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A Study of Ruth
By Adam Bartlett
Chapter 2
Vs. 1-3
1: And Naomi had a kinsman of her husband's, a mighty man of wealth, of the family of Elimelech; and his name was Boaz.
2: And Ruth the Moabitess said unto Naomi, Let me now go to the field, and glean ears of corn after him in whose sight I shall find grace. And she said unto her, Go, my daughter.
3: And she went, and came, and gleaned in the field after the reapers: and her hap was to light on a part of the field belonging unto Boaz, who was of the kindred of Elimelech.
We learn that Naomi had a kinsman named Boaz and it will become apparent the similarity between this story and what Jesus' role was. There were three requirements for being a "kinsman-redeemer" according to Leviticus 25:25, 48-49 and they are: relationship, financial ability, and willingness. Boaz fulfilled all three requirements, after the nearest kin was unwilling as we will see in the next chapters.
Jesus fulfilled these requirements also regarding mankind and being our "kinsman-redeemer." He came as a man which established the "relationship" part to us, He was also fully God which demonstrated the "ability" part, and then He "willingly" gave His life as a ransom for us all and paying the necessary price for Redemption.
The similarities of this story are already striking only into the first two chapters: It is amazing how much Elimelech was like that of Lot by leaving his country and seeking a well fertile land even though it was full of sin. Lot was a victim of Sodom and Gomorrah and Elimelech was a victim of Moab. The fruit of sin is death (spiritual and sometimes physical) and when death arrived, Naomi after hearing the Lord had returned to her home knew it was time to return. She returns to the land of Judah (Praise) and Bethlehem (the House of Bread). When we realize the plight of our condition we can always return to the Lord to be fed and with Praise.
If we have been any kind of witness at all, when we get to heaven we will have an answer when the Lord asks us how many we brought with us. Because of Naomi's witness she had enough impact on Ruth to cause her to leave all and follow the same God. Can we say that about those that we come into contact with on a daily basis? We must never underestimate our witness to those around us. Just as Orpah and Ruth were watching Naomi through all of this tragedy, we are being watched daily to see how we handle the stresses of our lives. If we fall apart then it lends strength to their excuse for not believing in God. If we stand strong through the stresses of our lives and show that we truly do trust God to see us through it all then we make in impact we will probably never realize. Remember that it was Paul and Silas praising God while in prison waiting for what they thought was death the next morning that saved a Roman soldier and his family.
The field of Boaz was near the city of Bethlehem and was the place where Ruth gleaned corn for herself and Naomi. It is also in this area that David tended his father's sheep called in this day "The Fields of Jesse." Boaz was David's great grandpa and it was probably a partial of land that was handed down through the generations. In this field was where David composed probably all of the Psalms to the Lord. It was also in this field that during Jesus' time the sheep were raised for the Temple sacrifice. It is also believed that in the very near area is the place where Joseph brought Mary to deliver Jesus in a nearby cave. It is highly probable that it was these very fields where the angels appeared to the shepherds to announce the Messiah's birth.
As you can see there is so much in common with this story and the events of Jesus that it cannot be an accident:
-Bethlehem which means "house of bread" and the Bread of Life was born here.
-The fields where the sheep were raised for the Temple sacrifice happens to be in the same area that the Lamb of God was born.
-It is in the land of Judah which means "praise" and just happens that praise is our entrance into His courts (Psalm 100:4) to meet with the "Lion of the tribe of Judah."
-This great story of Ruth and "redemption" takes place in the place that the "Redeemer" of all mankind was born.
Vs. 4-12
4: And behold, Boaz came from Bethlehem, and said unto the reapers, The LORD be with you. And they answered him, The LORD bless thee.
5: Then said Boaz unto his servant that was set over the reapers, Whose damsel is this?
6: And the servant that was set over the reapers answered and said, It is the Moabitish damsel that came back with Naomi out of the country of Moab:
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.
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:
9: Let thine eyes be on the field that they do reap, and go thou after them: have I not charged the young men that they shall not touch thee? and when thou art athirst, go unto the vessels, and drink of that which the young men have drawn.
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?
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.
Boaz comes to his fields and takes notice of Ruth and inquires about her, not knowing her because she was a stranger. Compare this to that of Jesus and the parable in Matthew 20 about the laborers.
