Daily Fountain Devotional 15 May 2020 for Anglican Communion
TOPIC: Home for A Young Widow
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TEXT: Ruth 3:1-18(NKJV)
1. Then Naomi her mother-in-law said to her, “My daughter, shall I not seek security for you, that it may be well with you?
2. “Now Boaz, whose young women you were with, [is he] not our relative? In fact, he is winnowing barley tonight at the threshing floor.
3. “Therefore wash yourself and anoint yourself, put on your [best] garment and go down to the threshing floor; [but] do not make yourself known to the man until he has finished eating and drinking.
4. “Then it shall be, when he lies down, that you shall notice the place where he lies; and you shall go in, uncover his feet, and lie down; and he will tell you what you should do.”
5. And she said to her, “All that you say to me I will do.”
6. So she went down to the threshing floor and did according to all that her mother-in-law instructed her.
7. And after Boaz had eaten and drunk, and his heart was cheerful, he went to lie down at the end of the heap of grain; and she came softly, uncovered his feet, and lay down.
8. Now it happened at midnight that the man was startled, and turned himself; and there, a woman was lying at his feet.
9. And he said, “Who [are] you?” So she answered, “I [am] Ruth, your maidservant. Take your maidservant under your wing, for you are a close relative.”
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. So 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.”
Daily Fountain Devotional 15 May 2020
STUDY: Young widows often face financial, social, emotional and sexual pressures. Paul encourages such to remarry if possible, otherwise they should control themselves (1 Tim.5:11-14). The Mosaic Law permits a widow to be married by the late husband’s brother (Deut.25:5-6). Boaz was a close relative of Elimelek, Naomi’s late husband, (v.1; 2:20). In verses 1-4, Naomi gave detailed instructions to Ruth on how to remind Boaz of his responsibility to marry her. She obeyed (vs. 5-6). At that time in Israel, Ruth’s actions and statements in verses 7-9 were acceptable cultural ways of reminding him of his responsibility to provide her shelter, care and support. (See also Ezekiel 16:8). Verses 9-13 show that Boaz understood the message and was prepared to take the required actions.
Many concerned mothers and older women often mentor younger women on how to attract potential husbands through decent dressing and good manners as in verse 3(a) and 1 Peter 3:3. While these external actions have their values, the inward preparations of 1 Peter 3:4 have more durable effects. Above all, let anyone who desires to marry present this need to God in prayer, and God shall supply all such needs according to his riches in glory (Phil. 4:19).
PRAYER: Dear Lord, let Your presence be with young widows (name one or more). Please provide their needs according to your riches in glory.
Daily Fountain Quote of the Day
“For evildoers shall be cut off; but those who wait on the Lord, they shall inherit the earth. For yet a little while and the wicked shall be no more …” (Psalm 37:9)
