Ruth 3:1-18 KJV
1 Then Naomi her mother in law said unto her, My daughter, shall I not seek rest for thee, that it may be well with thee?
2 And now is not Boaz of our kindred, with whose maidens thou wast? Behold, he winnoweth barley to night in the threshingfloor.
3 Wash thyself therefore, and anoint thee, and put thy raiment upon thee, and get thee down to the floor: but make not thyself known unto the man, until he shall have done eating and drinking.
4 And it shall be, when he lieth down, that thou shalt mark the place where he shall lie, and thou shalt go in, and uncover his feet, and lay thee down; and he will tell thee what thou shalt do.
5 And she said unto her, All that thou sayest unto me I will do.
6 And she went down unto the floor, and did according to all that her mother in law bade her.
7 And when Boaz had eaten and drunk, and his heart was merry, he went to lie down at the end of the heap of corn: and she came softly, and uncovered his feet, and laid her down.
8 And it came to pass at midnight, that the man was afraid, and turned himself: and, behold, a woman lay at his feet.
9 And he said, Who art thou? And she answered, I am Ruth thine handmaid: spread therefore thy skirt over thine handmaid; for thou art a near kinsman.
10 And he said, Blessed be thou of the LORD, my daughter: for thou hast shewed more kindness in the latter end than at the beginning, inasmuch as thou followedst not young men, whether poor or rich.
11 And now, my daughter, fear not; I will do to thee all that thou requirest: for all the city of my people doth know that thou art a virtuous woman.
12 And now it is true that I am thy near kinsman: howbeit there is a kinsman nearer than I.
13 Tarry this night, and it shall be in the morning, that if he will perform unto thee the part of a kinsman, well; let him do the kinsman's part: but if he will not do the part of a kinsman to thee, then will I do the part of a kinsman to thee, as the LORD liveth: lie down until the morning.
14 And she lay at his feet until the morning: and she rose up before one could know another. And he said, Let it not be known that a woman came into the floor.
15 Also he said, Bring the vail that thou hast upon thee, and hold it. And when she held it, he measured six measures of barley, and laid it on her: and she went into the city.
16 And when she came to her mother in law, she said, Who art thou, my daughter? And she told her all that the man had done to her.
17 And she said, These six measures of barley gave he me; for he said to me, Go not empty unto thy mother in law.
18 Then said she, Sit still, my daughter, until thou know how the matter will fall: for the man will not be in rest, until he have finished the thing this day.

Ruth obeyed her mother inlaw. The time of harvest for Barley was at an end. The time of decision on if Boaz was only providing food, because they were related or was he interested in courting her/marrying her. I believe Naomi hoped he was interested in Ruth and would make him his wife if she would just get Ruth to perhaps entrap him. Her intent was to get Boaz to marry Ruth, or care for her and herself at the least. However there was obligation of sorts of Naomi's kinsmen to take Ruth as a bride, because Naomi sons were dead, and it would then fall on the nearest kin to take on the responsibility of caring for Ruth and her mother inlaw if they were able to do so.

What was Boaz doing when winnowing the Barley he was tossing it in the air to separate the barley from the small particles/shaft. It was the end of harvest, and time of separating the barley from what would be discarded. It was kind of like a harvest party I suspect, or a time of celebration, maybe like Thanksgiving except the men were working on the threshing floor.The men would eat and drink, and that was when Ruth was to make her appearance to Boaz. She would sleep at his feet. Boaz fell asleep on some corn, and woke up to find a woman was at his feet. When it was known to him who it was, he decided to honor her with taking her to be his wife by traditions of Israel concerning his responsibility to her has nearest kin to Naomi. She would not be thought of not as a harlot, but has a woman that would be his wife.

As men and women get older the relationship between couples in society has changed some, but either a man will make a woman he desires as his wife or abuse her and treat her as a harlot and toss her out the door when he is through with the relationship. The woman in our world today, who has a good job, good money, good car, and perhaps a good place to live often treat men the same way. Yet if a couple is really seeking more then just a one night stand but a true relationship they look for someone that will treat them as person of value and not a harlot/gigolo. Ruth is given 6 cups of barley before she leaves to go back to her mother inlaw so he could take care of the legal part of making Ruth is wife. Traditions has changed in this instant has far as marriage. Marriage is a choice or should be in America. Some culture still differ even in America.

There has been a few stories on the news concern child brides, taken in marriage overseas. Some are barely old enough to know what matrimony really means. Some taken to live with their spouse, until she mature enough and phyically old enough to become a bride. She would also learn to help her futher mother inlaw and family. As a woman this sounds like an injustice and yet it is a culture that is also part of many people ancient past. As American woman I cringe at such abuse to a girl with little choice but to obey one's father and mother and then total strangers with little choice of a independent future.

