Ruth 2

Intro:

Last week we started the book of Ruth

We saw how Elimelech and Noami went out of the will of God by moving to Moab

While they were there their boys married Moabite women

Then Elimelech and his two sons died

Naomi heard that the famine was over in Bethlehem so she started out for home

She didn’t want her daughter-in-laws to come with her because it would be a reminder of her sin

Ruth persisted and journeyed with Naomi

When they entered town it cause no little stir

Now Ruth and Namoi have to figure out how to provide for themselves

They are two widows with some family nearby, but they have to fend for themselves

Read Ruth 2:1-7

II. Ruth Gleans Boaz’s Field

vs. 1 Naomi’s kinsman

Naomi had a kinsman:

Naomi was related to this man Boaz through her deceased husband, Elimelech.

We don’t know exactly how he was related, but he was.

A man of great wealth:

During the time of famine, when Elimelech, Naomi, and their whole family had left the Promised Land and went to Moab, Boaz had stayed behind – and God provided for him.

In fact, God made Boaz a man of great wealth.

Ten years before, Naomi and her family made a choice, and it was a choice made in a hard time – a time of famine.

But they didn’t have to make the wrong choice they did.

The people of Bethlehem had not perished from hunger.

They were still there. And they were blessed more than Naomi’s family.

Sometimes we justify wrong choices because of difficult circumstances.

But God will strengthen us, and bless us, to make the right choice, even in difficult circumstances.

“The exact expression rendered a mighty man of wealth is elsewhere translated ‘a mighty man of valour’ (e.g., Jdg. 11:1).

We perhaps get the force of it by thinking of our word ‘knight.’” (Morris)

A kinsman:

This introduces an important word in the book of Ruth – the ancient Hebrew word goel.

To say that Boaz was a goel (a kinsman) was more than saying he was a relative; it was saying that he was a special family representative. He was a chieftain in the family.

vs. 2-3 Ruth Finds Boaz’s Field

Please, let me go to the field, and glean heads of grain:

Leviticus 19:9-10 commanded farmers in Israel that they should not completely harvest their fields.

They were commanded to “cut corners” in harvesting, and always leave some behind.

Also, if they happened to drop a bundle of grain, they were commanded to leave it on the ground and to not pick it up.

This was one of the social assistance programs in Israel.

Farmers were not to completely harvest their fields, so the poor and needy could come and glean the remains for themselves.

This is a wonderful way of helping the poor.

Gleaning may not have been much better than begging, but at least it was a form of work and therefore enabled the poor to retain a modicum of dignity

It commanded the farmers to have a generous heart, and it commanded the poor to be active and work for their food – and a way for them to provide for their own needs with dignity.

As a younger woman, Ruth would be more likely to catch the eye of the men working in the fields and perhaps get a favorable response from them.

On the other hand, as a female and a foreigner she may have been vulnerable to abuse—especially given the moral and spiritual chaos of the judges period, in which case Naomi could be seen as careless of Ruth’s welfare

vs. 3 Then she left: So, Ruth, on her own initiative, set out to glean in the fields to support her and her mother-in-law Naomi.

This showed a wonderfully hard-working spirit in Ruth, and it was spiritual also – she would not have been more spiritual to sit back at home and pray for food.

She happened to come to the part of the field belonging to Boaz:

It says that Ruth happened to come to that place and certainly, that is how it seemed to her.

As the owner of the field—at least the part of it that Ruth finds herself in—Boaz is in a position to offer her protection and, if he is generous, material help.

And as a relative of Naomi’s former husband, he is likely to feel himself obligated to help her

But it was not how it actually came to pass. Ruth came to that field because God was guiding her.

vs. 4-7 Boaz Meets Ruth

The LORD be with you:

The first indication we are given of Boaz’s character is the way he greets his employees

This shows us something of the heart and character of Boaz.

Apparently, his workers loved him and had a good relationship with him.

You can often tell the real character of a man in authority by seeing how he relates to his staff and by how they think of him.

vs. 7 And she said, “Please let me glean and gather”:

As the supervisor reported to Boaz, he told of Ruth’s submissive attitude.

There is a sense in which the gleaning was hers by right – after all, she could have quoted Leviticus 19:9-10 back at him.

But she kindly and properly asked for the right to gather in his field.

So she came and has continued from morning until now:

Ruth may not have known it, but she was under inspection.

The supervisor was looking at what kind of job she did and he was impressed that she did a good job.

And the fact that she did a good job was important, because it made a good impression on Boaz.

We are under inspection also.

At times when we don’t know it, we are being watched by others to see how we will walk with God.

And what they see will make a difference.

Ruth is young, she’s Moabite, she arrived with Naomi (and therefore is possibly related to her), she’s poor (which is why she’s gleaning), she’s humble and courteous (she’s politely asked permission to do it), and she’s hardworking (she’s toiled all day)

vs. 8-9 Boaz Treats Ruth w/ Kindness

Stay close by my young women:

These were Boaz’s female field workers, who tied together the cut stalks of grain.

Boaz told Ruth to stay close to them, so she would be well taken care of.

Do not go to glean in another field:

God was blessing Ruth already and all because He guided her to Boaz’s field.

Boaz knew that if Ruth stayed in his fields, she would be blessed and find:

In Boaz’s field, Ruth would find companionship (among the young women).

In Boaz’s field, Ruth would find protection (Have I not commanded the young men not to touch you?).

Boaz’s concern for Ruth is driven partly by an awareness that not all men are as he is

In Boaz’s field, Ruth would find refreshment (when you are thirsty).

