by John O’Malley
“Also he said, Bring the veil 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” (Ruth 3:15).
Ruth stood to leave. Her heart was reassured of his midnight commitment to her for the morning. With morning fast approaching, she prepared herself to vacate the threshing floor to return to Naomi. Boaz delayed her departure. He requested she take her veil and extend it out. This veil by all indications is the haik still worn in the Middle East. Then, it was worn by ladies and persons of distinction. It is said to measure five feet by eighteen feet and can easily be used as a pallet for sleeping.
Boaz, in the preceding verse, revealed his concern for the protection of her honor. Now, he exhibits his concern for her provision. In chapter two, Boaz reached her parched corn for her satisfaction in the field. Now, we see him reach her threshed barley for her sustenance in the future. This blessing was from his heart to hers. She sought nothing from him. It was enough to be protected by Boaz. Yet she now found the blessing of his concern as he gave a token of his concern for her well-being.
Boaz asked her to open her veil so he could fill it with barley. When he measured it out, it came to six measures. This would be approximately fifteen gallons of barley. You can imagine Ruth with arms extended and Boaz filling her veil with barley. The bounty was all she could receive; the verse states that he laid it on her. It is certain she walked with great care back to Bethlehem-judah.
Ruth’s hands were full with blessings from Boaz. How comforting to know that David, her great-grandson, would write in a psalm that our Eternal Boaz daily loads us with benefits (Psalms 68:19). Ruth opened her heart, and God gave her a kinsman-redeemer. She opened her veil, and God gave her blessing she could barely contain.
In our haste to “get going” as the day breaks, do we pause in the presence of the Eternal Boaz for Him to fill us with His provisions? The believer should pause each day and seek the filling of His Holy Spirit for daily living. The veil of our life empties quickly as we carry out our responsibilities. Why not pause daily in the presence of the Eternal Boaz and seek His filling so we can make it every day?