Today's Reading:

Ruth 1
Ruth 2
Ruth 3
Ruth 4

In Ruth 2:12, Boaz blessed Ruth: “May the Lord… under whose wings you have come to take refuge!” The Hebrew word for “wings” here is kanaph- meaning not only a bird’s wing but also the edge or corner of a garment. When Ruth boldly asked Boaz to “spread your garment (kanaph) over me” (Ruth 3:9), she was wanting his protection as a kinsman-redeemer. In that tender act, Boaz’s garment became a visible picture of the Lord’s own protective kanaph- His wings, covering Ruth. God had continued to provide for the family to survive, honoring the deceased husband by ensuring a legacy through the kinsman-redeemer, Boaz. Boaz gave food, protection, and marriage to Ruth.

Through a kind servant who truly knows God’s character, the Lord Himself spread His wings over an outsider, taking her vulnerable state to redemption and hope. Today, we too find refuge under the same faithful wings. Where in your life are you needing the Lord to spread His kanaph- His protective wings over you? Does seeing how He covered Ruth encourage you to trust Him for safety and a future today?

 

 

The book of Ruth was written by an unknown author after 1010 BC, when David became king, due to the mention of him and his genealogy. A story of righteous faithfulness in the midst of immoral times. During the time when the judges ruled, there was severe famine, so Elimelek and Naomi took their sons from Judah to the east over the Jordan River into Moab. The Moabites were generally despised by the Israelites for cultural differences and hostility. Their family was Ephrathites, meaning from Ephrath which was the ancient name for Bethlehem and its region, in the tribal area of Judah.

Elimelek and Naomi’s sons marry Moabite women, Orpah and Ruth. Tragedy hits the family, and Elimelek and both sons die. Naomi, now bitter and empty, renamed herself “Mara,” meaning bitter. Naomi prepared to go back to their hometown in Judah since the famine had ended. She urged both of her daughters-in-law to stay in Moab with their fathers to provide for them and have the chance to remarry. She also mentioned returning to their gods (this would have been Chemosh). Naomi, as a widow, would have had a difficult time taking care of herself, let alone two additional widows. Ruth insisted on returning with Naomi to Judah, claiming she would conform to Naomi’s people (Israelites) and her God. Ruth chose loyalty, love, and grace that mirrors God.

Back in Judah, it was harvesting time, the land was “full,” echoing Ruth’s eventual change from emptiness to fullness. Boaz was from the same clan lineage (Perez) of Elimelek in the tribe of Judah, and both were from Bethlehem. This was significant due to their line ultimately leading to David and then later Jesus. Ruth headed to the field to glean. Remember, God said to leave the edges and only go through the harvest once to allow provisions for the poor and sojourners. By chance (not really, it was all God), Ruth ended up in the field of Boaz, a wealthy relative of Elimelek. Boaz noticed her and had heard what she had done for her mother-in-law. Boaz talked to his workers, showing he had godliness and a kind spirit. He asked why she was gleaning in his fields, and noticing she had been there the entire day, only resting once. Boaz said to Ruth, “May the Lord reward you…. the God of Israel, under whose wings you have come to take refuge.” (2:12) This was a beautiful line, blessing Ruth for her loyalty to Naomi and trusting in the God of Israel to come to Judah as a foreigner. A picture of God’s protective care, like a mama bird whose wing shelters the baby. He continued to allow her to glean his fields.

Naomi realized that Ruth was gleaning in a close relative’s field. She said, “he has not stopped showing his kindness to the living and the dead”, which was in reference to them as well as her deceased husband and sons. Naomi had a plan for Ruth to clean herself and go to the threshing floor, where Boaz would spend the night in the field, since it was harvesting time. She anticipated that Boaz would take on the family guardianship. Ruth uncovered his feet to lie down (a bold, culturally risky move to ask for redemption as a kinsman-redeemer- whereas feet are sometimes a euphemism for the private area, although here they both acted in an honorable way). When she asked him to spread his garment over her, it was a direct proposal of marriage. Boaz praised Ruth’s loyalty and selfless character, which were noted in her decision to marry Boaz, an older kinsman, to secure her dead husband’s lineage in marriage over pursuing younger, wealthier men. Boaz agreed to help, but said there was a closer relative in the lineage that must first agree. (Leviticus 25, kinsman-redeemer law)

Boaz went to the town gate (ancient courtroom) to gather the elders and confront Elimelek’s relative. He mentioned that Naomi sold (or possibly redeemed) the land of Elimelek, her deceased husband, and that it could be bought, but it also came with marrying Ruth. The relative wanted no part of the agreement as he was worried about his own estate and that if he and Ruth were to have a child, then there could be an inheritance issue (funny, the Bible left out his name and genealogy). The older redeemer gave his sandal to Boaz in agreement to seal the deal. We saw the sandal agreement in Deuteronomy 25:9-10 (a widow removed a refusing brother’s sandal and spit in his face, shaming him). In Ruth, there was no shame, it was the closer relative bowing out to protect his estate and was marking the legal agreement of Boaz buying the land as the redeemer.

Boaz married Ruth with the town and elders as witnesses. Then, they had a son, Obed. The women of Bethlehem told Naomi that Ruth’s faithfulness and love was more valuable and sustaining than seven sons, which was looked on as the ultimate blessing to a family. Obed (son) is the father of Jesse, who is the father of David, which is the lineage to Jesus. After the death of her husband and sons, Naomi spiritually went from an empty, bitter life to having a foreign Moabite daughter-in-law and a grandson. Ruth’s love for Naomi gave Naomi the fullness of emotional and spiritual support to have joy again.

Today's Discussion question: 

Where in your life are you needing the Lord to spread His kanaph- His protective wings over you? Does seeing how He covered Ruth encourage you to trust Him for safety and a future today?

 
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