Ruth 3 - Ruth's Plan with Boaz | Bible Podcast, David Alley, Peace Christian Church
The Bible by David Alley · David Alley
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Show Notes
In this video listen to Ruth 3 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
In Ruth 3 The end of the barley harvest has arrived. It has been three months that Ruth has been gleaning and getting to know Boaz. Naomi advises Ruth to go to the threshing floor at night, uncover Boaz’ feet and lay down, asking him to cover her. She does this and after being surprised by her presence... who wouldn’t have been... he covers her and decides to take action in the morning to redeem her. Some people think that “feet” is a euphemism for genitals, but this seems like complete nonsense.
Block noted in his commentary that the only significant textual variant in the entire book of Ruth is on this point where it could either say feet or foot. To me it is clearly getting at the actual feet, because to say uncover a foot means that too. Laying at someone’s feet is also an act of humility - the place to be when making a request of someone greater than yourself.
We also must lay at the feet of Christ. In practical terms this means to serve those around us, and especially to serve and honour our spiritual leaders. Do you think that you can say you are at the feet of Christ when you despise spiritual leadership and undermine or despise your pastor? Christ is never wrong, but because our leaders are humans who do sometimes make even big mistakes, we think we don’t hold the same obligation to them.
Yet the Lord who asks all people to honour their father and mother, regardless of their behaviors asks us to honour our spiritual leaders. If our heart is toward them, then we truly are at the feet of Christ.. She isn’t asking for sex, she is asking for covering. This is both a physical thing in that moment as they share a blanket for the night, but also in life as she is asking him to protect her. Spiritually this is where we come when we come to Christ.
We ask him to spread his garment over us. In day-to-day terms the rubber meets the road in life in our relationships. God spreads the garment over people by having them come into relationship with others and walking with them. As a minister preaches and encourages, this is Christ’s word covering them.
As they walk together with their pastor, and serve together in this mutual place, with a heart to honor, they are under covering.