As we left off last week, we saw how God had brought Naomi and Ruth through some very trying times. They had lost their husbands and were on a perilous journey back from Moab to Bethlehem.
The lesson we looked at last week was that we have to come to the end of ourselves in order to find the beginning of God. For Ruth and Naomi, it took great tragedy. But they would have never imagined what beautiful blessings God had in store for them once they did indeed come to the end of themselves and cast their lives wholeheartedly into His caring hands.
But now our two grieving women have made it back into Naomi’s hometown of Bethlehem and must now find a way to survive. This is where our story picks up in Ruth 2.
Scene 1: A “Chance” Encounter (vv. 1-3)
Since they had arrived back in Bethlehem at the beginning of the barley harvest (1:22), Ruth felt it best to avail herself of the custom of gleaning behind the reapers in a field.
GLEANING - The custom of allowing the poor to follow the reapers in the field and pick up and freely take the fallen spears of grain. This custom had back of it one of the early agricultural laws of the Hebrews:
"Now when you reap the harvest of your land, you shall not reap to the very corners of your field, nor shall you gather the gleanings of your harvest. Nor shall you glean your vineyard, nor shall you gather the fallen fruit of your vineyard; you shall leave them for the needy and for the stranger. I am the LORD your God.” (Lev 19:9-10)
When you reap your harvest in your field and have forgotten a sheaf in the field, you shall not go back to get it; it shall be for the alien, for the orphan, and for the widow, in order that the LORD your God may bless you in all the work of your hands. (Deut 24:19)
By gleaning the leftovers, she would be able to support herself and Naomi.
NOTE: What a demonstration of the compassion of God for those who are poor and needy…
· “She happened to come to the portion of the field belonging to Boaz” – what would seem like “Chance” was in reality God’s providence in action!
· Boaz was a relative to Elimelech, Naomi’s deceased husband.
· He was a man of great wealth, and apparently a man of good standing in the community.
Scene 2: Ruth meets Boaz (vv. 4-7)
· Boaz was apparently a man of God, who looked after his workers well v. 4
· Then he took special notice of Ruth (v. 5) – “Who dat?!”
(KJV – “Whose damsel is this?”) J
Scene 3: Boaz cares for Ruth (vv. 8-17)
· Boaz made certain that Ruth was provided for and protected from harm. She was welcomed to stay in his field for as long as she needed.
Scene 4: Ruth brings home a good report (vv. 18-23)
· Ruth brings gleanings and good news home to Naomi. (vv. 18-19)
· It turns out that Boaz is a close relative (kinsman-redeemer) to them. We will look at this interesting detail further next week… (v. 20)
· Naomi gives Ruth her blessing to stay close to Boaz (vv. 21-22)
· They were welcome to glean till the end of harvest time. (v. 23)
Transition: And so we have quite a turn of events since the first chapter. Chapter one seemed very sad and discouraging. But chapter two unfolds with promise…
There is most certainly the beginning of a human love interest between Boaz and Ruth. But behind the scenes of this developing love story, it is God who is romancing Ruth into a relationship with Him. It is “a Romance for a Hopeful Heart.” God is demonstrating through the person of Boaz His own love for her… and the love He has for all people with hopeful hearts.
I want to focus our attention on v. 12:
"May the LORD reward your work, and your wages be full from the LORD, the God of Israel, under whose wings you have come to seek refuge." (Ruth 2:12)
Boaz blessed Ruth for taking care of her mother-in-law. It was a kind and considerate thing to do. She was working hard to provide the two of them. Boaz prayed a blessing on her hard work because he recognized Ruth’s sacrifice as a godly one.
Obviously, God does not have literal “wings.” It is an expression of God’s security and protection He offers to His children. As a mother bird protects her young by spreading her wings over them, so the Lord protects His people.
How precious is Your lovingkindness, O God! And the children of men take refuge in the shadow of Your wings. (Ps 36:7)
Be gracious to me, O God, be gracious to me, For my soul takes refuge in You; And in the shadow of Your wings I will take refuge until destruction passes by. (Ps 57:1)
For You have been my help, and in the shadow of Your wings I sing for joy. My soul clings to You; Your right hand upholds me. (Ps 63:7-8)
He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say to the LORD, "My refuge and my fortress, My God, in whom I trust!" For it is He who delivers you from the snare of the trapper and from the deadly pestilence. He will cover you with His pinions, and under His wings you may seek refuge; His faithfulness is a shield and bulwark. (Ps 91:1-4)
· What is it like under the wings of God?
The answer to this question can be found in the gentle care of Boaz for Ruth. It is a beautiful model of the gentle love of God.
1. God takes special notice of you. (v. 5)
Boaz took particular interest in Ruth.
She was a poor, helpless person. So are we.
