THEN SHE SAID WAIT, MY
DAUGHTER: (Ps 37:3-5;
Isa 28:16;
30:7) (Click
for devotionals on "waiting" -- some links may not be
active as RBC has restructured their website --
Devotional #1, Devotional #2,
Devotional #3,
Devotional #3,
Devotional #4
Surviving The Storms Of Stress)
Other Bible versions render "wait"
as follows...
Stay here = GWT
Sit still = KJV/NKJV/LXX
Just be patient = NLT
Do nothing now = BBE
Stay put = NET
"Wait" (03427)
(yasab/yashab) means to sit
down, to dwell, to inhabit, to endure, to abide , to stay, to remain.
Naomi is telling Ruth
"Sit still. There’s
nothing more for you to do."
It follows that if Ruth sits, she has to wait.
Waiting and being still imply
confidence that what is hoped for will be done and it is reflected in
patience. Ruth would have accomplished nothing by following
Boaz around Bethlehem, trying to help him keep his promises.
Human nature frequently seeks to "help God out"; but generally when we
so so, it doesn't help and can even make matters worse.
Patience
is hard for people who drive to the One-Hour Photo Shop, take their
clothes to the One-Hour Cleaners, and get breakfast at a drive-through
window.
Hymn writer Phillips Brooks admitted,
"The hardest task in
my life is to sit down and wait for God to catch up with me....The
trouble is that I am in a hurry, but God isn't."
Haven't we often
felt the same? Yet patience is part of God's strategy for
maturing us. It's a lost skill we all need to cultivate. If you
have no joy because you're always in a rush, slow down.
As Torrey
wrote
"Not so in haste, my heart! Have faith in God, and wait;
Although He seems to linger long, He never comes too late."
God is
never in a hurry, but He is always on time. God stretches our patience
to enlarge our soul. Ask yourself:
"What circumstances make it hard
for me to wait for the Lord?
How do I know I won't be disappointed
when I wait for Him?"
Recall frequently to your mind that God's timing is always right—and
then rest and wait patiently for Him for our unknown future is secure
in the hands of our all-knowing God.
George Matheson wrote,
“We commonly associate patience
with lying down. We think of it as the angel that guards the couch of
the invalid. Yet there is a patience that I believe to be harder—the
patience that can run. To lie down in the time of grief, to be quiet
under the stroke of adverse fortune, implies a great strength; but I
know of something that implies a strength greater still: it is the
power to work under stress; to have a great weight at your heart and
still run; to have a deep anguish in your spirit and still perform the
daily tasks. It is a Christ-like thing! The hardest thing is that most
of us are called to exercise our patience, not in the sickbed but in
the street.”
To wait is hard; to do it with good
courage is harder!
Henry Morris (in Defender's Study Bible) says that
"Sometimes, when
a believer has done all he knows to do according to God's word, he
must be content simply to "sit still," and wait for God to work."
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O my soul, wait on the
Lord
And know He sees your need;
He'll make His presence known to you
Through word or kindly deed. —D. De Haan
Those who wait on the Lord will never be disappointed.
Patience is a virtue that carries a lot of wait!
|
Naomi's advice to "wait" clearly indicates that she has taken a stance
of faith--she had a restoration of her trust in El Shaddai and
expresses to Ruth a confident, expectant belief that only God could
bring this romantic redemptive rendezvous to a righteous resolution.
Can you see how the events subsequent to chapter 1 ("I went out
full, but the LORD has brought me back empty. Why do you
call me Naomi, since the LORD has witnessed against me and the
Almighty (Shaddai) has afflicted me?" note on
Ruth 1:21) have been thoroughly
reversed, resulting in Naomi's renewed faith and hope?
Do you feel
empty today like Naomi did?
Do you feel that the Lord has afflicted
you?
Is your faith and hope in El Shaddai ebbing low?
Then take heart
dearly beloved as you ponder the effect on Naomi of God's sovereign
working in the background in chapters 2-3 (See also
How Much Does God Control?).
Be encouraged. Hope in God.
Paul wrote that
"whatever was written
in earlier times (referring to the Old Testament Scriptures)
was written for our instruction (to teach us), that through
perseverance ("patience", KJV) and the encouragement
("comfort", KJV) of the Scriptures we might have hope.
(Desire of some good with expectation of obtaining it; the
absolute certainty of future good)" (note
Romans 15:4)
As Matthew Henry comments
"There are many things to be learned out
of the scriptures; and that is the best learning which is drawn from
these fountains. Those are the most learned that are most mighty in
the scriptures. We must therefore labour, not only to understand the
literal meaning of the scripture, but to learn out of it that which
will do us good; and we have need of help therefore not only to roll
away the stone, but to draw out the water, for in many places the well
is deep. Practical observations are more necessary than critical
expositions."
