#33

“I will give you treasures of darkness and hidden riches of the Secret Place, that you may know that I, the Lord, Who calls you by your name, am the God of Israel.”  Isaiah 45:3

“When he lies down, note the place where he is lying.  Then go and uncover his feet and lie down.  He will tell you what to do…Ruth approached quietly, uncovered his feet and lay down…So she lay at his feet until morning.”  Ruth 3:4b, 7b, 14a

Ruth finds herself at the Threshing Floor.  She slips in quietly and sees her master lying on the floor.  She approaches and lays down at his feet, surrendering herself to the will of the one who has authority over her. 

I believe she was frightened, trembling at this odd request from Naomi, not knowing how this situation was going to benefit her.  “Naomi was not suggesting a seductive act, but she was instructing her to act in accordance with Israelite custom and law.  It was common for a servant to lie at the feet of their master and even share a part of his covering.”  (NIV Life Application Study Bible)  As we have noted several times before, Ruth was not accustomed to Naomi’s way of doing things, but she trusted and loved her enough to be obedient, no matter the cost. 

Surrender:  to give oneself up into the power of another: Yield.
Yield:  to give up (as one’s breath) and so die; to surrender or relinquish to the physical control of another:  hand over possession of; to bear or bring forth as a natural product esp. as a result of cultivation; to be fruitful or productive.  Submit.
Submit:  to yield oneself to the authority or will of another:  Surrender.  Yield.
(Merriam-Webster’s Dictionary)

Surrender, Yield, Submit…

Surrender…sweet surrender…to the Master.  To give myself up into the power of the one true God.  To give myself up, my very breath, and die to His will.  To give myself up, handing over possession of myself to Him.  To give myself up to His authority.  To give myself up; therefore bearing and bringing forth fruit.  To give myself up so I can share His covering.

Surrender, Yield, Submit…
Let’s think about “yield” in military terms.  When a soldier comes in contact with their superior, they stop and give their full attention to that superior – no matter what else is going on around them, they never take their eyes from the authority nor drop their posture until they are dismissed---yielding, surrendering, submitting to the authority.

Last Sunday morning in church, I had a “comical” vision of yielding.  I do not know why because there was nothing being spoken about yielding.  I will attempt to share it now, as I believe it was for such a time as this. This was literally going through my mind like cartoon characters:   I saw a General in the military standing still and a soldier coming around the corner, whistling, hands in pocket, nonchalantly going about his day.  As he rounded the corner, he saw the General, and immediately “snapped to attention”, stopping in his tracks with his hand in salutation.  He never took his eyes from the General, nor dropped his hand, for the General had not dismissed him nor told him to be “at ease”.  Suddenly, a little short character (whom I knew was a little devil), came running up behind that soldier.  The soldier never missed a beat, but sensing the presence of the enemy, he “drop kicked” the little devil by kicking his leg behind him, sending the little devil rolling in the dirt.  The little devil came at him again, and again, and again.  Every time, the soldier never took his eyes off the General, and the only thing that moved each time was his leg, kicking that little character and sending him for another roll in the dirt.  Finally, the little devil “tucked tail” and left in defeat.    

“Endure hardship with us like a good soldier of Christ Jesus.  No one serving as a soldier gets involved in civilian affairs—he wants to please his Commanding Officer.”  2 Timothy 2:4

Surrender, Yield, Submit…

“Submit yourselves, then, to God.  Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.  Come near to God and He will come near to you.”  James 4:7-8a

Surrender, Yield, Submit…
“I love those who love Me, and those who seek Me find Me.  With Me are riches and honor, enduring wealth and prosperity.  My fruit is better than fine gold; what I yield surpasses choice silver.  I walk in the way of righteousness, along the paths of justice, bestowing wealth on those who love Me and making their treasuries full.”  Proverbs 8:17-21

Surrender, Yield, Submit…

“Humble yourselves before the Lord, and He will lift you up.”  James 4:10 
Lay at His feet until morning; enjoy the Master’s covering.

Surrender, Yield, Submit…

Go to the Secret Place, find where the Master is lying, approach Him, uncover His feet and lay it all down.  Become humble to His authority, bow my knees to His glory and to His grace…and He will lift me up, making me productive and bearing eternal fruit, bestowing wealth on me and making my treasuries full!

Surrender, Yield, Submit…I surrender ALL!
Surrender, Yield, Submit…I will bow my knee and rise on eagles’ wings!