RUTH 2 PART 2

Last week we talked about the meeting of Ruth and Boaz. We talked about the commitment Ruth had made to God and to Naomi.

We talked about Ruth’s character. Boaz even mentioned that he had heard good things about her and how she was sticking by Naomi. How she was respectful , hardworking, grateful and humble.

I read a quote this week from C S Lewis this week I would like to share

True humility is not thinking less of yourself; it is thinking of yourself less”

I think that is awesome, and that is what we see in Ruth and Boaz.

Her is the thing . We are in this story that I have heard from so many people that the appreciate. Lots of people love the book of Ruth . Its uplifting, but when you get down to it as much as we all love these people in this story. The character of the main characters in the book. This is a great book. These people are awesome and admirable people.

It says Boaz was a mighty man of valor which leads me to believe , with know real evidence to back it up that Boaz might of fought in battles at some point. This was the time of the Judges a very unstable period in the nation of Isreal. This was a time of lawlessness . This is a time of upheaval. The nation had started worshiping false Gods . It was a horrible time over all .

Through the book though Boaz doesn't go out and defeat the Philistines. Ruth was not a queen. She was not hiding people in her home to protect them.

These two people have been admired through the ages for doing what the were supposed to do. God used these two to for doing what the new was the right thing to do.

Boaz followed the law and let people glean His field. Ruth took care of her mother in law.

I'm not trying to steal any any credit from these two . Totally the opposite actually .

I admire these people the lived there lives in a way they new God wanted them to and the world was blessed by it.

I'm going on to long about this but isn’t that the goal.

Matthew 22:37–40 NKJV

Jesus said to him, “ ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.”

Maybe this is just for me . I know this is not a wonderful concept Tony came up with, but I spent a long time on oh Lord what is your calling on my life. After so much time and energy I had an epiphany.

Oh Lord what do you want me to do Lord. How do you want me to serve you. Do you want me to teach on Wednesday. Do you think I act to silly. Should I do this should I not do this. What do you want me to do . Then God told me. TONY READ MATTHEW 22 : 37-40

Matthew 22:37–40 NKJV

Jesus said to him, “ ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.”

God wants us to Love Him and as we serve Him He puts us where we need to be.

Boaz was a good man that loved God. He took care of his people he seems to care about others and God used Him. Ruth was a good woman made a commitment to God, took care of Naomi and God provided for her and used her . That is just awesome to me.

To quote a great lady “ I went a long way around the barn there, but for what ever reason that this popped out at me.

So Ruth goes out to a field to gather grain. It happens to be the field of Boaz. Boaz takes notice of her tells her to stay with his woman in the field . Warned His young men to treat her right and to drop some of the grain on purpose to help her.

He invites Ruth to eat with him. She ate some and saved some back for Naomi. Then she went back to work.

Ruth 2:17–18 NKJV

So she gleaned in the field until evening, and beat out what she had gleaned, and it was about an ephah of barley. Then she took it up and went into the city, and her mother-in-law saw what she had gleaned. So she brought out and gave to her what she had kept back after she had been satisfied.

So Ruth worked hard all day. She had a very eventful day. Hard work , met Boaz found favor in his eyes and was blessed by him. Her hard work and commitment paid off she has the permission to glean with Boaz protection through the entirety of the harvest. She gleaned what would be a little over 5 gal of grain for the day. That is quite a haul . Plus she was able to bring home some already prepared food to Naomi. All and all Ruth had a good day she was blessed she was provided for and in return she is providing for Naomi. Win Win

Ruth 2:19–20 NKJV

And her mother-in-law said to her, “Where have you gleaned today? And where did you work? Blessed be the one who took notice of you.” So she told her mother-in-law with whom she had worked, and said, “The man’s name with whom I worked today is Boaz.” Then Naomi said to her daughter-in-law, “Blessed be he of the Lord, who has not forsaken His kindness to the living and the dead!” And Naomi said to her, “This man is a relation of ours, one of our close relatives.”

Naomi can see the blessing that the Lord has given to them. So she says a blessing for this man . Not yet knowing that it was Boaz that blessed them but that they had been blessed.

This was a big deal here the had gathered about twice as mush as a person would normally in this situation likely enough for Naomi to do some bartering for other things they might have needed.

The goal was to get some food. To me this reminds me of the manna. Lord we are hungry we need food. God provided the source and Ruth picked it up.

This is a concept I'm not sure I have an ability to fully understand. I have never really prayed for food . I have given thanks for it often because I had it to give thanks for. I have gotten myself in some financial pickles in my life but I have not ever been in a position to were I felt starvation was a serious possibility. I've had times when steak was on the menu and times were I wondered how many things can you do with hamburger but not I[ have got to find food are I'm going to die.

I always ask the boys if they would like to pray before dinner. Hudson is pretty good about volunteering. He does a great job. Lord Jesus think you for this food think you for my mom and my dog Lucy. I wouldn't want to here him pray Lord Jesus please help me find a piece of bread. Wouldn't that be hard.

That is kind of were these lady's are. So this is a huge blessing. Food today food for at least the foreseeable future. God has went beyond there expectations.

So Ruth tells Naomi It was a man named Boaz that let me gather this

This is were Naomi really gets excited. Naomi realizes how significant this is.

She realizes Boaz is a kinsman redeemer. She realizes the bigger blessing God might have in store for them.

