(1) Naomi’s kinsman: Boaz.
There was a relative of Naomi’s husband, a man of great wealth, of the family of Elimelech. His name was Boaz.
a. There was a relative of Naomi’s husband: Naomi was related to this man Boaz through her deceased husband, Elimelech. We don’t know exactly how he was related, but he was.
b. A man of great wealth: During the time of famine, when Elimelech, Naomi, and their whole family had left the Promised Land and gone to Moab, Boaz had stayed behind – and God provided for him. In fact, God made Boaz a man of great wealth.
i. Ten years before, Naomi and her family made a choice, and it was a choice made in a hard time – a time of famine. But they didn’t have to make the wrong choice that they did. The people of Bethlehem had not perished from hunger. They were still there. And they were blessed more than Naomi’s family.
ii. Sometimes we justify wrong choices because of difficult circumstances. But God will strengthen us, and bless us, to make the right choice, even in difficult circumstances.
iii. “The exact expression rendered a mighty man of wealth is elsewhere translated ‘a mighty man of valour’ (e.g., Judges 11:1). We perhaps get the force of it by thinking of our word ‘knight.’” (Morris)
c. A relative: This particular relative will be revealed (Ruth 3:8-9) as a kinsman, a goel for Ruth and Naomi. This was more than merely a family relation. It will be seen that Boaz was a special family representative. He was a chieftain in the family.
2. (2-3) Ruth happens upon Boaz’s field.
So Ruth the Moabitess said to Naomi, “Please let me go to the field, and glean heads of grain after him in whose sight I may find favor.”
And she said to her, “Go, my daughter.”
Then she left, and went and gleaned in the field after the reapers. And she happened to come to the part of the field belonging to Boaz, who was of the family of Elimelech.
a. Please, let me go to the field, and glean heads of grain: Leviticus 19:9-10 commanded farmers in Israel that they should not completely harvest their fields. They were commanded to “cut corners” in harvesting, and always leave some behind. Also, if they happened to drop a bundle of grain, they were commanded to leave it on the ground and not pick it up.
i. This was one of the social assistance programs in Israel. Farmers were not to completely harvest their fields, so the poor and needy could come and glean the remains for themselves.
ii. This was a wonderful way of helping the poor. It commanded the farmers to have a generous heart, and it commanded the poor to be active and work for their food. It was a way for them to provide for their own needs with dignity.
b. Then she left: So, Ruth, on her own initiative, set out to glean in the fields to support her and her mother-in-law, Naomi. This showed a wonderful hard-working spirit in Ruth, and it was spiritual also – she would not have been more spiritual to sit back at home and pray for food.
c. She happened to come to the part of the field belonging to Boaz: It says that Ruth happened to come to that place and certainly, that is how it seemed to her. But it was not how it actually came to pass. Ruth came to that field because God was guiding her.
i. This shows us some of the wonderful ways that the invisible hand of God works. If Ruth would have stayed home and waited for a “spiritual” feeling, she might have waited a long time – and still probably would have gone to the wrong field. Instead, Ruth experienced the very natural moving of the supernatural hand of God.
ii. Many times when we are walking in the Spirit, we can only see the invisible hand of God as we look back. If we spend too much time trying to look for His hand ahead of us, we can make problems for ourselves.
3. (4-7) Boaz learns of Ruth.
Now behold, Boaz came from Bethlehem, and said to the reapers, “The LORD be with you!”
And they answered him, “The LORD bless you!”
Then Boaz said to his servant who was in charge of the reapers, “Whose young woman is this?”
So the servant who was in charge of the reapers answered and said, “It is the young Moabite woman who came back with Naomi from the country of Moab. And she said, ‘Please let me glean and gather after the reapers among the sheaves.’ So she came and has continued from morning until now, though she rested a little in the house.”
a. The LORD be with you: This shows us something of the heart and character of Boaz. Apparently, his workers loved him and had a good relationship with him. You can often tell the real character of a man in authority by seeing how he relates to his staff and by what they think of him.
b. And she said, “Please let me glean and gather”: As the supervisor reported to Boaz, he told of Ruth’s submissive attitude. There is a sense in which the gleaning was hers by right – after all, she could have quoted Leviticus 19:9-10 back at him. But she kindly and properly asked for the right to gather in his field.
c. So she came and has continued from morning until now: Ruth may not have known it, but she was under inspection. The supervisor was looking at what kind of job she did and he was impressed that she did a good job. And the fact that she did a good job was important because it made a good impression on Boaz.
i. We are under inspection also. At times when we don’t know it, we are being watched by others to see how we will walk with God. And what they see will make a difference.
