some of the verses that you've jotted down, not to make an exposition, but just to move your own soul, think upon them, reflect upon them as you drive to the local congregation, concentrating your thoughts there. I am sure that those times and those moments would no longer be as some of our young people would think dry times. They're likely to snuff at them and set aside the significance of the occasion. where saints can humbly, quietly contemplate God, and that they might just rise from our souls as a fragrance of good thoughts of our God. This has been delightful, and I'm sure you treasure the time. The Book of Ruth has many different reasons for having been written. One of them is very interesting as historical material. We find data about the lives and dispositions and attitude and speech of the people in this era that would not be known were it not for this. But it's very historical. It is also a genealogical trace introducing the movement that comes from the nation of Israel, tracing the coming of David and through David the Messiah, the eternal Son of God, the grand incarnation. But there is some theological thoughts here as well. This is the only book that gives any illustration of the heart of God regarding the redemption of a soul. and is portrayed to us in a quiet and comfortable manner in which God draws people together to effect his purposes that we might see one who, out of love, will make a tremendous payment to include the Gentile. There's dispensational information here, where, in effect, the nation of Israel, and pictured in Naomi, is set aside that a Gentile might be drawn in and brought into a place of blessing, and subsequent to her blessing, then Naomi, Israel, is brought back again and such refreshment and joy. But there's something very practical, very elementary about this relationship and God's dealing and showing us some very simple, heartwarming pictures of living out our personal trust and confidence in the Lord. Naomi, her mother-in-law, said unto her, We're in chapter three and verse one, My daughter, shall I not seek rest for thee, that it may be well with thee? At the latter part of the preceding chapter, we've had introduced to us the awareness that Boaz is the nearest kinsman or a kinsman redeemer. He has the potential not only out of the wealth and character and care and concern, but he is one who is genealogically and near kinsman. They're going to turn up to be someone else that's closer and we'll give that personality consideration later. But here is a near kinsman. He has blessed and afforded enrichment for this woman. He has taken the initiative, knowing about her, he has provided for her, he has prayed God's richest blessing upon her, and thus encouraged she moves out in affection toward the man, and a deep respect for his kindness and care. He has not only included her according to the requirements of the law, and that she be allowed as a poor stranger to glean in the corners of the field, he has brought her right up to the table and personally extended her food. all to me so lovely and symbolic of what our blessed Lord and Savior as our kinsman redeemer would do. He became and took upon himself part of flesh and blood, this blessed incarnation, such a stoop, and he wants to portion out to you richness. But first we have to have the exercise. We must need to glean. We need the disciplines and the exercises of heart, and he shall do everything else to provide for us. Please, beloved of God, don't disparage the spirit of truth within you and say that, well, I never was clever, I never was a student, I just can't master the word of God. He shall lead you into deep truth, the truths of God. And if we glean nothing else of any doctrine, he will feed our soul about the person and the character of God and source of his greatness and his power and his beauty can be welded into our character. Don't underrate what God has portioned out to you. You have revisions, you have translations, you have paraphrases, you have help, you have time, but we don't have the interest. It's so difficult to determine to set aside just an hour a week to become a careful student of His Word. Mother, when the children leave, I know that it's important to get the dishes done and the diapers started. and plans for the next occasion. I realize that's a necessity, but nothing grander than you should be a gleaner. And the moment we show interest, the moment a young man sets aside time and breaks off that extra free day from dating and determines he's going to spend it with the Word of God, he is going to have portion to him from the hand of his greater Boaz, and there's going to be blessing and enrichment and provision more than we can possibly grasp or understand. But Naomi, The mother-in-law says, My daughter, shall I not seek rest for thee, that it may be well with thee? This is God's design for marriage. That it might be rest for the woman and be well for her. She should expect that. she should anticipate that and enter into it with a sweet, open anticipation, and not in naivety, but rather in the heart-feeling warmth of willingness to share and enter into this abundant provision. And in doing that, and expecting that within her own spirit, she elevates the man to whom she has committed herself. And he is, by God's grace, stirred and provoked to rise to higher levels. If you do not expect it of him, he shall not arise there. But if you expect it, you are his blessed, God-provided counterpart, and in a unique and special way, by acknowledging your sense of weakness and anticipation, and waiting upon him, he will rise to that occasion and provide you with that rest and generous, ample care that it might be well with you. There's two sides to this precious bond. Now as Boaz are kindred, with whose maidens thou wast, behold, he winneth barley tonight in the threshing floor. Wash thyself, therefore, and anoint thee, and put thy raiment upon thee, and get thee down to the floor, and make not thyself known unto the man until he hath done eating and drinking. Roof, my dear, trust me, I