Growing in Grace and in the Knowledge of Christ
Ruth 2
Ruth 2
Ruth 2. Chapter 1 records the road to restoration for Naomi and the awakening of faith in Ruth. Chapter 2 traces Ruth’s growth in grace as she enters the field of Boaz, a beautiful type of Christ. We see in Ruth the characteristics of faith – a desire for spiritual food, humility in taking the place of a gleaner, diligence in gathering and preparing what she receives, and growing appreciation for the grace shown to her. Meanwhile, Boaz provides for Ruth far beyond what the law required, showing the abundant grace and personal care of Christ for His own. This chapter is a picture of the believer, growing in apprehension of the riches of God’s grace. Behind what appeared to be chance, God was directing Ruth’s every step, and Naomi begins to recognize His hand in bringing them into blessing. The chapter closes with Ruth continuing faithfully in the fields of Boaz, where he provides provision and protection.
The Field of Boaz (2:1-3)
1 And Naomi had a relation of her husband's, a mighty man of wealth, of the family of Elimelech, and his name was Boaz. DARBY
v.1 Boaz, a Mighty Man of Wealth. The Spirit of God introduces Boaz, a wonderful type of Christ. He was a relation of Elimelech, his name means “in him is strength,” and he is described as “a mighty man of wealth.” It is striking that his great-great-grandson Solomon later gave the name Boaz to one of the two great pillars at the entrance of the temple (1 Kings 7:21; 2 Chron. 3:17), associating the name with strength and stability. As the chapter unfolds, Boaz draws Ruth to himself, provides for her, and ultimately takes up the cause of both Ruth and Naomi as their kinsman-redeemer. There is also a beautiful prophetic significance in these details. Boaz is connected with Bethlehem, the place Micah 5:2-3 associates with the coming of Christ, Israel being “given up” for a time, and the eventual return of His brethren. In this way, the history of Boaz looks forward through David to Christ, who will ultimately take up Israel’s cause in grace under the New Covenant (Jer. 31:31).
2 And Ruth the Moabitess said to Naomi, Let me, I pray, go to the field and glean among the ears of corn after him in whose sight I shall find favour. And she said to her, Go, my daughter. 3 And she went; and she came and gleaned in the fields after the reapers; and she chanced to light on an allotment of Boaz, who was of the family of Elimelech. DARBY
vv.2-3 Ruth Goes Forth to Glean. Ruth asks Naomi for permission to glean “after him in whose sight I shall find favour.” She goes forth counting upon grace, expecting to find favor and provision in the land of Jehovah. We also see in Ruth a beautiful diligence in seeking food. Spiritually, this desire for food is the first step in growth: as newborn babes we are to desire the sincere milk of the Word (1 Pet. 2:2), and the food itself speaks of Christ, the true bread from heaven (John 6:32-35). Naomi encourages her, “Go, my daughter.” Ruth then takes the humble place of a gleaner, following after the reapers and gathering what they have harvested. This can picture the place of a learner, receiving spiritual food through those whom the Lord uses to teach and minister the Word. Finally, while Ruth simply “chanced to light on an allotment of Boaz,” there was nothing accidental in the purposes of God. Without knowing where she was being led, she was sovereignly directed to the very field of Boaz (Psa. 37:23), where she would find blessing far beyond anything she had expected.
