Ruth 3:9 (NASB)
He said, “Who are you?” And she answered, “I am Ruth your maid. So spread your covering over your maid, for you are a close relative.”
Bible Commentary
Ruth 3:9 is a Bible verse in the Old Testament where Ruth reciprocates to Boaz the faithfulness and respect he had shown to her.
Ruth was honored by having an entire book of the Bible named after her. She is known for her faithfulness and loyalty to Naomi, her mother-in-law. She not only pledged her loyalty to Naomi, but to the Lord God.
Faithfulness is a very admirable quality, but if we look further into where Ruth’s provision came from, we might recognize that she was only reciprocating that faithfulness. It was common in that day for families to live in the same house or at least on the same land as their parents. When Ruth married Naomi’s son, most likely they resided with Naomi and her husband, working the land together as a family.
So actually, Naomi and her husband first showed loyalty to Ruth when they welcomed her into the family household and lands. They received her as part of the family, just as we should do when someone marries into our family. We should love and support them as we would our own flesh and blood, for in essence once they are married, they are one with our son or daughter. So, they are family just as much as our son or daughter.
Even though Naomi suffered a crushing blow when her husband and sons died, Ruth reciprocated back to her the same faithfulness, love and support that she had received from them.
What we measure out gets measured back to us (Matthew 7:2). Naomi in her role as mother, welcomed Ruth as a daughter in her home, and Ruth mirrored that love and support back to Naomi.
Unlocking the Truth – A Faithful Bride
Back in those days, women were in a position of subjection to men1, and it was quite risky for a woman to be on her own without the protection of her husband or son. Boaz recognized this need for both Naomi and Ruth when they came back to Bethlehem, since they were both widows and without a man’s protection or provision.
He noted Ruth’s loyalty to her mother-in-law, and admired her faithfulness and discipline to not only stay with Naomi, but to leave her homeland and travel with Naomi to a foreign place that she would call her new home. Ruth then went to work out in the fields to provide food for herself and for Naomi. It would have been hard, back-breaking work, following the reapers to glean any leftovers, and also very risky, being out in the fields with men.
Boaz was an honorable man, and told Ruth to glean only in his fields with his maids, and commanded his men not to touch her. What a great relief for Ruth! Boaz admired her faithfulness, and rewarded her for it. Because of Ruth’s faithfulness to Naomi, God not only rewarded her through Boaz but also gave her another opportunity for greater reward.
Naomi sought security for Ruth, and therefore advised her to go to Boaz and lay at his feet while he was sleeping and uncover his feet. We see how Boaz responded in Ruth 3:9.
The Marriage Proposal
He said, “Who are you?” And she answered, “I am Ruth your maid. So spread your covering over your maid, for you are a close relative.”
This was a kind of marriage proposal, if you will. She made it clear that she recognized Boaz’s kindness toward her, and she basically pledged her loyalty back to Boaz and asked him to exercise his rightful place as near-kinsman, and marry her.
She was faithful again. She followed Naomi’s advice and reciprocated Boaz’s kindnesses toward her. God rewards our faithfulness (Matthew 6:12), and gives us more opportunities for rewards. We can almost hear the voice of God in what Boaz said next.
“May you be blessed of the Lord, my daughter. You have shown your last kindness to be better than the first by not going after young men, whether poor or rich. 11 Now, my daughter, do not fear. I will do for you whatever you ask, for all my people in the city know that you are a woman of excellence.” (Ruth 3:10-11)
This sounds like something a loving father would say to a daughter who followed his sound wisdom and advice. This is what our Heavenly Father says to His bride who follows Him and His sound wisdom, which He speaks to us through the Bible.
When God told us to love Him with all our hearts, all our minds and all our souls (Deuteronomy 6:5), He was asking us—no—commanding us to be faithful to Him, just as Jesus Christ was faithful when He went to the cross.
I pray that like Ruth, He finds us to be faithful servants, and even more so, a faithful bride to Jesus Christ. Amen. Study the Bible verse of Ruth 3:9 and receive the rewards of faithful love from the Father.
More Bible Verses about Marriage and Relationships
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