|
The
Book Of Ruth |
Chapter
2:8-14
"Ruth's Reaping"
J. Deering, AncientPath.net
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HOMEPAGE
LAST WEEK:
We introduced the major characters of the
Book of Ruth and their journey from Israel to Moab. Here’s our outline and text
for what we covered.
I.
Ruth's Reaping Ruth 2:1-23
A.
Guidance to Boaz's Field: 2:1-3
1.
Boaz: 2:1 Now
Naomi had a kinsman of her husband, a man of great wealth, of the family of
Elimelech, whose name was Boaz.
2.
Let Me Go: 2:2
And Ruth the Moabitess said to Naomi, "Please let me go to the field and glean
among the ears of grain after one in whose sight I may find favor." And she said
to her, "Go, my daughter."
3.
Go, My Daughter: 2:3
So she departed and went and gleaned in the field after the reapers; and she
happened to come to the portion of the field belonging to Boaz, who was of the
family of Elimelech.
B.
Gleaners in Boaz's Field 2:4-7
1.
Boaz Arrives: 2:4
Now behold, Boaz came from Bethlehem and said to the reapers, "May the LORD be
with you." And they said to him, "May the LORD bless you."
2.
Who Is This?: 2:5
Then Boaz said to his servant who was in charge of the reapers, "Whose young
woman is this?"
3.
The Moabitess: 2:6
And the servant in charge of the reapers answered and said, "She is the young
Moabite woman who returned with Naomi from the land of Moab.
4.
Please Let Me Glean: 2:7
"And she said, 'Please let me glean and gather after the reapers among the
sheaves.' Thus, she came and has remained from the morning until now; she has
been sitting in the house for a little while."
INTRODUCTORY COMMENTS:
We were introduced to the
central theme of the book, which is Redemption through being married to a
Kinsman-Redeemer as it was applied to
Naomi,
and we learned why she disqualified herself and passed the opportunity down to
her daughter-in-law
Ruth. Neither of
them had been aware of the events that will bring this about in their future.
Naomi has allowed Ruth to glean grain from a local
field. She has given her instructions to do this safely. Our Kinsman-Redeemer,
Boaz, appeared on the scene and has taken a fancy to Ruth.
We want to keep stressing our three applications of this
book.
1. The Story itself.
2. Parallel 1 Israel
at that time
3. Parallel 2
believers now
Chapter 2:8-14
brings us into the care and provision that comes in abundance for Ruth from
Boaz. We are still in "Boaz's Field," and the blessings are about to abound.
The issue of "Why" is
dealt with here. Boaz will insist that Ruth continue to come back and glean from
this field. While she has been in the care of this field, she has received
permission to glean; she has gleaned more than she had anticipated; she has been
provided food, water, shelter, and rest while there and all from the master of
the field, Boaz.
What is it that has
brought Boaz to extend such grace to this Moabite Gentile? What has she done to
deserve all of these things. First of all, we must notice that Boaz, by nature
and character, is a man who has always allowed the foreigner and the poor to
glean. It is his practice to do so. When Ruth comes to the field searching for a
place to glean, she has received permission from the field supervisor without
question – It is the master's will that this be done.
Boaz will give us a short
list of his reasons: 1. All that Ruth has done for Naomi. 2. How Ruth has left
her father, mother, and land. 3. How Ruth came to a people that she did not
know. Behind these three reasons is a single unifying idea – Ruth’s statement to
Naomi, "I will go, I will go and where you lodge, I will lodge. Your people
shall be my people,
and your God, my God."
If we clearly understand the imagery of the book then
this is the central statement, "Your God,
shall be My God. The story of the book, so
far, has been rebellion, chastisement, repentance, and the journey from
repentance to renewed fellowship and faith.
We are so used to
thinking that when we are trapped in sin, and then we confess our sin,
everything is back to normal. We should know instead that everything in life is
a process, and the book of Ruth specializes in the process of returning to God.
The writer brings us so many nuances of the process. Ruth came to know
Jehovah-Elohim while married to Mahlon, and she became a proselyte of the Jewish
faith. In turning to Him she had to turn away from her past idols and sins. Then
came the introduction to the family of God and the People of God. She realized
her need for His sustenance and went to His field to "glean." And she went as
one who knew that she was poor and different. She was accepted into the field
because it was the character of the Master of the field to be accepting of the
foreigner and the poor. He graciously provided work, food, water, rest, and the
constant invitation to come back for more.
When the believer
first comes to the Lord Jesus Christ, we are foreigners to His grace, and poor
in spirit. When we come, He is gracious and gives us important work to do,
spiritual food to eat, "Living Water," and shelter under His wings. It is a
process. We don't get saved and then arrive in the Body of Christ as mature,
glorified members of His family – that takes time, it is a process. He provides
for your needs (food, water, rest, and protection) while you have the
opportunity to grow into adult spiritual believers.
