BOOK OF RUTH: A STATEMENT OF BLESSING
RUTH 2:1-23
#bookofruth #Goddidit
INTRODUCTION… BOOK FACTS AND REMINDER OF HOMEWORK FROM LAST WEEK
Welcome to week 2 of 4 as we work our way through the Book of Ruth in the Old Testament. Ruth is the 8th book overall in the Bible and is a historical narrative in short form as it only has four chapters containing a whopping 85 verses. It is one of the shorter books in the Bible. The events of the book happen mostly in the little town of Bethlehem during the time of “the Judges” which was the very chaotic and violent time before the prophet Samuel ordained the first kings in Israel.
There are three main folks in the Book of Ruth. We met two last week and we meet the third today in chapter 2, which will be our focus (turn there in your Bibles if you like):
* Naomi: an Israelite woman from Bethlehem who loses her husband and sons in Moab to death who becomes so bitter with God that she changes her name to Mara which means bitter.
* Ruth: a Moabite widow; loyal daughter-in-law of Naomi; becomes part of God’s covenant people by her confession of faith before the two travel to Bethlehem to live and most likely die.
* Boaz: a wealthy and kind relative of Naomi’s husband who will take notice of Ruth and fulfill the cultural role of kinsman-redeemer. Don’t worry about the “kinsman-redeemer” term, we will cover that next week in chapter 3. But do keep that term in mind… “kinsman-redeemer” for chapter 3.
Last week in chapter 1, we saw hunger, death, and a planned trip back to Israel. We saw Ruth’s fantastic statement of faith where she confesses her belief in the God of Naomi and her desire to be part of the covenant people. We ended last week with some homework. I hope you have been working on it. I don’t think you are in any rush, but you are going to get some more homework today, so… there’s that.
HOMEWORK REVIEW
So here is your homework review: Write down a statement of faith for yourself. This involves prayer, thinking, time, discussion, Bible reading, and maybe even a bunch of wadded up paper until you get it right. Write a spiritual purpose statement that is between one sentence all the way to one page. You then must share it in two ways. First, you share it with me. Please send your statement of faith to me so I can read it via email, text, write it out, hand it to me, mail it to me… whatever. I get to do with the statement whatever I want. The second way you will share your statement of faith is to give it to another individual. Ruth confessed to Naomi. It was just them. Share your statement of faith with one other person. So that was the homework from last week. Please continue to pray on that and work on that. I think it is important and is part of an overall goal for us as we look through the Book of Ruth.
TRANSITION
Today, we are picking up Naomi and Ruth’s story right after chapter 1 when they go to Israel from Moab arriving in “Bethlehem at the beginning of barley harvest” (1:22). Let’s read some from Ruth chapter 2:
READ RUTH 2:1-16 (ESV)
Now Naomi had a relative of her husband's, a worthy man of the clan of Elimelech, whose name was Boaz. 2 And Ruth the Moabite said to Naomi, “Let me go to the field and glean among the ears of grain after him in whose sight I shall find favor.” And she said to her, “Go, my daughter.” 3 So she set out 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 clan of Elimelech. 4 And behold, Boaz came from Bethlehem. And he said to the reapers, “The Lord be with you!” And they answered, “The Lord bless you.” 5 Then Boaz said to his young man who was in charge of the reapers, “Whose young woman is this?” 6 And the servant who was in charge of the reapers answered, “She is the young Moabite woman, who came back with Naomi from the country of Moab. 7 She said, ‘Please let me glean and gather among the sheaves after the reapers.’ So she came, and she has continued from early morning until now, except for a short rest.” 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. 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.” 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.” 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.”
THE BASICS: JUST SO HAPPENED TO GLEAN IN BOAZ’S FIELD (VERSES 1-16)
Naomi and Ruth arrive in Bethlehem to discover that indeed God had blessed His people as they had heard. A barley harvest was happening as they arrived. Ruth tells Naomi that she is going to go and “glean among the ears of grain” (verse 2). You may already know what “glean” means, but you may not.
