路得决定离开摩押地，从此漂泊无家，背井离乡。她帮拿俄米在波阿斯的麦田里辛勤拾取麦穗，刚巧波阿斯又是拿俄米丈夫的亲戚。拿俄米想这是个好时机了，她要为路得找个归宿，好让她不再继续漂泊了。
波阿斯是拿俄米至近的亲属，他可以买赎以利米勒的田地，把所得的财富归回以利米勒的家人。波阿斯一开始就表明乐意帮助她们，还特别吩咐工人多留下些麦穗让路得拾取。
拿俄米知道波阿斯是一个诚实仁慈的人，她期望波阿斯会进一步履行至近亲属的义务。拿俄米已不能生育，也没有其他的儿子可以娶路得。她看到路得有可能可以在近亲波阿斯的身上找到归宿。
藉着这位以色列人的义人，路得不但找到安身之所，更存留了丈夫家族的名。拿俄米提出，路得听从，而波阿斯也尽他的义务——事就这样成了。
同样，时机到了，神差遣衪的独生子到来，祂甘愿成为我们的救赎者。衪降卑来到世上，为相信祂的人受苦受死，好叫我们在天家得到归宿，并且享有神儿女一切的权利（加拉太书4:4-7）。
天父，我们感谢祢，因祢带领我们到救赎主那里，让我们在基督里面找到安息之所。奉耶稣的名祷告，阿们。
路得记 3:1-5；4:9-10；申命记 25:5-6 Ruth 3:1-5; 4:9-10; Deuteronomy 25:5-6
1 路得的婆婆拿俄米对她说：“女儿啊，我不当为你找个安身之处，使你享福吗？
2你与波阿斯的使女常在一处，波阿斯不是我们的亲族吗？他今夜在场上簸大麦；
3你要沐浴抹膏，换上衣服，下到场上，却不要使那人认出你来。你等他吃喝完了，
4到他睡的时候，你看准他睡的地方，就进去掀开他脚上的被，躺卧在那里，他必告诉你所当做的事。”
5路得说：“凡你所吩咐的，我必遵行。”
9波阿斯对长老和众民说：“你们今日作见证，凡属以利米勒和基连、玛伦的，我都从拿俄米手中置买了；
10又娶了玛伦的妻摩押女子路得为妻，好在死人的产业上存留他的名，免得他的名在本族本乡灭没。你们今日可以作见证。”
5“弟兄同居，若死了一个，没有儿子，死人的妻不可出嫁外人，她丈夫的兄弟当尽弟兄的本分，娶她为妻，与她同房。
6妇人生的长子必归死兄的名下，免得他的名在以色列中涂抹了。
A Time To Speak
Ruth’s decision to leave Moab has made her a wanderer, with no place to call home. She has put her time into helping Naomi by doing the tiring work of gleaning in the harvest fields of Boaz, who happens to be a relative of Naomi’s deceased husband. The time is ripe for Naomi to find a home for Ruth and put an end to her wandering.
Boaz is a guardian-redeemer, someone who can buy back Elimelek’s fields and so return prosperity to the family of Elimelek. Earlier Boaz had shown a willingness to help by instructing his workers to leave behind extra grain stalks for Ruth. Naomi, banking on Boaz as an honest and caring person, hopes he will further fulfill his obligation as a member of the extended family. Because she is childless and has no other sons for Ruth to marry, Naomi sees an opportunity in Boaz as her guardian-redeemer. Through this righteous Israelite, Ruth will not only find rest from her own wandering but also keep alive the name of her husband’s family. Naomi speaks, and Ruth follows her instructions. And Boaz does what he is called to do.
When the time was right, God sent his only Son, who willingly became our Redeemer. He made this earth his home, suffered, and died for all who believe in him, so that we might be adopted into God’s family and receive full rights as his children (Galatians 4:4-7).
Thank you, heavenly Father, for bringing us to our Redeemer to find our restful home in Christ. In his name we pray. Amen.
诵读: 楚云
片头: 张妙阳
