07.14.21
It is of the LORD’S mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is Your faithfulness. The LORD is my portion, says my soul; therefore will I hope in him. (Lamentations 3:22-24)
We use these verses from Lamentations to begin these articles about Ruth because of their similarity to the story of Ruth. Both the words and the story of Ruth are glimmers of hope in the midst of darkness.
In the last article we began to focus upon Ruth, the central figure in this biblical account.
We found her to be a recipient of the grace of God. Raised as a heathen in Moab, she came in contact with some of God’s people in the person of Naomi’s family. Following the deaths of her father and her husband, she made a deliberate choice to go with Naomi as she returned to the land of Israel.
We also found that she responded to God’s grace. She chose Naomi’s people, and more importantly, her God. She learned that He alone is powerful, merciful and holy. Her choice was deliberate and settled. She forsook her family, security and gods to follow the true God.
Today we will begin to see that her life, as a result, revealed God’s grace. She has become a great example of what God can do when we give our life and leave the future to Him.
We left off last time with the final statement in Ruth 1, “and they came to Bethlehem in the beginning of barley harvest.” This is statement of hope as Ruth and Naomi enter the Promised Land.
The first three verses of Ruth 2 point us to the providence of God. Naomi had lost her inheritance while she and her family had fled Israel for Moab during a time of famine. When she returned with Ruth, they were basically destitute, and would need to work. Finding work for a widow in those days was not easy. It was decided that Ruth would become a gleaner in the nearby fields.
Gleaning was a provision of the Mosaic Law whereby those who were destitutecould procure food for themselves. The landowners were to leave grain on purpose just for such people. I have a set of commentaries in my library entitled “Handfuls on Purpose,” a collection of thoughts based on this biblical provision.
The text tells us that Ruth “happened to light on the field belonging to Boaz, who was of the household of Elimelech.” Was this just happenstance? No, the Lord was at work, allowing Ruth to glean in a field owned by a man related to her late father-in-law. God’s grace was at work!
Ruth also revealed God’s grace in the sweet spirit she displayed. She worked willingly, providing for herself and her mother-in-law. She worked because she wanted to work. She worked despite the fact that it was grueling, humbling work. As a woman and a foreigner, she would have to do the most menial work. And, she worked in spite of the fact that it was dangerous. Out in the fields alone, she could have been easily assaulted by one of the men.
Ruth loved Naomi, and she loved the God of Israel, the only true God. Therefore she kept at the work through all of the danger and difficulties of labor, language and strange customs. She had a submissive spirit, and we will see as the story moves along, that God will honor her for this.