“For God so loved the world…” YES, but God so loved you! We must not think of God as a passively indifferent detached deity, but a loving Father who is intimately aware and interested in even the small things in our lives.
But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. (Rom 5:8)
2. God desires that you stay close to His family. (v. 8a)
Boaz requested Ruth to stay in his field
As the saying goes, “Home is where the heart is…” God’s heart is closest to His children.
There is a place for you in church with the fellow servants of God.
More specifically, there is a place for you here at GEFC. We may be small, but we are not insignificant in God’s eyes. He has led you here at this time in your life for a reason. Maybe you would like to stay in the field a while and put your hand to the good work.
…Let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near. (Heb 10:24-25)
3. God protects you from harm. (v. 8b-9a)
Boaz protected Ruth from harm by encouraging her to stay with his female workers and ordered the male workers to leave her alone.
God takes care of us. No longer are we subject to the calamities that befall those who live in wickedness. Their end is destruction. God preserves us from destruction.
I know that we Christians are not exempt from troubles. Christians suffer from what may seem as senseless violence. But in those instances God is allowing hardship for a greater purpose of our good, for the good of the Christian cause, and for His glory.
I don’t know that I can explain the mystery of this. But God’s word promises that God is a protector of His children and we can all probably think of instances where He has done it.
Illustration: Kristi driving to Austin and just missing a flying shovel.
The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear Him, and rescues them. O taste and see that the LORD is good; How blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him! (Psalm 34:7-8)
4. God provides you with living water without cost. (v. 9)
Boaz freely offered Ruth to drink from the water that his servants drew.
So too does God quench the thirst of a weary soul who comes to Him.
The Spirit and the bride say, "Come." And let the one who hears say, "Come." And let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who wishes take the water of life without cost. (Rev 22:17)
"He who believes in Me, as the Scripture said, "From his innermost being will flow rivers of living water.’" (John 7:38)
5. God feeds you with the bread of life. (v. 14)
She was satisfied and even had leftovers.
A child of God depending on His provision will not go hungry. God promises to meet all of our needs (not all our wants)!
God gave bread from heaven to the Jews as they wandered in the wilderness for 40 years. But more so, Jesus Christ Himself is the bread of life.
"I am the bread of life. Your fathers ate the manna in the wilderness, and they died. This is the bread which comes down out of heaven, so that one may eat of it and not die. I am the living bread that came down out of heaven; if anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever; and the bread also which I will give for the life of the world is My flesh." (John 6:48-51)
6. God blesses the work of your hands. (vv. 15-16)
Boaz ordered his servants to pull out some grain from the sheaves for her!
God doesn’t do all the work for us, but you will find that when we honor the Lord in our workplace, He rewards us with extra gleanings (blessings).
Let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we will reap if we do not grow weary. (Gal 6:9)
Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your toil is not in vain in the Lord. (I Cor 15:58)
We have in the gentle care of Boaz a physical description of the divine loving care of God.
Conclusion
1. Is there a “Boaz” in your life today who is demonstrating to you in very tangible ways the love of God?
Won’t you take time right now to thank God for reminding you of His love through this special person.
If you don’t have a “Boaz” in your life, will you ask God to bring one to you?
Perhaps more importantly…
2. Are you acting as a “Boaz” to somebody else so that they may see Jesus in you?
What we say and do is a reflection of who we are and what our values are. If we have been changed by the grace of God, that should show.
And if it is showing, it’s going to cause a reaction out of people – both good and bad.
Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making an appeal through us; we beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. (II Cor 5:20)
· God wants to use every Christian as a Boaz to a wandering Ruth out there…
· Can you think of any Ruth’s in your life?
· What are you going to do?
Ruth says to Boaz in v. 10, “Why have I found favor in your sight that you should take notice of me, since I am a foreigner?”
Let’s think about that for a minute…Ruth had the right heart attitude. It is an attitude that we should all have before our God:
· Why should you give your grace to me, O God?
· I am a foreigner – a stranger.
· Thank you for including me under the gentle care of your wings…
3. I wonder if there is anybody here today who isn’t under the wings of God?
Maybe there is somebody here who is tired of putting on the “act” of being a Christian and is ready for the real thing. Jesus can be your Savior today…
· God is calling you to find shelter under His wings.
Maybe there is somebody here who is trying to struggle through life without the blessings that God freely offers?
· God is calling you to find shelter under His wings.
Is there anybody out there that feels “left out,” “forgotten,” even, “forsaken?” Maybe you’ve drifted in your faith… lost touch… even turned your back on God…
· God is calling you to find shelter under His wings.
Thank you, God, for:
· Noticing us,
· Desiring that we stay close to Your family,
· Protecting us,
· Providing living water and bread for us,
· Blessing the work of our hands
