#409 The Feet You Love

Then Naomi her mother in law said unto her, My daughter, shall I not seek rest for thee, that it may be well with thee?

2 And now is not Boaz of our kindred, with whose maidens thou wast? Behold, he winnoweth barley to night in the threshing floor.

3 Wash thyself therefore, and anoint thee, and put thy raiment upon thee, and get thee down to the floor: but make not thyself known unto the man, until he shall have done eating and drinking.

4 And it shall be, when he lieth down, that thou shalt mark the place where he shall lie, and thou shalt go in, and uncover his feet, and lay thee down; and he will tell thee what thou shalt do.

5 And she said unto her, All that thou sayest unto me I will do.

6 And she went down unto the floor, and did according to all that her mother in law bade her.

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.

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

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.

10 And he said, Blessed be thou of the Lord, my daughter: for thou hast shewed more kindness in the latter end than at the beginning, inasmuch as thou followedst not young men, whether poor or rich.

11 And now, my daughter, fear not; I will do to thee all that thou requirest: for all the city of my people doth know that thou art a virtuous woman.

12 And now it is true that I am thy near kinsman: howbeit there is a kinsman nearer than I.

13 Tarry this night, and it shall be in the morning, that if he will perform unto thee the part of a kinsman, well; let him do the kinsman's part: but if he will not do the part of a kinsman to thee, then will I do the part of a kinsman to thee, as the Lord liveth: lie down until the morning.

14 And she lay at his feet until the morning: and she rose up before one could know another. And he said, Let it not be known that a woman came into the floor.

15 Also he said, Bring the vail that thou hast upon thee, and hold it. And when she held it, he measured six measures of barley, and laid it on her: and she went into the city.

16 And when she came to her mother in law, she said, Who art thou, my daughter? And she told her all that the man had done to her.

17 And she said, These six measures of barley gave he me; for he said to me, Go not empty unto thy mother in law.

18 Then said she, Sit still, my daughter, until thou know how the matter will fall: for the man will not be in rest, until he have finished the thing this day. Ruth 3 KJV

It was not uncommon in such times that marriages were arranged, and I have read of certain commentators hung upon this approach, prescribed by Naomi, as scandalous. The law is truly for the lawless though, so put aside legalist airs and such lofty places, and see your own approach. If Christ be lifted up, hung upon a tree, glorified by God, yet cursed is everyone who is hung upon a tree. When you approach the cross you come to the feet and you come imperfectly, knowing, like the thief on the cross, who had a more level view, that Christ was your redeemer. There was the first Adam, but he brought sin into the world and death by it. He needed a redeemer and could not redeem you. There was another, the law, but it was imperfect and could only state your condition, show your need. You could plead to the law, follow the law, but you had already transgressed the law. Naomi should want this for her daughter, her peace, her well being. Ruth is not asking for a one night stand or prostituting herself for some corn, she is asking to be covered, protected, redeemed. Boaz seeks not only her long term redemption, but her short term virtue, that no one falsely accuse her of being anything but virtuous. Just as Christ protects the woman who touches his garment by calling her daughter, so Boaz saves Ruth's identity. Just as Christ does not put away the law, for it is right and just in it's purpose, so Boaz does not circumvent the claim of another. If you are just and will to be called that then you must fulfill the law. I must say, I did not come without stain, my glasses were broken, my arms were scared. I tried to clean myself up, but in the end I came on hands and knees to the foot of the cross, grasping at his feet. She is humble, she is industrious, she is honest, so I cannot judge her approach.

Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance:

9 And think not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, that God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham.

10 And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: therefore every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.

11 I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance. but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire:

12 Whose fan is in his hand, and he will throughly purge his floor, and gather his wheat into the garner; but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire. Matthew 3:8-12