A. I like the story told of the father wanted to read a magazine one day, but was being interrupted numerous times by his little daughter.
1. Finally, he tore a sheet out of the magazine that had a map of the world printed on it.
2. He tore the picture of the world into small pieces and gave it to his daughter instructing her to go into the other room and see if she could put the picture back together, like a puzzle.
3. The little girl returned a few minutes later with the picture of the map correctly taped together.
4. Her father was so surprised and asked how she had finished putting the picture puzzle together so quickly.
5. The little girl matter-of-factly said: “It was easy daddy, on the other side of the paper is a picture of Jesus. And when I got Jesus in His place, then the world came out all right.”
B. Life can truly be a puzzle and can be very puzzling, but when we get Jesus in His place, then things do come together a lot better.
1. Consider these three illustrations: puzzles, connect-the-dots, and tapestries.
2. Puzzle pieces don’t make sense until all the pieces are put in the right places. Right?
3. Connect-the-dot pictures don’t make any sense until you connect all the dots. Right?
4. If you look at the backside of the tapestry, all you see is chaotic stitching, strings and knots, but the tapestry maker sees the top of the tapestry and is creating a beautiful picture.
5. That’s certainly how it must have felt for Naomi and Ruth – what was happening in their lives seemed like an unfinished puzzle, a connect-the-dot picture, or the back of a tapestry.
C. Last Sunday, we began a new sermon series on the book of Ruth and were introduced to a woman named Naomi and her daughter-in-law, Ruth.
1. Last Sunday, as we worked through chapter 1 of Ruth, we saw how God’s hand fell hard upon Naomi and her family.
a. A famine in Judah caused them to decide to move to Moab, but soon after their move, Naomi’s husband died, then her two sons decided to marry Moabite women, and then her two sons died.
2. One blow after another caused Naomi to say: “the Lord’s hand has turned against me” (1:13), and “Don’t call me Naomi. Call me Mara, for the Almighty has made me very bitter. I went away full, but the Lord has brought me back empty. Why do you call me Naomi, since the Lord has opposed me, and the Almighty has afflicted me?” (1:20-21)
3. Naomi had a strong faith in God Almighty and believed that God rules in the national and personal affairs of people.
4. But when Naomi looked at the suffering she had experienced – the hardship and the heartbreak – she had lost hope that God was going to bring anything good out of all that she had suffered.
5. She had forgotten about God’s dealings with Job, or Joseph, or the nation of Israel, and how God often brought blessings out of discipline and hardship.
6. The things that happen in our lives are often a mystery, or a puzzle, or the underside of a tapestry to us, but they aren’t to God.
a. God knows all things and God knows what He is trying to do in our lives, but we have to trust Him and allow Him to work.
b. Ultimately, God wants to give us hope and a future (Jer. 29:11).
D. As we brought the sermon last week to a close, we began to see a glimmer of the hope and the future that God had in mind for Naomi and Ruth.
1. We began to see a glimmer of God’s favor, even though Naomi and Ruth couldn’t see it.
2. God’s favor and provision began to show itself in the lifting of the famine and the upcoming fruitful harvest in Israel.
3. God’s favor is seen in the fact that Ruth would not be dissuaded from returning to Judah with Naomi.
4. God’s favor is seen in their safe return after a long journey fraught with danger.
5. And finally, as we will see today, God’s favor will be seen in a kinsman redeemer named Boaz.
6. Last week, I compared Naomi’s situation to my own mother’s situation when my father died at the age of 31 leaving her with four children and little hope.
a. God’s favor and provision for her and for us began when God brought Hugh Grimsley into our lives about a year after my father died.
b. What Boaz was for Naomi and Ruth, Hugh was for my mom and for us. Thank you, Lord!
E. Chapter 2 of the book of Ruth opens with the words: 1 Now Naomi had a relative on her husband’s side. He was a prominent man of noble character from Elimelech’s family. His name was Boaz. (2:1)
1. We will come back and talk more about Boaz in a few minutes, but it was important for the storyteller to introduce Boaz at this point because of the way the story will progress.
2. The important things we learn about Boaz from this single verse include that he is a relative of Naomi’s deceased husband – that is going to be a very important fact.
