慷慨仁慈的波阿斯
路得記三章10至18節
10波阿斯說：女兒啊，願你蒙耶和華賜福。你末後的恩比先前更大；因為少年人無論貧富，你都沒有跟從。
11女兒啊，現在不要懼怕，凡你所說的，我必照著行；我本城的人都知道你是個賢德的女子。
12我實在是你一個至近的親屬，只是還有一個人比我更近。
13你今夜在這裡住宿，明早他若肯為你盡親屬的本分，就由他罷！倘若不肯，我指著永生的耶和華起誓，我必為你盡了本分，你只管躺到天亮。
14路得便在他腳下躺到天快亮，人彼此不能辨認的時候就起來了。波阿斯說：不可使人知道有女子到場上來；
15又對路得說：打開你所披的外衣。他打開了，波阿斯就撮了六簸箕大麥，幫他扛在肩上，他便進城去了。
16路得回到婆婆那裡，婆婆說：女兒啊，怎麼樣了？路得就將那人向他所行的述說了一遍，
17又說：那人給了我六簸箕大麥，對我說：你不可空手回去見你的婆婆。
18婆婆說：女兒啊，你只管安坐等候，看這事怎樣成就，因為那人今日不辦成這事必不休息。
信息分享
波阿斯聽了路得的解釋後，先是稱許她的品行，然後便答應會按照律法的規定來幫助她。但他告訴路得，他的夫家還有一個至親的人，是比他更近的親屬，所以，他必然詢問那人是否願意作贖回的人。他囑咐路得現在先放心安睡。
你猜路得此刻的心情會是怎樣呢？她會不會思忖那位不知名的親屬究竟是個怎麼樣的人？她會否默然禱告，希望那人拒絕，以致她所認識的波阿斯能夠娶她？她怎樣熬過深夜至黎明這好幾個鐘頭？她對神的信心能夠幫助她嗎？
在還未天亮的時候，波阿斯便喚醒路得，著她在眾人未醒之前趕快離開，但臨行之際，卻仍然不忘送她六簸箕大麥。我們再一次看見波阿思的心思慎密和對人的體貼。
拿俄米的忠告非常有智慧，對於我們今天也非常管用。她說：「女兒，妳只管安坐等候。妳已經做了妳能夠做的事，其餘的事情就要看波阿斯怎樣做，和神怎樣帶領了。妳可以相信這個人，他是個守信的人。」
許多時候，最難奈的事情就是安心等候神。無論對路得或我們而言，安心等待都絕非易事。然而，它卻是我們經歷許多考驗時的最佳對策。正如詩人經常在詩篇呼籲人要「等候主，祂必堅固你的心」。這個忠告無論對路得和我們都非常管用。
經文反思：
「我曾耐心等候耶和華，他垂聽我的呼求。」(詩四十1)
BOAZ THE GREAT HEART
Ruth 3:10-18
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.”
Message
Boaz must have been a godly man. His greetings to his reapers in Ruth 2:4, and their response, together with his words to Ruth in each of these chapters give every indication of a man who lived close to God and loved his Word.
Boaz paid Ruth some beautiful compliments and agreed that he would help her as the law required. However, there was a closer relative than Boaz and he must be asked first if he would act as the kinsman-redeemer. In the meantime Ruth should lie quietly at his feet and try to sleep.
What do you think? Did she sleep with all this excitement going on? Did she think about this unknown relative who would have first choice? Did she wonder what he would be like? Did she silently pray that he might not be willing to act and thus Boaz, her friend and helper be able to marry her? What would a young woman's thoughts be during those hours from midnight to early dawn? Was her new faith able to take all of this?
Again Boaz shows his thoughtfulness and consideration. He loads her down with possibly over a bushel of grain and sends her home before anyone else was awake.
Naomi again has very sound words of advice. They can be used again and again today in many situations. 'Wait', she said, 'sit still. Take your hands off now. You have done all you can. Let's allow Boaz and the Lord to work out the next step. You can trust this man. He will do what he has promised.'
Waiting for the Lord is sometimes the hardest thing to do. It would not have been easy for Ruth and it is rarely easy for us. But it is the best advice that can be given in many situations. It is often repeated by the Psalmist-'Wait on the Lord and he will strengthen your heart'. Good advice for Ruth and good advice for us.
A VERSE FOR TODAY:
'I waited patiently for the Lord and he inclined unto me and heard my cry.' Psalm 40:1.