A Beautiful God

A Beautiful God

Ruth 2:1-13

Now Naomi had a kinsman of her husband, a man of great wealth, of the family of Elimelech, whose name was Boaz.

2 And Ruth the Moabitess said to Naomi, “Please let me go to the field and glean among the ears of grain after one in whose sight I may find favor.” And she said to her, “Go, my daughter.”

3 So she departed and went and gleaned in the field after the reapers; and she happened to come to the portion of the field belonging to Boaz, who was of the family of Elimelech.

4 Now behold, Boaz came from Bethlehem and said to the reapers, “May the Lord be with you.” And they said to him, “May the Lord bless you.”

5 Then Boaz said to his servant who was in charge of the reapers, “Whose young woman is this?”

6 The servant in charge of the reapers replied, “She is the young Moabite woman who returned with Naomi from the land of Moab.

7“And she said, ‘Please let me glean and gather after the reapers among the sheaves.’ Thus she came and has remained from the morning until now; she has been sitting in the house for a little while.”

8 Then Boaz said to Ruth, “Listen carefully, my daughter. Do not go to glean in another field; furthermore, do not go on from this one, but stay here with my maids.

9“Let your eyes be on the field which they reap and go after them. Indeed, I have commanded the servants not to touch you. When you are thirsty, go to the water jars and drink from what the servants draw.”

10 Then she fell on her face, bowing to the ground and said to him, “Why have I found favor in your sight that you should take notice of me, since I am a foreigner?”

11 Boaz replied to her, “All that you have done for your mother-in-law after the death of your husband has been fully reported to me, and how you left your father and your mother and the land of your birth and came to a people that you did not previously know.

12“May the Lord reward your work, and your wages be full from the Lord, the God of Israel, under whose wings you have come to seek refuge.”

13 Then she said, “I have found favor in your sight, my lord, for you have comforted me and indeed have spoken kindly to your maidservant, though I am not like one of your maidservants.” [1] (pray)

There are some things in this world that are so beautiful they take your breath away. Things that we can see, taste, touch, and smell, things that are spectacular. This week Tammy and I were up north at Rush Lake. Rush Lake is a body of water that God carved right out of the Montmorency National Forest.

It serves as a refuge for wildlife. The Loon and the waterfowl live there. All the Greatlakes fish live there. The deer and the bear drink and live off the water.

When the sun sets over the lake, the sky turns an incredible burning orange, and the lake becomes a mirror image of the forest surrounding it, and it is spectacular.

But what makes it so incredible is not the water, the trees, and the sky, but the beautiful light of God shinning through those things reflecting God’s glory on top of the water.

That is what we see in this story. We see a spectacular God. This is one of the most beautiful pieces of literature ever written. But what makes it beautiful is not the writing. This is just a narrative about a conversation taking place between people. What makes it beautiful is we see the reflection of God’s character in the story.

Boaz and Ruth are presented as ordinary people, who meet in a field as they go about their everyday lives. Yet they are incredible examples for us to follow because we see God’s light shining through them.

That is what the world is supposed to see from the life of a Christian. Our lives are supposed to be a reflection of God’s character and grace. We are supposed to be a breathtaking example of who God is for all the world to see.

The first thing I want you to see in this story is the character of Boaz, Vs. 4-5, 8-9. Maybe this is the first time you have ever heard of Boaz. If so, this passage paints a picture for us of the kind of man he was. I wrote down a few things that stand out to me about him. He was caring, sincere, Godly, thoughtful, wise, respectful, and respected. You might say that Boaz was a true gentleman, and he serves a prominent role model for us as men.

He is a strong man and that is just what this story needs. In fact, that is what this world needs. We live in a time when the world is telling us, “There is no such thing as biological men and women.” That a person’s gender should not be assigned to them at birth.

And you can see the incredible confusion this kind of thinking creates in the world. But, the bible makes it clear from the beginning God made them male and female. And the world needs strong men and brave women to be exactly who God created them to be.

Boaz was a true man. He was an honorable man. Remember this story takes place during the time of the judges, when honorable men were hard to find. In the book of Judges, we are presented with men like Gideon, who was hiding in the mountains, begging God for a sign, or Sampson who was a hero. Yet, he was sleeping with Delilah, a prostitute who would betray him. It is against that backdrop that Boaz emerges, and there was not one man alive that could touch his character.

We believe Boaz was an older man, probably closer to the age of Naomi than to Ruth. We don’t believe he was a married man. It seems highly unlikely from the story because he will later marry Ruth, and it would be an incredible contradiction of his character if she were his second wife.

Notice the greeting in Vs. 4. “Now behold, Boaz came from Bethlehem and said to the reapers, “May the Lord be with you.” And they said to him, “May the Lord bless you.”

