Ruth 3:3-143Wash 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. 4And 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. 5And she said unto her, All that thou sayest unto me I will do. 6And she went down unto the floor, and did according to all that her mother in law bade her. 7And 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. 8And it came to pass at midnight, that the man was afraid, and turned himself: and, behold, a woman lay at his feet. 9And 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. 10And he said, Blessed be thou of the Lord, my daughter: for thou hast showed more kindness in the latter end than at the beginning, inasmuch as thou followedst not young men, whether poor or rich. 11And 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. 12And now it is true that I am thy near kinsman: howbeit there is a kinsman nearer than I. 13Tarry 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. 14And 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. (Ruth 3:3‑14).
Naomi told Ruth that before going down to Boaz’ threshing-floor she should wash herself, and so as we think of the Lord “winnowing” Our ways, and the manifestation of them at the judgment seat of Christ, we need to apply the Word of God (typified in the washing here) to our lives. Is there anything in our ways that is not according to truth? Let us then apply the truth of His Word to such things, and give them up, like the water washing away the dirt.
After this Naomi told Ruth to anoint herself. This speaks to us of the Holy Spirit of God, who is the power for our walk as believers in this world. Our whole life ought to be by the Spirit’s power, and so we are exhorted to “Walk in the Spirit and ye shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.” Galatians 5:1616This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. (Galatians 5:16). This will truly make our faces “shine” like the anointing with oil.
Then Naomi told Ruth to put on her raiment. If we allow the Word of God to cleanse away the defilements, and then walk in the Spirit, it will be like the raiment here, the new man will be seen. This is what we are exhorted in Ephesians 4:2424And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness. (Ephesians 4:24), “And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holines.” Too often we are very occupied with the raiment we buy in clothing stores, instead of that which is the result of walking with the Lord, “even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price.” 1 Peter 3:44But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price. (1 Peter 3:4).
Naomi told Ruth not to make herself known to Boaz Until he had done eating and drinking, and so this is now our time of “walking by faith.” Our day of, public association with Christ as His bride is coming later, as Ruth’s did with Boaz. May we know more of this “walking by faith,” while we await that day.
Ruth then went down and lay at the feet of Boaz in the threshingfloor until the morning. In this way she claimed the position that was rightfully hers, because of her being near of kin to Boaz, and so God delights to have us lay claim to our blessings in Christ. Surely we can say too, that it is as we lay at His feet like Ruth, that we learn them. It is not a question of our deserving them at all. Ruth knew that it was only by the grace of God that Boaz had taken notice of her, and how much more we know of His grace now, as we think of our portion in Christ. Are we lying at His feet? Do we hear His voice speaking to us now, in this the night of His absence, though we cannot see His face? “Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see Him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory.” 1 Peter 1: 8. May we know more of this, day by day!
When at last Ruth did go out into the street, it was still dark. No one knew where she had been except Naomi, and Boaz told her not to tell, and so if we are walking as heavenly men in this dark world, we will not be understood. We read of this in 1 John 3:11Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not. (1 John 3:1). “Behold, what manner of love the Father bath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew Him not.” Nor is there any use for us to tell the secrets we have learned at Jesus’ feet to the world, for they will not understand them. What sinners need is the gospel—let us give them this message faithfully!
ML 03/21/1954