Sit Still Until You Know Ruth 3:18 - Equipped for Battle

Ruth's information and details have been given, and Naomi is delighted with her story and with her supply of barley. The question becomes, what should Ruth do now? As we look into chapter three and verse eighteen of this wonderful book of Ruth we see not only Naomi's advice to Ruth, but if we are perceptive enough, we shall see advice to us as well. It reads:

Then said she, Sit still, my daughter, until you know how the matter will fall: for the man will not be in rest, until he has finished the thing this day.

As we use our imaginations to see this story in our mind's eye, can we envision the facial responses of Naomi as Ruth tells her everything? For the first time in a while Naomi has found hope in her life, and the agent of her hope is Boaz the kinsman redeemer. Naomi is wise in the ways of men, and so her advice to Ruth is, “Sit still, my daughter, until you know how the matter will fall:”. Neither Ruth nor Naomi knew in advance the outcome of Boaz' plan to engage Ruth's closest kinsman, and both of their fates depended upon what this kinsman would choose. Naomi knew at this point the best that Ruth could do was to “sit still.” Ruth couldn't change what she didn't know, and she certainly couldn't alter it. She would quietly have to wait to see what her future would be.

Although Ruth nor Naomi knew what would happen, Naomi had this confidence, “for the man will not be in rest, until he has finished the thing this day.” Naomi knew by the evidence before her that Boaz desired the relationship with Ruth as much or more than Ruth desired the relationship with Boaz. Love is a powerful motivator, and actions follow passion when it is deep in the heart. Boaz was determined, and Naomi knew it. Boaz would not allow anything to impede him on his mission, and he would not rest that day until his mission was completed.

Do we even come close to understanding how much Jesus Christ our kinsman redeemer loves us? Do we realize His passion, drive, and determination to do everything to have us as His bride? Boaz is a striking example of a man who loves a woman so much that he cannot rest until he discovers whether he can be her husband, and we can expect no less from Jesus who desires to be with us. Our part is to “sit still” which may be the most difficult part of our relating to Jesus. We like to move, act, take a leap, and drive, and yet, He would remind us, “sit still.” As David the king wrote in Psalm forty-six and verse ten:

Be still, and know that I [am] God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.

What situation are we worried about right now? Sit still. What circumstance seems beyond our control? Sit still. What concern makes us lose sleep and wrestle in our minds over and over again? Sit still. When these events climb into our lives, the advice of Naomi and King David himself is the best wisdom for our moments, “Sit still until you know how the matter will fall.”

Next time we will begin the last chapter of the book of Ruth and see Boaz begin to carry out his plan, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow...there is more...

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