The Life of Ruth (20)

Why did Boaz say unto Ruth, “Tarry this night”? It was to show her that he was not casting her off when he spoke of another kinsman. He spoke of the kinsman who was nearer than Boaz was. Although the justice of God has to be satisfied, Jesus Christ does not cast off His people when they come as poor and needy ones and lie at His feet, begging that He may spread His skirt over them. Our forefathers used to say that with one hand He upholds them and draws them, and with the other hand He tenderly presses them down and holds them back. “Tarry this night.” What a lovely place to be. Ruth heard out of his mouth that there was a place she might stay and lay herself down. She needed that place so much because she needed to hear how a kinsman would go forth and deliver her—and deliverance meant so much in her life.

Ruth was instructed to tarry through the night and into the morning. There is a morning coming for you, people of the Lord. In all your darkness and in all your trials there is a morning coming because God has promised that it shall come. What was Ruth to learn in the morning? Boaz said that if the near kinsman did not do the kinsman’s part, then Boaz would do it. When we think about this spiritually, we know that the law of God has the first rights, and it condemns us. The law has nothing but curses for us. Ruth heard from Boaz that these two people would come together and work it out. In the darkness of the night she heard it. And now, people of the Lord, Jesus Christ went and took that law and satisfied it for His people.

Ruth was to lie down until the morning. She was not delivered yet, but she was to lie there, resting in the promise of Boaz. What kind of lying down was that? It was a lying down in faith—seeing, believing, and trusting by faith that whatever he promised he would do. At the same time there was a lying down in the darkness of the night. “Oh, Lord, when will the morning arrive?” She longed for the morning so that Boaz would take her in his arms and call her his own. She longed for that. My friends, there are times in the lives of God’s people that they long for that also. They long that the greater Boaz will come and fulfill the promise that was given unto them in the darkness of the night. How is it in your life?

Boaz was seeking rest for Ruth. Jesus Christ also seeks rest for His church, but He first makes that church restless. He has to make that church restless, because how can He seek rest for them if they have never come to know what it is to be restless outside of Him? His people receive this rest by the exercise of faith when they entrust their hearts unto Him.

Ruth lay at his feet until the morning and rose up before one could know another. You have to read this carefully and with a commentary next to it. You almost get the impression that Ruth stood up, but Boaz lay on the ground as he spoke unto her. But that is not the way it should be read. Boaz stood up and spoke to her. In other words, Boaz arose for Ruth. That is a deep and wonderful thought, my friends. When we think of the greater Boaz, the Lord Jesus Christ, then He is always first in the life of the sinner that lies in the state of death. He is first in upholding and strengthening His people. What a wonder that is. That is why you can be converted. That is why you can pray, saying, “Lord, I could also be converted because the greater Boaz is always first.” What a comfort it is for the church in the dark hours of the night. He is the first to arise over them. Boaz stood up because he would go to the gate. Jesus Christ from all eternity stood up over His church and said, “Lo, I come to do Thy will.” Jesus Christ, in the fullness of time, stood up over His church and said, “I will bear the sins of many.” He stood up in the morning of the resurrection so that His church may come to know a living Savior who was victorious over the grave.

Take notice of the gift that Boaz gave to Ruth before he went to the gate. He told her to bring her veil and to hold it open. It says in the Bible that he “measured six measures of barley, and laid it on her.” Do you know why “six”? It was only six because seven is the number of fullness and completeness. Ruth’s life was not yet complete and full. Therefore six measures of barley that had been winnowed by Boaz were given unto her and laid upon her shoulders. Was she not able to pick it up herself? Yes, she was, but there is a wonderful thought in this. It was placed there by him so that she might realize the comfort from knowing that this gift was given to sustain her during their separation, during the time when she had to go home to Naomi and he had to go to the city and speak unto the near kinsman. She was given this gift so when she arrived at home, she would be able to say to Naomi, “I have received this of him.” What a blessing that was for her when she had to leave Boaz behind and walk alone towards her home.

Young and old, we are all upon the way to the last day of our lives. Has the greater Boaz ever laid something upon your back so that you do not have to travel alone in the darkness of the night? Search that out, and see whether He has given you the gift that will uphold you through the dark hours of the night. If He has, then He will take you unto Himself as promised.

— Rev. J. den Hoed
(Franklin Lakes, NJ)

— to be continued —

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