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Ruth 3:14-18

 [Read Ruth 3:14-15]


Over recent months, it has been very sad (and disappointing) to hear the news about prominent Christian teachers and leaders... people like Ravi Zacharias and Carl Lentz. Where it has come to light about their fallen morality in the public eye...

Boaz has woke up from a night of partying and drinking, to find himself in a potentially damaging situation... a situation that is ideal for gossip and scandal.
It wasn't safe for Boaz to send Ruth back home alone and he himself couldn't escort her home without inviting all kinds of questions.

What do we learn about Boaz's character in Ruth 3:14?

If Ruth and Boaz were found together, who would likely get the blame?
Naomi, Ruth or Boaz?
Why?

Naomi's plan to get Boaz and Ruth together, out them both in a compromising situation.
As Romans 12:17 puts it, Naomi wasn't "careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone." and she failed to "abstain from all appearance of evil." (1 Thessalonians 5:22) and instead, Naomi seems to do "what was right in [her] own eyes." (Judges 17:6)

Why must we be "careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone"?

[Read Ruth 3:16-18]

As far as engagement traditions go... in the UK, the bride-to-be usually receives an engagement ring and there is usually some sort of party to celebrate the engagement.
In China, there are 'betrothal gifts' that are sent to the bride's family. These include jewellery, red envelopes containing money, hose-hold items (like bedding) and food (like wine, rice cakes, and pig trotters).
In India, there's a ceremony where the groom's father asks the bride's father permission for his son to marry his beloved daughter. After permission is given, a contract is written up where vows are made and signed, confirming that the wedding will take place at some future date...

Ruth has proposed marriage to Boaz, and although he wants to marry her, he cannot accept the proposal just yet. Why?

Before Boaz goes into town to seek out this man, Boaz sends Ruth back to Naomi with a generous gift. What was it?

Six measures (40 kilograms) seems a bit excessive. But it echoes what happened back in Ruth 2:17.
Why is this significant?

This is Boaz's version of an engagement ring.

In Ruth 3:16, Naomi asks, "How did it go?" and the Hebrew question is more like, "Who are you?"
What could Naomi's question mean?

What does Ruth tell Naomi in 3:17 and what does it signify?

How does Naomi respond to this reply?

Too often, when faced with a challenge, we want to move and act... but here, in the words of Naomi and in Psalm 37:7, we're told to "Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him."
What does it mean for you to wait patiently for the Lord?

Are you in a situation or circumstance in your life where the Lord is asking you to wait?

If so, how long have you been waiting?
What can you do as you wait? 

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