A Stranger Finds Grace (2:4-18)
4 And behold, Boaz came from Bethlehem; and he said to the reapers, Jehovah be with you! And they said to him, Jehovah bless thee! 5 And Boaz said to his servant that was set over the reapers, Whose maiden is this? 6 And the servant that was set over the reapers answered and said, It is the Moabitish maiden who came back with Naomi out of the fields of Moab; 7 and she said, I pray you, let me glean and gather among the sheaves after the reapers. And she came, and has continued from the morning until now: her sitting in the house has been little as yet. DARBY
vv.4-7 Boaz Notices Ruth. We witness a beautiful scene in the field of Boaz, and learn much of his character from the way he interacts with his servants. Boaz comes from Bethlehem and takes a personal interest in his harvest. He greets the reapers with “Jehovah be with you!” and they respond, “Jehovah bless thee!” This shows a healthy relationship between the master and his servants, with their work carried on in the conscious presence of Jehovah (see Psa. 129:8). There was also an unnamed servant “set over the reapers,” who pictures the Spirit of God directing the activities of Christ’s servants and entering into the mind of the Master concerning the harvest. The Spirit is often pictured in this way as an unnamed servant, drawing attention not to Himself but to Christ – as with Abraham’s servant sent to obtain a bride for Isaac (Gen. 24), and the man bearing the pitcher of water who guided the disciples to the place the Lord had appointed (Luke 22:10-12). Boaz immediately notices Ruth and asks, “Whose maiden is this?” In this we are reminded of the personal interest the Lord takes in each of His own. The servant gives a full account of Ruth, including her origin in Moab, her return with Naomi, and especially her diligence: she had “continued from the morning until now,” with little time spent resting. We can apply this to a young believer gleaning behind the reapers – those whom the Lord uses to labor in the Word and make its precious truth available to others, in manageable bundles. Yet gleaning requires personal diligence: “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed” (2 Tim. 2:15). Like this servant of Boaz, the Spirit of God certainly takes notice of our faithfulness, even in the little things: “Remembering without ceasing your work of faith, and labour of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, in the sight of God and our Father” (1 Thess. 1:3).
8 And Boaz said to Ruth, Hearest thou not, my daughter? Go not to glean in another field, neither go from here, but keep here with my maidens. 9 Let thine eyes be on the field which is being reaped, and go thou after them; have I not charged the young men not to touch thee? And when thou art athirst, go to the vessels and drink of what the young men draw. DARBY
vv.8-9 Boaz Provides for Ruth. Far from rebuking or casting out this foreigner, Boaz instructed Ruth that she should stay in his field. She was welcome to as much of his grain as she could carry, and to the water that the young men had drawn. This speaks of the Lord’s provision. What a contrast to the famine! Notice Boaz’s care for her purity. He says “keep here with my maidens”, and “have I not charged the young men not to touch thee?” It is interesting to follow this thread. It would be inappropriate for Ruth to have contact with the young men, but very suitable to be with the maidens. Later on (v.21), Ruth reports this inaccurately, and Naomi gently corrects her. This shows how important it is for all believers to guard moral purity. God cares about our companions. The will be either a help or a hinderance to us. In addition to the grain that she could glean, Boaz encouraged Ruth to drink of the water than the young men had drawn. We might apply this to those God had used to minister the Word of God. This was good water from a good source. It requires humility to drink of that water which others have drawn, but it is for our refreshment and sustainment.
10 Then she fell on her face, and bowed herself to the ground, and said to him, Why have I found favour in thine eyes, that thou shouldest regard me, seeing I am a foreigner? 11 And Boaz answered and said to her, It has fully been shewn me, all that thou hast done to thy mother-in-law since the death of thy husband; and how thou hast left thy father and thy mother, and the land of thy nativity, and art come to a people that thou hast not known heretofore. 12 Jehovah recompense thy work, and let thy reward be full from Jehovah the God of Israel, under whose wings thou art come to take refuge. 13 And she said, Let me find favour in thine eyes, my lord; for that thou hast comforted me, and for that thou hast spoken kindly to thy handmaid, though I am not like one of thy handmaidens. DARBY
vv.10-13 Ruth Wonders at the Grace Shown to Her. Ruth fell to her face in wonder, amazed that she, a foreigner, had found grace in the eyes of such a man as Boaz. This shows a deep humility in the young woman. He told her that it was “fully” shown him concerning: (1) her kindness to Naomi, (2) her decision to leave Moab and come to an unknown people, and (3) to take refuge under the wings of “Jehovah the God of Israel”. This had not only caught Boaz’s attention, but had touched his heart. Notice that is was not only her love to Naomi, but a growth in faith in the God of Israel. Boaz encouraged her that the Lord would reward her faith and diligence. This is spiritual growth: coming to know God better.
