kayte
Jun 10th 2004, 04:19 PM
Ruth part 9
CHAPTER NINE
Now We Wait
Ruth 3:14: So she lay at his feet until morning, and she arose before one could recognize another. Then he said, “Do not let it be known that the woman came to the threshing floor.”
One of the most wonderful things in this world, indeed the greatest miracle of all, is a heart coming alive to God. Seeing a person draw near to Him, seeking Him, is an incredible joy for those of us that know Him because we know what the Lord is able to do. We know the mercy, the love, and the heart-healing touch of His hand in our own lives.
How often has someone surprised you in going to Him? Have you seen someone that was on your ‘They’ll Never Come’ list, take a sudden turn, surprising you and everyone else?
I’ve found myself surprised so often that I’ve thrown out that list.
When a person comes to God it is often a most private matter between them and the Lord. The declaration to others comes later, when the Lord has made it plain that He has loved and received the one that sought Him. When their life changes and we begin to see Him in them.
So was the transaction between Ruth and Boaz. She sought him out in private. There were others around, but they were unaware of what was taking place.
“So she lay at his feet until morning, and she arose before one could recognize another.”
Ruth had watched the servants of Boaz and it emboldened her to obey Naomi, to seek out Boaz and make this most profound request.
We must live our lives knowing that we are being watched. People are keeping a much closer eye on us than we suspect. Very often those watching the closest are people we have not even considered.
Verse 14, “...Then he said, ‘Do not let it be known that the woman came to the threshing floor.’”
Again we see Boaz protecting Ruth. In 1 Thessalonians 5:22 we are told to “abstain from all appearance of evil.” Boaz knew that Ruth could quickly become the target of gossip.
Verse 15-18: Also he said, “Bring the shawl that is on you and hold it.” And when she held it, he measured six ephahs of barley, and laid it on her. Then she went into the city. So when she came to her mother-in-law, she said, “Is that you, my daughter?” Then she told her all that the man had done for her. And she said, “These six ephahs of barley he gave me; for he said to me, “Do not go empty-handed to your mother-in-law.”
Boaz is sending a message to Naomi with the barley. He is giving Naomi his assurance that he will provide, that he is a man of his word.
Imagine Naomi’s relief to be comforted this way. Boaz had not forgotten her and surely neither had God!
Verse 18: Then she said, “Sit still my daughter until you know how the matter will turn out; for the man will not rest until he has concluded the matter this day.”
Ruth has followed Naomi’s instructions and placed her trust in Boaz to be her kinsman redeemer. Ruth willingly chose Boaz, just like we willingly choose Jesus Christ.
Ruth’s choosing of Boaz gave him the authority to move on her behalf, just as Jesus waits for us to turn to Him before He will take the position of our Redeemer.
Now Ruth must wait for Boaz to do the work.
We have followed God’s instructions. We have gone to Jesus in the ‘garment of repentance’ and willingly placed our trust in Him to be our Kinsman Redeemer.
Ruth went to Boaz covered, Boaz took her shawl and filled it with hope and promise.
Now she is told to wait. There is nothing more she can do.
All of us are waiting. We have requested Jesus to be our Kinsman Redeemer. We have been assured that He will look after us, that we will not be forgotten. When we die we will be with Him. We know that He has finished the work. We are His.
Now we wait.
Wait with your soul.
Psalm 62:1-2: Truly my soul silently waits for God; From Him comes my salvation. He only is my rock and
my salvation; He is my defense; I shall not be greatly moved. #
Wait with quietness.
#
Lamentations 3:25-24: The Lord is good to those who wait for Him, to the soul who seeks Him. It is good that one should hope and wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord.
Wait with patience.
Psalm 40:1: I waited patiently for the Lord; and He inclined to me, and heard my cry.
Wait with courage.
Psalm 27:1:4 Wait on the Lord, Be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart; Wait, I say, on the Lord!
Wait continually.
Hosea 12:6: So you, by the help of your God, return. Observe mercy and justice, and wait on your God continually.
Wait with assured hope.
Psalm 130:5-6: I wait for the Lord; my soul waits, and in His word I do hope. My soul waits for the Lord more than those who watch for the morning--I say, more than those who watch for the morning.
#
Father, transform our hearts. Work in us a deeper trust and a deeper confidence in You as we wait. Lord, we look so often at the misery of the world and want to leave this place. As we keep our eyes and hearts on guard watching for You, help us keep our feet and hands to the work that You have given us. Lord, strengthen us so that we don’t become slothful in our hearts, minds and the work of our hands. Use us to reveal the forgiveness and mercy to others that we have found in You.
In Jesus precious name.
Amen.
#
Study questions
1) At the thought of others watching you, what is your reaction? Fear? Excitement? Sorrow? Anger? Others?
2) What things in your life personally convict you as you seek to become more like Jesus?
3) What is your attitude toward waiting on the Lord?
4) Are there places in your heart that need to change in order to line up with God’s idea of waiting?
5) In Psalm 130:5-6 we read about waiting for the Lord, putting our hope in His word, and waiting on Him “more than those who watch for the morning.” The certainty that God will keep His word is greater than the certainty that the sun will rise in the morning. Do you know a solid assurance of Him in your life? Are you secure in your salvation? Are you secure in His care for you? Do you wait with confidence, knowing He has not forgotten you?
