Scene 2: Bethlehem

Intro

“ God moves in a mysterious way,

His wonders to perform.

He plants his footsteps in the sea,

and rides upon the storm.

Deep in unfathomable mines

of never failing skill,

He treasures up his bright designs

and works his sovereign will.

Ye fearful saints, fresh courage take,

the clouds ye so much dread

are big with mercy, and shall break

in blessings on your head.

Judge not the Lord by feeble sense,

but trust him for his grace;

Behind a frowning providence,

he hides a smiling face.

His purpose will ripen fast,

unfolding every hour;

the bud may have bitter taste,

but sweet will be the flower.

Blind unbelief is sure to err,

and san his work in vain:

God is his own interpreter,

and he will make it plain.

“God Moves in a Mysterious Way.” William Cowper, 1774

This is what we see in Ruth. God moving is quite a mysterious way. From Bethlehem, to Moab, and back God is moving not just in the lives of Ruth and Naomi, and not just in the life of a new character we will meet today, Boaz. But, He is moving throughout history, through generations of His people and into our lives through what we will study today in the life of Ruth.

Last week we found ourselves in Moab, the vile land of God’s enemies, much tragedy and provision took place in the first 18 verses of this book. Today, however, we see a change in scenery as Scene 2 begins back in small town of Bethlehem.

A Great Return

Moab did not treat Naomi well, there is no shock there. Like we discussed last week, when God’s people find themselves among God’s enemies, we can expect that things will go awry for us. Naomi, according to what we read in Scripture, did not sin to cause these things to happen, but her life right now is, as we will read, bitter.

But, although she cannot read ahead and find out, things will begin to change, not just for the town of Bethlehem in the time of the Judges, but in the town of Bethlehem in the time of Jesus, and consequently for us today.

Ruth 1:19–22 KJV 1900

So they two went until they came to Beth-lehem. And it came to pass, when they were come to Beth-lehem, that all the city was moved about them, and they said, Is this Naomi? And she said unto them, Call me not Naomi, call me Mara: for the Almighty hath dealt very bitterly with me. 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? So Naomi returned, and Ruth the Moabitess, her daughter in law, with her, which returned out of the country of Moab: and they came to Beth-lehem in the beginning of barley harvest.

As we look at this passage, we can feel the depression of Naomi, and in our human flesh, we cannot help but relate with her on this. Remember, she lost everything!

Naomi in the Hebrew language means “pleasant.” Naomi, we can assume, was a pleasant woman. So when the town sees them come in after over a decade they ask around, “Is this Naomi? Is this our pleasant friend?” But, when Naomi hears this, she disagrees with them whole heartedly. She responds “No, don’t call me pleasant anymore. Call me Mara (which in that same language means ‘bitter’), for the Almighty has gone out against me, the LORD has brought me back empty. The Almighty has brought calamity on me.”

It is interesting that Naomi uses these two names to describe God. Almighty, or Shaddai, we see often used in the book of Job. Job 8:3–5 “Doth God pervert judgment? Or doth the Almighty pervert justice? If thy children have sinned against him, And he have cast them away for their transgression; If thou wouldest seek unto God betimes, And make thy supplication to the Almighty;” We also see it in Job 11:7 “Canst thou by searching find out God? Canst thou find out the Almighty unto perfection?”

Then, when she calls Him LORD she is using the word YHWH or as it has been translated, Jehovah.

But what is so interesting about these two names is that Shaddai usually was used when describing God’s provision or His power, and YWHW was a very personal name, the covenant name God’s people used when talking about Him. This indicated that personal covenant relationship that promised that God would be with them always.

So, although Naomi was in the pits of despair, just like Job, she recognized her God as her provision and comforter still yet. She knew that God was the one who would be with her always. Was she bitter? Yeah, wouldn’t you be? But, like Naomi, we must remember that no matter the circumstance, God remains with us.

When God seems far, when surroundings seed foreign, when death or despair strikes, when we are lonely and in our grief and shame, God, YHWH, El Shaddai, is still with us and wants to bring us back to where we belong, to our hope in Christ, to our Bethlehem.