In the Word of God in the books of Exodus (22:21-23), Leviticus (19:9-10, 23:22), and Deutronomy (14:28-29, 24:19-22, 26:12-13) we see YHWH God making provision for four groups of people when it comes to harvesting. God singles out the poor, the foreigner, the widow, and the orphan as having special privileges called “gleaning.” Basically, “gleaning” means the poor, the foreigner, the widow, and the orphan get to come behind farmers and pick up anything left over or dropped, having their own harvest-of-sorts. A splendid example of this command is Deuteronomy:
READ DEUTERONOMY 24:19-22 (ESV)
“When you reap your harvest in your field and forget a sheaf in the field, you shall not go back to get it. It shall be for the sojourner, the fatherless, and the widow, that the Lord your God may bless you in all the work of your hands. 20 When you beat your olive trees, you shall not go over them again. It shall be for the sojourner, the fatherless, and the widow. 21 When you gather the grapes of your vineyard, you shall not strip it afterward. It shall be for the sojourner, the fatherless, and the widow. 22 You shall remember that you were a slave in the land of Egypt; therefore I command you to do this.”
Ruth heads out to “glean.” Verse 3 drops in some humor (I think) when it says “she happened to come to the part of the field belonging to Boaz.” The word “happened” is ironic. From a human point of view, it looked like chance or karma or an accident, but from God’s point of view as He is divinely inspiring the prophet Samuel by way of the Holy Spirit to write this narrative, it is providence. Providence is God’s intentional orchestration of events for His glory. God was at work behind the ordinary details bringing hungry destitute foreign widow Ruth exactly where she needs to be. Ruth “just so happens” to end up in Boaz’s field who “just so happens” to be a relative of Naomi’s dead husband and “just so happens” to be single and “just so happens” to be wealthy” and “just so happens” to be a godly man. #Goddidit
Verses 5-16 record for us Boaz falling in love with Ruth. It does happen; you didn’t catch it?
* Verse 2: Boaz notices Ruth right away. In a field full of workers, he notices her and asks about her specifically. The original language shows emphasis in the question … in who is THAT woman? I will insert some physical attraction here, cause I’m a male, but it does not say that specifically.
* Verses 8:9: Boaz immediately shows her unusual kindness by going above normal hospitality to ensure her safety. He gives her privileges like his own workers. He is showing her affection and esteem.
* Verses 11-12: Boaz praises her character and shows his attraction to her by commenting on her loyalty, courage, and faith. I think he is drawn to who she is on the outside and finds out the woman on the inside is even more beautiful. Later in chapter 3 he will call her “a worthy woman” (3:11).
* Verse 14: Boaz gives her special attention at mealtime. I take note in verse 14 that HE served HER food. Uh, yeah, he’s got it bad. This is a tender caring act that shows his admiration, affection, and attraction in action.
* Verse 12: I also noticed, as he is speaking with her during the meal, that he speaks blessings over her using covenant language about taking refuge under the wings of God. He is showing her deep respect and possibly romantic affection rooted in faith.
We may wonder why Boaz, a wealthy single bachelor Israelite, is open to courting a foreign Moabite widow that comes with financial, emotional, social, and religious baggage? Do you remember… last week… during the introduction to Ruth when I asked you to remember something. This week I asked you to remember the term “kinsman-redeemer” for next week, but last week I asked you to remember a woman named Rahab. Do you remember her?
I asked you to remember Rahab from Jericho who was a Canaanite woman who confessed faith in God and was saved from the destruction of Jericho. I asked you to remember #1 Rahab from Jericho was not an Israelite and #2 her confession of faith saved her from destruction, and #3 she joined Israel as part of God’s people. Here is where that comes into play. To understand fully, we need to read from Ruth 4 and then from Matthew 1 and it will make sense.
READ RUTH 4:18-22 (ESV)
“Now these are the generations of Perez: Perez fathered Hezron, 19 Hezron fathered Ram, Ram fathered Amminadab, 20 Amminadab fathered Nahshon, Nahshon fathered Salmon, 21 Salmon fathered Boaz, Boaz fathered Obed, 22 Obed fathered Jesse, and Jesse fathered David.”
Who was Boaz’s father? Salmon. (notice the same list in Matthew 1…)
READ MATTHEW 1:4-6
“Ram the father of Amminadab, and Amminadab the father of Nahshon, and Nahshon the father of Salmon, 5 and Salmon the father of Boaz whose mother was Rahab, and Boaz the father of Obed whose mother was Ruth, and Obed the father of Jesse, 6 and Jesse the father of King David.
Who was Boaz’s father? Salmon.
Who was Boaz’s mother? Rahab.
