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Ruth 2:4-11

Lesson # Ruth. 2:4-11
Study Material - Ruth. 2:4-11

You must be in fellowship prior to your Bible study, so that the spiritual information you receive can become a source, of blessing to your soul and produce spiritual growth.

Ruth 2:4-11

4 Now behold, Boaz came from Bethlehem and said to the reapers, 'May the LORD be with you.' And they said to him, 'May the LORD bless you.' 5 Then Boaz said to his servant who was in charge of the reapers, 'Whose young woman is this?' 6 And the servant in charge of the reapers answered and said, 'She is the young Moabite woman who returned with Naomi from the land of Moab. 7 And she said, 'Please let me glean and gather after the reapers among the sheaves.' Thus she came and has remained from the morning until now; she has been sitting in the house for a little while.' 8 Then Boaz said to Ruth, 'Listen carefully, my daughter. Do not go to glean in another field; furthermore, do not go on from this one, but stay here with my maids. 9 Let your eyes be on the field which they reap, and go after them. Indeed, I have commanded the servants not to touch you. When you are thirsty, go to the water jars and drink from what the servants draw.' 10 Then she fell on her face, bowing to the ground and said to him, 'Why have I found favor in your sight that you should take notice of me, since I am a foreigner?' 11 And Boaz answered and said to her, 'All that you have done for your mother-in-law after the death of your husband has been fully reported to me, and how you left your father and your mother and the land of your birth, and came to a people that you did not previously know.

Ruth is a foreigner and is probably dressed a little different from the rest of those working and gleaning in the fields. It would be easy to take notice of her probably from this difference alone. But she was not the typical gleaner. She was attractive and had manners and probably carried herself somewhat differently than others.

The principle of gleaning is spelled out in Lev. 19:9-10. No owner is to be greedy with that which he has. A property owner who plants in the fields is expected to not harvest, to the last grain, everything in the field. The owner is expected to leave a portion for gleanings, for those who are poor, to be able to come along after the harvesters and to pick up that which was not harvested. This is a form of charity. Not a charity where the owner simply gives the poor some grain, but that the poor need to actually go out into the fields and work as it were, for their grain. They are not being charged, but then neither is the grain free. They have to go out and pick it up. They have to expend some effort or starve.

The gleaners do not gather near the harvesters, lest they be accused of trying to gather from the primary stalks which belong to the owner, and therefore charged with theft. The gleaners follow behind the harvesters, at a distance so that it is clear that they are not interfering with the harvest and that they are gathering grain from that area wherein the harvest has been concluded.

In application to our lives since most of us do not have fields of harvest, we do however have paychecks, and the principle of charity applies to each of s just the same. We do not horde 100% of what we earn, but have an obligation to share from our earnings. Charity is an obligation for each of us. It is a responsibility to all of us, to share to some extent, that which we have, with those who have far less than we. There are a couple of ways we might look at charity. There are those in need because of some type of disaster, like the attack that occurred in New York last year. Many of those folks were people of substantial means. That type of disaster received a lot of publicity and therefore was in front of our eyes for many weeks. There are also the folks that are not in the news but are in need for the better part of their lives. Their need existed before that disaster, and continues even till now and will continue into the future. And these are folks in our own country. There are also folks in third world countries where their standard of living is far below even our poverty levels in our country. Charity is an on going proposition. It should not be limited to the holidays, or to the news of some sensational event, but needs to be addressed every month on a regular basis.

I thought it was interesting that during that period of time after the New York attack, many liberal types blamed the whole affair on the USA for not helping the folks in Afghanistan, but the facts are, 100% of the aid that pours into Afghanistan, even before this attack, came from the USA and from many European countries (60% from the USA and 40% from Europe and Australia). None, and that is a definite zero, of the aid came from their 'Moslem' neighbors (except for some of their drug and weapons connections, that is). Just a note that most prosperity in this world and therefore charity comes from Christian oriented countries.

A small minority of cruel folks took advantage of the situation there leaving many in a helpless state. This should not stop our charity efforts. Many of the folks in our own country may not appreciate the charity, but we still do not disregard our charity responsibilities because of their attitudes. Charity should be without strings or conditions. God will direct those to whom charity is given, to the proper course of their lives. Some will recover and advance in their spiritual lives. Of course others will continue in their negative attitude. Our place is not to judge those in need, nor to place conditions on our giving.

Boaz allowed gleaners to enter his fields. He was attracted to Ruth. And that is how many relationships begin. Boaz inquired further and was told her story. 'Who is that young woman,' is the question. Emphasis on 'young'. The answer is, that is the Moabite 'damsel.' Emphasis on 'damsel'. Not the end of the discussion but certainly the men noticed her. Probably for many good reasons, but the first thing that catches ones eye in other people is their looks and features. She was attractive. That is obvious. But Boaz watched her and noticed her manner, her poise, and probably her maturity to some extent.

Boaz left instructions that no one was to bother her and that she was to be allowed to glean even closer to the harvesters, and even eat with the workers.

The next move is for Boaz. He went up to her and began to talk with her. He asked her to go nowhere else, but to continue gleaning in his fields, to stay closer to the other women under his employ, and to eat with them when meal time came. This conversation introduced her personality to him as well as his to her. Where is cupid?

The spiritual application? Boaz represents the wealthy prince, Jesus Christ. Ruth represents the destitute believer in need of help, come to his fields (Bible doctrine) and gleaning (study) from the harvest of the crop. Positive volition brings the believer to Gods fields. God takes notice of those who come to Him. In his fields he offers better access to the gleaned grain (normal daily support), as well as protection from outsiders, as well as dining from his table at meal time (the further blessings of Gods provision above and beyond the daily needs that we have).

Courtesy was a part of Ruth's manner. She did not expect or demand assistance. She requested it politely. She did not earn nor deserve help, but same was granted to her unconditionally. Boaz was attracted to her attitude (among other things). 'What is man that thou are mindful of him?' God has looked down the tunnel of time and has seen positive volition in all generations, up and until the last and final generation of human history. There will be a final generation. Gods love reaches out to all those who will be positive toward Him, and He will take each of those positive believers into His own family for all of eternity.


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End Of Lesson

Study to show thyself approved (mature) unto God, a workman that needs not to be ashamed, rightly dividing (studying/discerning), the Word of truth.




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