Monday, August 6

Ruth Dresses for a Seduction

Narrative Lectionary Daily Devotions written by Kace Leetch from Clergy Stuff.

Naomi has figured out that Ruth might be able to persuade Boaz to marry her, ensuring that Ruth and Naomi will both be taken care of. Not a bad catch, a landowner! 

But it will take some careful planning and finesse. Naomi knows that Boaz will be drunk after celebrating the end of the harvest. What better time to seduce him than that? Naomi instructs Ruth to get cleaned up, put on her make-up, her LBD (little black dress) and her high heels and get ready to woo him. It's a little risky, sending Ruth to the threshing floor -- women weren't allowed there -- but they may all be drunk anyway. It seems the payoff is worth the risk.

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Narrative Lectionary Text: Ruth 3:1-5

Naomi her mother-in-law said to her, “My daughter, I need to seek some security for you, so that it may be well with you. Now here is our kinsman Boaz, with whose young women you have been working. See, he is winnowing barley tonight at the threshing floor. Now wash and anoint yourself, and put on your best clothes and go down to the threshing floor; but do not make yourself known to the man until he has finished eating and drinking. When he lies down, observe the place where he lies; then, go and uncover his feet and lie down; and he will tell you what to do.” She said to her, “All that you tell me I will do.”