How many of you greet your teachers, your boss, or your co-workers this way? This isn’t just a casual greeting this is a blessing.

God is at the center of everything he is about. It is obvious that Boaz cared about those who worked for Him. These are more than servants to him; these are people who matter to him.

He is not a difficult man to work for, but he is a man that serves those who serve him. He is a man of responsibility.

He is also a man of awareness. He notices there is a stranger in the field. There is a woman he doesn’t recognize. Notice what he says in Vs. 5. He doesn’t ask who this young woman is but, “whose is this young woman.”

In other words, who does she belong too, and now we are given a glimpse into what becomes an incredible romance. She catches his eye, and he has become aware of her presence in the field.

Notice the protection in Vs. 8-9. “Then Boaz said to Ruth, “Listen carefully, my daughter. Do not go to glean in another field; furthermore, do not go on from this one, but stay here with my maids. “Let your eyes be on the field which they reap and go after them. Indeed, I have commanded the servants not to touch you.

He cares for her. He values her safety and dignity. He doesn’t want her to glean in another field but to be content with where she is, because he knows what is best for her.

I can’t help but think about how this reminds me of our relationship with God. Paul teaches us in1 Tim. 6:6, that Godliness with contentment is great gain. God knows what is best for us. He wants us to live according to His Word and find our contentment in the fellowship of the church and not from the world.

Ruth was a foreigner, and she could easily be abused and mistreated if she goes to any other field. So, Boaz is encouraging her to be satisfied with what he has to offer. He is a prime example of a strong, protective man, something that all men should want to be.

We need men like Boaz today. Let me be clear, I am not talking about the kind of strong man that wants to challenge you to a wrestling match.

I am not talking about the kind of strong man that thinks he has to drink beer and talk nasty. I’m talking about the kind of man that stands up for what he believes in and takes responsibility for his family.

Notice the provision. Look at the end of Vs. 9, it says, “When you are thirsty, go to the water jars and drink from what the servants draw.”[2] All that Ruth needed was provided for her by Boaz. All she had to do was go and drink of it.

There is an echo here we find throughout the scripture. We find it in Isaiah 55:1, where God says, “Ho, everyone who thirsts come to the waters, and you who have no money come, buy and eat.”

We see it again from Jesus in John 7:37-38, “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink. He who believes in me, from his innermost being will flow rivers of living water.” We can rejoice knowing that God offers us a drink from the water only He can provide.

The question is are you finding your satisfaction from the Lord. Are you content gleaning from the fields that God has provided. The things of the world are only temporary, and they only satisfy for a moment, but we have a God who satisfies for an eternity.

So, here we see the character of Boaz and how he reflects the character of God. He was strong protective man that cared about the people around him.

The next thing I want you to see in this passage is the Character of Ruth, Vs. 7 & 10. From Boaz we see an example of a Godly man who is honorable. From Ruth we have an example of a Godly woman with a servant’s heart.

Vs. 7 changed my entire perception of Ruth. Up to this point I had pictured her as shy, quiet, and unassuming, and she is very respectful and courteous. But in verse 7 we see a boldness that I had not noticed until now.

Notice her persistence, Vs. 7 says, she asked to “glean among the sheaves.” That is a bold request. It is one thing to glean in the back behind the reapers but something very different to glean among the sheaves. That is right where they are cutting and stacking the stalks to be bundled.

That tells us Ruth is seizing the initiative. Now, I realize this is consistent with what we see from her in this story. Remember she took the initiative to follow Naomi back to Bethlehem. She wouldn’t take no for an answer. And now she is boldly asking for the best. She has come here to work, and she says, “Please let me work where I can get what I need.”

She reminds me of Jacob when he wrestled with God. He refused to let go until God blessed him. Well, Ruth isn’t going to quit until she receives God’s blessing.

Notice her diligence. Look at what the servant says about her in Vs. 7. “Thus, she came and has remained from the morning until now; she has been sitting in the house for a little while.”

This is a difficult translation. None of our translations are good. The ESV is the closest. It says, she has only rested a little bit.

First of all, there were no houses out in the fields. And the NIV gets this wrong because this word “houses” is never translated as a shelter.

What vs. 7 is literally saying is, “She has been here all day working hard and has barely taken a break. She has made this field her home.” She is a prime example of a Proverbs 31 woman. She wakes up early and provides food for her family.

Not only is she diligent but, notice her humility. Vs. 10 says, “Then she fell on her face, bowing to the ground and said to him, “Why have I found favor in your sight that you should take notice of me, since I am a foreigner?”

