Monthly Archive for February, 2010

Ruth 2:18f

Published on February 6, 2010 in Ruth. 0 Comments
Read Introduction to Ruth

 

18 Then she took it up and went into the city, and her mother-in-law saw what she had gleaned. So she brought out and gave to her what she had kept back after she had been satisfied. 19 And her mother-in-law said to her, “Where have you gleaned today? And where did you work? Blessed be the one who took notice of you.” So she told her mother-in-law with whom she had worked, and said, “The man’s name with whom I worked today is Boaz.” 20 Then Naomi said to her daughter-in-law, “Blessed be he of the Lord, who has not forsaken His kindness to the living and the dead!” And Naomi said to her, “This man is a relation of ours, one of our close relatives.”
 
2:18 Then she took it up and went into the city, and her mother-in-law saw what she had gleaned.
Ruth picked up her 30 pounds of food and went back to Bethlehem to show her mother-in-law her harvest. Naomi must have been surprised at the amount Ruth brought home.
So she brought out and gave to her what she had kept back after she had been satisfied.
Ruth also gave Naomi the extra food left over from lunch with Boaz.
2:19 And her mother-in-law said to her, “Where have you gleaned today? And where did you work? Blessed be the one who took notice of you.”
Naomi asked Ruth for the source of her blessings.
So she told her mother-in-law with whom she had worked, and said, “The man’s name with whom I worked today is Boaz.”
Ruth revealed that her benefactor was Boaz.
2:20 Then Naomi said to her daughter-in-law, “Blessed be he of the Lord, who has not forsaken His kindness to the living and the dead!”
Naomi blessed Boaz for not forgetting her legacy within the family. The term “dead” refers to her husband and sons, and the word “living” refers to Naomi herself and Ruth. It was the Lord’s grace upon Boaz that allowed him to demonstrate his grace towards Ruth and Naomi. This is a clear indication of God’s providence in guiding Ruth to the field of Boaz. It was God’s hand that allowed her to go to the right field at the right time.
And Naomi said to her, “This man is a relation of ours, one of our close relatives.”
The word “relative” is sometimes translated kinsman-redeemer. Naomi saw the significance of the situation in that Boaz was their kinsman-redeemer. This was the levirate law, which required the closest relative to redeem the property and persons of a dead relative. This law required a brother of a deceased man to marry his widow (Dt 25:5-10). Boaz was not the brother in this case, but was a close relative to Ruth’s husband, Mahlon. This meant he could act on the levirate law if he desired. Naomi immediately saw the possibility of this.
PRINCIPLE: God providentially cares for us.
APPLICATION: When we relax in confidence upon God, He cares for us. If God cares for the sparrow that falls to the ground, He much more cares for us (Mt 10:20-31). The Christian life is not about self-confidence or self-sufficiency. Our entire relationship with God depends on our faith in Him.
Share

Ruth 2:14f

Published on February 5, 2010 in Ruth. 0 Comments
Read Introduction to Ruth

 

14 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. 15 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. 16 Also let grain from the bundles fall purposely for her; leave it that she may glean, and do not rebuke her.” 17 So she gleaned in the field until evening, and beat out what she had gleaned, and it was about an ephah of barley.
 
2:14 Now Boaz said to her at mealtime, “Come here, and eat of the bread, and dip your piece of bread in the vinegar.”
Boaz invited Ruth to the noon meal as an expression of hospitality. This was another act of grace towards her. The vinegar was a delicacy that highlighted the meal. This was “wine vinegar” to moisten dry bread. Boaz’s inviting a Gentile to this meal caught the workers by surprise.
So she sat beside the reapers, and he passed parched grain to her; and she ate and was satisfied, and kept some back.
The “bread” was roasted grain, a staple food that consisted of barley roasted on an iron plate over an open fire. Boaz himself served her this grain.
2:15 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.
Boaz ordered his workers to allow Ruth to harvest more than the Mosaic Law required.
2:16 Also let grain from the bundles fall purposely for her; leave it that she may glean, and do not rebuke her.”
Boaz commanded his workers to deliberately drop stalks on purpose for her.
2:17 So she gleaned in the field until evening, and beat out what she had gleaned, and it was about an ephah of barley.
Ruth’s harvest for the day was an “ephah” (about 3/5th of a bushel or 30 pounds). This was a liberal quantity for one day’s gleaning.
PRINCIPLE: Believers should act towards others with generosity.
APPLICATION: Have youever been extraordinarily generous towards someone else? As Boaz gave Ruth much more than she’d asked for, have you given anyone much more than they’ve asked for? As we have been recipients of God’s grace, are we willing to give grace to others? All this has to do with our sense of compassion toward others.
Share

Ruth 2:11f

Published on February 4, 2010 in Ruth. 0 Comments
Read Introduction to Ruth

 

11 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. 12 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.” 13 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.”
 
Now we come to Boaz’s second speech to Ruth (2:11-12) and Ruth’s response (2:13).
2:11 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.
News traveled rapidly about how Ruth cared for Naomi. As soon as his foreman told him who Ruth was, he offered her his help. Boaz took note of Ruth’s kindness to Naomi. Naomi had released Ruth from all legal and moral obligations toward her, but Ruth continued to serve her in grace. She also embraced the God of Israel as her Savior.
2:12 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.”
Boaz petitioned the Lord, asking that He would repay Ruth’s efforts on behalf of Naomi.
The phrase “under whose wings you have come for refuge” refers to Ruth’s belief in the God of Israel. She had come to Him for protection.
2:13 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 responded in humility to Boaz. She expressed gratitude for his grace, comfort, and kind words. She gave two reasons for her gratitude: (1) Boaz gave her comfort in her financial situation and (2) Boaz expressed kind words to her; that is, he was compassionate towards her.
Ruth deemed herself on the low rung in Israeli society. She was amazed about Boaz’s grace toward her.
PRINCIPLE: For every action there is an equal reciprocal action.
APPLICATION: God responds in grace to our grace towards others. God rewards us for acting in grace towards others.
Share

Ruth 2:8f

Published on February 3, 2010 in Ruth. 0 Comments
Read Introduction to Ruth

 

8 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. 9 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.” 10 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?”
 
