by John O’Malley
“And she went down unto the floor, and did according to all that her mother in law bade her. 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. And it came to pass at midnight, that the man was afraid, and turned himself: and, behold, a woman lay at his feet” (Ruth 3:6-8).
Ruth had listened carefully to all that she was told to do. Naomi knew that, if Boaz was to be presented with their petition, nothing should be a distraction to him. Ruth devoted the time needed to present herself to Boaz. No one could ever know all of Ruth’s thoughts, but one wonders if it might have been like this:
“Yes , Mother! I will do it. I will gladly accept this responsibility. Oh, how wonderful Jehovah is to have made this provision in His law for a soul like me.” With delight she headed to bathe; the time spent cleansing her body would give her the time to prepare her heart for the moment of meeting Boaz as lord of the harvest and lord of her heart. “I hope he is pleased with me. I did try to work earnestly in his employ. I know he has shown his care for me in the matters of the harvest, but now this is all about matters of the heart.”
With care, she cleansed away the dust of the harvest and the despair from her heart. Her time of washing helped wash and pack away all of the memories of Mahlon, Moab, and the misery of widowhood. “This is a new day! God has given me a way to honor my husband’s name while giving me hope for my heart!”
“What fragrance will I choose? I hope it is not too strong nor to subtle. I hope he will find it pleasing.” Her skin glistened as she carefully applied the perfumed oil. The fragrance of oil from the apothecary seemed just right. Its soothing quality was experienced both on the skin and in the room as the subtle fragrance from the perfume permeated the room. “You know, it seems the time of washing and anointing has a way of calming the heart as much as it does cleansing the skin.”
Now the challenge of the ages for all women came: “What will I wear? Certainly, he would appreciate this selection!” The raiment of a godly woman was meant to draw him to her heart. She did not need to display her flesh to appeal to his flesh. She would simply dress to attract Boaz’s heart to her own.
“What a beautiful evening!” The harvest evening, lit with moonlight, brightened her pathway down to the threshing floor. Each step toward the threshing floor brought her further from Moab and closer to God’s man for her life. She could see him now in the distance; the lamps would light the threshingfloor and reveal the object of her affection.
“Boaz,” she thought within. “Oh Boaz…My Boaz! I must wait until he has finished with his work. I wish I could bring him his meal, but perhaps that day will come soon. I must find a corner in the darkness and wait until he is sleeping on the reward of a hard day and a good meal.” The soft breezes could have easily carried her perfume to Boaz, so she positioned herself accordingly and watched as this man worked, ate, and prepared for bed.
“Look at that heap of corn. How is it that such a heap of corn could be there? He has made sure I have had plenty, yet God has blessed him so. He has worked so hard today! He seems quite content with the day’s work and the harvest’s ending. Oh, look at him now! His eyes have gotten heavy. He is making a spot for himself now. When those lamps go out, it seems I will have five steps or so to get to his feet. I will mark this spot in my mind and walk softly to the place. I wonder how long it will be until he awakes and discovers me there.
“Naomi made it clear; this is a proper way to present myself to him. I will uncover his feet and lie down at his feet. By lying at his feet, I will show him I am not improper in my motives; I just want to know if he will redeem our family’s name.”
With tender care, she softly walked from her place of concealment to his feet. “Oh, here is the spot. I will lift the covering ever so gently. I want him to awake, but not quite yet. I want to treasure this moment to its fullest. Lord, I thank You for saving me from Moab. Thank You for Your goodness in letting me meet Boaz. Lord, whenever You choose to wake him, may I be pleasing to him. Please allow him to accept me and fulfill my need of a kinsman-redeemer. May Your will be done in my life.”
She was not sure if the chill she felt was from the breezes or from the excitement that raced through her being. His feet were just below her bosom; never had she been so close to him. Being there with him was enough to warm her heart. “Oh, when he awakes, what will be his first words? Will he be angry? Will he accept me?”
It seems that, in such moments, time would stand still. Minutes seem as hours; hours seem as days. Midnight approached, as thoughts of tomorrow filled Ruth’s mind. “No matter the hour, his answer is worth the wait. I will wait and be ready for his answer.”
The midnight hour would not prevent a response from Boaz; nor does the midnight hour hinder an answer from our Eternal Boaz. Oh, child of God, with your heart cleansed from the dirt of this world, you can find Him in the darkness. In the hopelessness of any hour, midnight included, you can retrieve the answer for your heart’s question.