And now, my daughter, do not fear. I will do for you all that you ask, for all my fellow townsmen know that you are a worthy woman. And now it is true that I am a redeemer. (Ruth 3:11,12 ESV)
Boaz saw Ruth and understood her fear. She was unrooted, unprotected, and unnoticed. A gleaner from the edge of life’s field. A widow in a family of widows.
More than most, Ruth had reason to be afraid. A foreigner in a land of prejudice. Husbandless in a society structured on the marriage vow. A gentile in a land of the covenant.
And Boaz helped her. He accepted the role of redeemer. He risked his own reputation to establish Ruth’s. He risked his own family to bring Ruth into a family. He risked his possessions to provide for Ruth’s physical needs.
And Boaz tells Ruth why. Ruth was a worthy woman.
More than that, Boaz claims that Bethlehem Ephrathah all know of her worth.
Was she an especially good harvester, after only one day? Was she already known for her wisdom, for her righteousness, for her kindness? Was she a good dresser? A smiling face? Those things were not what Boaz meant when he called Ruth, “worthy.”
Probably one thing was known by the whole town. She was a goyim, from Moab of all places… who had chosen God. She had said this to her Mother-in-law: “For where you go I will go, and where you lodge I will lodge. Your people shall be my people, and your God my God.” (Ruth 1:16 ESV)
Ruth was worthy because Ruth was a God-fearer. Ruth had chosen the One True Living God. THAT news had spread through town like wildfire.
So Boaz knew that Ruth had nothing to fear.
Not because Boaz would be her practical redeemer. But because Ruth had a Redemer.
And so do we. Boaz and Ruth looked forward to a mysterious Redeemer that they barely understood. But we know Who He was, and is, and will be.
Fear not, because of our Redeemer.