Under His Almighty Wings

Thistlebend Quiet eMoment

by Laurie Aker

Focus Scripture: Ruth 3:1-9 ESV

1 Then Naomi her mother-in-law said to her,

“My daughter, should I not seek rest for you,

that it may be well with you?

2 Is not Boaz our relative, with whose young women you were?

See, he is winnowing barley tonight at the threshing floor.

3 Wash therefore and anoint yourself,

and put on your cloak and go down to the threshing floor,

but do not make yourself known to the man

until he has finished eating and drinking.

4 But when he lies down, observe the place where he lies.

Then go and uncover his feet and lie down,

and he will tell you what to do.”

5 And she replied, “All that you say I will do.”

6 So she went down to the threshing floor

and did just as her mother-in-law had commanded 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 grain.

Then she came softly and uncovered his feet and lay down.

8 At midnight the man was startled and turned over,

and behold, a woman lay at his feet!

9 He said, “Who are you?”

And she answered, “I am Ruth, your servant.

Spread your wings over your servant, for you are a redeemer.”

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We are all familiar with your basic characters

in the Christmas story, but today I’m excited to

introduce you to another commonly overlooked player.

Without her obedience, the story could have

turned out much differently. I am referring to Ruth.

You may know her story, that she was widowed

and followed her mother-in-law to another town.

In her new town her mother-in-law encouraged her

to seek out a important man in the village from their lineage.

This man’s name was Boaz.

This proved to be a crucial decision

for the genealogy of Jesus Christ.

Matthew 1:2-6

2 Abraham was the father of Isaac,

and Isaac the father of Jacob,

and Jacob the father of Judah and his brothers,

3 and Judah the father of Perez and Zerah by Tamar,

and Perez the father of Hezron,

and Hezron the father of Ram,

4 and Ram the father of Amminadab,

and Amminadab the father of Nahshon,

and Nahshon the father of Salmon,

5 and Salmon the father of Boaz by Rahab,

and Boaz the father of Obed by Ruth,

and Obed the father of Jesse,

6 and Jesse the father of David the king.

From the descendants of David,

Jesus was born to Mary and Joseph.

I believe this can be traced back to an act of obedience

on the part of Ruth. And in that act of obedience

we see a beautiful picture of what I believe

God has in store for you and me

this holiday season.

Ruth approached Boaz as he was sleeping to

ask him if he would choose her as a bride.

This act was very bold and daring on her part.

Ruth 3:9

“He said, ‘Who are you?’

And she answered, ‘I am Ruth, your servant.

Spread your wings over your servant,

for you are a redeemer.'”

There are two significant words

in Ruth’s response: redeemer and wings.

The Hebrew word for redeemer is a legal

term used for one who has the obligation to redeem

a relative in serious difficulty (cf. Lev 25:25-55).

Ruth, being widowed and caring for her mother-in-law,

in a new town, saw herself in the midst of a very difficult time.

She needed a redeemer to save her from her circumstances.

‘Wings’ is a term that can speak of God’s protection.

Psalm 91:1-4

1 He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High

will abide in the shadow of the Almighty.