CHAPTER NINE
Now We Wait
Ruth 3:14: So she lay at his feet until morning, and she arose before one could recognize another. Then he said, “Do not let it be known that the woman came to the threshing floor.”
One of the most wonderful things in this world, indeed the greatest miracle of all, is a heart coming alive to God. Seeing a person draw near to Him, seeking Him, is an incredible joy for those of us that know Him because we know what the Lord is able to do. We know the mercy, the love, and the heart-healing touch of His hand in our own lives.
How often has someone surprised you in going to Him? Have you seen someone that was on your ‘They’ll Never Come’ list, take a sudden turn, surprising you and everyone else?
I’ve found myself surprised so often that I’ve thrown out that list.
When a person comes to God it is often a most private matter between them and the Lord. The declaration to others comes later, when the Lord has made it plain that He has loved and received the one that sought Him. When their life changes and we begin to see Him in them.
So was the transaction between Ruth and Boaz. She sought him out in private. There were others around, but they were unaware of what was taking place.
“So she lay at his feet until morning, and she arose before one could recognize another.”
Ruth had watched the servants of Boaz and it emboldened her to obey Naomi, to seek out Boaz and make this most profound request.
We must live our lives knowing that we are being watched. People are keeping a much closer eye on us than we suspect. Very often those watching the closest are people we have not even considered.
Verse 14, “...Then he said, ‘Do not let it be known that the woman came to the threshing floor.’”
Again we see Boaz protecting Ruth. In 1 Thessalonians 5:22 we are told to “abstain from all appearance of evil.” Boaz knew that Ruth could quickly become the target of gossip.
Verse 15-18: Also he said, “Bring the shawl that is on you and hold it.” And when she held it, he measured six ephahs of barley, and laid it on her. Then she went into the city. So when she came to her mother-in-law, she said, “Is that you, my daughter?” Then she told her all that the man had done for her. And she said, “These six ephahs of barley he gave me; for he said to me, “Do not go empty-handed to your mother-in-law.”
Boaz is sending a message to Naomi with the barley. He is giving Naomi his assurance that he will provide, that he is a man of his word.
Imagine Naomi’s relief to be comforted this way. Boaz had not forgotten her and surely neither had God!
Verse 18: Then she said, “Sit still my daughter until you know how the matter will turn out; for the man will not rest until he has concluded the matter this day.”
Ruth has followed Naomi’s instructions and placed her trust in Boaz to be her kinsman redeemer. Ruth willingly chose Boaz, just like we willingly choose Jesus Christ.
Ruth’s choosing of Boaz gave him the authority to move on her behalf, just as Jesus waits for us to turn to Him before He will take the position of our Redeemer.
Now Ruth must wait for Boaz to do the work.
We have followed God’s instructions. We have gone to Jesus in the ‘garment of repentance’ and willingly placed our trust in Him to be our Kinsman Redeemer.
Ruth went to Boaz covered, Boaz took her shawl and filled it with hope and promise.
Now she is told to wait. There is nothing more she can do.
All of us are waiting. We have requested Jesus to be our Kinsman Redeemer. We have been assured that He will look after us, that we will not be forgotten. When we die we will be with Him. We know that He has finished the work. We are His.
Now we wait.
Wait with your soul.
Psalm 62:1-2: Truly my soul silently waits for God; From Him comes my salvation. He only is my rock and
my salvation; He is my defense; I shall not be greatly moved. #
Wait with quietness.
#
Lamentations 3:25-24: The Lord is good to those who wait for Him, to the soul who seeks Him. It is good that one should hope and wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord.
Wait with patience.
Psalm 40:1: I waited patiently for the Lord; and He inclined to me, and heard my cry.
Wait with courage.
Psalm 27:1:4 Wait on the Lord, Be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart; Wait, I say, on the Lord!
Wait continually.
Hosea 12:6: So you, by the help of your God, return. Observe mercy and justice, and wait on your God continually.
Wait with assured hope.
Psalm 130:5-6: I wait for the Lord; my soul waits, and in His word I do hope. My soul waits for the Lord more than those who watch for the morning--I say, more than those who watch for the morning.
#
Father, transform our hearts. Work in us a deeper trust and a deeper confidence in You as we wait. Lord, we look so often at the misery of the world and want to leave this place. As we keep our eyes and hearts on guard watching for You, help us keep our feet and hands to the work that You have given us. Lord, strengthen us so that we don’t become slothful in our hearts, minds and the work of our hands. Use us to reveal the forgiveness and mercy to others that we have found in You.
In Jesus precious name.
Amen.
#
Study questions
1) At the thought of others watching you, what is your reaction? Fear? Excitement? Sorrow? Anger? Others?
2) What things in your life personally convict you as you seek to become more like Jesus?
3) What is your attitude toward waiting on the Lord?
4) Are there places in your heart that need to change in order to line up with God’s idea of waiting?
5) In Psalm 130:5-6 we read about waiting for the Lord, putting our hope in His word, and waiting on Him “more than those who watch for the morning.” The certainty that God will keep His word is greater than the certainty that the sun will rise in the morning. Do you know a solid assurance of Him in your life? Are you secure in your salvation? Are you secure in His care for you? Do you wait with confidence, knowing He has not forgotten you?