Ruth 2

Ruth 2:1-3

Here is, 1. Ruth gleaning corn in Boaz’s field, ver. 1—3. 2. The favour which Boaz flowed her, ver. 4—16. 3. The return of Ruth to her mother-in-law, ver. 18—23.

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 Moabites 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 have here an account, 1. Of Boaz, whose name is famous in the following story. He was a near kinfman of Naomi, an inhabitant of Beth-lehem, a man of great wealth and generosity too. He had heard of her return, though Naomi, out of modesty, and unwillingness to trouble her rich relations, seems not to have made him acquainted with the distress of her circumstances. Note, (1.) The worthless are importunate and clamorous, while the deserving are modest and silent. (2.) Many have rich relations, whom they are little the better for. (3.) It is a firm mark of a proud unthankful heart, to overlook or disregard poor relations. 2. Of Ruth, the Moabitess, whose character thines with diftinguished luffice under the feverest prelatives of poverty; for such hath God is chosen, poor in this world, but rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom: and now that faith is tried, whether the can prefer the land of Israel, with all the inconveniences the luffices, to the plenty the might have enjoyed in Moab. We hear no mention of the least desire in her to return: though unsaid probably to such a method of getting her living, her mind is conformed to her circumstances. She is willing not only to work for her own bread, but deftrous also to maintain her aged mother. In order to this she also leave to go and glean in any field, where she might, through the matter’s kindness, be admitted. Her mother, pleased with such an influence of filial piety, affectionately lets her go. Note, (1.) None know to what fruits they may be reduced. It is good not to be brought up too delicately. (2.) To be content under the prefforts of poverty, is a blessed evidence of a faithful heart. (3.) They who know the value of their souls, well prefer Christ and a craft, to all the affluence and glory of the world without him. (4.) They who are poor, need be thankful for the least favour them them. (5.) Industry in young people is highly commendable; never came there any good from an idle hand. 3. She happened to light on Boaz’s field, God derailing her thither for purposes of his own glory. Note, Circumstances which to us appear utterly fortuitous, proceed under the unsharable decree of God: and from the most unexpected incidents, he can bring about the greatest events. 4. ¶ And behold, Boaz came from Beth-lehem, 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 ‘fet over the reapers. Whose damself is this? 6. And the servant that was fet over the reapers, answered and said, It is the Moabitess damself, 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 amongst the theavers: So she came, and hath continued even from the morning until now, that she tarried a little in the houfe. 8. Then said Boaz unto Ruth, Heareth 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 athirth, 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 shouldst 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 wing thou art come to trust. 13. Then she said, Let me find favour in thy sight, my lord, for that thou hast conferred 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 meal-time come thou hither, and ’eat of the bread, and dip thy morrel 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 theavers, and I reproach her not. 16. And ’let fall also poor of the handfuls of purpose for her, and leave them, that she may glean them, and rebuke her not.

Ruth 2:4-16

Boaz was a great man, but not too great to superintend his own business. The matter’s eye makes quick work. We have him here visiting his reapers. Observer. 1. The mutual salutations which passed between them; a proof that Boaz was as pious as prosperous, and that his servants under his care had partaken of their matter’s blessing. Note, (1.) Though a formal “God bless you,” is often a profanation of the name of God, and a consignment of courts, a thoughtful and serious benediction is the mark of true regard. (2.) It is likely to go well with that family, where the matter’s kindness meets with an equal return in the servant’s heart: regard for him and his concerns. 2. The enquiry Boaz makes concerning a stranger whom he observed, probably fitting in the booth erected in the field, and the answer given him by the overseer of the reapers. She was that Moabitess damself, whose love for her mother, and regard for God, had brought her to Beth-lehem: she had modestly aided leave to glean, and, during the whole morning, had been industriously employed, till just now that in the heat she had refited for a moment in the house, and was again returned to her labour. Note, They who are entrusted by their matters, as overloers, must look carefully to their matter’s interests, and make a faithful report. 3. Boaz accooks the poor stranger with great kindness, calls her daughter, hols her continue in his field during the harvest, follow his maidens, and keep them company. He gives orders also to the young men to shew her no business, nor give her any molestation; invites her to eat and drink with his reapers, and go as one of them to the booth whenever she was thirsty, and at meal-time share their entertainment. He adds the excellent character he had heard of her, as deserving every token of his regard; prays God to recompense her work of filial piety, and her adherence to the worship of Jehovah, under whose wing she had taken shelter: and then turning to the reapers, hols them purposely drop a handful here and there behind them, and let her glean among the theavers, and not reproach her for it, as if she took what was not allowed her. Note, (1.) There is a manner of doing a kindness, that makes it doubly acceptable. (2.) They deserve commendation and regard, who, for the sake of God, leave all behind them. (3.) In the end they will be no loofers. (4.) A generous heart is happy in an occasion to relieve the wants of the deserving. 4. Ruth, overcome with such kindness, is at a loss to express her gratitude, bows to the earth before him, in token of deepest respect, professes her unworthiness of the favour shewn her, v. 10, 13. admires his condescension, begs the continuance of his regard, and receives his speech as the most friendly and reviving cordial. Accordingly, at meal-time she accepts his invitation, and, to make it more welcome, he reaches her the parched corn, and by his own behaviour engages his servants to shew her every kind civility. Note, (1.) A grateful heart often wants expressions to speak its forcibility. (2.) A kind look or a good word from a superior, is often very useful: So cheap a charity who then need grudge. (3.) They who are most deserving will have the lowest opinion of their own defects. 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. 19. And her mother-in-law said unto her, Where hath thou gleaned to-day? and where wroughteth thou? blessed be he that did take knowledge of thee. And she shewed her motherin-law with whom she had wrought, and said, The man’s name with whom I wrought to-day 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 kinfmen. 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 the 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.

Ruth 2:17-23

Before Chall and plenty are twin-fathers, even the industrious poor need never want.

2. On her arrival she shews her mother what she had gleaned, gives her of the provision, which she had left at dinner, v. 14. and, in answer to Naomi’s question, who was plodingly first-prized at the quantity she had brought home, relates the adventures of the day, and the kind providence which had directed her to the field of Boaz. Note, (1.) A good child will always divide his mortal with his aged parent. (2.) In all our ways we must acknowledge God. (3.) When we go out in the way of duty, we may hope to return, and bring a blessing along with us.

3. Naomi hereupon blesses God for the mercy, and prays for his prosperity, who had so kindly treated her daughter. The name of Boaz awakens her remembrance of former kindness to her family, and she now mentions what either she had forgotten, or had not told her daughter before, that he was a very near kindness to them, and by law their God redeemer, one of them to whom it belonged to redeem the mortgaged land of the family. This reflection perhaps now felt struck her mind, and therefore, in hope of farther kindness, she bids her daughter accept the kind invitation she had related, and, during the harvest, follow his reapers, and go on where else. These directions Ruth carefully followed, and, when the harvest was ended, dwell at home with her mother on the provision which her industry had collected. Note, (1.) The best returns for kindness are the prayers of the poor. (2.) Whatever mercies we recover from men, God must have the peace. (3.) Humility will make us silent of our connections, rather than boast, as many do, who are poor, the greatness of their relations. (4.) A casual word or hint, dropped undisgently, is sometimes pregnant with strange consequences. (5.) They who have the blessed Jesus for their redeemer, cannot keep too close to him and his reapers: his past favours are the earnest of greater still in store for them.