The kindness of Boaz was wonderful.

t Interestingly, however, nothing is said about Ruth’s appearance. Whether or not she was beautiful appears irrelevant to Boaz. What has impressed him is her character

At this time, we have no indication of a romantic attraction between Boaz and Ruth and we have no idea how Ruth looked (even if she was pretty, she was probably pretty ragged from a whole day of hard work).

Yet Boaz extended this kindness to her.

We find it pretty easy to be kind to others when we can see a potential pay-off from the investment of our kindness.

Yet true kindness is shown when we extend ourselves to others who, as far as we can see, have nothing to give us.

vs. 10-13 Ruth Thanks Boaz

Why have I found favor in your eyes:

Ruth’s attitude was wonderful. Some of us would have said, “Well it’s about time someone noticed! I’ve been working hard all day. Now God will give me the blessings that I deserve.

We never see Ruth asking why all the hard things have come upon her in life.

Instead, she asks why this good thing has come. This is a significant difference in attitude.

Since I am a foreigner:

This was constantly on Ruth’s mind.

She was a Moabitess, and not an Israelite.

She knew that on the basis of national background, she didn’t belong.

This made Boaz’s kindness to her all the more precious.

The Bible says that we should be kind to the strangers among us, but this also applies on another level.

Since our society is no longer structured around the family, for many people, their most important circle of association is their friends.

Sociologists call this “tribalization” – we become part of a little “tribe,” a little circle of friends.

The command to love the stranger means that we should not only associate with those of our own tribe, and that we should always welcome those outside of our tribe.

It has been reported to me:

This is a dynamic of small-town life; everybody knows everybody else’s business.

Yet it also shows that Ruth’s devotion to Naomi mattered – it was noticed.

The LORD repay your work and a full reward be given you by the LORD God of Israel:

Fittingly, Boaz encouraged Ruth as if she were a new convert to the God of Israel. I

n many ways, Ruth stands as an example of a new convert.

She put her trust in the God of Israel.

She has left her former associates.

She had come in among strangers.

She was very low in her own eyes.

She found protection under the wings of God.

In the same way, older Christians should be like Boaz unto younger Christians who are like Ruth.

Significantly, though these words were said to Ruth, they were also a prayer unto God for Ruth.

Christians should pray for one another, especially older Christians should pray for new converts.

The LORD God of Israel, under whose wings you have come for refuge:

Boaz especially knew of Ruth’s commitment to the God of Israel.

This was his way of showing kindness and encouragement to a young believer in the LORD.

Under whose wings: T

his is a beautiful picture.

Let me find favor in your sight:

This was a very polite way of saying “thank you” to Boaz.

Ruth was almost overwhelmed by his kindness, and was polite enough to say, “Thank you.”

vs. 14-16 Boaz Shows Favor

Dip your bread in the vinegar:

Perhaps now, we see the first hint of a romance.

Boaz showed great kindness and favor to Ruth at mealtime.

It would be enough to have just invited her, but he also invited her to share fully in the meal, even the privileged dipping.

She ate and was satisfied, and kept some back:

Ruth also may be awakening to some romance towards Boaz; she kept some back.

She did not eat all that was offered to her, meaning that she didn’t want to seem like a greedy eater in front of Boaz, and that she was sensible enough to take some home to Naomi.

Ruth was satisfied, because she answered the generous invitation of Boaz.

She was not one of the reapers, but she sat beside the reapers and ate as if she was one of them and she ate and was satisfied.

In the same way, those outside the Kingdom of God and its promises can sit among the reapers, at the invitation of Jesus, and by faith they can eat and be satisfied

Let her glean even among the sheaves:

This was more generous than the command in Leviticus 19:9-10.

Boaz would allow Ruth to take some from among the already gathered sheaves of grain.

Let some grain from the bundles fall purposefully for her:

This was also beautiful. Boaz wanted to bless Ruth, but he didn’t want to dishonor her dignity by making her a charity case.

So, he allowed some grain to fall, supposedly on accident, so that she could pick it up.

II. Ruth Returns to Naomi

vs. 17-18 Ruth Fruit of Her Labor

She gleaned in the field until evening, and beat out what she had gleaned:

Yes, God blessed Ruth.

Yes, people were generous to her.

At the same time, she did work hard. This was a sun-up to sun-down day, and Ruth worked hard all day long.

We should use Ruth’s example to glean everything we can from the Word of God:

Ruth worked hard.

Ruth had to stoop to gather every grain.

Ruth could only pick up one grain at a time.

Ruth had to hold on to each grain, and not immediately drop it.

Ruth took the grain home and threshed it.

Ruth took the threshed grain and winnowed it.

Ruth was nourished by the grain.

It was about an ephah of barley:

This was about a five-and-one-half gallon tub (22 liters) of barley – a wonderful day’s work to people who had nothing.

Gave to her what she had kept back:

Besides all the barley grain, Ruth brought Naomi the food left over from the meal with Boaz.

This was obviously a blessing for Naomi.

vs. 19-23 Naomi Praises God

Blessed be the name of the LORD, who has not forsaken His kindness to the living and the dead:

Is this the same woman who came into town saying, call me Mara, for the Almighty has dealt very bitterly with me (Ruth 1:20)?

Is this the same woman who said, the Almighty has afflicted me (Ruth 1:21)?

Of course, it is!

Now she sees more of God’s plan unfolding, so she can see better how all things are working together for good for those who love God.

It is good, my daughter:

Of course, Naomi told Ruth, “Stay with this man Boaz!”

Not only was he generous, he was one of our near kinsmen – the importance of which will be unfolded in the coming chapters.