The Book of RUTH
James J. Barker

— Chapter 2 —

 

Text: RUTH 2



INTRODUCTION:

  1. Last week we started our series on the little book of Ruth (cf. Scofield’s outline).
  2. You will recall we saw that the time frame was the same as the book of Judges (1:1), i.e., the darkest days in the history of Israel.
  3. But despite the horrible apostasy of the nation, there were individuals living godly lives, and one of them was Boaz.
  4. The character, integrity, and piety of Boaz are outstanding (cf. 2:4). God always has a witness, a faithful remnant of true believers.
  5. The book of Ruth is one of the most beautiful stories ever written. The climax towards which the whole book moves is the birth of the Messiah in the little town of Bethlehem.
  6. Our Lord’s birth provides the vital link between the days of the Judges and the rise of King David.
  7. I want to pull out three lessons from chapter 2 today:
    1. THE IMPORTANCE OF DOING THINGS GOD’S WAY
    2. THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING IN GOD’S WILL
    3. THE IMPORTANCE OF GIVING AN ENCOURAGING WORD
  1. THE IMPORTANCE OF DOING THINGS GOD’S WAY (2:1,2).
    1. Under the Mosaic Law, Israelites were not allowed to strip the fields clean when harvesting. Instead they were to leave some of the grain as gleanings for the poor, for "strangers" (foreigners, for the fatherless, and for widows [cf. Lev.19:9; 23:22; Deut.24:19]).
    2. God did not invent welfare – man did. God did not put poor people on a relief program and allow them to get money for staying home and doing nothing.
    3. No, God had a better plan. He had them go out into the fields and glean. This was God’s way of taking care of the poor in Bible times.
    4. It is better to give a poor man something to do rather than give him a free hand-out. That is why I like "work-fare."
    5. Ruth was poor; she was a "stranger" (from Moab, a foreign country), and she was a widow. She qualified and therefore she decided to take advantage of this generous law by going out to the barley fields to gather up some of the gleanings (2:1,2).
    6. Ruth was not afraid of hard work. She was not too proud to do what many would consider "menial work." In other words, she had character.
  1. THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING IN GOD’S WILL (2:3)
    1. The Bible says it was "her hap" to wind up in a field that was owned by Boaz, a wealthy relative of her deceased father-in-law, Elimelech (2:3).
    2. It was not good luck or fate or blind chance but divine providence that led Ruth to his field.
    3. Ruth was in the center of God’s will. Are you in the center of God’s will? If Ruth had not gone into the right field, our Lord would not have been born in Bethlehem (cf. 4:17).
    4. When Boaz returned from Bethlehem, he asked the identity of this new "damsel" (2:4,5). Learning that she was Naomi’s daughter-in-law, he graciously invited her to continue gleaning in his fields and to share the water provided for his workers (2:5-9)
    5. In commending her for the loyal and selfless step that she had taken, Boaz concluded with a prayer for God’s blessing upon her (2:10-12).
    6. In due time this prayer would be answered through him.
    7. Boaz recognized Ruth’s faith – "…under whose wings thou art come to trust" (2:12). Do you have this same trust in God?
    8. Boaz was so impressed with her that he invited her to eat with his reapers and commanded them to leave extra grain for her on purpose – "handfuls of purpose" (2:13-16).
    9. APPLICATION: As the Word of God is given out, we need to "beat it out" for ourselves (2:17); i.e. apply it to our lives; we need to appropriate the truth of God’s Word for ourselves and put it into practice.
  1. THE IMPORTANCE OF GIVING AN ENCOURAGING WORD
    1. Naomi encouraged Ruth (2:18-22). When we see that God has His hand on someone, we ought to encourage them.
    2. We all need words of encouragement (e.g. teachers in school).
    3. Naomi’s encouraging words were prudent. Since Boaz had shown himself gracious and kind, it would be unwise to spurn his protection. It would be an insult to him if Ruth went off into another field.
    4. APPLICATION: The Lord has blessed us in so many ways – let us not dishonor Him by wandering off into the fields of worldly pleasures.

CONCLUSION:

  1. Next week we will study more about Boaz, the Kinsman-Redeemer, a type of the Lord Jesus Christ.
  2. He was wealthy (2:1; cf. II Cor.8:9).
  3. He was compassionate to a stranger (2:8,9).
  4. He knew all about Ruth before they met (2:11; cf. John 1:47-51).
  5. He served Ruth graciously, making sure her needs were met (2:14).
  6. He granted her protection and prosperity (2:15,16).
  7. His name means "Strength."
  8. "This striking description of the love of the wealthy Boaz, who raised Ruth from humiliation and loaded her with precious gifts, is a figure of the grace of God in Christ who lifts the unworthy sinner out of the depths of sin and enriches his life with spiritual and temporal blessings" – P.A. Verhoef.


<< Back                                       Next >>