As the result of this new relationship, we should
"throw ourselves headfirst to the ground" and worship Him and adore Him as we
recognize His wonderful grace.
THE VISUALIZED TEXT
(NASB)
B.
Gleaners in Boaz’s Field – 2:4-7
C.
Grace from Boaz – 2:8-14
1.
Stay Here – 2:8
Then
Boaz said to Ruth,
"Listen carefully, my daughter.
Do not go to glean in another field;
furthermore,
do not go on from this one,
but
stay here
with my maids.”
Brief Commentary on Ruth 2:8
Listen carefully! Ruth has come to Boaz and the first thing he has to say to her
is, "Listen carefully!" It is not "welcome to my field, are you finding
everything you need?" Boaz's first concern is that Ruth understands that there
is no other field where she can come like this one.
"Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of
Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even
by him doth this man stand here before you whole. This is the stone which was
set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner. Neither
is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given
among men, whereby we must be saved." Acts 4:10-12
The question should
have arisen, “Why has Boaz acted so generously?”
The context of the surrounding verses indicates that having foreigners and the
poor in his fields was a planned part of his practice in running the fields as
owner. He is a man of wealth and power and takes seriously the commandment of
the LORD in providing for the less fortunate. His interest lies there.
Why does Boaz call her, “My Daughter?” The informal address to Ruth is based on
the fact that Boaz recognizes that she is family, and she is younger than He. It
is also a cultural sign of respect toward her.
And furthermore, Boaz has taken an interest in her and following the symbolism of these verses he knows that his care and his supply are not only the best, but what she needs.
Ruth 2:9, Provision
Boaz continues:
"Let your eyes
be on the field
which they reap and
go after them.
Indeed,
I have commanded the servants
not to touch you.
When you are
thirsty,
go to the water jars and
drink from what the servants draw."
Brief Commentary on Ruth 2:9
Now that Ruth is in the
field of Boaz, he tells her to watch and pay attention to THE FIELD. See the
process of "the field" and how it is worked, how it is labored over, how it is
harvested.
“My food,” said
Jesus, “is
to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work. Don’t
you have a saying, ‘It’s still four months until harvest’? I tell you, open your
eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest. Even
now the one who reaps draws a wage and harvests a crop for eternal life, so that
the sower and the reaper may be glad together. Thus the saying ‘One
sows and another reaps’ is true. I sent you to reap what you have not
worked for. Others have done the hard work, and you have reaped the benefits of
their labor.”
John 4:
34-38
And only then does Boaz tell Ruth of the provisions he has made for her. He
knows the surrounding fields and the dangers that are there. He also… has
developed an interest in her.
On a different note, the meaning of the words "touch her" were part of an
idiomatic expression that was used in common language to mean sexual contact.
The actions and morality of slaves or servants could be the problem here. While
the usage of this expression could point directly to this problem it is more
probable that Boaz meant that they were not to keep her from trespassing the
rules and taking more than just the gleanings. They were not to interfere or
punish her for doing so.
Why does Boaz bring up her need for water? Water is a precious commodity in
Judah. Who can work a field for any length of time without having to stop for
water. Boaz wishes her to stay in his field and glean, she could not do that for
long without water. It is easy and not a stretch at all, so see the words of
Jesus with the Woman at the Well,
"Jesus
answered her, ‘If
you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have
asked Him and he would have given you living water.’." John 4:10
Ruth 2:10, Why Favor Me?
Then
She
fell on her face,
bowing to the ground and
said to him,
"Why have I
found favor in your sight that
you
should take notice of me,
since I am a foreigner?"
Brief Commentary on Ruth 2:10
Put yourself in her place; indigent, poor, hungry, thirsty, and taking the risk
of going to a field to glean – then finding not only acceptance there, but also
a complete invitation to stay, and glean, and drink, and enjoy protection. She
fell on her face because of finding GRACE (unmerited favor) instead of all the
problems and dangers she expected.
Blessed is Ruth for understanding immediately her proper response to Grace:
first obeisance, prostrating herself before her master; and then the question we
all ask: "Why?" for… well, wouldn't you be suspicious?
All of Judah has been in the process of cleaning up their idolatrous act –
that's why the rains have come, and the grain has grown – because of God's call
to repentance. Judah has cleansed herself of idol worshippers and unbelieving
foreign wives. Why should Boaz extend his graceful hand to her?
Ruth 2:11, I Have Been Told
And
Boaz answered and said to her,
"All that you have done
for your mother-in-law
after the death of your husband
has been fully reported to me, and
how you left
your father and
your mother and
the land of your birth and
came to a people
that you did not previously know.
Brief Commentary on Ruth 2:11
And the LORD and Boaz, the master of the field, answers "all that you have done
– you turned to Me, away from idols, away from father and mother, away from your
land and your people – you turned to Me!
