Ruth 3:14-18

I.    Verse 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.

A.  Lay at his feet until the morning.

1.   Ruth lay cross ways at his feet like a servant.

2.   Not at his side like mistress.

B.   Rose early.

1.   Let it not be known that a woman came into the floor.

2.   Keep it confidential.

C.   So Ruth wouldn't be known as a "night walker".

1.   Many people today brag about this.

2.   She wouldn't look like a "street walker" with a bag of grain on her shoulder.

3.   This would show she had been working.

D.  They are very careful to maintain her reputation.

1.   This is a very important thing.

2.   Many people today are more concerned about what they have and what they can get than their reputation in the community.

a.   Before strangers.  I Thess. 5:22 - Abstain from all appearance of evil.

b.   Before friends.  They know they are innocent, but others also need to know.

c.   The other kinsman.  He might think Ruth and Boaz are engaged in sexual activity, and therefore wouldn't marry Ruth.

E.   There are some things about all of us that we don't want others to know about.

II.   Verse 15, Also he said, Bring the veil 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.

A.  Vail - a cloth, mantle, not a head covering only.

1.   Six measures (seah, or 1 1/2 bushels, weighing about 60 pounds).

a.   More than one days labor.

b.   Probably all Ruth could carry in the vail.

2.   A big load.  Maybe Boaz was going to see if she was strong before he married her! HA.

3.   How could she place the barley so she could carry it?  They were used to handling large loads, we aren't.  She probably carried it on her had, and Boaz helped her place it there.

B.   Went into the city.  Surely it wasn't very far.

C.   Six measures.

1.   Boaz had much barley, yet kept a careful record of all he used.

2.   This is how rich people get rich (honestly).

3.   They keep up with what they have.

4.   Prov. 27:23 - Know about and keep up with your material wealth, but don't trust in those things (verse 24-27).

III. Verse 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.

A.  Who art thou?

1.   Are you married or not?

2.   Brother Hall asking me "Where are you?" when I was as Salem Baptist Church and praying about going to Faith Baptist Church.

B.   It is always good for young people to remember when they go on a "date", that they ought to be able to come home and tell their parents everything that happened.

IV. Verse 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.  Give to your mother in law.

A.  He is not ashamed of the encounter with Ruth.

B.   The grain is not a "pay off", for Ruth's favors.

C.   Boaz knew that Naomi had sent Ruth to the floor.

V.  Verse 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.  Length of time they knew each other; through harvest.

A.  They had a working relationship, not a courting relationship.

B.   Long engagements are unnecessary and very dangerous (for passions sake).

C.   They didn't spend a lot of time dating and parking to see if they were "compatible".

D.  Were they marrying for "love"? or respect? or following God's laws?

1.   Most marriages today based on "love" (lust) fail.

2.   Young people don't know what true love is!

3.   In Saudi Arabia, marriages are arranged by parents (because the sexes are separated).  They don't marry for "love".  On the television program, 20/20, the Arabic women said, "Love comes later; after heartache, joy, problems, and overcoming problems".  Divorce is almost unheard of in that country.

E.   Trusting the integrity of Boaz to finish the task before him.

1.   Boaz stopped overseeing his own business (winnowing wheat) to take care of this business.

2.   This shows the importance Boaz is placing on this business.

3.   Since Boaz will be taking care of the business, Ruth can do nothing.

4.   Sit still and won't worry.

a.   Brother Johnson says, "When you can do something, do it; when you can do nothing, do nothing and don't worry".

b.   Don't worry - until you have something to worry about.  Then trust God instead of worrying.

5.   Why did Naomi tell Ruth to sit still?

a.   Probably because she was up walking around because she was nervous.

b.   Before this day ended, she would be engaged to marry, but she didn't know who the groom would be.

c.   That'd be enough to make a woman nervous wouldn't it?

6.   Boaz was also nervous and Naomi knew it because she said Boaz would not be able to rest until he had taken care of the matter.

a.   It would make a man nervous if he wanted to get married to a particular girl, and he knew that today it would be decided who would marry her.

b.   He will be at rest when it is all over with, but not before.