On Tuesday, Bahia Bakari was left as the only known survivor among the 153 people on the Yemenia Airbus A310 jet which crashed off the Comoros. The obstacles she faced to survive were staggering. She had to overcome: A plane disintegrating at hundreds of kilometres an hour as it hit the water; Being injured as she was "ejected" from the aircraft: she suffered a broken collarbone, burns to her knees and bruising; Waves crashing over her constantly. Yemeni civil aviation deputy chief Mohammed Abdul Qader said the weather was very bad; Thirteen hours in the water when she did not know how to swim: she held on to plane wreckage; A 25-km fuel slick; Any debris or bodies that may also have been in the water; Hypothermia; Severe exhaustion and No life jacket. (http://www.nationalpost.com/news/story.html?id=1754100)
In situations like this we wonder how this girl could survive. Survivors themselves often ask why they survived?
Ruth had suffered many catastrophic events in her life. She lived while her husband died, her sister returned to her homeland and famine gripped her life. Not content to sit around and die, she trusted God and set out to glean in the fields, looking for someone who would show her grace (v. 2, and see vv. 10 and 13). Grace is favor bestowed on someone who doesn’t deserve it and can’t earn it. As a woman, a poor widow, and an alien, Ruth could have no claims on anyone. She was at the lowest rung of the social ladder.
The channel of that grace was Boaz. Boaz who knew the Lord and sought to obey His will. The kindness that Boaz showed Ruth astounded her. He went far beyond the requirements of the law, and lavished amazing grace on Ruth.
IN Ruth 2:8-16 we see the evidences of God’s grace in the way Boaz related to Ruth in how:
(1) Boaz took the initiative and spoke to Ruth (Ruth 2:8). We see the Blessing of Guidance:
Ruth 2:8 [8]Then Boaz said to Ruth, "Now, listen, my daughter, do not go to glean in another field or leave this one, but keep close to my young women. (ESV)
Boaz was about 45–55 years old as a contemporary of Elimelech and Naomi. He would naturally see Ruth as a daughter (3:10–11), much like Naomi did also (cf. 2:2, 22; 3:1, 16, 18) (MacArthur, John Jr: The MacArthur Study Bible. electronic ed. Nashville : Word Pub., 1997, c1997, S. Ru 2:8).
Boaz not only spoke of his faith in the Lord (2:4); his life positively corresponded with his words. When he told Ruth to continue gleaning in his field, he apparently meant that she should glean there throughout the several weeks of harvesting (cf. v. 23) barley (March-April) and wheat (June-July). Normally the gleaners would move in after the harvesters had left an area. But Ruth was invited to follow along with the young women/servant girls as they worked in the reaping. In these several ways Boaz was providing for Ruth beyond what was required by the Law (cf. v. 16). (Walvoord, John F. ; Zuck, Roy B. ; Dallas Theological Seminary: The Bible Knowledge Commentary : An Exposition of the Scriptures. Wheaton, IL : Victor Books, 1983-c1985, S. 1:422).
Boaz guided Ruth in the way she should go:
Proverbs 3:5-6 [5]Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. [6]In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.
Please turn to Ephesians 2
It is significant that Boaz made the gracious first move towards Ruth. In Grace, God makes the first move to come to our aid, not because we deserve anything, but because He loves us and wants us for Himself.
Ephesians 2:1-10 [2:1]And you were dead in the trespasses and sins [2]in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience-- [3]among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind. [4]But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, [5]even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ--by grace you have been saved-- [6]and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, [7]so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. [8]For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, [9]not a result of works, so that no one may boast. [10]For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. (ESV)
God takes the initiative in salvation when we were spiritually dead (Eph. 2:1–10), without strength (Rom. 5:6) while we are sinners (5:8), and His enemies (5:10). Salvation was not an afterthought of God but that which He planned from eternity.
Poem: The Touch of the Master’s Hand
Twas battered and scarred and the auctioneer
Thought it scarcely worth his while
To waste much time on the old violin
But held it up with a smile.
“What am I bidden, good folks,” he cried,
“Who’ll start the bidding for me?
A dollar, a dollar then two! Only two?
