Until now, we’ve focused mainly on Ruth’s perspective in all of this, however, Boaz was also waiting for his mate. So, what was he doing? Was he daily praying earnestly? Was he looking at all the ‘maiden’ around working on his field, wondering who to chat up? or was it even on his mind? We’ve at least established that he was a godly man, who had demonstrated maturity and good character; he had built up his business and was certainly recognized in the community. He was someone who had been preparing himself to take on the responsibility of a wife.
In this harvest season, we find him working in the field gathering his produce and everything he had sown in the past to sustain him for the future. He was also in a season of winnowing (or separating) the good grain from the bad chaff. Likewise, this season for our future mate should signify a separation of the flesh from spirit, a cultivation of the desire of the things of God as he separates away the things of the world. It should also be a season of gathering for the future as he equips himself for the next phase of his life where his financial, emotional and physical capabilities will be called upon. All these represent his own season of preparation.
So, on this fateful night, after working hard at the threshing floor, he ate, drank and was merry, since Harvest was typically a time of feasting and celebration as described in Deuteronomy 16:13-16. After that, the bible records that he fell asleep. Just like at the Garden of Eden where God put Adam to sleep so he could fashion his mate and future helpmeet. Boaz, too, after this time of preparation, fell asleep as ‘providence’ brought his wife to his feet.
Being asleep, means God is working on him to remove his rib and close up his flesh as in Gen 2:21 To remove his rib is God taking from him that thing that he will only find in the suitable mate that God has designed to complement and support him. To close up his flesh is to mortify the things of the world in him; build up his character and deaden his senses to things that could distract him from God’s plan for his life.
Being asleep also means he cannot not see, be distracted or disturb while God is at work preparing his mate. It is therefore a necessary period for God to complete his work in you as he fashions you to become the helpmeet you need to be before He allows your mate to ‘see’ you (just imagine Adam waking up half way through Eve’s creation when she was half human, half dust?).
To awake prematurely is what the bible warns against 3 times in Songs of Solomon (I paraphrase), I beg you my girlfriends, please do not wake up or mess around with love until it is time! In other words, do not disturb, excite, flirt with or try to make things happen in your love life until God’s time is due because while God is preparing you, the best place for your future mate to be is asleep, and for you to rely on God to wake him at the right time when you are good and ready.
You see, God knows your future mate’s life is about to change dramatically; the responsibilities of having a wife, family to care for and the requirement to leave behind a godly heritage for his future generation means that God has to work on him to prepare him for this responsibility as he sleeps. So, it is safe to assume that while he’s asleep he’s not quite looking or seeing you, nor has he made any “move”, but the good news is the bible says in Romans 13:11 we know this is the season for him to wake up from his sleep: for now is salvation nearer to us than when we first believed.
Just as God brought Eve to Adam, and brought Ruth to Boaz’s feet, the prayer is God will complete the work he is doing in us; He will bring us fully dressed and prepared and will awaken our mates to see us. Believe and declare by faith that the vision will not tarry, and at the appointed time his eyes will be opened to recognise you as the bone of his bone and flesh of his flesh.
In Jesus name.
Scripture
Romans 13:11 Do this, knowing the season, that it is high time to awaken from sleep; for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed.
Prayer
Read Romans 13:11-14
Lord, I thank you for this season of preparation and for the journey I have been through. I thank you that my salvation is very near and I ask for your grace to obey every step and direction you give to me. I put on the armor of light and ask for your mercy to help me preserve myself until the very end; that I will not engage in any sinful activity nor will I seek to gratify my desires. I decree I will not stir up love outside your will, but I will wait on you while I clothe myself in Christ. I decree according to your will for my life and my mate’s, that you will awaken him to recognise the season and see me as the bone of his bone and flesh of his flesh. I ask that your Holy Spirit will remove every veil of darkness covering our sight and our eyes will be opened. In Jesus name.
Read Philippians 1:6
I thank you for this good work you have began in my future husband and mate. I decree that you will complete it and set him up as a man of godly character. That you will work in him to remove every wrong habit, character and close up his flesh to the things of this world. Holy Spirit, you will quicken his mortal body and you will awaken him into someone who walks in your ways and sincerely desires to seek and please God in every area of his life. I decree that he will awaken into the man you have called him to be in Christ. He will have an excellent spirit and take on his responsibility as my husband. He will excel in all he does and honor you. I decree you will establish him, increase him and bless every aspect of his life. I decree you will open up your windows of heaven and cause him to reap abundantly every good thing he has sown. I decree that you will equip him with the resources required to provide for me and our family. In Jesus name.
Read Songs of Solomon 4:16
Lord, I thank you for it is your will that in this season I will be brought to my mate. I decree that the wind of the Holy Spirit will flow and blow my fragrance that will attract the right man towards me. Holy Spirit, I decree that the fragrance of Christ upon us will draw us together and our love will be awakened at the right and purposed time. I decree I will keep myself for my mate who will come into my garden where I will reserve the choice fruits for him in marriage. I pray that you will strengthen us not yield to sexual temptation in our relationship, but we will conduct ourselves in a way that is holy and honorable as a living sacrifice to you. In Jesus name.
Holy Spirit, I sincerely seek and ask that you mould me into that person that will be a suitable helpmeet, that you will deposit in me the crucial things necessary for me to complement and support my mate in our future together. Work in me to become that virtuous woman whom you have created me to be.
In Jesus Name.
COMMENT ON THIS DEVOTIONAL HERE
Weekly message
This week Jimmy Evansteaches a very insightful message on “The secret of building a lasting marriage”. A must listen…Enjoy…
Listen here
Last week
Hope you listened to last weeks message which explained how dating in church is so heavily influenced by pop culture and the idea of romance. The bible has a very different view on how we meet and marry and its not at all about romance…what do you think?
