The Book Of Ruth
Chapter 2:19-23
"Glad for Blessing"

 

Chapter 2:19-23
 "Glad for Blessing"
J. Deering, AncientPath.net

 

RUTH 2:19-23

1. Master Study

2. Visualized Text

3. Outline With Text

4. Reference Materials

5. Questions

 

MASTER STUDY
Introduction, Visualized Text with Commentary and Q&A, Charts

 

 

INTRODUCTORY COMMENTS:


 As you can see by the titles in the "Brief Outline" above, this paragraph is mostly about the character and nature of Boaz.

 

Ruth tells Naomi about the owner of the field where she is gleaning. It is Boaz! Naomi's response, based upon her knowledge of Boaz, – a close member of the family – a candidate, rich and powerful and unmarried – is a blessing upon him because she sees that "The Lord has not withdrawn his kindness to the living and the dead."

 

Naomi then tells Ruth to go back to the same fields and work with Boaz's servants until the end of the harvest season – Go Back and Spend Time with Them (HIM)!

 

 

THE VISUALIZED TEXT (NASB)  (conjunctions & prepositions (and other important words) underlined, words not in original text in italics)  (alternate text in purple)

 

(2:19)
Her mother-in-law

            then

                        said to her,

                                    "Where did you glean today and

                                    where did you work?

                                    May he who took notice of you be blessed."

So

            she told her mother-in-law

                        with whom she had worked and said,

                        "The name of the man with whom I worked today is Boaz."

 

Brief Commentary on Ruth 2:19

 

Ruth comes home to Naomi with her 25-30 Lbs of grain and the special treat of leftover roasted grain in a fine Olive oil and balsamic vinegar mixture. Naomi wants to know "Who took notice of you today, girl?" No gleaner ever comes home with 30 lbs of grain and goodies to boot. Something very special has happened in the field today and Naomi wants to know what it was.

 

Ruth tells Naomi that she worked with Boaz – and Naomi must have nearly fainted, The LORD has placed Ruth right into the notice of an available Kinsman-Redeemer of Elimelech's family – Halleluiah!

 

In the symbolism Naomi is the one who already has a longstanding relationship with the LORD, even though she has been hurt in the last few years. She is in desperate need for a Kinsman-Redeemer. She knows the truths of the grace and goodness of the LORD. When she hears that Ruth has become the object of a Kinsman-Redeemer's attention, she blesses him knowing that God has again provided. If this works out the family line will continue.

 

How wonderful it is when someone for whom we have been praying comes to the attention of The Master. How excited we should be to see this one who is answering God's call and actively building a relationship to Him.

 

Questions and Answers about Ruth 2:19

  1. Who's mother-in-law
    (Ruth's)

  2. What is the importance of the word "then"?
    (Places the action as directly after Ruth had provided Naomi with grain)

  3. When is "then"?
    (Later evening, after sundown)

  4. Who is "her"?
    (Ruth)

  5. Where did Ruth glean and work?
    (The Field of Boaz)

  6. Why did Naomi place a blessing upon "he who took notice of you"?
    (It is obvious to Naomi that someone took notice of Ruth because of the very large amount of grain she returned from work with, and that person, being so very generous, should be blessed by the Lord for helping these two widows)

  7. What does the word "so" indicate?
    (that Ruth was about to answer Naomi's question – the question was asked, SO, Ruth answers)

  8. Who is "she"?
    (Ruth)

  9. Who is her mother-in-law?
    (Naomi)

  10. Who did Ruth work with?
    (Ruth completely ignores the servants and concentrates on the one who brought her so much blessing – Boaz)

  11. Notice that Ruth considers that she "worked with" Boaz and not that she worked in the field of Boaz.

 

(2:20)

And

            Naomi said

                        to her daughter-in-law,

                                    "May he be blessed

                                                of the LORD

                                    who has not withdrawn his kindness

                                                to the living and

                                                to the dead."

Again

            Naomi said

                        to her,

                                    "The man is our relative,

                                    he is one of our closest relatives."

