Ruth 3:6-13 – At the feet of Jesus, our Lord

Obediently, Ruth did everything Naomi told her to do. All perfumed and dressed up, she went to the threshing floor where Boaz would spend the night. As soon as Boaz had eaten his fill and his heart was merry he went to sleep. As soon as he had fallen asleep, from the shadowing dark night, Ruth emerged, approached him, after uncovering his feet, lay down at his feet.    

In the middle of the night, Boaz woke up with a startle, finding a woman lying at his feet. Soft and warm, Ruth was found at his feet. But in the cover of darkness, he didn’t recognize her. The thing he did was to ask the obvious question, “Who are you?” Quickly, Ruth identified herself and requested that he spread his covering over her as he was a kinsman-redeemer. She was asking for him to take the corner of his garment over a maiden as a token in marriage. This is a request to fulfill his levirate duty of marrying her and continue the Elimelech line.

Boaz did not hesitate in accepting Ruth’s proposal, so he promptly proclaimed a blessing over her. He knew that for Ruth to do what she did was most admirable, for she must have known that he was considerably a much older man. So, he told Ruth not to fear for he was more than happy to do his duty. Ruth, he knew, was a virtuous woman and the whole town could attest to that fact. Hence, he was more than happy to accept her proposal. There, however, was a little snag. For there was a closer relative to Elimelech, who would have the first option to do the duty of a kinsman-redeemer. Boaz knew this had to be settled between him and that closer relative. Boaz assured Ruth that he would do his duty and marry her if the anonymous relative turns down the right to perform his levirate duty.  

Let’s consider the life of Ruth for a moment. She could have chosen to take her life in many different directions. For her husband was dead and she was no longer bound by marriage to remain with Naomi. Yet with a single-minded resolution, she chose to stay with her dead husband’s mother to serve her and her God. She could have spent the rest of her life chasing pleasure and fun and other more enjoyable but sinful stuff. But she chose to be loyal to Naomi, without so much as a hint of a mistrust. Many would have walked away and find a new life elsewhere, but not Ruth. Most remarkably, she did not even consider her own disadvantage and obediently followed Naomi’s instruction to lay down at the feet of Boaz. Like Ruth, we too have the freedom of choice to camp anywhere in the world. But let us wholeheartedly choose the feet of Jesus. Good as some of the offers of this world may seem, they are nowhere near to being at the feet of Jesus. And as Ruth discovered that her whole life changed at the feet of Boaz, we too will realize the amazing transformation as we place our life at the feet of Jesus. May the sitting at His feet, enjoying His presence and finding our peace and security in Him be our daily quest in life.