By Beverly Conover
Good morning, ladies. It's so good to be back, delving into the treasures in the book of Ruth. Let's start by reading the last verse of chapter 1:
"So, Naomi returned from Moab, accompanied by her daughter-in-law Ruth, the young Moabite woman. They arrived in Bethlehem in late spring, at the beginning of the barley harvest."
Let's continue on with chapter 2:
2:1 Now there was a wealthy and influential man in Bethlehem named Boaz, who was a relative of Naomi's husband, Elimelech.
-The name Boaz means "strength" in Hebrew.
-He was a wealthy farmer. He had remained in Bethlehem during the famine, and, with God's help, he had not only survived but thrived.
-He was a relative of Naomi's husband, Elimelech, an important fact, as will become apparent later.
2:2 One day Ruth the Moabite said to Naomi, "Let me go out into the harvest fields to pick up the stalks of grain left behind by anyone who is kind enough to let me do it." Naomi replied, "All right, my daughter, go ahead."
Ruth the Moabite-highlights the nation Ruth had come from. As already mentioned during earlier sessions of this study, Moab was the offspring of Lot and his eldest daughter after the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah.
The nation that grew from this offspring worshipped various gods, the main one being Chemosh, the "subduer of the enemies of Moab". Success in battle was attributed to his favor and defeat to his displeasure. Human sacrifice was sometimes practiced to gain Chemosh's favor, as when King Mesha sacrificed his son and heir on the wall of the city when he was losing the battle against Israel, Judah, and Edom (2 Kings 3:27)
-Conflicts between Moab and Israel were common, including the failed attempt of Moabite King Balek to get the prophet Balaam to curse Israel as they travelled from Egypt to the Promised Land (Numbers 22-24); the 18-year subjection of Israel by Moab under King Eglon (Judges 3:12-30); and Israel's later control of Moab under King Omri (1 Kings 16) and King David (2 Samuel 8:2 and 1 Chronicles 18:2).
-Ruth asked Naomi for permission to go glean in the fields. How did she know about the practice?
Many countries in the Near East allowed gleaning during Biblical times. Only Israel's God mandated that it be done.
Leviticus 19: 9&10 says: "When you harvest the crops of your land, do not harvest the grain along the edges of your fields and do not pick up what the harvesters drop. It is the same with your grape crop--do not strip every last bunch of grapes from the vines, and do not pick up the grapes that fall to the ground. Leave them for the poor and foreigners among you. I am the Lord your God."
-Ruth's humble attitude shows in her statement "by anyone who is kind enough to let me do it". What beautiful gratitude, not entitlement.
-Naomi gives her permission calling Ruth her daughter. What a sweet relationship!
2:3 So Ruth went out to gather grain behind the harvesters. And, as it happened, she found herself working in a field that belonged to Boaz, the relative of her father-in- law Elimelech.
-"as it happened", coincidence or God working His plan?
2:4 While she was there, Boaz arrived from Bethlehem and greeted the harvesters. "The Lord be with you!" he said. "The Lord bless you!" the harvesters replied.
-"while she was there, Boaz arrived ..." God's timing!
-Boaz speaks a blessing to his workers from the Lord. Showing courtesy and friendliness to those under him, not criticism of their work.
The workers' reply is God's blessing on Boaz, showing good feelings toward their "boss".
2:5 Then Boaz asked his foreman, "Who is that young woman over there? Who does she belong to?"
-"who does she belong to?"--what family? husband? nationality (perhaps Ruth's clothing reflected her Moabite background)?
2:6 And the foreman replied, "She is the young woman from Moab who came back with Naomi.
2:7 She asked me this morning if she could gather grain behind the harvesters. She has been hard at work ever since, except for a few minutes rest in the shelter."
-It was common knowledge that Ruth had returned with Naomi from Moab. Middle east cultures value loyalty and community cohesiveness, group harmony and interdependence. Everyone "knows everyone else's business" in the village.