Two dollars and who’ll make it three.
Three dollars once. Three dollars twice.
Going for three—But no
From the room, far back, a gray haired man
Came forward and pick up the bow.
Then wiping the dust from the old violin
And tightening the loosened strings
He played a melody pure and sweet
As a caroling angel sings.
The music ceased, and the auctioneer
With a voice that was quiet and low
Said, “What am I bid for the old violin?”
And he held it up with the bow.
A thousand dollars, and who’ll make it two.
Two thousand and who’ll make it three.
Three thousand once—three thousand twice
And going and gone,” said he.
The people cheered but some of them cried
We do not quite understand.
What changed its worth? Swift came the reply
The touch of the master’s hand.
And many a man with life out of tune
And battered and scarred with sin.
Is auctioned cheap to the thoughtless crowd
Much like the old violin.
A mess of pottage, a glass of wine,
A game—he travels on.
He’s “going” once, and “going” twice
He’s going and almost gone.
But the Master comes and the foolish crowd
Never can quite understand
The worth of a soul and change that’s wrought
By the touch of the Master’s hand.
(Galaxie Software: 10,000 Sermon Illustrations. Biblical Studies Press, 2002; 2002)
We see the evidences of God’s grace in how (1) Boaz took the initiative and spoke to Ruth (Ruth 2:8). We will get back to verse nine, but in Ruth 2:10-13, see how:
2) Boaz encouraged Ruth (Ruth 2:10–13).
Ruth 2:10-13 [10]Then she fell on her face, bowing 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?" [11]But Boaz answered her, "All that you have done for your mother-in-law since the death of your husband has been fully told to me, and how you left your father and mother and your native land and came to a people that you did not know before. [12]The LORD repay you for what you have done, and a full reward be given you by the LORD, the God of Israel, under whose wings you have come to take refuge!" [13]Then she said, "I have found favor in your eyes, my lord, for you have comforted me and spoken kindly to your servant, though I am not one of your servants." (ESV)
In verse 10 we see a picture of her sincere gratitude and joy. When she went out into the fields of Boaz, she had hoped to find someone that would show her covenant faithfulness (hessed) all the while realizing what she was up against.
The Jews at this time didn’t have dealings with the Moabites. As we’ll see later on, even the Mosaic Law shut a Moabite out from the congregation of the Lord.
We are to come before God in wondrous worship and ask like Ruth did: Why have I found favor in your eyes, that you should take notice of me? We cannot find the answer within ourselves; we’re not lovely; we’re not beautiful to Him; we are not attractive; we do not have those qualities that God adores and that He rewards and respects. We’re sinners, and we’re in rebellion against God. And yet, in spite of all that, God loves us! That is one of the great truths of the Word of God. He demonstrated that love, because “while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” (Rom. 5:8) He extended His grace to us. And, friend, that’s the basis upon which He saves us today. (McGee, J. Vernon: Thru the Bible Commentary. electronic ed. Nashville : Thomas Nelson, 1997, c1981, S. 2:101)
The word translated “answered” in Ruth 2:11 is literally “raised his voice.” Boaz was getting excited! He wanted everybody to hear what he thought about Ruth, and he wasn’t ashamed to be identified with her. She had trusted God, and she had proved her faith by cleaving to her mother-in-law and becoming a part of the people of Israel in Bethlehem.
Ruth’s response to Boaz was one of humility and gratitude. She acknowledged her own unworthiness and accepted his grace. She believed his promises and rejoiced in them. There was no need for Ruth to worry, for the wealthy lord of the harvest would care for her and Naomi. How did she know he would care for her? He gave her his promise, and she knew he could be trusted.
Ruth looked away from her poverty and focused on his riches. She forgot her fears and rested on his promises.
• This of course is an excellent picture of faith. It is destructive once coming to faith to long for the past or feel sorry for ourselves in what could have been. Commitment to Christ and submission to him focuses on His glory and the role we now have in Him. Faith is to cling to the promises of God and take Him at His word.
