incident about five years ago. I heard a preacher who very mistakenly thinks he is an expository preacher, abuse the Song of Solomon by turning it into an X-rated comedy that defamed the text and turned it into a shameful opportunity to fill the congregation’s mind with the very lascivious thoughts we guard ourselves from thinking as the redeemed people of God.
What happened on the threshing floor? First, Boaz was not drunk. We get this out of the way as an excuse for a lewd encounter. The actions of these two were symbolic and showed profound respect for God’s law and promises. Lust bombards our society from every angle while our minds will at first thought grasp at the worst to satisfy sinful desires. It is hard for us to imagine men and women privately together without gossip flying everywhere. This is what makes a pastor keep his door open or the blinds fully open when meeting with the opposite sex. It is questionable enough that it is wise to do the same with children as the basis of too many accusations is truth.
What happened on the threshing floor? Secondly, it was a test of integrity. An Israelite man and a Moabite woman together in nearly every scenario would be an abomination. This one was different because Ruth professed faith in God and followed Naomi in her love of God. By this, God accepted her into the community of Israelites. Boaz’ integrity shows in that he already had feelings for Ruth and yet stopped himself to consider God’s law prohibited him from taking her until a nearer relative rejected the opportunity to redeem her deceased husband’s inheritance. This is the “Levirate law” which unfortunately space does not permit me to explain.
What happened on the threshing floor? Thirdly, it considered the first steps of courtship only after it ensured the highest degree of morals. I am more than happy to destroy the prurient mind who hopes otherwise.
I hope I have piqued your interest enough today to read the little book of Ruth. Now that we have cleared up this important detail, you will understand why we needed to address it. The story ends happily with, “So Boaz took Ruth, and she was his wife: and when he went in unto her, the Lord gave her conception, and she bare a son.” A genealogy follows and ends with, “and Jesse begat David.” Scandal on the threshing floor would have changed everything.
Pastor V. Mark Smith