-"she asked me" if she could glean. Again, a humble attitude on Ruth's part.
-"she has been hard at work..." Ruth's character shines through, again!
2:8 Boaz went over and said to Ruth, "Listen, my daughter. Stay right here with us when you gather grain, don't go to any other fields. Stay right behind the young women working in my field.
2:9 See which part of the field they are harvesting and then follow them. I have warned the young men not to treat you roughly. And when you are thirsty, help yourself to the water they have drawn from the well."
-"my daughter"--Boaz speaks in a fatherly, respectful way toward Ruth. She was probably in her thirties or forties; he was nearer to Naomi in age (60-70?).
-Boaz was protective of Ruth, telling her to glean only in his fields, stay with his young women workers, and warning his male workers not to mess with her.
-Boaz provided Ruth with the means to drink freely from the water his young men had drawn from the well.
2:10 Ruth fell at his feet and thanked him warmly. "What have I done to deserve such kindness?" she asked. "I am only a foreigner."
-NIV "At this she bowed down with her face to the ground...
-A gesture of humility and gratitude before someone of greater power, authority, and status.
-NIV "Why have I found such favor in your eyes that you notice me--a foreigner?"
Ruth was well aware of being an "outsider", of her status and that of Boaz.
-Boaz was no doubt well aware of what being a foreigner in Israel-grafted into that community by God's grace entailed. His mother was Rahab of Jericho who hid the spies and was spared. She married Salmon, Boaz' father.
2:11 Yes, I know, Boaz replied. "But I also know about everything you have done for your mother-in-law since the death of your husband. I have heard how you left your father and mother and your own land to live here among complete strangers.
-Once again, Ruth's character shines in what is known about her love and support for Naomi.
2:12 May the Lord, the God of Israel, under whose wings you have come to take refuge, reward you fully for what you have done."
-Boaz' blessing over Ruth reflects his godliness, kindness, and that he was aware that Ruth had chosen the God of Israel and turned her back on the idols of Moab.
-Psalm 91:4 "He will cover you with His feathers, He will shelter you with His wings. His faithful promises are your armor and protection."
2:13 "I hope I continue to please you, sir," she replied. "You have comforted me by speaking so kindly to me, even though I am not one of your workers".
Once again Ruth's humility and gratitude.
Take Away:
We see glimpses of God's planning, timing, and providence:
-Naomi and Ruth arrived in Bethlehem at the beginning of the harvest of the first grain: barley.
-Ruth "found herself" in Boaz's field to glean
-Boaz arrived at that field while Ruth was there
-Boaz had grown up with a mother who was a "foreigner", perhaps making him more sympathetic to Ruth's plight.
A question to ponder, How have you seen God working in the circumstances of your life?
God's love for all is evident, welcoming Ruth the Moabite when she took refuge "under His wings", giving her "a hope and a future".
This aspect of God's character is evident throughout the Bible:
In the Old Testament:
In Creation, all humans made in His image (Genesis 1:27)
Blessing all nations through Abraham. Genesis 12:3 "...all the families on the earth will be blessed through you."
Commanding His people to not to treat foreigners poorly, but to "love them as you love yourself". (Leviticus 19:33-34).
In the New Testament:
-Jesus interaction with the Samaritan woman at the well and with those from her village in John 4.
-Jesus' commandment to his disciples to "make disciples of all nations" in Matthew 28:19.
-the apostle Peter's realization after his interaction with Cornelius, the Roman centurion, in Acts 10: 34-35 "Then Peter replied, "I see very clearly that God shows no favoritism. In every nation he accepts those who fear him and do what is right."
-Revelation 7:9 "After this I saw a vast crowd, too great to count, from every nation and tribe and people and language standing in front of the throne and before the Lamb."
A question to think about: How do we treat those from nations or cultures different than ours?
Finally, like Ruth fell at Boaz' feet, let's fall at the feet of the One who is so kind to us, who loved us before we belonged to Him.