Many people are miserable because they don’t obey the admonition of Hebrews 12:1-2
Hebrews 12:1-2 [12:1]Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, [2]looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. (ESV)
Poem: It can be summed up in a little poem:
Look at self and be distressed,
Look at others and be depressed,
Look at Jesus and you’ll be blessed!
Verse 12 refers to finding refuge under the wings of God.
Ruth 2:12 [12]The LORD repay you for what you have done, and a full reward be given you by the LORD, the God of Israel, under whose wings you have come to take refuge!" (ESV)
The present case illustrates the principle enunciated in Prov 19:17:
Proverbs 19:17 [17]Whoever is generous to the poor lends to the LORD, and he will repay him for his deed. (ESV)
Boaz blesses Ruth, in a statement which may be taken as a prayer. “Reward” here is maskoret, a word which means “wages.” Boaz believes that Ruth deserves the best for her piety and choice of Israel’s God, and is convinced that a just God will see that she is well rewarded. Boaz, who utters this prayer, is the means by which it is answered. God often uses one who prays as His agent to answer that prayer (Richards, Lawrence O.: The Bible Readers Companion. electronic ed. Wheaton : Victor Books, 1991; Published in electronic form by Logos Research Systems, 1996, S. 176).
• Think of the possible impact in your prayer life. God often puts people in our minds and on our hearts. Instead of just thinking that: “I’ve prayed and done my part”. Ask: “Now what can I do for this person”.
Boaz prayed that God would reward Ruth as repayment for the kindness she had displayed to her mother-in-law. He strengthened his request by asking that she be full/richly rewarded by . . . the God she had come to trust. He used a figure of speech known as a zoomorphism, comparing part of God to some aspect of an animal. He said she had taken refuge under God’s wings, like a chick under the wings of its mother hen (cf. Pss. 17:8; 36:7; 57:1; 61:4; 63:7; 91:4; Matt. 23:37) (Walvoord, John F. ; Zuck, Roy B. ; Dallas Theological Seminary: The Bible Knowledge Commentary : An Exposition of the Scriptures. Wheaton, IL : Victor Books, 1983-c1985, S. 1:423)..
Psalm 91:1-2 [91:1]He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty.[2]I will say to the LORD, "My refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust."
Although Boaz is probably thinking primarily of the day when Ruth transferred her allegiance from Chemosh, the god of the Moabites, to Yahweh, the God of Israel, her actions this morning represent a specific application of her general looking to him for protection. Inasmuch as she had come to Boaz and he had offered her his protection, he was personally functioning as the wings of God.
(Block, Daniel Isaac: Judges, Ruth. electronic ed. Nashville : Broadman & Holman Publishers, 2001, c1999 (Logos Library System; The New American Commentary 6), S. 663)
In Ruth 2:13 Ruth gives two reasons for her gratitude. First, she expresses thanksgiving to Boaz for calming her emotionally:
“You have comforted me/given me comfort.” The root nhm in this verb form (piel) is capable of a wide range of meanings: to comfort, to console, to bring relief. In contexts like this it conveys the sense of relieving tensions, easing the mind. It meant an assurance of help to an alien widow that would change despair to confidence. (Hamlin, E. John: Surely There Is a Future : A Commentary on the Book of Ruth. Grand Rapid, Mich.; Edinburgh : Eerdmans; Handsel Press Ltd., 1996 (International Theological Commentary), S. 33)
“Comfort” means practical assistance, as in the prayer of the psalmist:
Psalm 86:17 Show me a sign of your favor, that those who hate me may see and be put to shame because you, LORD, have helped me and comforted me (ESV).
Ruth hereby tells Boaz that his kindness has brought her great relief. Like a young chick frightened by the pouring rain, she has come out of her fears and found comfort and security under the wings of God. Those wings are embodied in the person of Boaz.
Second, she expresses gratitude for his kind words (“You … have spoken kindly”) (Block, Daniel Isaac: Judges, Ruth. electronic ed. Nashville : Broadman & Holman Publishers, 2001, c1999 (Logos Library System; The New American Commentary 6), S. 665).
• In times of distress, one of the greatest ministries we can have to someone is to bring them comfort from Scripture. The Word of God comes from the heart of God (Ps. 33:11) to the hearts of His people (Matt. 23:18–23) and gives encouragement and hope (Rom. 15:4).