3. We also learn that he is a prominent man – meaning that he is a wealthy man and a man of standing in that community.
4. And equally important, we learn that he is a man of noble character – he is a good and godly man.
F. The story continues: 2 Ruth the Moabitess asked Naomi, “Will you let me go into the fields and gather fallen grain behind someone with whom I find favor?” Naomi answered her, “Go ahead, my daughter.” 3 So Ruth left and entered the field to gather grain behind the harvesters. She happened to be in the portion of the field belonging to Boaz, who was from Elimelech’s family. (2:2-3)
1. If anyone had the false notion that Ruth was going to be a burden on Naomi, then they can put that notion to rest.
a. We see here in verse 2 that Ruth was no slacker and that she had decided to stay with Naomi to take care of her mother-in-law.
b. In that day, there was no social security or cash welfare payments, and so a person had to either beg or find a way to work, and Ruth was ready to find a way to work.
3. We notice a few important characteristics of Ruth at the beginning of this part of the story.
a. First, we notice that she doesn’t have to be ordered to work.
1. The Bible doesn’t say that Naomi said to Ruth, “Get off your lazy butt and go out there and get us some food.”
2. How great is it that Ruth took the initiative without being asked?
3. There have been a lot of parents over the years who wished they didn’t have to ask or tell their kids to work around the house or outside of the house. Amen?
b. Second, we notice that even as Ruth took the initiative, she did so asking for permission from Naomi.
1. This shows some humility and a desire to show respect to Naomi.
2. Ruth didn’t want to do anything without Naomi’s permission and guidance.
3. But notice also that Ruth didn’t suggest that Naomi had to join her – she could have said, “I’ll go out and work if you will also go out and work.”
4. This may indicate that this kind of work was beyond Naomi’s capabilities at that time, or it may be Ruth wanting to make it clear that she was there to support Naomi and not the other way around.
c. A final characteristic about Ruth that I want us to consider is found in the phrase “behind someone with whom I find favor.”
1. In that phrase, we see that Ruth was trusting that God would go before her and provide someone from whom she would find favor.
2. That kind of positive and faith-filled attitude is good for us to have and develop.
4. So, having received Naomi’s permission, Ruth went out and began looking for a field to glean from, and the text says that she just happened to end up in a field owned by Boaz.
a. Now what are the chances of that? What a coincidence! Right? Wrong!
b. Brothers and sisters, God was at work in all that! Right?
c. Surely there had to be 10, or 20, or 30, or more different field owners in the area of Bethlehem, and I wonder how many different fields she passed by before she ended up in that field.
d. We aren’t told that she prayed as she went seeking a field with favor, but I believe she prayed as she proceeded, which is always a good way to proceed in life.
5. Ruth’s suggestion that she go into the fields and gather grain behind someone is a reference to a common practice in ancient times called “gleaning.”
a. According to Old Testament law a landowner was required to leave a part of his crop in the field so the poor people could come in after the official harvesters had done their work and pick up what was left over. It was a form of welfare.
b. Leviticus 19:9-10 says: 9 “When you reap the harvest of your land, you are not to reap to the very edge of your field or gather the gleanings of your harvest. 10 Do not strip your vineyard bare or gather its fallen grapes. Leave them for the poor and the resident alien; I am the Lord your God.”
c. So this was how the people of God were instructed to look out for the poor.
d. I like the fact that it wasn’t really a hand out, but was more of a hand up.
e. Gleaning was hard work in the hot sun, as the gleaners came into the fields that had been harvested and looked for what was left behind.
G. So, Ruth went into the field to glean and just happened to end up in a field belonging to Boaz.
1. The story continues: 4 Later, when Boaz arrived from Bethlehem, he said to the harvesters, “The Lord be with you.” “The Lord bless you,” they replied. 5 Boaz asked his servant who was in charge of the harvesters, “Whose young woman is this?” 6 The servant answered, “She is the young Moabite woman who returned with Naomi from the territory of Moab. 7 She asked, ‘Will you let me gather fallen grain among the bundles behind the harvesters?’ She came and has been on her feet since early morning, except that she rested a little in the shelter.”
2. So at some point during that day, Boaz came to the field where Ruth had been working.
3. Why do you think the storyteller shares with us the way Boaz greeted his workers?
a. I think the storyteller is giving us more of a glimpse into Boaz’s character and life.
b. Boaz was a spiritual man who talked about the Lord and passed on the Lord’s blessings even to his employees.
4. As Boaz looked over the work going on in his field, he noticed the young woman gleaning behind the harvesters and asked the chief harvester who she was.
5. The harvester told Boaz that she was the young Moabite woman who had returned to Bethlehem with Naomi.
a. Then the harvester began singing her praises.
b. He said that Ruth was very polite and asked for permission to glean.
c. And then he said she was a hard worker who stayed on her feet and rested only a little bit in the shelter.
