Ruth Chapter 2
In
Chapter 1 we have the girl introduced to us! In chapter 2 we have the boy
appearing!
We know that the
girl's not lazy!
Ruth
is not lazy! She goes looking for work.
God's
Welfare program requires that you get up off your fat rear and apply yourself.
Notice it was not dependency on the government. It required that the wealthy
farmer and harvester show generosity by leaving the corners and edges and any
that fell while reaping. The law of gleaning was in effect in an economy where
life and survival depended on harvest three times per year.
Ruth
knew what she was getting into. The Moabites were not welcome among the Jews
Coming
to Bethlehem with Naomi, Ruth already has three strikes against her: She is a
foreigner, a widow, and very poor!
Ruth
was not an idle, lazy lay about bumming a free ride. She knew exactly what she
was getting into when she took that journey with Naomi back to Bethlehem.
So
what does she have going for her?
We
have seen already that she has committed herself to the God of Israel!
She
may not have made this life changing decision if Naomi had not presented the
beauty of a godly life before her daughters in law! How important it is to set
an example of a godly life before others! See here in this book how the godly
life of Naomi influenced a young Moabite widow for Yahweh and set her on track
to become the ancestress of the Messiah a princess in Israel!
In
Ruth's actions we see some characteristics worthy of emulation:
1. She is
capable of making tough decisions and sticking to them! She determines
to follow after Yahweh and then follow Naomi knowing the consequences even
though she never even dreamed of the glorious future in store for her...a
direct result of her submission to God, attachment to her aging poor mother in
law and determination to work with dignity in providing for Naomi and herself.
2. She is a
thinking woman who assesses the situation in a practical manner! Two poor widows
all alone are in need of food to survive. There is no one other than Naomi that
she knows in this land, but there is something that she discovers she could do.
She can glean! Anybody can glean! It is not even a debate with her about who
should get busy rectifying this situation! Was it mere chance that she found
herself in the field of Boaz?
3. She shows
determination and purpose in making the best of a bad situation! Once she looks
over the situation and makes her assessment she sets out on herself imposed
task with the blessings of Naomi. And Ruth the Moabitess said unto Naomi, Let
me now go to the field, and glean ears of corn after him in whose sight I shall
find grace. And she said unto her, Go, my daughter. Ruth 2:2 KJV
4. She does not
complain or grumble about life's unfairness but applies herself to the task of
finding a solution.
Moaning and groaning about life's unfairness is for losers, moochers and blood
sucking parasitic excuses for humans! Ruth goes to work with a will that is
noticed and remarked upon by Boaz foreman. And the servant that was set over the
reapers answered and said, It is the Moabitish damsel that came back with Naomi
out of the country of Moab: And she said, I pray you, let me glean and gather
after the reapers among the sheaves: so she came, and hath continued even from
the morning until now, that she tarried a little in the house. Ruth 2:6-7 KJV
5. She is a
humble grateful woman.
Then
she fell on her face, and bowed herself to the ground, and said unto him, Why
have I found grace in thine eyes, that thou shouldest take knowledge of me,
seeing I am a stranger? Ruth 2:10 KJV
6. She is ever
considerate
of the widowed, childless mother in law and puts away a portion of her free
lunch for Naomi. And she took it up, and went into the city: and her mother in law saw
what she had gleaned: and she brought forth, and gave to her that she had
reserved after she was sufficed. Ruth
2:18 KJV
Ruth
gives refreshing meaning to the virtuous woman of Proverbs 31!
And just who is
Boaz?
He's
the boy that gets the girl!
He's
the hero of this story more so because he prefigures our heavenly Kinsman
Redeemer the Messiah Yashua Hamashiach!
1. He is the son
of Rahab the harlot of Jericho! Maybe being the son of Rahab was
instrumental in racial prejudices and bigotry being absent from his life! As
such he portrays the Kinsman Redeemer Whose outstretched arms reaches out to
embrace the whole world! And Salmon begat Booz of Rachab; and Booz
begat Obed of Ruth; and Obed begat Jesse; And Jesse begat David the king; and
David the king begat Solomon of her that had been the wife of Urias; Matthew
1:5-6 KJV
2. He is a
mighty man of wealth!
The word chayil translated wealth
here is translated more often in the Bible as army, host, valour, valiant. In
fact it is the same word Boaz uses in 3:11 to describe Ruth as virtuous! And
now, my daughter, fear not; I will do to thee all that thou requirest: for all
the city of my people doth know that thou art a virtuous woman. Ruth 3:11 KJV Chayil speaks of a man who was a real man, a valiant, courageous,
and worthy man...a fitting picture of our Lord who is Mighty to Save!
3. He is a man
of means capable of redeeming the property of Elimelech and his sons. He is the
kinsman of Naomi and is qualified to be the redeemer. He is interested in more
than acquiring extra property. He is interested in the individual as well.
