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RUTH

CHAPTER 3

1 Then Naomi her mother in law said unto her, My daughter, shall I not seek rest for thee, that it may be well with thee?

Naomi, by conscience, felt obligated to help Ruth find a husband. The "rest" she seeks for Ruth is that of marriage so that Ruth will be properly cared for.
Do we not desire that all our acquaintenances find "rest" by being married to Christ? What shall we do, to lead them to Christ?
Watch Naomi's example.

2 And now is not Boaz of our kindred, with whose maidens thou wast? Behold, he winnoweth barley to night in the threshingfloor. 3 Wash thyself therefore, and anoint thee, and put thy raiment upon thee, and get thee down to the floor: but make not thyself known unto the man, until he shall have done eating and drinking. 4 And it shall be, when he lieth down, that thou shalt mark the place where he shall lie, and thou shalt go in, and uncover his feet, and lay thee down; and he will tell thee what thou shalt do. 5 And she said unto her, All that thou sayest unto me I will do.

First, Naomi tells Ruth that Boaz is "kinsman." He is a relative which may have the power to REDEEM the land which had been for Elimelech's son. This would redeem Ruth and Naomi, and place them back in a right relationship with Israel.
Christ has the power to REDEEM us from sin and death, and place us back in a right relationship with God.
Second, Naomi tells Ruth that Boaz is going to thress the barley and then guard it. God is one day going to thress the world, and guard His precious seed!
Noomi told Ruth to clean up, and go to the threshing floor where the festive occasion was to take place. After Boaz had eaten, he would be satisfied ("heart merry"), and would lie down to sleep beside the harvested barley.
I might say here that God is NEVER asleep, but He IS satsified!
God has no need of anything - or of any of us - He is totally self-sufficient. And we must realize that to come to God, we need to REPENT. That's all it takes to "clean up!" We cannot even clean up our lives enough to meet God. We simply must REPENT and surrender to His authority.
That's what Naomi told Ruth to do. She was to go and lie down at the feet of Boaz, and "uncover" his feet. This would make him uncomfortable, and he would awake.
When we go before God in genuine repentance, he is "uncomfortable" for our lostness. And His grace causes Him to arise and grant us salvation.
Now the way to be saved is to do as Ruth did (verse 5). She "surrendered" herself to the will of the "redeemer." Boaz could decide to send her away, or he could decide to redeem her. It was totally HIS choice.
And that's the way we must come to Jesus. Simply surrendering ourselves, and asking HIM to become Redeemer and LORD of our lives.

6 And she went down unto the floor, and did according to all that her mother in law bade her. 7 And when Boaz had eaten and drunk, and his heart was merry, he went to lie down at the end of the heap of corn: and she came softly, and uncovered his feet, and laid her down. 8 And it came to pass at midnight, that the man was afraid, and turned himself: and, behold, a woman lay at his feet. 9 And he said, Who art thou? And she answered, I am Ruth thine handmaid: spread therefore thy skirt over thine handmaid; for thou art a near kinsman. 10 And he said, Blessed be thou of the LORD, my daughter: for thou hast shewed more kindness in the latter end than at the beginning, inasmuch as thou followedst not young men, whether poor or rich.

When Boaz awakened, he couldn't recognize Ruth because of the darkness. When we first realize our need for Christ, He doesn't know until we come out of "darkness" and confess our sins, and beg His forgiveness. Then we enter into His light, and we can be accepted.
Notice that Ruth requested protection and redemption by Boaz. This is what we must do in order to be accepted by the Lord, Jesus.

10 And he said, Blessed be thou of the LORD, my daughter: for thou hast shewed more kindness in the latter end than at the beginning, inasmuch as thou followedst not young men, whether poor or rich. 11 And now, my daughter, fear not; I will do to thee all that thou requirest: for all the city of my people doth know that thou art a virtuous woman.

Now Boaz is an elderly man. He expresses praise to God that Ruth has shown kindness to her mother-in-law ("at the beginning"), and now has shown greater kindness in the "latter end" to Boaz. She has heaped great kindness upon him who had no wife by her willingness to become his wife.
Boaz assures her he "will do...ALL" that she requests.

12 And now it is true that I am thy near kinsman: howbeit there is a kinsman nearer than I. 13 Tarry this night, and it shall be in the morning, that if he will perform unto thee the part of a kinsman, well; let him do the kinsman's part: but if he will not do the part of a kinsman to thee, then will I do the part of a kinsman to thee, as the LORD liveth: lie down until the morning.

There is a person who is closer to Naomi in kinsmanship. Boaz says he will offer the man the opportunity to become "goel" for Naomi, by taking Ruth.
Boaz is an honorable man. He wants Ruth, but he is bound by faith to follow God's Word. OH! How we need men of this moral character and integrity today!

14 And she lay at his feet until the morning: and she rose up before one could know another. And he said, Let it not be known that a woman came into the floor. 15 Also he said, Bring the vail that thou hast upon thee, and hold it. And when she held it, he measured six measures of barley, and laid it on her: and she went into the city.

Boaz told ruth to go back to sleep; which was probably more easily done since she had now a new comfort and assurance.
The next morning, before anyone could know that she was there, Boaz gave Ruth a gift for Naomi, and sent her home.

16 And when she came to her mother in law, she said, Who art thou, my daughter? And she told her all that the man had done to her. 17 And she said, These six measures of barley gave he me; for he said to me, Go not empty unto thy mother in law. 18 Then said she, Sit still, my daughter, until thou know how the matter will fall: for the man will not be in rest, until he have finished the thing this day.

Naomi said, "Who art thou?" Most commentators relate that is a way of saying, "How did it go?" Perhaps Naomi was inquiring as to whether Ruth's name was going to be changed. Now that she has requested redemption from the redeemer, will she indeed receive her request?
Ruth shared with Naomi what Boaz had told her of a closer relative, and also gave Naomi the gift of barley. This gift, by the way, would sustain the two women for many days to come.
Naomi told Ruth, "Now. We will wait and see. Boaz will have NO RESST until this matter is settled. He is COMMITTED!"
My friend, if you have given your heart to Jesus and requested His redemption, He shall NOT REST until He brings you to the fullness of His promise!

"Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:"(Philippians 1:6)