Spread Your Cloak Over Me

“I am Ruth, your slave,” she replied. “Spread your cloak over me, for you are a family redeemer.” Ruth 3:8

Spread your cloak over me means extend your protection, heritage, blessing, and love over me. Let me take refuge in your shelter. Make me part of your family and heritage. Take the responsibility as a family redeemer.

Boaz is compared to Jesus Christ. Ruth can be compared with you. We are asking Jesus to extend to us his love, protection, mercy and his kingdom and adopt the role of family head.

Spread your cloak over me is another way of pleading with God to extend the knowledge of God to humanity. Extend Trinity to humanity ie by extending its comprehension, knowledge and make us part of the Trinity.

Ruth spoke in a simple and straightforward manner. Firstly, Ruth reminded Boaz that she is servant and unworthy person i.e. reminded her nothingness before Boaz. Secondly, in nothingness she put forward her request.

Ruth reminded Boaz that she is of marriageable age, and asked Boaz to take the responsibility of her marriage. Naomi made Ruth to remind Boaz of his responsibilities rather than complaining about it.

Similar to this, the Holy Spirit prompts us to remind Jesus of our unfulfilled promises and responsibilities. In the same manner that Naomi pushes Ruth to visit Boaz, the Holy Spirit pushes us to meet Jesus about our problems.

This chapter describes Ruth’s marriage proposal. Ruth is instructed by Naomi to apply perfumed oil, put on her best clothing, and go to the threshing floor. It was a marriage proposal where the bridegroom was unaware. Instead of boy going to girl’s place, it was the opposite. Ruth enters the threshing floor at night, uncovers his feet and lies down at his feet.

Naomi was concerned about Ruth and wanted to find a home for her. Ruth comes from a society where second marriage and lust for younger men was common. Ruth leaves all this society, culture and follows the God of Naomi. Naomi is more concerned about Ruth than Ruth herself. Similarly, the Holy Spirit is more concerned about our future than we ourselves.

Ruth had to break some rules to fulfil Naomi’s request. A woman is not permitted to visit the threshing floor at night. Ruth went to the threshing floor, uncovered Boaz’s feet and slept at his feet. Ruth was laying down at the mercy of Boaz. Ruth left her self-esteem and was at the mercy of Boaz.

One thing we can learn from this is, we need to lay down at the feet of Triune God in the days of difficulty. When God finds you at his feet, he will surely vindicate your situation.

Ruth lays down her situations i.e. her difficulties, problems at the feet of Boaz. Ruth can directly approach the family redeemer but chose to depend on the mercy of Boaz. Ruth depended on mercy rather than coming in a deserving mode.

Ruth followed Naomi’s advice and visited Boaz at the appropriate time. Jesus is our family redeemer. During difficult situations we must listen to the Holy Spirit and approach Jesus in the proper way and at the appropriate moment.

Solomon had a promise of becoming the next king of Israel. But when he listened to the advice of Solomon’s mother and the prophet Nathan, the promise was realized. Nathan offered advice on how to approach King David and what to say to him. These actions and words paved the way for the fulfilment of the promise.

Holy Spirit’s guidance and Jesus’s authority are required for all decisions and promises in our lives to be fulfilled. Holy Spirit puts the right words, gives the right direction and guides to the right people for the promise to be fulfilled. Jesus’s authority fulfils all promises.

Solomon became king under the guidance of Bathsheba. Ruth got married under the guidance of Naomi. We also require the guidance and direction of the Holy Spirit in our lives.

Under the guidance of Holy Spirit, we can meet our Heavenly Boaz, uncover his feet, and lay down. Jesus’ role is to demonstrate his authority to address the issue and come up with a solution. For each issue, the Holy Spirit will direct you and reveal the precise location as to where and how to meet Jesus.

At Boaz’s feet, Ruth was in a position of either shame or resolution. If people learn, Ruth’s reputation will suffer. There will be a resolution if Ruth receives Boaz’s favour. Ruth’s survival depends on Boaz’s mercy. Accepting our inabilities and placing our trust in Jesus’ authority is faith.

Boaz comes from a wealthy and prosperous family. Spread your cloak means make me part of your rich heritage and let you fulfil the role of family redeemer.

Holy Spirit is aware of Jesus just like Naomi is aware of Boaz. We are like Ruth the Moabite woman. Ruth clung to Naomi, and we have to clung to the Holy Spirit then the Holy Spirit teaches us and lets us meet Jesus our bridegroom.