We left our story yesterday
with Ruth obeying her mother-in-law Naomi's guidance to prepare to
meet Boaz, and she went to the place where Boaz was eating and
drinking with his fellows. Ruth patiently waited as Naomi instructed
her, and when the timing was right, she made her move. In chapter
three and verse seven we read:
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.
Can we
imagine the excitement that Ruth must have had as she waited? She
knew there was risk in her proposition, and if we put ourselves in
her place, we might understand why she could be nervous about
approaching Boaz. However, “and when Boaz had eaten and drunk,
and his heart was merry” was the perfect time for Ruth to make
her move. She waited until “he went to lie down at the end of
the heap of corn:”. Just as Noami told her, Ruth waited until
Boaz lay down. His heart was merry, and he was filled with food and
drink. Naomi knew that Boaz would be more receptive to Ruth's offer
if she did not interrupt him while his other needs were fulfilled,
and now that he was tired from a long day, approaching him as he was
resting would be the best timing of all.
Notice
too, “and she came softly, and uncovered his feet, and
laid her down.” Ruth did not
come barging in. She didn't make loud noises and clammer around. She
came “softly” which means in “secrecy, mystery, and
enchantment”. Ruth knew that it would be startling for anyone to
wake up with someone at their feet, so the more softly she
approached, the better her chances would be to receive her request.
She obeyed Naomi and “uncovered his feet, and laid her down.”
There was no more advantageous
place for Ruth than at the feet of Boaz.
If
we recall earlier verses, we will remember that one of the best
places we can be is at the feet of our kinsman redeemer Jesus. As
Ruth, when we have an opportunity to sit and learn at Jesus' feet, we
are fulfilling what He desires and blesses in our lives. He is
satisfied with all other essentials because He created and made it
all, and still, He desires that we come and be at His feet. The idea
is humility, abasement, lowliness and meekness, and when we draw near
to Jesus as James wrote in chapter four and verse eight we are
fulfilling these words:
Draw nigh to God, and
he will draw nigh to you.
If
we desire intimacy with our kinsman redeemer Jesus, we must draw near
to Him, pull back the covers of His resting place, and find ourselves
sitting at His feet. It is there where we will find Him not only
ready to meet our needs but to exceed them with His abundant grace
and everlasting mercy.
Next
time we will see the shock of Boaz as he awakes at midnight to find
Ruth at the end of his bed, so read ahead, and we shall join together
then.
Until
tomorrow...there is more...
Look
for the new devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From
Generation to Generation” in all major bookstore sites,
www.amazon.com
; www.barnesandnobles.com
; download
to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore
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