have an awareness of these men, and I know that it's an important thing that he is busy. They must get this winnowing taken care of. He wants to take care of it. The threshing floor is nothing ornate and decorative. It is only a cleared plateau somewhere about twelve to eighteen feet in diameter, possibly surrounded with some stones, and in the cool of the evening they'll do their harvesting. And the barley will be threshed and the grain provided and cast up. And the cool evening breezes after the sun has set will come in off of the Mediterranean, and it will blow away the chaff. And as they throw up the grain, their pile begins to mound up. And it becomes such a treasure. And there's such exhilaration, such joy. And David wrote of it in Psalm four. He said, the Lord, you have put more joy in my heart than the days of harvesting, the days of wine and increase. It was understood that this would be a gale of partying time. The harvesters come in. We're thanking God for his provision. Don't intrude yourself in his busy hours. Be discreet and wait patiently until the pressure of business is done, until his harvest is complete, and then prepare yourself. Prepare yourself in a very special way. Water was at a... minimum at the place it was not a convenient time there wasn't a daily early morning shower that some of us experience or enjoy it was on occasion there might be bathing of hands and face but isolated occasions where the entire person would be bathed and she said now bathe yourself and put on a long mantle something that will discreetly modestly cover you It's not implied special clothing. She doesn't have it. As a poor woman, she doesn't have special garments. But this is a long external mantle we know by what's said a little bit later. And in this discreet manner, she's preparing herself to go and visit him at the winnowing floor. 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. And she said unto her, All that thou sayest unto me will I do. What a charming relationship between this woman and her daughter-in-law. What an appreciation of the wisdom of an older person. What a discreet acceptance of her knowledge of what is the proper and how to enter into it. I am sure these little things, but that's little things that make up your life and mine, within the home. Appreciation of those that are older and their understandings. accepting insights. This is part of what is implied during these years when the Lord said, honor thy father and mother. Later, you were to provide for them financially and economically. That's the implication of the teaching of the Lord. It's not just as a child to listen to what's being said and obeying, but it's to value them and cherish the parent. And now this mother-in-law is the one that's going to be such a source of blessing to her and direction and amiably she receives this. And she went down to the floor and did according to all that her mother-in-law bade her. And when Boaz had eaten and drunk in his heart with Mary, he went to lie down at the end of the heap of corn, and she came softly and uncovered his feet and laid down. Now, this is going to sound like a romance, some kind of an illicit affair, some secretive meaning. Possibly with carnal minds we might read into this. something wrong unless we just stop here and remind ourselves that there is the law of the kinsman redeemer and the law of the kinsman redeemer in Leviticus twenty five is that the land might be possessed by a near relative and obviously we're going to see later this is exactly what the need of this woman is she's come back her home she has to put her home up for sale to get adequate to live on she has to get this money and sell her property Also, there is a law of liberating the person, and the kinsman-redeemer can redeem a person from slavery and the bondage of it. But the kinsman-redeemer is also, in Deuteronomy chapter nineteen, he is the avenger of blood. He must be a mere kinsman that has a heart for care and protection, and he can avenge the accidental death and take vengeance in that manner. So let's see, it's a broad family scene. But in Deuteronomy chapter twenty-five, the kinsman is also one who, by law, is not given an option. If thy brethren dwell together, and one of them die, and have no child, the wife of the dead shall not marry without unto a stranger. Her husband's brother shall go in unto her, and take her to him to wife, and perform the duty of a husband's brother unto her. And it shall be that the firstborn which she beareth shall succeed in the name of his brother which is dead, and his name shall not be put out of Israel. And if a man like not to take his brother's wife, then let his brother's wife go up to the gate unto the elders, and say, My husband's brother refuses to take up unto his brother a name in Israel. He will not perform the duty of my husband's brother. Then the elders of the city shall call him, speak unto him, and if he stands to it, and say, I like not to take her, then shall his brother's wife come unto him in the presence of the elders loose his shoe from off his foot and spit in his face and shall answer and say so shall it be done unto the man that will not build up his brother's house and his name shall be called in Israel the house of him that hath his shoe loose what a shame what a disgrace spit in his face and from then on he'll be known as a barefoot redeemer a man that wouldn't even condescend to raise up seed for his brother you see this is God's provision for whom the woman the tender care that God has for women. May the judgment of God rest upon the souls in this world that propagate the evil and erroneous and insidious attack upon the word of God and the body of Christ that would see any kind of aspersion thrown against our God because of the laws and rules of Holy Scripture. The twisted, carnal mind of the ERA or the liberationists will make accusations that are absolutely ungrounded. God even provides for the woman in numbers thirty. If she's a particularly loquacious woman and may seek out of turn, God has provided