Ruth 2

Ruth Chapter 2

Last week we went through chapter one of Ruth which serves to set our story up. We were introduced to some of our key characters Ruth and Naomi and learned through their background the value of a loving friend when we are in need. With chapter two we start to get into what you could say is the story proper. As you are turning there to chapter two let me sum up what happens at the very end of chapter one.

After Ruths declaration of love to Naomi and her unwillingness to leave they set out for Bethlehem. Upon their arrival the people are wondering if this was Naomi, it is important to note that her name in Hebrew means sweet. Naomi still bitter and hurt from her losses tells them not to call her this anymore but to call her Mara which means bitter in Hebrew. We see that Naomi though she has found the will to live and carry on she is still not ok. It is ok for us to take some time to grieve and hurt. Just because we know that God is good and in control does not always immediately fix all our problems and so we see Naomi continue to hurt and work out her healing process. Important to see here though is the time of year that this take place in which is the beginning of the barley harvest. This is a time when grain was abundant and everyone was set to work harvesting the grain.

Ruth 2:1–3 “There was a relative of Naomi’s husband, a man of great wealth, of the family of Elimelech. His name was Boaz. So Ruth the Moabitess said to Naomi, “Please let me go to the field, and glean heads of grain after him in whose sight I may find favor.” And she said to her, “Go, my daughter.” Then she left, and went and gleaned in the field after the reapers. And she happened to come to the part of the field belonging to Boaz, who was of the family of Elimelech.”

There are times in the Old Testament where it assumes you know the laws of Leviticus and I am wagering that none of you have read through though the book before and if you have probably don’t have the law memorized. One really cool law within it though is designed to take care of the poor and weak in the world. Those who have nothing were allowed to follow behind the reapers of the field. The reapers were ordered not to take all that they could but to leave some behind and all that was left behind was given to those in need. It ensured that the needy still had to work for what they had but they were taken care of.

Ruth hears that they have a relative that is very wealthy and asks Naomi if she could go and work in his fields so that maybe he would notice her and help them and of course Naomi agrees and so Ruth sets out.

Ruth 2:4–5 “Now behold, Boaz came from Bethlehem, and said to the reapers, “The Lord be with you!” And they answered him, “The Lord bless you!” Then Boaz said to his servant who was in charge of the reapers, “Whose young woman is this?””

First let us take a look at the character of Boaz given to us. Our first thing to note about him is how he greets his workers with a call and response. Nothing of himself mentioned but only that the Lord be with them and then they say the Lord bless Him. This simple call and response greeting shows that Boaz is not like the lawless generation that surrounds him but is still a man of God who knows that the Lord reigns and should be honored in all circumstances. Secondly, we see that he notices Ruth is not one of the regular workers. He is not some arrogant lord of the land that takes no notice of the workers but knows them likely by name and recognizes that she is not one of their usual workers. Not only does he notice she is different but he takes the time to care and ask who she is.

So often in our life we are caught up in our own world and we fail to do these two simple things. First in our life we should be ensuring God is glorified. We take time out in every interaction to mention His goodness even if it is as simple as when someone asks you how you’re doing you respond with great thanks to God. I am not saying you have to preach a sermon all the time but a constant recognition of His Lordship in your life goes a long way over time. Second, we don’t take the time to notice the people around us. When was the last time you talked to someone like really had a conversation with someone who wasn’t your friend or family? We distract ourself and look right over hurting people who need us to show them the light of the gospel not because we hate them or have ill will but simply because we don’t think about it. Be more aware of the people that God is putting in your proximity and see who is God trying to get you to reach out to.

Now let us take a look at the workers answer to his question and see what we can learn about Ruth.

Ruth 2:6–7 “So the servant who was in charge of the reapers answered and said, “It is the young Moabite woman who came back with Naomi from the country of Moab. And she said, ‘Please let me glean and gather after the reapers among the sheaves.’ So she came and has continued from morning until now, though she rested a little in the house.””