A Great return has taken place, Naomi is back in Bethlehem, where she belonged.

But, not without a constant reminder of the calamity that struck.

Ruth 1:22 “So Naomi returned, and Ruth the Moabitess, her daughter in law, with her, which returned out of the country of Moab: and they came to Beth-lehem in the beginning of barley harvest.”

As much as she loved Ruth, Ruth reminded her of all the calamity that took place in Moab, Ruth’s original home.

There are a few things about this great return that need to be noted before we continue on.

As Ruth and Naomi enter Bethlehem

Both women have real hurt

Ruth is devoted to Naomi and YHWH God, she has turned away from her Gods

Naomi’s sin did not cause this

They desperately need food and family.

A Great Work

And so, they get to work!

Ruth 2:1–7 KJV 1900

And Naomi had a kinsman of her husband’s, a mighty man of wealth, of the family of Elimelech; and his name was Boaz. And Ruth the Moabitess said unto Naomi, Let me now go to the field, and glean ears of corn after him in whose sight I shall find grace. And she said unto her, Go, my daughter. And she went, and came, and gleaned in the field after the reapers: and her hap was to light on a part of the field belonging unto Boaz, who was of the kindred of Elimelech. And, behold, Boaz came from Beth-lehem, and said unto the reapers, The Lord be with you. And they answered him, The Lord bless thee. Then said Boaz unto his servant that was set over the reapers, Whose damsel is this? And the servant that was set over the reapers answered and said, It is the Moabitish damsel that came back with Naomi out of the country of Moab: And she said, I pray you, let me glean and gather after the reapers among the sheaves: so she came, and hath continued even from the morning until now, that she tarried a little in the house.

Naomi knew, as we talked about last week, that in Bethlehem they would be taken care of, she knew the Kinsmen Redeemer laws, so she sent her young daughter in law to work the field, following behind the workers, picking up what they dropped.

This was more than a common practice for those in need in these early days, it was a command!

Leviticus 23:22 “And when ye reap the harvest of your land, thou shalt not make clean riddance of the corners of thy field when thou reapest, neither shalt thou gather any gleaning of thy harvest: thou shalt leave them unto the poor, and to the stranger: I am the Lord your God.”

But, why did Naomi pick Boaz?

First, we read that Boaz was a mighty man of wealth, other translations use the word “worthy.” More likely than not, this meant that Boaz had a worthy character, this was known throughout Bethlehem, but especially within the clan of her late husband Elimliech.

Another way for verse 1 to be translated is “Now Naomi had a relative of her husband’s, a worthy man of the clan of Elimilech, whose name was Boaz.”

From the “clan of Elimilech,” what does that mean?

In Hebrew culture at this time, family units were set up much differently than now. Everything started out in a Tribe, going back to the 12 tribes of Israel. Tribes broke down into clans, then families, then the individual. So, Boaz and Naomi’s late husband Elimilech were part of the same clan, and because of that, the same tribe as well. They were distantly related.

So, Ruth, after being told about Boaz, got on with a great work, she was, as she promised in chapter 1, going to take care of her and Naomi. She decided to go into Boaz’s field to glean with Naomi’s blessing.

In verse 3, it all begins, Boaz and Ruth “happen” to meet the Scripture says. But, this was no accident. This was a God ordained meeting that would shape the history of Israel and the Church for eternity. This was no accident.

As they meet, Boaz is immediately curious.

Ruth 2:5 “Then said Boaz unto his servant that was set over the reapers, Whose damsel is this?”

Boaz asks his servant, “whose the hottie?” No, more seriously, in his interest he asks “who is responsible for this poor widow?” Boaz, as we will read in a moment, knew that Ruth had noone to care for her. Surely he knew of Naomi and Elimilech and knew the dire situation Ruth and Naomi were in.

Boaz was a man of God, and followed the Laws us God. We see this by his allowing the poor to glean his fields, and by his interactions with the reapers in verse 4 “YHWH be with you!”

A great work that will change the world i s unfolding in Ruth chapter 2.

A Great Meeting

Ultimately this led to a great meeting.

