Insolomonsporch's Blog

“We are hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed –“ 2Cor 4:8-10 NKJV

“And he said, ‘Who are you?’ So she answered, I am Ruth, your maidservant. Take your maidservant under your wing, for you are a close relative.’” Ruth 3:9

Where you are safe!

Chances are you are feeling cooped up! A little constrained. Maybe even “hemmed in’’ by the current state of affairs nationally and globally.

But I want you to know, this state of things is no surprise to the Lord.  In fact, He has known every facet of this day and each day of your life, before it ever was. (Ps 139:16)

So, movement seems curtailed. Life put in a strait jacket of sorts, but look at the perspective the disciple Paul shares with us from 2Corinthians, and then a little about being safe under the Lord’s wing.

Paul describes here a corridor of movement for the Lord’s people.

They are hard-pressed … times and treatment are difficult for various reasons.

But they are not crushed!

They are slightly confused about all that is taking place and the reasons for it. So they are perplexed.

But they are not in despair.

The circumstances they face is bringing persecution.

But they are not forsaken…

They can even describe the hard knocks and blows as being struck down…

But they are not destroyed!

In short, in the times Paul described, and even now for us, we are constrained and life even curtailed.  But in being constrained – we are constrained in and by the Lord’s Love. His Love is and should be controlling, and urging, and impelling us! (2Cor 5:14)

Just like the picture above of the chicken tunnel, we are able to move but only as the tunnel allows. Take that as the Lord’s Sovereign hand of control and protection!

As you submit willingly to His hand of control, you willingly also abide in the secret place of safety under the covering of His divine wing or garment. (Ps 91:1)

The word for wing used in Ruth 3:9 is “kanaph.” It means wing, extremity, edge, winged, border, corner, shirt, skirt, corner (of garment).  It is in fact referring to the corner or fringe or hem of the tallit or prayer shawl that was worn by Hebrew men in the Old Testament.  Jesus Himself had such a garment and wore it.

So it is no surprise that Boaz, in the story of Ruth (as her Kinsmen-Redeemer and ours), also wears such a garment. It is being used here to cover Boaz as he sleeps. Ruth covers herself with it as she lays at his feet in the threshing floor scene.

The fascinating thing about the tallit is the fringes, or corners, were braided and knotted tassel like ropes. There were 613 of the fringes that corresponded to the oral laws that were given to Moses on Mt Sinai.

Just think of it… as Jesus Christ walked the earth, you had the Word Incarnate – Jesus, wearing a tallit with its tsitzit (the tassels or cords), being Himself submitted to the terms of the Law – even though He came in fulfillment of that very same Law! He wore and walked out for you and I, a perfect obedience and fulfillment to the Law because of His authority and because of His own submission to the Father. (Heb 10:7 & 9)

This is what Ruth was asking. She was asking to be covered by Boaz’s tallit, specifically to come under the protection of his authority – which was symbolic for the Lord’s authority in the greater perspective. She was looking for redemption and salvation from her Moabite heritage. She was looking for an entrance into the tribe of God and a place to belong. But she was also looking for a covering of protection and a place to walk in fellowship in family and the provision that could be supplied there. She was asking to belong to God and the people of God, and to not lack any good thing. And she was willing to abide there, even under the constraints that were for her safety and that of others. To be obedient, in other words…

It is in that very place – under the covering of the Lord, under His wing, where we abide in His authority, protection and safe-guarding, and under the banner of His name.

So how did Ruth, a Moabitess of scorned heritage, enter the fellowship of the people of God, and take her place under the tallit of Boaz, covered by his protection and authority?

She first submitted to Naomi’s council, walked out in obedience her direction, came before Boaz and asked for his covering, with every intention of complying and abiding there.

It is no different for us today. You can know this place of safety and protection in the same way, but you must be willing to accept the council of the word of God, walk in obedience to it, come before the Lord asking for His covering, with every intention of complying and abiding there – with His help.

May you find this place today!