H. After hearing this report about Ruth, the Bible says that Boaz spoke to Ruth: 8 Then Boaz said to Ruth, “Listen, my daughter. Don’t go and gather grain in another field, and don’t leave this one, but stay here close to my female servants. 9 See which field they are harvesting, and follow them. Haven’t I ordered the young men not to touch you? When you are thirsty, go and drink from the jars the young men have filled.” 10 She fell facedown, bowed to the ground, and said to him, “Why have I found favor with you, so that you notice me, although I am a foreigner?” (2:8-10)
1. There is no hint here that Boaz makes these offers to Ruth with ulterior motives, rather the text suggests that he is genuinely impressed with Ruth’s work ethic and all he has heard about her care for her mother-in-law, which he will bring up in a moment.
2. But the things that he gives Ruth permission to do are an incredible display of favor and generosity.
a. Boaz gives her permission to stay in his field – she doesn’t need to go anywhere else.
b. He suggests that she work closely with his own female servants – in this way she moves out of the place of a tolerated gleaner and is allowed to blend in with his own workers – she’s not just getting the leftovers.
c. Boaz also gave instructions to his men not to touch her – those orders meant that she was welcome and safe – she wouldn’t be pushed away, nor potentially be sexually exploited.
d. And on top of all that, Ruth was told she could drink from the water jars placed there for Boaz’s workers – that meant she didn’t have to bring her own water, or go home to get a drink of water and loose valuable harvest time.
3. Ruth was humbled and astounded by Boaz’s generosity and asked: “Why have I found favor with you, so that you notice me, although I am a foreigner?”
a. In other words, “Why would you be so kind to me? I’m a nobody! And a foreigner!”
b. Ruth is a great example for all of us about how we should respond to God’s mercy and grace.
c. Humility should cause us to always approach God with the attitude: “Why have I found favor with You? I’m just a sinner!”
I. Boaz basically said, “Good question, Ruth, and here’s my answer:” The Bible says: 11 Boaz answered her, “Everything you have done for your mother-in-law since your husband’s death has been fully reported to me: how you left your father and mother and your native land, and how you came to a people you didn’t previously know. 12 May the Lord reward you for what you have done, and may you receive a full reward from the Lord God of Israel, under whose wings you have come for refuge.” 13 “My lord,” she said, “I have found favor with you, for you have comforted and encouraged your servant, although I am not like one of your female servants.” (2:11-13)
1. Why was Boaz treating her with such generosity and compassion? Because Ruth had been so compassionate and generous with her mother-in-law.
a. Often in life and often with God we do reap what we sow. Right?
b. Ruth had sowed seeds of faithful love and courage and self-sacrifice, and now she was repeating rewards of gracious generosity.
c. All Ruth could do was let Boaz know how much his favor meant to her and how comforted and encouraged she was by his favor.
2. The other thing that Boaz brought up beyond what Ruth had done for her mother-in-law was the faith that she displayed in God.
a. Boaz said that Ruth had sought refuge in God and placed herself under God’s wings.
b. Boaz understood that when a person runs to God for refuge, then they receive a full reward from God.
c. Boaz became the conduit of God’s rewards for Ruth.
J. So Ruth went back to work, but at mealtime, Boaz approached her and said: “Come over here and have some bread and dip it in the vinegar sauce.” So she sat beside the harvesters, and he offered her roasted grain. She ate and was satisfied and had some left over. (2:14)
1. What an amazing picture of God’s provision. Amen!
2. Hours earlier, Ruth feared she might be an unwelcome guest in the field of a stranger and facing possible abuse and exploitation.
3. Hours later, she found herself sitting as an invited guest at the table – perhaps enjoying the best meal she had eaten in a while.
4. But she didn’t just think about herself, she took a “to-go” bag home for Naomi.
K. Here’s how our story for today comes to a conclusion: 15 When she got up to gather grain, Boaz ordered his young men, “Let her even gather grain among the bundles, and don’t humiliate her. 16 Pull out some stalks from the bundles for her and leave them for her to gather. Don’t rebuke her.” 17 So Ruth gathered grain in the field until evening. She beat out what she had gathered, and it was about twenty-six quarts of barley. 18 She picked up the grain and went into the town, where her mother-in-law saw what she had gleaned. She brought out what she had left over from her meal and gave it to her. 19 Her mother-in-law said to her, “Where did you gather barley today, and where did you work? May the Lord bless the man who noticed you.”
Ruth told her mother-in-law whom she had worked with and said, “The name of the man I worked with today is Boaz.” 20 Then Naomi said to her daughter-in-law, “May the Lord bless him because he has not abandoned his kindness to the living or the dead.” Naomi continued, “The man is a close relative. He is one of our family redeemers.” 21 Ruth the Moabitess said, “He also told me, ‘Stay with my young men until they have finished all of my harvest.’”