Ruth may not of had a choice by culture, and yet by culture and tradition it seems that men took care of the woman. It happens in today's world too. Some understand the spouse dependency on another income. It not a crime, but it does not make necessarily a good match or relationship. Freedom and liberty comes with a price of being able to support oneself. It use to be said a woman either worked or got married.

We cringe when we think in this modern world these things happen. Yet even our government looks at a married couple as a couple or unit and not as individuals with needs and independent income. What does that mean, should couples be thought as separate or a joint effort to provide? I do not know the answer, because tradition has taught one thing, sometimes one has to be taken care of by relative or even a friend in our world, because of health/mental issues only. Everyone else is able to be independent or a workforce or partnership of working together in a relationship.

When the woman enslaved to marriage in some countries by purchase, she waits for herself and her husband to get old enough to live together on their own. Does it work, it is a tradition of culture and the girls know nothing else. Has women of our culture, we know we work, and live and breath independent lives with men or without men in our life. Men watch their ego go out the door of control over their families. The knight in shining armor now a myth, or a legend to many. The princess bride mentality is equally about gone.

The image of Christ coming for his bride, of purchased possession because of the cross it it cheapen by this independent thinking? Or is the romance of faith still intriguing and the word to be a bride of Christ means more then slavery, and servanthood, but means to be a child of the King, What does it mean to ask and receive. What does it mean to sit at the kings feet and awake to hope. Our independency must go our the window and our reliance and submission to Christ must come first. As a child of God we are purchased through Christ's blood that redeems us, but we are not without liberty of choice to serve, to be part of the family of God. He redeems us without us saying no, laying the fee down for us and all we have to do is say yes Lord, I am yours. We can take our time an allow Christ to court us so we know why we make the decision to follow him, but how much time we have might be a better question. Once married you know you be looked for, pined for, and sought out for his will to be done in your life. He will mold and allow you the independence you need as a person, with a price of obedience to is laws of love entailing your independence. However as unmarried to Christ your only option is married to the laws of the government and eventually part of the devils gang of desire, lust and greed, which there is no room in God's house for people that only choose the way of sin and not his ways. As you choosing obedience to the law it may lead to the law of Christ or how many laws can I break without being caught by the law. Christ road is one of love and forgiveness, respect first for God, others and yourself. These laws of humanity and society have no bearing on God's laws, God's laws influences man's laws. The law of love is seen in American laws and justice system fighting for human rights and injustice to those rights.

The law of obey God, loving God, caring and worshipping God is individual law by tradition. Ruth did she have a choice in the decisions concern Boaz. He was a potential suiter from the first time she gather wheat in his field. Yet she was also protected by him and not treated as a harlot but like family. She worked among his maids, protected and treated with respect by his workers. Now she turns around and entraps him in either marriage or at the miminum help in finding her a husband among kin.

What then did Ruth have a choice? Not in the way we define choice today. But by the laws of the land and traditions yes Ruth had freedom within. Her liberty only defined by her motherlaw and her plot to get Boaz to marry Ruth. When we marry Christ or join to him in relationship we become part of his team as believers. Then we are joined in marriage when we desire to submit to his ways. Many church encourage everyone that attends church, believers or unbelievers to participate in activities, to help people get to know each other, but it also a time of allowing others to be a witness of faith and unity among non believers. If you are in option in your church to the leaders you might need to ask why and figure that one out. It might be you and it might be them. Your decision for Christ has nothing to do with those in church as far as decision to believe in Jesus, because you will be taking Christ with you outside the church, to your home and anywhere else you go. It not a one night stand afair, it must continue beyond the church world.

Dear Heavenly Father, the next day after joining into the right relationship of receiving you as Lord and Savior, we begin to learn who you are beyond just being our Savior and Lord. The paperwork of unity taken care of in our hearts by the Holy Spirit seal and writting the laws on our heart. Help us to learn to submit to your will as we follow in the footsteps of Jesus. In Jesus precious name, Amen.

Continual Scripture Study: Joel 2:15-19 KJV
15 Blow the trumpet in Zion, sanctify a fast, call a solemn assembly:
16 Gather the people, sanctify the congregation, assemble the elders, gather the children, and those that suck the breasts: let the bridegroom go forth of his chamber, and the bride out of her closet.
17 Let the priests, the ministers of the LORD, weep between the porch and the altar, and let them say, Spare thy people, O LORD, and give not thine heritage to reproach, that the heathen should rule over them: wherefore should they say among the people, Where is their God?
18 Then will the LORD be jealous for his land, and pity his people.
19 Yea, the LORD will answer and say unto his people, Behold, I will send you corn, and wine, and oil, and ye shall be satisfied therewith: and I will no more make you a reproach among the heathen: