RUTH'S FAITH AND INITIATIVE
WEEK 2 | DAY 1 | RUTH 2:1-7
1 Now Naomi had a relative of her husband’s, a worthy man of the clan of Elimelech, whose name was Boaz. 2 And Ruth the Moabite said to Naomi, “Let me go to the field and glean among the ears of grain after him in whose sight I shall find favor.” And she said to her, “Go, my daughter.” 3 So she set out 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 clan of Elimelech. 4 And behold, Boaz came from Bethlehem. And he said to the reapers, “The Lord be with you!” And they answered, “The Lord bless you.” 5 Then Boaz said to his young man who was in charge of the reapers, “Whose young woman is this?” 6 And the servant who was in charge of the reapers answered, “She is the young Moabite woman, who came back with Naomi from the country of Moab. 7 She said, ‘Please let me glean and gather among the sheaves after the reapers.’ So she came, and she has continued from early morning until now, except for a short rest.”
REFLECTION
The hope was mentioned in the last verse of chapter one when the writer told of the beginning of the barley harvest. The first verse of chapter two picks up the hope immediately mentioning Boaz. So, Ruth goes to the field to glean and see if she will find favor. God’s Sovereign Hand is behind the whole story – moving Ruth to the places He desires. Boaz is a good man whom his workers love. He notices Ruth gleaning and inquires as to who she is. The servant notes Ruth’s hard work in gleaning to acquire food for Naomi and herself.
What do these verses teach us about the sovereignty of God and man’s responsibility to work hard?
What do these verses teach us about Boaz and how he relates to his servants? How does this apply to us?
What do these verses teach us about Ruth and working hard? How does this apply to us?
WEEK TWO MEMORY VERSE
And Naomi said to her daughter-in-law, “May he be blessed by the Lord, whose kindness has not forsaken the living or the dead!” Naomi also said to her, “The man is a close relative of ours, one of our redeemers.”
BOAZ'S FAVOR AND GENEROSITY
WEEK 2 | DAY 2 | RUTH 2:8-13
8 Then Boaz said to Ruth, “Now, listen, my daughter, do not go to glean in another field or leave this one, but keep close to my young women. 9 Let your eyes be on the field that they are reaping, and go after them. Have I not charged the young men not to touch you? And when you are thirsty, go to the vessels and drink what the young men have drawn.” 10 Then she fell on her face, bowing 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?” 11 But Boaz answered her, “All that you have done for your mother-in-law since the death of your husband has been fully told to me, and how you left your father and mother and your native land and came to a people that you did not know before. 12 The Lord repay you for what you have done, and a full reward be given you by the Lord, the God of Israel, under whose wings you have come to take refuge!” 13 Then she said, “I have found favor in your eyes, my lord, for you have comforted me and spoken kindly to your servant, though I am not one of your servants.”
REFLECTION
Boaz sees Ruth’s hard work and desires to provide and protect her. He tells her to only glean in his field and to stay close to the other young women. Further, he tells all the men that they are not to touch her – ensuring her safety. He even provides water for her so she can continue to work hard. She shows her gratitude asking how she has found favor with him. All the while the providential declaration in verse 2 of Ruth 2 looms in the background. She went seeking favor, and God has shown her favor through Boaz. And Ruth is grateful. Boaz acknowledges Ruth’s sacrifice to stay with Naomi, and he commends her for it. He even mentions he knows that Ruth is now a follower of YHWH (God). Ruth lastly tells Boaz of the comfort she has because of his favor.
What can we learn about communication with those most important to us from this passage?
What can we learn about God from this text?
What can we learn about pursuing grateful hearts in all circumstances from this text?
NAOMI'S NEW HOPE
WEEK 2 | DAY 3 | RUTH 2:14-23
14 And at mealtime Boaz said to her, “Come here and eat some bread and dip your morsel in the wine.” So she sat beside the reapers, and he passed to her roasted grain. And she ate until she was satisfied, and she had some left over. 15 When she rose to glean, Boaz instructed his young men, saying, “Let her glean even among the sheaves, and do not reproach her. 16 And also pull out some from the bundles for her and leave it for her to glean, and do not rebuke her.”
17 So she gleaned in the field until evening. Then she beat out what she had gleaned, and it was about an ephah[a] of barley. 18 And she took it up and went into the city. Her mother-in-law saw what she had gleaned. She also brought out and gave her what food she had left over after being satisfied. 19 And her mother-in-law said to her, “Where did you glean today? And where have you worked? Blessed be the man who took notice of you.” So she told her mother-in-law with whom she had worked and said, “The man’s name with whom I worked today is Boaz.” 20 And Naomi said to her daughter-in-law, “May he be blessed by the Lord, whose kindness has not forsaken the living or the dead!” Naomi also said to her, “The man is a close relative of ours, one of our redeemers.” 21 And Ruth the Moabite said, “Besides, he said to me, ‘You shall keep close by my young men until they have finished all my harvest.’” 22 And Naomi said to Ruth, her daughter-in-law, “It is good, my daughter, that you go out with his young women, lest in another field you be assaulted.” 23 So she kept close to the young women of Boaz, gleaning until the end of the barley and wheat harvests. And she lived with her mother-in-law.
REFLECTION
Boaz treat Ruth to a meal and encourages and serves her. He provides even more provision for her. He goes beyond what the law requires and gives her gleaning even from among the sheaves. Because he is a kind and generous man, he instructs the workers to give her no rebuke for this. Ruth works hard and takes food home to Naomi. Perhaps Naomi has heard, or perhaps she has not – but she asks twice where Ruth has worked (v. 19). Interestingly enough, Ruth doesn’t say where she works, only with whom. The drama builds as Naomi spontaneously pronounces blessings on Boaz for his generosity on Ruth. Further, Naomi informs Ruth that Boaz is a redeemer. The writer introduces a new level of drama into the
narrative with this information. Ruth tells Naomi of the provisions of Boaz. Verse 23 informs the reader that this will go on for another six to eight weeks!
narrative with this information. Ruth tells Naomi of the provisions of Boaz. Verse 23 informs the reader that this will go on for another six to eight weeks!
What can we learn from this text about generosity?
When Naomi begins asking about Ruth’s work in verse 19, she seems to move from bitterness (‘Mara’) back toward hope. What does this reveal about how God can heal hearts after tragedy?
Ruth must wait another six to eight weeks until the harvest is over. It’s not until after this in chapter three thatshe even begin to be redeemed. How can this instruct our hearts to patiently wait on God’s timing?
