Love Note 3: "Tarry..."

OK, it's 3am, I should be sleeping (weekends worsen my insomnia because I tend to stay up late, which messes with my nocturnal clock), but I was lying in bed, listening to Ruth again when I had to jump up and write a love note!

Piggybacking off of my "Beautifully Broken" post (I'm not an Ashlee Simpson fan but I like the title), I'll reiterate that Ruth is such a sweet book, particularly in light of its typical nature. Again, Boaz, as a "type" of Christ is such a heartwarming figure: Though he is "a mighty man of wealth" (Ruth 2:1), and though he could've taken advantage of the situation because of his wealth and because Ruth was gleaning in his field, his approach and dealings with her were so gentle, just as our wealthy, powerful King is so gentle with us.

The scripture that made me jump out of bed was Ruth 3:13:

"Tarry this night, and it shall be in the morning, that if he will perform unto thee the part of a kinsman, well; let him do the kinsman's part: but if he will not do the part of a kinsman to thee, then will I do the part of a kinsman to thee, as the LORD liveth: lie down until the morning."

This is what Boaz said to Ruth when she came to him at night, laid at his feet, and asked him to spread his skirt over her (to marry her).

Two things struck me: 

1. Boaz desperately wanted to keep Ruth by his side. TWICE in the same scripture, he told her to remain near him ("Tarry this night..." and "lie down until the morning"). 

Actually, you can see this theme--Boaz' desire to keep Ruth near him--throughout the story: "Go not to glean in another field, neither go from hence, but abide here fast by my maidens" (Ruth 2:8), "At mealtime come thou hither, and eat of the bread..." (Ruth 2:14).

2. Boaz knew that he might potentially lose Ruth the next morning as there was a nearer kinsman who had the legal right to redeem her and become her husband (Ruth 3:12-13). This makes the time they spent together all the more special. It's clear from the story that from the moment he laid eyes on her, he loved her. Yet, the very next day, he could lose her! He knew this! Perhaps this is why twice he asked Ruth to remain near him that night.

This theme of nearness, an almost desperately passionate desire for the Beloved to keep his love near Him, by His side, this jealous, possessive, obsessive love--we see it over and over again throughout the Bible and I've written about it over and over again, especially in my love notes.

But it never gets old, does it?

I never tire of reading about how Jesus loves me with a love that consumes like fire. I never tire of reading that the King wants me to tarry, to remain with Him, by His side, at His feet, in His arms, close to His heart. Now. Always.