If you read this book symbolizing Boaz and Jesus' role as "redeemers" (of course Boaz the physical redeemer of Ruth and Jesus the Spiritual redeemer of all mankind) you will get much more meaning from this story. Boaz had already heard of what she had done regarding staying with Naomi and basically converting from her native beliefs. This is what impressed Boaz with Ruth and is also a symbol of us as lost pagans coming to Christ.
Boaz basically tells Ruth, "stay with me and you will not have to worry about food or anything else." Once we come to Christ all we have to do is stay where He is and we will be well cared for. Ruth wanted to know what it was about her that caused him to take notice of her. Boaz confirms the fact that she had placed her trust in the Lord and seeks to take care of her as a new convert.
What a lesson for the churches and Christians today, new converts need to be taken in right away and cared for. Not get them in a church, get them saved and then let them go out and face the world on their own and fight alone and then wonder why they fail! Boaz demonstrates exactly what Jesus wants for all new converts.
Vs 13-18
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.
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.
15: And when she was risen up to glean, Boaz commanded his young men, saying, Let her glean even among the sheaves, and reproach her not:
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.
17: So she gleaned in the field until even, and beat out that she had gleaned: and it was about an ephah of barley.
18: And she took it up, and went into the city: and her mother in law saw what she had gleaned: and she brought forth, and gave to her that she had reserved after she was sufficed.
As Ruth found favor in the sight of Boaz, we find favor in the eyes of Jesus when we are faithful and obedient to His will. It is funny how that as new converts we are on fire and ready to save the world but over time the fire dims. Just as the five foolish virgins (Matt. 25) we must be very careful that we do not let the oil run out. God's desire is that we pray for the continual filling of the "oil" that we may be as steadfast in our fervor as the day of our conversion. It is quite obvious that we are in the last days and that is all the more reason we need to be as fervent as ever.
Notice that Ruth ate what she needed and then she left. The churches are so full of "spiritual sponges" that it is sickening. There are literally hundreds and thousands of Christians that run from one meeting to another seeking a new word or some great miracle. Christians are flocking to any new gimmick that arises in the churches instead of examining them and discerning if they are really from God or not. There are so many Christian "activities" in our churches that it leaves no time for the three main things a Christian needs to keep the oil full. They are reading their Bibles, Praying and seeking the lost and winning them to the Lord. Many Christians are gluttons and constantly sit at the table of the Lord begging for more but not using what they have and therefore become spiritually overweight.
By finding favor in the Lord there will be blessings poured out that we are not even aware of. Boaz told his men to drop extra corn for Ruth to glean and in the same way we will receive spiritual blessings as we seek to do the will of the Lord. Notice that Ruth was not gleaning just for her alone but for Naomi. Why do we as Christians fill ourselves with spiritual food and then never share it with the starving crowds on the streets?
Vs 19-23
19: And her mother in law said unto her, Where hast thou gleaned today? and where wroughtest thou? blessed be he that did take knowledge of thee. And she shewed her mother in law with whom she had wrought, and said, The man's name with whom I wrought today is Boaz.
20: And Naomi said unto her daughter in law, Blessed be he of the LORD, who hath not left off his kindness to the living and to the dead. And Naomi said unto her, The man is near of kin unto us, one of our next kinsmen.
21: And Ruth the Moabitess said, He said unto me also, Thou shalt keep fast by my young men, until they have ended all my harvest.
22: And Naomi said unto Ruth her daughter in law, It is good, my daughter, that thou go out with his maidens, that they meet thee not in any other field.
23: So she kept fast by the maidens of Boaz to glean unto the end of barley harvest and of wheat harvest; and dwelt with her mother in law.
What a question Naomi poses: "Where have you gleaned today?" Of all the opportunities we have each day to present the Gospel to the world what have we done? We need to pray each day that God will make us aware of all the opportunities and then that He will also give us the wisdom and boldness to take advantage of them.
Naomi is blessed by her faithfulness also not just by the corn that was supplied but because she learns that it is her near "kinsman" that Ruth has been working for. Naomi proves that if we remain faithful to the Lord that He will not desert us and that He does indeed hear our petitions.
Ruth Chapter 3
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