22 So Naomi said to her daughter-in-law Ruth, “My daughter, it is good for you to work with his female servants, so that nothing will happen to you in another field.” 23 Ruth stayed close to Boaz’s female servants and gathered grain until the barley and the wheat harvests were finished. And she lived with her mother-in-law. (2:15-23)
1. With the blessings and provisions of Boaz and his harvesters, Ruth was able to come away with a huge amount of grain from one day of gleaning.
a. 26 quarts of barley doesn’t mean much to most of us.
b. But consider the fact that the average daily wage for a full harvester was about 1 quart of barley.
c. So, on that first day of gleaning, Ruth came home with almost a month’s worth of wages!
2. When Naomi saw how much Ruth had gleaned, she wanted to know where Ruth had gleaned and she offered a blessing on the man who noticed Ruth.
3. Then when Naomi heard that the man who owned the field was Boaz, she praise God and asked God to bless Boaz for showing such great kindness.
a. Naomi also informed Ruth that Boaz was a close relative and was one of their family redeemers – in other words, he could be someone whom Ruth could marry so Elimeleck’s family name could continue.
b. We will discuss more about levirate marriage next week.
4. Naomi could clearly see that God was at work and encouraged Ruth to continue to glean in the field of Boaz where she had protection and provision.
a. And Ruth continued to glean until the barley and wheat harvests were finished.
b. We aren’t told if Ruth brought home as much grain each day that she did on that first day, but clearly the needs of Naomi and Ruth were met during that time.
5. What a difference in the disposition and outlook of Naomi in chapter 2 than in chapter 1!
a. That difference came as a result of hope and trust in God – she went from doom and gloom, to joy and thanksgiving as she began to see God’s faithful provision.
b. Naomi was beginning to complete the puzzle and connect the dots in the picture that God was drawing.
L. As we think about how to apply the story of Naomi and Ruth to our own lives, I want to encourage us to take three lessons to heart.
1. First, I want to encourage us to never give up and especially never give up on God.
a. We may be puzzled and confused about why things are happening or are not happening, but we must trust that God knows what He is doing and God knows what lays ahead.
b. How sad if Naomi and Ruth had given up on life and given up on God back in Moab!
c. How sad if any of us were to give up on life and give up on God wherever we find ourselves – in the hospital, in the funeral home, in jail, in bankruptcy, in the unemployment line, in divorce court, or whatever other dark and discouraging place we might find ourselves.
d. We must never give up – the darkness of the night will give way to the morning light.
e. The Lord can give us hope and a future.
2. Second, I want to encourage us to allow God to be our refuge and strength and to put ourselves under God’s wings.
a. Like David, we can cry out: Be gracious to me, God, be gracious to me, for I take refuge in you. I will seek refuge in the shadow of your wings until danger passes. (Ps. 57:1)
b. There is no better or safer place to be then in the shadow of God’s wings.
c. Picture our God as a great eagle, whose eaglets find shelter under His great and powerful wings.
3. Finally, I want to encourage us to welcome God’s favor and then to pass it along to others.
a. As we saw today, Boaz had received God’s favor and passed it along to Ruth and Naomi.
b. And not to get to far ahead of ourselves in the story, Boaz and Ruth will receive God’s favor and will pass it along in the family line of David that culminated in the coming of Christ Jesus.
c. God’s favor comes to all of us through Jesus.
d. Do any of us deserve to receive God’s favor through Jesus? Absolutely not.
1. Just like Ruth looked into the gracious face of Boaz and asked, “Why have I found favor from you?”, we should look into the gracious face of God and ask the same.
2. What is God’s answer to why we have found favor from God? His answer is because He loves us and is merciful toward us – that’s just who God is.
e. And the favor we have received through Jesus, must not be kept just to ourselves, but we must pass that favor on to others.
f. God calls us to go into the world and to spread around His love, compassion and mercy toward a hardened and broken world.
g. There are so many who are living in the darkness of sin and the darkness of desperation and fear, so many are starving for love and compassion, and God can pour out His favor through us – we can be the conduits of His love and hope through the Gospel of Jesus.
h. Let’ keep our eyes open to the people around us whom God wants to draw into the kingdom through His love shown through us.
4. In summary:
a. Let’s be sure we never give up on God.
b. Let’s be sure we stay in the shelter of God’s wings.
c. And let’s be sure we invite others to join us in entering the favor of God that comes through Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior and Friend.
Resources:
• “Mercy and Compassion – Above and Beyond” Sermon by Bradley Boydston
• “Ruth: Under the Wings of God” Sermon by John Piper