 

Brief Commentary on Ruth 2:20

 

Naomi's response is the immediate recognition of God's blessing upon Ruth and her, and in response calls out a blessing upon Boaz. She recognizes that God is still active in their lives, and that He is still granting grace to her family. Her statement here "to the living and to the dead" probably now means Ruth, "the living," and herself "the dead" knowing that she is totally unable to take advantage of the Jewish Levirate marriage law.

 

Naomi tells Ruth the good news – "He is one of our closest relatives!" However, her statement also indicates that Naomi knows that he is not the closest relative. No matter how available Boaz is, the law related to the closest male relative – not one of the closest."

 

Questions and Answers about Ruth 2:20

  1. What does the word "and" mean here?
    (This time just a simple continuation of Naomi dialog)

  2. Who is speaking?
    (Naomi)

  3. Who is she speaking to?
    (Ruth)

  4. Compare this blessing with the blessing in Ruth 1:8 and the words of 2:11.

  5. Why would this theme repeat in the book?
    (The character of God is family based [Father, Son, Holy Spirit] [Adam, Eve, children] [Jesus, The church / Husband and Wife] etc., The Blessings of God are intended to be from generation to generation, continuing down through the ages. In the large picture also is the – He is the God of the Living and the Dead. He is the God, whom Abraham believed, who could bring Isaac back to life if God has asked Abraham to really slay him. He is the God who brings life from dead things. He is the God of living believers and those who are spiritually dead.)

  6. What does the word "again" mean here? Is this the second time she says "the man is our relative…."?
    (No, but is the second time "Naomi said.")

  7. Is Boaz Naomi's closest relative?
    (No, c.p. 3:12)

  8. What is the importance of Boaz being a relative of Naomi?
    (The Kinsman-Redeemer is the central theme of the book)

  9. Who's blood relative is Boaz?
    (Elimelech's)

  10. Work out on paper the possible relationships between Elimelech and Boaz and keep in mind Deuteronomy 25:5-10.

 

(2:21)

Then

            Ruth

                        the Moabitess

                        said,

                                    "Furthermore,

                                                he said to me,

                                                            'You should stay close to my servants

                                                                        until they have finished all my harvest.'"

 

Brief Commentary on Ruth 2:21

 

Ruth adds that Boaz told here to come back for the rest of the harvest season and that it would be safest for her to stay close to the servants – not mingle among the gleaners, or work the far ends of the fields away from the servants.

 

When is it most dangerous for the one coming to Christ – when the evil one finds out that this little one is on the straight path to Christ. "Stay close to my servants," is the warning. "Don't wander into the far corners of the filed for it is dangerous there. It is indeed dangerous to wander too close to things that are not of Christ. The evil one, the World, and the Flesh are always at the ready to snatch the seeker, and the new believer, away. "Stay close to my servants, until the harvest is finished."

 

Questions and Answers about Ruth 2:21

  1. What is the importance of the word "Then"?
    (Continuing story line but changing the speaker to Ruth)

  2. Why does the narrator bring up the Moabitess issue again?
    (A real big issue with the book is that the GENTILE is part of God's Program for His genealogy and His plan for the ages.)

  3. What does "furthermore" indicate?
    (It is interesting that in the original Hebrew this phrase does not happen here. It has been inserted by the translators of the NASB to indicate the still continuing nature of this conversation between Naomi and Ruth.)

  4. Who said to "me"?
    (he, Boaz)

  5. Who is "me"?
    (Ruth)

  6. What should Ruth do?
    ("Stay close to my servants")

  7. Whose servants?
    (Boaz's)

  8. How long should she stay close?
    (Daily until the Harvest season is finished.)

  9. Why?
    (Boaz does not want anything to happen to Naomi. Apparently his notice of Ruth in the Field has grown.)

 

(2:22)

And

            Naomi

                        said to

                                    Ruth

                                    her daughter-in-law,

                                                "It is good,

                                                            my daughter,

                                                that you go out

                                                            with his maids,

                                                            lest others fall upon you

                                                                        in another field."

 

Brief Commentary on Ruth 2:22

 

Naomi strengthens Boaz's words and elaborates on the dangers. While she is in Boaz's field she is there as an invited guest, under protection of the Master. In another field she would be an intruder with no one to watch out for her safety. Others, those not under the Master's discipline, would be so kind.
 

