Why did David feel bad for cutting King Saul’s robe (2 Samuel 24:1-7)? And why did Ruth ask Boaz to spread the corner of his garment over her (Ruth 3:1-14, KJV)? What do fringes in these stories have in common, and how could these insights be significant to us today?
WHY THE FRINGES?
The Pharisees emphasized…of their religious garments…the blue fringes at the corners of the mantle (Numbers 15:37-38; Deuteronomy 22:12), which the Pharisees enlarged. Christ condemned them, for their pride concerning these things without the appreciation of their true value, when he said that the Pharisees “make broad their phylacteries, and enlarge the borders of their garments” (Matthew 23:5)
Wycliffe Bible Encyclopedia
Why would God command the Jews to wear these fringes? They were a visible reminder to obey the law (Numbers 15:39), but seemed to turn into a visible sign of obedience. Like the clergymen’s white collars today, they then took on added meaning. First of holiness, then of assumed extra approval by God, then likely even of specially-sanctioned authority by God.
WHY THE DESPERATION?
In Matthew 14:34-36 and Mark 6:56,
And when they had crossed over, they came to land at Gennesaret. And when the men of that place recognized him, they sent around to all that region and brought to him all who were sick and implored him that they might only touch the fringe of his garment. And as many as touched it were made well.
New International Version
And wherever he came, in villages, cities, or countryside, they laid the sick in the marketplaces and implored him that they might touch even the fringe of his garment. And as many as touched it were made well.
The woman in Matthew 9:20-22, Mark 5:25-34 and Luke 8:43-48 was unclean because of her discharge of blood. She wasn’t allowed to be around people because she’d make them unclean if they just bumped her. But she was desperate. And she was certain she could touch those fringes without being caught. To her utter amazement, she was not only exposed, but offered peace with healing!
WHY THE ROMANCE?
In Ruth 3, KJV,
The expression “spread the corner of your garment” implies protection, and here signifies protection of a conjugal nature. When marriages were solemnized among the Israelites, the man threw the skirt of his talith or robe over his wife and covered her head with it.
The New Manners & Customs of the Bible
Today in the west, where appearance means so much and faith means so little, romance often becomes so selfish. How beautiful when God works in two lives the mutual respect that brings what God meant for romance: protection, provision, submission, holy conduct, friendship and comfort.
WHY THE REGRET?
David was anointed as a teenage boy to become king someday. This meant replacing King Saul and his son Jonathan, whom David later loved. What mixed feelings David would’ve had, who conscientiously loved and served his king. To find himself fleeing for his life from the same. David loved and married Saul’s daughter, loved and fought alongside his dearest friend. Then he found his wife married to another and Jonathan fleeing for his own life, for David’s sake.
Without wanting to harm his king or dearest friend, David had to flee and hide. What a difficult life that was. After probably a few long years of this, while hiding in a cave with his men, they saw Saul come in to relieve himself.
We don’t know the details, but I’m guessing it wasn’t easy for David to slip forward unnoticed by Saul. It was an effort to do something to prove that David would spare Saul’s life, yet remain unseen. So I suspect to cut Saul’s robe was a last-minute, desperate decision. And I’m guessing it wasn’t until after David did it that he realized symbolically what it would appear to mean, or at least imply. It was Saul’s authority, cut away from Saul, taken by David. The regret of his tender conscience was over mere symbolism.
SYMBOLISM AND CHURCH LIFE TODAY
I covered in my last 3 blogs how we can make our rituals—our symbolism—more significant. Why? Because symbolism matters more than we’re inclined to think it does. In fact, it matters on 3 levels we tend to overlook. Our hearts are the primary concern, and what goes on within them while we act out our symbolism. Secondly, our obedience matters. And thirdly, our conduct before others matters. We should be accountable to, and definitely influence, each other.
This last reason is how we’re culturally most removed from bible times. They were so much more community-based, driven, focused and bound. Today in our churches we need to develop more of this culture.
WHY MY BLOGGING MAY SOON, OR EVENTUALLY, DRY UP
My original goal when I set out to blog 2 years ago was to make the Bible more real to people. So that we could all envision it better, understand and relate to it, and wisely apply it better. It was so refreshing to research and write for it. But I didn’t think I could go for this long with so many new and fresh ideas! Now I’m wondering even more whether I can keep this up. You as a community–my blog readers–may want to pray God will help me, or at least be forewarned. I know he has helped me until now. And thanks for your interest!
Above picture of David and Saul, Ruth and Boaz, and fringes of the Pharisees