Henry goes on to add that
"Patience
("perseverance", NASB) and comfort ("encouragement",
NASB) suppose trouble and sorrow; such is the lot of the saints in
this world; and, were it not so, we should have no occasion for
patience and comfort. But both these befriend that hope which is the
life of our souls. Patience works experience, and experience hope,
which maketh not ashamed, ("tribulation brings about
perseverance and perseverance, proven character; and proven character,
hope and hope does not disappoint..." NASB note
Romans 5:3,
Romans 5:4-5) The more patience we
exercise under troubles the more hopefully we may look through our
troubles; nothing more destructive to hope than impatience (and so
we see Naomi encouragement for Ruth to "wait"). And
the comfort of the scriptures, that comfort which springs from the
word of God (that is the surest and sweetest comfort) is likewise a
great stay to hope, as it is an earnest (pledge or token of what
is to come) in hand of the good hoped for. The Spirit, as a
comforter, is the earnest of our inheritance."
Isaiah encourages Israel with the promise that
"those who wait
for the LORD Will gain new strength; They will mount up with wings
like eagles, They will run and not get tired, They will walk and not
become weary." (Isa 40:31)
The word “gain” more literally means “to exchange,” as
if one takes off old clothes and puts on new. Ruth would soon
experience a literal exchange of her old clothes for a wedding gown.
But all believers can likewise experience an exchange of our weakness
for God's strength (cf
2Cor 12:9-10). As we wait before Him,
God supernaturally enables us to soar even in the face of the
crisis, to run when the challenges are many, and to walk
faithfully in the day-by-day demands of life. For many it is much
harder to walk in the ordinary everyday pressures of life than to fly
like an eagle in a time of crisis! Like Ruth we all need to practice
the fruitful spiritual discipline of "waiting on our Redeemer."
"Let patience have her perfect work;
Let God refine your gold;
For
in His time He'll show you why,
And blessings great unfold."
(Bosch)
Since Naomi and Ruth believed that Boaz would accomplish what he said
he would do, they waited patiently until they received the good news
that Ruth would be a bride. Their attitudes and actions (and the
subsequent events in chapter 4) are testimony to the truth of the
exhortation “Commit your way to the Lord, trust also in Him, and He
will do it” (Ps
37:5).
UNTIL YOU KNOW HOW THE
MATTER TURNS OUT:
"Matter"
(01697) (dabar) which means word, matter
or thing.
"Turns out"
(05307) is literally "falls" so that this verse literally reads
"how the word falls". This word may fall
but it will not fail -- this reminds us of one of
Joshua's last stirring exhortations to Israel in which he said
"Now
behold, today I am going the way of all the earth, and you know in all
your hearts and in all your souls that not one word of all the good
words which the LORD your God spoke
concerning you has failed; all have been fulfilled
for you, not one of them
has failed."
(Josh 23:14)
Do you believe this is still true?
FOR THE MAN WILL NOT REST
UNTIL HE HAS SETTLED IT
TODAY:
"For"
Naomi explains why she is so confident that this matter will come to
culmination (and ultimately to consummation). She was convinced that
Boaz was a man of integrity, the kind of person who would not rest
until he saw to it that the role of the kinsman redeemer was
fulfilled. Subsequent events prove Naomi knew her kinsman well.
"Will
not rest" (08252)
means to be still, to be quiet or to be undisturbed and conveys the
idea of "tranquility" and implies the absence of strife, war
(as in
Judges 3:30 where
it is translated "undisturbed" in NAS), or
trouble on the one hand, and worry or anxiety on the other.
See note
Ruth 3:1 for
more on "rest" noting that Ruth 3 begins and ends
with "rest" and so is aptly subtitled "Ruth Resting" for in it
we find out how Ruth will find her "rest" with her kinsman-redeemer
Boaz.
In a similar way we, as have
believers of every age, are waiting for the imminent Return of our
Redeemer, to Whom we are Betrothed as His bride, "the church". The
Redeemer's return which will bring our redemption to completion at
which time we will rest finally and fully in our Lord's glorious
presence. Paul puts it beautifully in Romans 8 writing...
And not only this (not only is
creation groaning), but also we ourselves, having the first fruits of
the Spirit (as taught in Eph 1:14), even we ourselves groan within
ourselves, waiting eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption (see
word study) of our body.
