ALPHA MAAMA (A.M.)

SIULAI 8, 2023 

A Risqué Marriage Proposal  כנף 

KO E LEA MALI ANGA KEHE

RUTH 3:7-9

AND WHEN BOAZ HAD EATEN AND DRUNK, AND HIS HEART WAS MERRY, HE WENT TO LIE DOWN AT THE END OF THE HEAP OF GRAIN. THEN [RUTH] CAME SOFTLY AND UNCOVERED HIS FEET AND LAY DOWN. AT MIDNIGHT THE MAN WAS STARTLED AND TURNED OVER, AND BEHOLD, A WOMAN LAY AT HIS FEET! HE SAID, "WHO ARE YOU?" AND SHE ANSWERED, "I AM RUTH, YOUR SERVANT. SPREAD YOUR WINGS OVER YOUR SERVANT, FOR YOU ARE A REDEEMER."

LUTE 3:7-9

7 Pea kuo ‘osi ‘a e kai mo inu ‘a Poasi, pea kuo ne lo‘imohea, ‘o ne ‘alu ‘o tokoto ‘i he tafa‘aki puke koane: pea toki faka‘ete‘ete mai ‘a e fefine, ‘o tatala ‘a e kafu ‘o hono va‘e, ‘o tokoto ai. 8 Pea ‘i he tu‘uapō, ‘iloange na‘e ‘oho ‘a e tangata, ‘o ne tafoki ke vakai: pea tā ko e fefine ‘oku tokoto mei va‘e. 9 Pea ne pehē, Ko hai koe? Pea ne tali, Ko Lute au, ko ho‘o kaunanga: ko ia ke ke fofola ho kafu ki ho‘o kaunanga, he ko e koeli koe.

Under cover of darkness, Ruth tiptoed to Boaz, who was snoozing after a hard day's work and some refreshing beverages. Since "feet" are often a biblical euphemism for private parts, she may have pulled back his cloak and lay down next to his partly naked body. Startled, he awoke and gasped. "Who are you?" It was the moment Ruth was waiting for. After identifying herself, she-in Hebrew fashion-popped the question: she asked him to "spread [his] wings" over her. A kanaf ("wing") refers to the corner of a garment. To "spread the kanaf" is to take a wife (Ezek. 16:8). Ruth is asking her go'el, her redeemer, to make her his bride.

This risqué marriage proposal exemplifies Ruth's courage and boldness. This woman of faith, who banked on the grace that her redeemer had already shown her (2:10), models for us the undaunted boldness with which we can approach our redeeming Lord.

Embolden our hearts, gracious Redeemer, to ask, seek, and knock, knowing you will answer.