RUTH 2.…
Ruth’s Work as a Gleaner in Boaz’ field & she does not know it YET but Boaz is her kinsman.
Verse 1 tells us… “There was a relative of Naomi’s husband, a man of great wealth, of the family of Elimelech. His name was Boaz.”
Scripture does not tell us HOW Boaz was related, but he was. Remember this when Elimelech, Naomi, and their whole family had left the Promised Land and went to Moab to ESCAPE the famine, Boaz had STAYED behind.
And God not only provided for him, but God made Boaz a man of great wealth EVEN during a SEVERE famine.
Sometimes we justify wrong choices because of difficult circumstances. But God WILL strengthen & bless us, WHEN we make the right choice, EVEN in difficult circumstances.
We are ALSO introduced to 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.
Verses 2-3 tells us…Ruth ASKED Naomi for permission to go and glean in the fields & Naomi approved it.
“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.”
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 God’s “social assistance aid”, so the poor and needy could come and glean the remains for themselves. This is a wonderful way of HELPING the poor.
It commanded the farmers to have a GENEROUS heart, and it commanded the poor to be ACTIVE & WORK – and a way for them to provide for their own needs WITH dignity.
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.
It says Ruth HAPPENED to come to BOAZ field, but we KNOW she came to that field because God GUIDED her.
Verses 4-7...tells us that Boaz learns of Ruth...
“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?”
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 Lord be with you!” 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.
The supervisor told Boaz of Ruth’s submissive attitude. There is a sense in which the gleaning was hers by right - after all.
Ruth could have quoted Leviticus 19:9-10 back at him. But she kindly and properly ASKED for the right to gather in his field.
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.
This is ANOTHER reminder as Christians, we TOO are under inspection.
At times when we DON’T know it, we are being watched by others to see how we will walk with Jesus. And what they see will make a difference.
Verses 8-9 tells us that Boaz speaks kindly to Ruth....
“Then Boaz said to Ruth, “You will listen, my daughter, will you not?
Do not go to glean in another field, nor go from here, but stay close by my young women. Let your eyes be on the field which they reap, and go after them. Have I not commanded the young men not to touch you? And when you are thirsty, go to the vessels and drink from what the young men have drawn.”
Boaz knew that if Ruth stayed in his fields, she would be blessed & FIND companionship (among the young women).
She would FIND protection (Have I not commanded the young men not to touch you?).
She would FIND refreshment (when you are thirsty).
At this time, we have NO indication of a romantic attraction between them.
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.
TRUE kindness is shown when we extend ourselves to others who, as far as we can see, have NOTHING WE WANT NOR CAN GIVE US.
Verses 10-13 tells us Ruth thanks Boaz for his kindness...
“So she fell on her face, bowed down to the ground, and said to him, “Why have I found favor in your eyes, that you should take notice of me, since I am a foreigner?”
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.” Then she said, “Let me find favor in your sight, my lord; for you have comforted me, and have spoken kindly to your maidservant, though I am not like one of your maidservants.”
Ruth’s attitude was wonderful.
Some MIGHT 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 HAD TO BE A CONSTANT 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 & SHOWS US we should be kind to the strangers among us. Boaz, like The Good Samaritan BELIEVED/OBEYED this.
Verses 14-16 tells us…Boaz continues to show great favor to Ruth...
“Now Boaz said to her at mealtime, “Come here, and eat of the bread, and dip your piece of bread in the vinegar.” So she sat beside the reapers, and he passed parched grain to her; and she ate and was satisfied, and kept some back. And when she rose up to glean, Boaz commanded his young men, saying, “Let her glean even among the sheaves, and do not reproach her. Also let grain from the bundles fall purposely for her; leave it that she may glean, and do not rebuke her.”
“Dip your bread in the vinegar”…Odd as it may sound to us, this is the first HINT of a budding romance. It would be enough to have just invited her, but he also invited her to share fully in the meal, even the privileged dipping BETWEEN two people with one bowl.
“She ate and was satisfied, and kept some back”…Ladies how many of us nibbled our first meal on our first date? No matter how times changes, human nature REMAINS the same.
This tells us that Ruth also may be awakening to some romance towards Boaz. 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.
“Let her glean even among the sheaves”…This was more generous than the command in Leviticus 19:9-10. Boaz ALLOWED 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.
Verses 17-18..Ruth brings home the day’s fruits to Naomi...
Absolutely God blessed Ruth & people were generous to her. BUT, this WAS a sun-up to sun-down day, and Ruth worked HARD all day long.
And an EPHAH of barley was a five-and-one-half gallon tub (22 liters) of barley – a wonderful day’s work to people who had nothing.
Verses 19-23 tell us that Naomi praises God for His goodness to her and Ruth, she informs Ruth that Boaz is a close relative & commands Ruth to stay close to Boaz’ young women in HIS fields throughout the barley AND wheat harvest season.
Naomi BEGINS to see the blessing & a HINT of the plan The Lord has for them unfolding before her very eyes.