“My daughter, shall I not seek security for you, that it may be well with you?
Ruth 3
New
King James Version (NKJV)
Ruth’s Redemption Assured
3 Then
Naomi her mother-in-law said to her, “My daughter, shall I
not seek security for you, that it may be well with you? 2 Now
Boaz, whose young women you were with, is he not our
relative? In fact, he is winnowing barley tonight at the threshing
floor. 3 Therefore wash yourself and anoint yourself, put
on your best garment and go down to the threshing
floor; but do not make yourself known to the man
until he has finished eating and drinking. 4 Then it shall
be, when he lies down, that you shall notice the place where he lies;
and you shall go in, uncover his feet, and lie down; and he will tell
you what you should do.”
5 And
she said to her, “All that you say to me I will do.”
6 So
she went down to the threshing floor and did according to all that
her mother-in-law instructed her. 7 And after Boaz had
eaten and drunk, and his heart was cheerful, he went to lie down at
the end of the heap of grain; and she came softly, uncovered his
feet, and lay down.
8 Now
it happened at midnight that the man was startled, and turned
himself; and there, a woman was lying at his feet. 9 And he
said, “Who are you?”
So
she answered, “I am Ruth, your maidservant. Take
your maidservant under your wing, for you are a close relative.”
10 Then
he said, “Blessed are you of the Lord, my
daughter! For you have shown more kindness at the end than at the
beginning, in that you did not go after young men, whether poor or
rich. 11 And now, my daughter, do not fear. I will do for
you all that you request, for all the people of my town know that
you are a virtuous woman.12 Now it is true that
I am a close relative; however, there is a relative
closer than I. 13 Stay this night, and in the morning it
shall be that if he will perform the duty of a close
relative for you—good; let him do it. But if he does not want to
perform the duty for you, then I will perform the duty for
you, as the Lord lives! Lie down until
morning.”
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.” 15 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.
16 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. 17 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.’”
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.”
Naomi
took in her daughter in Law Ruth even while going through a time of
much pain. She found comfort in this young woman's loyalty and the
mother in her just rose up in her. She had to do what came naturally
to her. To nurture, to secure, to protect, to advise, to take such
care in her relationship with Ruth. She was older, wiser, and she
knew the way to get Ruth exactly what she needed. She shared all she
knew to do and Ruth obeyed. This was a selfless act on
Naomi's part but because she chose to do it she furthered her
bloodline and Naomi revived her own soul. Mother's give of themselves
without measure. We tire, our bones ache, we get frustrated and even
depressed but when things happen to the young ones around us we can't
help it. Something just rises up in us and we must act. We must
nurture. and care for others. In the end it is what revives us, it
blesses us, and we are fully satisfied. Thank God for the heart and
spirit of a Mother.
Ruth
4:14-17
14 Then
the women said to Naomi, “Blessed be the Lord,
who has not left you this day without a close relative; and may his
name be famous in Israel! 15 And may he be to you a
restorer of life and a nourisher of your old age; for your
daughter-in-law, who loves you, who is better to you than seven sons,
has borne him.” 16 Then Naomi took the child and laid him
on her bosom, and became a nurse to him. 17 Also the
neighbor women gave him a name, saying, “There is a son born to
Naomi.” And they called his name Obed. He is the
father of Jesse, the father of David.