Boaz was willing to open his heart to a woman who had lost everything but kept hold of her faith in YHWH God because that is exactly… who… his… mother… was! Argue with me all you want but the Lord God of the Universe saved a pagan woman from a destroyed town taking her into His Kingdom while blessing her with a husband and at least one son who was such a godly man that all his workers cry out “The Lord be with you!” whenever they see him and then He brought another non-Israelite woman full of faith and commitment to Him into the Kingdom and paired her up with a man of stellar integrity and faith which would eventually would lead to King David… and if I am so bold… and I am… leads us right to Christ Jesus Who takes in anyone and everyone into the Kingdom of God who places faith in Him! CAN I GET A WITNESS!
This is the Gospel right here ya’ll! God makes a way for salvation. God makes a way for redemption. Next week in chapter 3 and the final week in chapter 4 we will see completely how God worked through the tragedy of death, hunger, loneliness, pain, and uncertainty to bring Naomi and Ruth exactly where they needed to be so they could be saved! Remember, keep in mind the term “kinsman-redeemer.”
ILLUSTRATION… Odds of the Book of Ruth (ChatGPT question)
One other item! Keep in mind that God orchestrated this… What are the odds of a foreign woman from a destroyed town joining Israel finding a godly man who is willing to marry her who then has a son who is willing to marry a foreign poor widow with debt all the while leading to King David and then eventually to Jesus Christ? 1 in 250 trillion. #Goddidit
TRANSITION
Now we come to the actual point of the passage. The point of the passage and even the point of the entire Book of Ruth is found in the last part of Ruth 2. Ruth has a structure to it where the middle of the story puts a particular emphasis showing the reader the point of the narrative. There are many instances in the Bible with this type of structure; Ruth is a great example. Let’s finish reading chapter 2 and note the middle point of the whole book as we read.
READ RUTH 2:17-23 (ESV)
17 So she gleaned in the field until evening. Then she beat out what she had gleaned, and it was about an ephah of barley. 18 And she took it up and went into the city. Her mother-in-law saw what she had gleaned. She also brought out and gave her what food she had left over after being satisfied. 19 And her mother-in-law said to her, “Where did you glean today? And where have you worked? Blessed be the man who took notice of you.” So she told her mother-in-law with whom she had worked and said, “The man's name with whom I worked today is Boaz.”
[HERE IS THE KEY AND POINT OF THE BOOK, VERSE 20]
20 And Naomi said to her daughter-in-law, “May he be blessed by the Lord, whose kindness has not forsaken the living or the dead!” Naomi also said to her, “The man is a close relative of ours, one of our redeemers.” 21 And Ruth the Moabite said, “Besides, he said to me, ‘You shall keep close by my young men until they have finished all my harvest.’” 22 And Naomi said to Ruth, her daughter-in-law, “It is good, my daughter, that you go out with his young women, lest in another field you be assaulted.” 23 So she kept close to the young women of Boaz, gleaning until the end of the barley and wheat harvests. And she lived with her mother-in-law.
What do we find as Ruth 2 concludes? We find a statement of blessing.
A STATEMENT OF BLESSING (VERSES 17-23)
Verse 17 tells us that after all of Ruth’s hard work, she ends up with an “ephah of barley.” Verse 18 shares that she also had leftover food from lunching with the owner of Boaz Farms Inc. What does all that mean? It means that she gleaned about 40 pounds of barley and had to lug that all the way home. She also had her doggie bag as well. This one day harvest for her would have lasted Ruth and Naomi for 10 days and was enough they could sell for a decent amount of silver (see Hosea 3:2). That is a good blessing.
I use that word because that is the word that bitter angry Naomi uses to describe Ruth’s one day haul from the fields of harvest. Naomi says in verse 19 that she knows someone noticed her and she wants a blessing for that fellow. She then gives a statement in verse 20 which again, is at the center of the book physically, thematically, and theologically:
RE-READ RUTH 2:20 (ESV)
“And Naomi said to her daughter-in-law, “May he be blessed by the Lord, whose kindness has not forsaken the living or the dead!” Naomi also said to her, “The man is a close relative of ours, one of our redeemers.”
I find it very interesting that Naomi, who in chapter 1 says very clearly to all the people in Bethlehem:
READ RUTH 1:20b-21
“Do not call me Naomi; call me Mara, for the Almighty has dealt very bitterly with me. 21 I went away full, and the Lord has brought me back empty. Why call me Naomi, when the Lord has testified against me and the Almighty has brought calamity upon me?”
Naomi’s statement of blessing in 2:20 recognizes that the God she is angry and bitter with has shown her and Ruth something very specific. The specific word is very difficult to translate into English because it is a complicated word and English doesn’t like complicated words. In the ESV, the word is translated “kindness” which does not do the term in Hebrew justice.
