Ruth 2:8-14RUTH 2:8 "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 know by now that Ruth is a kinswoman by marriage. The most that we can see in this passage is that Boaz takes extra concern for Ruth because she is a member of his extended family. We see that he is a gracious man and would allow any poor person to glean in his fields. But he obviously is making special provisions for Ruth. Boaz also gives Ruth extra status by advising her to stay with his maidservants. But, again, love at first sight is not in the picture here, Hollywood movies notwithstanding. We cannot infer more than that Boaz is making extra provision for a member of the family. He cares for her as one of the family. She will be able to glean enough during the barley and wheat harvests to provide for herself and Naomi for many months. Topic: CHRISTIAN IN THE WORKPLACE BOAZ The book of Ruth gives us an intimate look at social and family life in Judea during the time of the Judges. It is always profitable to meditate on a narrative like this, with the objective of seeing what examples of grace thinking and behavior we can see. Try to think of Boaz living under the obligations of taxation and care of the poor. What would his attitude have been toward tithing? What would his thinking been when faces with the social obligation to provide for the needs of poor, landless people? Read the article on Levitical sacrifices to get an idea of Boaz' obligations. Topic: LEVITICAL SACRIFICES AND OFFERINGS Boaz would have had to give 10% of the harvest he was gathering to the priests; in some years it would have been 20% or more. He would already have given a first-fruits offering - determined solely by his own generosity, since the amount was not specified. Then, even though his taxes and offerings might have been as much as 30%, he was expected to leave grain in the field for gleaners! Note: He would not tithe on what was left in the field for gleaning. Ruth and Naomi would tithe on that - 10% of six ephahs is 0.6 ephahs. Boaz was very gracious; and I can't imagine Boaz whining about having to pay tithes. He seemed to be a man who understood that God had to prosper him first before he would have anything to pay taxes with. Bethlehem had recently been through a desperate famine. It's likely that Boaz went for years with very low taxes to pay, because of the very meager harvests. He would have been glad to pay high taxes. Remember - Naomi had heard in Moab that the Lord had visited His people in giving them bread. I don't think she said "Well, that just means that taxes are going up in Judea!" No - she got herself and Ruth back to Bethlehem as soon as she could - is was the place of provision for them RUTH 2:9 "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 thirsty, go unto the vessels, and drink of that which the young men have drawn." The women workers were probably those who tied the bundles into sheaves, while the men would do the reaping with scythe and sickle. The men and women worked in the fields together because of the urgency of getting the job done. Boaz also arranges for Ruth's protection. The other gleaners might be inclined to resent Ruth's being given such privileges and might repulse her if she came too close to the harvesters. Ruth might also be exposed to rude talk and even mishandling. However, Boaz guarded against this possibility by his instructions. As an employer, he has taken an iron stand against bad behavior, as a protection for the women workers. Boaz' kindness does not stop here, however. Ruth is invited to drink water from the jugs the young men have filled at the well. This water was probably carried from the town, or there may have been water nearby. Valuable time would be lost if Ruth had to draw her own water; so Boaz was offering her this additional kindness. RUTH 2:10 "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 should take knowledge of me, seeing I am a stranger?" Bowing to the ground was a token of gratitude and humility. Ruth recognized that Boaz was doing more than was strictly required, and she was grateful accordingly. She was content to take a place among his servants; she did not presume on his kindness. Yet she wonders why Boaz is showing such kindness, especially to a foreigner. RUTH 2:11 "And Boaz answered and said unto her, It has been fully showed me, all that thou hast done unto thy mother-in-law since the death of your husband: and how thou hast left thy father and mother, and the land of thy nativity, and are come unto a people which you knew not heretofore." Ruth has left everything to follow the Lord. There is often a tremendous wrenching away from the past that a believer faces when he commits himself to the Lord. Some tough decisions have to be made in many areas of life. Decision breaks may have to be made with family, friends, religion, social life, career, and the pursuit of wealth and the good life. One's activities in Christian service will take up time which would have been devoted to self improvement. All of this requires a sacrificial attitude and resolute determination. Read Luke 5:10-18 Phil. 3:8, "Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but refuse, that I may win Christ." RUTH 2:12 "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." This verse is a sort of prayer, spoken to Ruth, but with the acknowledgment that the recompense, the reward, are from Jehovah. Boaz knows that faith in God always has a full reward. He is a mature man in the sense of Titus 2:2. He is "sound in faith" because of years of experience in trusting the Lord and seeing God keep His promises So Boaz does not hesitate to tell Ruth that she has done the right thing in trusting Jehovah. Topic: FAITH Read I John 3:16-19 Read James 2:15-18 Boaz knows that his prosperity has come from God; and he knows that the Lord will supply his needs in the future. He does not have to hoard all his money and goods to be sure to have a good retirement, so he can be a channel of grace blessing. Read Proverbs 11:24-26 See also Prov. 13:20,21; Luke 14:12-14; Psalm 36:7,8; 41:1; 57:1; 63:6,7; Prov. 3:9,10; Isa. 58:10; Matt. 23:37. RUTH 2:13 "Then she said, Let me find favor in your sight, my lord: for that you have comforted me, and for that you have spoken friendly unto your handmaid, though I be not like unto one of your handmaidens." Ruth is astonished, and very happy! This is the first cheerful thing that has happened to Ruth since she first appeared as a widow in Moab. Ruth remembers that she is a foreigner, a stranger among the other servant women. RUTH 2:14 "And Boaz said unto her, At mealtime come here, and eat of the bread, and dip your morsel in the vinegar. And she sat beside the reapers: and he reached her parched corn, and she did eat, and was satisfied, and left. The parched grain consisted of fresh ears taken from the new barley crop and roasted in a pan. Or, as described by W. M. Thompson... "A quantity of the best ears are plucked with the stalks attached. These are tied into small parcels. A blazing fire is kindled with dry grass and thorn bushes, and the grain is held in it until most of the chaff is burned off. The grain is roasted enough to be eaten." Ruth's place beside the reapers shows that she was an accepted member of the group now. This place of some honor was more than just a courteous gesture, however, for the context indicates that she had plenty to eat, with quite a quantity left over, as verse 18 shows. Note: the verb "reached" is unusual. It may have something to do with the preparation of the food; and it may mean to "heap up" a portion in the serving of food. |
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