by Patti Walters
Continued from Page 1
Lessons to be learned from Ruth (continued):
- Ruth was humble. She volunteered to glean the field (that is to pick up the leftovers) to bring to Naomi that they would have something to eat.
| Ruth 2:2 says, "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.’" This was a provision that the Lord put in the Law in order for the poor to eat. Deuteronomy 24:19 |
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(Notice that it was free, but the poor had to do the gathering.)
Are we willing to do humble things for others? Do we volunteer to do the things that no one wants to do or that doesn’t get recognition?
- When Boaz noticed Ruth and asked who she was, her reputation of virtue had preceded her. Because of Ruth’s treatment of Naomi, Boaz took Ruth under his wing and provided for her abundantly.
"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.’ The 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 to 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.’ 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 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 t your maidservant, though I am not like one of your maidservants.’ Now Boaz said to her at mealtime, ‘Come here, and eat of the bread, and dip your piece of bread in the vinegar.’ So she sat beside the reapers, and he passed parched grain to her; and she ate and was satisfied, and kept some back. And when she rose up to glean, Boaz commanded his young men, saying, ‘Let her glean even among the sheaves, and do not reproach her. Also let grain from the bundles fall purposely for her; leave it that she may glean, and do not rebuke her.’"
 Ruth 2:5-16 |
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We all have reputations. Does the reputation that precede us bring glory to God?
- Naomi told Ruth that she would look to her welfare.
"Then Naomi her mother-in-law said to her, ’My daughter, shall I not seek security for you, that it may be well with you?’"
Ruth 3:1
When Naomi told Ruth to lay at Boaz’s feet at the threshing floor
"Now Boaz, whose young women you were with, is he not our relative? In fact, he is winnowing barley tonight at the threshing floor. Therefore wash yourself and anoint yourself, put on your best garment and go down to the threshing floor; but do not make yourself known to the man until he has finished eating and drinking. Then it shall be, when he lies down, that you shall notice the place where he lies; and you shall go in, uncover his feet, and lie down; and he will tell you what you should do."
Ruth 3:2-4
Ruth didn’t question it, she just obeyed. This showed trust in Naomi. It was a very bold thing to do, in essence it was a marriage proposal given from Ruth to Boaz. Boaz praised Ruth for seeking him rather than a young man.
"Then he said, ‘Blessed are you of the Lord, my daughter! For you have shown more kindness at the end than at the beginning, in that you did not go after young men, whether poor or rich."
Ruth 3:10 |
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Do we trust God to direct us in doing what’s good for our lives?
Sometimes we have pieces of the puzzle and but don’t see the whole picture until it’s all together.
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