“Hesed,” the specific word used by Naomi is a special word. It means “complete undeserved kindness and generosity.” It is not just a feeling, but an action. This action “intervenes on behalf of loved ones and comes to their rescue.” It is not a romantic feeling or action but is faithful love and reliable love. It is this word that is used for the unfailing faithful steadfast never-ending love that God has for us. This word is love rolled up with covenant faithfulness, boundless mercy, faithful grace, never-ending kindness, firm loyalty, and action that goes above and beyond. I am not sure how the word could be used in any other sense other than to describe our God! The closest word in English that is appropriate is a combination phrase: “unfailing lovingkindness.”
In the book of Ruth, Naomi is in a bleak situation that makes her bitter.
In Ruth 2:20, Naomi's use of this “unfailing lovingkindness” term is a declaration that YHWH God has not abandoned His covenant love with Naomi and Ruth in that He orchestrated Boaz’s entrance into their lives.
Naomi sees the gracious Hand of God in the massive pile of barley Ruth brings home, the doggie bag, and the story of a day of safety and security. Even while she is livid with the Lord, she sees blessings in the barley.
I also want you to know that Naomi has an inkling of what God is up to because she states that the “unfailing lovingkindness” has been shown to the “living” (Naomi and Ruth) and the “dead” (Elimelech, Mahlon, and Chilion). Her faith is sparked when she realizes that Boaz is the “kinsman-redeemer” who can literally fix all the mess making right what death had destroyed. The death of the men in her life destroyed any normal life she could have had, but Boaz can literally change all of that.
In 2:20, we see the “unfailing lovingkindness” of God is reshaping Naomi in significant ways.
First, the “unfailing lovingkindness” of God is reshaping the heart of Naomi. We see a shift in bitterness that has taken root in her heart. This is a significant moment for Naomi. The bitter woman Mara she had become is full of despair. She now has a sense of hope based on the “unfailing lovingkindness” that she sees from YHWH God. The ability to see hope amid the hardship is the fruit of the small amount of faith Naomi had in her heart and her heart is changing.
Second, the “unfailing lovingkindness” of God is reshaping the view Naomi has of God. She once thought, as many of us do, that if God is pleased with us then our life will be free from trial. The presence of death meant God had abandoned her. She is seeing that this perception she had of God is incorrect because even in the trial God shows Himself to be consistently full of “unfailing lovingkindness.”
Also, the “unfailing lovingkindness” of God is reshaping the faith of Naomi. Faith is often tied to hope. She has had no hope. She has had no faith. The working of God by placing Ruth in exactly the field she needed to be in is God showing off His glory… “Look what I can do!” Hope is kindled. Faith is kindled. The “unfailing lovingkindness” of God waters the small amount of faith in her heart and it grows to see that God might redeem all the garbage after all.
TRANSITION, SUMMARY, AND HOMEWORK
I want to sum up Ruth 2 for us and then give you another homework assignment.
In Ruth 2, hungry poor widow Ruth goes to the fields to glean barley to provide for herself and her hungry poor widowed mother-in-law Naomi. We could say Ruth “just so happens” to end up in the field of Boaz, but it is more accurate to say that God directed her there which we call divine providence. Boaz is smitten, taken, and impressed by Ruth. He shows her great kindness. He sends her home with lots of lunches. Naomi recognizes, in the most important passage in the book, that God is doing something that will redeem the whole terrible tribulation they have been living. I think that about sums it up.
HOMEWORK
So, here is your homework: If you have not completed last week’s homework from Ruth 1, please continue to work on your statement of faith focusing on what you believe.
Your homework for Ruth 2 is focusing on the way God’s “unfailing lovingkindness” has shown up in your life. I am not asking you to write a list of things you are thankful for… no no no no no. that’s for Thanksgiving Day and is boring. Remember, this word that Naomi uses is love rolled up with covenant faithfulness, boundless mercy, faithful grace, never-ending kindness, firm loyalty, and action that goes above and beyond. You will be praying about and writing down the following: Where has God shown unfailing lovingkindness to you? You cannot exceed one page and the words “unfailing lovingkindness” need to be included what you write down.
Then, once you have written this testimony about God’s “unfailing lovingkindness” I want you to mail it old fashioned style to any church in Greene County except ours. Google the address of a church and send the testimony to them.
PRAY
INVITATION