4. He is a pious
and devout and beloved man and boss as seen in his greeting and the
response of his employees, and his dealings with Ruth. And, behold, Boaz came from
Bethlehem, and said unto the reapers, The LORD be with you. And they answered
him, The LORD bless thee. Ruth 2:4 KJV
And Boaz answered and said unto her, It hath fully
been shewed me, all that thou hast done unto thy mother in law since the death
of thine husband: and how thou hast left thy father and thy mother, and the
land of thy nativity, and art come unto a people which thou knewest not
heretofore. The LORD recompense thy work, and a full reward be given thee of
the LORD God of Israel, under whose wings thou art come to trust. Ruth 2:11-12
KJV
5. He is an
observant and alert individual! Boaz notices Ruth as soon as he
arrived! Come on now do you think he simply noticed Ruth because she was this
stunningly gorgeous woman? Do you really think Ruth looked like she had just
stepped out of the pages of a fashion magazine and was oozing allurement? She
was oozing alright...a lot of perspiration in the hot harvest sun, probably
with soiled clothes and a dust streaked face, hot sweaty and irritated with
dust! Clothes tucked in to assist in mobility she was anything else but a
polished model! Was there something out of place? It seems as though Ruth
should have been following with the maidens but was instead following after the
men and was therefore easily spotted, not blending in with the custom! He
questions his foreman and finds out everything about her so that when he speaks
to her it’s from a position of full knowledge. Boaz had found out every detail
about Ruth since her arrival at Bethlehem. In
like manner Jesus knows all and everything about you…every little piece of dirt
that we try to hide so cleverly from others is plainly in his view…and you know
what? He still loves you!
6. He is a
tactful man with a sense of humor! He tries to direct her to stay with the
women in a way not to embarrass her! Then said Boaz unto Ruth, Hearest thou not,
my daughter? Go not to glean in another field, neither go from hence, but abide
here fast by my maidens: Ruth 2:8 KJV She fails to get the message and
went right back to her previous position so Boaz cautioned his men! And
when she was risen up to glean, Boaz commanded his young men, saying, Let her
glean even among the sheaves, and reproach her not: And let fall also some of
the handfuls of purpose for her, and leave them, that she may glean them, and
rebuke her not. Ruth 2:15-16 KJV Naomi later sets her on the right
track! And Ruth the Moabitess said, He said unto me also, Thou shalt keep fast
by my young men, until they have ended all my harvest. And Naomi said unto Ruth
her daughter in law, It is good, my daughter, that thou go out with his
maidens, that they meet thee not in any other field. So she kept fast by the
maidens of Boaz to glean unto the end of barley harvest and of wheat harvest;
and dwelt with her mother in law. Ruth 2:21-23 KJV By the way have you
noticed the emphasis placed on her as being the Moabitess?
7.
He is an honorable man who refuses
to take advantage of the foreign widow but rather ensures that she is protected
and provided for. Then said Boaz unto Ruth, Hearest thou not, my daughter? Go not to
glean in another field, neither go from hence, but abide here fast by my
maidens: Let thine eyes be on the field that they do reap, and go thou after
them: have I not charged the young men that they shall not touch thee? and when
thou art athirst, go unto the vessels, and drink of that which the young men
have drawn. Ruth 2:8-9 KJV
Her
reserve and shyness must have been obvious also for he himself offered her And
Boaz said unto her, At mealtime come thou hither, and eat of the bread, and dip
thy morsel in the vinegar. And she sat beside the reapers: and he reached her
parched corn, and she did eat, and was sufficed, and left. Ruth 2:14 KJV
What
is very important to note is Naomi’s exclamation towards the end of the chapter!
And
Naomi said unto her daughter in law, Blessed be he of the LORD, who hath not
left off his kindness to the living and to the dead. And Naomi said unto her,
The man is near of kin unto us, one of our next kinsmen. Ruth 2:20 KJV This is a dramatic
change from her expressions in the first chapter viz. Would ye tarry for them till they
were grown? would ye stay for them from having husbands? nay, my daughters; for
it grieveth me much for your sakes that the hand of the LORD is gone out
against me. Ruth 1:13 KJV
And she said unto them, Call me not Naomi, call me
Mara: for the Almighty hath dealt very bitterly with me. I went out full, and the
LORD hath brought me home again empty: why then call ye me Naomi, seeing the
LORD hath testified against me, and the Almighty hath afflicted me? Ruth
1:20-21 KJV
Note
it is this same God that Ruth embraced as her own, forsaking her own heathen
practices for the true worship of Yahweh. It is rather surprising that she would
do so considering what had befallen the family in Moab. Naomi’s change of testimony
in saying that Yahweh was against her to now stating that Yahweh was kind and
providing, shows her change in attitude towards God.
In
all this process God did not change! He does not change! He NEVER changes! He
remains the same yesterday, today and forever.
It
is as we come to know and see more of His working that we arrive at the place where
our attitude changes and our trust in His wisdom, love, mercy and providence
becomes embedded faith in Him despite what may befall us. This is the kind of
faith Ruth had! This is how Ruth had come to recognize God to be. And because
she saw this nature of Yahweh so she was willing to uproot herself from all her
old habits, ways and practices. She was willing to abandon them all to follow
doggedly behind this God, OUR God, wherever He may lead her as she faithfully
and diligently worked her way towards her destiny…a destiny she made when she
followed her heart trusting in Yahweh!
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