Read Ruth 3:6–9
CHRISTMAS COVER-UPS
One of the temptations that Christians can face at Christmas is to let the
busyness of the season become an avoidance strategy for facing up to God
ourselves. Even Christian busyness can become a way to ‘cover ourselves’,
perhaps because deep down we’re not really sure what God will make of us.
THE PLAN IN ACTION
Ruth keeps her promise to put Naomi’s plan (3:3–5) into action. She
follows Naomi’s directions to the letter and approaches the threshing floor
where Boaz lay.
As Christopher Ash points out, there’s a beautiful symbolism here:
A threshing floor is the place where the wonderful potential of harvest
begins to be realised, as the grain is threshed out, turning piles of cut stalks
into mounds of life-giving grain.
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It’s a scene brimming with hope and anticipation!
MANOEUVRES IN THE DARK
This is clearly a highly intimate moment. Exactly like we saw yesterday, the
provocative verb ‘to lie down’ is used three times (vv. 7–8).
We can imagine Ruth tiptoeing over in the darkness as Boaz sleeps alone.
In fact, it’s so dark that Ruth and Boaz are simply described as ‘the man’ and
‘a woman’ (v. 8).
Quietly, Ruth uncovers Boaz’s feet – presumably suggested by Naomi to
gently wake him, just like when someone removes your duvet! What will
Boaz make of this woman at his side? Is she a threat? A set-up? A prostitute?
And so Boaz cries out, ‘Who are you?’ (v. 9).
But whilst Naomi had given Ruth fairly detailed instructions, she hadn’t
told Ruth how to identify herself! So what will Ruth say?
COVER ME
Reread Ruth’s words again: ‘I am your servant Ruth ... Spread the corner of
your garment over me, since you are a guardian-redeemer of our family’ (v.
9). This chapter began by showing us Naomi’s faith, but now we see Ruth’s
too.
Earlier in the book, Ruth had identified herself to Boaz as an unworthy
‘foreigner’ (2:10), without ‘the standing of one of your servants’ (2:13). But
Boaz has helped her to understand that having turned and trusted in God’s
mercy (1:16; 2:12), she is now under God’s wings of refuge (2:12).
As such, Ruth makes a remarkable request. Even to reveal her identity is an
act of boldness that breaks with the shadowy incognito encounters of Boaz
and Ruth’s ancestors in Genesis 19 and 38. But to boldly identify herself as
Boaz’s and to ask him to cover her (v. 9) is something else!
GRACE-FILLED WINGS OF REFUGE
Ruth’s request is more than her simply asking Boaz to keep her warm!
‘Corner’ is the same Hebrew word as ‘wings’ and was often associated with
marriage (see Ezekiel 16:6–14, especially v. 8). Just as Boaz had affirmed
Ruth for coming under God’s grace-filled wings (2:12), Ruth is now urging
Boaz to likewise cover her with his wings (v. 9). In other words, dressed as a
bride, Ruth has effectively proposed to Boaz!
But it is crucial for us to see that Ruth’s striking boldness doesn’t lie in selfconfidence. Instead, it comes from a confidence in God’s character,
embodied in the kindness of Boaz himself.
And so Ruth’s approach to Boaz gives us a glimpse of how we can relate to
his greater descendant, Jesus. We can approach Christ with a humble
boldness, knowing he is entirely willing to cover us. To put it another way,
healthy spiritual confidence lies not in ourselves, but in the character of
God, who graciously invites us under his ‘wings of refuge’.
REFLECTION
Do you ever turn to busyness and activity as a way of ‘covering yourself’ –
perhaps to avoid facing up to God or even to yourself? What difference does it
make to know that today we can ‘approach God’s throne of grace with
confidence … and find grace to help us in our time of need’ (Hebrews 4:16)?
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