Ruth 2:8–13 KJV 1900

Then said Boaz unto Ruth, Hearest thou not, my daughter? Go not to glean in another field, neither go from hence, but abide here fast by my maidens: Let thine eyes be on the field that they do reap, and go thou after them: have I not charged the young men that they shall not touch thee? and when thou art athirst, go unto the vessels, and drink of that which the young men have drawn. Then she fell on her face, and bowed herself to the ground, and said unto him, Why have I found grace in thine eyes, that thou shouldest take knowledge of me, seeing I am a stranger? And Boaz answered and said unto her, It hath fully been shewed me, all that thou hast done unto thy mother in law since the death of thine husband: and how thou hast left thy father and thy mother, and the land of thy nativity, and art come unto a people which thou knewest not heretofore. The Lord recompense thy work, and a full reward be given thee of the Lord God of Israel, under whose wings thou art come to trust. Then she said, Let me find favour in thy sight, my lord; for that thou hast comforted me, and for that thou hast spoken friendly unto thine handmaid, though I be not like unto one of thine handmaidens.

Boaz knew that she had noone in the world to care for her, so he decided he would. Not only did he allow gleaning, but he cared for her above and beyond. Follow the other women doing the same, nobody will bother you, and if you get thirsty, help yourself to my supply!

Ruth was overwhelmed, fell to her face and asked an all important question “Why have I found favor in your eyes that you should take notice of me, since I am a foreigner?”

Church, the value, the historical significance, the amazement in that question should resonate with us. As we see God through Boaz, we, as gentiles, must think the same thing. “Oh God, as a sinner, as one born not in the lineage of Abraham, why have you found favor on me? Why should you care about me?”

And, God’s answer is very similar to Boaz’s. Love.

Ruth 2:11–12 KJV 1900

And Boaz answered and said unto her, It hath fully been shewed me, all that thou hast done unto thy mother in law since the death of thine husband: and how thou hast left thy father and thy mother, and the land of thy nativity, and art come unto a people which thou knewest not heretofore. The Lord recompense thy work, and a full reward be given thee of the Lord God of Israel, under whose wings thou art come to trust.

Ruth, again responded with an overwhelmed spirit Ruth 2:13 “Then she said, Let me find favour in thy sight, my lord; for that thou hast comforted me, and for that thou hast spoken friendly unto thine handmaid, though I be not like unto one of thine handmaidens.”

Ruth believed she found favor in Boaz simply because he told her and began to show her.

Do we believe God? Or do we question His unfailing love and faithfulness to us?

Boaz continued his care for her

Ruth 2:14–16 KJV 1900

And Boaz said unto her, At mealtime come thou hither, and eat of the bread, and dip thy morsel in the vinegar. And she sat beside the reapers: and he reached her parched corn, and she did eat, and was sufficed, and left. And when she was risen up to glean, Boaz commanded his young men, saying, Let her glean even among the sheaves, and reproach her not: And let fall also some of the handfuls of purpose for her, and leave them, that she may glean them, and rebuke her not.

Boaz went above and beyond to care for Ruth, even commanding his men to throw out some extra handfuls for her to glean.

This is a direct picture of our God. Not only does He meet our needs, but He provides more than we could ever ask or think He genuinely cares for us above all other creation.

This passage exemplifies Jesus’ invitation to us for redemption and restoration.

And, we see that there was a great result to this return, work, and meeting.

A Great Result

Ruth 2:17–23 KJV 1900

So she gleaned in the field until even, and beat out that she had gleaned: and it was about an ephah of barley. 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. 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. 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. And Ruth the Moabitess said, He said unto me also, Thou shalt keep fast by my young men, until they have ended all my harvest. And Naomi said unto Ruth her daughter in law, It is good, my daughter, that thou go out with his maidens, that they meet thee not in any other field. So she kept fast by the maidens of Boaz to glean unto the end of barley harvest and of wheat harvest; and dwelt with her mother in law.

First and foremost, we see that Ruth, that day, gleaned an ephah of barley, thats between 30-50lbs or a half a months wages.