(see note
Romans 8:23)
"Has settled"
(03615) (kalah)
means to finish, complete, fulfill or bring this matter to an end. The
primary meaning of kalah is to consummate or to bring to
completion. Boaz will finish his task, working until the goal is
accomplished. Sometimes the idea of exhaustion or of being entirely
consumed is signified by this verb kalah. Naomi was confident
that Boaz would not rest until he had settled the matter.
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SIT
STILL
STAND STILL
BE STILL |
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Are you like
Ruth or more like Martha in
Luke10 who was
"distracted
with all her preparations and... worried and bothered about so
many things"? (Luke10:40-41)
Then to calm your nerves
and keep you from rushing ahead of the Lord, meditate on Naomi's
advice to Ruth, along with two other closely related
exhortations in Scripture. |
|
“Sit
still...until you
know how the matter will turn out”
(note
Ruth 3:8,
NKJV) How can we "sit still"? One way is to wait on the Lord in
prayer, not wasting your time but investing it in eternity. God
is preparing you and your circumstances so that His purposes
will be accomplished. However, when the right time arrives walk
out in obedience and in faith, do not delay. |
|
"Do not fear! Stand still and see the salvation of the LORD which He will accomplish
for you today; for the Egyptians whom you have seen today, you
will never see them again forever." (Ex
14:13)
Moses gave this command to the people of
Israel as the Egyptian army was pressing in to destroy them.
When God tells us to "Stand
still ", there is no need to panic, for the Almighty, omnipotent God
has the situation well in hand. And when He commands to “go
forward” (Ex
14:15) as He did Israel, and He will lead us through
"the sea" step by step. There is a time to stand and a time to
move out, and we must be alert to know and do whichever
God wants us to do. |
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“Be
still, and
know that I am God” (Ps
46:10)
is a wonderful antidote for a restless
spirit. The Hebrew word translated “be
still” means
“take your hands off, relax.” It’s so easy for us to get
impatient with the Lord and start meddling in matters that we
ought to leave alone. He is God, and His hands can accomplish
the impossible. Our hands may get in the way and make matters
worse.
When the Lord arranges the circumstances of your life so that
you must "wait", then take heart from these
exhortation to sit still, stand still and be still. God is in
control. |
J. Vernon McGee has some sage
comments regarding application of Naomi's advice to Ruth. He writes:
"Friend,
it’s wonderful to have a Savior in whom you can rest, and know that
He’s your Redeemer. Oh, what a gift He is today! He has performed all
the work of redemption. You and I are invited to enter into the rest
of redemption because it is finished. You’ll remember in His great
high priestly prayer, He said to the Father, “… I have finished the
work which thou gavest me to do” (John
17:4). Now that work was the work of redemption upon the
Cross. And when He was hanging there upon the Cross, you will recall
that He said, “It is finished” (John
19:30). And when He cried, “It is finished,” then your
redemption and my redemption was finished. He paid the penalty for
your sin and my sin to such an extent that you cannot lift a little
finger to add to your salvation. He has done it all.
Jesus
paid it all
Click to play hymn
Jesus paid it all,
All to Him I owe;
Sin had left a crimson stain,
He washed it white as snow.
I hear the Savior say,
“Thy strength indeed is small;
Child of weakness, watch and pray,
Find in Me thine all in all.”
Jesus paid it all,
All to Him I owe;
Sin had left a crimson stain,
He washed it white as snow.
For nothing good have I
Whereby Thy grace to claim,
I’ll wash my garments white
In the blood of Calv’ry’s Lamb.
And now complete in Him
My robe His righteousness,
Close sheltered ’neath His side,
I am divinely blest.
Lord, now indeed I find
Thy power and Thine alone,
Can change the leper’s spots
And melt the heart of stone.
When from my dying bed
My ransomed
soul shall rise,
“Jesus died to my soul to save,”
Shall rend the vaulted skies.
And when before the throne
I stand in Him complete,
I’ll lay my trophies down
All down at Jesus’ feet.
—H. M. Hall
J. Vernon McGee continues
writing that...
The work of redemption is His work, and you and I are to enter into
that perfect work of redemption which He accomplished for us. And
there is a wonderful peace that will come to the heart that will trust
Him, recognizing that He has completed it all. Frankly, God doesn’t
need your little effort and my little effort. God is not receiving
anything from us toward our salvation. First of all, you and I haven’t
anything to offer. You and I are bankrupt. You and I have to come to
Him to receive everything. I understand that that is the offense of
the Cross which Paul talks about in Galatians, because there are many
people today who like to talk about their character, their family, or
their church membership. They feel that church membership is synonymous
with salvation, that if you’re a member of a church in good and
regular standing it means God has accepted you. There is nothing
farther from the truth than that. God is not receiving your effort and
my effort today. The work of redemption is His work in its entirety.