Stay away from the corners of His field – those within the Body of Christ who hold extreme positions or positions that are uncommon with good interpretation, good preaching, and good conscience. Beware of the fringe element. Keep new believers and seekers away from these "corners" of the Field. Instead keep them up close to the "workers" those who do the work, for their knowledge, their fellowship, and their protection.

 

Stay away from Other Fields. There should be a big sign on the way out of our believing churches – "DON'T GO TO ANOTHER FIELD!" The meaning being, of course, don't dabble in things that are not of Christ. Don't "toy" with Satan, or the Flesh, or the Word. They are deceitful and dangerous, taking many captive.

 

Questions and Answers about Ruth 2:22

  1. In the Ruth story who would be the "others" who would fall upon her?
    (foreigners, vagrants, trouble makers, workers in and from other fields)

  2. In the Ruth story where would the other fields be?
    (Starting with next to Boaz's field and working around in a big circle around the City)

  3. If we see this as the story of Judah, who would be the "others" who would fall upon her?
    (The unbelieving nations around Israel – They would love to get their hands on those who are faithful to The LORD of Israel)

  4. If we see this as the story of Judah, where would the other fields be?
    (Moab, Ammon, Egypt, Assyria, Syria, Middian, Philistia, etc.)

  5. If we see this as the story of the repentant confessing believer, who would the "others" be?
    (The workers of The World, The Flesh and The Devil – purveyors of false doctrine and lies, etc.)

  6. If we see this as the story of the repentant confessing believer, where would the other fields be?
    (All around)

 

(2:23)

So

            she stayed close by the maids of Boaz

                        in order to glean

                        until the end of

                                    the barley harvest and

                                    the wheat harvest.

 

And she lived with her mother-in-law.

 

Brief Commentary on Ruth 2:23

 

Ruth heeds Naomi's and Boaz's advice. When at work she stays close, when she is not at work she stays close to Naomi. There is something to be said for the one who listens to good instructions and then does the right thing.

 

Questions and Answers about Ruth 2:23

  1. What does the word "so" indicate?
    (a transition to the Result)

  2. Did Ruth go to another field?
    (No, she stayed close to the Maids of Boaz)

  3. Did others fall upon her?
    (No, she did not give them opportunity)

  4. What field did she return to?
    (The Field of Boaz)

  5. Who was working there?
    (Boaz, Boaz's Harvest workers)

  6. Why did she go?
    (To continue to glean [and to see Boaz])

  7. How long did she continue to glean?
    (Until the end of the Harvests)

  8. What crops were they harvesting?
    (Barley and Wheat)

  9. When she wasn't gleaning, where was she?
    (At home with Naomi)

 

 Horizontal Chart for Ruth 2:19-23

 

Ruth 2:19-20 "Glad for Blessing"

Ruth 2:19-23
Glad for Blessing
Her mother-in-law then said to her, "Where did you glean today and where did you work? May he who took notice of you be blessed." So she told her mother-in-law with whom she had worked and said, "The name of the man with whom I worked today is Boaz." And Naomi said to her daughter-in-law, "May he be blessed of the LORD who has not withdrawn his kindness to the living and to the dead." Again Naomi said to her, "The man is our relative, he is one of our closest relatives. Then Ruth the Moabitess said, "Furthermore, he said to me, 'You should stay close to my servants 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 maids, lest others fall upon you in another field." So she stayed close by the maids of Boaz in order to glean until the end of the barley harvest and the wheat harvest. And she lived with her mother-in-law."

 

 

Verse Percentage Chart for Ruth 2:19-23

 

 

RUTH 2:19-23

1. Master Study

2. Visualized Text

3. Outline With Text

4. Reference Materials

5. Questions

The Book of Ruth, Bible Study, J. Deering, AncientPath.net, study materials are a ministry of AncientPath.net, and may be copied for use in Bible study groups, in limited numbers, providing that no charge is made for them.  No further distribution or use of these materials is allowable under U.S. or International Copyright Law without the express permission of AncientPath.net. ©2008 AncientPath.net, All rights reserved.

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