Ruth 3:7-18 – The Waiting Dame

Ruth and Boaz speak about her need to be redeemed and in the end the best thing she can do is go home and wait.

Our text in this study is: Ruth 3:7-18
Series: The Gleaning Lady
Gene Pensiero Jr

Find the rest of the series at https://calvaryhanford.com/thegleaninglady

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https://youtube.com/calvaryhanford

Read the notes at:
https://calvaryhanford.substack.com

The Waiting Dame (Ruth 3:7-18): Finding Rest in the Redeemer
Welcome to our ongoing Bible study through the Old Testament book of Ruth. In this passage (Ruth 3:7-18), we explore a pivotal moment in the narrative and see the faith of Ruth and the faithfulness of Boaz beautifully displayed. This is a study on the power of waiting on the Lord—an essential discipline for every Christian who desires to walk in obedience and trust.

Ruth and Naomi were facing desperate circumstances, but this text teaches us that God was already working to restore their future. Like the story of Fabius Maximus, who saved Rome by patiently waiting on the enemy, we see that God’s leading in our lives often calls us to a restful trust rather than a flurry of anxious activity. As we walk with Jesus Christ, our movements should flow from His direction, not the leanings of our emotions.

A Glimpse of Our Redeemer
The action takes place at the threshing floor, where Ruth comes to Boaz seeking refuge and redemption. This moment is a powerful foreshadowing of Christ, our ultimate Redeemer.

Boaz, a man of noble character (Ruth 2:1), finds joy and dignity in his work and generously uses his resources (his barley) to bless those in need. He is a wonderful example of God’s people actively participating in God’s activity.

Ruth presents herself not as a trophy, but as a servant seeking cover under his wing (Ruth 3:9), echoing the words Boaz first spoke to her (Ruth 2:12). Her focus is entirely on redemption.

We see Ruth’s noble character (Ruth 3:11) demonstrated by her unwavering faith in Yahweh, her commitment to the covenantal process, and the loyal love (hesed) she showed to Naomi. This kind of Godly love is the foundation of our own relationship with God—He loves us first, and our response is to love Him back with devoted obedience.

The Call to Active Waiting
Boaz immediately promises to resolve the situation, even revealing that he had been working on their behalf before she ever asked (Ruth 3:12-13). This illustrates the love and mind-set of our Savior, who died for us while we were yet sinners. Even though there was an obstacle—a closer redeemer—Boaz would not violate the Law to get her, reminding us that Jesus perfectly kept the Law on our behalf.

Boaz’s immediate provision of a generous gift of barley was for both Ruth and Naomi, symbolizing how God gifts us to bless others and restore those who feel empty.

Ultimately, Naomi’s final advice becomes, “My daughter, wait” (Ruth 3:18). This is an invitation to abide in Him and exercise a restful trust in our Redeemer. Like Ruth, our part is to watch, listen, and follow Him. We wait not because we are paralyzed, but because we know our Savior finished the work for us on the cross, paid the price, and is mindful of us.

If you are seeking to study the Bible from a conservative, evangelical perspective, or are interested in the teachings of Calvary Chapel, we invite you to join us.

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Pray For One Another [The One Another Commands]

It’s straightforward, but so very important!

Series: The One Anothers
Gene Pensiero Jr

Subscribe on YouTube at:
https://youtube.com/calvaryhanford

Read the notes at:
https://calvaryhanford.substack.com

Find audio, video, and text of hundreds of other studies through the Bible at https://calvaryhanford.com/

Pray For One Another: Building a Stronger Church Life Through Prayer
Welcome to our continuing series on the New Testament’s “One another” commands. In this video, we open God’s Word to study one of the most essential aspects of Christian fellowship: the command to pray for one another. This practice is foundational for a healthy church life and is a direct command given to all Christians to shape how we relate to each other.

Why Corporate Prayer Matters
We focus on James 5:16, where we are assured that “the prayer of a righteous person is very powerful in its effect.”

Many Bible-believing Christians, and even pastors (as a recent survey showed), may struggle with feeling satisfied or consistent in their personal prayer lives. We understand that this can be a difficult area of our Christian faith, but we also believe that God intends for prayer to be a gift, not a burden. The good news is that the only barrier is our willingness to simply go to the Lord, trusting Him to teach us to pray as we walk with Him.

This study explores why corporate prayer matters and the practical ways we seek to follow this command.

A Small Step of Obedience
In line with our belief that we should not just hear God’s commands but strive to obey them, we are inviting you to join us in a new, small step of faith. To encourage all of us to pause and lift up our church family and specific needs, we are scheduling a weekly notification through our mobile app.

We invite you to enable notifications to receive a simple reminder every Saturday at 4 PM to simply pause and join us in a moment of intercessory prayer. This is a simple, tangible way to put the command to pray for one another into practice, knowing that many of us are pausing together to go to the Lord.

Whether you are looking to study the Bible more deeply, are interested in Christianity, seeking to know more about Jesus, or are specifically searching for content from Calvary Chapel, we pray this study is an encouragement to trust God and grow in your prayer life.

We believe God is telling us the truth about the power of prayer in James 5 and hope you will join us as we seek to obey His Word more fully.

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