Day 1139: Wait for the Lord - Ruth 3 vs 1 - 18

1-4 Then Naomi her mother-in-law said to her, “My daughter, should I not seek rest for you, that it may be well with you? Is not Boaz our relative, with whose young women you were? See, he is winnowing barley tonight at the threshing floor. Wash therefore and anoint yourself, and put on your cloak and go down to the threshing floor, but do not make yourself known to the man until he has finished eating and drinking. But 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.”

5-8 And she replied, “All that you say I will do.” So she went down to the threshing floor and did just as her mother-in-law had commanded her. And when Boaz had eaten and drunk, and his heart was merry, he went to lie down at the end of the heap of grain. Then she came softly and uncovered his feet and lay down. At midnight the man was startled and turned over, and behold, a woman lay at his feet! He said, “Who are you?” And she answered, “I am Ruth, your servant. Spread your wings over your servant, for you are a redeemer.” 11. And he said, “May you be blessed by the Lord, my daughter. You have made this last kindness greater than the first in that you have not gone after young men, whether poor or rich. 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. 12-13 And now it is true that I am a redeemer. Yet there is a redeemer nearer than I. Remain tonight, and in the morning, if he will redeem you, good; let him do it. But if he is not willing to redeem you, then, as the Lord lives, I will redeem you. Lie down until the morning.”

14-15 So she lay at his feet until the morning, but arose before one could recognize another. And he said, “Let it not be known that the woman came to the threshing floor.” And he said, “Bring the garment you are wearing and hold it out.” So she held it, and he measured out six measures of barley and put it on her. 16-18 Then she went into the city. And when she came to her mother-in-law, she said, “How did you fare, my daughter?” Then she told her all that the man had done for her, saying, “These six measures of barley he gave to me, for he said to me, ‘You must not go back empty-handed to your mother-in-law.’” She replied, “Wait, my daughter, until you learn how the matter turns out, for the man will not rest but will settle the matter today.” Ruth 3 English Standard Version

Naomi wouldn't be the first mother-in-law to seek a husband for her widowed daughter-in-law. Hebrews 13:4 says “let marriage be held in honour by all.” Boaz's kindness had caused her to hope that he would redeem them. So she gave Ruth careful instructions for the evening. To 'uncover the feet' of Boaz would be an appeal to him to 'spread his wings over her as a redeemer.' It was the same term Boaz used when speaking of the refuge she would find by making God her choice.

Ruth did all that Naomi said. She washed and anointed herself and, when Boaz had eaten and drunk, she had softly uncovered his feet. Around midnight Boaz had awoken and was startled to find a woman there. The second part of the verse in Hebrews says:”and let the marriage bed be undefiled, for God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterous.” And Boaz was a man who feared God. What was his response to her appeal for him to “Spread your wings over your servant.” (vs 11)

He was deeply touched by this latter kindness and promised to do all he could to fulfil her wish. She had chosen to honour the family name rather than run off with someone younger. She was indeed a worthy woman. But there was a problem. There was a redeemer who was closer than he was. He gives her his word that he would settle the matter the following day.

She returns home to Naomi who, no doubt, had spent the night with a mixture of worry and prayer, and shows the six measures of barley she'd been given. Naomi rejoiced greatly. She could surely see the hand of God in all that was now taking place. “The Lord is good to those who wait for Him, to the soul who seeks Him. It is good to wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord.” (Lamentations 3:25-26)