for her like he has never done for a man. If a man takes a vow, he's bound to it the rest of his life. But if a woman takes a vow, her father or husband can cancel it. She's protected. God thinks of everything on behalf of God's people. Men must learn to be men of their word. Men of character and dignity and commitment. And as our brother Bill mentioned earlier, if I say I'm going to be somewhere at such a time, be there. Precious little, but that's how people learn to have confidence in you. Now in the same way, if we take a vow toward a woman, then take that vow and keep that vow. God has provided for this woman, but she must take the initiative. Now if she desires, she can go to the elders at the city gates and humiliate Boaz and coerce him. But discreetly, characteristic of her temperament in person, a virtuous woman. She goes, properly, totally covered, and sits at his feet and uncovers his feet, that in the cool of the evening he'll become restless and wakened. And then she'll suggest, will you be my kinsman redeemer? She's not going to humiliate him. She's not going to embarrass him. Out of love and care, this gentle, gracious, virtuous woman, is giving him the chance to say no quietly, and she'll withdraw herself from the winnowing floor and rest. But she knows. You see, he's already shown such care, such attentiveness, such interest, and she makes herself known to be willing and desirous of his provision. Notice a lovely response. And it came to pass at midnight. The man was afraid, the King James Bible says, the Greek word has trembled, the thought it might be of, he shivers, it's cool, he's wakened, he turns himself, and beholds. How are this? How charming the word of God. He is startled. Behold, a woman lay at his feet, and there in the darkness of that evening, in the absolute quietness, who are thou? And she answers, I am Ruth, thy handmaid. Spread therefore thy skirt over thy handmaid, for thou art a near kindness. His response, Blessed be thou of the Lord, my daughter. for thou hast shown more kindness in the latter end than at the beginning. And as much as thou followest not young men, whether rich or poor, and now, my daughter, fear not, I will do to thee all that thou requireest, for all the city of my people doth know that thou art a virtuous woman. She's no longer Ruth the Moabite, as she's Ruth the handmaid. Ruth the one who is taking that simple position, Ruth the one that doesn't want to embarrass the Gentile, wealthy, older farmer. Doesn't want to bind him unnecessarily. Doesn't want to shame him in any fashion. Just wants him to realize that we are aware that you are a near kinsman, and we would love to have your care and protection. Blessed art thou. Immediately there flows from his lips the sense of the presence of God and the goodness of God in her life. Blessed be thou of the Lord, my daughter. You have shown more kindness in the latter end than at the beginning. It's very difficult to determine what he means, except maybe the kind is shown at the beginning toward Naomi and supportive of her and her years of bereavement and coming with her and leaving her home, as he has mentioned back in chapter two, that he pronounced the blessing upon her then. A virtuous woman is hard to find. Good women, women who may go to church, but a woman of such character, she cannot help but be beautiful. She cannot help but be appealing. She cannot help but be the object of care. And when the little tancorous bitternesses come in, and that which is instinctive to us sometimes to express our harshness of experience or bitterness of soul, as this woman Naomi felt earlier, and yet so easy to become bitter and entangled and enmeshed in these things and stumble others, how delightful. to be able to see the hand of God, and to appreciate His blessings, and to be occupied upon His favor and His provision, and to be a woman that would be described as a virtuous woman. We see in Proverbs chapter twelve that a virtuous woman is a crown to her husband. And if she is not that, and makes him ashamed, it's the rottenness of his bones. What a dignity to have a woman that is such an adornment. Thou art a virtuous woman. And now it is true that I am the near kinsman. How be it there is a kinsman nearer than I. Harry this night, and it shall be in the morning that 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 time. It's no good now that you would leave in the darkness of the evening and go back alone. I'll take care of you and provide for you. You just rest here. Now the idea of extending the skirt, is a word picture. It's as literally as his wings. And the thought is extend your arm of care and blessing. The word was used earlier that this woman brought herself under those wings of the Lord God of Israel. The Lord himself uses in Ezekiel sixteen, where he comes by and sees the nation of Israel, immature, undeveloped, in desperate need. And he says in Ezekiel chapter sixteen, he says, And I threw my wings over you. He wed himself to Israel. After he said, Live! In all of a pollution and frailty, Israel was made alive by that sovereign fiat of God, enlightened by God. And then he said, And now I'll spread my wings over you. He wed himself to Israel, made alive. Israel his own. This is the same picture. And he says, now spread your skirt over me. Extend your wings, your arm of protection, your hen-like care over Naomi and myself. He said, ah, it's so good that you've made such a choice, that you've not gone after the young men just for your own satisfaction. It might have been much more interesting and exciting for her to be married to a young man. But she had Naomi in mind. By going to the nearest kinsman, then Naomi would be preserved. She wouldn't have to sell the parcel. What a rich person concerned about others. Marriage is not a relationship between two people. Marriage involves family. Marriage involves neighbors. Marriage involves children. Marriage involves the body of Christ. And it's a resolve and a commitment that we need to enter into with the tender dedication with God's