06
Cover Her
Jon Burgess“Who are you?” he asked. “I am your servant Ruth,” she replied. “Spread the corner of your covering over me, for you are my family redeemer.” “The LORD bless you, my daughter!” Boaz exclaimed. “You are showing even more family loyalty now than you did before, for you have not gone after a younger man, whether rich or poor. Now don’t worry about a thing, my daughter. I will do what is necessary, for everyone in town knows you are a virtuous woman.” Ruth 3:9-11 NLT
It was very much in accordance with the law that Boaz would be the redeemer of the family by taking Ruth as his wife. The family redeemer is one who acts in behalf of a relative in danger or in need. Ruth and Naomi were poor widows living off the leftovers of the land. They had no status or options in that culture to make a living for themselves. This moment we read of by the harvest grain pile in the middle of the night strikes us 21st Century readers as odd and awkward and possibly a little naughty. It was not the case. Both Ruth and Boaz acted honorably. Her request that she cover him allowed him to refuse without embarrassment to him or her as no one else was around to witness it. Boaz, being an older man was certainly surprised that she wouldn't pursue a relationship with a younger man closer to her age. Boaz, being alone with a young women in the middle of the night who was in every way dependent upon his kind response could have taken advantage of the situation and no one would have known. Who would believe the word of a poor Moabite women over a well established Israelite man afterall? The first thing Boaz does, however, is to reassure her that nothing inappropriate would happen that night. He would preserve her honor. In fact Boaz praises her qualities of selflessness, humility, wisdom and virtue. Boaz did more then cover her with a blanket against the cold. He covered her reputation, her identity, her security, her future. Boaz acted as a redeemer and covered Ruth. He knew how important that covering was for a woman because it was something offered to his ancestor Rahab by Joshua. Rahab was the prostitute mentioned in Joshua 6:25: "But Joshua spared Rahab the prostitute, with her family and all who belonged to her, because she hid the men Joshua had sent as spies to Jericho - and she lives among the Israelites to this day." Boaz knew that God had intervened in his story by covering Rahab and preserving her life after a lifetime of being uncovered by men for money. Boaz knew that he wouldn't have anything or even exist were it not for this redemptive act from Joshua. Now, Boaz had the opportunity to pay forward what had been done for his family through Joshua. This redemption of Rahab, this covering of Ruth, this restoration of provision and preserving of innocence was a foreshadowing. Jesus, the Son Of David, of the tribe of Judah, of the lineage of Boaz, would one day redeem all mankind through His sacrifice on the Cross! "In Him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace that he lavished on us." Ephesians 1:7 WE ARE COVERED!!!
Now we, as men of God, as heirs through the blood of Jesus Christ to the lineage of redemption just described, have the opportunity to pay forward what has been done for us. Today we take a cue from Joshua, from Boaz, from Jesus and we cover the women in our lives. Our culture continues to try and convince women that their only value or worth is found in how much is uncovered rather then in who God has made them to be. As men we often perpetuate this habit of uncovering God's daughters by seeking out pictures, watching movies, reading magazines, or telling jokes that uncover rather then cover our women. I look at Christs lineage, now mine, and thank God for Joshua covering Rahab, for Boaz covering Ruth and for Jesus covering me. I want to be a man like that. One of the greatest compliments Cyndi has ever given me is that I am a safe place for her. She doesn't have to worry about having it all together all the time because I cover her. She doesn't have to worry about me uncovering her because I wont undress women with my eyes. She doesn't have to fear I won't be there for her because we have a covenant love that keeps us one no matter what. I am far from perfect and I mess up all the time, but I keep no secrets from her or from my God. God covers me, I cover Cyndi, so there is no need for a cover up of the truth. We live in a world where God's daughters are needing men to step up and be the redeemers God has called us to be. It's time to point out the value and worth of our sisters in a way that turns them towards Christ and not ourselves. It's time to look away when a women is walking around uncovered and yet not shame them because of it. It's time to raise daughters and love wives and mentor sister and care for mothers the way Christ has done for us! It's Time To Cover Her!!!
Lord, I come before You today clean and pure and redeemed because You spread Your robes of righteousness over me when I was lost, poor, alone, ashamed and covered in sin. We live in world that features the daily uncovering of women on the nightly news. I pray that You would stir up an army of men who have been redeemed that become redeemers. I pray for men who have been covered by the blood to pay it forward and cover the women around us. Forgive me for where I have missed this before. Keep this purpose at the forefront of my thinking so that I do not forget what a privilege it is to serve my sisters, Your daughters until all have been redeemed through You Jesus Christ! Let Your church be a safe and healing place for all women to find their identity and covering in You!
