Naomi was seeking rest and
well-being for Ruth. She knew there would be a fantastic opportunity
to procure Ruth's future if Ruth were to properly approach Boaz who
was in line as a kinsman redeemer. She has instructed Ruth to bathe,
put on special ointment, and dress appropriately. She has noted Boaz'
location for the evening as he would even be in the threshingfloor,
and she has given guidance to Ruth to not interrupt Boaz while he was
eating and drinking with the others who were there. In chapter three
and verse four we see one final instruction from Naomi before Ruth
ventures in faith to meet Boaz. She said,
And it shall be, when
he lies down, that you shall mark the place where he shall lie, and
you shall go in, and uncover his feet, and lay down; and he will tell
you what you shall do.
Not only
was Ruth to travel to the threshingfloor where Boaz was located, but
Naomi said, “And it shall be, when he lies down, that you shall
mark the place where he shall lie”. In other words, watch Boaz
to discover where he goes to lie down to sleep. Can we put ourselves
in Ruth's position for a moment? Naomi, do you mean that Ruth is
supposed to spy upon him from a distance, and be sure that he doesn't
see her beforehand? Then, after she has watched him for a while, she
is to note where he lay his head? Yes, that is exactly what Naomi
meant. Can you imagine the heartbeat of emotion that Ruth would
experience should she do this?
In
addition to watching Boaz and discovering where he would lay his
head, Ruth was to “go in, and uncover his feet, and lay down;”
Now wait a minute Naomi, do you mean to say that Ruth is to watch
where Boaz lay down, and then go in and lift his blanket at his feet
and crawl in with him? That's exactly what Naomi means. Talk about
your unsettling propositions. Wouldn't this be improper? Wouldn't
this be somewhat scandalous? Perhaps today we might think ill of this
act, but since Boaz was in line to be the kinsman redeemer, Ruth was
to be his wife should all things be kept in order. The action she
should take would be one in which a wife would generally have no
impropriety attached, and since Naomi knew the proper advantage of
Ruth's position, she instructed her in such manner.
Finally
Noami said, “and he will tell you what you shall do.” What
faith Naomi had in Boaz. If Ruth would simply follow her guidance,
Naomi knew Boaz would do as she believed. Naomi knew that he would
fulfill his obligation as kinsman redeemer, and if she could get Ruth
to put herself in the proper position at his feet. Not only would
Ruth be blessed by Boaz, but Naomi would be blessed as well.
Where
does our kinsman redeemer Jesus lie? Do we seek the place where He
finds rest? Do we care enough about a relationship with Him to go to
the place wherein He lie? Would we sit at His feet as Mary did in
Luke chapter ten and verse thirty nine:
which also sat at
Jesus' feet, and heard his word.
Would we
ask as Saul who was to be Paul did in the book of Acts in chapter
nine and verse six:
Lord, what will you
have me to do?
If we
sit at Jesus' feet, He will certainly take the time to give us
instruction and tell us what we must do. Oh today we have a splendid
lesson from the book of Ruth, and as we consider Naomi's words for
her, perhaps we should consider what it would mean should we quietly
sit and learn at Jesus' feet.
Next
time we see Ruth's obedience to her mother-in-laws' words, 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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