He was lifted up upon the Cross as the Son of Man. “And as Moses
lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man
be lifted up: that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but
have eternal life” (John 3:14-15). It is on the basis of His work upon
the cross for you and me that God saves us. And that is the reason He
came to this earth over 1900 years ago as a man. The writer to the
Hebrews says, “… A body hast thou prepared me” (Heb 10:5). Sacrifice
and offering God did not want. All of the animal sacrifices in the Old
Testament were merely pointing to the coming of Christ, given to
prepare people for the coming of the Savior into the world. It’s our
acceptance and our reception of Him that saves us. He is the Savior.
Actually even our faith doesn’t save us. It is Christ who saves us.
Spurgeon said, “It is not thy hold on Christ that saves thee; it is
Christ. It is not thy joy in Christ that saves thee; it is Christ.
It’s not even thy faith in Christ, though that be the instrument; it
is Christ’s blood and merit.” You see, faith merely enables us to lay
hold of the salvation Christ has purchased for us. (see
Rev 5:9;
Rev 14:4) Now today you
either trust Him or you don’t trust Him. There’s no such thing as
middle ground today. You’re either resting in Him or you are trying to
earn your own salvation." (McGee,
J. V. Ruth and Esther: Women of Faith. Nashville: Thomas Nelson
Publishers)
F B Meyer
has a devotional entitled
The Secret of a Quiet Heart
"Sit still, my daughter, for the
man will not rest, until he have finished the thing this day."-- Ruth
3:18
"Be still, and know that I am
God."-- Psa 46:10.
PARADISE HAS vanished from our
world, as the picture of a landscape vanishes when swept by storm. And
our race stands in much the same plight as did Naomi and Ruth in this
old-world story. We have lost our inheritance, and the one barrier
which stands between us and despair is the Person and Work of our Lord
Jesus Christ. But, thank God, we need have no doubt as to the sequel.
For as Boaz claimed back the estate for Ruth, so may we be confident
that Jesus Christ will never be at rest till this sin-stained and
distracted world is restored to her primitive order and beauty, as
when the morning-stars sang for joy.
Jesus is our near Kinsman by His assumption of our nature. He is the
nearest and dearest Friend of our race, who stooped to die for our
redemption. And the fact that He carried our nature in Himself to
heaven, and wears it there, is an indissoluble bond between us. Sit
still! do not fret! He will never fail, as He will certainly never
forsake!
Let us seek the quiet heart in our prayers. Prayer must arise within
us as a fountain from unknown depths. But we must leave it to God to
answer in His own wisest way. We are so impatient, and think that God
does not answer. A child asked God for fine weather on her birthday,
and it rained! Some one said, "God didn't answer your prayer." "Oh
yes," she replied, "He did, God always answers, but He said No!" God
always answers! He never fails! Be still! If we abide in Him, and He
abides in us, we ask what we will, and it is done. As a sound may
dislodge an avalanche, so the prayer of faith sets in motion the power
of God.
In times of difficulty--be still! Thine enemies are plotting thine
overthrow! They laugh at thy strong confidence! But hast thou not
heard His voice saying: "This is the way, walk ye in it"? Then leave
Him to deal with thy foes from whatever quarter they come. He is thy
Rock, and rocks do not shake. He is thy High Tower, and a high tower
cannot be flooded. Thou needest mercy, and to Him belongeth mercy. Do
not run hither and thither in panic! Just quietly wait, hushing thy
soul, as He did the fears of His friends on the eve of Gethsemane and
Calvary. "Rest in the Lord, wait patiently for Him." "Be still, for He
will not rest, until He hath finished the thing this day."
PRAYER - If this day I should get lost amid the perplexities of life
and the rush of many duties, do Thou search me out, gracious Lord, and
bring me back into the quiet of Thy presence. AMEN. (F B Meyer. Our
Daily Walk)
In Our Daily
Homily F B Meyer
writes
that...
Boaz had many good traits — his
religious demeanor and speech, his courtesy in greeting his servants,
his refusal to take advantage of Ruth’s trust; but none are more
satisfactory as an index of a noble character than this well-known and
acknowledged promptness of action, when he had once taken in hand the
cause of the needy. From
of old, Naomi had recognized this
quality in her kinsman, and knew that he was a man of his word, who
would assiduously complete what he had undertaken to perform.
It is a characteristic that we
should do well to cultivate. Let us not arouse hopes, and finally
disappoint them; let us
not
make promises to forget them. Our words should be yea, yea. Those who
commit their cause to us should feel perfectly at rest about our
executing what we have promised.
How true this is of Jesus! If we
have put our matters into h