Tuesday, October 2, 2012

Ruth 2: Ruth Requesting

WHAT I HAVE LEARNED:
Meanings of Names
Elimelech = My God Is King
Naomi = My Pleasant One, or Pleasant
Ruth = Appearance, or Beauty
Boaz = In Him Is Strength
The Lord (JHVH; Heb. Jehovah) = He That Is, That Was, And That Is To Come

Summary of the Chapter
Upon settling down in Bethlehem, Ruth asks her mother-in-law if she can go and glean some grain so that they might be able to eat. Naomi gives her permission (v.2). She happens upon a field owned, unknowingly to her, by a near kinsman-redeemer to Naomi named Boaz (v.3). When Boaz arrives home, he prays for his servants and they respond back with a prayer (v.4). Boaz notices this young lady in his field and asks where she came from. The servant in charge of the reapers explains to Boaz who she is and what she requested (vv.5-7). Boaz then spoke to Ruth and told her not to go to any other field, but to stay with his maidens and to eat of the provisions offered to the reapers as a reward for her kindness she showed to her mother-in-law. He even commanded the reapers to drop some of the handfuls of purpose for her (vv.8-16). Ruth then brought what she had gleaned back to her mother-in-law and told her of her day and her experiences (vv.17-21). Naomi encouraged her to accept Boaz’s kindness (vv.22-23).
Verse 10 contains a question that the believer should be asking God. “Why have I found grace in your eyes, that You should take knowledge of me, seeing I am a stranger?” We, as sinners, are strangers to God. In fact, the Bible calls us enemies of God. So why have we found grace in the sight of a Holy God who cannot look upon sin? Upon accepting Jesus Christ as our Saviour, we must be willing to forsake all – our families, our country, our possessions – when we come to a family (Christians) we never knew before. If these things hinder us, we must be willing to leave them behind for Christ’s sake.
The Hebrew word for “next kinsman” in verse 20 is gaălim, which means “one who has the right to redeem or avenge.” Boaz was a kinsman-redeemer, as Jesus Christ is our kinsman-redeemer.

WILMINGTON’S GUIDE TO THE BIBLE
  1. Ruth goes out to glean wheat and, in the providence of God, picks a field belonging to Boaz, a near relative of Elimelech (2:1-3). Boaz was the son of the ex-harlot, Rahab (Mt. 1:5).
  2. Boaz sees her, and apparently falls in love with her. He treats her kindly and orders his hired hands to do the same (2:15-16).
  3. Ruth brings home some thirty pounds of barley and reports the kindness of Boaz to Naomi, who immediately begins planning a wedding (2:19-23).

MATTHEW HENRY’S ABRIDGED COMMENTARY
Ruth Gleans In the Fields of Boaz
Ver. 1-3. Observe Ruth’s humility. When Providence had made her poor, she cheerfully stoops to her lot. High spirits will rather starve than stoop; not so Ruth. Nay, it is her own proposal. She speaks humbly in her expectation of leave to glean. We may not demand kindness as a debt, but ask, and take it as a favour, though in a small matter.
Ruth also was an example of industry. She loved not to eat the bread of idleness. This is an example to young people. Diligence promises well, both for this world and the other. We must not be shy of any honest employment. No labour is a reproach. Sin is a thing below us, but we must not think any thing else so, to which Providence calls us.
She was an example of regard to her mother, and of trust in Providence. God wisely orders what seem to us small events; and those that appear altogether uncertain, still are directed to serve his own glory, and the good of his people.
The Kindness of Boaz to Ruth
Ver. 4-16. The pious and kind language between Boaz and his reapers shows that there were godly persons in Israel. Such language as this is seldom heard in our fields; too often, on the contrary, what is immoral and corrupt. A stranger would form a very different opinion of our land, from that which Ruth would form of Israel from the converse and conduct of Boaz and his reapers. But true religion will teach a man to behave aright in all states and conditions; it will form kind masters and faithful servants, and cause harmony in families. True religion will cause mutual love and kindness among persons of different ranks. It had these effects on Boaz and his men. When he came to them, he prayed for them. They did not, as soon as he was out of hearing, curse him, as some ill-natured servants that hate their master’s eye, but they returned his courtesy. Things are likely to go on well where there is such good-will as this between masters and servants. They expressed their kindness to each other by praying one for another.
Boaz inquired concerning the stranger he saw, and ordered her to be well treated. Masters must take care, not only that they do no hurt themselves, but that they suffer not their servants and those under them to do wrong. Ruth humbly owned herself unworthy of favours, seeing she was born and brought up a heathen. It well becomes us all to think humbly of ourselves, esteeming others better than ourselves.
And let us, in the kindness of Boaz to Ruth, note the kindness of the Lord Jesus Christ to poor sinners.
Ruth Returns To Her Mother-In-Law
Ver. 17-23. It encourages industry, that in all labour, even that of gleaning, there is profit. Ruth was pleased with what she gained by her own industry, and was careful to secure it. Let us thus take care that we lose not those things which we have wrought, which we have gained for our souls’ good, 2 John 8.
Parents should examine their children, as Naomi did, not to frighten or discourage them, so as to make them hate home, or tempt them to tell a lie; but to commend them if they have done well, and with mildness to reprove and caution them if they have done otherwise. It is a good question for us to ask ourselves every night, Where have I gleaned today? What improvement have I made in knowledge and grace? What have I done that will turn to a good account? When the Lord deals bountifully with us, let us not be found in any other field, nor seeking for happiness and satisfaction in the creature. We lose Divine favours, if we slight them.
Ruth dutifully observed her mother’s directions. And when the harvest was ended, she kept her aged mother company at home. Dinah went out to see the daughters of the land; her vanity ended in disgrace, Gen. 35. Ruth kept at home, and helped to maintain her mother, and went out on no other errand than to get provision for her; her humility and industry ended in preferment.