This is a response of appreciation from Ruth for what Boaz has done. There is no sense of entitlement in her. She doesn’t act like she deserves anything. She knows she is not worthy of the goodness and kindness she is being shown. So, she literally falls on her face before him.

Do you ever consider what Jesus has done for you? Are you humbled by the grace of God? Ruth knows she doesn’t deserve what she is being offered and we should understand the same thing today.

We are not entitled to anything from God. God’s gift comes through the cross of Jesus Christ, and we don’t deserve that, but He invites us to come, and we should be as stunned and grateful as Ruth.

Throughout the Bible, God’s chosen were marked by humility. When God called Moses to be His deliverer. He said, “Who am I Lord, that you would send me.” When God called Isaiah to be His prophet, Isaiah said, “Woe is me, for I am a man of unclean lips.” And when God’s Son, came into the world He said, “He did not come to be served but to serve and give His life as a ransom for many.”

The Bible teaches that God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble, and that’s what we see in this story.

There is a beautiful light of God shining through Ruth in a way we can all learn from. She was determined and she was diligent, but she was humble.

The final thing I want to show you in this passage is the character of God, Vs. 12. What makes Boaz and Ruth who they are is the character of God.

Vs. 12 begins with an idea that makes us very uncomfortable as Baptist. It says, “May the Lord reward your work and your wages be full from the Lord.” This looks a little too much like salvation by works. It looks like Ruth is being rewarded, by God, because she has worked so hard and now, she has earned God’s favor. But that’s not the way it works.

Certainly, she has earned the favor of Boaz. He was aware of her kindness and faithfulness to Naomi, and he wanted to honor her because of that. But she had not earned the favor of God. We don’t work for our blessing. Salvation a gift that came through the cross of Jesus Christ, and our reward is in heaven. But certainly, God was using Boaz to bless Ruth.

But notice where her blessing came from, look at the end of Vs. 12, “The God of Israel, under whose wings you have come to seek refuge.” The blessing begins the moment we come under the wings of God and seek the refuge. This is one of the most beautiful descriptions of God in the Bible. He is the God of refuge.

We see Him described that way throughout the Psalms. For example,

Psalm 91:1-2, He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High

Will abide in the shadow of the Almighty.

I will say to the Lord, “My refuge and my fortress,

My God, in whom I trust!” [3]

Psalm 36:7 says, How precious is Your lovingkindness, O God!

And the children of men take refuge in the shadow of Your wings. [4]

Psalm 57:1 says, Be gracious to me, O God, be gracious to me,

For my soul takes refuge in You;

And in the shadow of Your wings, I will take refuge

Until destruction passes by. [5]

It is important we understand a refugee isn’t someone who brags about doing something. A refugee isn’t someone who has earned the shelter and protection they are provided. A refugee is a person in need, who flees from a desperate situation in search of help.

On the news we see refugees who have come to America, and they are complaining about their living conditions and the food they are given to eat. And the government compounds the problem by giving them tax-payer handouts. A true refugee isn’t looking for a handout, but they are looking for a hand up. Notice Ruth was willing to work for what she could get, and she was grateful for what she was given.

That is the true spirit of a refugee. A refugee is someone who is vulnerable, someone who’s life depends on finding a safe place of shelter and security. That is the way you and I must come to the Lord. We must first recognize that without Christ we are lost and without hope.

Jesus is our refuge. He is the one we find shelter in. He is the one who raises us up to a new life. We can’t earn that, and we can’t do anything to deserve it.

Every Christian is a refugee, because every Christian realizes they are vulnerable and helpless, standing in the path of the wrath of God, just like a house standing in the path of a tornado. Every Christian knows they deserve hell for the sin in their life, but God offers us grace instead, in the form of a cross that save us.

I was challenged this week by this story. I was challenged to consider the character of my life compared to that of Boaz and Ruth. Because Boaz and Ruth stand as a shinning example of the character of God. They reflect God’s glory. They reflect God’s grace.

And I had to ask myself; Does my character reflect God’s character? Does my speech, and my life allow people to hear and see Jesus in me? Can people confide in me, can they come to me when they are hurting and desperate and find refuge?

What we learn from this story is a Christian’s life is to be a reflection of the character and grace of God.

[1] New American Standard Bible: 1995 update (Ru 2:1–13). (1995). The Lockman Foundation. [2] New American Standard Bible: 1995 update (Ru 2:9). (1995). The Lockman Foundation. [3] New American Standard Bible: 1995 update (Ps 91:1–2). (1995). The Lockman Foundation. [4] New American Standard Bible: 1995 update (Ps 36:7). (1995). The Lockman Foundation. [5] New American Standard Bible: 1995 update (Ps 57:1). (1995). The Lockman Foundation.