This section concludes in Ruth 2:13 with the Blessing of Encouragement:
Ruth 2:13 [13]Then she said, "I have found favor in your eyes, my lord, for you have comforted me and spoken kindly to your servant, though I am not one of your servants." (ESV)
• Where do you turn for encouragement: A bottle, in a pill or needle, or in some worldly pleasure?
If we learn the lessons from this story:
Romans 15:4 [4]For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope. (ESV)
The hope that Ruth exhibited here is linked with a realization of who she was and how richly blessed she was:
• We get into trouble when we think that the world owes us something or that we deserve so much more. Be careful in demanding what you deserve or in getting what is fair.
o Because of our sin, we deserve judgment. Justice would be that we suffer the consequences for our sin. That is what is fair. Be careful what you demand of God, He may allow you to suffer some of the consequences of your sin as an object lesson.
• The first realization in coming to faith in God is that the Holy Spirit illuminates our minds and we come to realize that we are sinners and that we only deserve judgment.
• It is God’s grace that He calls us unto eternal life and we enjoy the great privileges of becoming His sons and daughters.
Poem The Mercy of the Lord
Someone said the Lord is coming
And the time is a surprise.
Now I wanted to be all prepared
To meet Him in the skies.
I heard we must be specially dressed
If to Him we would draw nigh.
But I had all sorts of garments
And my heart with pride beat high.
Now the garment of my morality
That would surely get me in.
But when I looked it over
It was soiled and stained with sin.
Now the garment of self sacrifice
That a couldn’t help but do
But when I saw how short it fell
It went into discard too.
Now the garment of personal goodness
Would pay any heavenly cost
I couldn’t even find that
Somehow it had gotten lost.
In my bright and shining humility
I’d go to be His bride.
My gaze fell upon it
It was tarnished with my pride.
One by one each was discarded
And my heart filled with despair.
I could never go to meet Him
I had nothing fit to wear.
As I wallowed there in gloom
He sent the words and music of a song
And it swelled out through the room.
Amazing grace—How sweet the sound
That saved a wretch like me
I once was lost but now was found
Was blind but now I see.
Thank God my eyes were opened
I gazed up in His face
Why the garment He would have me wear
He’d provided by His grace.
Gone was black despair and heartache
Nevermore I’d walk alone.
Dressed only in His righteousness
I’m ready when He calls His own.
(Galaxie Software: 10,000 Sermon Illustrations. Biblical Studies Press, 2002; 2002)
We have seen the evidences of God’s grace in how (1) Boaz took the initiative and spoke to Ruth (Ruth 2:8) (2) Boaz encouraged Ruth (Ruth 2:10–13) and finally how:
(3) Boaz promised to protect Ruth and provide for her needs that she might be satisfied (Ruth 2:9, 14–16). We see the Blessing of Protection:
Ruth 2:9 [9]Let your eyes be on the field that they are reaping, and go after them. Have I not charged the young men not to touch you? And when you are thirsty, go to the vessels and drink what the young men have drawn." (ESV)
Ruth 2:14-16 [14]And at mealtime Boaz said to her, "Come here and eat some bread and dip your morsel in the wine." So she sat beside the reapers, and he passed to her roasted grain. And she ate until she was satisfied, and she had some left over. [15]When she rose to glean, Boaz instructed his young men, saying, "Let her glean even among the sheaves, and do not reproach her. [16]And also pull out some from the bundles for her and leave it for her to glean, and do not rebuke her." (ESV)
Here we see the blessing of fellowship, acceptance and satisfaction.
Boaz instructed his young men to protect Ruth and the young women to work with her. When Boaz said in verse 9 I charged the young men not to touch you .In this case it (means that they are not to) “to strike, harass, take advantage of, mistreat.” Boaz is hereby instituting the first anti-sexual-harassment policy in the workplace recorded in the Bible (Block, Daniel Isaac: Judges, Ruth. electronic ed. Nashville : Broadman & Holman Publishers, 2001, c1999 (Logos Library System; The New American Commentary 6), S. 659).