Problem number one was solved, they had food.

Problem number two was yet to be solved, the problem of family.

In the KJV we read about this kindmen, but in other translations that word is “redeemer.” And, as we have talked about, we see that position being filled by Boaz.

But, what is a redeemer in the OT?

Genesis 48:15–16 KJV 1900

And he blessed Joseph, and said, God, before whom my fathers Abraham and Isaac did walk, the God which fed me all my life long unto this day, The Angel which redeemed me from all evil, bless the lads; and let my name be named on them, and the name of my fathers Abraham and Isaac; and let them grow into a multitude in the midst of the earth.

In Genesis we see it refer to a salvation of sorts

Exodus 6:2–7 KJV 1900

And God spake unto Moses, and said unto him, I am the Lord: And I appeared unto Abraham, unto Isaac, and unto Jacob, by the name of God Almighty, but by my name JEHOVAH was I not known to them. And I have also established my covenant with them, to give them the land of Canaan, the land of their pilgrimage, wherein they were strangers. And I have also heard the groaning of the children of Israel, whom the Egyptians keep in bondage; and I have remembered my covenant. Wherefore say unto the children of Israel, I am the Lord, and I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians, and I will rid you out of their bondage, and I will redeem you with a stretched out arm, and with great judgments: And I will take you to me for a people, and I will be to you a God: and ye shall know that I am the Lord your God, which bringeth you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians.

Again, in Exodus we see how God is redeeming His children. Saving them from evil. Bringing them back to Himself.

Leviticus 25:25–27 KJV 1900

If thy brother be waxen poor, and hath sold away some of his possession, and if any of his kin come to redeem it, then shall he redeem that which his brother sold. And if the man have none to redeem it, and himself be able to redeem it; Then let him count the years of the sale thereof, and restore the overplus unto the man to whom he sold it; that he may return unto his possession.

And, here is the real kicker, a kinsmen redeemer as we have read is a kin who comes to redeem, to save, to bring back to himself those who are poor and destitute.

This is what we see in Boaz. in Ruth 2:19-20 we see how Naomi realized the value of this connection with Boaz, but how Ruth did not. Ruth says “some guy names Boaz let me glean today,” to which Naomi replied “This man is a close relative of ours, one of our redeemers.”

Naomi and Ruth are about to be redeemed by Boaz. They are about to be released from the bondage of being poor widows in the Ancient Near East. They are being supernaturally and naturally taken care of by God through Boaz. They are being saved from death.

I hope you can see the connection between this story, this real story, and our relationship with Jesus. Our Redeemer who naturally and supernaturally takes care of us. Who saves us from eternal death.

Who invites us in to be redeemed and restored to Himself.

Who put Himself on the line for our sakes.

Jesus is our Redeemer.

Jesus is inviting you to redemption today.

SONG

Conclusion

I think so often we find ourselves in similar situations as Ruth and Naomi.

We have lost our pleasantness, we have become bitter, we have become depressed. Through loss and pain we have lost sight of our redeemer.

At the end of this chapter, we can see that Naomi is gaining some of her pleasant demeanor back, but only because of their redeemer, Boaz.

This morning, maybe you are bitter. Maybe your circumstances, you family, your job, have left you bitter. Hopeless.

Maybe you feel as Ruth and Naomi did, hopeless.

Greater than any kinsmen redeemer in all of the OT is the Great Redeemer of our Souls, Jesus.

Jesus can restore you, save you, and bring you back to a place of pleasantness. But, you have to trust Him with your life. You have to, like Ruth, turn from your sin and follow Him.

Would you do that today?

Maybe you have and you are still feeling these emotions. Naomi can relate to that.

Let me ask you, where are you spiritually? Are you in Moab? Are you in a land of dispair where God is not? Are you far from the Lord? Return to Bethlehem today. Return to God today.

It is never too late to stop what you are doing and say “God, I am in the wrong, I am sorry!” And turn back to Him.

Naomi and Ruth returned. They worked. They met their redeemer. And the result was, they were taken care of. Do you need to be taken care of?

Come pray!