When it comes to Bible texts, one method of detecting the heart of the text is to look for word repetition. Word repetition often reinforces a theme not to be missed. For example, in today's text, we have four word repetitions: Gleaning and Satisfied along with Barley and Field.
Gleaning was introduced last week. The farmworkers harvest. They come through with a cutting knife or sickle in one hand and gather up their cuttings in the other hand. What falls from their arms are known as gleanings. By God’s direction, these were to be left for the poor to pick up as their own to provide for themselves.
Though it was the evil era of the Judges, when everyone did what was right in their own eyes, this practice was still observed by Israel’s faithful: Ruth 2 is one of the rare examples where we see obedience lived out. From gleaning, perhaps one could get a day or two's worth of food with a little left to sell or barter. It wasn't a complete solution to get out of poverty. But the gleaning commandment prevented starvation.
The other repeated word: Satisfied might come as a surprise given the poverty in our text. In Scripture, the word is used in different ways.
Over half of its 97 Old Testament appearances are negative indicating dissatisfaction. In our day and age too, it is quite rare for people to be satisfied. But here, it is used positively even amidst the impoverished. This word is unexpected. The satisfaction comes not from Ruth’s hard work. Her satisfaction originates from Boaz, the farmer, looking out for her needs.
Twice, our text emphasizes Ruth's satisfaction from this one act of kindness from Boaz. Plus, she even brings back a doggie bag from the field kitchen. And Ruth shares this rare treat with Naomi. This is on top of the ephah of milled barley Ruth came home carrying. While the typical gleaner might gather one or two days worth of food… Ruth was able to gather ten days' worth of food for two and a doggie bag of flavored bread as a bonus.
This narrative would have shocked the original listeners. It's not just about getting by. Ruth and Naomi are transformed by Boaz's abundant hospitality and generosity. Remember - this is just one day out of more to come. It is amazing how God provides satisfaction and even abundance. Two things stand out:
First, Ruth is humbled. She knows she does not deserve such kindness. Ruth holds no sense of entitlement.
Multiple times, Boaz looks out for Ruth. He goes far beyond the minimal following of God’s gleaning laws. Just as God brought forth heroes in the book of Judges for national moments of redemption, God brings forth Boaz to be a hero to Ruth and Naomi.
-V8 – He encourages Ruth to stay in his fields.
-V8 – Boaz gives Ruth priority placement with the servant girls
-V9 – Boaz prewarns the men not to assault her
-V9 – Boaz grants her access to water
-V12- Boaz grants her a godly blessing
-V14 – Boaz invites her to dine
-V 15 – Boaz lets her gather among the sheaves
-V 16 -Boaz tells his men to accidentally let some full stalks of barley fall so Ruth can gather them
Ruth, a foreigner, has received kindness upon kindness - more than she could have imagined. It is God at work in every step of an ordinary day.
Secondly, while Ruth is humbled by the whole experience, Naomi is transformed through it. Naomi, whose name means pleasant, returned from Moab bitter and grieving…
Naomi is gripped by bitterness. There is no evidence that Naomi went to the fields to alleviate their poverty. Naomi appears to have given up. In her grief, she could not find satisfaction ever again. She had no expectation her life would ever be joyful again.
However, God's generous provision eases Naomi's bitterness: The transformation begins in verse 18 after Naomi mopped for an entire day while Ruth was away. We are witnesses to a Naomi’s sudden transformation of character once Ruth returned home. Ruth returns with a staggering amount of food and a doggie bag to boot:
Ruth names the man who assisted her BOAZ! This is the same Boaz the narrator note we had the pleasure of reading in advance in verse 1:
That little piece of data was just for us as readers. Ruth knew nothing about Boaz in advance. Naomi did – but she had no expectation in advance that he would become Ruth’s hero in that moment. This is where all the puzzle pieces come together in such a way that Naomi can’t help but credit God.
Naomi went from lamenting that God afflicted her to seeing God's hand of blessing in that very moment.
This blessing serves as an early revelation and sets the stage for the rest of Ruth's story. But Ruth’s not finished. She has more to share with Naomi: The connection between Ruth and Boaz will continue tomorrow and beyond:
Besides being kind to Ruth, he also tells her to return until the harvest is complete. Naomi sees this as especially good news given the harm that could have fallen on Ruth: For a second time, we are reminded of Ruth being spared from assault had she gone elsewhere.
Ruth not only stays until the barley harvest is finished which comes first. Ruth also returns to Boaz’s fields for the wheat harvest that follows. God provides for Ruth’s protection and long-term satisfaction:
And Naomi was not alone anymore: I’m not sure how many of us could do that for various reasons and relationship disconnects. But the point is that Naomi is not alone anymore. Ruth is satisfied if not more than satisfied and so is Naomi for the first time in a long time.
In the beginning of this series, I cautioned that Ruth would be challenging to preach on in parts. Our problem is our tendency to over-spiritualize a text in order to find a profound heavenly meaning in it. Sometimes we make it too hard.
But when we reconsider the repeated words oddly paired together of gleaning and satisfied. The majority of the day was spent in a farm field. This is about barley and grain. It’s about as basic life sustenance as one can get.
Add to that it’s unfamiliar territory since we are so used to buying from the grocery store. And satisfaction is realized through these simple means. It’s not winning the lottery. We're not talking about the Publishers Clearing House Sweepstakes showing up at your door with a giant check.
We can find satisfaction in the most basic of basic - as Jesus taught us in the Lord's prayer. Give us this day our daily bread. We have so much more. Yet many of us here have long lost satisfaction in what we have. We have forgotten to be grateful for God's provision that extends far beyond daily food. We want more. We want new. If it means going into slavery as debtors, we will do anything to get it. We exhaust ourselves in the pursuit and within a short time we are unsatisfied again. Just consider how profound that true satisfaction for Ruth and Naomi resulted in God’s basic ongoing provision.
Reformed Pastor Abraham Kuyper who wrote thousands of essays wrote this in 1895. But it’s just as true today.
Satisfaction is not found ultimately in acquiring more… Our text highlights the essence of God given community to bring satisfaction and transformation.
Boaz, Ruth, Naomi, and God. Their lives are transformational and are gifts of satisfaction: Boaz's obedience to allow gleaners into his field. The generous nature of Boaz toward Ruth. Ruth was a blessing to Naomi with lives transformed. Naomi recognizing God once again as her bitterness eases. What we have uncovered are beautiful examples of fellowship in action. All this in the time of Judges when everyone did as they pleased… God has more in store.
Consider here the essence of a God given community to bring satisfaction and transformation. Are we making the most of our God given opportunities?
When it comes to the importance of this community known as Fruitport CRC – How are we doing with showing care and building each other up? Are our hearts as attentive to others needs as we read examples of in our story. God gives us the gift of community to be a blessing to each other – to pray for each other – and to make like all the more joyful. Therein satisfaction and transformation awaits through God’s arranging the pieces into a masterpiece. If God can do so in Ruth’s life – he does the same for us in Jesus Christ. He repurposes our lives to be a blessing to others.
