Rut 3:15 | KingComments | STEP | Ruth does everything Boaz asks. She stays at his feet all night. Earlier we read that she “until evening” gleaned ears in the field of Boaz ( ). This means that she has been busy all day with gleaning. Here we see the two sides of Christendom. On the one hand we are working as sons of the day ( ) “as long as it is day” ( ). On the other hand, we live in the night of this world ( ) in the awareness that we are connected to a rejected Lord. In the night it is important to be close to Him, at His feet, which indicates fellowship with Him, to listen to Him ( ). Before the sun rises, Ruth rises. She does so because Boaz asks her to go. He does so out of care for her, for the sake of her good name. The relationship with Boaz is growing, but has not yet been fully established. Therefore, on his part, there cannot yet be an open declaration of his love for her. The Lord Jesus must first finish His work in a soul before He can openly show Himself in the life of such a person. In the life of someone who is not at peace with God through faith in the accomplished work of the Lord Jesus, He cannot become visible. There may be dedication and faithfulness, but these characteristics, however valuable, show more of one’s own person than of Him. And after all, it all has to be about Him alone. Although Boaz cannot yet openly acknowledge her as being connected with him, his kindness and grace toward her are not diminished. He gives her six measures of barley. Six is the number of man and indicates imperfection, while the number seven indicates perfection. She will receive the seventh measure in the next chapter in Boaz himself. Then she will have him and she will not only have something of his possession, but himself and in that way also everything he possesses. The barley she receives from Boaz is an explicit gift for Naomi ( ). It is a sign of his favor. He measured it himself. What Ruth received, Naomi also receives. Here we see again the relationship between Naomi and Ruth and thus a picture of the relationship between the old Israel and the remnant, which is the new Israel. The old Israel will be blessed in the future and that indeed, in the new Israel. This ancient Israel is not the Israel that has rejected God in His Son, but the Israel as God has always seen it in those who have remained faithful to Him. The old promises that applied to them are fulfilled to the remnant, while all of ancient Israel who have relied on Him will receive everything He has promised them. We see this also when the child that is born to Ruth, is attributed to Naomi ( ). What Ruth gains, Naomi gains too. Ancient Israel receives in the remnant all that God has promised to Israel.

‏ Ruth 3:15

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Ruth does everything Boaz asks. She stays at his feet all night. Earlier we read that she “until evening” gleaned ears in the field of Boaz (Rth 2:17a). This means that she has been busy all day with gleaning. Here we see the two sides of Christendom. On the one hand we are working as sons of the day (1Thes 5:4-8) “as long as it is day” (Jn 9:4). On the other hand, we live in the night of this world (Rom 13:12) in the awareness that we are connected to a rejected Lord. In the night it is important to be close to Him, at His feet, which indicates fellowship with Him, to listen to Him (Lk 10:39).

Before the sun rises, Ruth rises. She does so because Boaz asks her to go. He does so out of care for her, for the sake of her good name. The relationship with Boaz is growing, but has not yet been fully established. Therefore, on his part, there cannot yet be an open declaration of his love for her.

The Lord Jesus must first finish His work in a soul before He can openly show Himself in the life of such a person. In the life of someone who is not at peace with God through faith in the accomplished work of the Lord Jesus, He cannot become visible. There may be dedication and faithfulness, but these characteristics, however valuable, show more of one’s own person than of Him. And after all, it all has to be about Him alone.

Although Boaz cannot yet openly acknowledge her as being connected with him, his kindness and grace toward her are not diminished. He gives her six measures of barley. Six is the number of man and indicates imperfection, while the number seven indicates perfection. She will receive the seventh measure in the next chapter in Boaz himself. Then she will have him and she will not only have something of his possession, but himself and in that way also everything he possesses.

The barley she receives from Boaz is an explicit gift for Naomi (Rth 3:17). It is a sign of his favor. He measured it himself. What Ruth received, Naomi also receives. Here we see again the relationship between Naomi and Ruth and thus a picture of the relationship between the old Israel and the remnant, which is the new Israel. The old Israel will be blessed in the future and that indeed, in the new Israel.

This ancient Israel is not the Israel that has rejected God in His Son, but the Israel as God has always seen it in those who have remained faithful to Him. The old promises that applied to them are fulfilled to the remnant, while all of ancient Israel who have relied on Him will receive everything He has promised them. We see this also when the child that is born to Ruth, is attributed to Naomi (Rth 4:14-15). What Ruth gains, Naomi gains too. Ancient Israel receives in the remnant all that God has promised to Israel.