Ruth Pt. 8

Ruth 2:17-20 17 So she gleaned in the field until even, and beat out that she had gleaned: and it was about an ephah of barley. 18 And she took it up, and went into the city: and her mother in law saw what she had gleaned: and she brought forth, and gave to her that she had reserved after she was sufficed. 19 And her mother in law said unto her, Where hast thou gleaned to day? and where wroughtest thou? blessed be he that did take knowledge of thee. And she shewed her mother in law with whom she had wrought, and said, The man's name with whom I wrought to day is Boaz. 20 And Naomi said unto her daughter in law, Blessed be he of the LORD, who hath not left off his kindness to the living and to the dead. And Naomi said unto her, The man is near of kin unto us, one of our next kinsmen.

The Mercy of Bethlehem

I. The Presentation of Mercy

V. 18 And she took it up, and went into the city: and her mother in law saw what she had gleaned: and she brought forth, and gave to her that she had reserved after she was sufficed.

Mercy - That benevolence (The disposition to do good), mildness or tenderness of heart which disposes a person to overlook injuries, or to treat an offender better than he deserves

Remember that this is Naomi or Mara as she has now named herself. This is the one who was so bitter at God, at the things of God, and at the people of God. Now we see God, through His servants Boaz and Ruth, saying to her, “Bethlehem is still right here. I am still right here. And you can still trust me!” Naomi did not deserve what she was being given. This is God saying to her, “No matter how you treat me, I will still love you.”

II. The Realization of Mercy

Vs. 19-20 19 And her mother in law said unto her, Where hast thou gleaned to day? and where wroughtest thou? blessed be he that did take knowledge of thee. And she shewed her mother in law with whom she had wrought, and said, The man's name with whom I wrought to day is Boaz. 20 And Naomi said unto her daughter in law, Blessed be he of the LORD, who hath not left off his kindness to the living and to the dead.

Naomi here is coming to the realization of what Paul wrote in

2 Timothy 2:13 If we believe not, yet he abideth faithful: he cannot deny himself.

Without fail she immediately recognizes the Lord’s hand in this and begins to render unto Him thanksgiving and blessing. – Dr. James Jones

Notice in verse 20 that she is not referred to as Mara as she had named herself in chapter 1. Why is that?

Then Ruth 1:20-21 20 And she said unto them, Call me not Naomi, call me Mara: for the Almighty hath dealt very bitterly with me. 21 I went out full, and the LORD hath brought me home again empty: why then call ye me Naomi, seeing the LORD hath testified against me, and the Almighty hath afflicted me?

Now Ruth 2:20 And Naomi said unto her daughter in law, Blessed be he of the LORD, who hath not left off his kindness to the living and to the dead.

The difference is that she has seen that the Lord is not bound by our faithfulness, He is bound by HIS faithfulness. In chapter one she thought everything was about her. In chapter two she begins to realize that everything is about HIM.