III. The Service of Ruth

A. Leviticus 23:22 The Law made provisions for the unfortunate by demanding that, when Israelites harvested their crops, they were to leave the corners of the fields unharvested and not go back and pick up what they had dropped or overlooked, but leave it for the poor to glean. Thus, the poor could maintain themselves by honorable labor.

B. Ruth 2:1-7

1. Ruth was not too lazy to do hard work in the field, nor too proud to engage in menial labor. She humbly asked permission from Naomi to go into the fields around Bethlehem to glean, and Naomi kindly granted the request.

2. Ruth happened to glean from the fields owned by Boaz, a wealthy, older man, kin to Elimelech, Naomi's late husband. He was a man of faith who maintained a good relationship with his workers.

3. When Boaz inquired of the foreman about Ruth, he identified her as the young Moabitess, companion to Naomi; also commending her politeness in asking permission to glean (apparently unnecessary), and for her industrious work in the field.

C. Ruth 2:8-9 Boaz demonstrated his own righteousness…

1. Requested Ruth to remain in his fields throughout the harvest.

2. Commanded his young laborers not to molest her in any way.

3. Permitted her to drink of the same water drawn for his harvesters.

D. Ruth 2:10

1. In sincere humility, Ruth prostrated herself before this gentle benefactor and wondered aloud that he should favor her and show such kindness to a foreigner.

2. We should take notice of this kindness to strangers, specifically with reference to nationality.

E. Ruth 2:11-12

1. Boaz explained that he had heard all about her and how she had forsaken her own land and people to remain loyal to Naomi and the Lord.

2. In a magnificent expression of faith, Boaz, the gentleman farmer invoked upon poor, young Ruth the full reward of the Lord for her obedient trust in Him.

a. Hebrews 6:10

F. Ruth 2:13

1. Now naming herself his maidservant, rather than a foreigner (10), humble Ruth simply requested that she continue to find favor from Boaz.

2. She spoke wonderingly of his kindness and gratefully of his comfort.

a. The rest, that Naomi bitterly directed Ruth to find in idolatry in Moab, Ruth found in Israel by trusting the Lord.

G. Ruth 2:14-16

1. Ruth's character had won for her the admiration and kind attention of good-hearted Boaz. He shared his lunch with her, giving her more than she could eat.

2. He even directed the laborers to allow her to glean without rebuke among the sheaves, otherwise off-limits, and to allow some of the grain to fall intentionally from the bundles that she could glean them.

3. Thus, her harvest was increased without injuring her self-respect. Kind Boaz even considered her feelings among her needs.

H. Ruth 2:17-18 Ruth worked all day in Boaz's field and gathered an ephah (or about 20-25 pounds) of barley, enough to last she and Naomi several days. She dutifully gave Naomi all except what she had eaten already.

I. Ruth 2:19 Naomi realized that someone had paid special attention to Ruth, else she could not have fared so well in her gleaning. She excitedly inquired whose field Ruth had gathered from, only to learn that it was a relative of her deceased husband.

J. Ruth 2:20

1. Naomi suddenly realized with joy that the Lord had not forsaken her or the family. Her complaint that God had dealt with her bitterly was transformed into praise.

2. Naomi knew what Ruth could not have realized, that Boaz was a near kinsman.

3. Ruth 4:3, 9 In her distressing position, Naomi had been forced to sell the field that belonged to her husband, Elimelech, and that had passed on to her sons, Mahlon and Chilion.

a. Leviticus 25:10 But the Law did not allow any family to permanently lose their hereditary estate. Every fifty years was a Jubilee, in which each family could return to their inheritance.

b. Leviticus 25:13-16 The land could not be permanently sold, but was priced according to the number of crop years before the next Jubilee.

c. Leviticus 25:23-25 To further insure that families did not fall into permanent poverty in Israel, the law allowed the nearest kinsman of one who had to sell his land due to poverty to redeem (buy back) the land for his poor kinsman.

d. One can only imagine the smile on Naomi's face as all this raced through her mind.

K. Ruth 2:21-23 Ruth informed Naomi that Boaz had requested her to glean in his fields throughout the harvest, and Naomi encouraged her to follow that very plan.

L. Conclusion

Ruth's faithfulness found expression in humble service. She worked hard without vain pride at sweaty, menial labor to provide for herself and her mother-in-law. This didn't go unnoticed by godly people or, above all, by the Lord. The reward of her steadfastness led her mother-in-law to overcome her bitterness and to turn to God in praise for His kindness.

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