Mark the Place. Ruth 3:4. “And it shall be, when he lieth down, that thou shalt mark the place where he shall lie, and thou shalt go in,” We can learn lessons about our relationship and devotion to our Lord Jesus Christ by observing the place where we find Him lying in the Gospel accounts of His life on earth. The first time we see Him, He is lying in a manger in Bethlehem-Judah, in a simple setting. His life on earth as a divine child sent by God demonstrates His grace to us. He was sent by the Father to bring us to God. When He came to live among people, there was no grand fuss; instead, angels and heavenly hosts came from heaven to testify about Him. Shepherds came to where He was, and they were the first to “mark the place where He shall lie.”
His humanity was evident to frightened fishermen as He rested at the back of the boat. The storm raged around them, but with Him, the God-Man on board, those who “marked the place that He lay” were safe. The boat wouldn’t sink because there was more work for Him to do when He said, "Go to the other side.” Others might fear, but His work wasn’t finished until, on Calvary’s cross, He died to bring us to God.
We “mark the place” when we read about our Lord Jesus lying on the ground in the garden, praying aloud – “Not My will but Thine be done.” His loud crying and tears were not for Himself but for all the sins of those for whom He would make Himself a sacrifice. The prayer He made was such because no one else could bear sin’s heavy load and take away the sin of the world. His strength was there, but He lay in prayer as the blood and sweat on His face showed the agony of His soul.
When the cross-death was finished and light returned, the cost of sin was finally fully paid. Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus brought everything that was needed, and His body was placed in the new tomb. The One who had been seen lying in various places is now standing on His feet, no longer lying down under earthly weight; He is the Victor over sin, death, and hell. He ascended into heaven and sits in glory at the right hand of the Majesty on high.
We mark where He lay as we look back with grateful hearts, but now, we uncover His feet as the Mighty One. His feet are shod in brass as our Lord walks among saints in the gatherings of His people. There, He reveals Himself to us, who know Him and have been blessed with every benefit by grace; we see Him by faith in His place as our Lord. We will soon see Him who gave all for us, seated in the highest place, and we are with Him.
There is no question that every person is different in many ways, but fundamentally, there are two types. Those with a "me-first" and "here-I-am" attitude, and those with a "there-you-are" attitude. Some in the latter group hold a "God first, others second, and me last" mindset. To honor others involves self-sacrifice, which is not very popular among most people. Those who honor others will introduce shy individuals and highlight those who are often overlooked. They may even boast about a reticent person's achievements and listen with appreciation and interest to what others have to say.
Often, they are the ones in a group who encourage others' thoughts and lend credibility to what people say. Usually, they are steady in their work and value others' comments. They find it easy to praise others without trying to claim any part of that person's success. God honors the self-sacrificing person, not the "I did it my way" person. The Lord Jesus was the ultimate example of self-sacrifice. He gave Himself for others - for us - for me. Ruth was like that. Boaz was also a man who was sensitive to others, even though he was well-known and had a good reputation in Bethlehem. He was committed to helping Naomi and Ruth and did so without complaint. He did what was right, and he did it promptly.
Ordinary people make choices in their daily lives without much fuss because it is normal. However, a simple act can have lasting consequences that we may never realize in this lifetime. Someone who considers others might not understand why another person wants something done a certain way, but they may recognize that there is a valid reason behind their desires.
Ruth had committed herself to her mother-in-law while they were in Moab, and she was determined to keep that vow. When Naomi devised a plan to secure her future, Ruth faithfully carried it out, staying true to her promise. Quietly, Ruth followed Naomi's directions and discreetly made her way to the threshing floor, waiting unnoticed until Boaz had finished eating and drinking. Naomi had told her to "mark the place that he shall lie," probably so she wouldn't go to the wrong person. We need to do the same with our submission to the Lord, so we don't get sidetracked by other people's opinions. Self-sacrifice means risking our reputation to do what God wants, despite how others might see it—even when it doesn't seem reasonable to us.
To "uncover his feet" might have made Ruth worry about waking him or being seen as a woman of the wrong kind. A respected leader and a beautiful stranger from Moab could cause gossip in a community like Bethlehem. Ruth risked her reputation and dignity to keep her promise to Naomi. When we serve the Lord, our promises matter more than our popularity. Daniel "chose not to defile himself with the king's meat." Our Lord Jesus chose to show compassion for the needy rather than scorn for the failures of publicans and sinners.
Boaz and Ruth were resting there at night, with one sleeping peacefully and the other likely tense, scared, and uncertain about what might happen next. While she waited, she probably felt a lot of worry about the situation, but she trusted Naomi's wisdom, and "thy God shall be my God" had become real to her as she waited in the darkness for something to happen. Something startled Boaz awake, and he must have been shocked to find Ruth lying at his feet, probably full of fear. Boaz sensed a woman was present, but seemingly couldn't see her features in the dark. For the first time in Ruth's entire story, she identifies herself by her own name: "I am Ruth, thy handmaid." She presented herself as his servant—not a daughter-in-law, not a gleaner in the field, but a person in her own right. She was not "the Moabitess" but a "maidservant" who was now part of Israel—a household servant worthy of marriage.
Fear is a natural emotion we all experience. But when we trust that God has guided us to a certain time and place, we must leave the outcome in His sovereign hands. Being a child of God is significant. We might think we are ordinary and not worth much in God's kingdom, but it's important to remember who we are and what it means to be a son or daughter of the living God.
Ruth took a step by using the custom of "spreading thy skirt over thy handmaid" as a marriage proposal to Boaz. This was not an aggressive act of willpower but a recognition of her role, and his, as a kinsman-redeemer. That meant he was to marry the widow of a deceased relative to produce a child who would carry on the family line. Such a firstborn child would be Naomi's legal heir, ensuring the family name continued. In this case, Ruth was the substitute for Naomi, who was past childbearing age.
Faith knows no limits when we live according to God's word. We do not know all that God has prepared for those who love Him. Ruth made her proposal using the same words Boaz had prayed - "Under whose wings thou hast come to trust." Ruth was asking Boaz to answer his own prayer. This is not uncommon for those who love the Lord and want to please Him. Often, the answer to our prayer is in our own hands. "It is God who worketh in you..." Likely, Ruth felt fear and trepidation as she waited for Boaz's response.
What a relief it must have been when he praised her actions. He had previously praised her for being loyal to Naomi. He also commended her for leaving Moab and coming to Bethlehem. He probably saw this as another act of kindness toward Naomi, worth risking her reputation for her sake. Ruth did not come to him just for money or her own benefit, but to help Naomi and meet her need for an heir.
Self-sacrifice means paying the cost to meet another person's needs, even if we don't get what we want for ourselves. It is a principle in God's kingdom that greatness comes from being a servant. Our Lord Jesus Christ exemplifies this by becoming our Kinsman-Redeemer. Just as Jesus did, Boaz first eased Ruth's fears with kindness and words of compassion. He also accepted her proposal and, in a special way, praised her as a virtuous woman of noble character. Her strength, devotion, industry, and generosity were admirable, and this man of high standing honored her. Both individuals were people of high character, honor, respect, and dignity.
These qualities must be developed in each child of God and shown openly. Self-sacrifice in honoring others will bring glory to God and blessings to His people. Boaz answered his own prayer. Ruth's devotion to Naomi was rewarded. Self-sacrifice in honoring others gave them authenticity in their faith lives. These ordinary people simply cared about others, and the Lord rewarded them for their sacrifices.