Sermon Tone Analysis

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.