A Place of Refuge

August 21, 2011

Lesson: Ruth 2:1–23

Key Verse: Ruth 2:12

aa

Introduction

Elimelech and his two sons had died in Moab. Naomi had remained in Moab for ten years after her husband Elimelech’s death, along with her daughters-in-law, Orpah and Ruth. Orpah had remained in Moab while Ruth went to Bethlehem with her mother-in-law, with this upon her heart: “for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God” (Ruth 1:16).

At Bethlehem, Ruth was sent to the field to glean during the harvest. Boaz, who owned the field, and was a near kinsman of Elimelech, gave Ruth permission to glean throughout the harvest season. Ruth lived with her mother-in-law and helped provide for the household. Boaz was pleased with the conduct of Ruth and let her glean from the fields with his maidens. “So she kept fast by the maidens of Boaz to glean unto the end of barley harvest and of wheat harvest” (Ruth 2:23). Naomi would find Ruth a husband in the person of Boaz. Boaz found Ruth to be a kind and virtuous woman (Ruth 3:10–11). She would perform the part of a kinsman to both Ruth and Naomi. He would be the redeemer-kinsman who would restore a household to Naomi, to purchase back the inheritance she had lost.

Boaz testifies to the people that they are witnesses that he has bought all that was Elimelech’s, “Moreover Ruth the Moabitess, the wife of Mahlon, have I purchased to be my wife, to raise up the name of the dead upon his inheritance” (Ruth 4:10). Boaz marries Ruth and they have a son. The women said to Naomi, “Blessed be the Lord, which hath not left thee this day without a kinsman” (Ruth 4:14).

We have not been left without a kinsman. Our Lord is our Redeemer-Kinsman. He has purchased us from the wrath of the Father through His own precious blood. He has given us an inheritance reserved in heaven for the children of God: “Forasmuch as ye know that ye were …redeemed …with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot …being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever” (1 Peter 1:18–23).

aaa

The Kinsman—Ruth 2:1–7

Naomi had a kinsman of her husband’s, “a mighty man of wealth, of the family of Elimelech; and his name was Boaz.” Ruth came to the field of Boaz in order to find help for herself and Naomi. She found more in Boaz, for he was a kind man who gave her food and drink and the protection of his reapers throughout the day.

Ruth asked for the blessing of Naomi that she might glean the field of Boaz: “Let me now go to the field, and glean ears of corn after him in whose sight I shall find grace.” Naomi said, “Go, my daughter.” The loving relationship between Naomi and Ruth grew as they saw each other as mother and daughter.

Ruth began to glean in the field, following after the reapers. What the reapers had left behind she was allowed to take. She then happened to come to the field belonging to Boaz; a happening which belongs to the hand of God and not to the hand of chance. Boaz comes out to this field from his home in Bethlehem, saying to the reapers, “The Lord be with you.” And they answered, “The Lord bless thee.” This exchange between Boaz and his reapers carries a sincere desire for the Lord’s benevolent presence, as well as a word of greeting. The intent of the heart comes from the measure of grace that one receives from Christ. May Christians, when they ask God’s blessing upon another, ask with much feeling and expectation.

Boaz approaches the reapers and asks about this girl who is following them. Boaz’ servant answers, saying, “It is the Moabitish damsel that came back with Naomi out of the country of Moab.” Ruth speaks: “I pray you, let me glean and gather after the reapers among the sheaves.” Ruth had asked the foreman of the reapers for permission to glean throughout the day that she might support Naomi and herself. Boaz welcomed the poor to his fields that they might glean after his reapers; so he would approve of this permission. Also, his concern for whom this woman was reveals his kindness toward those around him. The kinsman that the Lord had for Naomi and Ruth was one who had compassion.

Discussion: How would you describe Boaz?

aaa

Grace is Found—Ruth 2:8–16

Surely Boaz had already known about Ruth. He was a kinsman of the husband of Naomi and most likely had welcomed her back. It would seem that he had already developed a feeling toward Ruth. Boaz responds to Ruth in the field, saying, “Hearest thou not, my daughter? Go not go glean in another field, neither go from hence, but abide here fast by my maidens.” He calls her to glean only from his field. There he can keep watch over her. He further admonishes her to follow after his reapers, claiming that he has already charged the young men not to harm her. He further encourages her in telling her that she may freely drink of his vessels.