The servants let Boaz know who she is and her family relations. They tell him about how she refused to leave her mother in law and came to this foreign land with her to help her even without a promise of any future other than work. They also tell him that she hasn’t hardly stopped working that she got there early worked hard all day and only took a short rest. Ruth is a dedicated hard working individual. She has been dealt a rough hand in life one harder than most, but she doesnt let that define her. Our culture is focused on pity. We are so often tempted to feel bad for ourselves when we are stuggling and want to sit and soak in our pity. But God calls us to work. He calls us to get up every day and work hard believers are not called to wait around for someone to come with a handout, we are given opportunities to work and to earn what we have and we are meant to take those opportunities and to work hard so that we might bring glory to God in the work that we do.

Because of these qualities that Boaz then sees in Ruth he tells her to stay in his fields, work with his women, and to eat and drink with them. Not with the other poor people coming in behind them but with his actual servants. This is huge for Ruth as it is no longer the remnants she is getting but she is working with the rest of the crew. She is not having to be alone either but she is now under the protection of Boaz. Remember this was a lawless time in Israel when everyone did what they wanted to do. A foreign woman in this land would only have a matter of time before she would be taken and hurt by the wicked men of the town. Now though she was under the protection of a man far more powerful than her who could provide for her and help her to support Naomi. Hearing this Ruth is amazed and moved to tears by this amazing display of mercy from Boaz wondering why he would do such a thing for a foreign woman.

Ruth 2:11–12 “And Boaz answered and said to her, “It has been fully reported to me, all that you have done for your mother-in-law since the death of your husband, and how you have left your father and your mother and the land of your birth, and have come to a people whom you did not know before. The Lord repay your work, and a full reward be given you by the Lord God of Israel, under whose wings you have come for refuge.””

Boaz tells her that they let him know all that she had done for her mother in law and how hard she had worked for her and he respects this hard work and thinks she should be rewarded for this hard work. The important thing to note though is that he does not say it will be him who will repay her but that the Lord will repay her. He is recognizing his duty to serve the Lord and be an instrument of His will and help Ruth. He tells her that it is under God’s wings that she will find refuge not his own. Notice the humility of Boaz giving all credit and honor to God and pointing her to Him in this time of need for her.

When we do help people it is often that we feel we are some kind of saint for bestowing aid upon the lowly. We swell with pride and arrogance as if we have accomplished something but it is important to remember that the only reason you are on the giving side of the equation and not the one in need is by the grace of God. Boaz recognized that the only reason he was able to help Ruth was because God had given to him so generously and because of God’s great generosity he wanted to be generous to others. When we help others this is the mind we should have that it is only because of the great blessings of God are we able to help them and we should be giving God the credit for that.

We should also be using these situations as opportunities to tell others about the refuge that we have found in Christ and that they have available to them. There is a debate on evangelism that talks about can we simply do good things and then people will come to Christ through our efforts. We cannot rely on actions alone but must instruct the people we aid to where the aid truly comes from which is the Lord above.

Now when Ruth goes home that day she tells Naomi all that Boaz had done for her and this is what Naomi has to say.

Ruth 2:20 “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.””

First thing I want to talk about is, we see Naomi giving us some more details about who Boaz is which will set us up for the remainder of the plot of the book. You see Boaz is kin to Elimelech Naomis deceased husband and in fact he is a close relative. Going back to those laws from Leviticus there was the law of the kinsman redeemer who when someone was in extreme debt, sold to slavery, or widowed then the kinsman redeemer was to come in and pay the debts, buy back the slave, or marry the widow. This meeting in the field that Ruth just had with Boaz wasn’t just a great day of work for her, this is what Naomi is seeing as a possibility for a real future for both of them.

Next, we see that when Naomi is given hope in her life her first instinct is to praise God for it saying He has not forgotten them and is still showing them kindness. We get caught up in the moment of victory sometimes and forget to praise God for it and glorify Him not just in private but in public so that others can see His greatness too. This whole time that has been what we have seen, Boaz greeting his men with praises of God, Boaz telling Ruth that it is not him who saved her but God, and now Naomi praising God at the news of their potential deliverence. We are called to put God first in all that we do and to give Him glory in all situations so that others might see the great God that we serve.