This verse begins a conversation between Boaz, but it is not one continuous dialogue.
2:8 Then Boaz said to Ruth, “You will listen, my daughter [mild form of endearment; this is Boaz’s attempt to break down a social barrier between them], will you not? Do not go to glean in another field, nor go from here, but stay close by my young women.
By staying close to the “young women” Ruth would be able to collect more grain. This was an act of unadulterated grace.
2:9 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 commanded the young men not to harass Ruth. He gave Ruth the right to drink from the water the young men drew; this was an unusual privilege.
2:10 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?”
The grace of Boaz caused Ruth to become overwhelmed by his generosity. This was especially gracious because she was a Gentile. Added to this grace was that Ruth did nothing to earn it.
Boaz gave Ruth his favor/grace because of her care for Naomi. He did not owe anything to her. That is the upshot of Boaz’s question to his foreman about to whom Ruth belonged.
PRINCIPLE: Our reaction to grace should be one of humility.
APPLICATION: Ruth had every expectation that people would turn their backs on her. She viewed herself as having a stigma. In our very status as “sinners,” “Christ died for us” (Ro 5:8). Despite our stigma as sinners, God gave His grace to us. Why we find grace from God is an enigma to us all.
Ro 5:8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
Share

Ruth 2:4f

Published on February 2, 2010 in Ruth. 0 Comments
Read Introduction to Ruth

 

4 Now behold, Boaz came from Bethlehem, and said to the reapers, “The Lord be with you!” And they answered him, “The Lord bless you!” 5 Then Boaz said to his servant who was in charge of the reapers, “Whose young woman is this?” 6 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. 7 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.”
 
2:4 Now behold, Boaz came from Bethlehem, and said to the reapers, “The Lord be with you!” And they answered him, “The Lord bless you!”
The word “behold” focuses attention on the arrival of the owner of the harvest field—Boaz. This emphasizes the arrival at the field of both Boaz from Bethlehem and Ruth at approximately the same time. This was a providential act of God. Each time the word “behold” occurs in the book of Ruth, it indicates the hand of God on the scene.
Note the relationship between Boaz and his workers—a tone of spiritual reciprocity. Their faith was active.
2:5 Then Boaz said to his servant who was in charge of the reapers [his foreman], “Whose young woman is this?”
Boaz recognized the presence of Ruth in his harvest fields. He asked to whom this worker belonged. The answer would either be her father/mother or her husband.
2:6 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.
The foreman put emphasis on Ruth’s heritage as a Moabite to highlight her Gentile background. However, he also indicated her connection to Elimelech (Naomi’s husband), which would tie her to Boaz himself. The answer to Boaz’s question was that Ruth belonged to Naomi.
2:7 And she said, ‘Please let me glean and gather after the reapers among the sheaves [bundles of grain tied together in stalks].’ So she came and has continued from morning until now, though she rested a little in the house.”
The foreman indicated that Ruth asked permission to follow the harvesters after they finished reaping. He pointed out her persistence and hard work.
PRINCPLE: Believing employers should establish a positive work environment for their employees.
APPLICATION: All those who supervise others in their work should establish a positive work environment.
Share

Ruth 2:1f

Published on February 1, 2010 in Ruth. 0 Comments
Read Introduction to Ruth

 

1 There was a relative of Naomi’s husband, a man of great wealth, of the family of Elimelech. His name was Boaz. 2 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.” 3 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.
 
2:1 There was a relative of Naomi’s husband, a man of great wealth, of the family of Elimelech. His name was Boaz.
Boaz was a near relative of Naomi’s husband, Elimelech. Boaz was a man of standing in the community (literally, a mighty man of valor). He was capable and a man of valor in the area.
2:2 So Ruth the Moabitess said to Naomi,
The book of Ruth refers to Ruth as “the Moabitess” five times. This emphasizes the grace of God to a Gentile.
“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.”
Ruth’s suggestion to Naomi had to do with the right of the poor to gather grain after the harvesters finished their work. Corners of the field were to be left for the poor (Lev 19:9-10; 23:22).
2:3 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.
God allowed Ruth to go to Boaz’s field by divine design. This was no chance encounter. Theologically, we call this the providence of God. We see both Ruth’s action and God’s providence working together in this verse.
PRINCIPLE: God uses both human responsibility and divine sovereignty in the events of our lives.
APPLICATION: Our times are in God’s hands. We can do nothing without His permission. We make our choices but God puts those choices through the grid of His will. Sometimes He allows us to decide our future and sometimes He does not. Nothing can happen to the child of God without His permission.
We often do not realize the significance of our decisions. We make our decision and move ahead. Later we find God’s purpose in them. Joseph did not know why his brothers sold him into slavery, but he later recognized that it was the hand of God. God did not give him a blueprint ahead of time; he recognized the will of God after the fact.
Ge 50: 20 But as for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, in order to bring it about as it is this day, to save many people alive.
What looks like “chance” in our lives is the providence of God at work.
Share