Life Lessons from the Book of RUTH

Ruth 3:7

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.

“Heart was merry” – felt very cheerful. It was a happy time.

“At the end of the heap” – as close to the grain as possible to protect it. Did you ever notice that thieves are lazy? They like to wait until the work is done before they steal the goods.

Servants often slept crosswise at the feet of their masters, men with men and women with women as a bodyguard. In doing as she did, Ruth was humbling herself as a servant. “She came softly” and quietly so as not to waken anyone.

Ruth 3:8

And it came to pass at midnight that the man was afraid and turned himself; and behold, a woman lay at his feet.

As he came into a lighter stage of sleep, his senses warned him of someone close by. He turns to look and a woman is lying at his feet. Who wouldn’t be startled?

Ruth 3:9

And he said, Who art thou? And she answered, I am Ruth thine handmaid: spread therefore thy skirt over thine handmaid, for thou art a near kinsman.

“Who are you?” “I’m Ruth, your female bondservant” – again placing herself in the position of a humble servant.

“Skirt” – his mantle or outer garment. “Spread” – it was part of the Jewish marriage ceremony for the groom to spread his mantle over the bride to signify that she was being placed under his protection. What Ruth was doing was proposing marriage to him. The proposal would ordinarily have been made by her father, or if he were not living, by a brother, but she had no one to do it for her.

“Near kinsman” – one who has the right to redeem.

Dear God, I give myself to You, Lord. Place Your mantle over me. Give me Your protection, Your covering. I ask this in Jesus’ name. Amen.