proffering help and encouragement as we go. She laid a seed until morning and rose up before anyone could know another, still dark. And he said, let it be known that the woman came, let it not be known that a woman came into the floor. Now this might be, and some interpret it to be a prayer, a musing of his soul. This is what has come to his mind. Then he also said, Now that would suggest that this was something that he told the woman that she should secretly leave because we wouldn't want to throw any kind of shadow upon our relationship. From this, the Minza, the Jewish writings, have declared and made implications about the Jewish man and the Gentile woman, and then it comes later and it's outside of our reading. So the implication is here that there is some kind of disparagement to be seen, a potential wrong. And so she's going to leave in the evening time before anybody sees, or early morning before the dawn. But he says, bring your mantle. And then he loads her mantle with six measures of barley. She needed help. It was such a large provision. Now people seeing her early in the morning would see her coming with her cloak filled with this giant burden upon her back and recognize or feel that she must have been out gleaning and working and she's coming in late. And he told her she went home to the city. She came home to the mother-in-law in verse sixteen. And she says, Who art thou, my daughter? He's coming at this hour. She told her all that the man had done to her. Then she said, These six measures of barley gave he me. For he said to me, Go not empty unto thy mother-in-law. Go not empty. Naomi's complaint was, remember, in the end of chapter one, when she came back to Bethlehem, I went out full and I'm all empty. Now God's provided for Naomi. She'll never be empty again. She'll be provided for her. by the marvelous caring hand. In her widowhood, in her sense of loneliness, there was a touch of bereavement and bitterness. Ah, but God has it provided for her. And there's somebody that loves her. Somebody that's concerned about her. A human being right here on earth that's willing to share her life and her future life in order for her good. Such a blessed picture of the family. Such a homey, comfortable suggestion. not a legalistic statement, but just implications from which you and I can infer God's desire for us, to care for one another, provide for one another, generously and amply glean and do for each other, express in love. Now there'll always be weakness, there'll always be frailty, but that forgiving, gracious spirit pervading our home and needing and providing for the needs of God's people. Then she said, and I assume now that this is Naomi in verse eighteen, "'Sit still, my daughter, until thou knowed a matter will fall, for the man will not be in rest until he have finished the thing this day.'" You see, now they have done their part. She, according to the law, has taken the initiative and let him know what is their desire. He has opened up the opportunity for him, and now the man will not rest until he's seen this thing through. The responsibility is thrown back upon Boaz. What a comfort for those women to sit back at home. What a blessed thing that now they know they're secure. Boaz has given his word. He has a commitment. He has said what is on his heart and mind. And now he is with resolve going to carry it through. And the very simple and practical lessons that come to us suggest to themselves, at least to me, that men in the bond of marriage carry a great responsibility. Very wisely the Spirit of God moved the Apostle to say, Husband, love your wives. How? Even as Christ loved the church. Boaz, you're the Kindman Redeemer. You can reject this if you want. He knows that there's someone else in between that is closer. But he is going to take the initiative and do what is necessary to dissuade someone else that he would have the privilege of the closest of pie of this woman, assuming the responsibility of purchasing for his future mother-in-law, raising up a seed in their name, even though it's a Gentile. But that doesn't disturb him. You see, God has wrought before. He is Rahab's son, the harlot. He is Rahab's son. And how often we have come from our lowly and modest roots, and we recognize that, and it touches our souls to recognize the beauty and the grace and the joy and the love in others. We mustn't think too highly of ourselves than we ought to think. See ourselves before God as we really are, who will be so much more gracious in our relationships with others who are but saved sinners. What a blessed inheritance this woman has. He'll go ahead and do it. You can just rest now. Boaz is at work. He'll consummate the whole thing. You have committed yourself. He'll do the rest. In the language of New Testament salvation, you have accepted your kinsman redeemer. He'll do all the rest. Salvation and redemption and blessing and security and marriage and provision. It all belongs to our greater Boaz. Praise the Lord for our great redeemer. our wonderful Savior. And what a lovely example for us men. That any woman, our children, our daughters, our in-laws come under our wings, that they might send whatever he said, he'll do it. And to the best of his ability, he'll see that you have rest. May God bless us and help us to love the way Christ loves. Do we pray? Oh God, our Father, we are so very thankful for thy word, and we ask thee now to allow it to linger in our souls. And that supremely blessed balance between our own responsibilities here and my own glorious greatness and goodness that's been drawn to our attention by power. Thou shalt surely do everything that is needed for us. We trust that we might find rest in doing that which is thy desire for us here. Bless thy word to our hearts, strengthen us, and allow us to be enriched by the ministry of thy spirit to our own soul. Amen. I would put the close in a word of prayer. Mr. Clark has already done that, but I think what we've heard this morning, I think we should all sing, let the Lord have his way in our life every day.