The true story of Ruth and Boaz is a great picture of Jesus and His bride, the Church. One of the most important lessons I think we can learn from it is our great need to come under the “skirt” of Jesus. Just like Ruth did with Boaz, we must do the same with Jesus.

Reading in Chapter three, we see that Naomi instructs Ruth, “and uncover his feet, and lay thee down; and he will tell thee what thou shalt do.” Ruth obeys and we read,

"And she went down unto the floor, and did according to all that her mother in law bade her. And when Boaz had eaten and drunk, and his heart was merry, he went to lie down at the end of the heap of corn: and she came softly, and uncovered his feet, and laid her down. And it came to pass at midnight, that the man was afraid, and turned himself: and, behold, a woman lay at his feet. And he said, Who art thou? And she answered, I am Ruth thine handmaid: spread therefore thy skirt over thine handmaid; for thou art a near kinsman." [Ruth 3:6-9]

Out of love for Boaz, and admoniton from Naomi (who represents Israel), Ruth was provoked to uncover Boaz’s skirt and lie under it. This was an act of submission – submitting to Boaz’s authority. It was a proposal. A beautiful picture of us, as Gentiles, who have found grace in Jesus’ sight, coming to Him and offering ourselves up to Him, submitting to Him and placing our faith in Him for salvation.

And notice where Boaz was sleeping. He was sleeping on the threshing floor (They did this to protect the wheat from robbers). Threshing represents judgment, it can also represent tribulation period. Here are a few passages (there are more) which show this concept,

"But they know not the thoughts of the LORD, neither understand they his counsel: for he shall gather them as the sheaves into the floor. Arise and thresh, O daughter of Zion: for I will make thine horn iron, and I will make thy hoofs brass: and thou shalt beat in pieces many people: and I will consecrate their gain unto the LORD, and their substance unto the Lord of the whole earth." [Mic 4:12-13]

"Thou didst march through the land in indignation, thou didst thresh the heathen in anger….When I heard, my belly trembled; my lips quivered at the voice: rottenness entered into my bones, and I trembled in myself, that I might rest in the day of trouble: when he cometh up unto the people, he will invade them with his troops." [Hab 3:12; 16]

"For thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; The daughter of Babylon is like a threshingfloor, it is time to thresh her: yet a little while, and the time of her harvest shall come." [Jer 51:33]

And thanks be to Jesus who has saved us from The Father’s wrath. For Paul writes,

"And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come." [1 Thess 1:10]

"For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ," [1 Thess 5:9]

From the book of Ruth, among many things, here we find that we must come to Jesus to avoid wrath. To escape The Father’s wrath upon the world, His judgment, we must come under the skirt of Jesus as it were.

CONCLUSION

Submit to Jesus Christ, allow Him to take you as His own. Jesus desires the best for us, and it is through Jesus alone by which one avoids the wrath of God.