“So she went down to the threshing floor and did everything her mother-in-law told her to do” (Ruth 3:6).
“His winnowing fork is in his hand to clear his threshing floor and to gather the wheat into his barn, but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire” (Luke 3:17).
The threshing floor was the place in ancient times where the grain was separated from the chaff. The threshing floor was often located on a hilltop to catch the prevailing breeze which aided in this separation.
In this photo there are three implements for this process laying against the circular wall of a threshing floor. The large flat board with rocks imbedded in it was called a sledge. It would be pulled across the stalks of wheat or barley to begin to separate the grain kernels from their husks. The sledge might be pulled by hand or by an ox. Sometimes they would use a stick called a flail instead of the sledge, to beat the grain free by hand.
The other two implements are the winnowing fork and the winnowing basket. They would be used after the threshing process to toss the grain into the air, letting the wind blow away the chaff and allowing the heavier grain to fall back to the threshing floor.
The imagery of the threshing floor is found throughout the Bible. In Ruth it symbolizes the place where we lay down at the feet of our Redeemer and surrender ourselves to His work on the cross. In Luke we see it as the place where Christ the Judge separates the good from the bad, believers from those who don’t believe.
The threshing floor might also be applied to us individually. Just as the stalks are beaten, then tossed into the air, and the grain separated from the chaff, so Christ does His work in us. He cleanses us of our unrighteousness and makes us like Himself.
Our call is to go down to the threshing floor, to lay at the Redeemer’s feet. We can rest there. The work is His. He has finished His work on the cross and now as we submit to Him, it is He who will finish His work in us.
Have you been down to the threshing floor?
Hey Gary,
Do you remember taking us to Grace Church back in 1986 and what was preached that Sunday? I remember that day because of his topic on the go’el or, in Hebrew, the gal’al (redeemer).
As I recall, you spent the trip back after church exitedly explaining this concept in better detail for us. So anytime someone preaches from Ruth, I always think of that day and I always remember that term, go’el.
Sabra,
You have a great memory. I do remember that day at Grace.
I love preaching from Ruth. A great book.
Hey it’s Theda and Ralph White Happy Easter and I hope you and your family enjoy the wonderful day
OH and I love the picture of you and Erin she is so beautiful
Thanks for commenting on my blog, Aunt Theda. I tried to reply to your email, but it bounced back “undelivered.” Would love to see you and Uncle Ralph this summer.
Nice, and thanks for sharing this info with us.Good Luck!