Ruth falls on her face, bowing herself to the ground, saying to Boaz, “Why have I found grace in thine eyes, that thou shouldest take knowledge of me, seeing I am a stranger?” Ruth had received an unexpected kindness. Boaz answers, “It hath fully been shown me, all thou hast done unto thy mother-in-law since the death of thine husband and how thou hast left thy father and thy mother, and the land of thy nativity, and art come unto a people which thou knewest not heretofore.” Boaz and Naomi must have had quite a talk about their sojourn to Moab. Ruth’s love for Naomi was shown in her help toward her, and in the giving up of her own people to embrace the people of God. The character of Ruth, as a true child of the Lord, comes out in her actions toward both her new found mother and the people with whom she now dwells.

Therefore, the response of Boaz can be nothing less than this: “The Lord recompense thy work, and a full reward be given thee of the Lord God of Israel, under whose wings thou art come to trust.” Ruth was now a child of God who could claim with the Lord’s people. “How excellent is thy lovingkindness, O God! Therefore the children of men put their trust under the shadow of thy wings” (Psa. 36:7). Ruth would learn more of this kindness from Boaz.

Ruth replies to Boaz, “Let me find favour in thy sight, my lord; for that thou hast comforted me, and for that thou hast spoken friendly unto thine handmaid, though I be not like unto one of thine handmaidens.” The Christian can learn from the response. First, that kindness must be shown to the new child of God, with no thought of the place where one comes from. Second, that the new Christian receives the grace of God and His people with much thanksgiving. There must be in the congregation a desire to love one another as Christ has loved us.

Boaz continued to bless Ruth with kindness, asking her to come to eat with his people. She did so and was satisfied. As she was about to leave, Boaz commanded his young men to let her “glean even among the sheaves.” Boaz further instructed them to let some fall from their hands purposefully, leaving them on the ground for Ruth to glean. This reveals his kindness toward Ruth, and his kindness toward the poor of Bethlehem, or the sojourner among them. His kindness toward Ruth grew for he saw in her the love she had for Naomi and her people.

Discussion: How would you describe Ruth and her relationship with Boaz?

aaa

Blessed is He—Ruth 2:17–23

Ruth continued to glean from the field and took what she had to Naomi. Naomi asked Ruth where she had gleaned, saying, “Blessed be he that did take knowledge of thee.” The quality and quantity of the food which was brought home revealed a kindly benefactor. Ruth revealed the man’s name as Boaz.

Naomi said to Ruth, “Blessed be he of the Lord, who hath not left off his kindness to the living and to the dead.” Naomi was without a husband, and, therefore, without an inheritance. A kinsman had responded to their need. Naomi tells Ruth of Boaz, “The man is near of kin unto us, one of our next kinsmen.” Boaz is one who stands close to Naomi and Ruth as a possible redeemer-kinsman. Naomi rejoices in that Boaz has responded as a true kinsman.

Ruth further tells Naomi that the blessings will continue through the harvest, saying, “He said unto me also, Thou shalt keep fast by my young men, until they have ended all my harvest.” Naomi responds, “It is good, my daughter, that thou go out with his maidens, that they meet thee not in any other field.” So Ruth “kept fast by the maidens of Boaz to glean unto the end of barley harvest; and dwelt with her mother-in-law.”

Naomi and Ruth were provided for by their kinsman, Boaz. Soon Boaz and Ruth would marry, and Naomi would have her inheritance. The inheritance which is eternal is also present. For Boaz and Ruth would have a child. The child’s name was Obed. Obed’s son was Jesse, and Jesse begat David. Through David, Bethlehem was chosen as a worthy place for the Son of God to take on our flesh, as He was born of Mary. Christ is our Redeemer-Kinsman, “In whom we redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace” (Eph. 1:7).

Discussion: Why did Naomi rejoice over what Ruth had gleaned from the field?

aaa

Lessons are based on the International Sunday School Lessons for Christian Teaching, copyright © 2011 by the Committee on the Uniform Series.

.