THE FIELD OF GRACE
Ruth Chapter 2 :1-18
As we read here, Ruth had entered this certain field. This field was not hers, but a man named Boaz. Here we see God put his plans into motion.
Neither Ruth nor Boaz ever imagined what would transpire with them meeting here in this field of grace.
I would like to point out three things that happened to both Ruth and Boaz in the verses from which I have read to you all.
Notice with me the first thing in verse 7;
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.
Here I think was THE PRAYER FROM RUTH.
What Ruth was saying can I just have any portion that your workers have left behind or just do not care to pick from.
She has left her mother-in-law Naomi to try and find somewhere just some place where I can get enough to make us a biscuit or two, where we will not starve to death.
Ruth I’m sure had prayed about this matter, Naomi had prayed about this matter and ask God to send her a field where she could gather up enough food to feed the both of them.
You see Ruth is no more than a beggar, she could not go into the field and just start picking where she wanted to pick. She had to stay behind the workers and try to get what they had left behind. Just a handful of grain that she thought might be enough to feed them.
Now, the law required that she could pick from a field because her husband had died but she had to stay in the corner of a field or back behind the pickers, all she could have was the bare leftovers.
I’m also sure both Naomi and Ruth prayed before God to help them with their food problems.
God looked down and heard Ruth ask Boaz when she said, “I pray thee” God heard and seen that she was humble in her asking.
God looked down upon this field and anointed it with His almighty hands.
I want to tell you this, Ruth coming to Boaz’s field was no accident.
Prayers by both Ruth and Boaz were being answered, yet they didn’t know it at the moment.
Sometimes our prayers are not always the way we want them to be. God may have them in motion at a different speed or time he just needs you to start going in that direction before it is answered.
#2- First there was the PRAYER FROM RUTH, now let us look at THE PLACE FOR RUTH.
Notice with me in Verse 5;
5- Then said Boaz unto his servant that was set over the reapers, Whose damsel is this?
Ruth was over in one of those corners of that field, I think Boaz had to squint his eyes to see that far away but he sees this woman there. She is bent down and picking up what was left over from the ground, what very little was even left. Boaz noticed her and asked one of the men that were with him, “whose damsel is this”
I want to tell you Ruth was placed in this field by God. Boaz was placed in the ownership of this field by God.
If you look back into the Hebrew and translate what Boaz just ask, I think it would translate into something like this, “Wow! Isn’t she good looking, I need a closer look at her”
Ruth was directed by God to this field, make no mistake about that this morning.
Here in this field of grace, a grace that would set up the very plan for the doors in heaven to open up.
Look with me to Verse 8; Old Boaz wanted Ruth; he wanted her to stay in his field.
8 - 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:
Boaz knew a good thing we he saw it. Boaz had just…well in another word, JUST FELL IN LOVE AT FIRST SITE.
Oh, the place, this field was full of God movement, God’s plan and Ruth and Boaz were in the right place fulfilling the plan of God.
This was surly the very place for Ruth.
Let’s read verse 10;
10 - 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?
In this field Ruth felt that grace but also notice she ended this verse, “seeing I am a stranger”
God has no strangers in His eyes or in that field. God sent her to that very place, to that very person who would not make her a stranger no more.
Let us look how Boaz answered this question Ruth had ask. In verses 11 - 12.
11 - 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.
12 - 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.
Listen Boaz also knew God was involved in this meeting. Yes, this was a true field of grace, this was the exact place for Ruth.
Ruth answers him back in verse 13;
13 - Then she said, Let me find favour in thy sight, my lord; for that thou hast comforted me, and for that thou hast spoken friendly unto thine handmaid, though I be not like unto one of thine handmaidens.
Ruth started to understand that something more was going on here. More than she had ever thought before. God’s plan was becoming clear and the both of them knew something good was happening.
Not only was it a Prayer from Ruth and a Place for Ruth
#3- Let’s look at the PURPOSE OF RUTH.
Look here in Verse 16;
16 - And let fall also some of the handfuls of purpose for her, and leave them, that she may glean them, and rebuke her not.
God had a purpose for Ruth, God had a purpose for Boaz, God has a plan for us too. I think sometimes we just don’t look around in that field we are in and notice how God has set a plan into action on our behalf.
Boaz knew he had to have this woman; he fell head over heels in love with her.
Look here in verse 14.
14 - 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
Boaz wanted Ruth to come and eat with him. Not only eat with him but to eat of the bread and get this a dip her bread in his vinegar..
Imagine now for a moment, try to envision the scene going on here. Here is Ruth and Boaz sitting around this table and breaking of the bread and putting their hands deep into that bowl of vinegar.
Think back now years ago when you were dating your wife or husband, you may have thought the most romantic things you two did was letting your love maybe drink out of your cup or straw. You have seen it on TV where a girl and boy were sitting in a soda shop with one drink and two straws.
Remember when you might have swapped your chewing gum with him or her? Man, you didn’t care if the other one had any germs you just wanted to go sopping with her.
Boaz wanted to sop with Ruth right here, Boaz didn’t care about any germs, he was in love!
Now Boaz just didn’t go sopping with any old girl, just the one that he fell in love with.
Remember those days of long ago? I think we all called that puppy love and Boaz had a handful of that!
He wanted Ruth and he wanted to sop with her!!!
Boaz wanted Ruth to have this field, not just a corner of it, she could have it all, Boaz just wanted her to stay!
Let’s get back to Ruth’s Purpose and I will close this sermon.
We all know that Ruth and Boaz got married and they had a child and named him Obed.
Let’s take a quick look at the very last chapter and verse in the book of Ruth.
Verse 22
22 - And Obed begat Jesse, and Jesse begat David.
The purpose of this field of grace, this event that God had purposed set up the family line to bring forth a King named David. From that lineage of Ruth and Boaz and David brought forth the King of Kings, our Lord Jesus Christ from the Virgin Mary.
So you see, Ruth had a purpose for this field which Boaz owned.
God took the prayers, the place, and the purpose to get things done the way had had planned it.
CLOSING HERE
What is your prayer, is it a place you need to be because God has a purpose for you?
Are you here this morning and not even knowing where to go?
If you do not know Jesus as your Lord and Savior, today in this alter in your Field of Grace.
If you just don’t know your purpose, then its here in this alter and allow God to give it to you.
Here in this alter you will find that Field of Grace, the prayers will be answered, the place is right now, the harvest is ready.
Are you just getting by? Are you in a corner and just getting enough to make it just one more day?
God see’s you there and He has fell in love with you and He wants you to come and eat at His table, eat the bread of Life with Him.
God wants you to have all that field, just come out of that corner and get a handful of purpose.