Deuteronomy 25:5–10 NKJV

“If brothers dwell together, and one of them dies and has no son, the widow of the dead man shall not be married to a stranger outside the family; her husband’s brother shall go in to her, take her as his wife, and perform the duty of a husband’s brother to her. And it shall be that the firstborn son which she bears will succeed to the name of his dead brother, that his name may not be blotted out of Israel. But if the man does not want to take his brother’s wife, then let his brother’s wife go up to the gate to the elders, and say, ‘My husband’s brother refuses to raise up a name to his brother in Israel; he will not perform the duty of my husband’s brother.’ Then the elders of his city shall call him and speak to him. But if he stands firm and says, ‘I do not want to take her,’ then his brother’s wife shall come to him in the presence of the elders, remove his sandal from his foot, spit in his face, and answer and say, ‘So shall it be done to the man who will not build up his brother’s house.’ And his name shall be called in Israel, ‘The house of him who had his sandal removed.

We have read this scripture at least once sense we have started this book. This is the only place in the law that permits for a man to merry his sister in law are a close relative.

This would take care of the widow of the dead man but that was not necessarily the main objective of the law. It was more about the dead man. If the man had died without a male air the mans linage could still be carried on in Israel and could still partake in the promise to Abraham .

Genesis 28:13–14 NKJV

And behold, the Lord stood above it and said: “I am the Lord God of Abraham your father and the God of Isaac; the land on which you lie I will give to you and your descendants. Also your descendants shall be as the dust of the earth; you shall spread abroad to the west and the east, to the north and the south; and in you and in your seed all the families of the earth shall be blessed.

The duty of a redeemer were great. It was not something to take lightly. The penalty for not excepting this responsibility was great as well. As if having someone take your shoe and spit in your face isn't bad enough. It was also a blemish on your name and that can be far reaching.

Numbers 35:19–21 NKJV

The avenger of blood himself shall put the murderer to death; when he meets him, he shall put him to death. If he pushes him out of hatred or, while lying in wait, hurls something at him so that he dies, or in enmity he strikes him with his hand so that he dies, the one who struck him shall surely be put to death. He is a murderer. The avenger of blood shall put the murderer to death when he meets him.

Another example of how important the blood of your family was in this culture

Leviticus 25:25–28 NKJV

‘If one of your brethren becomes poor, and has sold some of his possession, and if his redeeming relative comes to redeem it, then he may redeem what his brother sold. Or if the man has no one to redeem it, but he himself becomes able to redeem it, then let him count the years since its sale, and restore the remainder to the man to whom he sold it, that he may return to his possession. But if he is not able to have it restored to himself, then what was sold shall remain in the hand of him who bought it until the Year of Jubilee; and in the Jubilee it shall be released, and he shall return to his possession.

This also pertains to a brother being sold in to slavery. The idea of family bloodline was important part of the law. This has a much deeper impact than just making sure Ruth and Naomi are provided for. This is Elimelech’s family line .

So Naomi sees a bigger picture here and the picture is big this could mean protection and provision for her but also the linage of her family at this point that family line has ceased It has died without this law. without a redeemer. So she makes the statement

Ruth 2:20 NKJV

Then Naomi said to her daughter-in-law, “Blessed be he of the Lord, who has not forsaken His kindness to the living and the dead!” And Naomi said to her, “This man is a relation of ours, one of our close relatives.”

This is a woman like we have talked about has lost it all

Ruth 1:20–21 NKJV

But she said to them, “Do not call me Naomi; call me Mara, for the Almighty has dealt very bitterly with me. I went out full, and the Lord has brought me home again empty. Why do you call me Naomi, since the Lord has testified against me, and the Almighty has afflicted me?”

We talked a little about this a couple weeks ago . Was God actually punishing Naomi probably not

Isaiah 55:8–9 NKJV

“For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways,” says the Lord. “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways, And My thoughts than your thoughts.

Naomi new the Lord the God of Isreal was in control and she knows things turned out bad for her. Her boys died with no heirs Her husbands line had been wiped out. We talked last week she had not lost her faith she had lost her hope

Now she is seeing a way now she is seeing a hope for the future that God is providing. This is not about Boaz this is about God . God provided a way. weather Boaz are the other relative we will hear about next week God as provided a plan for redemption.

Ruth 2:21–23 NKJV

Ruth the Moabitess said, “He also said to me, ‘You shall stay close by my young men until they have finished all my harvest.’ ” And Naomi said to Ruth her daughter-in-law, “It is good, my daughter, that you go out with his young women, and that people do not meet you in any other field.” So she stayed close by the young women of Boaz, to glean until the end of barley harvest and wheat harvest; and she dwelt with her mother-in-law.

Naomi tells Ruth stay with his woman. This is the thing . This is an awesome story about faith, and character and love and all that but the world around them is still in term oil. There are bad people doing bad things . Naomi was trying to keep Ruth safe by staying put Ruth. Which we are not sure how young Ruth is at this time, but she listens to Naomi’s advice she stayed under her authority she was obedient. And she stayed under Boaz protection and grace clear to the end of the harvest which is the commitment Boaz had made up to this point.

Psalm 37:1–6 NKJV

Do not fret because of evildoers, Nor be envious of the workers of iniquity. For they shall soon be cut down like the grass, And wither as the green herb. Trust in the Lord, and do good; Dwell in the land, and feed on His faithfulness. Delight yourself also in the Lord, And He shall give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord, Trust also in Him, And He shall bring it to pass. He shall bring forth your righteousness as the light, And your justice as the noonday.