“The Lord repay you for what you have done. And a full reward be given you by the Lord, the God of Israel, under whose wings you have come to take refuge.”
– Ruth 2:12
What a great line here in Ruth 2:12. This is Boaz speaking to Ruth as she is working in his field. Boaz has heard about how Ruth has served and been loyal to her mother-in-law, Naomi, and is now working in the field to try to provide for their family. And Boaz says, “The Lord repay you for what you’ve done. And a full reward be given you by the Lord, the God of Israel.” And then listen to this phrase, “under whose wings you have come to take refuge.” What a picture, of what it means to trust in God, to trust in the Lord, in Yahweh, the God of Israel. It’s to find refuge under the shadow of his wings.
Finding Refuge Under God’s Wings
Those who trust in Christ for salvation find refuge under God’s wings. Ruth 2:12 remind us there is no need for anxiety or fear under the wings of the God of the universe.
And just picture your life right there, right now. For all who have trusted in Jesus, all who know God, who are children of God, who have trusted in God’s grace to save them from their sins, to restore them into relationship with Him. For everyone who has done this, you have come to the God of the universe and under His wings you have refuge. Oh, I just want to encourage you with that today. I don’t know what’s going on in your life, but I want to encourage you.
No matter what is going on in your life, no matter what this world is bringing at you, you, right now, are under the refuge of the wings of God, of God himself.
Oh God, we praise you for this reality. I just pray over those who are listening right now that they would know, experience this reality today. That they would realize that they are under your wings, that you are their provider. You are their protector. You are, not only the one who protects and provides, you’re the one who loves and satisfies our souls, and we find refuge in you. Amidst the storms of this world, amidst the temptations of this world, amidst the trials that come at us in this world, you are our constant refuge. And we praise you for the privilege of finding refuge in you.
So help us to live with that awareness today. Help us not to be afraid, not to be anxious, not to worry about anything, because we know that we have found refuge under the wings of God as Ruth 2:12 says. All glory be to your name for taking us under your wings. You are our refuge and strength, and ever present help in trouble. Therefore, we will not fear. We trust in you. So God, we praise you for this. We pray you help us to live with this awareness today. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
David Platt serves as a pastor in metro Washington, D.C. He is the founder of Radical.
David received his Ph.D. from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary and is the author of Don’t Hold Back, Radical, Follow Me, Counter Culture, Something Needs to Change, Before You Vote, as well as the multiple volumes of the Christ-Centered Exposition Commentary series.
Along with his wife and children, he lives in the Washington, D.C. metro area.