4. (8-9) Boaz speaks kindly to Ruth.
Then Boaz said to Ruth, “You will listen, my daughter, will you not? Do not go to glean in another field, nor go from here, but stay close by my young women. Let your eyes be on the field which they reap, and go after them. Have I not commanded the young men not to touch you? And when you are thirsty, go to the vessels and drink from what the young men have drawn.”
a. Stay close by my young women: These were Boaz’s female field workers, who tied together the cut stalks of grain. Boaz told Ruth to stay close to them, so she would be well taken care of.
b. Do not go to glean in another field: God was blessing Ruth already and all because He guided her to Boaz’s field. Boaz knew that if Ruth stayed in his fields, she would be blessed.
· In Boaz’s field, Ruth would find companionship (among the young women).
· In Boaz’s field, Ruth would find protection (Have I not commanded the young men not to touch you?).
· In Boaz’s field, Ruth would find refreshment (when you are thirsty).
i. The kindness of Boaz was wonderful. At this time, we have no indication of a romantic attraction between Boaz and Ruth and we have no idea how Ruth looked (even if she was pretty, she was probably pretty ragged from a whole day of hard work). Yet Boaz extended this kindness to her.
ii. We often find it easy to be kind to others when we can see a potential return from the investment of our kindness. Yet true kindness is shown when we extend ourselves to others who, as far as we can see, have nothing to give us.
5. (10-13) Ruth thanks Boaz for his kindness.
So she fell on her face, bowed down to the ground, and said to him, “Why have I found favor in your eyes, that you should take notice of me, since I am a foreigner?”
And Boaz answered and said to her, “It has been fully reported to me, all that you have done for your mother-in-law since the death of your husband, and how you have left your father and your mother and the land of your birth, and have come to a people whom you did not know before. The LORD repay your work, and a full reward be given you by the LORD God of Israel, under whose wings you have come for refuge.”
Then she said, “Let me find favor in your sight, my lord; for you have comforted me, and have spoken kindly to your maidservant, though I am not like one of your maidservants.”
a. Why have I found favor in your eyes: Ruth’s attitude was wonderful. Some of us would have said, “Well it’s about time someone noticed! I’ve been working hard all day. Now God will give me the blessings that I deserve.”
i. We never see Ruth asking why all the hard things have come upon her in life. Instead, she asks why this good thing has come. This is a significant difference in attitude.
b. Since I am a foreigner: This was constantly on Ruth’s mind. She was a Moabitess, and not an Israelite. She knew that on the basis of her national background, she didn’t belong. This made Boaz’s kindness to her all the more precious.
i. The Bible says that we should be kind to the strangers among us, but this also applies on another level. Since our society is no longer structured around the family, for many people, their most important circle of association is their friends. Sociologists call this “tribalization” – we become part of a little “tribe,” a little circle of friends. The command to love the stranger means that we should not only associate with those of our own tribe, and that we should always welcome those outside of our tribe.
c. It has been fully reported to me: This is a dynamic of small-town life; everybody knows everybody else’s business. Yet it also shows that Ruth’s devotion to Naomi mattered – it was noticed.
d. The LORD repay your work and a full reward be given you by the LORD God of Israel: Fittingly, Boaz encouraged Ruth as if she were a new convert to the God of Israel. In many ways, Ruth stands as an example of a new believer.
· She put her trust in the God of Israel.
· She had left her former associates.
· She had come in among strangers.
· She was very low in her own eyes.
· She found protection under the wings of God.
i. In the same way, older Christians should be like Boaz to younger Christians who are like Ruth. “Observe that he saluted her with words of tender encouragement; for this is precisely what I want all the elder Christians among you to do to those who are the counterparts of Ruth…. I want you to make a point of looking out the young converts, and speaking to them goodly words, and comfortable words, whereby they may be cheered and strengthened.” (Spurgeon)
ii. Significantly, though these words were said to Ruth, they were also a prayer to God for Ruth. Christians should pray for one another, and in particular, older Christians should pray for new converts.
e. The LORD God of Israel, under whose wings you have come for refuge: Boaz especially knew of Ruth’s commitment to the God of Israel. This was his way of showing kindness and encouragement to a young believer in the LORD.
i. Under whose wings: This is a beautiful picture. “The imagery is probably that of a tiny bird snuggling under the wings of a foster-mother. It gives a picture of trust and security (cf. Psalm 17:8, 36:7, 63:7).” (Morris)
f. Let me find favor in your sight: This was a very polite way of saying “thank you” to Boaz. Ruth was almost overwhelmed by his kindness, and was polite enough to say, “Thank you.”