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[Ruth 2:1-13 NASB]

2:1-3 – Ruth Works in the Field of Boaz

Naomi & Ruth have returned to Jerusalem and Naomi is bitter for what God has done in her life. Ruth, more than likely, has picked up on Naomi’s bitterness and at some point decides to make an attempt to turn things around. Ruth inquires have the opportunity to go and collect food and hopefully find favor with someone in this new land. However, most translations use the word “Glean” rather than “gather”. One reason may be to make a distinction in what exactly is happening during this “Gleaning/Gathering”. This “Gleaning/Gathering”, is a provisions for the poor, sojourners, widows, and orphans; which, allowed them to gather standing grain in corners or borders of fields, as well as dropped stalks and left-behind sheaves by reapers. Seeing that Naomi and Ruth were both without a husband, father and/or brother ect. they were without “hope” and poor. Therefore, they did not have land to reap from themselves but had to depend on the “leftovers” of other people to survive. Naomi informs Ruth to “go for it” and that is all we know. So, Ruth seeks out to glean and starts off in other fields but comes to Boaz’s field.

This drive by Ruth to go and glean is admirable. Proverbs tells us: “The sluggard does not plow after the autumn, So he begs during the harvest and has nothing” (Proverbs 20:4) . This proverb speaks of the lazy personwho doesn’t prepare for next year or the future, so they have to beg/ask for food because when it comes to harvest the food they planted – there is nothing to harvest. When the famer doesn’t take responsibility to plant and cultivate their soil for farming, they are left without crops. This is work only for the responsible. Ruth here, knowing she cannot farm herself makes an attempt to harvest food so her and her mother-in-law (Naomi) have food and are prepared for the upcoming months where food may not be as prevalent. In this harvest Ruth is taking responsibility into their own hands. She knows they are without food and hope of a man, so they are doing what they have to do to make ends meet. It also shows that Ruth is being faithful to her word in Ruth 1:16-17 and adapting to the customs of the Jews.

Moreover, Proverbs tells us He who tends the fig tree will eat its fruit, And he who cares for his master will be honored (Proverbs 27:18). The idea here , the one who takes care of their responsibilities will be honored. Ruth stated she would be loyal and faithful to Naomiand that is exactly what she is doing – taking responsibility for her actions.
2:4-7 – Boaz and Ruth Meet

Boaz returns home and greets his reapers and notices a woman sitting in the tent in the field; so being the landowner inquires about the young lady and literally ask “whose” is this woman. He wants to know who she belongs to or who owns/has rights to her. The reapers respond indicating “she is the Moabites that returned with Naomi”. This tells us, this woman is known – people know of her and she has a reputation about her. The reaper continues, indicating Ruth asked if she could glean, take home the leftovers, from the reapers and now she is resting in the place Boaz first noticed her. This dialogue tells us a couple of things,

* She would ask permission to glean
* She is a hard worker
* And she is free to date. That is, she came home with Naomi from Moab husbandless otherwise, they wouldn’t be gleaning.

2:8-13 – Boaz gives find favor in Ruth

Boaz decides to engage Ruth in the tent & asks her to pay attentionto his words – showing he is taking responsibility for her.
He gives Instruction

“Do not glean in another field”

Ruth being a stranger in a strange land makes her an easy target for someone to take advantage of. Proverbs tells us: Whoever loves instruction loves knowledge, But he who hates correction is stupid (Proverbs 12:1) . The fact that he is reaching out to this woman, who represents an oppressive country to protect her, shows mercy (the taking away of punishment that is deserved) and grace (the giving of something not deserved). This is true love, when something isn’t owed or earned but one decides to give anyhow. Boaz commands her for her own safety to stay in his fields.
He gives her Security

Boaz makes her one of his own and literally “Takes her in” when he considers her one of his maids . This provides security to a woman, knowing that she will be taken care of and is accepted for who she is. Boaz doesn’t stop there but also provides additional Safety & Protection, when he commands his servants not to touch her. This reminds me of This Scene in Public Enemies with Johnny Depp, where he plays Dillenger and walks up to his girlfriend (Mary Evelyn “Billie” Frechette) after their first date and a man was being rude to her so he knocks the guy out and tells her that she is his woman and with him now. She knows from that point on John Dillenger will take care of her and she will be safe with him. Now, that may be not be a righteous motive or reasoning but it gets the point across.

Moreover, Proverbs tells us The name of the LORD is a strong tower; The righteous runs into it and is safe. (Proverbs 18:10). Boaz is living an example of the LORD (YHWH) personally taking care over Ruth, and finding Favor in her. Boaz is putting her under his wing and protection giving her access to things she would not have access to – mainly an inheritance only found in Boaz’s family.
He provides

Boaz also provided Nourishment; when he offered his water that are offered only to his servants . This offer from Boaz would have been Like cold water to a weary soul, So is good news from a distant land. (Proverbs 25:25). This would have been a sign of acceptance by Boaz and not only water to a weary soul in physical terms but also in the spiritual nourishment sense.
Ruth’s reaction

Ruth immediately falls on the ground at the word that she has found favor. This is the reaction we should have when we come to God. Literally falling to our knees and asking why have we found favor in His eyes. Before knowing God we do not conduct our lives as one who loves God; therefore, we have to ask ourselves “What is so special about ourselves that God would take notice?” Boaz’s response is not that of representing God’s in the salvation sense; rather, it will be explained in the following paragraph – so hang with me.
Boaz Replies

Boaz explains that he has seen her works. He has taken notice of her works with her mother-in-law. He knows Ruth left all that she knew to be devoted to her mother-in-law and not only that but to stand by Naomi’s side even until death. These are the works that James speaks about when James writes: You see that a man is justified by works and not by faith alone (James 2:24). Whereas, Ruth was justified before other people by her works because those works proved her statement “your God, my God.” Those works did NOT justify her to God, noone can be justified before God by their works Romans 4:2. Moreover, since Boaz believed her she found his favor. That is why Boaz says in verse 12: “May the LORD reward your work…from the LORD the God of Israel, under whose wings you have come to seek refuge“
Ruth’s Response V13

Ruth response rejoicing, in gratitutde and thanksgiving for Boaz’s loving-kindness and she recognizes she is not his family but has been accepted as his family. This is the idea of salvation; where Jesus chooses to have us be comforted and spoken kindly, as He is our advocate before God the Father. This is a true story; however, it is a great parallell of what is going on today in the Church. Where we are out there seeking to find favor with “something” some of us with the true God, others with false gods or we try to gain favor with people through work and/or family.
THE GOSPEL

Some of us are looking to be redeemed, take careof, “taken in” or desiring someone to look over us and our well being like Boaz; yet we mask it as being a contestant on The Biggest Loser – being redeemed from our heavy weightiness, or Wife Swap to redeem our love for our spouse and/or attempt to help another family redeem what we feel is important; some want to find favor in being redeemd in the The Bachelor, whereas, one wants to be loved and find favor in a rich man’s arms – because they are incapable of finding “love” anywhere else. We all walk these paths, but do we realize it?

Perhaps, one day, we will be walking through our lives and all of a sudden we come across a particular path where there is abundant substance and the owner finds us working and chooses to sit with us and comfort us, provide security, nourishment and safety for our allegiance. In that time we can say, we are actually loved by someone who shouldn’t have a desire to love us. Then and only then, we will be able to return that love because He first loved us (1 John 4:19).

To the praise of the glory of His grace

Judson

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