14 And Boaz said to her at mealtime, Come 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 ate and was sufficed, and reserved some. 15 And when she rose up to glean, Boaz commanded his young men, saying, Let her glean even among the sheaves, and ye shall not reproach her. 16 And ye shall also sometimes draw out for her some ears out of the handfuls, and leave them that she may glean, and rebuke her not. DARBY
vv.14-16 Boaz Provides Abundantly for Ruth. In these verses we see an expansion of grace toward Ruth. Never in Moab would Ruth ever have experienced such kindness! Boaz invites her to sit beside the reapers and share his bread, offering her parched corn until she was satisfied. This speaks of fellowship as well has spiritual food. It reflects the heart of our God, who “satisfieth the longing soul, and filleth the hungry soul with goodness” (Psa. 107:9). Boaz was not only obedient to the law which commanded farmers to allow gleaning (Leviticus 23:22; Deuteronomy 10:15-19) but went beyond that for Ruth. Boaz instructed the young men to allow Ruth to glean among the very reapers, allowing her unprecedented access. Finally, the young men were to purposefully leave portions of the bundles of gain for Ruth to find and collect. This speaks of God’s individual care for each one of His own, by providing them a portion particularly suited to them in the moment. It also can be applied to the care the teachers and pastors ought to have that the ministry of God’s Word be timely and understandable.
17 And she gleaned in the field until even, and beat out what she had gleaned; and it was about an ephah of barley. 18 And she took it up, and came into the city, and her mother-in-law saw what she had gleaned; and she brought forth and gave to her that which she had reserved after she was sufficed. DARBY
vv.17-18 Ruth Gleans Until Evening. Ruth was diligent, remaining the fields until evening. Further, she “beat out what she had gleaned”, removing the chaff, and reducing her gleanings to what was the edible part. It is important to meditate on what we glean: to think about what we have heard in the light of the presence and Word of God, and to remove anything that is just of man (like the chaff). In the end, she brought an ephah of barley home to Naomi.
Naomi’s Approval and Advice (2:19-23)
19 And her mother-in-law said to her, Where hast thou gleaned to-day? and where hast thou wrought? Blessed be he that did regard thee! And she told her mother-in-law with whom she had wrought, and said, The man's name with whom I wrought to-day is Boaz. 20 And Naomi said to her daughter-in-law, Blessed be he of Jehovah, who has not left off his kindness to the living and to the dead! And Naomi said to her, The man is near of kin to us, one of those who have the right of our redemption. DARBY
vv.19-20 Naomi Recognizes the Hand of Jehovah. It was Naomi’s turn to be surprised by grace. When Ruth explained, Naomi recognized the hand of Jehovah in directing Ruth. Behind the kindness of Boaz was the very kindness of the Lord Himself: “Jehovah, who has not left off his kindness to the living and to the dead!” This brought to Naomi’s mind the possibility, dare she think it, of something even greater: Boaz was her kinsman, and had “the right of our redemption”. She was beginning to see what the Lord was doing, and it must have been a tremendous comfort to her.
21 And Ruth the Moabitess said, He said to me also, Thou shalt keep with my young men until they have ended all my harvest. 22 And Naomi said to 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 with the maidens of Boaz to glean, until the end of the barley-harvest and of the wheat-harvest. And she dwelt with her mother-in-law. DARBY
vv.21-23 Ruth Continues in the Fields of Boaz. Looking to the future, Ruth told Naomi of Boaz’s request that she return to his fields until the completion of harvest. She did however misquote Boaz, exchanging “my young men” for “my maidens”. Naomi gently corrects Ruth in this regard, patterning the role of a spiritual mother. Ruth did indeed remain in Boaz’s field though the barely and wheat harvests. Barely was the first gain to be harvested and wheat was the last. Barley was the food of the poor, and represents the foundation truths of the Gospel (Romans) while wheat brings us into the fullness of the Christian position, to our being seated with Christ in the heavenly places (Ephesians).