• There is a true sense that Ruth is in a protected fellowship. This is what God envisions for a local congregation. We are to have others who walk with us, guide us and rebuke us if necessary. This is what the “one another’s” of Ephesians and elsewhere are to function as.
She was to walk with the female servants who followed immediately after the reapers. In other words, Ruth had first chance at the best of the gleanings! Boaz even instructed his workers to allow her to glean among the sheaves and told them to deliberately drop some of the harvest so she could pick it up. If she was hungry or thirsty, she could refresh herself with his workers.
The description of events in Ruth 2:14 is extraordinary, and The phrase “at mealtime” (lit., “at the time of eating,” lĕʿet hâʾôkel, i.e., at the time of the noon meal) signals a chronological separation between vv. 13 and 14. Here we see the blessing of provision
The fact that Boaz ate with his harvesters says something about the man, but his actions at this meal must have caught everyone by surprise.
First, he invites Ruth, an outsider and a Moabite, to join him and his workers. The choice of verb, nâgað, “to come here/near, approach” (NIV, “come over”), suggests that as a stranger Ruth had deliberately and appropriately (according to custom) kept her distance.
Second, he encourages her to share the food prepared for his workers. The narrator does not tell us whether or not she had brought her own lunch, but it seems unlikely given her economic condition and the uncertainty with which she had left Naomi in the morning. In any case Boaz invites her to (lit.) “eat from the bread.” The definite article on halleḥem (“the bread”) suggests this food had been prepared and brought for his workers.
Third, Boaz beckons Ruth to dip your morsel in the wine Here hômeṣ is best understood as a sour sauce or condiment used to moisten and spice up dry bread. Boaz could not allow her to eat dry bread while he enjoyed more pleasant food.
Fourth, when Ruth had taken her seat beside Boaz’s harvesters, he served her roasted grain himself. The narrator deliberately highlights this extraordinary action by using a word that occurs only here in the Old Testament ( M. Jastrow, A Dictionary of the Targumim, the Talmud Babli and Yerushalmi, and the Midrashic Literature (New York: Judaica Press, 1985), 1258).
Fifth, Boaz gives her food enough to satisfy her and to have some left over. This last observation is added to emphasize Boaz’s generosity.
What a picture of the grace of God! The master became like the servants that he might show his love to a foreigner. Ruth had no idea that Boaz had commanded his workers to be generous to her, but she believed his word and found that her needs were met.
The picture of the actions of Boaz, is one of gracious provision and it is such a wonderful picture of Christ:
Philippians 4:19 [19]And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus. (ESV)
Ruth 2:15-16 concludes with the remarkable covenant faithfulness (hessed) shown to Ruth on behalf of Boaz. One can well imagine the abuse that persons like Ruth, who arrive at the field uninvited or unengaged, might receive from those …who have been properly hired by the land owner to harvest the crops. Now Boaz lets his workers know that they are to have no part in such action toward Ruth. They will not threaten her physically or shame her psychologically with snide comments about her alien status or the low class she represents just because she is forced to go begging for fields in which she might glean. This final interchange contributes to the image of a compassionate and kindly Boaz (Block, Daniel Isaac: Judges, Ruth. electronic ed. Nashville : Broadman & Holman Publishers, 2001, c1999 (Logos Library System; The New American Commentary 6), S. 669).
• It also serves as a picture of the kindness that we received from God and how we are to show that kindness to others. There is no hierarchy of status in the Kingdom, no classes between men and women, white and black etc (Gal. 3:28). As God has shown us our privileges of being in Christ, so too we are to show compassion and kindness without belittling but lifting people up.
Throughout Ruth 2 we see that all of Ruth’s blessing were the result of grace and faith. Earlier, she sought grace (Ruth 2:2) and the story concludes with here with here finding grace (Ruth 2:10, 13). Ruth was living by grace through faith.
(Format note: Some base commentary from Wiersbe, Warren W.: Be Committed. Wheaton, Ill. : Victor Books, 1996, c1993 (An Old Testament Study. Ruth and Esther), S. Ru 2:4)