What has Ruth done…? She loved and Married Elimelech's son, Loved Elimelech's
wife Naomi, repented of her pagan idolatrous life and turned to the God of
Israel as her savior, left her own parents and land, returned with Naomi,
continues to remain with her and love her, and now gleans to support herself and
Naomi.
And Boaz realizes, "Such a woman is this!" and she's young, attractive,
available, and part of the tribal family.
Ruth 2:12, Boaz Blesses
"May
the LORD
reward your work, and
your wages be full from
the LORD, the God of Israel,
under whose wings
you have come to seek refuge."
Brief Commentary on Ruth 2:12What
a wonderful blessing, but it looks to Ruth’s future not the now or the past! She
has come to Him for refuge, but there is work to be done, in her and by her. And
yes, you have come to Him for refuge – but there is work to be done, in you, and
by you.
Looking at Jehovah's blessing; it is for the work she has done [everything since
she married Mahlon], may she be paid well for that, may she be paid by the LORD
(YHWH), specifically the God (Elohim) of Israel, and it is an acknowledgement of
Ruth's spiritual quest with Jehovah-Elohim for shelter under His wings.
Here's just a practical question, wouldn’t Boaz suffer the loss of income
allowing foreigners and the poor to glean his fields? We should see that Boaz is
a man of grace – he sees his responsibility as a child of God to take care of
the stranger and the poor – he also sees God's point of view that the owner of
the field is only the caretaker of what rightly belongs to the Lord, he can be
gracious because his LORD is gracious to him. And so should we be in our
dealings with the world around us – He is gracious to us, therefore we should be
gracious to all those He calls us to interact with – the poor, the
disadvantaged, the foreigner.
Ruth has also already forsaken her idols, her land of idols, and repented
(turned around) away from idols to The God of Israel. She is a Believer in the
Lord God. She has become a proselyte Jew. You may remember that the land of Moab
was the result of incest by the daughters of Lot. That incident was followed by
the cursing of Lot’s child Moab and His resulting family for 10 generations.
While they were cast away by the Lord the curse did not restrict them from
becoming Proselytes or being married in the land of Israel.
Ruth has come back “home” with Naomi and sought refuge with her for this is what
we all do when we become believers, we seek refuge from this world. She has been
a sinner against God. She has been guilty under her own knowledge and conscience
as a Gentile. She has been found guilty under the Mosaic law. She has found
acceptance in Naomi’s God and now she is a proselyte, and she seeks refuge under
the atoning wings of The LORD God.
Ruth 2:13, Ruth’s Thanks
Then
she said,
"I have found favor
in your sight,
my lord,
for you
have comforted me and
indeed have spoken kindly
to your maidservant,
though I am
not like one
of your maidservants."
Brief Commentary on Ruth 2:13She
came to the fields in fear and now she has found herself to be acceptable to the
Master of the fields. She came to glean and she found grace in abundance.
Now she takes this opportunity to express her thanksgiving for His grace. She
recognizes that Boaz has intentionally spoken kindly to her. She realizes that
she is just not worthy of even being seen as one of his maidservants.
Her first words in this verse show that she recognizes him for who he is, the
master of these fields and she has found favor in his sight, “my lord.”
Do you see the parallel between Ruth and your position before Your LORD? Do you
see the favor you have in His sight? Do you feel the comfort and the kind words
of love and grace He speaks to you? And do you recognize that, at one time, you
were not as one of His servants, but now are one of His children?
And
at mealtime
Boaz said to her,
"Come here, that you
may eat of the bread and
dip your piece of bread in the vinegar."
So,
she sat beside the reapers; and
he served her roasted grain, and
she ate and was satisfied and
had some left...
Brief Commentary on Ruth 2:14
"I'm different, I'm an ex-idolater, I'm just a maidservant, but YOU have
comforted me, YOU have spoken kindly to me, YOU don't find me different, and YOU
have given me unmerited favor!"
She came to the fields in fear and now she has found herself to be acceptable to
the Master of the fields. She came to glean and she found grace in abundance.
The LORD God of Israel has ceased His famine that was upon Judah and many of His
people turned around and repented of their sins against Him. The result was He
began to show them His grace. Once again there was food, roasted grain, wine was
again available, and they ate and were satisfied and had much left over.
Is the same true in your life? How often this life leads us away from dependence
upon such a wonderful God. I’m sure you have found an abundance of grace when
you have repented of your sins against Him – even if it has to be done daily.
Life can be hard, it can be full of temptations – but He is there, every day to
be your loyal and graceful friend. He is there in the beloved Jesus, He is there
in the active and powerful Spirit, and He is there as your loving Father –
everyday, all the time.
Ruth 1:8-14 “Grace
from Boaz”
Paragraph
Verse Percentage Chart
Equal – Equal - Equal
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2024-05-08 Original
Class Date
2025-03-28 update