“He [Boaz] said, “Who are you?” And she answered, “I am Ruth, your servant. Spread your wings over your servant…”” – Ruth 3:9a

Scripture reading: Ruth 3:6-13

Startled Boaz wakes up to find a woman lying at his feet. He asks the obvious question, “Who are you?” Ruth responds with a theologically rich request. To understand her request we need to note the end of verse 7, “she… uncovered his feet and lay down.” The garment he had covered himself with, she pulls back to expose his feet. She then says, “Spread your wings over your servant.”

To grasp what’s going on you need to know that the word “wings” also means “corners of a garment.” She is asking, “Boaz, that garment of yours, that I’ve folded back to expose your feet, please spread the corner of that garment over me, please spread your wings over me.” One sojourning, fatherless widow requests her redeemer to spread his wings over her.

And to all of that, add what Boaz had said of Ruth in chapter 2:12. There he commends her for what she has done and adds, “and a full reward be given you by the LORD, the God of Israel, under whose wings you have come to take refuge!” Having taken shelter under God’s wings, she now asks Boaz to spread his wings over her, thus being God’s instrument for her well-being. He is after all “a redeemer.”

As we’ll see tomorrow, the richness of this scene only intensifies when we consider where else “wings” appear in Scripture. For today though, simply thank God for those He sends into your life to be His wings over you.

Suggestions for prayer

Petition God to help you understand the deep and rich theology of Scripture. Further, thank God for those He sends into your life to be His wings over you for your well-being.

Since 2019, Rev. Rodney Vermeulen has served the Attercliffe Canadian Reformed Church near Dunnville, Ontario, Canada. He, his wife, children and grandchildren are deeply grateful for the blessing of daily living under the shelter of God’s wings. Get this devotional delivered directly to your phone each day via our RP App. This devotional is made available by the Nearer To God Devotional team, who also make available in print, for purchase, at NTGDevotional.com.