Ruth and Boaz...but not in that way.

For Christian singles everywhere, there's one love story other than that of Jesus and the cross with which we are familiar. That is...*drumroll please*...Ruth and Boaz. However, I am not going to approach the story from its traditional angle but while re-reading chapter 3, and reading some commentary I saw the story from another angle.

If you've never read the book of Ruth before; you would need to read chapters 1 and 2 to get the context for chapter 3. In this chapter we have learnt that Boaz has expressed a love interest in Ruth and upon the advice of her mother-in-law, Naomi, (again, you will need to read the first two chapters), she meets him on the threshing floor, in the deep cover of night. As she lies at his feet, can you imagine what's going through her head. Could she bare to think with her heart pounding through her chest? Aside from that, it must have been cold, she might have been sweating. What would he think when he wakes up and finds her craddled next to his feet?

Alas, he awakes and she asks him to spread his skirt over her. Wow! Heavy stuff. You won't find this stuff in Mills and Boon- or whatever is in now. But, this was her 'proposal acceptance' of sorts, you kinsman redeemer you! Hubba, hubba.

Anyway, he acknowledged her and expressed his happiness that she chose him an older man and not one of the young tigers. Assured of her feelings, he lets her know that there's a kinsman nearer to him and she must wait to see how the matter turns out; as first thing in the morning he'll see if he (the nearer kinsman) is interested, and if not- he'll return to her and take her away to be his wife.

Boy this may have been nerve-wrecking for both Ruth and Boaz. Him being so close to love but so far, and her, having to wait to see the outcome.

However, the verse that took me aback is verse 9. See: "Ruth 3:9". In the Hebrew language it is said that skirt and wings derive from the same word. For us Christians, we say to God, spread your wings over me. I want to be under your care and protection. I want to be your bride. Hide me under your wing where I am safe (Psalm 17:8)- #mindblown.

Christ continues to pursue us. We have been through tough situations, life has beaten us 'round the head and oppressed. To which God responds, you are persecuted not abandoned, struck down but not destroyed 2 Corinthians 4:9. However, there's a safe place in God- in a covenant with God.

I don't know about you, but the topics of patience, faith, grace and dependence on God spoke to me and I thank God for His revelation.

For further reading view the Ruth 3 commentary by Matthew Henry.