Tuesday, February 5, 2013

At Boaz' Feet Ruth 3:7 - Equipped for Battle

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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