Romance Series

Ruth 2 - Romance

The great German poet Goethe said of this book, "we have nothing so lovely in the whole range of epic and idyllic poetry."

Goethe thought Ruth was a romantic story. Many other people have commented on the beauty of the book of Ruth because it is a romantic story. Today we see parts of that romance as Ruth and Boaz meet for the first time. Even though they meet for the first time, they can teach singles who are courting and married couples alot about how to improve our relationships. These lessons are for everyone, whether you are single, dating or courting someone, or married.

Let me speak first to women, and then to the men. For the women, I have three lessons to relate to you from this passage. For the men, I have a separate set of three lessons. But both sets of principles can compliment one another. By this I mean that when the woman start growing their relationships in a healthy way as Ruth did, they will have a better relationship with their spouse, or boyfriend. When a man starts to grow in their relationship like Boaz does here, they will have a better relationship with their spouse, or girlfriend.

So let me first speak to the women:

THREE LESSONS FOR WOMEN - Keyword: glean

LESSON #1 : If you want to have the relationships you want, you need to glean from God’s best.

You see the word glean used throughout this chapter. To help you understand what I mean, let me first give you a definition:

Glean: to gather or pick up in small amounts or from widely scattered places by searching here and there. To add to this definition: To glean means to gather, to cull, to extract, to garner. In an agricultural context, you sift, and winnow crops. In an information context, you extract, pick up, you garner and gather bit by bit. In a relationship context, you learn, you deduce, you conclude, you receive guidance.

So while the picture and scene in this chapter is an agricultural scene - Ruth is picking up food. She is at the same time learning and receiving guidance about her relationships.

How do I know this?

God was guiding Ruth. God placed her in the field where she would meet Boaz.

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. (Ruth 2:3 NKJV)

God was guiding her and putting Ruth in the best place at the best time. It was near the end of the barley harvest. The best time to get the best food. It was in the field of Boaz, the best field to find the best man that Ruth needs. Not just because Boaz was a relative of Naomi and could help her maintain her family. Ruth would meet the best man that God has for her.

LESSON #2 - If you want the best out of the relationship, you need to come under the "wings" of God.

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." (Ruth 2:11-12 NKJV)

Boaz recognized that Ruth has come to God for help in her relationships. Ruth has placed her faith in God in the first chapter. Now she is asking for "guidance" in the second chapter. If you want to glean or pick up the best, you need to come under the "wings" or authority of God. You need to ask God to help you in your relationships.

LESSON #3 - If you want the best out of your relationships you want, be mindful of first impressions and the reputations that you bring with 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. (Ruth 2:5-6 NKJV)

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. (Ruth 2:10-11 NKJV)